-----------------------------

The night went on, and they finished what was left in the containers. It was easy to assume they both had more booze than blood, and now Millie was leaning on Diana like a drunken idiot. "Whaaaat?" she asked with a shake of her head. "That guy was lookin' at me funny! He had that punch coming!" she was silent for a long moment before cackling. "Okay maybe not the second one," she muttered....and he wasn't looking at her funny, he was smiling because he thought she was cute. Thought.

Millie was leaning on Diana, and the slightly taller woman and her arm bent awkwardly around the girl's shoulders. She still had an empty glass in her hand from the bar. She might've stolen it, or she might've simply forgotten she'd had it in her hand. Her shoulders shook with laughter as she shook her head. "He was a punk ass bitch, and totally deserved the punch. Both of them. He might not have deserved the kidney punch though.." She squinted through that shifting blur of her drunken vision. You kidney punched him, Diana. "...Okay he probably did. He had a stupid mustache. Fucker looked like a walrus. But not nearly as cute." She scrunched her face, swerving a bit in her steps like a car going off road.

Giggling, she paused in her steps with her brows furrowed when it felt like a brush of electric wind spread over the entire street. Lifting her head, she looked around in confusion. ".... Did you feel that, Mil?..." Her arm slid away from the woman's shoulders, only to shake her head. "Man, I think I drank too much.. I don't feel so good.."

"The kidney pun--..." Millie squinted at her for a moment and lifted her finger, "...you did that, not me!" The overly affectionate drunk leaned over and rested her forehead against Diana's cheek, before giving it a light smooch. "I fuckin' love you, bitch." Then Diana swerved and spoke those words, and she felt it, too. She deflated and went down to rest her elbows on her knees, head dropping for a second. "No, I feel it, too..." Millie muttered softly, a little groan leaving her. "Feels like... When Dae--..." she stopped herself. "When he took too much blood..."
Daemien...?

"I did not..." Blink. "Ohhh yeahhh, I did," she giggled, seeming to remember now. She made a face at the affectionate drunk, rolling her eyes to the cheek smooch. "Oh god, you're a sappy drunk," she laughed, but didn't really seem bothered by it.

But that went down the drain when that gust of... something... hit them. Clutching her hand to her stomach, her cheeks puffed out like she was going to vomit. Stumbling a bit, she shook her head slowly as a wave of vertigo hit her. "God, I haven't... felt like this since..." She couldn't even think straight between whatever had just come over them and the booze in her system. "I just.. feel so tired..." But not a sleepy kind of tired. A weakened tired. Suddenly, it felt like too much effort to stand or really lift her arms.

Withdrawals from Martyr's reaper blood had him in one hell of a trip. He managed to get some from Speck...but.. that hadn't gone all that well. What little he managed to get lessened the blow, but it still left him with quivering chills, nausea and irritable pain like the world's worst case of the flu: Blood King style.

He'd been laying on the couch with his head in Eva's lap after she forced him to lay down and relax, forced a blanket on him and told him to stop bitching. He wasn't asleep, but he kept his eyes closed against the headache that pierced his temples when he opened them.

The moment Millie's voice echoed through his mind, his brows dipped low and a convulsion of shivers left him hissing. Millie? What's going on? Even in his head, he sounded grumpy.

An almost unwilling whine left Millie's lips as she fought to push herself to a full stand. "What the hell is happening?" she asked. She was almost sobered by the damn incident, it wasn't fun anymore. I don't know... It feels like everything just got heavier... Diana feels it, too? Her mind called out to him, and then logic kicked in. "Listen, we need to get home..." Millie told her, "Fast." This walk was going to suck?

Martyr had started off on the bed, having been put up there. That seemed to be too far away from Dae, though. So she'd tottled downstairs, dragging her feet right up to the love-seat and flopped down there. All she seemed to do was sleep, barely got up to feet. When the wave finally hit the house, Martyr's eyes opened just barely. She'd been belly down on the love-seat, with her arms and legs sprawled beside her, and her head turned to face the room. She let out a weakened little whine, and rolled over, curling up in a tight little ball taking up a single cushion.

Clutching her stomach, she groaned and stumbled to the side. Catching herself on a trash can, she leaned over it and spilled that bloody liquor behind it. Between the vertigo and exhaustion feeling, it was too much for the drunk. Though when the tank seemed to be empty and she stopped dry heaving, she pushed herself upright and swiped her mouth with her forearm. "God, that tastes so fucking gross coming back up," she made a face, shaking her head. She felt a bit better, at least on the nausea part. A bit more sober. Looking over her shoulder to Millie, she nodded. "Let's get off the streets. I don't know what the fuck is going on, but I don't like it." With her hand to her stomach, she made her way back to Millie's side. Only to pause at the sound of approaching footsteps.

"I don't think that's going to happen, ladies," came the voice of a man behind them. There was tittering and snickering from what seemed to be a woman with him.

It was difficult to feel the change in his current state.. but there was still that subtle change. He felt a bit weaker, but he didn't think much of it. He figured it was just another spike in the withdrawals. His eyes stayed squeezed shut, grumbling under his breath. Millie... I can barely hear you.. Now that.. that worried him. The connection wasn't all that clear, weakened and no more than a whisper that kept cutting in and out like static in a phone call. Get home, Millie. Now. Forcing his eyes open, he winced at the pain that spiked in his temples before he glanced to Martyr who seemed to be curled into a tight ball, only to look up at Eva. "..Millie thinks there's trouble. Do you feel it?"

