[IC] [Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

[earlymorninstar]

The world is hard, the world is mean
It's hard to keep your conscience clean...

Hatred...

It was such a futile thing and yet it held such power all in the same. It had the capability to consume the soul; to engulf a person entirely and control every little move and action that they could ever think to make. Hatred was a driving force that no one could hide from, no matter how hard they tried. At least, that’s what Clara believed...

It had drifted through her veins and heated her with a flame that would possibly never die out. It forced her out of bed every single night; forced her through the town and down to the very spot where it all began - where she re-lived every bit of what drove her to its existence. She would never hide from it, nor could she manage even if she tried. It lifted off of each breath, dripped off of every spoken word, and existed not only on her gaze, but also dwelled deep within whatever heart that she might have had left. Yet, maybe her hatred was not as futile as it could have seemed. Hers had reason and meaning behind it - a hard and heavy meaning; One that only her, her sire, and the man who had brought her in had known. To everyone else, she was the hard bitch in town who disassociated herself with nearly everyone and mistreated her tutor every moment she could.

Her steps fell heavy on the cobblestone beneath her as she breathed in the salty and warm night air. It was all so very familiar and left a horribly bitter taste in her mouth. ‘We’ll only be here for a short while,’ he said... ‘Don’t get worked up, Clara, darling...’ Fuck him. Leave it to her tutor to bring her right back where it all began, as if she could simply move on and ignore the hard truth that lingered and haunted her down every street. He promised her that he only needed to retrieve a few odds and ends from his estate and to ensure that the land had been taken care of in his absence. Once he was satisfied, they could go.

If only it was that easy.

Why the hell did he think she would be able to keep herself in once piece there? Why the fuckdid he think she would be alright; that she wouldn’t hold on to a false hope that was held somewhere deep, deep inside; a hope that even she, herself, denied? To her, it had only been a hope to get her hands on that bastard once more and rip him into as many pieces as he had done to her heart that night -- But then again, perhaps it was something much, much more than that.

Her heels clicked much more loudly than she’d ever expected, but it had been late enough that no one other than the street rats and the young party-goers of the night would hear; if they even could through the haze of liquor and booze that hung off their bodies. Her lips twisted in disdain as she brushed them all by, headed deeper into town and towards the border - where cobblestone met wood and where wood met sand. The salty air blew through loose tendrils of her hair that had been continuously held tight in pins and curls. For that one moment she allowed her eyes to shut as that same breeze engulfed her, lifting her skirts from her ankles. It felt so wonderful and so horrible all in the same, for it was that very breeze interlaced with the sounds and smells of the ocean and sand that had sent her back immediately. It had been that realization that had caused her to roughly kick her heels off and sink her feet into the cool sand as she began her decent onto the beach.

The sea is calm, the sea is gray -
it washes everything away.

Clara Emerson... Sweet, sweet Clara Emerson. Where had that girl gone? Where had she been lost to so very long ago?

It had been there, right on that very beach. It had been there where she’d been robbed of her innocence in those few simple and fleeting moments. There, where she believed every lie that he could have told her, all because she had once been yearning for an escape. Oh, and what an escape he had given her. And yet, even then she was left alone with nothing but turmoil -- she still could not find the answers that she sought desperately.

”You listen to me girl. I have given you ample time. I have given you the freedom that other girls your age would never dare to dream of. You are going to allow the Duke to court you beginning tomorrow, and you will marry him.I will not have our family disgraced any longer. Do you hear me?”

She’d been a daughter of privilege, it had been true. Clara had at once been given the world, but it was not enough for her; it had hardly been enough. She had dreams that no other girl could imagine; dreams of far off places; dreams that were held within books that no one else would read. The girl had been found more than once, stealing away in her father’s library, keeping herself up for nights on end reading and absorbing any exciting new ideas that she could. And yet, there was no one to share it with; no one to speak to about it, because the fact of the matter was, she wasn’t supposed to speak. No matter how many boys had some along, no matter how many men had come along, each were more content with her silence than her words. What man would want their wife to have more of an opinion than they do on any subject? It simply was unheard of.

And the years came and the years went and Clara had found no one suitable enough for her. Yet, in the very end it wasn’t her decision. The townspeople had begun to talk; she’d heard the hushed murmurs of the wives and girls, wondering what was wrong with little Miss. Emerson - that she could not fetch a husband for herself.

”Well, she is quite odd, do you not think? The poor dear locks herself away at night.”
“Do you hear what she talks about? She lives in a man’s world... No one wants that!”
“Perhaps she’s barren... She is getting old enough. No one wants an old wife!”

It was a disgrace and her father had all at once left her in shambles that very last night; so much so that she felt the need to finally find her escape. She would rather run away and feed herself to the wolves than to be subjected to silence in a marriage that she did not yet want. So, Clara left; she stole away into the darkness that night under a heavy cloak with nowhere to go and no plan to follow. She simply walked and kept walking until she felt that she could walk no more. No one was around; no one had been there... She would be fine and she would be safe - no one would miss her.

Her steps had eventually slowed sometime along the night while her thoughts and heart had begun to race over what she’d actually done. Should someone come and find her, Clara had no idea what her father would do - nor did she want to dwell on it. She didn’t have time to dwell on it either as a shape came into view up ahead of her and her heart had practically stopped. Someone was there; perhaps someone to come and take her home...

Yet, what had confused her the most had been the fact that she’d felt that overwhelming fear for only a fleeting moment before she was consumed with an odd sense of calm; she had felt drawn and curious - something she couldn’t quite explain for the life of her. The man before her, as he drew closer, had been not only mesmerizing, but it was as if he consumed her soul all at once and she had let him.

Clara would eventually regret everything that happened that night, but she could have never known. All she knew in those few hours were of the conversations that she’d always wished she could have with the men in town. They spoke of distant lands, of sciences and math, of things she’d read and theorized about, but was never able to express. Everything she could ever want, she saw within him in those short hours. Perhaps that was why she had given herself over so very easily; why she suddenly felt the sand beneath her in a heated tousle of skin and fabric. She felt herself lost in him more than she could ever become lost in a person; from the sensations he gave her, to her racing heart, to the aching in her belly - she needed him and she wanted him.

And he gave her every bit of it... But he took much more than she could ever give him.

The pain had been fleeting before it became blinding, laced with the pleasure that still surged throughout her body. She at once became weak before she became overwhelmed, writhing on the sand before she felt him leave her... And he would not return.

Sink into the deep, cool and blue and kind-
Then drift off to sleep; let the past unwind.

Had it not been for her tutor that night, she would have died on that very beach come morning. Her sire had stolen away every bit of her innocence within moments and left her with an immortality that she had never wanted. Her fingers came up to trace the velvet ribbon held tightly around her neck before they clasped the emerald that hung carefully from it. Other than her immortality, it was the only fucking thing she had left of him; his mark. No matter how much she convinced herself to throw it in the ocean and be done with it all, she never could. He was still alive; something within her knew it very well.

And she would fucking kill him herself.

The question was, did he even remember her? And furthermore... would he ever reveal himself to her again?

Leave the hurt behind.

[Raijinslayer]

Jaden Locke: Bitter Memories

"Isn't there anyway to speed things up, Wilfred, Clara's getting . . . antsy."

A tall man, his voice soft-spoken, yet deep, would speak to the keeper of his estate, an old fellow of what appeared to be 60 years or more, with a bushy beard that was kept in rather immaculate condition. The man himself was tall, his azure eyes filled with a gentle kindness, yet beneath it was a deep, raw, and poignant sense of worry for his charge.

