Topic: The Space Inbetween

MissKate

Date: 2011-09-27 07:08 EST
Seramanc, the twilight city, a place where the sun never rose, Kindred ruled out in the open and the Masq was acknowledged but not needed. There were rules in the city, humans were safe, there were blood houses for those who wanted to be fed off of, and various forms of synthetic blood to drink. Here vampire lords flaunted their wealth and tried to broker deals to become more wealthy while younger, less well off kindred partied the night away.

It was a distraction, it was just what she needed, something to focus on that wasn?t Lucien and was far away from Rhy Din.

She had been asked to go weeks before Beltane, asked to check out something potentially troubling. She?d met with the man in charge and had been offered a townhouse and entry into the higher levels of society there.

This was a game she was used to, parties with lords, ladies, and wealthy merchants, walking the delicate line on the shifting sand of loyalties and opinions in Kindred society. At the same time there would be nights in the deepest, darkest clubs and corners of the city, all angles had to be looked at, nothing could be overlooked. So again she had one foot in one world and one in the other.

The Princess had arrived and she had a job to do.

MissKate

Date: 2011-10-01 04:36 EST
Having a job, something other than Lucien or the disaster of Beltane was important to Kate. The truth was it saved her sanity and kept her from running back to Rhy Din and staking a claim on something that wasn?t available and was in fact held by one of her close friends.

So she started working, focusing on that, making her way into Seramanc society, using her charms to further whatever relationships she could. Every night involved a dinner, a ball, a salon, an art exhibit, or even a small get together. Kate was seen everywhere at every event, shaking hands and talking to everyone.

Kindred society is odd and full of rules. The multiverse is even more odd and full of even stranger rules. So it was interesting for Kate a woman who demanded respect from almost all who had met her found herself seated next to a business man who was almost as old as she was.

As the evening wore on it turned out that the Princess and the Business man had a lot in common, both were from Italy, both of Roman descent, both old.

For Kate it was nice to have someone else to talk to and focus on, if nothing else Marcus understood her upbringing and what it took to survive as long as she had. It didn?t hurt that he was the perfect dinner and dancing companion, smart, well read, well traveled, and witty.

When she found herself seated next to him the following night she couldn?t help but smile.

Within a few weeks it was normal to see the two speaking and the hosts and hostesses took notice and started inviting the two to the same events, seating them next to each other.

It was nice to have something other than Lucien and what she never could have to focus on.

MissKate

Date: 2011-10-13 08:48 EST
While climbing the social ladder of Seramanc was important, so was research into the darker corners of the city. So it wasn?t unusual for Kate to start off the night at a dinner in some Lord or Ladies house then finish it up in a seedy bar.

One of the things that had kept her alive all these years was an ability to adapt, Princess one second, Questionable Raver the next. The seemingly seamless transition was something few ever witnessed. Those who had always mentioned how even seeing it with their own eyes, they still couldn?t believe it.

She?d always believed that confidence sold it, if you looked like you belonged, acted like you belonged then everyone would just accept you. The strategy had always worked for her in the past, even with Kindred society. Here though there was an undercurrent of something and everyone in those clubs was looking for a way up the ladder. Seeing a woman who bore a striking resemblance to a new Lady who was simply knows as ?The Princess? when she was spoken or written about caught the attention of some.

Kate knew her time was limited but she had to keep pushing forward. She did make some changes to her life though, along with her knife, she started carrying a tazer, and a small gun. In the house she kept a gun in a table by the door and various other weapons hidden throughout it. She dismissed any and all staff who had come with the townhouse and started watching even more.

She kept investigating, kept looking, but she was watching as well.

MissKate

Date: 2011-11-17 02:46 EST
Things had progressed in Seramanc, not necessarily in the direction she expected or wanted but she now knew without a doubt that someone or some group is responsible for the trouble in the city.

