“Sounds good to me.” Vivian gave her benefactor a warm smile, trying to not make her eagerness too obvious as she reached for the envelope. Once it was between her fingers, Vivian finally noticed the piece of cardboard inside that made it look artificially thicker. She found it curious why Alexander had bothered with this unnecessary trick at all; she didn’t see much purpose in it. It certainly didn’t seem like he had much need to fake additional wealth.

Vivian kept the envelope wrapped in her palm and returned her gaze to meet Alexander’s. “I’m glad you’re enjoying the game. I’ll see you next time—just text the number from earlier to arrange a time.” She noticed Elias calling him over to pay his tab. Vivian gestured at Alexander with a quick raise of the whiskey in her hand, taking a sip after. “Thanks again for the drinks. It’s much appreciated, even if it’s the middle of the day. I’ll leave you to it—Jimmy can help you with the bill.”

Tucking the envelope under her elbow, she grabbed her pool cue and sauntered off to the employee’s area. Once there, she swiftly disposed of the redundant piece of cardboard, and enthusiastically flipped through the bills. She was hoping to buy a new guitar stand and try out the fancy French restaurant in town. However, as much as Vivian wanted to spend it on herself, she realised quickly that she never had the chance to give Alissa a housewarming present. The money would be much better spent on a girls’ night at the Pit or Trance with Alissa and bottle service anyway.

Time: Morning
Location: Sorrel’s place
Interactions: @Ithradine Volfango @Milkman Finn
Mentions: N/A

---

It seemed Volfango hadn’t only flustered Sorrel, but also Finn which she found slightly amusing while also strangely comforting. Quickly pulled out three glasses and placed them on the table before going to grab the milk and some apple juice. She filled one glass with milk as requested by Volfango while she poured herself some apple juice and then left both on the table so that Finn could decide on what he wanted. She then took her seat as Finn also returned and took his own seat. She was rather quiet at first as she realized that she was going to have to have a potentially sensitive discussion with these two. There was no getting around it, she had questions about last night. Of course she wouldn’t force either of them to answer her, but she needed to ask.

Volfango finished cooking and presented the dishes to them which caused Sorrel to smile a bit. ”With all the flattery you give, Volfango, I’d be careful. I mean I might let it go to my head.” She said with a giggle, taking in the wonderful smell of the breakfast. She also noticed the hint of red on Finn’s cheeks and couldn’t help but smirk a little at him before going to take a bite of her food. She paused, however, as Finn asked her a question and she looked back up at him. Well here went nothing.

”Absolutely, in fact both of you are welcome to stay. My home is open to you.” She paused as she looked between the two. ”Under one condition, though.” She looked to Finn first as he was the one that asked to stay. ”What brought you here to Ember Grove when you have nowhere to go?” Then she looked at Volfango. ”And my question for you, my dear, is where is the one that turned you into a werewolf?” She only gave a moment's pause before deciding to clarify why she was asking these questions.

”I apologize if these questions touch on anything sensitive, but my reason for asking is because I see two lone wolves in front of me. One of you is VERY young and was obviously left on his own to figure things out which isn’t fair. The other one has obviously been a wolf for a while and yet has no pack, this is very unusual.” She took a breath, fully expecting a negative reaction from at least one of them. ”I don’t ask to pry into your lives, I ask because I want to help you both in any way I can. I know how hard it can be to be a wolf on your own and so I’ve made it my goal as an alpha to help out any lone wolves I can if they’ll allow it. So will you allow me to help you?” Sorrel now waited for whatever reaction she would get from the two men in front of her. Helmar had even come over and taken a spot at her side almost protectively in case things were to go south.

Time: Afternoon
Location: Alexei's, Ember Grove
Interactions: @Pink Khione Vivian, @Helo Elias, @Potter Nikolaus, and @Tae Maeve

"Then it's settled then. I will call you to schedule a day that works for you and I... Oh and maybe Alissa too." Alexander smiled, assuring Vivian he had not forgotten about her lost friend.

When his phone buzzed in his pocket, he decided to ignore it as he assumed it was business that did not need to risk being exposed while at the bar. When directed on where to pay, Alexander gave a nod and simply walked to the register. Unfortunately, the young man known as Jimmy was having a lot of difficulties ringing him up. The young man muttered to himself at every instance of a mistake… and there were many of those. Alexander gave a look of distaste to both the young man and then shot a short glare at Elias as if he was responsible for this. The glare was short only because his eyes clearly identified a face familiar to him.

His eyes locked onto one of the men at the other end of the bar. Alexander nearly forgot where he was as he had been ready to lunge and tear out the throat of Nikolaus Trotter. The son of the bastard that caused the deaths of his brother and sister. Perhaps it was magic, or simply coincidence, but the young man at the register cleared his throat to get Alexander's attention. While turning to face Jimmy, Alexander saw a photo of a young smiling Alexei Rokstova posted on the wall.

Even in his absence, Alexei's ruling applied. No blood was to be spilled here.

"How much?" Alexander asked coldly.

