Topic: The Future Memoirs of a Hellcat

Alyxir

Date: 2012-02-20 20:07 EST
Shal-Mari. When humans built their "Sin City" in the deserts of Nevada it was from this place they drew their inspiration, and rightfully so"it was a tether between the realm of man and the infernal Principality ruled by the Prince Andrealphus . Here the servitors of the infernal Prince of Lust could transition most easily between the worlds to make their reports and pay their tribute.

As on earth, the streets of Shal-Mari are lined with casinos, restaurants, bars and theaters, but these cater to both human and demonic tastes alike. It is the most glamorous of Hell's Principalities, its natural inhabitants among the most beautiful of all infernal denizens. Here you can buy your wicked heart's desires with the essence of human souls or the promise of favors exchanged on the earthly plane. It is here the Prince of Lust makes his home, in the penthouse suite of the darkly-opulent King of Hearts casino, and here the never-ending string of demons in his service come to pay tribute.

Her turn had come, and though it was against her feline nature to do anything at someone else's bidding, it did not pay to keep the Prince waiting for what was rightfully owed him. She checked her reflection both front and back in the mirrored surface of the elevator door. Every lock of darkly-tipped golden hair shone from repeated brushings, every strand of creamy fur was smoothed in place. She ran her hands down the length of each arm to settle her fur, pivoting on the balls of her small feet to examine the slope of her tail and the state of its darkly-furred brush. Perfect. It would never do to appear before the Prince looking anything but her absolute best. The bell of the elevator chimed loudly, signaling the arrival of the car. Mirrored doors slid open smoothly and the hellcat stepped inside. "Penthouse, please." She purred to the bellboy. He was human"his scent told her that much. He wore a human visage, but in Shal-Mari it was simply a matter of exchanging essence to take on the gender or appearance of whatever you desired. This one was young"mid twenties by the smell, and he wore the formal red and white pressed livery of the casino down to the traditional little round hat. He gave a silent nod and pressed the button with a white-gloved finger before resuming his formal stance. As the car began its smooth ascent to the top floor the hellcat couldn't resist a once-over. Silvers wandered their way from short, sun-bleached hair to broad shoulders and down the line of a well-muscled back to a rear end that proclaimed this specimen had been an athlete before he'd been relocated to Hell.

Such a pity she had an appointment to keep, she thought as the car came to a halt at the top floor. Doors slid silently open and she stepped out with a parting pat to that irresistible hind end. The bellboy made no sound, but the slide of his baby blues to her silvers and the grin that crept onto his lips were enough. As the doors whispered shut, she gave him the most perfect view of softly-furred curves that swayed enticingly as she moved down the hallway toward the Prince's suite. His low whistle was audible only to feline ears that caught everything, but it brought a lingering smile to her crimson curves.

Two footmen stood on duty at the doors to the suite, silent and still with huge hands crossed before them. They were both tall and very, very black"a perfectly matched set from the tops of bald heads sporting small sets of curling horns to their burning red eyes and the matching custom-tailored black suits that surely cost a small fortune in essence to obtain. She did not need to sample the air to know they were demonic in nature. The Prince would never entrust his security to human servitors by choice.

"Alyxir, Servitor of Andrealphus. I come to offer tribute." Her voice was soft, respectful and lacking any trace of its usual seductive purr. These were Habbalites'demons descended from the ranks of Fallen Elohim and attuned to the emotions and intent of those around them. They were Gatekeepers to the Prince, and no one of questionable intent was likely to make it past them alive. They knew her business here and moved in unison to open the heavy lacquered doors of the suite to her. She gave a nod of that golden head in thanks to the pair and passed them in silence. Mingled scents of human and demon enveloped her as she entered the suite, saturating her senses as she padded down the corridor that opened into the Prince's common room. It was anything but common' alternating walls painted in the house colors of red and white, furnished with fine leather couches and chairs and enhanced by the host of human and demon servitors grouped and seated throughout the room . Silvers moved quickly to take in those assembled, searching for any familiar faces or scents among the unnaturally-beautiful courtiers. The Prince did not abide ugliness in his presence, and she knew from experience the vast amounts of essence that were traded to maintain the illusion of beauty here for the sake of favor and political gain. Here the Prince held court, seated in a contemporary and low-backed over-sized chair of black leather that was situated on a raised dais of Italian marble and backed by the most spectacular view of Shal-Mari one could have through planes of crystalline glass.