Eva was just glad she was sitting down when the wave hit the house, instantly feeling weakened from the sweep. For a long moment, she just raised her hand and closed her eyes, thinking she needed to feed until Martyr's whine had her looking in that direction. Then Daemien's voice. ".. I feel weak. It just.. hit me.." Concern flickered through her eyes as she frowned down to Dae. "Where's Millie and Diana?"

Millie gave her head a rough shake. "...there's something wrong, I can't hear him..." she whispered softly. She really didn't need to, not to know what he said. "Yeah, come on..." Millie muttered and started off, only to tense by the sound of those footsteps and voice from the man, and the awful giggling from the woman. She turned quickly, because... Well, she wouldn't care if her back was broken, she didn't let any man stay behind her. Millie didn't let on that she was weak, she put those teeth on full display. "Back off!" A growl tore through her throat.

Chocolate eyes drifted to the girls, but she was silent aside from those amused, almost condescending giggles which only seemed to grow with Millie's little warning growl. It seemed like she just thought it was the cutest thing in the world.

"Whatever it is.. we.." she didn't get to finish that sentence. Tensing instantly at the steps, then the voice of the man. She turned with a taut jaw as a growl bubbled up from her throat. "Says who? You?" She scoffed, looking between the man and woman through narrowed slits. Whatever was going on, she didn't like it. "Millie.." she muttered, glancing over to the woman before shifting her gaze back to the two. "Let's go," her hand came out to grasp the girl's wrist, tugging her back as she walked backwards.

"Ohhh," a mocking gasp pouring from the man's lips before he sneered at Millie. "We've got a feisty one," his shoulders shifting as if he was feigning a shiver. Glancing to the woman beside him, he gave a smile that was all teeth and sharp lips. "We've got ourselves a couple vamps." Shifting his gaze back to Millie's exposed teeth, only for a... stake. Yes, a stake. That was what he pulled out of the inside of his jacket, clutching it in his hand. "Ah, ah, ah," he tsked when Diana started backing up. "And miss the party? Why would you wanna do that?" He barked a rough laugh that seemed almost crazed. There was a flash in his eyes as he took a step forward. "Come on, let's play." And he charged.

"I... I need to go get them," he grunted, shoving the blanket off himself as he started getting to his feet. He stumbled a bit in his weakened state that had nothing to do with what was going on tonight.

Eva blinked rapidly as if that could help her keep her eyes open. What did the trick was Daemien getting up, her chin lifted to stare at him, shaking her head to immediately object. "No. Dae, you're weak."

That word forced a growl from him, a glare shot to the woman as he carried on toward the fireplace. Reaching up, he tore his old short spears from the plaque that was posted there. Pausing, he teetered when the dizziness hit him.

"You know what I mean," she sighed when he growled to her, casting a glance to Martyr curled up on the couch. Forcing herself to her feet even though her knees wobbled, she made a slow approach and put her hand on his chest. "You called them, right? They'll be home soon. If you go out there, that's risking something happening to you too. I don't know what's going on.. but there's got to be a reason why this is happening. And it's not a good one."

Breathing shakily with his eyes closed, he heaved a growl that turned his stomach. He didn't like any of this, but Eva was right. If something was going on, he was putting them all at risk by putting his ass on the line. Clenching his jaw, he growled and tossed the spears aside. "Get in the basement, Eva." Looking to Martyr, "... you too."

When that stake was pulled out, she snorted. "Really? We got a regular Buffy over here?" Then...logic kicked in, a stake to the heart was still a steak to the fucking heart. Another snarl was barked as she backed up with the tugging on her wrist. Swallowing hard, she began to look between the two. Just as the crazy-eyed girl was pulling out her own stake. "You don't want to play with us, we play rough..." she warned with a feral little growl, but still seemed to be backing the hell up.

A fit of giggles left the girl as she worked her own weapon out. She was oh-so-amused by Millie, it seemed. "I'm going to take those pretty eyes as a trophy... My first Monster Hunt," she said, that awful, wicked expression cut in two by a sadistic smirk. "Maybe I'll just take the whole head..."

When Daemien addressed her, one eye peeked open at him. The lazy feral let out a slight grunt, somewhat at him, somewhat at the spears clattering across the floor. "Nappppp...." she groaned, stretched and sprawled. Another little whine left her. If she didn't feel like moving before, she sure in hell didn't feel like moving now.

She didn't say anything about the stakes, because it was true. A stake to the heart was still a fucking stake to the heart. She hissed through her teeth, backing up with Millie until the man charged. Her eyes snapped wide, knowing there was no other way out of this. "Millie! Run, I'll hold 'em off!" She barked, only to do what had Daemien's interest piqued to begin with. She growled and used whatever energy she had left to rush him head on like a damn linebacker.

The grumpy Blood King (who was considerably more grumpy with the withdrawals it seemed) wanted nothing to do with Martyr's objections. Growling low in his belly, he nodded to the basement to Eva. "Open the door," he snarled, moving over to the love-seat the reaper-gone-vampire was curled up on. "I wasn't asking Martyr," grabbing the girl, he steadied himself before hoisting the girl over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Bad time to be a pain in the ass, Mar.. he thought, shaking his head as a wash of vertigo hit him and he almost stumbled, catching himself on the side of the couch. Taking a shaky breath, he started for the basement. Dae... was not a pleased Blood King right about now.