"Well um, that's the thing… Can you remind me on what everyone ordered? I think I may have-"

"One hundred… Take it." Alexander sighed as he pulled a single bill from his wallet and set it down. "I owe Alexei a little something anyway. You can sort the difference out on your own time." Alexander walked away from the register, eyes forward as he attempted not to tear the colonel's son in two. Just as he reached the door though, he turned to face everyone. "Farewell gentlemen…" Alexander put a little extra charm on for good measure. "I hope to see you all again." And with that Alexander made his exit.

As soon as the door closed behind him, he snatched the wristband off and tucked it into his pocket. His face displayed both anger and disgust as he entered the parking lot.

I could kill him if I waited, but I can send others in my stead. I just have to keep him here for a bit.[/

Alexander quickly scanned the parking lot. There were only a few vehicles and only one had added itself to the collection since Alexander's arrival. A jeep. He eyed the tires and nodded some before picking up a discarded beer can from the parking lot floor. Like putty in his hands, Alexander twisted and shaped the aluminum in his hands into a sharp Coors Light branded stake.

"How unfitting…" Alexander jabbed the stake into both left-side tires and took the makeshift weapon with him into his own vehicle. Alexander had to be quick. He had an ambush to attend.

---

A small percentage of his attention was diverted to the strange couple that had entered and now was seated behind them. Their looks from before and the unusual silence that followed them as they sat down produced a number of varying theories about their presence at the diner. If he had the time and ability, he could investigate further and perhaps gain a promising lead or valuable information from them. Alas, the first and only time he had tried a spell to make copies of himself had catastrophic consequences that he would not like to repeat. There was some magic that even he would not touch, at least for the time being. No, had plenty to work with Ylva and Emelie right here. Lucius would simply note their appearance for later if he happened to run into them again.

It was fascinating to watch the little Bunny's reaction to Ylva's words, something lurked in the shadows of the light cast by her genuine joy. Where the light shined, the creature made sure to keep its distance. However, it did not fool the old warlock's eyes. Was the creature roaming free or was it on a leash awaiting its owner's command? Lucius smiled back at her thumbs up, it was so childish and pure "I can see that!" He responded before continuing eating himself, nearly done with his platter. There were some that co-existed with their own creature, their inner demon, but as for Lucius? Both the demon and the angel that guided his conscience festered in the same shallow grave.

Lucius nodded in response to Ylva "I appreciate it." There was a brief expression of relief on Luke's face, knowing that he did not have to reveal any of the fabricated traumatic memories. He turned his head to Emelie as her dainty hand landed on his broad shroud, trying to comfort him. His shoulder had purposefully tensed initially before slowly relaxing. His lips were curled into a wide smile as if he couldn't help himself from doing so "That's really kind of you, Millie, but I'm okay! I promise!" It wasn't as though Lucius couldn't fake the emotions demanded of the act. He had observed enough suffering and despair to drawn plenty of inspiration from. Lucius had to admit that she could play the game well for someone of her apparent age. However, she was playing several steps behind.

Lucius showed explicit interest as Ylva spoke about her home as he slowly fed the last of the food into his mouth. Storyteller? Perhaps not, but what Ylva said was more than enough to give him a rather good idea of what she was. There was a very off-chance that she was a vampire, but she was almost certainly a werewolf judging by her description of her hometown. "Come on, I bet you have some great stories. It still sounds like an place that would be amazing to visit." Norway was dominantly their territory with its vast wilderness. There was a few notable covens in the country but none that truly mattered in the grand scheme of things. He was rather missing his firearm with its silver bullets right now. It was far easier to take one of her kind down that way then with silver-tipped blades.

At this point, Lucius was finished with his breakfast and coffee. That being said, even he was going to be sick of playing this wretched role if they were going to be out on the town "Well, I'm ready to pay and leave whenever you two are!" He said contently as he placed his silverware on the plate after taking the last bite of bacon. Perhaps it was time to give Emelie a little hint of what she was dealing with "Interficiam velum de magia, et vide cor." The words slipped almost silently out of his mouth as he smiled brightly, like a master ventriloquist manipulating their dummy. This particular spell was one of his own creation, its effects allowing the caster to see the aura of one gifted with magic. However, under his friendly smiled Lucius was tightly clenching his teeth as his blood felt like it was boiling. A small side-effect. He glanced carefully over at Emelie and was not surprised at at all to see the faint flames of magic that enveloped her. It was a surprise, however, to see that one of the women that sat behind him also had a similar veil. Lucius released the spell once he had seen them both, his jaw loosening as the effects slowly faded.

Time:
Location: Ember Grove Park
Interactions: @Ithradine Helene @HowlsOfWinter Veronika
Mentions: N/A
Vibes:

---

Interesting. So the girl wasn’t only unsure if her mother was in town or not, but she seemed concerned about it. Marius couldn’t help but wonder why she seemed to be so nervous upon the mention of Catherine. Did the girl finally escape her mother’s grasp for a bit? Finally got out to see a bit of the world? ”Worry not, I don’t actually know if your mother is in town. I’d only assumed that she may be since you’re here. Forgive me if I startled you.” He said to her, trying to calm her a little. He also took notice of the other dark haired woman walking towards them, standing up proud. As the woman gave him a knowing smile, he in turn gave her a coy smile of his own. He had no clue who she was, but she seemed rather interesting.