The Prince of Lust was aptly named. His current incarnation sprawled wide-legged in the confines of the chair clad only in a pair of finely-tailored black pants. He was easily 7" tall with the pale complexion, broad features and long flaxen hair of the ancient Viking. The chiseled features and broad, bare chest suited him, but the pupil-less black eyes stood out in eerie contrast as they drifted between the set of naked twin blonde women perched giggling on either arm of his chair.

Eyes in hues ranging from blood to blue skies turned on her in the dozens as she entered the room, but silvers sought only the eyes of her Prince. She moved with purpose towards the throne, and those in her path made way for her. She was known here, her name still whispered in circles though it had been many centuries since she had last occupied a regular place at the Prince's side. She was a hellcat, and it was in her very nature to wander freely as it suited her through the Principalities and the worlds beyond. His gift to her had been the freedom to do so unchallenged and unchecked, her tribute to him required only once every decade.

Pools of darkness turned on her golden form as the assembled host made way for her, a slow smile curving upon his lips as strong hands gave a dismissing push and smack to the bare buttocks of each blonde. They slid from their respective perches without a word of protest, their giggling finally silenced as they melted into the greater host of courtiers now fallen silent as well.

She crossed the distance between them with soundless steps, lithe and graceful as she bent in a singular fluid motion to her knees before him. Furred ears pressed low to the false halo of silk that flowed over her naked form as her tail curled elegantly around her. She was the potrait of submission, one hand pressed flat to the facets at her chest, the other rising with outstretched palm in supplication. Her voice was a velvet purr, sweet honey that poured from her golden throat as the words of the Diabolical language formed themselves on lips of richly-spiced wine.

"Comes now this one into Your gracious presence, her most humble tribute offered." His laughter came free and rumbled like nighttime thunder in the stillness of the room, more animated in her presence than any had seen him in a very long time.

"Your presence pleases me, Little One. Come. Render your tribute." he answered her in the dark tongue, a mighty hand gestured for her to rise, his arm spread wide to offer her a place of favor at his side.

From her knees she moved with the grace and elegance of her kind, not a strand of fur ruffled or displaced by her movements. Her tail lashed serpentine behind her as she mounted the steps, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she slid not onto the arm of the leather chair, but into the wide expanse of his lap.

He laughed again at her impudence, the eager tension of the room dissipating as the muscular arm encircled her tiny frame and the pale hand settled itself on the bare curve of her rump to stroke and pet her soft fur. A wave of his hand had human and demonic eyes alike turning back to partners and conversations abandoned at her arrival. Dark eyes now fixed on silvers, an expectant arch lifting his brow as he waited for her offering.

Her tail slid into a languid drape over his knee, it's brush dancing slow and hypnotic as she lifted his large hand in both of her own and laid it upon the facets at her neck. The trap of his thumb rested upon the ring that pierced her, and silvers pressed shut behind thick lashes as she bid the facets flare to life, sharing with him the rich flavors of essence collected in her hunting. One tenth of the energy taken from every encounter was given freely, pouring from facets through pale skin to be added to the abundance of energy he already possessed. His hellcat had done well for herself, but pale brows drew into a frown as notes of powerful source energy only lately-collected began to burn through the feed. The mighty hand was quick, moving from a placid rest upon facets to form a tight grip on her throat that pulled her roughly upright as he leaned in close with narrowed eyes to inspect her.