The walk home was almost agonizing. She'd insisted on walking part of the way, but Micah scooped her up in his arms after a very short while. You're hurt. I'm carrying you. Just tell me where to go. She hadn't seen him look so serious, so stern in her entire life. The streets were chaos, and after he'd scooped her up, the gentle giant was booking ass with her in his arms. She'd tucked her head against him and let her eyes fall shut. There was a small part of her--a greedy part--that was upset that he hadn't come sooner. If he had, Diana might not be... Pain radiated in her dead heart, leaving Diana dead on the street. How had this night gone so terribly wrong? She didn't understand... What the hell had happened? Why did she feel so damned weak? Why did they attack in that moment? It was almost as if they knew?

Micah came up on the house with a bit of her guidance, "This place...? Really?" Giving it another look, he raised his brow and shook his head in a defeated way, "Alright..." He moved closer to it, and pushed the door open. He had to awkwardly juggle Millie and the door knob, but he made it through. His hand came back up to cradle her head. "It's alright, Mil.. We made it..." Wherever it is?

Eva had calmed down after a while, falling quiet as she looped both her arms around one of his. It was like a strange vampire moment of silence for Diana. Something he wouldn't really understand, but he appreciated the silence nonetheless. He didn't want to talk right now, he was intently listening for any possible mental call from Millie. Any hint that she was alive or somewhere safe. I already lost one, I don't want to lose two tonight.

But the moment he felt his underling nearing that door, the feel dulled by her weakness that seemed to have affected all of them but him. Or maybe it had and he hadn't noticed over the sickening feeling of the withdrawals. But his nostrils flared as he caught the scent of someone who wasn't familiar to him. A growl tore from his throat as he slipped out of Eva's grasp and moved Mar's head off his lap. "Stay with Martyr," he barked the order to Eva, swaying a bit off balance and lifted his hand to silence any objections from the team Mom before he caught onto the railing and used it to climb those stairs two at a time.

Reaching the basement door, he burst out of it, bending as he stumbled a bit to scoop up a spear he'd tossed aside earlier. His cheeks puffed as he fought a wave of nausea, moving on to the hallway.

Micah nudged the door shut with his foot and kept her in his arms despite the way she squirmed and struggled. "Will you stop?" he huffed at her. "I guess dying hasn't made you any less..." Brows furrowed slightly, and damn it if the pretty guy couldn't think of the word he was looking for. Those eyes moved to the dreaded vampire holding the spear and he turned his body to the side. Not turning his back on him, but more of his shoulder, looking over it as he tucked Millie out of range.

"...Stubborn?" she asked, raising a brow. Millie did stop struggling though. She wanted downnn. She wanted to walkkkk. Following his gaze toward Daemien, her eyes widened. Shit. Their connection was so damned weak, that she couldn't really give him a heads-up. "Dae.. Don't." Peeking out from the way Micah was holding her. "...stop, idiot. He's not going to hurt me, but he will hurt you." A sharp hiss.

At the moment... He wasn't really all that intimidating other than.. well, the way he naturally looked. However, with the withdrawals and whatever was going on that night, the effort he'd made that left him exhausted. His tan skin looked somewhat ashen, he wasn't really standing all that straight. He probably looked downright drunk. But that didn't mean he wouldn't flop-impale something, dammit.

Though breaking through that entryway, he paused in something of a lean to the frame as he clutched that old companion of a spear he'd brought with him from Purgatory so long ago.

The sight of the giant had him furrowing his brows, but he could smell human on him. He was weak, but he was somewhat.. kinda.. positive he could take on a human giant. Maybe. Okay, he wasn't too confident at the moment. He might be able to distract by puking on him though! It was Millie's words that made him pause, flicking that dulled hazel gaze to the girl then up to the big guy. "... One hell of a ride home, Mil," he breathed, but still looked edgy and on guard. "...You sure he's alright?" Distrust was clear on the Blood King as he eyed him, seeming reluctant to put down his spear.


Vampire king with dreads toting a spear, and all he could say was, "Stop calling me an idiot..." A little pout on his big dumb expression. If he wasn't such a nice guy, he would have dropped her. Micah looked at Daemien, but decided to let Millie do the talking. Lest he be called an idiot again. He did turn his body so that Millie could actually see Dae.


"Dae, Diana's..." she began, but thankfully Dae had began talking. She gave a weak smile, "Yeah... I do what I can..." It was weird that she was letting a guy hold her like this, but he might be the only guy other than Daemien to be able to get away with it. When he double checked her judgement, she nodded. "I'm positive, he's my..." Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she looked up at the dopey man's face. She softened some. "He's my brother."


He blinked at the oaf, all but disregarding him after that was all he said and focused his attention on Millie. He'd started talking but the moment she mentioned Diana, his jaw had tensed. He knew. He either assumed she knew the guy that was holding her or was wounded enough to allow it. Both was a bit troubling to him. A brow perked when she paused her explanation, only for his chin to lift in understanding. "Brother." He nodded, snickering to himself as he shook his head. "Should've known that," he mumbled. After all, he'd been in her head. But in his defense, he couldn't wholly see straight.

