KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
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Caden’s eyes wandered Nero’s body, searching for anything that might have signalled why Cassi and them were no longer together, but aside from Nero’s question being the reason for Cassi’s disappearance, he didn’t see any signs of their conversation having gone wrong.

”She helped you find more memories? What did you see?” Caden was surprised Cassi had helped Nero that way, but he was curious about what they saw, especially if it involved Mundus.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
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Avery finished the round he was doing with Nic and looked at Kimiko. Avery had set up two bags for them and had Nic follow his rounds. The human was powerful --- Avery had to admit --- he had to switch his style quickly to challenge Nic more.

”I was thinking you and Nic should go, actually. That way I, can get you to switch up or point out where you both need to tighten up more. How does that sound?” he asked, looking at the two of them.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Electricity tingled along Cassi's body from Nero's irritating behaviour. They seriously had no regard for anything other than themselves. Cassi stormed out the side door, ignoring Nero's nickname for her, and the way they thought Nic's blood was no big deal. Leave it to someone who thought they were invincible to care nothing for those who weren't.

Cassiopeia stormed across Caden's yard through the trees, cursing in French and Gaelic as she went. The trees swayed and bent around as she went, responding to her uncoiled power. She dropped her bag once she reached the damaged trees and she knelt, digging her hands into the earth and attempted to breathe.

After Avery had picked up breakfast and Cassi ate, she had started to feel better. Her dIzzy and lightheadedness had gone away, and she felt her power restore. Connecting herself back to nature was another notch in that direction.
She inhaled deeply, the scent of dirt and growing things tickled her nose and she sighed.

Cassiopeia opened her eyes and pulled her hands from the ground. Dirt and grass stained her hands, but she didn't care. Cassi stood, pulled off her shoes, and dug her toes into the ground. She placed her hands along the charred trees one by one and started to hum life back into them.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden's attention shifted when Nero entered the room. He scanned them for any damage, but saw none aside from the red eyes. Caden dropped the weights on the machine he had been working with and walked over to Nero.

”Ist alles in Ordnung? Wo ist Cass?”

Translations

Is everything okay? Where is Cass?

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia frowned at Nero. She resisted the urge to yell at them for even suggesting Nic.

”You’ll have to ask him,” she said and stood. [color=#DB709”I need to go check on the trees I burned last time I was here.”[/color] She grabbed her bag and jacket after she extinguished the candles.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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In order to transfer some of Caden's feelings and emotions to Kimiko, he had to receive some of hers as well. So Caden knew when she got distracted and why.

Caden smirked and glanced over at Avery. ”I'll eat after, but do you think you'll make it?” he teased her, no longer talking about actual food.

Caden blocked Kimiko out before he could feel her reaction and to save her from feeling his hunger.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
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A slow smile spread across Cassiopeia's face at the realization Nero is speechless. Cassi picked up the piece of paper Nero was writing on and looked over the list of items needed to summon Crowley.

”This doesn't make us friends,” she clarified. ”Just, a better understanding of each other. Caden will have the cigar and alcohol, along with everything else but the candy, I think. Does it have to be human blood? How much?”

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”Does it feel like you're doing it? Are you feeling hungry?” Caden asked, moving over to some of the weighted machines. In the background, the sounds of fists hitting a bag could be heard as Avery and Nic moved on in their training.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia plucked an evening primrose flower from its plant. She twirled it between her fingers and turned around to face Nero.

”The primrose has many properties for feminine health. As an oil extract, it's also good for arthritis and diabetic nephropathy. But the primrose is also a symbol of new beginnings and deep love.” She walked over and sat down next to Nero again.

”When Caden and I were betrothed, I was happy, thrilled. I was in love with my best friend and what could be better, but then something changed. Maybe it was because I was in love with him since I was twelve, maybe it was something else. The point is, Caden has never talked about me or looked at me the way he looks at you.” She set the flower in Nero's hand and stared at it.

”If I can give you a shot at that kind of love for all your life then I want to. Consider it an apology.”

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”I pay your trainer's salary. He'll live,” Caden chuckled.

He watched Kimiko close her eyes and go to that place where her fire burned brightest.

”Okay, I'm going to open our connection, but I'll only send one thing through to not overwhelm you, okay? Breathe and stay focused.”

Caden opened the window between Kiki and him. He sent the feeling of hunger towards her. Since Caden skipped breakfast and was working out, his hunger was starting to grow. If the connection was wide open, Kimiko would likely feel hungry herself, if her blocking work, she would loose that sensation and only have her feelings affecting her.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia wasn't sure if Nero was actually okay, but she knew they would be. She felt some guilt slip over her at how cruel they had been to Nero. The demon had done nothing to warrant the cruelty she had given them, and now that she knew her grandmother had made a deal that killed her entire family, well, Cassi was struggling with several different emotions.

She pulled her hand back from Nero's and dug for a pen before handing it to them. Cass stood after and went back to the plants, looking for comfort from them that she couldn't find.