The older man simply shook his head, amazed at how his master could be so worried for that woman. In his opinion, he'd be more worried to whoever tried to lay so much a finger on her, lest she bite it off. She was such a harsh and, in his opinion, cruel woman that it made no sense why his master would keep her around. Well. . . besides one reason that he dare not speak aloud, lest he risk bringing another bout of self-loathing upon the poor lad. He's lived centuries longer than I've lived, and yet, he still seems like just a poor young man wishing for his lost love to comeback to him. I wonder if he'll ever move on

The old man's silent response brought a sigh from the tall young man, running a hand through his snow white hair, the light of a nearby streetlamp catching the small silver highlights that were woven into the ivory locks, his face scrunched into a frown as he thought about how Claire would react to the news he had to give. He'd wave somberly at Wilfred before changing direction, already knowing where she'd be. As he walked through the streets, doing his best not to let black dress suit get dirty as he walked around the more boisterious members of those who walked the night, as well as avoiding wandering to near any darkened alleyway, not needing to get caught by a group of hungering thieves looking for a target.

He soon arrived at the beach, witnessing her standing their like a vengeful specter in that black dress of hers. Stepping out on to the sand from the boardwalk, he'd remove his own shoes and step out to meet her, making sure to grab the shoes she had abandoned as he approached, cleaning them off and making sure he had something else to look at when he gave the bad news. He didn't announce his presence, as with her abilities, she doubtlessly would've known of his approach while he was still on the street.

"Clara, I don't know how to tell you this, but given some issues that were caused by some local vandals, we'll likely have to stay here for another few days . . . perhaps even a week, to make sure the damages are handled, fixed, and/or replaced. I'm truly sorry for bringing you here after so many years, but this needs to be handled. I do hope you understand." Azure sphere's would shift their attention between the shoes and their own every so often, but never having the courage to look for too long. He never knew what he could expect from Clara, and he only hoped that he hadn't got her at a particularly horrible time. Though considering everything that had happened to her here, it was likely that every time would be a particularly horrible time.

[earlymorninstar]

She had been lost in her thoughts upon that shore, tempted to step closer to the water and let the cool liquid spill across her feet with each passing wave, but she was pulled abruptly from her musings as soon as she had caught his scent. It wafted on the air, laced with the musk and salt of the ocean, and Clara couldn't help but heave a sigh. It was inevitable that he would come looking for her; there was no way for her to avoid it. However, it was curious how quick he was to come find her this time around. Honestly, it was rather brave of him, if he had been intent on prying her from the beach to drag her back home – this was not the time or place to pick a fight with her. The woman had been in a terrible mood the moment she'd set foot in her old stomping grounds. She hadn't been there since that night – that horrible, awful night that haunted her day in and day out and now that she was here, she thought of nothing but that night… It was quite the way to sour her mood.

Even still as he approached her, Clara had not moved. Her arms lifted to cross upon her chest as she looked out upon the dark ocean, listening to the rhythmic waves pulse in and out for a long moment before he'd finally broken that little bit of peace that she found. His words had caused her brow to twitch and she shut her eyes in the annoyance that was soon building within her. He had told her only a few days – they'd be in and out and they'd be gone once he was sure that the property was in good shape until his next visit… She was not surprised that something had gone wrong – it had been so very long since they'd been there.

After a long moment, Clara had finally turned her attention to Jaden, her eyes narrowed on him for only a moment. She'd noticed how he'd collected her shoes somewhere along the way. "Of course we will…" She murmured, her soft voice dripping with sarcasm as her glare remained upon him momentarily before looking back out to the ocean. "Because that's just how my luck works, isn't it?" She continued. "Stuck in this awful place for far longer than you promised me."

She'd noticed how he couldn't even look at her for far too long – a habit that he seemed to be picking up as of late. Clara couldn't necessarily blame him – she'd been quite terrible to him over the past years, and part of her did feel guilt although she'd never admit it out loud. Because no matter how she had treated him, he continued to remain – continued to try to keep her happy regardless of her anger. He had to have known that most of her anger had not sprouted from him, but from another and she couldn't very well contain it. A slighted female was a dangerous one, at the end of the day…

But also at the end of that day – she owed him her very life.

Perhaps that was why for all of the yelling and the grievance that she had given him, she had never harmed him nor would ever think of doing so.

"I still don't understand why you needed to drag me here. You could have left me at the last estate…" Ah, but he knew full well she would only go out searching for trouble, didn't he?

@Raijinslayer

[Raijinslayer]

"Because I know that you're not likely to stay there." Blue eyes would rise to look at the woman before them, focusing in on the green jewel at her throat before changing focus to a spot on the sand not to far away. The soft sounds of the waves crashing against the sandy shore pulling him through the years to the moment he had first met Clara. Alone. . . Betrayed. . . and Forever Changed. He could almost hear the cries of agony, feel the sharp pain in his arm as she bit down on the arm he had offered. He had held her close that night, had done all he could to help the distraught girl who had been given a terrible burden, all the while feeling nothing but shame and guilt. I could've stopped it . . . stopped him. . . but I was too late, and she payed the price.

With a sigh, Jaden stepped forward, holding out the shoes for her to collect.

"Come on. . . it isn't healthy to linger in this place, not for me, and certainly not for you." Whether she took the shoes or not, he would make his way back towards the boardwalk, stopping mid-way to turn around, making sure that she followed him, his lanky form contrasting harshly with the white sands that surrounded hi thanks to the black of his suit. His eyes, ancient in the wisdom they seemed to hold and mysterious in the uncountable secrets locked within, pleaded with her to listen. "You won't find him here, he's much too cunning to return to this town while I'm here. So please just . . . find some way enjoy living, Clara. It . . . it saddens me to see how much control that he still has over you.

Jaden looked at his charge resolutely, knowing that he had likely pushed to hard, but feeling that it needed to be said. He could hardly stand to see her like this, day after day culminating with her coming to this desolate beach to relive that night so many years in the past. He knew her life was hard, he understood that she had every reason to hate the man, but hatred could only fuel a soul for so long before it started to change them. Darkening their souls and making monsters out of them. And that was a fate that he desperately wished for Clara to avoid.

[earlymorninstar]

He'd answered her question just as she had assumed he would, and he was correct. Had he left her back at the last estate, she probably would have lingered at least for a day or so… But she would have inevitably found herself far away come his return. She couldn't help it, when she was by herself it was too easy to find herself trailing off in thoughts and memories that she wished not to recall. It was too easy to feel the echoes of pain that continued to surge through her whenever she hadn't meant to allow it to happen. Everything was too easy when she was alone, so she sought out trouble in her own way. Whether she could indulge herself in liquor or men – it depended on her mood that night, and regardless of the brief distraction, at the end of each night the truth still held firm – she was very much alone.

Clara did not deny his words as he spoke them, but her gaze had broken from his to look out towards the ocean once more. She could feel it more so here – the salty air brushing against her skin, coupled with the echoes of broken waves before her thrust her back to that night – the feel of his touch, the promise of his words – the pain of his bite. Everything lingered here, no matter how different her surroundings had seemed; no matter how long it had been. The ghost of what had happened still haunted that shore and she couldn't run from it.

She had seen him shift out of the side of her view and she tilted her head to see his outstretched hand offering her the shoes that she had abandoned as soon as she had reached the sand. Clara breathed a quiet sigh before she took them, crossing her arms upon her chest as she held them carefully, but his words had nearly caused her to scoff. How was it terrible for him? That he, perhaps, had to remember that day just as much as she had? He hadn't needed to save her – he could have very well left her there to either be consumed by a passing thief, or by her own hunger which would inevitably run her into the wrong person. But he had decided to take her in – to allow her to feed from him when necessary – to nurture her where he could.

To say she wasn't thankful would be a lie – Sure, she had a terrible way of showing it, but Clara really did owe him everything for that night. Perhaps that was why she really hadn't run too far when she did stray… She was still there by his side even when he'd brought her to this awful place – really, did he stand a chance if she truly had decided to run and make herself disappear from his life? She wasn't so certain.

Clara didn't follow him at first. She allowed him to walk away from her before her gaze focused back on the waves before her for a long while before a defeated sigh fell from her lips. It was going to be a long night that was for sure, one of many if his words had rang true. She was going to be trapped in a town that held so many ghosts and so many demons wherever she stepped. Things had changed, but the skeleton of what she had once lived in had remained, and the memories of her youth seemed to taunt her at each corner.

She needed a drink.

