The man chuckled as he gave in to the flow of the dance once more, saying,"No Miss Jones, no properties for sale tonight, tonight I'm just here to enjoy myself and the company of others."

He looked around quickly once more and then returned those shimmering blue eyes once more to Alice, saying,"A businesswoman, eh? Tell me Madam Jones, what kind of a business? At first guess I would probably say a bookstore or a bakery. Am I right?"

The band mellowed out the tune some, returning it to a somewhat upbeat yet calmly influenced tune, in which the flutist lead the way through the song.

Nearby, at the bar, Dalton and Thomas stood arms crossed as they watched Alice and the man in white dance.
"We have to get them alone." Insisted Thomas.
"After her mask is removed." Dalton reminded.
Thomas nodded grimly before suddenly jerking up his right wrist followed by a snap of his fingers,"I have an idea." He said.

Alice gave the man a sweet smile, while she analyzed her surroundings. It was slightly irritating she would admit, that he could not leave the topic of her be. Did men not like to hear themselves talk generally? They had when she was fitting them at least! "Something like that." The tailor admitted, though not going into more detail. "Though it's a lot more up with the times as it were. Unfortunately I'm here to enjoy myself and talking of my business does not do that." There! Let him feel bad for making a woman wilt with sorrow! For the pain in Alice's eyes and her voice was not feigned.

It was like loosing a limb for her, a friend who had passed. Though it was a mere building, it also had been her proverbial pirate flag to her family. The finger to the world that Alice Lynch would make it! Despite what her upbringing as a political liar. Alice would make it as a upstanding and well mannered lady, that didn't lie. The difficulty however had been set far higher than Alice had anticipated, what with being turned into one of the Nosferatu and all. Perhaps, she would find Dracula and give it a read. Though that might horrify Liza to some degree...

The man gave a short chuckle,"I see. Well, perhaps after this dance we can have a seat over at the tables or maybe head out to the balcony for a private chat? I'd like to get to know you a little better and be able to speak freely without trying to maintain focus on my feet." He smiled behind his mask, those blue eyes twinkling from within the shadows of the slanted eye holes on the white mask.

The melody was winding down as the song began to end, with the flutist playing the final notes as the others slowly lowered their instruments.

"Alice dear!" A voice suddenly rang out.
It was Aleera, she was briskly walking toward Alice and her partner, although really it was more of a slow trot than as fast stride. In her hands she carried two tall glasses of wine, filled to the brim.
As she closed in on the two, she spoke directly to Alice,"Alice, would you
li-!"

Aleera didn't finish her sentence as her right ankle rolled slightly forward which pitched Aleera front-ways. With a cry, Aleera fell forward and, as she was falling, the two glasses of wine slipped from her hand and flew forward.
The crimson liquid lept from the glasses and splashed all across the side of Alice's dress, down her arm, and across the side of her face and hair.
Alex leapt backward, though several red drops splattered down the sleeve of his jacket and on his glove.

Aleera had landed with a loud Thud! on the hardwood floor, which caused many people to spin around or stop dancing. The dwindling music faltered from where the band was, and several chuckles and loud laughs began erupting throughout the ball room.

Alice let the melody wind down slowly as she considered Alex's offer. "Perhaps a quiet table. Fresh air is a novelty I can do without." Her voice light a friendly though she the thought of leaving the gathering was slightly worrisome. It seemed when she was not surrounded by people, trouble brewed all the more ferociously about her. As Aleera's voice rang out, Alice looked up her delicate mouth drawing into a frown as the woman came jogging towards them with two glasses of red wine. While that was not cause for concern, Alice didn't care to see the woman jogging with such beverages and with so many delicate dresses about. Did she not know what red wine would do to such a dress?

