Ben himself had been hiding in the shadows, eyes wide as he saw the girl from the night before enter Daemien's home. He didn't know what it meant, but it was clear from his Master's body language and his infamous glare that he wasn't happy about her arrival. He winced as he bit too hard on his thumb, quickly popping it into his mouth to not give any hints to Daemien that he was there watching. He saw the Blood King's gaze follow over the shadows of the warehouses, stepping back further into the darkest parts of the alley as he leaned against the outside wall a building. He heard the door close in the distance as he pulled that bloodied thumb from his mouth, leaving it to clot on it's own. Crimson hues hid once more behind their protective lids, his raven head tilting back against the wall as he gnashed his teeth together. I'll let enough moments pass to not raise suspicion of my arrival and hers.. But not a moment more.

The immortal wasn't pleased with herself, playiing with his sickness like that... Still, it had to be done to protect Ben. That was the type of person she was, someone who would do just about anything to insure the safety of others, and she didn't know Ben all that well, but she liked him. So, she gave Daemien a final, almost apologetic crinkle of her expression, and then she moved off to the kitchen.

Eva came to the doorway of the living room, giving Martyr a tilt of her head as she looked upon her curiously. She watched the reaper head to the kitchen, turning her gaze on Daemien questioningly with a brow raised. A low, warning growl tore from his lips as he let out a hushed whisper, striding toward the living room as he moved past her. "It changes nothing," he promised, perhaps more to himself than Eva as he moved to return to his chair. His gaze drifted to where the wall held the kitchen on the other side, his expression more than a bit grumpy.

The fear-ridden vampire ran his hands over his face, psyching himself up for the upcoming conversation, perhaps even meeting his own death. The urge to run again was strong in his bones, but he was tired of running from his King, tired of fear ruling over him and breaking his code of honor. It was one of the few things he still cherished, something he'd felt torn from over the past couple centuries, through no fault but his own. He let out a wavering breath from lungs that didn't need it, crimsons opening as he turned them to the home that had his spine tingling with fearful anticipation. This needs to be done. If you are to die tonight, you'll die with dignity and closure.. As will he. He turned to the opening between the two buildings, that pallid, tall and lanky man striding out of the shadows and made his slow approach to the front door.

It changes everything. Martyr had found the knives before, so it didn't really take much time to select one. "F-finding a knife~ finding a knife~ shiney and beautiful, no it can't be dull, it's gotta slice~" she sang softly to the tune of an infamous Little Mermaid song. She moved to grab a glass and moved over to the sink, setting the glass inside and humming all the way.

He'd made it to the chair, but it was anticipation that kept him from taking a seat. He felt too restless from the upcoming meeting and the lack of hunting. It was the approaching feeling of Ben that had his steps pausing and turning toward the doorway of the living room once more. Eva's gaze met his the moment he stopped pacing his restless legs, giving him that questionable look like is it him this time? A slow nod to her before he lifted his chin to have her meet Ben by the door. "Let him in, I have something to do first." He'd expected Ben to take his sweet time, perhaps wait until the last moment of the King's patience. As Eva nodded once, heading for the door at a steady but brisk pace, he followed after her. They turned in opposite directions, her to the front door and him toward the kitchen. Passing through the doorway, he snickered at her song. Interrupting, "my company will be here in a moment." He noted to her, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood behind her a few feet back. "I expect you to not intervene with business." There was warning in his tone, his jaw set as his gaze bore into her back. He'd seen the way she'd reacted to Ben, and didn't trust her to not get in the way if the conversation went south or he didn't feel satisfied with the explanation.

As his pace slowed the closer he got to the door, his fist started to rise, hesitant and trembling as he was about to knock. A slow breath drawn and exhaled roughly, cheeks puffing out as he readied himself. This is it.

"Finding a knife is the first step~ Into the sink so you don't make a mess!" Positioning the glass and swaying a little bit. Had anyone ever seemed so cheery while about to bury a knife into their flesh? Well, if not, they had now! "Now to have a brain and not clog the drai--" When he interupted her, she snapped her head in that direction and smiled. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! ...EXPECTED! ...Aw nuts. Eyes trailed to him and she gave a little bit of a nod. Cheeks puffed out for a moment as she looked at her wrist and then one of her fingers. If I cut a finger off it'll probably bleed more, but then I'll have a limb to dispose of...