Determined to at least grab a bottle once she returned, Clara had reluctantly turned to follow after Jaden, noticing how he had turned to make sure she would be following him. His words, however, once she had finally reached him had hit a chord. "Do not think for one instant that he, of all people, still controls me." Clara suddenly snapped back as she continued, her steps pushing her forward quicker than Jaden had been walking. "I am not one to be controlled." She reminded him, despite the fact that his words were true in their own way. Each drink she indulged in, each lustful night she sought out, each bout of trouble that she wanted to bury herself in had been because of her sire. She wanted to feel something more than the anger that continued to surge through her over being slighted so many years before… She wanted that more than anything.

As she soon reached the road, she had paused to slip on her shoes under her dress once more before her steps quickly led her through the town, weaving through the drunken few who had begun to pour themselves out of the bar. It hadn't taken long for her to reach the estate at the end of the main strip of road in town, and she had nearly slammed the door behind her, knowing full well Jaden would eventually be behind her and he would only find her once more in the kitchen, fighting with a cork before she filled another glass with white wine to calm herself.

@Raijinslayer

[Raijinslayer]

How I wish that were true.

Jaden said nothing as Clara passed, simply following behind in such utter silence that not even footsteps could be heard clacking upon the cobblestones. As he fell in line behind her, his reflection in the nearby windows began to distort and darken, becoming less like a man and more like a living shadow. And within this shadow, within the writhing mass of darkness that made up this reflected form, were two burning red eyes, filled with hate and bloodlust. It soon parted itself from the world on the other side of reflection, a liquid blackness that raced across the street to whirl around him, shadowy hands reaching out to strangle the life out of him.

But Jaden wouldn't so much as flinch at these events, for he knew that none of them were real, that no on e but him could see them because he was the only one meant to see them. The power sealed deep inside him, the thing that kept his face looking young and his heart-beating through out the centuries, wanted to torture his mind. It wanted to break him, destroy him, turn him into naught but a gibbering madman with nothing to live for, and yet no way to die. But he was stronger than his demons gave him credit for, not to mention the fact that he had gotten used to these sorts of visions long ago.

Still . . . it always made him uneasy to see these visions, because they always reminded him of what he truly was. Even now, he felt a hunger forming deep within the pit of his stomach, something that food, wine, or even blood could sate this need. Taking a breath, to steady himself, he reached into his pocket to pull out a pill bottle. Stopping in his tracks momentarily, he took a moment to shake two pills- leaving him with only five now- and quickly took them. Within moments, the hunger subsided, but he knew it wouldn't last. He'd need to go out tonight, under the cover of darkness and shadow, to feed the beast that had taken hold of his immortal soul.

After a few minutes more of walking, he arrived at the estate. It was a lovely mansion, Victorian in it's design and of good size for a building of its type. The grounds around it were well-kept and preserved save for the section of it that had been ransacked by some teenagers looking to party. All kinds of trash and debris filled the area behind the mansion, from underwear to beer bottles. While normally this wouldn't cause much issue, the teens had apparently decided to enter the abode as well. Several rooms had been put into a similar state as the backyard, not to mention the broken furniture and decor. It was all adding up to cost quite the pretty penny to repair and replace everything that had been done.

"The children of the day simply have no respect for the property of others." Jaden said as he walked into the kitchen, reaching into the fridge to get himself some left over cake from the other day. He was in the mood for something sweet, it always took his mind off of troubling matters, like finance. "I'd never do anything like this in my day, else my mother would've beaten me within an inch of my life. That's their problem, though, got nothing to strike the fear of God into them anymore. The youth of this age has not enough to do and too much time to do it."

Taking a bite into the delectable chocolate mousse, he simply let himself dwell in the delicious sensation of it's rich, creamy texture, the chocolate doing wonders for his mood, if only for a moment. He'd continue to eat with a slow, methodical pace, savoring every bite as though it might've been his last. Once the cake was finally gone, he looked towards Clara, a fork hanging from his mouth as he seemed to contemplate something.

"Clara . . . have you ever been to one of these 'nightclubs' that I've heard about? A friend of mine invited me to come over to a party he was having since I was in town. It was a '+1' invitation as well, and sadly, Wilfred wasn't available." He said the last part with a smile to let her know it was a jest, before returning back to his pondering thoughts. He hadn't had much interaction with the current era, finding all a bit too much for his tastes, but maybe he should try to give it a shot. He had to admit that anything was better than just spending his nights eatings sweets, and wondering why people wanted to be immortal in the first place. He was finding it to be all kinds of dull and pointless.

[earlymorninstar]

It was inevitable that Jaden would follow her into the house – she had gotten used to it by now. It was how it typically went, wasn't it? Each night she'd head out into the town, wherever they may be, and for the most part he tended to find her. Almost like a game of cat and mouse. And yet, he would somehow manage to get under her skin, she would rip into him like she usually would, and both would eventually end up home while she drank herself to sleep. It was a toxic little routine that Clara would love to break, and on occasion she had been able to, however, she usually slipped right back into it give or take a few days.

She had heard him enter the kitchen moments after her, longer than she had expected of him, but she hadn't entirely paid attention to his musings just as she had gotten the cork out of the bottle with a satisfied sigh before she poured the wine into her waiting glass. What had he been going on about? Something about the youth of today –probably still upset about the state of the home when they had arrived: the same thing that was keeping her there much longer than she wanted to be there. If it were up to her, Clara would have simply given the task to someone else and had been on her way just as quickly – she didn't want to stay long enough to hear the echoes of her past down each and every alleyway.

Clara placed the bottle down on the counter before she lifted her glass to her lips to take a slow sip, tilting her head over her shoulder slightly as he continued on. No – she couldn't imagine ever acting like the young ones did today – she would have never seen the light of day had she ever run rampant like they had. Even when she was young, her biggest concern was her etiquette and the need to please mommy and daddy and keep their family inheritance going. That last bit of worry had been what had finally set her off to run far away from any of those simple troubles. The trouble she had gotten herself in thereafter had made her wish she had simply stayed home and indulged, married who her father wanted her to, so that she could grow old, have children, watch them grow, and then be done with it all.

Instead, she ended up immortal, unhappy, and quite on her own despite Jaden by her side – unable to ease the ache that clenched at her soul every night.

Hell, she'd kill to marry that controlling asshole of a Duke if she had the chance to do it all over again.

Clara had turned so that she was leaning against the counter, half tempted to steal some of the cake that he'd pulled out. Still, even that wasn't worth the effort. She just wasn't in the mood to toy with him that evening. She supposed having to roam the streets where she grew up and inevitably was ripped away had that effect on her.

She had been sipping at her wine when Clara finally listened and heard his next question, and she'd almost spit it out at the thought. Oh, she'd been to plenty of night clubs in his absence – That, of course, was essentially a hot spot for her to pick up whomever she wanted for whatever she wanted. And to think Jaden was invited to one was almost laughable. "Darling – you will stick out like a sore thumb at one of those…" Clara began with an amused look on her features. Clearly she was able to calm herself from earlier now that she had a bit of alcohol at her disposal. "You're going on and on about how the youth of today lack in manners – most of which tend to manage themselves in these nightclubs." She continued with a raise of her brow. "You're actually humoring the idea of going?" She had asked with another sip from her glass. Hell, she'd go just to see how he could handle it. "And what, pray tell, do you expect to wear to this party?" She prodded further.

"I mean – If you wish me to accompany you so terribly then I suppose I could go…"

[Raijinslayer]

Jaden chuckled as he took the fork out of his mouth, flipping it between his fingers with long practiced ease and dexterity.

"I can't disagree with you there, but I think that's the reason he invited me. Said I needed to get my head out of my books and, as he so tastefully put it, 'between some young girl's legs'." Letting out an exasperated sigh, he tossed the fork behind him lazily, the silverware flipping end over end before finding itself almost perfectly in the sink that rested some feet away, clinking off the sides a bit before settling along the bottom. "While I doubt I go that far, I must admit that my eternal life has gotten a bit too. . . routine in the past century. Go out to handle affairs, read some books, keep an eye on you, repeat ad nauseam. Besides, I think myself as rather 'groovy' as the kids say . . ..or do they not say that anymore?"