His attention was caught once more by Helene as she asked who he was, claiming he looked familiar. ”Marius Dupont at your service, Mademoiselle.” He introduced himself as he gave her a gentlemanly bow. ”We’ve only met a handful of times at your mother's estate. Apologies, I should not have expected you to remember someone like myself. It is hard, however, to forget someone as lovely as yourself.” He gave her his most charming smile, deciding befriending the daughter of the Sinclair Foundation’s leader wasn’t such a bad idea.

”If you don’t mind, might I inquire as to what brought you to Ember Grove? I hope you don’t think me rude, but your reaction to my earlier question makes me wonder if your mother knows where you are? If she doesn’t know I want to assure you I’m not going to be the one to rat you out. That secret will be safe with me, but I do also hope you’d allow you to look out for you a small bit. Ember Grove is filled with some...treacherous monsters and it’s helpful to have a reliable friend you can call on for help if need be.”

Time: Afternoon
Location: Ember Grove
Interactions:

After giving an order to send a few vampires to Alexei's parking lot to murder Nikolaus Trotter, Alexander made his exit from the parking lot with the left-leaning jeep.

He drove through the streets Ember Grove with a scowl plastered on his face. Nathaniel Trotter was on his mind. The only man who could so easily bring out the worst in him. He held hate for him and all associated with him. He wondered if Nathaniel's son being at Alexei' was planned, but could not begin to figure out his purpose. A tail? If so, he needed to be wary. Effective surveillance required a team, so he kept sharp as he circled several blocks before visiting the town hall.

The visit was short, as he still had to head in the direction of New Paeonia. He was privy to an ambush set up for him on Road 68 but decided he wanted to entertain his enemies a bit. Or did he only mean to entertain himself?

Within minutes he was on the very road, but for some reason, he pulled his vehicle over to the right shoulder of the road and turned on his 4-way blinkers. He exited his vehicle and looked around at the ground before grabbing a stone. He seemed to weigh it in his hands before he turned around and looked up to spot a drone overhead. He gave a winning smile and pointed southbound down the road before whipping the stone at the drone. He watched as it fell from the sky in amusement.

"It's been far too long." Alexander took a moment to remove his shoes and socks, then set then placed them on the floor of his vehicle. "Store these in here…" The moment he shut the door, he bounced on the balls of his feet. "What a delightful day for a run." Alexander did not waste another moment as he darted into the treeline. What a delightful time for a massacre...

---

Helene placed a hand over heart and let loose a soft sigh, as if forgetting for a moment that people could lie. She came to her senses as she calmed down "You don't have to apologize, really." She offered a warm, half-smile choosing to believe the stranger. If her mother was indeed present in Ember Grove, than Helene doubt she could resist making an appearance. A momentary frown crossed her lips as she wondered what Mother would think of last night's endeavor. She might be proud that her daughter had a somewhat successful hunt but all the princess felt was shame and regret. Those feelings scared her so she immediately shifted her attention to Marius.

Ah, as he gave his name the memories associated with it came back to her as did the few stories that Catherine had told her about him. Though her mother spoke only a little of him, it was strange that she had even taken that much interest in one of her agents. It wasn't like her to display even the slightest bit of attachment to those who served under her. As Marius bowed, Helene returned a curtsy even though she was the one of a higher position, feeling a tinge of embarrassment at his compliment. She wasn't used to hearing such things from people beside her Aunt and Mother "Helene Sinclaire, even though you seem to have already known that." A small giggle slipped from her, it was a strange relief to not have to hide who she was.

His next question made her freeze and tense up until he revealed later that he had no intention of reporting her position back to her mother. Her bottom lip trembled a little as she tried to piece together a proper answer, hands clasping nervously together "I-I really appreciate the offer." Her rose-colored eyes drifted to the ground "You have to promise...not to laugh." While her mother knew her love of music, she had never really expressed what her dreams were with it. It seemed almost pointless to talk about it "I came to Ember Grove t-to see the outside world and...and..." It was her dream and she shouldn't be afraid of it any longer. Her hands tightened into fist and were raised against her chest as a strong, honest look shone in her eyes "...to sing and make music for people to enjoy! All over the world!" There was just something about Marius that made her comfortable enough to share.

Location: Sorrel’s apartment
Time: Morning
Interacting with: @teaSorrel @IthradineVolvango
Mention:

Finn looked at Sorrel. Yeah, it made sense that she had some questions. It’s kind of odd that some guy you barely know asks to stay in your house for a while. However Finn wasn’t entirely sure what to say. Wouldn’t it look bad if he said that he had left his pack? That does not come around as too trustworthy. But on the other hand, lying about it wasn’t good either. Quickly the young wolf stuffed his mouth full of sausage just to buy some more time to think about it.