She?d been moving through the alleys of the city, going back to the townhouse after a meeting in a club, she was still playing the part of party girl so when she heard the movement behind her she pretended she didn?t. She paused at the end of an alley, leaning out to look up and down the road, one hand curling around the corner of the building while the other was set on her hip. The picture of a socialite who was playing at being part of the dark, rather dangerous under tow of the city, not knowing or understanding the consequences.

A figure moved up the main road and she took a half step back into the darkness of the alley, after all it would ruin her reputation to be seen out in this area. When the figure turned and walked toward where she was standing she took another step back, right into a cold, hard, object that shouldn?t have been there.

Her eyes narrowed for a second but by the time she turned around both were opened wide in surprise. ?Oh, excuse me. I am so sorry.? Her voice raised a little, a ruined reputation was nothing compared to the dark man she?d backed into, or his companions.

Large hands lowered onto and dug into her shoulders, making her wince a little. ?You do not belong here.? The statement was obvious, the tone menacing, the actual message very clear to her.

Still wide eyed she leaned back and looked at the others in fear, ?I beg your pardon, I will leave.?

The fingers tightened on her shoulders, ?Yes, you will.?

When the others moved to block her in, she knew they weren?t going to take her anywhere and that she wouldn?t leave the alley. The corner of her mouth ticked up a little as she again looked at the man holding her. ?Who are you??

He missed the subtle change in her stance, he was too focused on his job, already taken by the insanity that often marked these cases. Kate knew exactly what the report would say, she was attacked and killed by a band of Kindred who had succumbed to the madness that was infecting the city.

She slid her hands up his chest and smiled again, ?Could you escort me home please? I?m afraid I got lost, I?m not from here and the streets are not well marked.? As she spoke she leaned into him a little, one hand wrapping around him and brushing down his back to his hip. ?I would be very grateful.?

His fingers twitched and he hesitated, it was only a few ticks, a few seconds but she took the advantage and moved quickly, her fingers curling around the gun these types always had under an arm, not even bothering to take it out of the holster, simply turning it into his chest and firing.

The effect was instant, he roared, released her shoulders and stumbled back. She watched him long enough to determine if he was a threat, then turned toward the others, her knife out. ?Salve boys, shall we??

There wasnt? going to be any mercy, she couldn?t afford for them to go back and tell tales, the second biggest was targeted first, she stabbed one of the smaller ones in the neck as she moved toward him. She knew where to slide the knife in, into the stomach and up toward the sternum, then she smiled at him, kissed his cheek and pressed the button that released the nitro into his body. As he fell she was moving her fingers around his body looking for his weapons.

Her fingers curled around a gun and she rolled her eyes (m) ?What is it with these guys and guns? It?s always guns.? The other were finally coming out of the shock of seeing how she had just killed one of their allies when she turned and started firing. Those who were left weren?t the best of the best and she took care of them fairly quickly. One who had stayed near the back, didn?t have a gun and got in a few good licks with his knife as she took care of his friend.

It was the first one she?d taken down, the one she?d shot with his own gun that got the best hit on her. He was carrying a second, smaller gun, and when she turned to finish him off he fired, twice. He was in enough pain that she was only grazed in the side and the arm but it was enough to piss her off.

She took care of that last one, shook her head and moved back down the alley, away from the main road. She?d take the darker, back streets to the townhouse.

As distracted as she?d been, she did notice that the figure who?d started it all, who had moved toward her in the alley, had disappeared without a trace.

MissKate

Date: 2011-12-02 11:35 EST
It was a testament to how off her game she was and how distracted she?d become when Marcus cornered her one night and told her he had an offer for her.

She blinked but smiled, keeping her carefully crafted, interested and open expression on her face, somehow doing it without giving away anything she was thinking. Whatever it was he wanted to say it was important to him but his movement, his tone of voice, everything about him didn?t seem threatening in any way. They were also at a smaller dinner and card night being held in the home of some Lord or Lady.

So she nodded and followed him, one hand resting on his arm, still smiling as they moved through the room and out onto one of the terraces.