As Ben's hand rose to knock, the door was opened by Eva, a prompt. "Hello, Benjamin. He's expecting you, come in." Proper as ever, she was far friendlier than the air that surrounded the Blood King at the moment. She welcomed him in, extending a hand toward the interior of the home in a much friendly manner than Dae had to Martyr. Daemien on the other hand, was peering at her. Those cold eyes narrowed slightly at her nod, silent for a moment before he turned his head at the sound of footsteps moving toward the livingroom. Another glance shot towards Martyr, oblivious to her internal reverie before he shook his head. "Pain in my ass..." he muttered, turning to the doorway as he took a calming --or as calm as he could get-- breath. You promised to listen. Don't tear him apart on sight.

"Thank you," holding the demeanor of a proper, french butler as he bowed his head to Daemien's pet. She wasn't old, that much he could tell. Due to her friendliness and seeming... fresh faced, he would assumed she was rather young. To her instructing gesture, he entered, pausing once inside until she'd shut the door. Daemien's angry presence was enough to send shivers down his spine as he held his composure, following the pet toward the living room. A fleeting glance was shot toward the kitchen where he felt the presence strongest, but he quickly followed Eva until she'd instructed him to take a seat on the couch until Daemien finished whatever he was doing.

Yeah, but she was his favorite pain in the ass, and he couldn't deny that. Eyes squeezed shut as she worked a little bit faster with Daemien gone. She held her limb over the glass and cut into the veiniest part of it, watching the blood spurt and ooze out. "This is painful, this is pain fuuulll!~" she sang softly as she held open the wound and watched her blood drain into the glass. "This is not fun, but it's gotta be done so Dae keeps his coool~" she bit into her lip and continued humming. Almost halfway there already before she twisted the knife a bit.

On his way to the living room, those softly sung lyrics spilled to his sensitive ears as he couldn't hold back the roll of his eyes. It was difficult to keep a serious expression when she was making a fool of herself in the kitchen. He grumbled something inaudible under his breath as he entered through the doorway of the living room.

Sitting for only a matter of seconds, his posture rigidly straight as his fingers lightly tapped on his suit-covered knees. The sight of his King had him rising to his feet and bowing his head respectfully, swallowing down his nervousness. "Blood King," he spoke formally, assuming they'd lost their friendly greetings at present.

His hand rose, hardly looking at him as he clenched his teeth. "Sit down, Benjamin." No nicknames, no pleasantries, no questions about the weather or the 'how have you been?' generic questions. Straight down to business, as he preferred it. Eva had pulled his chair in front of the couch, a good distance away to not be too close, but close enough. He moved across the floor fluidly, taking a seat as he watched Ben do the same. Finally, his cold gaze lifted to his ex-adviser, staring blatantly as he waited for Martyr's blood to 'keep his cool'. Images and urges to tear the betrayer apart was written all over his face as his steely gaze bore into the vampire before him.

"You're very skilled, it's stunning," her smile was warm though it was only half paying attention. In case Mar couldn't hear, the vampiress curled her hand into a fist beneath her arm but easily within view of the reaper as her thumb lifted in the air, pointing upward to signal that things hadn't gone south the moment they left the room. She kept that thumb in the air, ready to turn it downward the moment that conversation --if it did-- went south. "Perhaps I could persuade you to make me one," she laughed softly, her head turning as she continued to listen in.

Ben was spilling information that the Blood King was already well aware of from Mira herself. He'd known that Thanatos had shown herself to cease the destruction he'd caused all those years ago. Many people forgot that the twins conversed as much as they did. His hand rose to silence him, lowering the glass to his knee. "Enough." He snarled, staring at him for a couple seconds before continuing. "I know why you did what you did. I'm not angry about your snitching to my sister anymore. I've had plenty of time to get over that.." he sneered at the Ashen, his gaze colder than ever. "What I want to know is why it took you over two centuries to approach me." Though many believed that Daemien was angry with Benjamin for running to Mira, it wasn't. He'd been angry at first like any villain who's planned had been foiled, but he'd gotten over it with sound logic beaten into his head from the Crimson Dusk. It was the centuries that past, leaving him to brood about his rogue vampire that had him so angry with the man.

His voice fell silent the moment his King's hand rose, well versed in the ways of obedience by him. He flinched at the snarled word, growing rigid as he'd expected him to lunge in that moment. When he didn't, continuing on, he relaxed some. At least until he realized that it wasn't the action he'd made those years ago that had his Master so angry... it was his hiding from him. He swallowed hard, that realization hitting him like a ton of bricks. His words came out quivering, having prepared his words to explain why he'd 'betrayed' his king. He didn't think about what Daemien asked of him. Swallowing the lump in his throat that seemed reluctant to leave, "I-I... Sire..." he stammered, caught off guard as he worked to find a reason. His head bowed in disappointment and shame as he softly admitted, "I was a coward, sire.. I knew you would be angry with me, and I abandoned my honor and dignity... I ran away from you expecting to meet the fate of B-..." he paused, the tension in Dae's jaw telling him not to bring up the other two. "...the others. I wanted to approach you, I did. To beg for your forgiveness... But I have no other reason other than cowardice and shame of disappointment keeping me from your graces.." his voice was soft, but audible as he tried to keep those guilt-ridden hues on his Master.