"Where has my kitten been hunting that she brings such essence as tribute?" His words were soft, but the host had again fallen silent, eager to learn what misspoken word or deed might bring about the fall of the hellcat.

The Prince of Lust had always been changeable by nature, this the hellcat knew well. It was why she had ventured from the safety of Shal-Mari to wander the other planes for so long, and why she returned only to pay tribute when required. It was also why silvers slid downcast and she remained still in his grasp. To fight him now before his court was to sentence herself to death or worse. The fingers around her slender neck gave a steadily-increasing squeeze, stealing the breath from her body and daring her to betray herself. As suddenly as he had struck, he released his hold and relaxed his broad frame back into the supple leather of the chair. He waited for her to answer, jet pools silent and still upon her as he gave time for air to fill her lungs once more.

She inhaled deeply and willed herself not to choke upon the air that filled her lungs and eased the hateful burn. She chose her words carefully, eyes downcast as she spoke. "In the other lands there is a man who carries a great source inside him. I have sought his company to feed and bring you tribute because I knew that it would please you."

"My Alyxir..." he crooned, iron wrapped in velvet, lightning poised to strike. "You should have brought this source to me whole." With movements far too gentle for hands so large, he gathered the veil of silken hair that covered her back between his fingers. The word he spoke was his alone to comprehend, taken from the language of the Princes that dated back to the Fall itself. Infernal fire burned through delicate strands, shearing off the long tresses where he held them. Darkness fixed on silvers as he brought the length of hair before her, wrapping it around thick fingers to work a knot in its end. "Let this be your reminder, Little One. You owe all to me."

She had not moved a muscle when he'd taken her veil in hand, had not flinched when she felt his fire sever the precious strands. Silvers looked on him calmly as he knotted the beloved length and worked the end so casually into a belt loop on the finely-tailored pants. She must tread very carefully with him now or risk losing far more than her hair. A willing sacrifice was needed now to appease him. The trophy he had taken meant nothing, but an offering freely given would do much to temper his wrath. She forced the wicked smile upon the soft fullness of her lips, a hand lifting slowly to the collar of facets at her neck. Nails bit deep into furred flesh as she pried up one of the flawless pieces of jade. Blood ran dark and free down her chest to stain the creamy fur as she held out the gem to him in silent offering.

He laughed softly then, a measure of his dark humor restored as he took the stone in a mighty hand. Lifting it to his lips, he breathed out a thin wisp of essence that blurred the edges of the stone and slowly reshaped it, a tiny silver bell left resting in its place. The arm that encircled her now lifted its hand to steady her as he sat up in the confines of the chair. His fingers were almost tender as they hooked the bell upon the ring at her throat, giving it a soft flick to make it chime. "My gift to you, Little One. Return to your other world and bring back what is mine." His words were softly spoken, but the threat was all too clear. A pat of his hand to her rump and he shifted to let her drop from his leg. The interview was over and he turned now to summon the twin blondes once more.

She landed gracefully upon her feet, a bow of her head and press of her ears offered in deference though his attentions were no longer upon her. Ever-changeable. Around them the host relaxed, conversation resuming in hushed tones. She had avoided destruction this time, but how long would she remain in his favor? Shorn head held high, she moved wordlessly through the host that parted now to avoid the taint of her humiliation. With each step the bell chimed softly, a reminder of his wrath. The Gatekeepers had sensed her approach, for the doors stood open wide for her escape. She nodded her formal thanks to them, thoughts turned carefully upon lighter subjects to avoid any further confrontation. She retraced her steps down the hallway, summoning the elevator with the press of a blooded finger.

As she waited she took stock of herself in the mirrored doors. She felt strange without her hair, naked and unbalanced. It was unlikely it would grow back anytime soon. The wound at her neck might heal in time, but it would take a great deal of cunning and luck to replace the stone. Some wounds and alterations she could control by force of will, but this was very different. Her Prince had done this to her. As his servitor, only he or another Prince could undo what had been done. Pride kept her from running her fingers through the shorn locks where anyone else might see. There would be time to rue the loss and try to make repairs when she was safely back in her chosen plane. She squared her shoulders as the elevator bell chimed, the wicked smile curling once more upon lips of wine for the bellboy who awaited her.