Once outside though she removed her arm and took a step away, turning to face him.

?You are aware of my business here?? He was watching her, gauging her expression.

?Yes, shipping.? Nothing showed on her face, it still held that smooth, slightly interested but not too interested expression.

?It has come to my attention that you might need my assistance. That I could open a few doors for you. In the same vein you could open some doors for me, in Rhy Din.? His tact had changed but not the yet to be expressed end goal.

One eyebrow lifted, the only sign that she was interested or shocked by what he was saying. ?I could assist you in Rhy Din.? She ignored the help he might give her.

?May I speak plainly Kate?? He smiled at her.

?I?d rather you were just blunt Marcus.? She returned his smile and waited.

?Marry me. Marry me and I will assist you in whatever endeavor brought you here and offer you whatever protection you might need. In return you assist me in Rhy Din. Introduce me to those who might help me expand my shipping into Rhy Din, link my name to yours.? When she opened her mouth to object he held up a hand. ?I won?t ask what you?re doing here, I just ask that you not be caught publicly.?

He was right, she had been working up to a rather large objection, but as he continued to speak she reconsidered. He had a point, marrying him would offer her a place in the Kindred society of the city, it would cover her from a lot of prying eyes, and it wasn?t a big deal to help him in Rhy Din. It would also close the door on Lucien, forever.

So rather than just say no she smiled a little, ?Can you give me a few days to to think about it??

He nodded, she nodded, and they spent the rest of the evening in casual conversation with each other and those around them.

When she got home she wrote to Chris, detailing the past few days, including Marcus?s surprising offer of marriage, she ended with her thoughts of the offer. She was going to accept, she had nothing to lose.

Chris Andrew

Date: 2011-12-03 09:42 EST
The letter had started out normally, just a accounting of what she?d been doing in Seramanc, where she?d been, who she?d met, what she?d learned.

Then at the end it changed, the lines had been slipped in, almost as an afterthought:

?I?ve gotten an offer from Marcus, he?s asked me to marry him, simply a business arrangement. I haven?t given him an answer but I believe I?ll say yes as it will solve a lot of problems for me.?

Out of everything she?d written this was the most disturbing. He knew the night she left that something had happened between her and Lucien, the canoe waiting for her, never given to her, then being taken back with Lucien had been the first warning. Her hasty exit to Seramanc had been the second. This, this latest shot was the third, she was running, blindly running and if he didn?t do something she?d make a decision she couldn?t come back from.

With a grim look on his face he went up into Kate's study, pulled out a piece of her stationary and started writing a note:

?Bear,

I?m in trouble and I need your help, please come.

Hurry,

Kate?

At the bottom he added the jump coordinates and directions to her townhouse in Seramanc.

Then he had the message delivered to Mr. Lucien Mallorek.

MissKate

Date: 2011-12-09 06:20 EST
Little by little there had been a subtle shift, somewhere along the line she went from hunting to hunted.

It wasn?t just in the back alleys, where she?d run into more than one blood lust filled, foaming at the mouth foe, it was also in the drawing rooms where Marcus was demanding an answer to his question.

The first problem was easier to take care of, she was always armed and she increased the number of weapons in the townhouse. The second problem was one she was constantly thinking about.

Logically she knew she should just say yes and be done with it but every time she opened her mouth to utter the word she froze up. She just couldn?t do it because if she did that was that, the door was closed and she could never go back.

So after another night where she?d dodged Marcus?s questions, she went back to the townhouse, leaving the party early, just wanting to get out of the dress and be alone.

Once she entered she quickly started up the stairs, toward the bedroom, kicking off her shoes and reaching up to start unclasping the small buttons and eyeholes on the gown. The shoulders of the dress were already sliding down her shoulders as she hit the final step, she made quick work of the final few buttons and slid it off her body as she stepped into the bedroom. A quick glance in the mirror had her frowning a little so she left the corset and soft, white underdress on and started in on the pins in her hair.