That realization however... he didn't drop his spear. Eyeing the man more skeptically now. "... Is he someone I have to worry about?" A glance to Millie. Translation: Am I going to have to duke it out with an oaf brother who's pissed that I changed you? Yeah, he wasn't putting down that spear just yet.


Millie stared at Dae for a moment and raised an eyebrow up at Micah. She gave her head a shake and patted his broad chest, "No. He's cool," she muttered. The giant actually took it pretty well, but then again, she had told him it was something she wanted. She left out Fran, the almost fight, and the awful choice completely from the story.


The lovable oaf supported Millie with a single arm hooked under her. He didn't seem to have the slightest problem carrying the little vampire. He extended an arm, being the friendly idiot that he was but it was in a slow way, fingers pointed out. "I'm Micah Fox, you must be Daemien." There was a smile on his face, though it was a bit weak. He just found out that his sister was not only wounded, but actually dead.


He seemed to consider it for a long moment with those narrowed eyes, though it was hard to tell if he was glaring or just squinting to focus. Grunting as if he came up with the conclusion, he tossed the spear to clatter to the floor. Holding things were hard when you were exhausted, okay? There was a glance to the way the oaf extended his hand slowly, eyeing it for a moment as the guy introduced himself. "Yeah, I'm Daemien," he grunted, and did his usual grumpy thing. He was too tired for pleasantries. "Bring her in and get away from the door," he muttered, rolling away from his leaning post to make his way toward the living room. "Eva and Mar are in the basement, we should consider holing up there for the night," he told them.

Going to have to forgive him. He was grumpier than usual and lost an underling. He wasn't in the mood to play Intros and Pleasantries tonight.

Guess that answers the 'caring' question.


The man didn't seem offended in the least, his arm came back around Millie and he moved further inside. She squirmed some, and he tightened his hold in the gentlest of ways. "I'll set you down when we get there, stop it.." he whispered to her, and shot a glance over to Daemien. "Lead the way," he muttered softly. He wasn't sure exactly what had gone down, but judging from the walk home, nothing good. Millie struggled harder and finally managed to get out of his arms, he lowered himself so she didn't faceplant.


Shambling straight on over to Dae, she put a hand on his back. "I'm..." Sorry? Seemed like a stupid thing to say. "I..." She wanted to say that she did everything she could. Wanted to say that there was no way she could have saved Diana and herself. "I didn't get to her in time..." she whispered. "...but I killed the bastard.."


He seemed content in making his way toward the basement, giving a sole grunt to Micah's instruction to lead the way. It was Millie that made him pause, shivering slightly as her cool hand met his clammy back. By the time she started talking, he just shook his head. "Mil.." he started, turning his head as she fought to get the words out. Talk about not getting to her in time had him closing his eyes and exhaling, though there was a soft smile when she said she killed the prick who did it. Nodding, he slowly turned and put his hand on her shoulder. "I don't know what's going on tonight," he muttered, glancing to the boarded windows. "But I doubt it was something you could stop. I'm sorry you had to handle that," even softer. "But I'm proud of you for trying. And I don't blame you for her death," making a face at the last word. "You shouldn't blame yourself, either." Turning dulled hazels to her, he gave her shoulder a weak squeeze. "I'm glad I didn't lose you tonight, Mil," the sentiment was barely audible as his hand slid away from her shoulder and he nodded his head to the basement. "So let's keep it that way. Let's go. Bring Jolly Green if you want to," he snickered, giving Micah a glance before heading toward the stairs slowly and holding onto the railing as he started his way down.


The younger sibling listened to him speak, and damn it if she didn't want to break down in that moment. She stayed strong and just nodded, she'd break down later. ...with Eva. They could go to bed when it was all over and cry together. "Thanks," she mumbled a whisper. It wasn't enough, but it was all she had if he didn't want to deal with sobbing. She reached out and caught Micah's hand. "Stay here tonight... Please?"


Silent as they talked, he just watched on with a furrowed brow. Whether he was trying to follow along, or just troubled was unclear. Micah didn't understand what was going on with her and Dae. He'd never seen her get close to a guy, not since her...bad experience. Part of him didn't believe that she made the choice herself, but that same part knew that if she lied to him about the choice, there must've been something there. When she grabbed his hand, he nodded. "Yeah, Mil..." he mumbled softly. He wrapped his arm gently around her waist to help her down the stairs.


Dae made his way down slowly, not taking it too fast with those dizzying spins that made his knees tremble. But he played it off like it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Pride overcame his health, apparently. "Eva, Millie's home. And.. she brought a giant with her." Snickering at that part, he was met at the bottom of the steps by the woman in question.


Sure enough, by the time his voice gave her the okay, she'd untangled herself from Martyr (where she might've been holding onto the feral) and dragged her weakened ass toward the steps. "Oh thank the Gods," she breathed, taking Dae's arm until he shrugged her off. "Will you stop being stubborn?" She hissed at him, shaking her head when he refused help back to the bed. Turning those honey eyes up to Millie, there was glistening warmth there as she held out her arms. "Millie, I'm so glad you're okay.." her voice was soft, concerned and that sadness of the fact Millie came home alone. But there wasn't any hint of judgement or blame in her tone or gaze. She did, however, pause seeing that giant man. "... Holy Buddha.." That man is gorgeous?


