Bloodshed at Sunset

[iprince]

Night fell upon the little Victorian city, like a black quilt laced with crimson and gold from the setting sun, sinking oh so slowly behind the dark horizon. Clouds of stormy grey gathered high above the tallest theatres, clouding the moon, the stars, and even the inky palate of the sky from piercing gazes. Each cloud, so ugly along above the town, was laced with the glowing coals of sunset, setting the sky itself a flame. It was a view to behold, with such unusual mix of aesthetic qualities.

And Alec was outside to behold it.

As night drifted nearer the deceitful doors of the Euclides Theatre burst open, slamming each heavenly cherub against the opposite wall. The old oaken wood shuddered and shook from impact, vibrating noises that broke through the eerie silence of sundown. Distant howls of wakening creatures of the night fell aloft upon the thickening air. A rumble echoed through the streets, as one by one the Edwardian houses shut and dead bolted their doors in attempt to save themselves from horrors they could not even imagine.

And Alec was outside to hear it.

Where Emily was, the young half-breed did not know. His sister was no doubt stalking her nights prey. She'd been people watching earlier in the morning, when she usually slept. It was an uncommon, unusual occurrence. She'd been restless as of late, and Alec wanted to know why. His sister's health was of his utmost concern and responsibility, after all.

With an empty sigh the young brunette made his way out of the shadows that engulfed the entrance of the theatre. With a delicate stroke of his finger he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, fitting them neatly over his blank, hazel eyes. Sadly, the mix of human and Euclides genes had half-blinded he and his sister. Glasses were inevitable if he, or Emmy, wanted any semblance of vision.

With a quiet sigh and loudly echoing steps of his Ashley-Taylor look-a-likes, Alec made his way across the front patio, stopping only when he reached the nearest step. He crouched down over it, stretching one long leg out before him and hooking the other at the knee so he could wrap both arms around it. Gloved hands played absently with the soft material of his pants. He was fidgeting and he knew it.

Where was Emmy? She usually didn't leave without first telling him she was going. Never where she was going, but that she was. He frowned, his thin lips pulling into a tight line, and his brow creasing horribly. That girl worried him sometimes.

As if on cue a white shape, luminescent and a blaze with golden crimson in the sunset, came tearing across the cobblestones. There was poppy red upon the creature not from the suns dying rays. Something obviously wet and thick with gore. The shape was large and feline, ivory dappled ever so neatly with penny-sized spots of black, the right side completely devoid of marks.

Alec's sigh came out deeper the second time around, and he rose to meet the bloody, dripping form of Emily as the cheetah-like half-breed made her loping way towards the open doors of their home.

[Mistay]

Ragged breathing followed closely on the heels of the Euclide Emmy. A luxuriously velvet cloak billowed from behind a very feminine humanoid as it darted behind the feline. Should she even be here? No, probably not. But she was too far gone now to turn back. The pair had most likely seen her already, as she hadn't exactly tried to be subtle.

Her breathing quickened at the sight of the Theatre. The very Theatre she had come from, if legends were correct. Even if they weren't it was still a sight to behold, illuminated by the simmering rays of sunlight still clinging to the sky. She allowed her eyes to slide seductively over Alec's form. Not that she would ever consider actually seducing him. Shaking her head, she allowed her cascade of crimson curls to whip around her cheekbones. She opened her full lips and spoke, her voice low and breathy,

"Hello. Alec and Emmy, I presume?"

[iprince]

Alec's eyes has never been sharp, neither in night or day, whilst in his humanoid form, but it was not hard to see a splotch of luminescent white against the grungy backdrop of a city's night. A human. Or so it looked. His pupiless gaze narrowed behind his glasses. Very few humans were out and about at night. Maybe this was some new trinket Emmy had brought back with her?

The woman spoke, and Emmy's reaction was nothing like that of a huntress bringing home her kill. She jumped, fur bristling upon her shoulders, and wheeled about with ears flattened and lips curled to bare long, pointed fangs. It was a disgusting sight, her white fur matted with blood, and all muscles taunt and tense. Her reaction drew a raised eyebrow and a worried sigh from her brother.