Alyxir

Date: 2012-02-21 17:12 EST
The elevator ride down to the main level of the King of Hearts took much longer than it should have. Somewhere around the 13th floor the car had become inexplicably stuck for the better part of an hour. When service finally resumed and the mirrored doors slid open, a disheveled hellcat stepped out. Her fur was raised against its natural grain, dampened handprints darkening the pale fur in patches all over her body. It was a road map of all the places the bellboy had been, some clearly marked as favorites by the return visits he'd made.

"Soo, call me later, ok?" he called after her. Poor boy sounded almost hopeful. If his uniform cost him in essence he was in trouble"bloodstains from the wound to her collar bloomed vividly on the white fabric of the jacket he still wore. The white gloves, red trousers and polished black dress shoes were now a hopelessly tangled, mess in the corner of the car. She gave him one parting glance over the furred round of her shoulder, blowing a kiss and chuckling softly as she headed down the corridor that lead to the casino floor. He was still wearing the funny little hat when the doors closed behind her.

She ran her hands through spiky, cinder-tipped hair to give it a fluffing shake , taking her time down the hallway. This new style of hers had proved to have a few advantages, at least. Though she missed the familiar weight and tease of its strands as she moved, she found she could move more freely with short hair. The tangle of the bellboy's hands in short locks had made for a grip just as tight as if they'd been their former tumbling length. There would be no wrapping grip around a wrist in the foreseeable future, but she still had her tail for that.

It was the bell that angered her most, its bright chiming notes punctuating every step, every turn, every deep breath to remind her of the threat that loomed and the humiliation suffered. In the intensely-political Principalities of Hell, public humiliation could literally be the death of you. A fall from favor with your Prince left you open to plots and conspiracies from lower-ranked rival infernals that were always too eager to fill the void you left behind.

Andrealphus had always been changeable, and from the beginning it was his insatiable appetites that had drawn her into his service. He had been fond of changing gender and appearance as a human might change clothes, and had even been known in days long past to join her in the hunt on Earth. But Sodom and Gomorrah were just a sweet , long-forgotten dream now. Andre rarely left his suite these days, too consumed with rumors of the plots by other Princes to take over his claim on the essence trade of Shal-Mari. That he was right to fear she did not doubt, but his paranoia had changed him in ways she was unsure she could accommodate.

His wrath could be borne, even enjoyed if you knew how make it a game. Persuade him to play with you, and his rage was soon forgotten or turned on another unlucky 'soul." She had eliminated more than one rival this way in the past, but this was different. He had never played this roughly with her before. It was possible she would return to earth and the incident would be forgotten to the next big conspiracy, but if it weren't'

She needed to think. She needed to feed, suddenly all too aware of the essence he had drained from her. She was ravenous, and there was no time to track down her new favorite source, and likely not enough essence left to take her to him anyway. Bellboy had made his contribution, but she would have to hunt. She had to smile at the idea though it began to alarm her'she had become complacent and too-willing to accept the easy meal these days?a fat cat. The hunt would do her good. But first' She would have to do something about that damned bell.

Alyxir

Date: 2012-02-23 14:51 EST
When the world was young and mankind's belief in the existence of the supernatural was still strong, the hellcat had roamed the earth in her natural form with impunity.

In Egypt she had been worshipped as a goddess with temples and shrines constructed in honor of her kind. These days the sight of a woman with fur, cat-ears and a tail outside of a movie set or theater drew unfriendly and dangerous attention from humans and celestials alike. Under normal circumstances she would have drawn from her essence reserves and simply altered her appearance enough to pass for a human while she hunted, but this was not an option.