Millie let out a little huff as Micah helped her descend. "I'm fine..." she hissed softly at him. She was gonna bite! Scrunching up her face, she nearly tripped but was snatched up by the mountain of a man, who steadied her against himself. "Yeah, I..." The sound that followed was anything but human, an unflattering, growling vomit session that spilled over the man's shirt.


A smile was given for the other vampire, who seemed more trusting and nice than Dae, if not a bit dumbfounded. "I'm Micah," he introduced himself, and almost reached out his hand but had to catch his stumbling sister. "Woah, easy there..." he muttered. His attention turned back to Eva as Millie spoke, but then... Yeah, he got thrown up on. Damn it if he didn't reach out and hold her hair back...as she was puking on him.


Having swatted off Eva's need to try to help him, he'd made it to the bed which he just... flopped on. Finally getting himself situated before seeing Millie's gut-spilling. Wrinkling his nose, he shook his head. "Well, that's.. ngh," he groaned, the scent reaching his nose as he all but buried his face in Martyr as he tugged her too him. So, that might've triggered his own nausea.


A pleasant smile spread to Micah, "Eva. Pleasure to... oh dear." She breathed, taking a step forward just as Millie started stumble like she even had the energy or strength to really catch her. Aaaand then Millie was vomiting on the poor big guy. "Jesus, Millie.. Are you okay?" Wrinkling her nose, there was a distinct smell of blood and... booze.. mixed in there. Well, that explained some of it. Though Micah just seemed to be holding the girl's hair back, Eva shook her head. "We've got some towels down here, I'll be right back," she held her hand up, walking off to the other side of the basement where they kept some supplies for the ferals they usually kept down there.


Micah moved Millie toward the bed once she was finished vomiting, "Easy, okay...? Just sit here," guiding her to sit down before sighing softly. It was hard not to be alerted by the sight of his sister vomiting blood, but he had to remember that she was...different now. Shrugging from his leather jacket, he hung it over a chair and worked the shirt off himself. Afterwards, he used the shirt like a towel and cleaned up what little got on the floor.


"Ngh..." Millie began with a slight grunt, "Sorry..." she muttered as she settled herself down on the bed. She rested her head between her knees and let out a soft grunt. What in the world was happening? A thousand questions rang in her mind, and she began to silently process what had happened that night.


When he pulled Martyr against him, she resembled a cat the way she clawed into the bed. "Ngh!" she complained. Then he buried his face against her, and she seemed to let out a content little hum. Snuggling in, she let those eyes fall shut.


Daemien just focused on keeping his nausea at bay, inhaling Martyr more than the booze-laced-blood concoction that Millie had vomited all over her brother. "Ngh."


"Okay, I've got a couple towels here," Eva announced, rounding the stairs until she stopped abruptly to the sight of the shirtless hunk standing there. Forget the fact he was currently cleaning up vomit.She might've... stared a few moments longer than necessary at the man as her bottom lip got bit. "Ohotdamn," she muttered, blinking rapidly and shaking her head as she cleared her throat and forced a smile, holding out a towel to Micah. "Here, hun. This will work a lot better than a shirt." ... Shut up it's a while for that vampiress.


Micah had gotten the blood from the floor pretty easily, so when he stood to his full height and looked at the towel, the boy smiled softly. "...Thanks," a sheepish little chuckle before be looked down at his stomach. He took the towel and wiped at it slowly. Poor girl, he didn't know what he was doing to her, damn it. Wrapping the shirt in the only slightly dirty towel, he shot a glance over toward Millie. Who had kind of...flopped her head down against Dae's butt. "...vamp-pile..." he muttered softly.

-----------------------------

The Next Morning



The lazy feral didn't budge the entire night, didn't so much as adjust with Daemien holding her. It was when morning came that she began to get a bit peckish, and sleep wasn't coming so easy. She kicked her legs lightly with a soft groan and let those crimson eyes roll open slowly.


Micah had fallen asleep in one of the chairs, looking a bit awkward in it. His long legs were sprawled in front of him, and his head had met his chest. He'd spent a lot of the night talking to Eva. He'd shared some of Millie's embarrassing stories when she was a kid, and kept watch until the spell wore off. Luckily he was off today, 'cause he'd have been an hour late for his shift.


Millie hadn't moved either. She kept her head on Dae's ass, and awkwardly laid with her legs hanging off the bed. Whether she'd managed to find a way to sleep, was weak, or just a bit broken over Diana would be unclear. She could have heard what was said between her brother and Eva, but if she had, she didn't comment on it. Just laid there with her eyes closed, not ready to face the world again.


Dae slept like a rock that night, not budging between his grip on Mar and being a weird butt pillow for Millie. At least... until that morning when the feral started groaning and kicking. Like she was a teddy bear, he just grumbled and held on tighter, burying his face in a no I don't wanna wake up yet kinda way into her back.


Eva hadn't slept. Team Mom stayed up that night, still feeling weakened after the spell wore off but at least she didn't feel quite so sluggish and some of her strength had returned. She wanted to go upstairs and fetch bloodbags from the fridge but knew if something happened to her, Dae would've freaked. So she stayed in that corner of the bed with her back pressed against the wall, talking to Micah until he'd fallen asleep and afterwards as she watched after them until the sun rose. It wasn't until the feral started moving and Dae's reluctance to get up had her nudging the Blood King and muttering. "She's probably hungry, I think it's over.." Glancing to Micah's sleeping form. "..And we should fix her something."


