Under blue moon I saw you So soon you'll take me Up in your arms Too late to beg you or cancel it Though I know it must be the killing time Unwillingly mine -Echo and the Bunnymen

Red Dragon Inn Several moments after meeting Evan.

Something comes seer. From the shadows he glides, moving with an unnatural quiet.

"I would give you Title, Manon.." Viki whispered, as some sadness stilled her to loosen her grip on the two, one Blood, the other something more. Patchwork finery shifted as she settled back into the barstool, eyes making for the hearth, dancing partners for the flames.

Leaning, Sid pressed the softness of her lips to top of Viki's head, and smiled very softly. "Mayhaps it be nae time."

You are not a child. And you are not her child.

"Well...tonight has been good. No one has tried to bite me, kill me or kidnap me yet. I would call that good." Tasha nodded, her eyes bright, twinkling saucers.

Sid's touch to silvery strands and two-tone locks faded, and the Trueblood pulled back and look to Tasha and Viki. "Coke for Ana, an' mayhaps more'n tea for Shimmer?"

"Ahh, ohh.." She glanced to the lonely teacup, now cooled to room temperature and offering up no steam at all. "Xas, please."

Tasha and Sid charted a path behind the bar

"Tea, or somethin' different?" Viki nodded to this, though her eyes remained on the hearth, her small voice focused in the same direction as she sounded her reply. "I am well with tea," she said quietly.

Something is closer seer. He senses you on the light breeze, sweet as candy, spicy and enticing as a curried dish.

Something was amiss, no doubt. The woodwork creaked and the fire crackled and the seer sat so very still, as if weighing her options, or formulating a battle plan. "Metal arrows.." To herself, for sure.

"Eyes an' heart places, li'l Shimmer." Sid's voice was barely a breeze of sound as she passed, moving for the steaming pots and her small herb chest behind the bar.

But the fog rolled in, or more like rushed in, and Viki was a solitary, silent creature with an obnoxiously loud dress. Sid's advice went unnoticed. Catatonic, she watched the fire within.

"West London the bad part of town" I wouldn't know, as I imagine you wouldn't know where my town is either. The world is strange and new here." A nearby patron chatted up his companion, and his words filtered through the crackle of the fireplace.

Meanwhile, Sid attended to the Earl Grey, chatting with Destre, who just so happened to make an appearance so late in the evening. "To lose a spark like the Countess, sweet, I can be understandin' the male's moods, Des."

"Strange and new, to lose a spark.." Viki echoed, doing her better impression of a cavern, and she barely even twitched on that barstool, even with the static white noise around to soothe her, the small crowd offering a bit of a comfort. You know, the old saying" Safety in numbers.

Tasha's voice broke through the chaos. "Is there a slaver convention in town?"

The teacup chimed. Two o'clock and all was well. Viki finally turned, a swivel in her seat, her face for the bit of heated air, her fingers for the spoon. "Slavers?"

There are greater dangers now. But look. The Egyptian. He has one of your brood. You would know him through the trap of your past, though we cannot feed you those memories now.

The seer gave Anubis a rather blank stare. The lights were on but obviously no one was home. Off-blues revealed that much, clouded with secrecy...and tea. She toyed with the spoon and saucer for a while, then spilled off the stool, drawn to the hearth.

We speak of a Watcher in the Night. His is a raptor, little bird.

A shiver raced down the length of her spine, but not for any chill the air had to offer. Viki's nearness to the fire did little to sooth. Ahh, but the seer only had so much time to process this. Tasha noted her stare, and decided to distract her with an appropriate bag of skittles. Viki's eyes flickered from flame to windowpane, then were drawn sidelong, as Tasha threw the bag of candy into the air. The girl caught it, characterized with eager hands and greedy fingers.

Your touch is electric. You are his Addiction. He will know you in more ways than one.

"Amvel, Tasha.." Viki's thank-you was a singsong chime, and a new sample of a smile was alight on her face. She turned back to the fire again, and simultaneously to the window, struggling with the bag, fishing out its multicolored contents.::

"Like dresses..? She squeaked, overcome with delight, fully forgetful of ominous fears. She lounged nearto the flames, comfort in the form of a carpet on the floor. Sprawled, the seer turned to her side, eyes shifting between glass and glaze. The candy-coated wonders were lined up alongside - rainbow soldiers on a march.