With a few muttered curses Alex hurried down the marble steps of the theatre, his hands wrung behind his back. The heavy 'taptaptap' of leather shoes against the stone reverberated through the night air, echoing between the houses. He stopped less than a foot from the feline half-breed, and placed a cautious hand on her single, wingless shoulder,"Emmy, hush."

Like a dog, he was treating her! Emmy's head rose to let out a growl of discontentment. "I won't hush!" she barked, swinging her gaze back around. Her ears flicked back with contempt,"Someone was following me. Following me!" She dropped her head lower and twitched the end of her tail. Voice pouty, she whined,"And I didn't even notice!"

Alec let out a breath of relief. Not angry then, just upset at her own foolishness. Such as the oddity of Em. He rose his gaze to the Marionette and managed a quick dip of his chin,"You presume right. I'm Alec, she's Emmy, and-"

"And who are you?[/i]" Emmy snapped, tooth and claw bared once more

[tigs]

The sound of somewhat bickering voices below brought an empty smile to the tainted lips of Arnica, who waited lazily on the roof of an old man's house, he was returning to his deathbed, and she had hunger. She did not take those who were well, unless she wanted to make them like her... And she'd had little desire to do this as of late. They always corrupted, softened to the point of being in agony over what they'd become. She chose the ones with good lives, and there was her mistake. Suffering and torture were neccessary to make a proper vampire, and as a devious vampiress, she knew these things to be true. Her own life had been... less than fortunate. But it didn't hurt to dwell on it now, it was just rubbing an old scar. The memory remains, but the pain has long since fled.

Voices louder now, it seemed someone was very upset... not that she liked to play the peacemaker, but Arukaen was busy elsewhere and she had nothing better to do until her companion was finished with his self contemplation. Interesting thing he was, paranoid, and beautifully so. Flaws, flaws, they made the world what it was. She was flawed beyond most mortal understanding.

With a heavy sigh, she shifted her form, clad in the same navy and ebony dress she'd worn as a younger girl, but now in a style very fitting of a woman. Sophisticated, alluring, mysterious, no longer with bows and puff, but with lace and a form-fitting make. Her hair was as wild as in her teen years, ginger streaked with the same nightmarish black of her dress. Cerulean eyes were considerably dim, compared to the bright hopefuly light they used to hold back in the day. Before she knew the taste and feel of Death, to have him brush your arm and whisper enticingly to you... mind games, ones she'd come into practising.

Her feet hit the ground roughly, a casual mistake of being caught up in her thoughts. Yet a mortal would not have heard her at all, though any other would have found her approach messy and uncalculated. Which was what it was, but she'd make mistakes like any other. A slow swaying saunter, like one eternally in a daze, a daydream neverending, brought her up close to the small group and she placed hands on hips with a somewhat mocking smile.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that it's dangerous to be a night stalker?" The hypocracy was intended, for she'd stalked the girl before her in a way, well, not stalk so much as hear her agitating the couple who didn't seem too pleased with her arrival. She took in the three Euclide-related forms in turn, wondering if this was a spat of competition for the male. But it didn't seem likely, the clearly more distressed female seemed more upset with being followed than anything else.

"Pardon my intrusions, before you can get suspicious, I shall introduce myself. Arnica Rythen, child of the darkness, a simple creature of the night out on a stroll. I happened to see somewhat of a tiff going on... Could I be of assistance?" She asked nothing of the others, she'd learn their identities if they wanted her to learn them, if not, she'd respect their privacy. She wasn't the prying type, more observational, sly, and with the occasional mind game to play. But she was behaving tonight... for now.

[Mistay]

Tiansibi curled her lips in slight distaste at the bristling feline befor her. Apparently Emmy hadn't taken too well to being followed. Not that she had expected any less. It was just...rather disturbing to be met with such a voilent reaction. Thankfully, the man was having at least some calming effect on her. Or, maybe she wasn't actually mad at Tian, maybe at herself? That seemed the most likely possibility.

Tossing silky waves again, she dipped her head, mimicing the half-nod of Alec. She allowed her pupilless gaze to rest on the intricate patterns on the cobblestone, as a meek Puppet might when being confronted by a particulary violent Puppet Master.

"I am Tiansibi, Marionette of No Cast."