Fortunately there were places on Earth where infernals could gather in their natural form without fear of discovery or threat of exposure. Places like The Vesuvius Club existed all over the world to provide a safe haven and ready source of essence to those in need. They were typically bars, night clubs and adult theaters run by higher ranking demons and situated in less-trafficked areas most humans avoided. The rites and bindings which tethered these locations to corresponding portals in Hell gave off repellent energies in varying degrees. Each human reacted differently'some experienced the effects physically, manifested as crawling skin, nausea or severe headaches. Others would experience psychological and emotional effects ranging from mild paranoia to full-blown psychotic breaks. It was different for each, but all reactions served to maintain the privacy of the infernal occupants.

For those humans with just the right attunement to infernal energy or an extreme aptitude for corruption, the draw of such places was irresistible. These humans were the patrons and clients that supplied the essence to maintain the tether and feed the infernals who managed or sought refuge in the stronghold. Humans would gather in these places for the excitement and privilege of interacting with demons in their natural form in exchange for measured portions of their soul.

A select few of these demonically-attuned humans were kept as pets and servitors, bound to the guardian demons and entrusted with mundane operational tasks and errands. There were several such human pets at "The V" operating the complex lighting and sound system, tending at the bar, serving drinks table-side and attending to the needs and desires of the infernal performers backstage.

One such human gave a few final brush strokes to the hellcat's fur and a kiss to her neck before slipping out of the dressing room. Twin moons watched the woman in the mirror until the door closed"a pretty little thing with long red hair bound up in a black ribbon, bright green eyes and murder in her heart. Such a lovely pair the two of them would make in bed tonight. A lazy smile curled on her lips as she lingered on the thought.

The scalding heat of the shower had done wonders for both her physical and mental state, as had the skilled human hands that toweled and stroked her dry. Clean and more focused than she had felt in the last three hours, the hellcat shifted her gaze in the mirror to examine the wound at her collar. The fingers which had earlier dug deep into flesh to remove a sculpted piece of jade now tenderly explored the raw and ragged patch. The bleeding had eased and was of little concern, but it looked so".ugly.

A sigh passed lips that set themselves into a pouting line as she peeled the backing from a bandage and pressed it tight to her skin. Silvers peered back at her in the mirror as she let her fingers stray to the silver bell at her throat. It was unnaturally cool to the touch and chimed with a false brightness that had furred ears pressed low and teeth bared in profound irritation. There was nothing to be done to silence it now— she was soon to take the stage where you made your weakness a strength if you wanted to succeed.

It had been a very long time since she had found it necessary to raise an abundance of essence by performing to a crowd, and she found the idea mildly distasteful. It was the fastest way to restore what had been taken by the Prince and lost in transit, but it just wasn't her style to blend and consume so much essence at one time. It was meant to be savored like a fine vintage, not absorbed raw and un-tasted. Just steps outside the dressing room she could already detect a hundred distinct sources, more added to her mental count as she moved into place behind the curtain.

Shoulders squared , ears perked up and a coiling lash worked its way down the length of her tail as she parted velvet curtains with a flourish and stepped full into the spotlight. The catcalls and lurid whistles that greeted her were deafening, but she struck a siren's pose and gave them the good long look at her naked form they'd been waiting for. With a wicked little smile she swallowed her pride and with it a strengthening wave of homogenized essence.

The heels she wore added several inches to the height of her furred frame and altered the line and posture of her bared curves in ways that had the essence flowing mercifully fast. The artist and provocateur in her took over, tantalizingly slow and swaying steps bearing her down the aptly-named catwalk as the bell chimed in cadence. At this rate facets would soon sparkle against her skin and she'd be ready to seek a more sophisticated source of energy.

There was (of course) a pole at the end of that runway. It was agonizingly clich?, but also what the humans had come to expect. With an inward sigh, a slender furred leg and an elegant hand curled around the heated metal length of the pole, her sultry smile and the seductive shift of silvers masking her rising indignation.