She let her mind drift a little, her thoughts going back to Beltane, which made her smile a little, then the last time she?d seen Lucky, which made her frown. She?d been keeping all that locked up, not thought about it, but here in the quiet and the dark it all came back.

A knock at the door brought her out of her musings and within a matter of seconds her eyes had narrowed and she was moving for the bedroom door.

It was late for a message, even one from another vampire to be send, most of those who she knew had seen her leave the party so there really wasn?t any need for them to have someone knocking at her door, in the back of her head she was ticking through everyone and everything. At the bottom of the stairs she moved to a table, opened a drawer and grabbed a gun.

Quietly she moved to the door, there was another knock, so with her lips pressed together, her hair a half pinned up, half wild mess, she threw the door open and shoved a gun into the face of whoever was there.

Lucky Duck

Date: 2011-12-09 21:03 EST
Bear,

I?m in trouble and I need your help, please come.
Hurry,

Kate



She was in trouble.

That thought raced though his head, playing on a mental loop since the message?s sudden arrival. He had received a note from Chris a few days after his last visit to the castle and assumed it was simply a young man?s inquiry and nothing more. However, the delivery of the message from Kate and the urgent tone of it, coupled with Chris? query, drove Lucien to quick action.

He rushed out of Rhydin and through the portal into Seramanc with briefcase and other components of his meager arsenal in hand, prepared for both a legal and physical brawl. Either was a distinct possibility. It was by no small miracle of fate that he hadn?t run into any one of the growing number of those infected with blood-lust in Seramanc, as he made his way through the streets, no doubt sticking out like a sore and lost thumb searching the streets.

When he finally arrived at the townhouse, he paused for a breath or two and glanced up at the residence, before he climbed up the steps to the front door. He knocked on the door and waiting, not knowing what to expect.

Whatever he may have been expecting, the the door swung open and he found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. He just stood there with one hand in his pocket and the other still holding his briefcase.

?It's that bad?? he managed to query quietly.

MissKate

Date: 2011-12-10 05:14 EST
?It?s that bad??

His voice filtered through and she blinked, then blinked again, ?What?? The gun slowly lowered, ?What are you doing here Lucien?? He wasn?t supposed to be here.

His blink as he looked at her brought back all the feelings she?d been running away from. It took her a few seconds to understand that he was talking to her. "Uhm...." a puzzled expression, then wary furrow flickering over his features. "You...sent for me."

She opened the door and gestured for him to come inside, it wasn?t a good idea to have him standing out on her doorstep. "No, no I didn't. We agreed to stay away from each other. " She took a few steps back so he could enter, the gun was set on top of the table.

He followed her inside and stood in the foyer of the strange building. A frown fully creasing his brow now, he reached into his breast pocket where he kept the note and offered it to her in unspoken reply.

The townhouse obviously wasn?t hers, the style was completely different, all marble, gilded antiques, and crystal lights, a wide staircase stood behind her and a few closed doors sat on either side of of them. She took the note as she moved behind him to close the door.

The paper was flipped as she looked at it, a frown forming. "It's my stationary. Someone sent this to you?" She read it quickly then looked at him. "Why would someone send you here?"

"What are you doing here? What is going on?" Is what he queried instead. His attention didn't turn to the details of architecture nor building, not yet. His attention was focused on Kate.

She answered his question and bristled a little at his own lack of explanation. "I'm working. We discussed this. Seramanc, I asked you months ago if you'd ever heard of it." Frustration was bleeding through a little. "Do you ever listen to what I say to you Lucien?"

He shook his head and he pulled the hand out of his pocket to run it over his face. "I know you are working, but what is going on? Something more must be going on because I got a note from Chris asking me what was happening?"

Something clicked then, "Chris, Chris did this." The message was waved at him. "He thinks he can stop me. Sending you here is going to stop me? Seriously?" She pointed at him. "He's been telling you things?"