As fate would have it, what she had feared happened. The woman tripping as Alice drew back too late to save her dress from getting splashed with the staining liquid and half of her face as well. Fighting back a snarl at all her hard work going down the drain, knowing that a scene would not be welcomed here. Alice yanked herself from Alex's hold and sucked in a quiet breath as the keen emerald eyes studied the damage. Hours of work, ruined because of some irritating woman and her need for wine. "Are you alright dear?" Alice asked Aleera with a icy coldness in her voice. Moving to offer the woman a hand to get to her feet, there was a tenseness about Alice. For while she could forgive much, ruining clothing was a sin. Whispering so that only Aleera could hear, the tailor hissed in absolute venom. "I will be seeking compensation for your lack of care, my dear. I can forgive a lot, but not someone doing something so utterly stupid." Setting Aleera on her feet with a kindly smile, Alice checked that her mask remained in place as it wouldn't do to come undone and reveal herself. With a heavy heart Alice strode towards the ladies room, her back stiff and her chin held high as she ignored the crowd. Her eyes brimming with tears of anger and sorrow over her craft, but she held them back. Letting the crowd merely see a lady going off to deal with a tragedy without a bother and nothing more.

A gloved hand suddenly grabbed Alice by her left wrist and yanked her backward slightly.

It was Aleera. She stood firmly in place and held Alice rather tightly with her right hand, a surprisingly iron grip that squeezed Alice's wrist like a python. From behind Aleera's mask, apair of glowing, crimson red eyes stared back at Alice. Two blood red, swirling orbs that burned within the eyeholes of the smiling white mask.

"I would suggest," Aleera began, her low voice now gravely and threatening,"you watch your mouth jeune garçon. No on speaks to me that way. Now why don't you go with me into the ladies room? You and I have something to discuss."

She stepped past Alice, her tight grip remained. Aleera suddenly stopped, noticing several people still casually looking at the two of them.
Aleera leaned in close to Alice's face and said quietly,"And if you dare scream or signal for help, I'll pull your heart out right here."
Aleera's red eyes brightened for a split second, then began to fade away into the shadow of her mask.

"Goodness," Aleera then loudly stated,"let's go get you cleaned up, dear!"

Alice paled as Aleera's eyes turned the red she had learned to associate with vampires. Her own green eyes wide with fright behind her mask and a small shiver running down her spine. Why could she never catch a break with this? Why could she not have a simple, nice night? Sans the vampires?! Following the vampiress docile as a lamb, Alice thought fleetingly of running but discarded the notion. She wasn't a fighter the events thus far in her new life having proven such.

Shrinking within herself as she entered the ladies lavatory, Alice eyed the supposed 'friend' of Dalton's. Had the man set her up? She wasn't sure what to think any more and thus was losing her courage and backbone to become passive once more. "I-I won't say I didn't mean anything by it." Her voice was shaky, but honest as she lowered her emerald gaze. "I made this- to have it ruined. It is a blow to my pride." She admitted, "I-I'm terribly sorry. I didn't realize you were-!" Panic was beginning to set in as Alice gave a small whimper of terror. Her voice never rising above a barely audible whisper.

Aleera, though hearing Alice's words, said naught as she guided Alice into the women's room. It was a large restroom with ten separate closet-like toilets which one could comfortably use in privacy. Aside from the long row of sinks and mirrors outside, each separate toilet had it's own little sink and mirror combination along with the toilet. Aleera lead Alice through the farthest door, past the half dozen women lined up along the mirrors fussing with their masks and hair.
Once they were alone, Aleera locked the door behind her and turned to Alice, breathing deeply within as she did.

She spoke,"Now, I'm sorry about your dress, I really am. But we haven't time for this. I need you to follow me back out into the ball room and remove your mask. Pretend that your adjusting the string or something. And make sure you keep it off when we return to the dance floor. Our window of opportunity is closing and I need you to cooperate with me to the fullest. Do you understand?"

Alice gapped in open mouthed horror at the woman. She wanted the tailor to remove her mask?! And risk being recognized and reported to the authorities? Terror flooded Alice as she raised a hand to the delicate mask she had taken such time to make sure didn't come off. "I can't." Tears were leaking down her cheeks from under the black lace. Her slim fingers trembling. "I can't. You're a- you're the same as me." Alice whispered desperately, her eyes pleading that Aleera would understand.