As he finely emptied his mouth Finn turned towards Sorrel and began to speak. “I’m not really one of sappy life stories but I believe the least thing I can do is tell it anyway. I’m looking for my brother. He moved to Ember Grove some years ago” The young wolf paused a bit as he thought about how to continue. ”My brother is actually the only family member I can get along with. We both hate our father. I’m from New York by the way. Anyway, we’re both werewolves. Just like our parents, grandparents, great grandparents. You get the picture, right? It’s like dog breeding, every fucking family member has this extensive family tree of pureblooded werewolves. I can’t even decide who to marry on my own. Let alone hang around with non-werewolves. My father calls that pure-blood pollution. Being in his pack is like living in Nazi-Germany. All he ever does is ramble about how werewolves are the superior lifeform and that smaller werewolves are just an insult to wolfkind.”

The more Finn was rambling about his father and family, the angrier he got. He hated his father, just like his father hated him. That man always looked down upon him. In his father’s eyes, Finn was never good enough to be a Cooper. With a hard bite he chewed down the next sausage, pouring it down with a glass of milk before he continued to speak again.

”Where was I? Right, I was talking about my brother, right? So yeah, I’m looking for him. I left my pack’s territory without permission from my father, so the ancient traditions say that I can never return. Something with disobedience to the alpha yadda yadda yadda. So anyway, my brother and I always stayed in touch. However 1 month ago, he suddenly stopped responding to my phone calls, text messages and so on. So I went by his dormitory last night at the campus but he wasn’t there. I tracked down his roommate to the art gallery but the only thing he could tell me that Mike hadn’t returned home from work and that the campus police said that he had returned back home to New York because of some family stuff. An obvious lie because he is just as unwelcome as me now back home.”

Finn paused a bit more as he realized that he had been rambling a lot. It was probably an incoherent mess of words that he had rapidly fired from his mouth. He wondered if Sorrel could make anything out of that mess at all. ”So, that is basically why I am in Ember Grove right now. Breakfast taste delicious Volvango.”

---

Volfango completed the filling the plates on the table while giving Sorrel a sly smirk at her comment about his flirtatious tendencies. It also seemed that his words were having a profound effect on Finn, which he certainly wouldn't mind following up on. Alas, it was his belief that he owed Sorrel a proper date that didn't end in...well he should at least take her to dinner! A bit of wine n' dine was always nice after a long week. He collected all the dishes used to make the food and place them in the sink, giving them a quick rinse of hot water. He glanced over at Finn as he asked to live her for the time being.

"Volfango is honored by your offer." He spoke during the pause, the cheerfulness in his expression fading with what came next. A pan slipped out of his hands as Sorrel asked him a question he had been dreading since last night. There was something about being called a werewolf that caused his entire being to lock up, it simply made it too real. For the first time, the usually upbeat and talkative Voflango went stone-faced and silent as his hands absent-minded turned of the faucet. This expression persisted as Sorrel explained her reasoning for the question. Unfair? Yes, it certainly was. Though it was more he ran than HER abandoning him.

"Please excuse Volfango as he gets dressed." A faint smile accompanied the somber sound in his voice as he took a selection of the clothes Sorrel had purchased for them and stepped into the same room he had woken up in. Once inside, he pulled the chef haft from his head and untied the apron from around his waist. This new part of him wasn't going to just disappear. Volfango was afraid to accept this new identity and anything that might validate its existence. However, he was only going to get himself or others killed trying to pretend nothing was wrong. Volfango slipped into a pair of dark blue, ripped jeans and a white t-shirt with a faded sunset in the middle. Volfango's well-toned body was certainly not forgotten in this new outfit as he examined himself in the mirror. It was time for him to stop running away and face reality.

As he entered back into the living, he had just missed the first part of Finn's sentence as he made his way over to the table and took his seat. His story made him rather grateful that he had been blessed with such an understand and loving family. Volfango wouldn't trade any of his parents or siblings for anything in the world. It was like listening to a whole other kind of world. At least, it made him more comfortable to talk about what brought him here. Volfango could see it materialize in Finn's eyes, the kind of anger that burns an entire lifetime. That kind of brotherly love Volfango could understand very well, as he had no better friend in the world than his own brother. With what happened at the art gallery, it made him concerned for Finn about his brother's fate.

"Volfango is pleased to hear so." Once again, he didn't sound like his normal self. Now that Finn had finished he supposed it was his turn to answer, though for once in his life the words were hard to speak. He took a bite of his eggs, a drink of milk, and then sighed after swallowing it all "You asked Volfango where his maker was? Volfango does not know." Was maker the right word? His English was good but there was some concepts that still eluded him "This was forced upon Volfango by Volfango's old lover about three weeks ago." He vaguely remembered something about a princess or something similar "That is why Volfango arrived in Ember Grove." The memory was still fresh in his mind. Last night felt all too similar to that first night he turned, although he at least remembered parts this time.

It felt like a heavy weight was taken off his chest, though he still didn't like the feeling talking about it left him with. He was the charming and electric Volfango and not some sad, little puppy! "Volfango has a a place but he won't refuse spending a few nights here." His acting and modeling career had been going rather smoothly before it all happened, so he had a decent bank account to last him for awhile. He didn't want to admit that as he wanted, no needed, her help in understanding this world he had become a part of.