The immortal was only getting a few words at a time, she puffed out her cheeks, and then sort of lit up when Eva held her thumb up. She let out a sigh of relief, eyes dancing from the thumb, to Evalyn's eyes. "Of c-course I w-will m-make you one," she smiled softly. "W-what c-colors d-do you l-like?" she asked. "It's the l-least I c-can do since y-you're always l-letting me b-borrow your cl-clothes.." Hell, it was only a matter of time before she accidentally destroyed one of those borrowed outfits.

Caramel orbs moved to Mar when she looked in her direction, a soft and reassuring smile that they were on the same side when it came to Ben. Perhaps she hoped herself that Daemien would turn around, or perhaps hoped through what Dae had told her that Ben could reason with him. She, like Ben minus the cowardice, didn't want anything to happen to her Master. And with the way he was, she knew it was only a matter of time before something came after him. "Greens, browns, earthly colors," she mused, keeping an ear out for the conversation as well as keeping up with the conversation between the two of them. "They work well with my skin," she laughed softly before shaking her head. "And it's no problem..." those words drifted off as her brows furrowed to how the conversation had changed, gaze drifting away as she seemed to concentrate. Ben was speaking softly and it was harder for her to hear.

Ben's admittance of fear and cowardice had his teeth clenching, but some respect that he'd been honest. It didn't change the fact that having a part of his counsel on the run made him look bad, look weak. As his standing, he couldn't have that. "Have you any idea how that made me look, Benjamin?" His head tilted, having nearly downed the glass of blood, one thing that was keeping him collected enough to listen. How long it would last, he didn't know. "To have a part of my counsel, someone of your standing in my counsel, who knew far more secrets than any other, fled? Remained hidden? For all I knew, you'd become a traitor." His jaw was set, his gaze narrowing dangerously as a low growl rolled through his chest.

He listened when his turn to speak was over, flinching visibly at the word 'traitor'. "Sire, I would never betray you like that. I kept every secret, every plan you told me locked on my tongue feverishly." His words were always spoken properly, his body growing rigid yet again at the growl. "Not even to Mira did I mention what you'd been planning, only that you were falling into a tyranny that I could not pull you away from or reason with. No plans were uttered..." he winced as he called it a tyranny, but there was no other word for it. So many innocents... He swallowed hard, nearly trembling as he felt the atmosphere shift, that riling anger in his Master. "I ran as a coward, but I would never turn the route of traitor. If you let me gain your trust again, I will not make the same mistake twice.."

The immortal frowned lightly, she'd never made a dress of earthy colors. She was always one to use warm, bright, happy colors. Occasionally she'd pull together some baby blue and purple, as she was on this particular day, but dammit! They were still happy! She got to thinking about that for a long, hard moment. Trees were happy! They gave a lot of animals homes. Grass was, too. Even dirt, she knew a good place to get fabric... There was a determined little look on her face before she gave a firm nod. "Then I w-will m-make you a pr-pretty d-dress," she said, cheeks puffing out as her lips pursed. Her fists were balled up, and she gave another nod. I can do it... Then she trailed off thinking about the look that was now resting on Eva's face. "W-what?" eyes drifted to her thumb.

A fleeting glance was sent to Mar, a soft smile as she nodded her head in return. "I believe your talent," she responded. When the reaper questioned, she merely shook her head but the thumb remained up right. She could feel the turmoil in her Master like a wave, shifting her weight uncomfortably that thumb didn't budge just yet.

He sighed, tipping the glass back as he swallowed the last of the blood. "I want to believe you, Benjamin... I really do. You were a trusted adviser, and a good one. I perhaps would've even considered you a close friend," he admitted, leaning forward as he lowered his glass to the floor, next to the chair leg. "But you see..." his arm pulled away from the glass, his gaze lowered to the floor as he spoke. "I have no place for cowards in my flock. The risk is far too much than I'm willing to take." His tone was almost deadly calm, and like a viper himself, movement far to swift to be natural, he was lunging from his chair. He moved to his feet, rushing forward as within a matter of a few small seconds, his hand clasped around the vampire's throat, lifting him with ease to his feet then into the air above his head. His grip was firm as he held his kin in the air, glancing over his shoulder with ferocity in his hazel orbs as he looked to the clock. "Time's up..."