"If I remove this mask, I'll have everyone after me to throw me in a loony bin or something!" Her voice cracking in fright. "I can't do that to myself, let alone what would happen to the woman I owe my life to. I've lost my business, and all my life's work because of some bastard. I'm pleading, do not make me do this." Alice gripped Aleera's hands in one of her own as her other hand moved up to protect the mask. "I don't know what opportunity you speak of. Please, explain what you can and perhaps I can help without removing my mask." Alice was outright weeping in panic at the thought of removing such a flimsy shield but it had given her the confidence to step beyond Liza's protection. To go with someone she had thought of a friend and wasn't so sure of any more. "Please."

Aleera held her patience as Alice explained her predicament, and felt a surge of minuscule sympathy as the young woman broke into tears. Aleera immediately steeled herself and began to think, her gaze cast downward. She didn't have time to explain the entire situation at hand, but she also knew that in a sense they needed this woman's cooperation for their plan to work. They had hoped to have it covertly and unbeknownst to Alice. The plan was to expose her face and have that snake Enduro recognize her and get her alone, so then Aleera, Thomas, and Dalton could ambush him. But this woman, Alice, was mucking everything up with her stubborn paranoia at being captured or arrested.

Aleera knew the whole story behind Alice; attacked by some red-haired lunatic and her blood drank, admitted to a hospital, and then shortly thereafter disappearing, seemingly to have leapt from a third floor window. Her assailant, Liam Enduro, disappeared without a trace. The bizarreness of the story and lack of clues and leads had attracted the media and every private investigator in New York City practically. True, there was the danger of someone at the party recognizing Alice from the news and calling the police, which would further complicate the situation and could give Enduro time to slip away.

"Hmmm..." Aleera mumbled.

Hmm, play the more vindictive angle perhaps? Yes...

Aleera looked to Alice and spoke in her grave voice,"Alice Lynch. Yes, I know who you are. I know what you are, you are like me my dear, une Vampire. A Nightborn, a dark one. I know all about your little epic. Well, at least what Dalton has told Thomas and I. And I know who did this to you, who turned you."

She stopped for a minute to let her words sink in before continuing,
"What if I told you, Alice, that Liam Enduro is here tonight in disguise? Mingling about, searching for tonight's prey, unaware that my companions and I have a trap prepared for him. What if I told you that, with your help tonight, we could destroy the man that robbed you of your mortal life?"

Alice blinked, lifting her mask enough to dab at the wetness with a tissue she had procured from the sink. Slowly listening to Aleera as she explained the predicament. Her memories of that night still haunted her, which led to the past few days when she had worked late into the daylight hours. A attempt to make her sleep more restful or dreamless at least. The drown out the memories she did not wish for. But now perhaps they would be of some use. Taking a steadying breathe, Alice's eyes darken with rage at the fact Liam was in fact at the ball which was suppose to be safe.

"I will help you, but- I need your help in return." The newly made vampire whispered. "I know I can't fight you and you could just make me. But if you could get my shop back for me. Make all this drama about my turning go away. Or die down enough I could start my business back up. Go back to what I love. To making beautiful things." Alice gave a shuddering breath. "I'd do practically anything. Include tell you that Liam enjoyed my blood enough he turned me." Her voice was harsh with rage as she closed her eyes. "An ambrosia of the human heart, he called it." Looking at Aleera, she nodded slowly. "I won't need to remove my mask. I merely will have to go off alone after mentioning I work in fashion and enjoy jazz. Perhaps a cut from a wine glass to lure him all the more." She closed her eyes, moving to the door the tailor looked back with a sorrowful gleam in her eyes. "He turned me for my blood. He cannot resist it, not when he tried to remain despite two Inquisitors." She had been barely conscious, but the sounds had come back during her time at the hospital before she had fled. If they were so dangerous and he had not cared would he not have fled first?