She replied smoothly. Best to let them know she was of no threat to them right from the starting gate. Just as she was contemplating her next move, she heard the faint sounds of an approacher. Her pretty face was marred by a scowl for nare a second before her mask of beautiful indifference was slipped back on. And who was this? Another human toy, perhaps? She breathed deeply. Though her senses were horribly dulled in her humanoid form, Tian sensed something beyond the normal stench of human. And a nagging thought tugged at the back of her mind. A vampire, maybe? Hmmm. Tian had never actually met one before, but she was told they were as close to kin as anything. And yet, she was trying to make peace?

"Not a tiff, as you so eloquently put it, rather... a misunderstanding."

She cut in gracefully with a light stress on the last word. No need to let this vampire know the extent of the situation.

[iprince]

"Well, Tiansibi, Marionette of no cast,"Emmy snapped,"I'm Emily Jekyll, Puppet Master of the Euclides Theatre[/b],"her teeth were never covered throughout her violent introduction,"And I'm not so fond of-"

"Emmy, please."

"No, I won't 'please', Alec, I'll-"

Emmy's ears pricked, and with a graceful swing of her neck her attention was shifted from the Marionette to this...new female. Her nose wrinkled and the same attentive ears fell flat against her fur. "I'm going to clean myself up,"she growled, turning with a violent twist of her body and stalking away from the group. The tip of her wildly patterned tail snapped from side to side, a tell-tale sign of feline agitation.

Alec watched her leave with a tedious look. Up the stairs she bounded, with effortless ease, and just as she was entering the doorway between the shadows she began to morph. Shedding her feline coat for naked, human skin. The glimpse lasted for all of a half-second before she was swallowed entirely by the Theatre's darkness. When Alec returned his gaze to the strangers his face was beat red with embarrassment.

A hand slid to his neck, scratching absently,"Sorry about that, my sister is apt to...crudeness." He dipped his head again, to the vampire, and allowed a nervous smile to play his features,"I'm Alec, and Miss Temperamental was Emily. It's a pleasure to meet you both." And it would have truly been a pleasure to be in the company of two so beautiful females, if it weren't for Emmy. She would return, when she was cleaned and dressed, and then she'd be back with either charm or ornery insults to give the duet of Marionette-worthy beauties.

"My sister is prone to falling into...tiffs, with strangers,"his smile quirked upwards, but the corner of his mouth twitched in uncertainty,"I apologize for her behavior in advance. When she returns she'll hopefully have calmed down an inch."

Hopefully, but unlikely. Alec caught a sigh before it escaped his mouth. He'd never breath properly again at this rate.

[tigs]

Arnica didn't follow emotions well to be truthful, in fact, it was said that she really just didn't give a damn. You want to pout, go to it, want to be angry? Nobody cares. Oh sure she still laughed at jokes and occasionally smirked when she spoke, her emotions were still somewhat intact, it was the emotions of others that seemed to be nonexistent in her mind. She watched the lashing of Emmy's tail, and could only associate it with anger due to the fact that she knew animal anatomy quite well.

Her attention flicked to the Marionette for about a fifth of a second and then flicked off again, feigning uninterest, though who knew what she was thinking really? "Misunderstanding... I see." She mocked, as Emmy dissapeared through the doorway, a faint smirk on her lips. Apparently the Marionette thought to take her for a fool? Oh, too amusing. However, the nature of the little tiff was not of any particular interest to her at the moment.

Her eyes caught the barest glimpse of flesh and she stifled a snicker as she noticed the male was... rather uncomfortable with such things. Well now... "Crudeness? Perhaps. But really, don't say you are such a prude?" She teased, though there was interest behind the question. "Pleasure to meet you as well, Alec. Call me Arnica, if you will." An elegant bow was presented, with all the grace and perfection that thousands of years of immortality will give you. She was young by any standards, but being graceful in life meant she'd had a start on vampire etiquette long before she knew of such things.

"I'm sure when Emily returns, she will want introductions as well. It will be nice to speak with her on better terms..." A sideglance was given to the Marionette, wondering if she'd start something with this Emily again. Her skin had paled slightly, losing the glow of just being fed, and it made her skin look too perfect, as if carved from marble. Her eyes led on the imagery of cerulean rocks under the fall of stormy rain, or below the shallow currents of the sea. It was dreary and painfully beautiful both at once, but they used to be so much brighter. She shook her head once, and a few stray tresses slipped into her face, a soft mask she'd learned to use along with the play of the light, to hide her oddities and make herself look more human. She didn't even think on it now, it was just reaction.