Time: Afternoon
Location: Ember Grove
Interactions:

The ambush had been laid out to capture or kill Alexander Drake. After the fiasco at the university, something had to be done about the vampire clan causing the most trouble in the area. Alexander had become more brazen in the past few days, and Operation Humanity would capitalize on it.

The plan seemed simple enough. Take out the vehicle with an anti-armor remote detonated mine. If Alexander died from the detonation, then it would just be a shorter mission.

Heather Fox was leading the mission with seven other hunters. She was tough as nails and highly skilled. She was honored to be on this mission. To finally get a chance to take the smug bastard off the playing field. The group had all positioned within the treeline, west of the road. Once Alexander's vehicle was hit, they would fire Chemical V gas grenades and then light the son of a bitch up. A large tattoo-covered man with a mohawk walked over holding a drone controller with a large screen in one hand and a can of beer in the other. He wore a woodland camo tank top and brown cargo pants. A smile showed through his thick black beard and he reeked of alcohol upon approaching.

"Ay Heather, I got eyes on him! Abercrombie Drake is about to have his whole world ROCKED! WOOO!" He hollered as he chugged what was left in the can. Heather shook her head with disapproval.

"Bruno what the fuck! We have comms for a fucking reason and drinking?! Now of all times?" Heather scolded before pointing in the direction he should be. "Get over there. Now!" She ordered while Bruno tossed the can and walked off.

"No need to get your panties in a damn bunch. I'm just pregaming for the celebration I'm gonna have tonight. Got two ladies and a promotion waiting on me after this! OH YEAH!" Bruno walked away before stopping in his tracks as he watched Alexander Drake's vehicle come to a stop on the side of the road. "He stopped the car on the road! Now he's picking something up and Ohh shit… He pointed in our direction before he took out the drone!!!"

"Fuck! How the hell… Shift your sectors of fire! He's coming from the north." Heather ordered before attempting to contact HQ. 'HQ, this is Slayer 1. Over."

"Hear you loud and clear Slayer 1. Send it. Over."

"Our target anticipated our ambush. We need…" A stone the size of softball smashed into the lower part of the woman's face, destroying her entire mouth and jaw. The next second her head was nearly torn off as a swift hand thrust into her forehead with enough force to tear the nerves and ligaments in her neck and snap her neck backward. Her attacker had aimed to remove the head, but he couldn't be perfect all of the time.

Heather's comrades saw her corpse moments too late.

"Don't let Agent Fox die in vain. Let's light the son of a bitch up!" Bruno shouted to motivate the others. Unfortunately, two more agents had been dispatched by the time Bruno finished his line. The forest was too thick. "Fuck exposure! We gotta move to the road. Move!" As other agents bounded to the road, one had bumped right into Alexander before breaking the treeline. He fell back and hit the ground

"How rude. Don't shoot me. No, we can't have that now, can we? Shoot yourself instead. Alexander stares the hunter down as they had tried to fight his compulsion. Alexander kneeled down beside the hunter and handed him his own sidearm. "I don't mind helping you doing something that benefits us both. Now do it! Alexander watched as the hunter slowly placed the pistol to his right temple. Tears ran down his face as his whole body trembled. Alexander simply shrugged with a cold expression on his face.

Bruno and three of the other hunters positioned themselves on the road. He was sure another agent had been taken by Alexander. POW! A single shot echoed, causing Bruno to nod toward the treeline. With a grunt, he sprinted forward off the road and towards where he knew he would make contact with Alexander.

"ALEXANDER!" The mine was triggered and detonated on the road with the other three agents, killing them immediately. Bruno sprinted through the tree line and immediately found Alexander standing with his hands crossed and a look of displeasure.

"What? Or was that you selling your performance before you turned them into bits?" Bruno straightened up and rolled his eyes.

"Listen up Drake! You're lucky to even have an actor as good as me! And if I didn't give you the info on this whole ambush you-"

"No. You wouldn't get your whores or your promotion" Alexander sighed. "I'll have your payment wired to your account shortly and the ladies will contact you… Now, are you ready?"

"Hell yeah! Hit me with your best!" Bruno braced himself before Alexander shoulder-checked him hard enough to send him flying and hitting a few trees along the way. Bruno then grabbed his own sidearm and shot at his shoulder. Finally, he grabbed his radio. "HQ! HQ this is Slayer 2. Drake got to us! He killed damn near the whole fucking squad! We need backup, medics, anything. He's still fucking out there! Over!" Bruno winced in pain before managing a grin.

As a vampire, Ava didn’t really need sleep, but preferred to be unconscious for half her life if she could use it as a means of escape. Waking up was always followed by a subtle disappointment, but after so many years of the same routine, the feeling was fleeting. She lifted the silk sleeping mask over her head, and tossed it on the pillow next to her. A sigh escaped her lips as she laid there, taking a moment to muster the motivation to leave her tranquil nest.

It was around early afternoon; the soft aura of sun still shone through from the slit of the room’s linen drapes. It seemed like she was able to drown out reality for a good few hours, which meant her pet downstairs decided to stay obedient this time around. Ava found it rather bothersome that she had to feed it every once in a while, but such were the sacrifices of taking care of an animal. Thirst had once again returned to torment her anyway, so Ava had to find a meal for herself as well. Before long, Ava was ready to head out the door, and grabbed a pair of sunglasses and locked up before boarding her black Audi.