"I will get him alone or bring him to you if you signal me, but please. I want the ability to make people beautiful again. It is my only request." She unlocked the door and swept from the room. Moving towards the balcony, and making sure she caught Alex's eye if he was there. Giving him a small apologetic smile as she kept her course. Ignoring the words of others as she kept her head down. Looking for all the world like she indeed wished to separate from the crowd. In fact, she did. She wanted to catch the bastard who had harmed her so!

"Are you alright?" Came a voice from behind Alice.

It was Alex. On seeing Alice briskly heading for the balcony he had worked his way through the crowd and was following her to see if she was alright. Her dress and mask were stained darkly with the wine from earlier, though it wasn't absolutely blatantly noticeable.
He reached out and gently grasped Alice's shoulder to stop her.

"Oh no, your dress..." He said somberly, seeing the dark stains down the side.

Nearby, Aleera was working her way over to the bar when Thomas emerged from behind a crowd of people nearby. Seeing Aleera, he rushed up to her, arms out slightly.

"What happened?" He asked.
"It's been handled." Aleera replied bluntly.
"Alright," Thomas said,"well good, because I have a confident bead on our boy."

Aleera stiffened,"Who?" She demanded.

Thomas smiled behind the grinning skull mask as he raised a finger and swiveled it around, pointing through the crowd at the man in white that was talking to Alice.

Alice blinked her tear filled eyes as she had been thinking of her shop as she moved towards the elegant balcony. Looking back at Alex she shook her head in the negative. "Not really. I'm terribly sorry but I'm not very good company right now." She answered honestly, her hand brushing at the stain as the man reacted to it. "Unsalvageable I'm afraid. Nothing ruins a good gown like red wine. I've worked long enough in fashion to know that much." The tailor stated with a harshness in her timid voice that was aimed at more than the dress. There were better ways for Aleera to nab her than by doing that! What was it with vampire ruining their clothing and others' on a regular basis?!

Leaning into the very touch that repulsed her, Alice gave Alex a pleading look. "Perhaps we can talk more on the balcony? I need some air." She pleaded as she move towards her destination. A hand wrapping about Alex's as she pulled him along, urging him towards that private spot. "It's been a hard week for me. Perhaps coming to this party was a mistake." Alice sighed, lifting a hand to pat at her bun which was lucky to stay dry despite having wine flung at her. Her nails curving in towards her palm as she pinched. A slight cut appearing as she had planned, easy enough to blame a pin that was not closed properly.

That smell...

Alex stood close to Alice, their hands held still as he had listened to her speak. It was then that the smell flooded into his nose, the ridges of his nostrils arching in a sharp flare as he whiffed the metallic smell of Alice's dribbling blood from that slight cut on her hand.

No. It can't be her! But, that smell...Just like that night.

Alex failed to notice his grip slightly tightening as he stared hard into Alice's face, eyeing her features as best as possible through her mask.

A businesswoman, "worked long enough in fashion"...

Alex's grip turned to iron as he held Alice by her hand tightly, he stared deeply into her face. From within the shadowy depths of the slanted eye cuttings of the white mask, two gleaming red orbs began to twinkle.

"You."

Alice flinched as the revealed Liam's hand tightened on hers. For all she was also a vampire, no thanks to him, she wasn't immune to the bone crushing strength they shared. Baring her teeth in what would be seen as a sweet smile, Alice purred in a velvet tone of womanly scorn at the now clued in Liam. "Me. Please to see you again, Mister." Alice replied as she tugged at her imprisoned hand. Tactful as ever, Alice avoided using his name. Not wanting to risk being ousted.

Unaware her own eyes were gleaming red with their fury, Alice stepped closer to the vampire that turned her. Her hand wrapping about his waist in almost a hug. If it weren't for the anger in her stiffened spine, it would seem friendly. "You owe me my shop." The tailor growled at Liam. "You took my life's work from me and I want it back!" The woman half pulled, half pushed Liam towards the balcony. "But let's discuss this outside. Before I tap dance on your toes some more!" The tailor snapped in a no nonsense tone.

