Snow crunched, and cobblestone clacked as Desmond made his way down the alley. His cold piercing blue eyes sweeping over the area was he made his way to the designated meeting place. He came to a stop near the abandoned store. A glance around to make sure none were following, and he slipped in.

Crimson light came from only the glowing tip of her cigarette. She was sitting on the decrepit counter top, one leg folded over the other. Bare footed and in her usual red dress she glanced towards the door as her father stepped in. Being her mother's vision wasn't easy, she was the pride and joy of that old man and she hated every moment of it. Dark tendrils bounced off her shoulders, very much bare. The girl was different in so many ways, yet in many ways she still held the honor and pride that was the Slythe way.

Lips twitched into a slow smile, a nod to Brianna as the door closed behind him. "Hello Brianna..." The father spoke kindly towards her, the name rolled smoothly and gently off his tongue. "...where is that sister of yours?" This time he spoke with a hint of disgust.

Sarah was making more and more nervous steps towards the destined location. Swallowing through chapped lips and down a dry throat, copper eyes looked towards the shop with a bit of resentment and fear. She was gripping at her pouch and keeping the treasure within close, shaking orbs being ever mindful of the designated place. It was her father's idea, and she was never adored by her father, in fact she was loathed and hated by the man in many ways. As she moved towards the door she kept shaking. By gods why did she have to keep Dust from coming to this meeting? Why'd she have to sneak out in the middle of the night?!

He was growing impatient waiting for his other daughter, and cast an angry glare at the door. "She better hurry..." Desmond muttered quietly under his breath.

Brianna shrugged as she flicked at her cigarette," She does as she pleases, you should know that. I don't care, but then again you do." Her eyes turned towards him slowly and a brow perked as well as a grin on her lips. She wriggled her toes to feel the air between them and brushed some hair away from the burning kiss of her cigarette," She should be here soon, she always did try to make you happy even when it was pointless." A smoke ring left her lips as she turned her eyes on the door.

Desmond walked over to Brianna, the daughter he adored, and brushed a hand across her cheek lightly. "Shame she couldn't turn out more like you did..." Then his hand dropped and he turned to lean against the counter, waiting.

Brianna grimiced at her father and leaned her face away from his touch. Giving him a dark look and muttering," I won't be surprised if she doesn't show. You're such a dick to her." Yes she said it. But since she was his pride she usually got away with those words to him. Be it if they were terrible or well... kind, and she was never usually kind.

"She is a disgrace to the family." Their father responded without even a flash of anger towards Brianna.

Sarah took a deep breath and turned to look at the guard behind her," What do you say we ditch and go get some Coffee?" Giving him a weak smile before looking back to the shop with a gulp. Sarah was usually timid but this was worse. She was scared shitless at the thought of meeting with her father. Giving Sylth another look she gulped and sighed," I have to do this don't I?"

"Only because you hated her after she was bitten..." Brianna remarked back to him darkly. Folding her arms and flicking at her cigarette, watching the ashes drift away in a dance.

Desmond tapped his foot impatiently; he could feel Sarah's presence in the alley. "Hurry up girl..." The words drifted through the air, under the door and to Sarah's ears, words dipped in malice and hate.

"You won't get another chance once Dust finds you've left unannounced. And my shifts won't sync up with an excursion like this for another three months, Sarah." The Crimson Guard Captain, bereft of his usual and extravagant armor, walked a few paces behind and to the right of her. A thick, black set of civilian clothing, thick and allowing a full range of motion, covered him and the tight, fitted armor beneath it. The ring woven into the end of his braid was thick, and obsidian, while rust-colored eyes took in everything, on more levels than most organisms could hope to. "So it's basically now, or never."

Hearing Sylth's words she nodded, knowing full well that he was right. A sigh fell from her lips and she turned only to wince at the voice of her father echoing in her ears. She grumbled while her hand moved to the door, processing the best way out if this should run foul, but she was sure that Sylth was already doing this.

Chewing on her bottom lips she turned the knob as she whispered to Sylth," Thank you for coming Sylth..." Copper eyes turned on the guard before turning back to the door and soon pulling it open while she took a step within. A mutter fell from her lips and she shook her head," Better make this worth while and take this as the woman I am.... A Belarus." She added lightly the last part, to remind herself that she was always strong when Dust was at her side, and he was. The black orb around her neck was brushed at before making her way fully within the abandoned shop.

The father’s cold gaze set upon Sarah then. "You're late..." His tone riddled with disgust. The other was given a glare as well, he cast an adoring glance to Brianna, then back to Sarah, hate filled once more.

Brianna clapped her hands as she saw her sister enter with none other than a man at her side. She snickered and waved to the man behind her before glaring at her father," Shut up you were late too." Another bitter tone made as she leaned back in her spot.

The Elf-turned-Core glanced over the waving woman with what seemed to be mild interest, and then the glaring man with as much emotion as a grain of sand might show to the currents that carry it across the ocean floor. Both hands, gloved, were resting within his pockets. Every exit was assessed, and the Captain began formulating escape routes out of nothing more than habit.

