The doors of Sanctuary had been thrown open, and the thrum of the music was drawing people towards its waiting embrace. Lilith lingered at the top of the stairs, watching the people trickle down into the main room. Steady violets surveyed the room, from the bar to the stage and back again. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. The dance floor was filling up, and the bar looked busy. Bottles were twirling, drinks were being shot back, and people were flipping through the drink menus and laughing.
All of this was good news for the halfbreed as she stood and watched, as silent and still as a gargoyle in her church of decadence.
A man brushed against her as he started downstairs and jolted Lilith from her reverie. Violet eyes followed the path of the guest as he took to the dance floor and maneuvered himself towards a girl dancing alone. With a smile and a shake of her head, Lilith turned and headed towards the weapons check. As soon as she crossed the threshold out of the main room, the music died as if someone had thrown a switch. You just have to love those magic quirks the crazy halfbreed had dreamed up. With a dazzling smile for Mason, she took up a lean against his counter and batted her eyelashes at him. ?Everything going well? Are people actually turning in their weapons??
Mason stared back down at Lilith, his gaze icy and steady. His lips didn?t even hint at a smile. ?Everything is going fine, Miss Lilith. And yes,? Mason paused in his sentence, taking a pair of handguns from a gentleman in line and handing over a ticket to him, ?most people are handing over their weapons. Excuse me.? Turning away from Lilith, Mason inventoried the pistols, dropped the magazines from them, and slid them into a safe-deposit type box, which he handed to his assistant. The assistant disappeared into the doors behind Mason and reemerged moments later, a fresh box in his hands.
A brow rose delicately towards Lilith?s hairline and she gave a nod. ?Looks to be?like clockwork. Keep it up guys.? Black spike heels pivoted gracefully as she turned from the front desk and headed back into the club. Again, crossing the threshold was like throwing a switch and the bass thrummed against her heart once more. This time she sashayed down the stairs, the black silk of her dress a mere whisper against her legs as she made her way down.
A few heads turned as she approached, and Lilith had to fight to keep the blush from rising in her cheeks. She could talk a big game, sure, but walking it was a different story altogether. Composing herself, she made her way over towards the booths and started introducing herself to the people there, getting feedback from them. Lilith was in a deep and very meaningful conversation about shoes with a young woman when she felt a hand at her elbow. A server stood beside her with a small envelope in her hand.
?Miss Lilith, this was presented at the door for you tonight by a young woman. She said to tell you it was important, and of a feral nature.? The server was clearly confused by the message, but delivered it with the ease that only came from practicing a line over and over in an attempt to remember it.
The perfect smile faltered noticeably. Lilith apologized to the young woman she had been conversing with and excused herself from the table. Brisk steps carried her back towards the stairs and she disappeared behind them, and into her office. In her haste she left the door cracked behind her, and music flooded the room as she propped herself on the corner of her desk. Fingers tore the envelope open and ripped the note from its confines.
Guardian DeBrough,
We need to talk. There is unresolved business between you and I, and I am tired of walking on eggshells in this damn town just because you are here. Besides, I have information for you. Meet me tomorrow, in the back alley behind the Inn. Don?t bring your merc friend, I don?t tolerate audiences.
-Lexi
Lilith gave a very heavy sigh, and her violet eyes slid closed beneath the obstacle course her mind was running through. Fingertips drummed against the surface of her desk before she pushed herself up. Crumpling the note in her hand, she balled it up and tossed it into the waste bin beside the door on her way out. Manufacturing an almost believable smile, she closed her office door behind her and leaned against it. A glance to the side towards the storage and security rooms, and then back out towards the dance floor. The thrall of bodies was hypnotizing.
Shaky legs held her up, and she debated whether to drink first, or dance. Either way, Lexi was not going to ruin this night for her.
All of this was good news for the halfbreed as she stood and watched, as silent and still as a gargoyle in her church of decadence.
A man brushed against her as he started downstairs and jolted Lilith from her reverie. Violet eyes followed the path of the guest as he took to the dance floor and maneuvered himself towards a girl dancing alone. With a smile and a shake of her head, Lilith turned and headed towards the weapons check. As soon as she crossed the threshold out of the main room, the music died as if someone had thrown a switch. You just have to love those magic quirks the crazy halfbreed had dreamed up. With a dazzling smile for Mason, she took up a lean against his counter and batted her eyelashes at him. ?Everything going well? Are people actually turning in their weapons??
Mason stared back down at Lilith, his gaze icy and steady. His lips didn?t even hint at a smile. ?Everything is going fine, Miss Lilith. And yes,? Mason paused in his sentence, taking a pair of handguns from a gentleman in line and handing over a ticket to him, ?most people are handing over their weapons. Excuse me.? Turning away from Lilith, Mason inventoried the pistols, dropped the magazines from them, and slid them into a safe-deposit type box, which he handed to his assistant. The assistant disappeared into the doors behind Mason and reemerged moments later, a fresh box in his hands.
A brow rose delicately towards Lilith?s hairline and she gave a nod. ?Looks to be?like clockwork. Keep it up guys.? Black spike heels pivoted gracefully as she turned from the front desk and headed back into the club. Again, crossing the threshold was like throwing a switch and the bass thrummed against her heart once more. This time she sashayed down the stairs, the black silk of her dress a mere whisper against her legs as she made her way down.
A few heads turned as she approached, and Lilith had to fight to keep the blush from rising in her cheeks. She could talk a big game, sure, but walking it was a different story altogether. Composing herself, she made her way over towards the booths and started introducing herself to the people there, getting feedback from them. Lilith was in a deep and very meaningful conversation about shoes with a young woman when she felt a hand at her elbow. A server stood beside her with a small envelope in her hand.
?Miss Lilith, this was presented at the door for you tonight by a young woman. She said to tell you it was important, and of a feral nature.? The server was clearly confused by the message, but delivered it with the ease that only came from practicing a line over and over in an attempt to remember it.
The perfect smile faltered noticeably. Lilith apologized to the young woman she had been conversing with and excused herself from the table. Brisk steps carried her back towards the stairs and she disappeared behind them, and into her office. In her haste she left the door cracked behind her, and music flooded the room as she propped herself on the corner of her desk. Fingers tore the envelope open and ripped the note from its confines.
Guardian DeBrough,
We need to talk. There is unresolved business between you and I, and I am tired of walking on eggshells in this damn town just because you are here. Besides, I have information for you. Meet me tomorrow, in the back alley behind the Inn. Don?t bring your merc friend, I don?t tolerate audiences.
-Lexi
Lilith gave a very heavy sigh, and her violet eyes slid closed beneath the obstacle course her mind was running through. Fingertips drummed against the surface of her desk before she pushed herself up. Crumpling the note in her hand, she balled it up and tossed it into the waste bin beside the door on her way out. Manufacturing an almost believable smile, she closed her office door behind her and leaned against it. A glance to the side towards the storage and security rooms, and then back out towards the dance floor. The thrall of bodies was hypnotizing.
Shaky legs held her up, and she debated whether to drink first, or dance. Either way, Lexi was not going to ruin this night for her.