"Well, pardon my verbiage, but I really wouldn't have considered that a fight, for fights are two-sided, nor a misunderstanding... for it seemed Emily was not confused about anything, so I opted for a little slang." She put stress on the last word, making it seem far too intimate and secretive.

"Apologies can only be made by the one at fault. If she even is at fault. It is not a sin to be wary of strangers, and you, monsieur, have nothing to apologise for." She assured, though it would surprise some to see her so considerate and kind. Well, surprise surprise.

[Mistay]

Throughout Emily's entire huff, if one could call it that, Tian remained motionless, almost as if if she moved she would reveal her innermost thoughts. This was not the reason for her motionless, however. Now that she had seen Emily's anger, she wasn't all too sure she wanted to see it again. She wasn't afraid, per say, more wary. She had come here to see the Theatre and it's keepers, nothing more. And she had a feeling she was going to end up involved in more than she wanted to be. Granted, following the Puppet Master of the most important theatre in the world was not the best idea ever. But that was over and done with now, and she'd have to deal with it.

The vampire was another story. It appeared she was much more intelligent than Tian had first realized. Pity. She would have to keep that in mind. Though Alec didn't seem to consider her a threat of any sorts. He might not have seen the glimmer in her eyes, perhaps? And the ever so sublte mockery lacing her voice? Tian unconsiously leaned forward to catch her name. Arnica. Good. At least she managed to catch a name. Though it was hard to miss the vamps other superior words.

"Yes, actually, you are right Arnica. It seems you have chosen the better word here."

Tian admitted, much too gracefully, giving a slight nod in the vamp's direction.

"It also seems that you are right." Turning to Alec, "It is I who should appoligize for following your lovely sister. I just..."

She dropped her eyes, making her for a split second appear vunerable and scared, though she was neither.

"...wanted to see the theatre. Surely you could understand?"
She was not a flirt, or a trickster. She was just smart.

[iprince]

"Thank-you," Alec nodded his head to Arnica,"I will admit I'm a bit of a prude. I'm not used to people taking my sister's behavior so casually." Even when she was in a half-decent mood she was somewhat...touchy-feely with others. It was improper, even for a Euclides. And especially for a human. Absently Alec rubbed his knuckles over the thin, coarse layer of stubble that marked his goatee.

Alec's heartstrings tugged, not unpleasantly, at the meekness of the Marionette. With a blind eye, he noticed neither her trickery, nor the mockery the other female had crafted upon her words. If only he could see that he was being played a fool. He lifted his hand and lightly clapsed it onto her shoulder. His palm twitched above the shoulder of her dress, and he quickly removed the appendage. It was an awkward gesture of comfort.

"I understand completely, madame,"he smiled, but his thin lips seemed stressed and worried,"And I apolo..."his words faded and he flicked his pupiless eyes towards Arnica,"Apologize, for upsetting you. To compensate, I'll invite you in...both of you if you wish to see the theatre as well, Arnica. Most of it's inhabitants are off on their own business for the night, and none of them will bother us if their Puppet Masters don't wish them to."

Not that Alec made much of a Puppet Master, with his meekness and his insecurity, but the Castless Euclide taking refuse in his home did not bother to disobey him anyway. Emmy was still there, and even though she was flighty and small, she had some power behind her lithe, spotted frame.

"Besides,"the young half-breed continued, smoothing back loose strands of bang-hair that had escaped his hair ribbon, so they hung messily behind his ears,"Emmy will be back soon, and she'd much prefer it if she had you two where she can see you. She can be...aggressive, towards anyone caught sneaking around her territory." And Emmy's definition of 'sneaking' was not a small one.

Alec stepped back and plucked his hat from his head, not for the last time that night, holding it against his chest. He stretched out a hand and quirked his strange, little smile in attempt at friendliness,"M'ladies, if you'd please?"

((Gah x.x sorry about the crappyness. Mem needs to wake up.))

[Mistay]

{{I'm actually going to wait for Tigs to reply before I do. xD}}