Sarah gulped as she heard her father, casting a smile at Brianna none the less. She had nothing against her sister, nope, she actually stuck up for her on many, many occasions. When she moved further within she looked at the man before her, which was very much the man she looked like practically to a tee before becoming a Celestial Core. Her fingers fidgeted over her wedding ring while she spoke to her father," I'm sorry father. I did try to be on time." Again she was back to always trying to please the man before her.

A dismissive wave. "You'll be punished later, for now let's get to the reason for this meeting...I'm waiting."

Brianna turned a hopeful eye to the man before her as she spoke," You've decided to die? Finally?" She clapped her hands and mumbled," How delightful! I was wondering when you'd get to doing that." She grinned and snickered silently as she winked to Sarah before giving an innocent look to her father.

"I love your attitude Brianna." He actually chuckled, a hollow sound, then turned to Sarah. "You failed, explain yourself, you've lost what little honor your tainted blood carried."

There was a blink from Sarah before she looked back to her father. She was still wondering why her sister could say such things so bravely to her father while swallowing. When she heard her father's words she took a step back towards Sylth as she answered," I didn't see the point in capturing a woman I have no quarrel with other than she had bit me... I was content as I was, the only one who wasn't was you." She closed her eyes and waited for the slap that was bound to fall against her cheek at least once this night.

The Captain's eyes lifted from their halted position in time to begin a slow, full assessment of the man before them, who dared to speak so brazenly to a Celestial Core. When she'd stepped back towards him, he moved forwards, to her side.

Far more than once, a quick backhand to her cheek was made followed by an angry glare. "Because I ordered you to, if for no other reason!" Desmond’s hand lowered. "You've accepted your taint readily, you've become corrupt, you're disgusting."

Her brows knitted together while Brianna muttered," You make me sick..." Shaking her head she looked at the two, sister and the man before looking to her father.

The Captain was standing in front of Sarah in no time flat, eyes leveled lazily upon the man before him. "If you lay a hand upon her in aggression again, you will be subdued. Step back." Signals were rocketing through the air, back and forth, while he watched.

Sarah winced as the hit was made to her cheek. Her head lowered as it turned to the side and she gritted her teeth. She was more and more glad she had not brought her husband to this, or the man would have been dead moments ago for the way he was speaking to her. She remained silent while her hands balled up into fists. Her eyes closed and she lifted her head back up proudly. Copper orbs glared at the man before her, she more considered vermin than a father. A faint smile was given to Sylth, even gladder by the moment that she had asked him to come along.

"Sarah, who is this man?" Desmond was staring blankly at Sylth. "And more importantly, why is he here?"

Blinking over to her father, Sarah smirked a bit," He's one of my guards... and I asked him to come in my husband's place." Now showing her distaste for her father with a bit of a look to Sylth," Introduce yourself Sylth and state what your duty is so that the man before you knows just who he's dealing with."

That was his signal, the cosmic balance was bent over backwards and nothing made any sense, or was it even exciting, nothing was worth playing with these days. Everybody had nothing left to offer. Dressed in his typical black attire, the so called man decided to take a stroll through the place he now called part of his official kingdom. Yes. Bob truly was the emperor of Rhy’din, there was nobody better then he was, and he knew it. But being so good had i's own issues, he sighed.

A casual hand was moving to Brianna’s dress and plucking at it while she paid half attention to her father's garble of words. Another cigarette was lit and she was wrinkling her nose. A snap of her fingers and the end was lit to let the smoke curl and whip about in a carefree dance.

"Husband?" Head tilted then, lips curled into a sneer. "Who'd marry a harlot like you? Must be some poor desperate bastard." Desmond chuckled darkly and stepped around Sylth. "Tell your guard to leave, now." Cold gaze set on Sarah.

“Who should I kill today...I see nobody brave enough to stand before me, or even after me...or even beside me,” He smiled then,” As it should be.”

"I am Sylth Kinestis, Imperial Core and Captain of the Crimson Guard; the personal Guard to the Emperor and Empress Belarus." He stepped back and to the side, not allowing the man to pass him and move closer to Sarah. "It is my duty to ensure the well-being of the Belarus Royal Bloodline, and the Core Empire by extension. Step. Back."

Walking further down the alleyway, he heard voices, annoying and pathetic voices of false anger and people who spoke too much of hate and disgust, they obviously never saw a Sylorian clawed beast. That was bad, oh, somebody playing guardian...he leaned against a wall and decided to...listen in to the conversation from afar. Being a superior to gods and cosmic entities had some perks after all,” Lets see how this plays out...”

The father was gone for the briefest of moments and was standing behind Sarah, a long silver dagger in hand, where'd it come from? The point is, the blade was held firmly to Sarah's neck, and another hand gripped at her wrist, squeezing tightly. "Tell your friend to leave, or I'll paint the walls with your foul smelling blood." He whispered darkly into her ear, words filled with hatred and loathing.