His breath came out shaky as he heard the words, as if he knew what was coming. Daemien was a brute, a savage, he was never calm... not unless he was done with you altogether. His crimsons were hidden behind his lids as he felt the shift in air as the Blood King lunged, managing to mutter, "I'm sorry, my King," before his throat was grabbed and he was lifted into the air. He didn't even struggle as he felt his feet leave the floor, regardless of the two inches of height he had on Daemien. His hand came to the wrist holding him by reflex, but he didn't seem overly uncomfortable as he didn't need to breath, leaving the gesture not so much as strangling the air out of him... it was the pressure to his throat that made it difficult to swallow, made his throat ache from the grip.

Eva's eyes snapped wide as she heard the movement of someone, the muttered words of Ben's time being up. Those eyes turned suddenly to Mar, that thumb immediately turning toward the floor.

Eyes trailed up to him, their noses practically pressed together as she narrowed her eyes right back at him. When he asked what made her sure, those eyes softened, that same weak, kind nature filling those violets. "B-because.. I c-can t-tell," she whispered. "If there w-wasn't s-something there... I w-would have g-given up on y-you," she said with those soft eyes looking away for a moment. "I w-wouldn't have m-made that d-deal with you.. I kn-know that it's easier t-to w-want p-people t-to go away than t-to get h-hurt.. B-but... You're b-better than that... and if I'm w-wrong, then.." Martyr blinked away some tears in her eyes and sniffled inwardly. "Then k-kill him, b-but... You have to k-kill me f-first," she whispered. She reached for the pendant of clear fluid dangling around her neck and tossed it aside, looking defeated and turning her back to him. "P-poison.. any k-kind..." she croaked. "You c-can b-break a bottle with alcohol in it and c-cut m-me with it. That'll k-keep me f-from c-coming b-back."

Eva had made her way toward the living room, hugging her arms around her as she stared with wide eyes to the conversation being had. She'd heard most of it from the kitchen floor, but it was Mar's admission that had brought her out, had her looking between the three. She knew she didn't stand a snowflake's chance in hell against them. She was weak compared to all three, Ben included. He had a good few centuries of being a vampire on her. All she could do was stand and watch, silently hope that he wouldn't do it.

He stared at her, that steely gaze fixated on her the entire time. If not her eyes, relentless as ever, then when she flung the pendant of fluid. The news of her telling him her weakness, it hit him hard. He thought she was an idiot, completely for thinking to trust him with that information. He snickered when she turned her back, and on principle, he turned away from her. Hardly a glance was shot to Eva, mainly because he could feel her stare boring into his back as he made his way to a glass that was still wet from a drink Eva had made him. The one abandoned before he'd told her to get him blood instead. He picked it up, looking at the small amount of liquid that glistened at the bottom. He tilted it back and forth in his hand, but one thing she'd told him stood out, one thing that was now battering around in his head. It's easier to want people to go away than to get hurt.. He grit his teeth, thinking of Boo, Mira, even Ramsey and Hydro. It was easier to want them to go away, to abandon and give up on him. It would make him feel better about those dark thoughts that slithered through his head late at night. A shaky breath expelled from his nose, he lowered the glass. Without so much as a glance over his shoulder at the two. "Go. Both of you. Before I change my mind," he growled, crimson returning their hazel hue as his anger slowly left him. "You're useless to me dead." he amended, not willing to admit even in the slightest that he'd shown mercy.

Her words had the Ashen staring up at her back, shaking his head slowly as he looked from her to Daemien. "No," a soft whisper that went unheard as he internally beat the hell out of himself for not standing up and doing something, that he was letting his fear control him again. The hold Daemien had on the vampire was strong, especially in the presence of him. When she turned around, he looked up to her, shaking his head as he begged her with his eyes to leave. To get the hell out of there, wondering why she would admit that weakness to him. He didn't know what kind of mindset Dae was in, he didn't know if it was like before when he'd turned Lich, became uncaring and even tried to kill Mira and the entire Dusk. "Get out," he mouthed to her, pausing and stiffening as fear tore through him as he watched Daemien walk away to go get something. It was the words that had him staring at the Blood King's back, having fully expected to die. Not only die, but betray his entire moral standing and honor by someone dying unnecessarily with him.