A scrunched frown took hold of the white haired immortal's features as he pondered on whether his use of lingo was appropriate for the current decade, but soon a sigh would escape from his lips as he realized that Clara would probably be quick to correct him on the matter. Unlike him, she seemed easily able to transition from era to era without any worry, while he was still trying to get used to how informal and wild the world had become over the years. Standing up with a huff, Jaden began to ruffle through his pockets for a while, searching for about a minute before he finally pulled his 'smartphone'. A sleek black model, and one of the latest to come off the line, or so he'd been told by the one who'd given it to him. It was a nifty little device and one he enjoyed using, especially to play the little games one could by from the digital stores. His favorite was the one about flinging the birds at flimsy fortifications manned by green swine.

"Moving on to my choice of attire for the event, I was actually given a set of clothes by the man who invited me, and I think they'd suit me rather well. Just give me a second, I know I have a picture in here somewhere." He muttered with some frustration as he navigated through the many pictures he had in storage, many of them being of rather mundane things like TV's, escalators, construction sites, and so on and so forth. His eyes would narrow as he continued his search, before he gave a quick shout of victory as he found what he was looking for. Tapping on the picture in question, he turned the device over to show the outfit he planned to wear. "It's sleek, formal enough to fit my tastes, and best of all, its in all black.

Once Clara was finished looking at the picture, he'd put the device back in one of his pockets, before take a second to look at the stove across the way, noting how it was getting pretty late. Eyes closed for a moment, he quickly removed his jacket and rested it on the chair, before he slightly unbuttoned his dress shirt, just enough so that there would be no fabric in the way of his neck. "I'm going to go out for a bit of a walk for the night, so if you think you need to feed, it's probably best to do it now. This place still holds many good memories for me, so I'd like to go out and reminisce for a bit."

Jaden smiled to himself as he took a seat, eyes glazed over as distant memories, old and faded, played themselves out before his eyes. And yet, there was a sadness to this smile, a shadow over his eyes, suffusing them with a hollow, melancholic light.

[earlymorninstar]

Clara could not help but scoff at his words, rolling her eyes. “How magnificently classy…” She murmured with a small sigh before she took another slow sip of her wine. “Your friend seems like he’s quite the charmer…” Lord knew what kind of trouble she could get herself into whenever this party was - she was in need of at least some form of entertainment after a while, especially considering the foul mood she had gotten herself into ever since they arrived. A change in pace most certainly would be welcomed as long as things had went in her favor. And yet - how could she argue a night of music, dancing, and most importantly - liquor? How Jaden would come to fare in that environment had yet to be seen, but she absolutely was interested in finding out. Perhaps things had become a little mundane as of late, but it was what Clara was used to. The scenery changed, but her habits remained the same - each night wandering about sniffing out trouble before Jaden would eventually come looking for her to drag her back home for the evening. Why he continued to bother was still beyond her.

She scrunched her nose as he continued, before she shook her head. “Lord -- please do not say that again.” Although, she couldn’t help but be humored over his choice of words - clearly he was still struggling to get used to the ever-changing world and he was quite a few decades behind, if she guessed correctly. “I don’t think anyone has described themselves as ‘groovy’ since the seventies…” Once more she sipped at her wine as she studied him rifling about in search of the phone that he soon pulled out.

“Well- you seem quite prepared for this event -- I feel as if I didn’t quite have a say in the matter on coming or not. You probably intended on dragging me there either way.” Clara commented as she leaned a bit closer to eye the outfit on the small screen that he held. “Not bad -- at least you’ll blend in better than I’d hoped.” She teased, clearly the wine had calmed her down at least a bit. She would have to figure out something to wear as well, but given her extensive wardrobe that she continued to grow, she doubted she would have any trouble at all. Heels and a little black dress were the usual go-to for a night club, and although she hadn’t squeezed herself into one for quite some time, there was a part of her that was looking forward to getting dressed up in such a way. Maybe she could make a positive out of this…

At his mention that he would go out for a walk, Clara had waved him off rather quickly. She hadn’t intended on going back out that night, not while she had already opened up a bottle of wine and intended on finishing it. Her ghosts of the past had still haunted her down each path of the town, she’d rather avoid any unwelcome memories stirring should she venture out that evening. At least he had something to hold on to -- which, to this day she still wasn’t terribly certain what had been here for him. She’d seen the look on his features before - that distant stare, that sad gaze hidden deep within his eyes. She’d never known what had been the cause, and she’d never thought to ask either -- If he hadn’t told her up until now, she didn’t want to pry, just as she wouldn’t want him to pry either… Her wounds were enough, she didn’t need to continue the night opening up another’s.

“I’m alright-” Clara began quickly enough. She hadn’t needed to feed, nothing was terribly urgent for her to leave for the evening. “I’ll just be here--” Like usual. “At least one of us doesn’t mind this place…” She shifted and placed her glass down before she had moved to perch herself atop the counter, crossing her legs under her skirts. She reached over to the bottle of her wine, pouring more into her glass before the bottle was placed back down and she took another sip. This place was where her demons had been given life -- she did not need to roam further than she had, most certainly not alone.

[Raijinslayer]

"I'd rather not do any more dragging if I can help it, you're already annoyed with me enough as it is. Jaden said with a light chuckle, buttoning back up his shirt while he thoughts turned inward for a moment. "I'll also make note to avoid using lingo of any kind while I'm there. No need to make a bigger fool of myself than I already might be."

Rising from the chair, he picked up his jacket and threw it across his shoulder as he walked towards the kitchen exit, wiping any remains of the cake from his face as he did so. With a short wave towards his charge, he was off into the depths of the city. In the crooked city streets, where shadows lurked at every corner, he felt the pull of dark instincts tugging at his mind. His breath would begin to quicken as tired blue eyes slowly became infected by a crimson taint. He was wonderings soon brought him to an empty alleyway, the grimy floor covered with all forms of trash, debris, and refuse. Huddle in the corner was a homeless man, soundly asleep and smelling strongly of alcohol, drugs, and filth. Yet beneath it all was the faint flavor the electrified the senses, the delectable taste of life roiling within the poor man's soul.

A foul mist began to coalesce around Jaden as he approached the lone figure, the white of his hair darkening to a cold, cruel black. Blue eyes would given into to the demons within, shining a red so brilliant they seemed to glow as he hovered over the sleeping man. Reaching down, he'd grab the man around his throat, the tight grip instantly jarring the man into consciousness. He tried to scream, but all that came out was a soft, gasping hiss as Jaden's fingers came down on his windpipe, squeezing it so tight that barely any air could get through. The man began to struggle as hard as he could, clawing at his own throat in order to try and loosen the devilish grip of the monster before him. All the while, Jaden would look on, his grip never lessening. Then, as if finally growing tired of this pointless resistance, he grabbed his victim's headed and twisted it.

The homeless man struggled no longer, and as the soul within him, a pale white, wisp-like manifestation, began to dissipate, Jaden would stretch his hand out in a beckoning gesture. The shadow's the coiled around his form would stab into the soul, dragging it back to him. With a delicate gentleness, Jaden grasped the soul, stroking it gently as if to console it, before tightening his grip on it. Wriggling and writhing, the soul would frantically try to escape his clutches, but it was no use. As the pressure increased, the soul could no longer take the strain and broke into a hail of tiny white pieces. These were then absorbed by Jaden, drawn into his body as he took a deep shuddering breath.

"Not enough . . . not even close to enough." Rising to his feet, crimson eyes glowing in the darkness of the alley. Darkness and shadow would converge on his form, then become formless as it surged upwards onto the rooftops, making it's way from building to building in search of more prey. A man of around 40 years, happily married with his 3rd child on the way. A teen girl who had snuck out to see her boyfriend that night, despite being grounded. A lonely old woman who stood upon the precipice of life and death at a nearby bridge, uncertain what her life truly meant. These lives were taken that night, silence forever and doomed to never know peace, never to meet their eternal rest. No, all that awaited them now was constant torment until they was nothing left of them. For that was how he now lived, and it is how he must always live, lest the demon that forces him to take these lives rips itself free from his body and feasts upon our world with no restraint.