When Dae held on tighter, the feral let out a pathetic little whine. She didn't fight him, though. She was still a lazy, sluggish feral that didn't have a lot of fight in her. If he tried to keep her from sleeping for a long period of time? Oh yeah, he'd see a very angry Martyr. Her eyes began to roll back shut and she sighed in a pathetic little way.


Millie opened an eye in annoyance when all the noise began. I thought we were playing the quiet game? She formed a thin line with her mouth and rolled off of Dae's butt. Millie sat up and shot a glance over to her sleeping brother, and then brushed her hair from her face. A soft grunt left her as she pushed herself to her feet. "I'll...go find something..." she muttered and headed for the stairs at a slow, sluggish pace.


He grunted and grumbled, even lifted a hand to swat the air when he was nudged. "Gnnnnno. Not yet." Whining like a bitch, he squeezed his eyes shut tighter as if opening them would split his brain in half. He was always a pain to get up before the withdrawals before he was ready, now it just seemed to be worse. It wasn't until Millie said she was going to go find something that he remembered what had happened last night and he sighed. "Hold your damn horses," he grumped, unlatching himself from the feral and rolled onto his back. Taking a steadying breath, he placed his palms on the mattress and forced himself up. "Ngh," he groaned, just to flop back down. "Evaaaaa," he whined, practically pawing at her leg. "Make the room stop spinning," he mumbled pathetically.


A deep frown formed on her lips seeing Millie getting up and she'd been just about to object when it seemed that Dae was going to finally get off his dead .. not-dead ass. Just to flop and paw at her. Rolling her eyes, she swatted his hand away. "Alright, you big baby," she muttered, pushing herself to her feet. "Make sure the feral doesn't eat the human, I'll go with Millie and get something." Refusing to let the girl go upstairs alone, she trailed slowly after the other vampiress.


Millie looked over her shoulder when Dae grumped at her, pausing in her steps. Then he flopped back down and she scoffed lightly. "Tch..." When Eva trailed after, she grabbed the railing and raised an eyebrow. "...think the house is still there?" Part of her wondering if they'd walk up to a post-apocalyptic desert. When she finally made it up the stairs, she opened the door. Nope, everything was still there. Was she...disappointed?


Perhaps it was nothing else but to test Dae, but her nose began twitching right at that human. She didn't actually go for him, but she scooted along the bed, just leeeaaaannning to get a better whiff.


She blinked, raising a brow at Millie. "... I don't recall a tornado hitting last night." She snickered, shaking her head. "If it isn't.. they get a lot accomplished in one night.." Sighing, she followed after Millie, staying no more than a step or two behind the girl and seemed tense until she saw the house was virtually untouched.


He'd flopped and his arm had bent and found it's way to cover his face. Groaning like the world was ending, he paused when he felt movement of the feral. Lifting his arm, he peeked out of one bleary eye. "Marrr..." He growled, just to snap his arm out and grip the back of her clothing and tug her into his side. "Don't even think about it." He grumbled.


The feral closed one eye when he scolded out that growl. Then his hand came out and tugged her back. She fought it for a moment, but ultimately found herself attached at his hip. "Ngh..mmrr....." Just all the grumpy noises before she flopped in a sort of...mini temper tantrum.


"A tornado would've been ideal..." she muttered softly, stepping into the rest of the house. There was little caution there as she moved toward the kitchen. That same sluggish pace was attached to the walk. She quieted down some, it seemed. There was a big part of her that wanted to go to bed...and probably would when she was sure Martyr was too lazy to bite her brother.


That low growl rolled through his chest as he kept his arm locked around the feral, that I ain't takin' your shit this morning, feral! kinda growl. "I will sit on you," he mumbled, covering his eyes with that bent arm again as he listened for any trouble upstairs.


"Would've been better than the shit storm Micah mentioned.." She sighed, shaking her head. She followed after Millie, on edge and tense as she didn't trust anything that morning. Her eyes were all over the place, waiting for something to be out of place. The sun was up, but that didn't mean anything. She made it to the hallway, looking back and forth, to the door then the kitchen. "I don't hear, smell or feel anything else off.." She sighed, "I think it's over.."


When Eva spoke those words, she couldn't help the scoff that trailed from her. "My first hint is that nobody's trying to shove a stake through my heart," it sounded like a joke. It wasn't, though, it didn't come out with any humor. Just bitterness. She moved in through the kitchen and grabbed enough blood for Martyr and Dae after crossing it. "Take these down? I'm gonna go check on something..." Millie muttered softly.


Martyr's cheeks puffed out, but she hadn't persisted. Just whined a bit and curled herself into a tight little ball around his arm.


She winced softly to Millie's words, but didn't say anything to them. She kept an eye on the door like she was expecting someone to burst through it and attack them. It was until the girl came back with the packs that she took them and frowned at the girl. "..What are you going to do?" Seemingly reluctant to leave the girl alone.


She hadn't meant to make Eva wince, she just didn't think about the shit that came out of her mouth half the time. She might've apologized for it, if she hadn't been self centered at the moment. There was an unnecessary sigh at Eva's reluctance. "I'm not going to leave the house, Eva..." she said. "I promise, just... Gimme a minute okay..?" Millie didn't really wait for an answer. She just sort of, moved off toward the bedroom, rather than the basement.