Without warning, the revealed Liam quickly raised a gloved hand, cupping it against the side of Alice's head, and gave a hard sideways shove. The surmounted force sent her reeling hard sideways, towards the balcony railing.

Liam turned in her direction, arms at his side, chest out, his vampiric eyes now burning so brightly that they completely engulfed the eyes of the mask, giving it a rather haunting look. He took three slow steps forward, keeping his composure as he did so.

"Well, well," Liam said loudly,"this is certainly a pleasant surprise. I had thought I had lost you forever, Alice Lynch. But it seems that fate has reunited us. Oh, how I'm aflutter with delight."

He reached up with both hands, pulling the white mask from his face and casting it to the ground at his right side, he then gripped the front of his ebony hair and yanked backward, revealing it as a wig as it fell from his shoulders down behind him. He now stood there, flaming red hair loosely hanging down to his shoulders, his pale skin shining in the night as he leered at Alice with a cruel red-eyed smile.

"You and I left off in a precarious way last time," he said, still smiling,"those foul inquisitors interrupted the advancement of our relationship. But here we are together again, as I hoped for. Please, forgive my harshness, if you'll be a good girl and come here, we can pick up where we left off."

Alice reeled sideways into the balcony as Liam shoved her out onto the darkened platform. Gripping the railing, the tailor whipped her head around as the vampire strode forward. Looking far too keep and pleased for Alice's comfort. Fear tingled down Alice's spine as she bared her fangs at the bastard across from her. Her own eyes gleaming red coals behind the mask of green and black. "Pleasant would be our meeting if you hadn't taken my life from me." The tailor hissed, her gaze darting around for escape. She was in over her hear and Alice knew it.

But that kernel of anger snarled and roared for what had been lost. She wanted to rage and snarl and rip his head from his shoulders. Something Alice wouldn't normally even consider. But Liam had that effect on people, or so the tailor was starting to piece together. But still, why not give him what he wanted? Why not lure him into giving her what she desired for attaining what he wanted? Darting a step back, Alice glowered at the one who had ruined her life. "I don't care so much about you turning me." Alice noted with a sorrowful note in her voice. It was a lie, she did care. But there was more at stake. "But you took my living, my shop from me! You made the police and hospital think I was mad!" Her voice was a whisper only her kind could hear, after all humans over hearing this would cause problems. "I. Want. My. Shop. Back." Each word was a forceful sentence. Her eyes burning with rage over that particular fact. "You say we have a relationship? That you wish to pick up where we left off? Then I want to be able to return to my shop. Without the police or hospital looking for me. Without them thinking I'm mad or insane or pulling my name through the mud with this scandal that you caused. It's put quiet a damper on things." Alice noted with a sour note in her voice.

"You've seen what I can do with cloth. You want more of that, you want more of this." Raising her finger to her mouth she bit down on the flesh letting the scent of more blood float on the wind. "I won't give you a single drop unless you give me what you took. It wouldn't do for there to be hard feelings between us, would it?" Another lie, but Alice doubted she could kill him. Hurting him was on the menu however. She would never help him willingly, but she did desire her beloved Timeless back and her in her proper seat on a old stool behind a counter or at a sewing machine. For that she would bargain with this devil.

The odor of Alice's blood rippled through the air and into Liam's nose, his arched nostrils now flaring like that of a boar or bull. A thin, smug smile crept across his mouth as she spoke her peace.
Liam chuckled lightly and, his left arm held outward in an arrogant manor, he said,"You are a fiery little fox aren't you, Miss Lynch? I do love that. So, that is your demand then; your store and your passion returned to you, and your good name cleared, your life back to a somewhat normal state, eh? Not an unfair request."