---

Jaden would've returned last night as he did sometimes, in a daze, eyes turned into an unseeing void as he went through the motions. The jacket was placed on the hook, clothes were removed and the bedsheets flung open. And there he slept, the calm appearance of his body in heavy contrast to the guilt-ridden hell that was his mind. This was a state encouraged by the demon, but formed by his own actions, and inability to deal with them completely. It wouldn't be until the twilight hour of the following day, when the sun began to go down, that he awoke. Getting up into a sitting position, he rubbed his face, thoughts turning back towards the innocents that he had to kill. But just like always, he pushed these thoughts to the side, not wishing to dwell on such matters.

But he still found it hard to get out of his bed this evening, even though he knew he had to get ready for the party soon. He was just . . . tired. So very, very tired.

[earlymorninstar]

Clara had not protested when he had left – at least it would give her further time to herself. She'd opened a bottle of wine for a reason and she intended on finishing it – and it was probably best if Jaden had been far away from her during the process. Although it calmed her, she could not help but admit that she tended to grow a bit emotional after a long while, and she'd rather keep herself locked up in her room in the meantime. Jaden didn't need to know half of the things she had kept to herself, the emotions that she tried to lock away. They'd only managed to twist into anger and bitterness as of late, but who could exactly blame her? Despite the years between when it happened and then, nothing had faded; nothing had melted into the past and stayed there. Her anger and distain would not dwindle as the time passed by. She'd grown to lean on the prospect of liquor to dull her thoughts; to help her fall asleep at night. She'd depended on the use of men to try and make her feel once more. Neither had been terribly satisfying a the end of the day; nothing to appease her and distract her for more than a quick drink and a quick romp in the sheets.

It frustrated her so terribly so.

As soon as Jaden had departed, Clara had scooped up her bottle of wine and her glass before she made her way out of the kitchen and eventually up to her room where she shut the door soundly behind her. She had placed both the bottle and glass down on the nightstand next to her bed before she undressed, slipping from her heavy skirts and corset before she hung them carefully back in her closet. She'd grabbed her glass once more as she headed to her bathroom, filling the bath tub before she sunk into the hot water, allowing it to encase her before she breathed a slow sigh.

Why she'd agreed to go with him the next night was beyond her. Perhaps she knew full well he would end up dragging her there one way or another. He would probably fight tooth and nail until she ended up there. Or perhaps she was intrigued, although she didn't want to admit that. It would be quite a sight to see, Jaden mingling in the gyrating crowds of a night club. Lord, he would either stick out terribly or perhaps land himself some attention. The thought didn't settle well with her, for whatever reason, and her features twisted in a moment of frustration before she took another sip of her wine. Surely she would find herself a toy or two to keep her busy – and the liquor always flowed at places like those. She would at least try to have a good time, if that was worth anything at all.

She had spent a long time in the bath, her glass of wine already empty as the water began to cool around her. Reluctantly she had washed herself and had gotten out, tossing a towel around her before she slipped into some shorts and a t-shirt. She wouldn't sleep until her bottle had been finished, and even then it took her a while to find solace.

Inevitably her night would be full of the terrors that continued to plague her, and she hardly had gotten the sleep that she so desperately needed.

Clara had kept herself in bed for far longer than she should have, and she was surprised that Jaden hadn't come looking for her. She wouldn't complain, however, content to curl within her blankets and drift off every so often. She had gotten caught up with one of her books that had been stacked up on her nightstand, and had simply relaxed for quite a time before she knew the sun would be slipping and she would have to inevitably get ready for the evening. What to wear had certainly been a pressing topic, and she spent quite a while in her closet, rifling through dresses new and old to find the right one.

She had spent quite a long time in a shower, drying her long hair and carefully styling it – long, messy curls falling down to her waist, just barely pinned up halfway to keep most of the tendrils from falling in her face. Clara had slipped on a black silk robe in the meantime, meticulously applying her makeup until she was satisfied with her look. All she needed was her dress and heels, and perhaps a drink beforehand – and she'd be good to go. But still, she had not heard Jaden stir, although she was certain he had returned the night before. She'd heard him shuffle through the hallway at some point.

Scrunching her nose at her own reflection, she brushed her long hair from over her shoulder before she slipped out of her room and down the hall towards his. She'd been used to barging in once and a while, but this time she at least knocked before she poked her head in, making sure she wasn't disturbing much of anything. "You alive…?" Clara asked quietly as she pushed the door open a bit more, crossing her arms upon her chest while she leaned against the doorframe. "Because, if you've made me get ready for something that you're not intending on going to, you know full well there will be hell to pay." She added with a tilt of her head as she eyed him on his bed, biting the inside of her cheek as she realized he was shirtless. "You don't have much time to get ready, you know…"

[Raijinslayer]

Clara received no response from the man but he did rise from his rest, albeit a tad slowly. He'd look in her direction, but the focus of his gaze seemed to be somewhere much farther behind her. This would not be for long, however, as he would soon focus on the figure before him. For a split second, they would widen in shock, fear, and a longing so intense it made his eye seem to burn. But as he rubbed the sleep away, his mind becoming clear, he'd look back to her with a bit of a sheepish grin.

"I'll do my best to hurry then. I'm sorry just had trouble sleeping last night." He'd be quick to rise up fully, his lower half inly covered by a pair of black boxer shorts. He'd pick up the suit from where it hung behind the door and hurry into the bathroom. Within moments, the sounds of the shower could be heard, only to end after three minutes, replaced with the sound of slightly hurried rustling of items.

When he came out, his hair was brushed back in a smooth wave with only a hint of dampness still sticking ot it. His suit fit him perfectly, carrying with the slight smell of his favorite cologne. Around his neck was a silver pendant in the shape of blade, the hilt of which held a brilliant ruby that helped to bring a splash of color to the ensemble. It had taken him a totally of about 10 minutes, maybe 11, to get ready after being roused. Running a hand through his hair for a bit of last minute styling, his current style pairing exceptional semblance to the man on the cover of the magazine he'd picked up sometime the day before. Tossing the magazine onto his bed, he would turn back to Clara with a soft, apologetic smile."I think this'll have to do, though I must admit I feel a bit outclassed at the moment. You look stunning, my dear. I especially like what you did with your hair."

After a bit of idle talk, he led them both out of the estate, taking a few moments to check himself as he walked. As they walked outside, a stylish black sports car would be waiting to greet them. After making sure to open the door for his charge, he took a breath, steeling his nerves before sliding into the driver's seat. He tried not to think about the first time he had tried to drive. He was better now, and there were no cows anyway in the city. He was fine. Perfectly fine.

They would get to the nightclub mostly intact, though the paint job on the passenger side would need to be redone. And the side mirror replaced. And a fine paid . . . several, in fact.

"I hate cars. Life was so much simpler without the damn things, and then suddenly you need them to get anywhere because cities are so stupidly big now and. . ." The rant was stopped by a heavy sigh. He'd deal with it all later, right now, he wanted to relax. Scratch that, he needed to relax. he was invited to this party to loosen up, and he couldn't do that if he let his memories of times gone by sour the experience. Just have to 'live in the moment' right now. Leave's tomorrow problems for tomorrow.

The car was parked a bit of a walk away from the nightclub, as a quick drive around proved their to be no good spots nearby. After assisting Clara out, the two would begin their walk, Jaden still fiddling with his hair every now and then. The sky was darkening to the point

"So. . . any advice for tonight? This is more your area of expertise, so any advice that keeps me from making a fool of myself would be great."