”When do you want to finish the bond with Caden?” she asked, needing the distraction.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden grinned when Kimiko told him what her centre was. ”Why does that not surprise me. You and Avery compliment each other well,” Caden said, genuinely happy for the two of them.

Caden lifted his weights, thinking about fire and all the options that served to dim fire rather than put it out.

”How about an oil lamp? Or a fire grate. If you contain my strand in a lamp, or with a fire grate, some of the sparks can get through or you can turn up or dim the connection when you want to,” Caden suggested.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassi leaned back against the couch, staring at the floor-to-ceiling windows that encompassed the back and one of the side walls of the greenhouse. She followed a path of greenery, trying to concentrate on anything aside from the roaring in her ears. She felt that her cheeks were wet as well and wiped at them absentmindedly.

”I got the answer I was hoping wasn’t right. It was something Ren said that reminded me of an argument my mother had with my grandmother. I just didn’t think she would have made a deal like that. Not with all the hate she preached. Not with everything we know about demons.” Cassi looked over at Nero. ”Or used to know. Are you okay?” If she hadn’t been there with Nero to witness the memory, she never would have understood how bad it was. Even then, it was a second-hand account since she watched from afar, rather than having to relive it like Nero just did.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
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”Well, when you think of blocking, what do you think of? Do you want to keep everyone out completely, or do you want a sort of window? For example, I have Avery blocked completely, but there is a sort of window that allows me to still have access to him, so I know if he is in trouble or needs me. I want to establish the same for you on my end, but your side can be different.”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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”No. It was weird. The whole thing just…jumped.” It still annoyed Cassi that that had happened. She mulled it over until Nero told her they needed a break.

Cassi squeezed Nero’s hand. ”Okay, take some deep breaths. Remember we are in Caden’s house, in the greenhouse. Inhale and smell the peppermint and the lavender,” she coached Nero. Cass opened her eyes first and blinked. She took in her surroundings, a wave of emotions overtook her, and she exhaled. Cassi kept a firm hold of Nero’s hand, unable to bring herself to let them go.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden chuckled and closed the invisible door. The sharing of emotions and thoughts ended, and he walked over to the weights.

”Yes, before I put the block up on my side, but there is a constant pounding on the door from you. You can see how not having a block can be overwhelming and make it difficult to control your own emotions. You may not have the same desires as I do for Nero, but the mingling of our feelings probably had you wanting to walk out that door to find them. Blocking not only keeps that at bay, but it gives you control over yourself again.”

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia stood in the back of the chamber, watching the entire memory unfold. Mundus had their hands on Nero like some Bond villain and Nero was dressed in practically nothing. The display of lust and power sickened her.

She shifted her focus to the newcomers. She knew Abbadon to be a Knight of Hell like Nero, and the other demon looked exactly like Mundus. Before Cassi could form any opinions of value, the entire memory shifted. She watched Nero fall to the ground with a broken neck before the memory shifted again. The chains that were wrapped around Nero disappeared as they came back to life.

The memory was seemingly over, but they were no closer to the answers they needed. However, the development of one of Mundus' siblings being involved was intriguing.

”Do you want to keep going?”

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden nodded in understanding. ”Well, you can feel what Avery does, although maybe that is more of a comfort.”

He looked over at Nic and Avery as they trained before he took a breath and released his block.

Kimiko would be flooded with feelings of curiosity and frustration. Of tempered rage, but also a strange mix of peace. The shifter’s family was under the same roof, together and safe. Safe. Safe. Safe. The word seemed to repeat itself like a mantra, but it wasn't complete. There was a hole, a longing for something, or someone, that wasn't in this room.

Caden felt a constant pull towards Nero when they weren't together. It had become a comfort to Caden, because he knew at the end of that line he would find Nero. His mate. The love of his life. The emotions shifted to something more primal and desirable, and Nero took over all of Caden's thoughts.

Chicago After Hours

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Caden&Nero's House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Cassiopeia's hand tightened on Nero's when Mundus teased the idea of going after Caden's family. Clearly the prince was stupid, but he also had Nero pull out when Caden's family arrived, which led Cass to believe Mundus understood just how powerful Caden's family was. However, the news about the relationship between the two siblings was not comforting.

Cassiopeia watched Nero slink forward to crawl into Mundus’ lap. Cassi observed the demon's behaviour at seeing Nero like this and it sickened her. However, the desire in his eye told her a lot too.

”Let's move on from this. How did your free yourself?”

Cassi spoke into Nero's mind, into their memory to redirect them to a new problem, to unlock more of Nero's past.

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Caden

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Location: Caden&Nero’s House – Chicago, IL
Skills:

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Caden slowed the treadmill to a walk before he hopped off. He stood in front of Kimiko's, smiling at her.

”Did you forget I'm fireproof? Come on, Kiki. If you don't keep trying you'll never get it. Do you want me to let my barrier down, so you can feel why we need it?”