He held up his hands, the other still holding his briefcase. "Mind if we sit down? Please?"

Her hand was lowered and she looked at him. "Come on, you're stuck here until tomorrow night anyway." With a sigh she moved to a door to her left, opening it and leading him into a sitting room. The large windows in front had sheer drapes covering them, at one end a fire had been started in the fireplace, there were two chairs and a rather large, soft leather couch that somehow seemed out of place with the other delicate furnishings in the room.

He followed her into the sitting room without a word and waited for her to take a seat before sitting down.

She chose the couch, sitting on the edge of it, her back straight because of the corset. "You're wearing a suit." She knew him well enough to know that when he wore a suit it was like a knight putting on his armor.

He undid button on his jacket to open it and sat down on the couch beside her, setting the briefcase on the ground. "Yes. I figured with the vampire lords and ladies and business and not knowing what to expect, it was best to come dressed for business as it were." His expression eased, softened even as he looked at Kate.
"So talk to me."

"Chris is meddling, that's it. I'll kill him when I go back to the Castle next time. I'm sorry he dragged you here." She reached up to run a hand through her hair, making a face as she realized there were still pins in it. "You should wait to go back, it'll be day soon there I'm sure and with the rogues wandering around I'd rather you waited till I could take you back."

He ran his hands over his face again and drew a deep breath. "Kate," he began, letting out that breath. "Why? Why did he feel the need to meddle then?"

She looked at him. "I'm sure it's the whole wedding thing."

"Wedding thing?" his tone wary and weary.

"One of the Lords here asked me to marry him." She shrugged. "He asked me again tonight, for an answer."

"And you are considering accepting?"

She looked at him again, her gaze steady. "Yes, I'm pretty sure I will accept." She felt like she'd just jumped off a cliff and she hoped like hell it didn't show on her face.

Lucky Duck

Date: 2011-12-15 03:43 EST
Everything seemed to go dimmer at that moment and he felt a heavy weight against his chest that threatened to steal the very breath from him. He couldn't have heard that right. She couldn't be serious. This couldn't be happening. But he had heard it correctly. She was serious. And this was all unfolding before him. The entire townhouse could have come down around their heads at and it would have hurt him less than what she said.

When he was finally able to move, he pushed up to feet and moved away from Kate, running his hands over his head. His mind raced so fast, he couldn't keep his thoughts straight. It felt as if his world was closing in on him. He let out a deep breath, slipping his hands into his pockets. Shoulders took a resigned set. "Why?" he queried again without turning around.

"Why not?" he heard her reply from behind him.

He shook his head, the turmoil playing upon his features hidden from her...anger?...confusion?....loss. When he did turn around to face her, his expression was dour. "So that's it? This Lord asks you to marry him and you accept?" He didn't like the taste of finality in his mouth.

He watched her as she slowly got up from the couch. "It doesn't involve you Lucien. I shouldn't have told you."

If this was what she wanted, this was what she wanted. She was right. It didn't involve him. But he couldn't let it go. Fingers flexed and clenched into fists in his pockets. He pressed her again. And again. And each time, she answered without flinching in her resolve.

Then he voiced a simple query. "You love him?"

She shook her head. "The Lord? No, I hardly know him." Fists opened in his pockets and fingers pressed against his legs as he watched her. "If you are asking," she continued, "...if I love the him I want? Yes."

"Then don't marry the Lord," he heard his voice plea quietly. Don't marry him, please! He found her standing in front of him, and he reached for her hands. "Don't marry him, Kate," he echoed in a hush.

Kate didn't withdraw her hands when he reached for them. "You staking a claim, Bear?"

Calloused fingers wrapped around her hands. Those nights tossing the ball and playing catch, the dance in the rain and the mud, Beltane,...the kiss.... Sadly I think the fairy tale ends tonight. He lifted her hands and pressed a kiss to one then the other.

"Yes."