[earlymorninstar]

She had eyed him carefully as Jaden had not moved at first, and then it seemed as if he had risen from the dead. Clara couldn’t help but raise a brow as she had seen his initial look, but she had chalked it up to her waking him up so suddenly. It was odd, the way he suddenly stared at her and yet it was gone in an instant as he rubbed his eyes - as if there had been something more beyond that gaze, something she couldn’t even begin to guess. Her arms remained crossed upon her chest as he grinned at her, still looking less-than-pleased that she had to come and drag him out of bed. Should this be any inclination as to how the night was going to go, she might as well already plan to drink it away and separate as soon as she had gotten there.

Clara couldn’t help the soft huff that fell from her lips at his excuse. It was nearly every night that she hadn’t quite gotten enough sleep, although, she was one to bury herself in bed until he dragged her away -- now that the tables had turned only temporarily, she was far from pleased. “Whatever…” She murmured, her gaze following him perhaps too long as he slipped out of bed, and before she had been caught, she quickly turned on her heel to head back to her room.

She wasn’t terribly sure how long he was going to take, but all she had to do was shimmy into her dress and slip on her heels, and she had been good to go for the evening. She dropped her robe as soon as she was back in her room before she reached over to her bed and pulled the dress from the hanger. Clara stepped into it with ease, pulling the tight fabric up and around her smaller figure, pulling it down and situating her breasts so that everything fell exactly where it should. It was one of her favorites, and honestly, she couldn’t remember the last time she wore it -- a shame considering it cost a pretty penny and had been shoved into the back of her closet. The dress complimented her figure, covering all of the right spots to give just a little peek of what might lie beneath the layers of black lace. She looked herself over in the mirror before she slipped on her high black platform heels. A spritz of perfume and a bit of dark red lipstick, and Clara was ready to go.

Her heels clicked down the hall as she headed back towards Jaden’s room, her clutch under her arm - right away he had apologized. Clara sighed as she looked him over, quite impressed with how quickly he’d cleaned up. The outfit that his friend had chosen for him really had been quite the choice, but as she caught herself looking him over for far too long, she waved him off with the same attitude. “Cut it out --” She began, turning on her high heel to soon step out of the room with him. “And it’s not as if I’ve not done my hair like this before -- You’ve just never paid attention.” She corrected him. Whether that was true or not, she wasn’t terribly certain, but a part of her was a bit pleased that he’d complimented her, considering how long it had taken to get ready.

They soon had headed to the car -- probably the worst part of the entire trip. Why he had not given over the reigns and allowed her to drive was beyond her -- Most of the ride had been spent clutching the handle of the door and her seat. “You really might want to give up on the driving…” She murmured once they had arrived, miraculously in one piece. “Or at least not drive in the city… I could have brought us here, you know… Or are you too old fashion to let a woman take the wheel?” Clara prodded at him, straightening her dress as soon as she had gotten out of the car.

She couldn’t help but notice how he’d been suddenly high strung -- his hand ran through his hair numerous times and he seemed the most fidgety that she had seen him in a while. Lord, maybe she just needed to get a bit of alcohol in his system -- he would only stand out further if he continued to show his nerves. “You need to calm your shit, for one…” Clara began, eyeing him at her side as she walked next to him, the click of her heels loud against the pavement beneath them. “Because you’re going to be stuck against a damn wall with nothing to do but drink if you continue fidgeting like that…”

She breathed a sigh, her clutch tucked under her arm again. “I don’t know why you’re so damn nervous anyway. It’s a club -- all you do is drink and dance and hope to hear any bit of conversation over the loud music that they usually play... “ Clara shrugged, intending on making a beeline to the bar as soon as she had gotten there. “What else do you need to know? You just have to… go with it.” She continued with a little scrunch of her nose.

“...You look handsome, by the way.” Clara murmured reluctantly, not one to give compliments, especially to him. She hadn’t bothered looking at him, her gaze only set ahead of them as she walked. “So I wouldn’t be nervous if I were you. You’ll do fine.” Was that a mistake to speak up? Probably. "But don't think you're getting anymore compliments from me." She added as an afterthought.

[Raijinslayer]

". . . I will get the hang of it. I won't let myself be beaten by a machine." Jaden said in respone to Clara's joke with a stubbornness and pride that was rather uncharacteristic of him, though Clara should hardly be too surprised. Jaden had a tendency to have trouble adjusting to trends, but usually he got the hang of them eventually. Driving, however, was something that had evaded him since the things had been invented, and as such, he had sworn to himself that he would not only learn how to drive the things well, but he would master them. It was a matter of pride for him, no matter how much he hated the damn things.

As she gave him her two cents about his behavior, he flinched slightly at her phrasing, but nodded his head once she finished. He wasn't quite sure himself why the thought of this evening had riled him up so much. Was the thought of making an idiot of himself? While it would be embarrassing, he would hardly expect to meet most of these people ever again. Maybe it wasn't so much the thought of making a fool of himself in front of people as much as it was making a fool of himself in front of Clara. While she was supposed to be his charge, she never really acted like it. And that bothered him more than he would ever let on, and often caused him to leap at chances like these, where he felt like he could prove himself as someone worthy of her respect.

Tuning back into the conversation, hi mind having wandered for a bit, he managed to catch the compliment she gave to him, and while she was quick to curb expectations, a smile would still be present on his face. The tension present in his shoulders began to lessen, as he gave a small nod to his fellow immortal. "If you say so, then I'll try my best to meet your expectations. And believe me when I say that I'm always paying attention to you." More so than you can ever know

At this point, they would be arrive at their destination. The club seemed rather bland from the outside, just a brick cylinder housing a solid metal door. Standing in front of the door were a pair of bouncers, top-heavy musclemen that made sure that only those who they deemed worthy got in. And they weren't for want of applicants, as a immense line of patrons seemed to extend out from right in front of the door. They would not have to deal with the line, however, as Jaden pulled out his invitation and handed to the bouncers. After a few words and clarifications, him and Clara were let inside of the establishment, to the highly vocal displeasure and outrage of those stuck in line, as the metal opened inwards to reveal a set of stairs leading deep into the earth. Descending into the dimly lit darkness, they'd soon come to a set of doors, these ones much more fancy-looking then the one upstairs, the name of the club emblazoned across them in bright red neon:

Pandora's Box

From the other sides of the doors, the loud, energetic beat of club music could already be heard, only partially subdued by barricade the doors made. Taking a deep breath, Jaden imagined himself leaving all of his inhibitions, all of his worries, his concerns, his fears, everything that had dragged him down and haunted him for centuries behind him. As he placed his hands against the doors, pushing them open to view the array of rapidly flashing lights and sounds, he could almost feel himself become a thousands times lighter. As he walked in, one could see that this wasn't just your average hole in the wall, not in the slightest. The dance floor in the center was absolutely packed with people, moving, gyrating, and bouncing along to the music in a wild throng of heat and bodies, all of it lit-up by the seemingly uncountable number of flashing lights that lit up the darkness.

To say he was a bit stunned by what he saw was an understatement, cause while he didn't know what to expect from the venue, it surely hadn't been something like this. The feeling was only temporary, as he looked to Clara, some small bit of silence following the gaze before he started to speak. "So, are you going to the dance floor first or somewhere else? I'm going to try and see if I can find my friend in this . . . insanity. He spoke in a rather awed manner, simply overwhelmed by the amount of raw energy that seemed to flow throughout this place. It certainly was nothing like the parties he was used to, but, he felt some part of him relish in this. The same part of himself that loved to steal horses and court young peasant girls in his youth now wanted to simply dive into the pulsating throng of flesh, cloth and motion.

[earlymorninstar]

It was so terribly odd – Clara had not ventured far from the estate until now, and the layout of what she remembered had changed in ways far greater than she could have expected, and yet she should have anticipated. Certain areas remained similar to her, buildings left as they were, only kept up with to keep them from crumbling, while other parts had been completely overtaken by the firm hold of technology – modern facades coupled with bright signs and lights to label each store. Her home town certainly did not feel like home, not anymore. Still, Clara was used to the ever-changing world around her. She'd felt out of place even in her own century, so it wasn't terribly difficult to adapt as the years had passed them by. She was quick to catch on while Jaden hadn't seemed so lucky – perhaps it was her incessant need to keep herself distracted that helped her conform with ease.