He lowered his arm to his side and took two more bold steps forward, his eyes dimmed slightly and his expression still of smug nature.
"I do apologize," he said,"seems I did indeed send your quaint life on a reckless spiral into the unknown. I just hope that you appreciate the gift that I have given you, immortality my dear, dominance over mortals and strength and power like no human can achieve. But if you speak true about not caring about me turning you, then let us not focus on that. Now then, your shop, your life, your name, Miss Lynch I can grant you new ones! I can guarantee you a new store and a new identity, no one will be the wiser and you can go back to doing what you adore. There's just one condition..."

Liam took one final step forward and leaned towards Alice, he was now a mere two feet from her.
"You must spend your new life with me, as my companion, lover, and feeder. I wanted you when I first met you Alice, and since tasting your honey sweet blood I've yearned for you," he grinned, a wide grin revealing pearly white teeth and two menacing fangs,"come now love, immortality can be so lonely at times. What better way to spend it than with a fellow immortal?"

Behind Liam, in the doorway of the balcony, three figures stood shoulder to shoulder.
It was Thomas, Aleera, and Dalton, they stood still and silent as Liam spoke. Their masks still adorning their faces. Liam had not noticed them as they stood unmoving behind him.

Oh, how she wanted what he offered. But Liam would give her nothing without strings she wasn't willing to agree with. Irritated and annoyed Alice was loosing her edge as she felt her back hit the railing as Liam towered over her. Her crimson eyes gleaming withe rage as she wrung her hands hopelessly. "No!" The tailor hissed between her fangs. "You took my life and shop. There is no way you can return them. Them and not some second rate copy!" The raven haired vampire moved suddenly her hand striking across her creator's face with a ringing slap. Her nails having been dragged across his face. Temper and power had been behind that blow and using it as cover Alice darted to the side. Attempting to put more distance between Liam and her.

Furious and close to breaking her emotional walls again. Alice focused on trying to get around Liam, to the safety of lights and people. Even if she wans't one of them. She was a vampire and horror of the night. But she wasn't the worst thing out there. Liam saw them as prey. As something to quench his thirst and be used for his entertainment. That wasn't her, that wasn't Liza. They saw themselves as apart of humans but still close to them. Or so Alice thought.

"Ngh! Why you little-!" Liam started, whirling around and reaching a long arm out to grab Alice, though missing just barely.
Her fierce slap and the rake of her claws had left four angry red gashes across his face, which thin streams of blood began oozing from.

It was then that he saw the three masked figures that stood between he and Alice and the door, which was now shut surprisingly, the party inside continuing obliviously.
Before Liam could speak or react, it was Aleera who spoke first behind her smiling white mask.

"Bon soir, connard serpent." She hissed.

"Well, if it isn't Liam Enduro," Thomas said in a harsh tone,"it seems you've slipped into a trap. A trap of our design."

"Y-you three-!" Liam hissed, his attention now totally derived from Alice toward Thomas, Dalton, and Aleera.

"That's right you snake," sneered Aleera,"it's us, and we're here to settle a score, or rather, we're here to incapacitate you and take you to the master, so he may settle his own score."

"Come quietly and cooperatively,"Thomas said,"or we'll rend you limb from limb."

There was a brief moment of silence before Thomas spoke again,"This is your one chance."

"Alice," Dalton said,"get behind us now."

Alice shivered in fright, her flinch from Liam's touch having saved her from being ensnared by the vampire who had caused her turning. The malice that hung heavy in the air didn't help matters as Alice hesitated approaching the three masked figures though she well knew who at least one of them was. Though as she listened, their words startled and unnerved her. Liam knew them? How? What was their issue with the man= vampire? Alice's green eyes flicked back from the deadly red in her shock.

What did they mean by 'the master'? Was it perhaps the same way Liam had tried to gain leverage over her? Biting back her questions and holding her terror in check, the small tailor nodded at Dalton's words and took the next few steps that put her behind the three and most directly behind the man who had been her partner to the dance. There was so much what she wanted to ask, but there was no time. Or rather, this was not the time. Wrapping her arms about herself, Alice looked at Liam from behind the group with sheer loathing.