On such a fine afternoon, Ava figured her best bet for a meal would be in some secluded hiking trail, so she made her way to the park. Much to her chagrin, the park seemed uncharacteristically crowded. There seemed to be something going on, a performance perhaps? She surmised that she would have to venture further into the wilderness of the park to have some privacy, which was a minor inconvenience. As she gazed into the crowd while parking, strands of silvery hair caught her attention. It was a rare trait to have, and she just so happened to meet someone with that description the night before.

“I see you’ve met our sweet little princess.”

Ava chimed in to the conversation between Helene and Marius, holding back her own surprise seeing him there as well. She had been acquainted with the charming yet brutal vampire through missions she took with the Sinclaire Foundation. They had a working relationship, so to speak.

“I haven’t seen you in a few decades and you still always reek of blood Marius,” Ava spoke softly with a smile, leaning into the nape of his neck. Inches before her lips grazed his skin, she promptly pulled herself back, tugging against the urge to maim Marius, or worse, the numerous humans around them. “Excuse me, I’m just a little hungry today.”

From the peripheral of her vision, the presence of a raven-haired girl caught Ava’s attention. She seemed to be peacefully enjoying a stroll, but every sense in Ava’s being was warning her of the girl’s age and power. She immediately stood on guard, suspicious of why such a figure would be in attendance, especially when Helene, an important figure, was also present.

She turned her attention to the sweet, silver-haired girl, while keeping the presence of the powerful vampire in check inside her mind. “Helene.” Ava lowered her head briefly as if curtsying—an old habit. “You look...well.” She raised an eyebrow, remembering their interaction at the Pit.

Millie's eyes lit up with interest as Ylva spoke of Norway. Had the girl moved all the way from Norway? This fascinated Millie. However, Ylva did not give much to the story, cutting off for now. She respected her wishes but made a note to ask her more later on. Lucius pushed for her to continue which she couldn't blame him for. Millie was just about finished with her food when Lucius announced he was ready to go.

She glanced over, observing intently as he whispered. She caught on to a few Latin words that were too soft to make out but it was enough.
This man was a warlock, much better at concealing it than she had been. He was playing some sort of game here and that made Millie very nervous yet intrigued at the same time. She slowly got out from her seat after leaving a tip on the table, and paying her part of the bill, biting her lip once she faced away from him. He could prove dangerous to her and Ylva. To Marius if he existed in the same town as him!

As frightened as she had become, she wanted to be brave and keep at this task. It was the least she could do for Marius after everything she had put him through. Besides, maybe she was seeing this wrong and the man could teach her more about how to protect Marius. She had been studying at least four to five hours a day her spells to write several procedures for many different emergencies lately, but perhaps she needed some outside information.

"Thank you two for joining me for breakfast! Let's go for that walk now!" She made a mental note to avoid the gaze of the scary redhead as she moved to the door and held it open for the other two.

---

Taking off the earphone she was still using on her right ear after stopping the music, Ylva was merely waiting for them to finish their meals. She was a bit relieved that Luke also didn't seem to want to talk about his problems, having politely declined Millie's offer to talk about it. That said, it was surprising to see how interested both Millie and Luke appeared to be when she told about her homeland. While Millie simply stood in silence despite the big, shiny eyes she showed when Ylva talked about it, Luke insisted a bit further for her to talk about it, which was intriguing to say the least. Ylva wasn't really expecting anyone to be that interested about such an old and ancient place. Experience showed her that such places tended to attract a very distinct kind of people.

"It is a place that tends to attract the attention of some very... distinct types of people." Ylva said with a chuckle as she looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

"That said, not many stories that wouldn't include my private life." she said, looking to Luke in what was a clear sign for him to not pry much further regarding her past.

With both Luke and Millie having finished their dishes though, it was about time for them to pay for their food and leave.

"Well, I already paid mine so I'm good to go whenever you want." Ylva compleded, shrugging as she got up, turning around to wave towards the guy who served her the sandwich.

When Ylva was about to put her earphones on again though, before turning towards Millie and Luke again, she listened quite the interesting words coming from Luke's mouth in a very low tone. Words from a language that even though she didn't talk, she knew who did and who still used. Hearing that immediately made her let out a discreet smirk. She knew that there was something off with that man. Her instincts and her senses were always right. Knowing what he was, she also knew that despite being physically weak and slow like any human, they were very, very crafty and problematic to deal with. Even though the ones that were primarily her and her pack's foes were vampires, they had to deal with a few magic users every now and then. Other than the old covens who lived in the same ancient lands as the werewolves and had somewhat of a peaceful relationship with them, many which even respected and had the same old traditions as the Asulf clan, there were also those who were on the side of the vampires.

"Those are some very interesting words you just spoke, Luke." she said, turning towards Luke with a sharp stare that would be enough to make any normal person to feel extremely unnerved.

The way she was looking at Luke was a clear indication that she knew what he was and that she didn't trust him, now more even than before. She was getting more and more suspicious about Luke and it was obvious to him that he now had her full attention.