Clara had been looking forward to being out of the estate- more than she had let on to Jaden. Her world lie within the various bars and clubs wherever he decided to uproot her and bring her to. It was the perfect combination – liquor, music, and plenty of men who were eager to bite at whatever line she could have tossed out. It was the perfect mesh of things to keep her mind off of other things; to keep her numb at least temporarily until she was forced into a sober awakening from one of her night terrors.

The adrenaline was pulsing through her as the click of her heels rang loudly in her ears, but her thoughts had shifted only momentarily when Jaden decided to speak once more. She couldn't help but scoff as she glanced his way. "Darling – none of this is about my expectations," Clara corrected him without skipping a beat. "You were invited to this and could have very well gone on your own. You need to meet your own expectations, and perhaps your friend's, if he thinks you need to get out more." She shrugged just slightly, easily avoiding his comment. Sure he paid attention to her – if dragging her back home each time she wandered off was counted as paying attention… Clara stifled a sigh at the thought just as they approached the venue, eyeing the frustrated patrons that were lined up at the door, seemingly with little hopes that they would be entering any time soon.

They soon were allowed access to the small entrance, Clara easily gliding down the stairs in her tall heels before they were greeted by the large doors that separated them from the surge of music and sin that lie just on the other side. She could already feel her anticipation, eager to dive in and let herself forget for the moment; let herself live in the swirl of color and liquor before the façade would inevitably come crashing down the next morning.

As soon as they had crossed the threshold, the sound of the music just loud enough to keep others from mindless chatter without too much of an effort to yell over it. She felt the anticipation swirling throughout her as her eyes danced across her surroundings, bright lights highlighting VIP seating surrounding dance floors, bars lining the walls. That would be her absolute first stop.

Jaden's question had brought her back to reality for only a moment and she looked his way before shaking her head. "Not a good idea to venture out there sober –" Clara corrected him easily enough. Without a doubt, most of the patrons already had a good buzz going on, she just needed to catch up. "I'm going to run to the bar to get something to drink," He was probably going to go on a wild goose chase in finding his friend, but she knew he probably wouldn't give up until he found him – he had only brought along Clara after all, and she doubted he would linger by her side for far too long. "Text me if you find him." She added after and turned with a little wave of her hand to weave through the couples and groups easily as she headed towards the bar.

The bar had been illuminated with the same bright pinks, purples, and blues as the rest of the club, spotlights shining down onto, and underneath high end liquor bottles that lined the back wall. She easily had squeezed her way in between two people, and within minutes the bartender was in front of her. "What would you like, darling?" A smaller blonde woman had placed down a napkin before her before Clara had spoken. "Vodka and Cranberry – double," She ordered for herself "And a double rum and Coke as well. " She murmured and the woman was off, already mixing the liquors with both mixes. By the way Jaden had already been acting, without a doubt he needed something to drink to calm his nerves.

The glasses were soon placed in front of her and un-phased by the prices of the drinks, she reached into her clutch before she dropped a couple of bills down, already reaching to sip at hers, waiting for her phone to inevitably vibrate. Whether she would stay by his side tonight was up in the air – depended on if anyone else took her fancy, and how much liquor she could get in her system quickly.

[Raijinslayer]

As Clara walked towards the bar, Jaden watched her for a moment. He quickly turned his attention away, however, in order to scan the V.I.P sections for his friend, squinting his eyes a bit as he happened to look right into one of the many bright lights that were spread all around the place. That was going to get annoying real quick. Taking another breath to calm himself, he walked around the other patrons as he made his way up. He was held up for a moment by some more bouncers, but once again,a ll he need to do was flash the invite and he was let in without any fuss. Looking around the tables and chairs, he soon saw his friend, James, sitting in a corner booth, flanked on both sides by beautiful women of all kinds.

James was an older-looking man, with a short but thick beard of coarse black hair. His own hair was slicked back in a manner similar to Jaden, but much tighter, much more controlled. He smile, a line of white surrounded by darkness, grew two sizes as he saw Jaden walking up.

"See girls, I told you he was coming."

"This is the friend you were talking about?" Said one of the women, her blonde hair flowing down her shoulders like a cascade of gold, eye as blue as the sky staring at him with curiosity. Another, similar looking girl(her sister?), though her hair had been dyed pink near the ends, gave Jaden a look that started at his feet and went up to the crown of his head.

"I was expecting someone older, like, your age."

"Hah, don't let his looks deceive you gals, he's older than he looks and very experienced." James gave Jaden a look that need no interpretation. With a blush on his face and a pull at his collar, he pulled up a chair from one of the other booth to sit across from his friend. While a bit nervous, he reclined in his seat, trying to thing of a good response for his friend's . . . suggestion.

"James, I appreciate the endorsement but I'm not hear for that. I just need sometime out of the estate and-."

"Bah, enough of that." James interrupted, waving off Jaden's words and reaching under the table. "I'm telling you, the best way to unwind is with a woman at your side and fine wine in your belly. Now come and share a drink with me, eh?" The older-looking man would pull out a huge bottle of fine red wine, fumbling around in his pocket until he found the cork-screw. Once it was popped open, James would take a large swig, straight from the bottle, before handing it across the table to Jaden. "Come on, you're never going to have fun if you're sober."

"Well, if you insist." Jaden took the bottle, taking a much more measured sip before passing it back. You're really supposed to drink wine from a glass, though."

"Psh, I *hick* don't see why"

Jaden, James, and the women that surrounding James would talk for a bit longer, passing around the wine bottle, and ordering for more drinks as time passed on. With each sip, Jaden felt himself began to worry less and less about the times, simple letting himself be swept up in the flow of everything. After sometime, Jaden found himself feeling a rather strong buzz while most of the others were flat out hammered, as the conversation had devolved into a drinking contest half-way through and Jaden didn't remember to mention that it was extremely hard for him to get drunk. A side-effect of his particular condition of immortality, his body was extremely resistant too most harmful substances, chief among them being alcohol.

Getting up from his seat, Jaden gave a swift good-bye before making his way to the dance floor. His steps were quick and sure, his gait much more confident and dominant then usually. His eyes shining with a predatory gleam as he glided into the thick throng of bodies on the dance floor. Like a black river, he flowed through them all, icy eyes searching through the crowd for a target. A chill would go through those who were near him as he began to change, the process hidden by the drunken states of those around him, the flashing lights, and the rapid movements. His white hair turned black as the night, shadows seem to sprout from his clothes in trailing wisps that clung to his form, his skin would darken to a warm caramel color, and his eyes would shift to a glowing crimson for a split-second, then settle into a warm hazel.

Hmmm. . . so many choices, so little time. Maybe I should try and find that Clara girl, see how long she can stand against my advances? A chuckle came from Jaden's body as the demon inside, Asmodeus, suddenly reached out a grabbed a woman's hand, pulling him towards her. Any protest she might've had was silenced as she glanced into his hazel eyes, a flash of crimson passing over her gaze as she fell under his spell. Once she was his, Asmodeus was quick to start dancing with her, drawing her in closer and closer as their movements became more and more intimate. Flesh yearned to touch flesh as they pressed against each other, Asmodeus kissing the side of her neck as she began to push her ass against him. His mouth would move up closer and closer to her mouth, with her moaning slightly, unable to resist the pull of his presence, his aura of lust and desire. But right before it seemed like he was going to kiss her, he pulled away, spinning her around before pulling her back in.

This teasing dance would continue for a little while, the demon taking his time to play with this woman's emotions and desires, but would ultimately leave her for another in order to start the process all over again. With each new partner, there was one left behind who was overcome with a voracious lust built up within them, but no release. As such, they'd leave the dancefloor in search of someone who could satisfy their urges, attacking random men and women across the club in their lustful hunger.