Draining the bag, Martyr sucked away. A little extra hungry this morning it seemed, because she gave it a light shake. You betrayed me.... Then she tossed it, arched her back and flopped over on her side, curling up. "Nn...nap..."


Micah smiled softly, "Yeah we had some good times," a quick nod of his head. Those were over, but nothing as tragic as death. Just growing up, growing apart. Millie was the one he stayed close to, they had similar interests, and she didn't judge him for deciding to work at a pet shop when he could've done much, much more. "Ahh.." when he mentioned her needing a moment alone. Micah made a face at Martyr's antics, "...don't take this the wrong way but...what's the matter with that one?" Millie and Eva seemed to have their shit together, Martyr just slept and whined.


It was when Eva agreed to leave that Millie spoke out, "Thanks," to the blood bag tossed down. She didn't want it now... She wasn't sure when she would, but it beat the hell out of going and getting one when she needed it.


Glancing over to Martyr and snickering when she tossed the bloodbag aside like it had killed her puppy. Shaking his head, he glanced to Micah but didn't seem offended by the question. "She's still feral. The recently changed tend to fall into... primal instincts until it sticks. Your sister was a fucking handful." Laughing a bit, he explained a bit. "Weirdest feral I've ever had." Jutting a thumb to the ceiling, he raised his brows at Micah. "...She made a hole in the wall upstairs. It's now called Millie's Hole." Scoffing, he glanced to the stairs when he heard Eva coming down. "How's she doing?"


Coming down the steps, she sighed and shook her head. She tossed the bloodbags to Dae and made the rest of the descent down. "How do you think?" She breathed, moving to the edge of the bed and plopping down onto it.


Micah laughed at that... "That's...not surprising... She used to make little forts out of the closets when she was a kid," he told him. "Our parents would get so upset because they couldn't find their stuff. And when she was three..?" he laughed a bit harder. "We couldn't find her at all... My parents actually called the police and reported her missing... We found her four hours later under the kitchen sink." A lot of things would probably start making sense with Micah around. Eva came down and answered that question, and a deep frown settled on his features. He sat up a bit.


Martyr's eyes were already getting heavy, and the useless little thing just laid there. Her eyes drifted to the tossed blood bags and she weakly batted toward them with her hand, before a little squeak left her and she snuggled in.


Micah's story about Millie made a whole lot of sense of how she was during her feral stage. Barking a laugh at it, he shook his head. "That makes so much sense now.." Snickering, he lifted his eyes to Eva when she answered his question and sighed. Micah sitting up, he held up his hand. "Let me handle this," he breathed, tossing aside the empty blood bag he was holding and forced himself to his feet. Passing Eva, he gave her shoulder a slight squeeze before climbing the stairs sluggishly.


Dae saying he would handle it, there was a flash of concern. He's going to make it worse, dammit. "...If you say so," she muttered, but didn't argue with the Blood King. Undermining him wasn't a good idea. Glancing over to the batting feral, she rolled her eyes softly and moved to the bed to push one of the bags toward her and sat on the edge of the bed.


Martyr's eyes opened when Eva pushed the bag closer to her, and she reached for it like it was a blessing from a goddess. Even after all that, the lazy feral sat up and began moving around. She took another glance at Micah before moving closer to Eva and plopping down with her head on the woman's lap. Biting into the bag, a little sigh left her nostrils.


There was some reluctance when Daemien's hand came up and his demand to handle it. He was also concerned, but he had his few smart moments. He had to remind himself that this was a different world than his now. So he nodded and rested back down in the chair. His hand came up to rub away at his sore neck once more. Micah's eyes trailed between Martyr and Eva as the feral plopped down near her. "You a mom?" he asked. Then realized the stupidity and tried to take it back. If she ever was a mom, her kids were probably... He frowned deeply, "Er... I'm... dumb.. " the last word came out so defeated.


Making it up the stairs without throwing up at least, the blood he drank dulled some of the effects from the withdrawals. How long that would last was anyone's guess, but it was a temporary relief. Closing the basement door behind him, he moved along to the bedroom. He had a feeling Millie wasn't interested in company, but it was Daemien and he didn't really give a fuck. He was going in there. His way.

Cracking open the door, he lowered himself to a crouch and pushed his way in there like he was expecting to get something thrown at him. Somewhere between crouching and crawling, he slowly made his way around the bed like a creeper. Crouched low enough that his head barely poked up from the edge of the mattress, he made his way along to the side she was closest to. Sloooowly lifting his head from the edge of the bed so nothing lower than his nose was seen above the mattress, he just sat there staring at her. "Psst. Millie."

Staring at him, the weak smile that she'd fought had faded. She listened to his words and her brow furrowed slightly, "It hasn't even been a day..." she muttered softly. "...you weren't out there, Daemien... I know you're used to this whole thing but.. I'm not." Millie sighed and flopped onto her back, working it out in her damn head as words spilled thoughtlessly over her lips. "Diana didn't even hunt people... Neither did I, and..." she swallowed hard. "She died... For no reason.. She was a bitch, but...she didn't do anything to anybody..." Millie whispered. "How can they call us the monsters...? How can..." An arm lifted, draping over her eyes and tucking her face into the crook of her elbow. "God...I just left her there..."