Andre had much to answer for.

Alyxir

Date: 2012-02-24 23:39 EST
Humans tired so quickly. Perhaps it was why she did not seek them out as a source of essence much these days. The woman had been a tasty little diversion for the hours after her performance at the club, but now she lay spent and sprawled out on the bed. Tendrils of bright red hair and pale, creamy skin peeked out from beneath a tangle of sheets and pillows. She would sleep long after the hellcat's departure"one advantage of playing with a full human, at least.

For now the hellcat was content to recline against the headboard, smoking the woman's cigarettes. She took long drags, exhaling perfect rings of smoke that hung like ghostly halos over her head before rising to dissipate in the darkness. Silvers took stock of the bedroom casually, noting with detachment the newspaper clippings and long-range surveillance photos of the pop singer that covered every inch of one wall. There were dates and times scribbled randomly here and there, notes indicating the strength and number of his security detail interspersed with broken lines of poetry and unfinished thoughts on the "true nature of death." This brought soft laughter and a shake of the hellcat's tousled head" to each her own dark hobbies, she supposed.

"She's obsessed." the voice rolled low and smoky from the shadows of the closet.

The hellcat's ears angled sharply and silvers went wide in alarm, fixing on the partially-open door as the woman emerged. She was of an average height for a human woman with long brown hair that hung in loose waves and curls across her shoulders and down her back. She was barefoot, but wore a flowing patchwork skirt and lacy tank top to cover her generous curves. Though she wore the corporeal form of a human, her scent was unquestionably demonic and incredibly powerful.

"Lilith?" it was not a question'the hellcat knew her scent better than she knew her own. It was the first she had ever breathed in, and would remain her most powerful memory.

"She thinks the singer was her lover in a former life." The woman clasped her hands behind her back and paced the length of the wall as one might stroll a gallery, studying the assortment of photos and articles with obvious amusement.

"Was he?" The hellcat asked softly, a sculpted brow lifting as she watched the woman. She'd regained a measure of her composure with another deep drag from the cigarette, it's glowing length perched lightly between furred fingers.

"He was, actually. " Ambling steps had the woman moving towards her now. "Strangled her with his own hands to avoid the scandal. " She smiled, lending a warmth and softness to her features as she took a seat on the edge of the bed. The hellcat had been seated with her legs outstretched, but when it became clear the woman meant to join her, furred legs slid into an easy fold to make space.

Reaching to the take the cigarette from the hellcat's hand, with one long drag from her demonic lips the woman turned it first to pale ash and then to nothing but smoke that rose to the ceiling and dissipated, leaving no further trace of its existence. She crossed her legs beneath the patchwork skirt and settled her hands calmly atop its brightly-patterned folds before continuing.

"They were both men in those days and that sort of fun was frowned upon by the puritans. You remember what those days were like." Wide brown eyes shifted almost affectionately to the sleeping redhead and she laughed softly. "They've been taking turns killing each other since the 1600's. "

Her gaze turned back to the hellcat. "It's all Andre's doing— he turns them loose when he gets bored and watches until one of them finally breaks and kills the other. Then he reclaims their souls until he's ready to play the game the next time. " There was a note of disapproval in her voice that said she found the whole concept exceptionally childish.

"He finds it amusing for some reason, but then you're familiar with his brand of dark humor, aren't you..." The softness in those eyes was gone, and she fixed silvers with a penetrating stare that awaited an explanation.

It did not surprise the hellcat that the demon had learned of her humiliation— word traveled quickly in Hell and Lilith had many spies. What surprised her was that what had transpired in the Prince's suite mattered to the demon enough to bring her to earth in corporeal form to discuss it.

She sighed softly and drew furred knees to her chest, arms draped loosely around them. The chime of her bell as she moved set her teeth on edge, irritation creeping into her voice as she explained.