“What a cheap move...,” Yes, Bob could now see what was going on, in the meeting, and...and in the women’s locker room in the Gym, private pool parties and damn near everywhere else too.

After Sylth made the introduction known Sarah spoke up," I am Empress Belarus of the Core Empire... Celestial Core and wife of the Emperor Dust Belarus,.. Not some desperate Bastard. If you dare to call him that once more, I will tell Sylth that your standard has gone from father to vermin... And I don't like vermin..."

Blinking as her father made such a move to her she turned in the flash of an eye and was looking at her father darkly. Her hand lifted and she touched the tip of the blade for a moment, letting it turn to ashes at her touch. Her glance turned up to her father and she gave him a flat look," For once in your life father quit being an arrogant pig and listen... I'm not going to tell my guard to go anywhere, and you by far have no more of a hold on me than you do Ambrianna... Stop thinking you do." Rolling her eyes and stepping back to Sylth," One more move like that and you can have some fun if you like Sylth... I don't see why you shouldn't."

Now Brianna's attention was fully on the group. A clap of her hands came and she snickered to her sister's words," I don't know what she's on but I want some..." Grinning while she turned to look at her father," She's wised up to you... You're no longer god of her world." Snickering and taking another slow intake of her cigarette.

There was a dark smile,” You will always get what you give in this world...a move like that was deserving of such an easy counter.” Bob loved playing the commentary.

"Always hiding behind others, always the weaker one." The father mused darkly as the ashes twirled through the air in an intricate dance, forming the family crest for a moment before flying away. "So you're an Emperors whore?" He snickered darkly. "Always a disappointment, always a failure, you disgust me." He spoke in a deathly calm voice as the room slowly lost all light, and was draped in a cloak of unnatural darkness, a darkness that no light could shine through, no eyes could see through, as if all had just vanished, and was replaced by the void.

Sarah would feel a burning sensation on her neck, as if a branding iron was pressed to her skin. He left a mark, a mark that showed her new status, a lowly whelp, nothing in his eyes, less than what she used to be, vermin, an animal. Then the darkness subsided and he was gone, the mark could not be removed by any but himself.

As if it were the shade of a tree on a hot summer’s day, When it came to darkness, Bob was on top of his game, it was nothing and nothing changed. He smiled and remained where he was, watching, listening, being amused.

His body began to compensate for the darkness, altering his sensory perceptions and the like until it had subsided. He turned towards Sarah, eyes narrowed and brows dipped deep. "A paltry trick. The Emperor will not be pleased, Sarah. And I will be reprimanded considerably."

Her hand had clenched to her neck as she felt the mark burn. Sarah snapped her eyes about as if looking for him in the shadows. Looking to the guard next to her she mumbled," No.. You will not, but I will. When Dust finds out about this I will see that no harm comes to you."

A wince came and she looked at the mark," When Dust sees this I am sure he will want to rip the man from limb to limb." She shook her head before turning to her sister. All she did was bow and nod to the woman, knowing full well that her sister would be off in a matter of mere seconds.

He sighed then, as if he wondered what to do about the situation. He could have stepped in and did something, or he could just keep walking down the way. It was an issue....,”Ah to hell with it.” Then he stepped through the wall and was on the opposite side of Sarah, leaning against the wall and watching her,“ Hello!. Remember me at all or am I just another blank space in your world...,” Bob blinked.

Slowly Ambrianna slid from her perch and moved to her sister. Leaning her sister's neck to the side she cursed her father's name before mumbling," Take it as a mark of pride.. You stood up to your father for once... Bravo." Mussing her little sister's hair she soom moved with a sashay for the door as her hand lifted up in an airy wave," Rest well sister." A look was given to Bob before she made her way off into the night.

“A mark of pride. Nothing a minor invisibility trick wouldn't solve I am sure.” Bob noted.

"There is only one above your head, and I will take it past you if I must. You are well aware of this. I have failed this night in my duty, and as such, will have to face any consequences he can conceive." His eyes flickered across Bob, and he nodded in a grim manner. "Your suggestion will be looked into as soon as possible, thank you for it."

Sarah shook her head as her sister left and rubbed at her neck. Wincing for a moment she nodded to Bob and whispered," I'm sorry, but we must make off before the night is late and my husband finds me away from bed." Nodding once more she turned to glance at Sylth," Please, ease your mind for a moment... We have to make our way back to the Estates unseen or unheard... I do not want to upset Dust more than I have."

Bob looked at her, winked, then was gone like he was never there at all. Just because something couldn't be removed doesn't mean it had to remain..seen.

He moved to the door, holding it open while keeping his eyes unfocused on anything in particular. "I apologize for the audacity of what I am about to do, Empress, but he must be told at once. Any and all precautions and analyses must be taken and undergone as soon as possible. Now please, let us go."

With a sigh, Sarah moved to the door as she nodded," Alright, you can tell him full well in a report if you'd like. But be sure to note every detail." Shaking her head she looked towards the mountains and shifted on her feet," With haste then Sylth..." And with that the woman pushed off her feet and with lightning quick steps led on into the night.