There was of course a snicker at the idea of using a curtain for his apron. He made a face. Then that silence, and he asked his question...she answered it. If she had squeezed his bicep, he probably would've chuckled and looked away. "So... Daemien won't want me to go away?" he asked, that horribly adorable puppy expression rested on those features. Then, without warning he moved in. He was careful of Martyr, but if Eva didn't stop him, he'd be wrapping those big arms around her.


Sighing, he'd hoped that crack about Diana punching her would lighten her up a bit. But it was a no go. Leaning forward, he propped his elbows on his knees. "I know, and I'm sorry for not being there. It wouldn't have done any good if I did," he snickered. He would've gone on a warpath and likely killed himself in the process in his condition. Turning his head to look at her, he listened. When she was done and hid her face, he was quiet for a moment. Looking ahead instead of at her, he laced his fingers together. "Humans aren't going to see us as anything but monsters, Mil. I learned that a long time ago in Transylvania." The beginning him proving his monstrosity. "They fear us, and you know how humans handle fear, they pit against it. They riled posses and get their pitchforks," he scoffed. "I don't understand the significance of a body," he admitted, crinkling his nose. He didn't understand the whole... significance of leaving a corpse on the battlefield. A dead body to him was just a dead body. He didn't understand the value of a funeral.


"I don't know what goes on in that dreadlocked head of his.." She admitted. "But... oh. Oh." She squeaked, surprised by the hug as her eyes widened as he wrapped his arms around her. Dwarfed by his size, she lifted her chin so her face wasn't buried into his shoulder awkwardly as her arms patted his head. Her knees pressed lightly together as she bit her lip. Jesus, you're a grown woman, pull yourself together, Eva. Clearing her throat, she laughed softly. "I'm rather persuasive, if Dae has something to say about it, I'll change his mind. But right now, I think having you around will help Millie. Especially after.." She sighed, shaking her head. "She could use those who love her around to cope.." She trailed off, squeezing her eyes shut. Nothing worse than possibly crying on the shoulder of a big guy that gave you a lady boner not even a second before hand.


"A couple months ago I was human... I... I don't know.." The girl couldn't cope with the fact that Diana was dead, let alone that humans now hated her and all of them. Eva... What if it was all of them? Then he spoke of the significance of a body, and she made a face beneath the tomb that was her arm. "It would be like...if a wolf killed you...and I left you next to it after killing the wolf.." Don't even pretend like you wouldn't haunt my ass?


Micah was gentle, didn't squeeze her too hard but kept her in a firm hold as she continued on. He nodded, his head over hers, cheek rubbing against her scalp in the action. "Thank you, Eva..." he whispered softly. Then he realized he was holding her, and got a bit awkward. "Sorry... It's a habit of mine," he explained. Pulling back slowly.


He didn't have to pretend. One shoulder lifted as he shook his head. "And I'd be back in Purgatory probably killing said wolf all over again," he snickered, shaking his head. "A body is a body to me, Mil... It might sound cruel or harsh. But.. it's just a physical thing. I wouldn't expect you to understand." When you've died a number of times just to come back over and over again, Death tends to lose value. Sighing, he raised a brow to her. "Would it make you feel better if we went to get her?"


She patted his back lightly as he held on, keeping herself in check until she smiled softly to his gratitude. "Your welcome, Micah," she muttered. When he got awkward and pulled back, she giggled and let go of him. That warm smile spread as he patted his chest. "Relax, Big Guy. It's nice to have someone that hugs around here." Lifting her thumb to the ceiling, she grinned. "Does he look like a hugger to you?" She giggled, settling on the edge of the bed again.


There was a sharp smile that cut along those features, an unintentional smouldering glance as he watched her for a moment, listening to her speak. Then, he laughed lightly. "No, I'm... Honestly still afraid he might spear me when he's feeling better," he muttered softly. A grin on his face to say that he was joking. ...Kind of?


The girl finally moved her arm. She was about to tell him to please just let her deal with it in her own way. Like she'd agreed to do the same for him. Then he gave up that offering, and she stared at him for a moment. "It's going to be a while before I feel okay, Daemien... But...." Swallowing hard, she settled those bright red eyes on him. "Yes. I want to give her a proper burial... She was my friend. She was a bitch, but... she was my friend."


Damn that smolder. Dammit to Hell and back. Laughing softly, she shook her head. "Please, he'd never hear the end of it from Millie if he speared you.." She teased, giving him that smile that said it wasn't going to happen. Or me... "Dammit, Daemien! Stop spearing the hot men in town!"


Nodding, he sighed. "I don't expect you to.." Though his tone hinted that part he did understand. After all, he still hadn't gotten over Renzea and that was almost five years ago. When she said she wanted to give her a proper burial, he nodded again. "Alright, Mil. But.." He started, reaching across her to pick up the blood bag laying there still. Tossing it onto her chest as he stood up, he raised his brows. "Starving yourself into becoming a feral again isn't going make anything better. Eat breakfast before I force it down your throat," giving her a smirk that said he'd do it to. Only to crinkle his nose at her. "Bitch." Moving to the doorway, he called over his shoulder. "I'll be in the living room when you're ready to go."



(Thank you to everyone involved for the scene!)