"I went to pay tribute and Andrealphus took a particular liking to some of the essence I brought him. He was disappointed I hadn't thought to bring him the whole "bottle," so he thought I could use a lesson in humility." A hand lifted, fingers threading through a section of frayed hair to make her point. "He was in a mood, so I offered a little something to appease him and he sent me off with an order to bring him back what he wanted." She gave a casual shrug as she concluded. "It's just Andre being Andre."

The woman listened in silence as the hellcat explained, her expression darkening as the story concluded. When she finally spoke, there was a razored edge to her voice though it was wrapped in smoky velvet.

"I have never understood why you bound yourself to his service. I gave you free will, freedom and all you would ever need to make your way in these worlds, and this..." a hand outstretched with the palm faced upwards, gesturing to the ruin of her hair, the wound at her collar and the bell that rested against fur. "...this is what you do with my gifts." She shook her head in disgust and the hand fell to join its mate. A long moment passed between them in silence.

The hellcat knew better than to argue with the woman. She turned from her lean against the headboard, legs sliding into an easy cross to mirror the woman at her side, tail draped across her lap as she prepared for the rest of the speech she knew was coming.

"Give him what he wants." The woman's voice was soft, the hardened edge gone.

Now that was a surprise. Her ears twitched and a brow rose in query as silvers studied the woman's face for some sign of what she was thinking. It was against Lilith's very nature to submit under threat of punishment, and her defiance was what had driven her from paradise at the beginning of the World.

"Give Andrealphus what he wants." she repeated softly, her voice resigned and dark gaze troubled. "You think he will forget or lose interest, but you are wrong. He has already given orders that you be watched."

A chill tracked the length of the hellcat's spine, a knot forming in the pit of her stomach as her skin began to crawl. She had not imagined that it would truly come to this. To her thinking, in another few years Andre would have forgotten about the source essence, too mired in his plots and bound up in the murderous theater of reincarnation he enjoyed so thoroughly to concern himself with her.

She had been foolish and na've, and worse— she had underestimated her Prince. Lilith was right— her only option was to give Andrealphus what he wanted — the man who carried inside him the source of the essence. And yet, the thought of sharing sunburst eyes, mossy hair and the endless supply of pure essence with the Prince and his court was inconceivable. Andre's interest in the subtle nuances and eccentricities of each individual's unique essence had long since been subverted by his political ambition and profound paranoia. It was pointless to savor essence in small amounts when what was truly needed to ensure one's position was excess. Between them they would burn the man out, if that was even possible.

The hellcat rose abruptly to her feet, pacing the length of the wall as her mind worked over every angle, every possible solution and probable outcome. Her hands worked themselves in clenching fists and her tail lashed wildly, every agitated step ringing the cursed bell louder.

"Alyxir.." the woman's voice was quiet, but firm, calling her back into the moment. She rose from the bed to join the hellcat, taking furred hands between her own. "I have hidden your presence for now, but I cannot protect you while you are bound to Andrealphus. You have made the choice to serve. " Her words conveyed so much more than their surface meaning.

Silvers narrowed and fixed on the woman and suddenly the unspoken offer was clear— renounce her servitude to the Prince of Lust and gain the protection of the demon Lilith. But at what cost' Lilith valued freedom above all else, but nothing she did came without a price. Her deals were always weighted heavily in her favor, and once made, they were unbreakable.

She needed time to think, time to consider her options carefully without pressure or threat. She wanted more of the essence that was the source of her troubles, an addict desperate for a fix. A snarl rolled feral from the hellcat's lips, teeth bared as she ripped her hands from the startled woman's grasp, ears pressed flat to her head as the bell tormented her with its chime.

"No favors of yours come without a price"..Mother. " the word was venom upon her lips. It was enough...She left the woman standing with arms folded across her chest, sprinting steps carrying her into the shadows of the closet as she made her escape.

Alyxir

Date: 2012-02-27 19:24 EST
She was naked and alone in the dark.