The immortal wasn't quite sure if he'd do it, but she made no move to run or try to beg. She sank down to her knees and waited, waited for him to make that decision. It might've seemed like an almost selfish act, risking the lives of countless people after she died for the one soul in front of her. If he killed her, he truly was a monster, and she'd unleashed him on the world. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that someone would go after him for it, if not an entire village of people. Phoenix, Emlen... Possibly even her father. She lowered those pretty eyes and waited. Then he made that decision, and her eyes opened, her expression softened, and her hands were held out to Ben. "C-come on," she whispered.

Eva's own gaze softened as she looked at Daemien, then to the two on the floor. Her hands came up, curling to try to get them to come to her so she could push them out. She didn't want to take the chance of her Master changing his mind.

He kept his back to them, not wanting the sight of them to trigger another bout of rage. His expression was cold as he stared at the wall, his shoulders and chest rising and falling as he wanted nothing more than to tear the entire room apart. He knew such mercy made him look weak, went against every he forced himself to stand for. It was a move that Mira would've done, and he hated that. He was supposed to be worse than her.

Ben's crimson gaze lingered on his King's back, a glint of longing, of want to make up for what he'd done in any way possible. For now, he knew it was best to leave him be. Whatever was going through his head wasn't something he wanted them to see or know about. He swallowed, and though he took Mar's hands, he quickly righted himself, aiming to pull her to her feet. He'd already been a coward, he refused to go against everything else he stood for. He looked then to Eva, who was waiting to bring them to the door and he nodded, looking down at Martyr and shaking his head. He wanted to say something, but didn't dare let his own voice anger Daemien again. His hand moved to the center between her shoulder blades, nodding his head toward the doorway as he gave a final glance to Daemien, sadness and endless apologies before he turned his gaze away.

Martyr was sure that she was going to suffer for this later, she only hoped Eva didn't. Pulled to her feet, she took a glance to Daemien, but she didn't smile or put on that cocky face. She could read the damn room, alright? She looked to Eva, and gave a quick nod, moving on over to go to the door, and straight on out behind Ben. She mouthed a thank you to Eva, and she couldn't express it in words. She'd sew her a fuck ton of dresses for this one. She started out as quickly as she possibly could.

She strode after them, glancing over at Daemien before ushering them out of the door before that bit of mercy was turned around. She'd find out if she was in trouble later, but for now, she was just glad no one had died that night. Whispering to Martyr, "thank you." She nodded to them both as she closed the door, coming back to an empty living room when she returned, she picked up the pendant Mar had flung. Collecting the chain in her hands as she silently promised she'd give it back the next time she saw the reaper. A glance to Daemien's closed bedroom door explained why the living room was empty of his presence.

Ben kept his hand on the reaper's back the whole time they were out, offering a nod and a silent apology as they made their departure. Once out the door, his hand slid away. "I owe you my life," he shook his head, but didn't look pleased with the situation. He despised the fact he'd allowed her to stick her neck out for him like that, didn't have the strength to stand up to Daemien in the face of an innocent woman. He swallowed hard, not being impolite enough to not thank her for her efforts. "Thank you.. for everything. I will find a way to repay you."

There was a worried look back to Eva, and she gave a stunted little nod. Then they were out, and she hadn't rightly expected them to both get out alive. She looked a bit dazed, and then Ben was talking. She listened to him, and forced a smile onto her fragile featured face, "D-don't w-worry about it," she whispered giving a soft shake of her head and attempting to put a hand on the man's shoulder. "I'm j-just g-glad you're okay," she said with a nod of that curly-maned head. "D-do you n-need anything? A p-place t-to stay?"

A fleeting glance over his shoulder toward one of the boarded windows, he was still rigid standing there. Her hand on his shoulder pulled his attention, crimsons drifting over to her. "I'm glad you're okay as well, madame.." it was pretty clear he hadn't expected either of them to get out of there either. His head shook, one of his hands pulling free the tie that was holding his long raven locks out of his face. "I have burdened you enough, miss. I will find my own way from here. Thank you for your generosity, however. You've been far too kind, even perhaps a bit recklessly so." A soft smile was forced onto his own narrow features, turning his gaze away as it scanned the streets.

Once he got to know her, it wouldn't really seem so odd. Most people that did know her, just kinda learned to expect it out of the immortal. Which...wasn't always great. Alright, we need a meat shield. Everybody looks at Martyr. Okay, that didn't happen...yet. The smile stayed on her face and she nodded, "Y-yes, I s-suppose it w-was r-reckless, b-but.. I know a g-g-good c-cause when I s-see one.. He'll b-be g-grumpy for a w-while but he'll g-get over it." With all the confidence in the world.