[earlymorninstar]

Clara wasn’t entirely sure what to expect that night -- she had assumed that once they’d gotten there, Jaden would find his friend, inevitably let her know where he was, and she’d watch him either make a fool out of himself while he tried to fit in, or watch him stand out like a sore thumb until he grew tired of it and wanted to leave. She most certainly didn’t expect what had actually occurred-- left at the bar without as much as a bit of notice to where he’d ended up. To say she had been a little surprised had been quite the understatement, and the more she found herself checking her phone lest she missed a text, the more irritable she soon became, and the more liquor she began consuming.

At first, Clara had thought it might have been a simple mistake - he could have forgotten should he have met up with his friend, but she didn’t anticipate him for forgetting as long as he apparently had. After all, the girl was more used to him looking after her half of the time -- she was hardly used to wondering where his attention had suddenly gone, and quite frankly, the feeling had unsettled her. Why the fuck would she care, anyway? Although -- he did invite her; he did want her to accompany him, now for reasons unknown if he intended on ditching her the moment she had gotten there…

The frown fell upon her lips as she’d already gotten through three vodka cranberries, on top of the rum and coke that she had intended on bringing for him. Well, fuck him then. If he was going to have a good time doing god knows what, then she could give two shits about worrying where he was off to. This was typically her scene and it’d be a cold day in hell if she didn’t find someone to bring home out of spite and principle.

Clara had nearly slammed down the small glass from a shot of cold vodka that she’d just conned some unsuspecting man into buying for her -- on top of paying for her tab that she’d already accrued before she had slipped away from the bar as quick as she had came. As she skirted her way through couples and groups, ignoring the eyes of a few as she passed them by, she lingered just outside of the dance floor, her bright gaze peering through the darkness and flashes of light as if she would see that son of a bitch. Lord, if she did, it would only infuriate her further. The alcohol that she had already consumed had only dulled her inhibitions in the slightest -- pushing her to get what she wanted at all costs.

Intent on relieving her frustrations elsewhere, she decided she would not focus on Jaden further -- why let him get under her skin, and for what reason? Why should she even begin to care what the hell he was doing? She was going to make the best out of the rest of her night, and she could care less if she left with or without him -- needless to say she was intent on bringing someone out the door with her now…

Breathing a slow sigh, Clara soon slipped down carefully into the dance floor, her focus only on her possible prize -- whoever the lucky male might be. She seemed to walk in tune with the beat, slow and precise as she scanned for her prey. If Jaden was going to blow her off, she would give him no reason to even try to get in her good graces for the rest of the evening.

[Raijinslayer]

"Well, that's the step of a woman that got something on her mind." Unlike Jaden, whose deep voice resonated with civility and gentleness, Asmodeus spoke with a voice that drew the ear, soft and sultry, the kind of voice that is used to getting it's way. The man would appear to Clara's right, stepping through the dancing crowds as if they weren't even there. His body radiated a sense of power and dominance, his smile seeming almost blinding in contrast to the rest of him. The overcoat for his clothes was draped over his left shoulder, right hand extending out to Clara. "Mind if I trouble you what that problem is, perhaps, over a dance?"

While his tone convincingly conveyed concern, the reason for Clara's anger was easy to figure out. Jaden, having gotten to engrossed in talking to James, had completely forgotten to text Clara, who now felt as if she'd been stood up. Asmodeus found it rather amusing how the woman seemed to become so flustered by this, but then again, Jaden had spoiled her with his attention since they meet. She'd never had to go without it, and as such, seemed ready to throw a tantrum like any other spoiled brat. Her getting angry over one lapse seemed a tad vindictive, but that was the kind of woman Clara had become. Perhaps it was the woman she always was, and just didn't know it until she was abandoned on the beach. Whatever the case may be, it mattered little for his intentions this evening, aside from making it a bit easier. The look on Jaden's face will be worth whatever comes of this. Ah, damn fool should've known better than to let his guard down, but alas, he's no longer the hard man he once was. This woman has softened him, taken his spine, his guts, and possibly may take more before their time is through.

Whether she accepted his invitation or not, he looked towards the darkened corners of the club, In the shadows, the faint moans of lustful abandon could start to be heard as his influence began it's slow but steady spread through the host of mortals. "It seems that things are starting to get a bit wild in here. Strange, I didn't think this was one of these kinds of clubs."

[earlymorninstar]

Clara's focus remained on the bodies around her as she slid through the masses, her gaze set only on what men could possibly interest her for the evening – however, her thoughts were interrupted through the beat of the loud music by the voice of another. She had heard him before she had seen him, part of her immediately annoyed that someone had decided to interrupt her little game despite the fact that no one else was aware that she'd been playing. Instinct was ready to tell him to piss off before she'd seen him, but when she had tilted her head to look to her right at the man who had approached her, her irritation had been silenced at once. Well then… Perhaps this night had taken an interesting turn for the better – it seemed she would not have to set her own bait for any unsuspecting male, rather, she may just bite at the bit that was placed before her.

She eyed him carefully and without reservation, almost studying if he was good enough to keep her attentions – for however long that may be. Clara doubted Jaden would come find her – he was probably lost in whatever conversation or indulgence he could have found himself in and she was willing to bet she would be far from his mind at that point – leaving her to fend for herself, eager and yearning for another's attention.

Something about the man before her seemed terribly familiar and yet she chose to ignore it; too little time to humor such a notion that she could hardly care a bit about – he seemed like the type of man who knew exactly what he wanted, and perhaps knew exactly how to obtain it, and Clara was not one to pass up that sort of opportunity. She was far too used to luring others in – what a refreshing sort of change this would be.

"The dance floor is not the place for a discussion like that, and I hardly believe that you might be interested…" Clara began slowly, but despite her words she still had reached her hand out to take his, immediately pulling herself closer to him. "I've come here to forget, not dwell on silly little things. However, a dance -- I can entertain" She corrected him, her words falling carefully from her lips. There would be no thoughts of Jaden and how he had irritated her so, nor would there be any more thoughts on why that could have bothered her terribly. She'd found her way to that dance floor on a mission and would not leave until she had very well gotten what she'd wanted.

His words had caused her nose to wrinkle in the slightest as, only for a moment, she had followed his gaze to the more darkened corners of the club. "What did you expect?" She asked with a tilt of her head. "I'm sure all have the potential – and I doubt most have come here for only good conversation and liquor…" She paused as she eyed him for a moment longer. "And what of you? What are you hoping to find in a place like this?"

[Raijinslayer]

"True, but they usually put on airs of decorum and civilty." Asmodeus responded to her question, drawing her deeper into the throng as they began to move to the beat of the music. Despite it's intensity, everything he said cut through all the noise and chatter. And as for what I want, well, that's a simple thing, really. A night of fun and entertainment, nothing more, nothing less."

As the pace of the music began to steadily pick up, so to did Asmodeus' movements, and yet he never tripped or fumbled over himself or Clara, holding an almost unnatural sense of poise and grace. That wasn't the only think unnatural about him, however, as Clara would soon begin to feel a strange heat spreading out from her core. It was a slight feeling at first, almost unnoticeable, but as time wore on, the feeling only seemed to grow in intensity. Like a fire raging inside, desire would well up inside her the longer she remained within Asmodeus' presence, awakening within her a long for his touch, and aching for his voice. But unlike the other poor victims within the club that he had effected, she would be able to resist these feelings if she so chose, the vampiric blood in her veins able to suppress these emotions before they took hold of her. However, the allure of giving in was strong in it's own right, for as the emotions grew, so to did the pleasure she would feel from all the vices she wanted to indulge in.

His touch would send pulses of it up her spine, and as he drew in closer, attempting to make the dance become more and more intimate. His breath smelling faintly of lavender would seem to excite a primal, bestial sense of desire deep within her chest. But the most powerful feeling being imposed upon her was one of submissiveness, as if being near him was draining her own sense of self, of independence. As his hands would go to explore her body, the desire to challenge him might have been overcome, at that moment, by the wants of her flesh, which was screaming at her to attack this man for reasons she likely couldn't explain. The want was so extreme, the scent of desire so thick in the air around him, that giving in not only would feel like the easy option, but it might've also seemed like the better one.