The darkness was not a cold and unfriendly place as the poets and singers would have you believe. It was peace— her sanctuary from the chaos that consumed her existence at present. It was freedom— for no one would follow her here uninvited. It was time and space to think, and it was exactly what she needed.

When did everything become so complicated" She'd hunted and fed and toyed with the human world for thousands of years in relative peace and surprising obscurity. Her furred curves and that wicked grin had influenced men and women of power and the course of history in small and subtle ways the world over. So how could it be that one man with a wild shock of green hair and the light of the sun in his eyes had upset the balance of her whole existence so profoundly' It was positively infuriating. Despite all she'd been through since that first taste of his powerful essence, and all she was likely to go through to continue tasting it, she'd claimed him as her own.

For the hellcat who regretted nothing, this came dangerously close. It had been impulse and perhaps just the smallest measure of relief to be once again so close to the unending supply of vital essence locked in his very attractive human form. There had been no room for rational thought when she'd laid her claim on him in the dark tongue and sealed it with the strike of her teeth, but there were very serious consequences she had not even begun to work out yet in her over-wrought little mind that set her nerves on edge and made her truly fearful for the first time in a millennia.

For the human vessel the immediate consequences of her actions would be minimal. The marks from her bite would likely heal, and he would feel no unnatural binding or allegiance to her as a result of what she had done— the incantation did not work in that way. Any attachment that formed would be the workings of his own heart and mind, just as strong or as changeable as he allowed them to be. The marking was for her benefit, though it would afford him a measure of protection. Any being of demonic or celestial nature with the intent to draw from his essence would know the scent of her in his blood. To trespass on a marking was an unmistakable act of hostility that was certain to be answered with swift finality.

Even now she could feel the connection strongly as she turned her thoughts to it. It was a spark of their combined essence drawn and shaped by the force of her will into the thinnest of gossamer threads that spanned the whole of space and time, linking her to him. Like fingers on a harp string, she plucked the delicate cord and listened in silence as it rang out through the darkness to reveal him as he moved through the symphony of earthly existence. There was no place now on Earth, in Hell or even in Heaven itself she could not find him so long as some part of him willed it so.

Essence could always be taken by force, and humans had been bound as unwilling servitors since the Fall, but there was infinitely more power in essence that was freely given. Andrealphus had long since forgotten this truth in his dogged pursuit of power and position. He was the Prince of Lust, charged by Lucifer himself with the guardianship of that Word, but it's full meaning had been lost to him. If you consumed the source of your lust completely, what was left to be desired in the end" To turn the human over to Andre was to lose him forever. He would either be taken as an unwilling servitor for the essence he would give over time, or be burned out completely in a single acquisition, if that was even possible. Either way, she would never feel the strength of his energies added to her own, never feel the rend of her flesh beneath his teeth and claws or see the light of the sun in eyes bereft of sanity and reason again.

It was clear to her now— either Andre's perversion of his Word or the threat of the energies he was amassing would soon draw Lucifer's attention. When that day came, either Andrealphus would have the strength and support to overthrow the Dark Father, or he and his servitors would be destroyed for their insurrection. If she turned over the human it could tip the balance in the Prince of Lust's favor, but she would lose him entirely. Even with his limitless energies they could not be assured of a victory against the Princes sure to align themselves with Lucifer. If they failed, they would all be destroyed.

In the end, the decision was not so very difficult after all. Though she would exact a heavy price in demonic favors in exchange for her protection, Lilith's Word was Freedom. She had no need or desire for bound servitors or tributes, and she took only the purest of essence given freely from the source. Distanced from the political conspiracies of Hell, she was favored by Lucifer and supported by those who sought his favor, as well. If the hellcat chose to align herself with Lilith she would be sheltered from Andre's wrath— but more importantly than this, the essence she had grown to love so dearly and the human vessel would remain hers.

In the darkness she gave another loving stroke to the thread that linked her to him.

He was worth any price she would be required to pay.