"It seems I'm not the only one with 'stories' to tell, am I?" Ylva said, still looking at Luke with the same sharp stare from before, looking deep within his eyes.

"But I did say I wouldn't insist on knowing about your problems, or your past in that matter..." Ylva said, finally breaking eye contact with Luke.

"It is only fair, after all. I guess every person has stories that they don't want to share with strangers..." she continued, shrugging.

Even though she didn't speak it clearly, the message she wanted to tell Luke was clear. Even though she apparently knew what he was, she didn't particularly care about it. She would leave him alone, as long as he did the same to her. While it was clear she didn't trust him, their relationship wasn't outright hostile as long as he didn't do anything funny.

"There is no need to thank me. It was a nice change of pace to eat breakfast with such an interesting company." Ylva said, smiling as she replied to Millie, who thanked both of them for eating with her before inviting them to take that walk she promised.

---

---

Helene Sinclair.

At the mention of that name, Veronika stopped in her tracks.

Mother. Little princess. Sinclair. Piecing those together, this snow-haired woman must have been Catherine's rumored daughter.

'Oh?' A smile tugged at the corner of Veronika's lips, but she was neither happy nor amused by this newly gained information.

The Sinclair Foundation ran one of the largest criminal organizations. Their clan was the polar opposite of what the Night Order stood for, and Veronika disfavored them even more so than Sanguine Moon. They were engaged in all types of heinous crimes. While Alexander and his people were impetuous bloody troublemakers, the Sinclairs were profoundly more immoral and wicked in Veronika's books.

The Night Order should have squashed them like bugs back in the late 14th century, but despite receiving word of the Sinclairs' criminal activities, they had left them alone in order to keep the hunters' attention elsewhere. This past error in their judgement had allowed the Sinclair Foundation to grow into the powerful clan that they were today, conducting unspeakable crimes around the globe. Veronika felt partly responsible, but despite it, they had achieved the desired effect. It had helped divert the attention of those hunters who began to grow suspicious of the Apothecary Association.

Thanks to that, the Night Order was able to remain incognito. As it was, Veronika was guilty of being a bystander to crime. It left a bad taste in her mouth, but the clan's safety was still of utmost priority. In that sense, they were hypocrites. But that was a burden to be carried by Veronika and the founders on their own.

Veronika's brows furrowed in contempt, but she immediately dismissed her thoughts and rearranged her facial expression. Before Veronika could ease a step further along the path, a new vampire approached the group with familiarity. There seemed to be no shortage of vampires on this fine afternoon.

This vampire was clearly older and more perceptive than the two. Despite masking her powerful presence, the newcomer had sensed it. Veronika noticed the way her body had tensed ever so slightly - an indication that she had put her guards up. The vampire paid attention to Veronika's presence despite keeping her away from direct line of sight. However, she couldn't hide her growing suspicion from Veronika's keen perception. At the very least, this woman was the clever one of the group.

During the short encounter, Veronika had deduced the following: Helene Sinclaire was timid and inexperienced. Marius was sly with a devil-may-care attitude. The newcomer was cautious and discerning. They were an odd trio - they didn't mix. They were obviously driven by different motives and interests. Despite having ties to the same clan, Veronika wondered to what lengths they would go to protect each other - if they'd even bother at all.

Without further ado, Veronika casually approached the group. She kept her expression neutral, and her body language didn't hint at anything out of the ordinary. Veronika flashed them an unsuspecting smile before introducing herself.

"Greetings, my name is Rose." Veronika's demeanor was not friendly enough to spark suspicion, but she also showed no signs of malicious intent. Her movements were graceful and effortless, and her speech polite.

It was uncharacteristic of her to approach others and strike up a conversation, but so was coming to Ember Grove to personally asses Alexander's scope of influence. Perhaps it was time for a change of pace. Veronika was starting to grow bored of the monotony of everyday life.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I'm just pleased to see others of the same.. kind." There was a slight hint of playfulness in her tone. Veronika didn't bother to conceal her British accent. Today, she would play the part of a tourist.

Time: Morning
Location: On the Road -> Diner
Interactions: @princess - Angel
Mentions: @13org Ylva ~ @Ithradine Lucius ~ ~ @princess Millie


Shay watched Angel order an amount of food equivalent to a body builder. She struggled to remain impassive, however and chose not to inquire. She had heard rumors of experiments done by Operation Humanity and perhaps she had found one. She managed a small smile and turned to order a medium sized amount of food and smirked at the waitress. She wanted to have enough food for leftovers. Who knew when her next meal would be? She turned to listen to Angle after glancing at the odd trio nearby them. The man had turned to glance at her and Shay glared daggers at him. She did not know him and therefore wasn’t open to communication. Still, if any of them could be an ally…

Shay sized up Angel. Again, with the location of Drake. Shay raised an eyebrow and sipped her orange juice as she listened. How would the oh-so-brazen Operation Humanity not know where the Devil’s hell was? ”Not so fast,” Shay replied as she glanced around, ”And definitely not here. We’ll talk in your car on that one.” Shay hesitated as she studied her. What would happen if she gave up her information so easily - was she going to be left alone? While she appreciated that, what if it came back to Drake? She had enough trouble to deal with right now. If Eric told them she knew… Her heart lurched for him. That poor man - she wished she could save him.