MissKate

Date: 2011-12-16 00:20 EST
?You staking a claim, Bear?? She was bitter when she said it, almost mocking, knowing he?d back down. Throughout all of this they?d both maintained that they wouldn?t be together. He was only here because Chris had manipulated him into thinking she was in trouble and needed help. She couldn?t delude herself into thinking he was here for any other reason.

?Yes.?

At first she thought she?d imagined it so she just stood there, gaping at him. When she finally blinked it was an attempt to clear the expression on her face. It didn?t work but even if it had the slight wobble in her voice would have given her away, ?What?? He wasn?t supposed to say yes, he was supposed to admit she was right and walk away. Her marrying someone else was supposed to end this once and for all, to free both of them. If she hadn?t been so shocked she would have been downright pissed.

?Kate....? Whatever he?d been going to say was lost as he paused and led her to the couch. She followed, willingly, not arguing, too shocked to even argue or fight.

Once they were seated he started again, "You know, I've only been married twice. And twice widowed." He paused and shook his head. "Maybe it isn't a good idea for me to be married," he muttered after a moment's consideration.

She was listening but her eyes were down, focused on their hands, his holding hers, his thumbs lightly rubbing against her skin. He was looking down at them too, a deep breath was drawn and he glanced up from their hands. "The point is, I don't ask someone to marry me unless I am looking for death do us part. And if you get married to this Lord that you don't love then...that's it."

And there it was, exactly what she wanted to hear, it was the answer for all of their problems, she gets married, he leaves, that?s that. The problem was the victory, the knowledge that she was right hurt, it left a hole inside of her that she never thought she?d fill again. She didn?t want to be right.

She opened her mouth to tell him that she wasn?t going to do it, that they?d figure it out and somehow stay friends but the logical part of her brain took over. In her head she started going through all the reasons they couldn?t be together, all the reasons they were never going to be together. When she finally spoke she went with logic and not her heart, "That's why I'm doing it. Finally end it." She was still watching his thumbs, slowly stroking, making small circles.

Then she made her first mistake, she tried to argue with the Barrister, to make him understand. "I've only been married three times you know, in all these years. The first was force and I killed him after I was embraced, the second and third I married for love, one is dead and the other I divorced last year. Then there was Derever," She shook her head. "Maybe it's time to just make it a business deal, you'll be free, I'll be here."

"It shouldn't be a matter of business, Kate." He stopped and shook his head again. "Do you really think, this will do it? This will make it all go away, make it all better?"

He was right and she knew it, she kept her head down as she thought again, what did she want, what was right, the past, the future, it all filtered through. Only a few seconds passed but she finally made a decision.

"No." She lifted her head and looked at him. "No." then she leaned closer to him her voice soft "this makes it better." and then she took one of the greatest risks of her life and kissed him.

Lucky Duck

Date: 2011-12-31 01:22 EST
He watched her as she drew near, then closed his eyes as she kissed him. The soft, sweet fragrance of lilies of the valley, laced with a faint undertone of smoke, surrounded him. He tasted the soft caress of her lips on his. He released his hold of her hands and wound his arms around her corseted waist. He held her closely against him as her hands move over his chest, then lightly touch his face.

And he surrendered. Surrendered to her kiss...losing himself in her touch...in her embrace.

"Stay with me, Bear, please?"

His eyes opened to find hers searching his as her hands moved over his shoulders. A calloused hand reached up to gently cup the side of her face. The question spoken in hushed tones bore the weight of so many connotations and different things it may mean and it hung there between them in the quiet.

Gone was that pressing weight that threatened to steal the very breath from him. The darkness that threatened to overtake him was fading....retreating. And under her touch, the set of his shoulders eased.

He gently held her face and he nodded in reply to her query with all the connotations and the different things it may mean. A soft kiss was brushed to her lips. "Yes," he whispered against her lips. Her smile bloomed against the kiss.

"You're sure?"

He nodded, pulling her into his embrace. "I'm sure."