”I would appreciate that. I’ve been at the campgrounds recently, and I’m not fond of it. There’s a hotel closeby, right?” She then began eating her food once it arrived and scowled at the waitresses’ besmirching glance at Angel’s order. The woman blinked in surprise at her ferocity and hastily reiterated back into the kitchen. Shay smirked and turned back to Angel.

Time: Afternoon
Location: Sub-Level 2 Operation Humanity Base
Interaction with:

---

Sean had not slept long, but the little rest he had would just have to do. He had suspended some of his hunting activities such as planning operations and on-site investigations so he could take a look at these files Trotter had given him access to. His eyes were glued to the monitor in front of him while he propped his head up with his right hand. His face displayed boredom and a hint of displeasure, but this is how Sean always looked before the caffeine kicked in.

He was currently in the Operation Humanity Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or SCIF, located within the base's second sub-level.

This is what he calls access? Sean frowned as he scrolled down a file that was mostly redacted. Angel Marie Beaumont's file. A family abducted by vampires and used for continuous feeding. One survivor…

His eyes stared into the eyes of the young girl photographed upon arriving here. They were almost haunting as he could just see the pain in them. A sudden commotion broke him away from the photo.

"Bruno's the only one that survived?! I thought they would have gotten him this time."

"I know! Drake's been clumsy as fuck lately… I guess you can stumble and still murder some people while you do it. I know Trotter's pissed."

Sean shook his head. He had been sure that if Angel found out Alexander had been taken out without her, she'd feel cheated, but for her to find out Operation Humanity failed to do it, might make things worse. He looked at the other tabs he had opened for viewing.

Liddell, and then Trotter. He decided he would get to those another time as he move on to view Angel's performance history as well as the ins and outs of her experimentation.

---

Lucius laughed along with Ylva in perhaps his most directly honest expression since they had started talking. He may be ancient and devoid of many of the emotional limitations of lesser beings, but he still enjoyed a good bit of humor every once in awhile. After a small sip of his remaining coffee, Lucius gave a firm nod as his acknowledgement "That's more than fair. I get it." He spoke in an understanding tone. His past was painted with events and actions that would invoke equals parts awe and terror, so he understood the desire to keep the past secret from others. The time, however, was drawing near when he would be able to probe Emelie for information about Ember Grove and the local personalities. Ylva was not a threat it seemed so as long as he did nothing to directly draw her ire, as she seemed rather distanced from events that did not affect her personally.

By the look on Emelie's face, it seemed that she caught on to his little spell casting as did the wolf across from him. His friendly, slight smile did not express his satisfaction that his ploy did not go unnoticed. He stood up slowly as he paid for his side of the meal, facing Ylva as she directly confronted him about his little bit of spell-casting. His body did not shake or quiver at her stare, his eyes directly looking back. The only sign of her intimidation was having any kind of effect was the constant movement of muscle around his lips and cheeks to mimic the kind of nervous twitching one might have underneath such scrutiny "Stories? You do not have the slightest idea." He mouthed quietly with a smile "Perhaps, I share one when we leave here." After a momentary pause, he moved out of the booth and headed for the doors.

As he may his way to the exit, he took one last final notice at the strange couple seated next to them. The roar of the diner prevented listened in without paying more attention. However, a single but important word managed to slip past the noise. Drake. Of course, it could be anyone as it wasn't an entirely unique first name. However, there was only one that immediately crossed his mind. Lucius would remember their faces. It seemed he had another lead to follow "Ah, I am just happy we all got the chance to meet! I can't wait." There was some side-streets and alleys that would facilitate an acceptable place to tell them the half-truth of his existence. There was an old saying about not burning bridges. In Lucius's case, he preffered to lace them with explosives to be used at an indeterminate time and place....if he needed them.

Once outside and walking with the duo, Millie had asked Luke to divulge into his story and had listened carefully. Afterward, she had asked Ylva to share more on her past if she so liked. She kept her gaze on the speakers and hung on to every word. Millie told them a bit about herself as well. She let them know she had grown up in the neighborhood and now lived with a loved one, being awfully vague yet keeping her tone natural and kind, coming off perhaps as shy. After about thirty minutes of chatting with the two, Millie gave the two of them her phone number and let them know she had to go into the mall for some shopping and if they were interested in meeting up with her later on, she'd welcome it.

She had left them with a simple statement, "Friends, please contact me any time. Toodaloo!"

The clock struck 4 as the pink-haired girl left a book store with a paper bag that contained about three books. She had spent the last few hours checking in to see if anyone was hiring before she decided to find a few books to bring Marius tonight. She knew he was probably going to be busy until dinner tonight so she figured to busy herself all day. She planned to look into the incident Ylva had brought up, but she knew perhaps investigating that room, which was most likely locked off by police enforcement, at night would be a mistake, so she'd simply wait. However, she could still research.

Millie sat down on a couch in the center of the mall hallway and began to research news articles on her phone, deciding to see if anything was public yet.