In starlit nights I saw you So cruelly you kissed me Your lips a magic world Your sky all hung with jewels The killing moon Will come too soon

Tasha's turn to cut in: "Put her down you winged freak!" She was moving forward, bristling with annoyance.

Enter That Blue Bastard. Mish"Cael came at them in a slow stroll over ice and snow and cobbles, his guns set into hip holsters, perfectly visible to those in proximity. His black eyes took to the scene like professional appraisers, alight with recognition for some of the faces in his path, but wary all the same.

"My my." He choked down an ill-timed bout of coughing. A cigarette's hot-red end dwindled from between two knuckles.

"An' lookee all this..." With the thinnest of smiles, he looked to Gabriel and Viki, to Sid and Tasha.

"Down, down, down," whispered the girl in the angel's arms, pressing a plea to the side of his face, still all fairy bells and lilting singsong, despite her focus to flee.

Sid's slow steps circled in, tasting the scent that clung to him. She threw a glace to Mish'Cael, but her full attentions were on Gabriel. "Well, well, well....Methinks this be development a sister o' mine needs hear o', an' soonest."

Gabriel tucked Viki close, leaning to press a kiss to her forehead. It was such odd behavior, but with hidden point and purpose.

Every time your flesh touches, he feels more alive, and his energy throbs and thickens with fresh vigor"

"Take et he en't her mate," said Mish"Cael, with eyes crawling to Sid, and then to Gabriel, perhaps sizing up the best spots to shoot him at.

"Nae." Sid spoke to Mish, keeping her distance. "An' he dun kill easily, I be thinkin'."

"I en't kill easy, neither," he said in reply.

On that note, Gabriel lowered Viki to the ground and released her once she had gotten her footing. His attention shifted between the other two women. "Good evening, Mannon, Anastashia, isn't it' Raphael's halfling daughter."

Meanwhile, the seer turned rag doll spied Mish'Cael from over a celestial shoulder. She made a motion to speak, but sound was the first to go, but from the shape of her lips, it could've been but one phrase...Then, it got a bit dark, and off-blues succumbed to black space.

Metal arrows.

Mish"Cael's cruel and terrible smile curled into view. "'Sides. En't need ta kill 'im....Jes' put 'im on a knee fer now."

"Geesh. I come in peace. Or haven't you heard, Manon' I am human. Just like," he started, before making a face, rolling his eyes. "Well, obviously not you." He caught Viki once more, when she started to slip, when the dark claimed her vision. He actually looked concerned.

Tasha scowled darkly at the angel speaking her name and hopped down from the top step, landing with bracing legs before surging forward moving up beside Sid. "Let.....her.....go," she demanded.

Mish"Cael echoed the notion. "Best set'er on tha groun' an' let me have 'er, doncha think."

He would have you more ways than one, too.

The gunslinger dropped the cigarette to the ground and snuffed it out with a sizzle, underneath the bare flesh of his heel. No shoes. Mish"Cael did not wear shoes.

"Ye be many thin's, Gabriel, but human be nae one o' them. Nae matter wha' be happenin' to ye. An', though I smell the Fall, I canna tell wha' lingers. Howe'er, this be gran' news..." Sid smiled cruelly. "I be dyin' to tell someone," she said, stepping forward.

But Gabriel wasn't paying them any attention. "Seer" Seer" Are you alright?" As pressure surmounted by the other three, he kept his eyes on Viki.

The seer was limp, like driftwood, only much softer, and cosmically swept. She gurgled, and though her eyelids twitched, they remain closed.

Mish"Cael took a step forward. Gabriel looked panicked.

"Help her! You care for her too. Help her!" The angel pleaded.

Too, he says, too.

"Aye, Mish'Cael, is it?" Sid was grinning like a fiend, ignoring Gabriel's plea. "Take out a knee cap."

"Kin do."

"Ye 'ave the hands for it, methinks. Steady, accurate," she affirmed.

But the constant connection between angel and girl had taken its toll on the seer. The world was in ripples, though their voices were distant, but heard.

The gunslinger's Peacemaker was out so quick it seemed a bullet train of metal. The hammer cocked sickeningly against a calloused thumb, at his hip and steady as concrete. His left eye looked so brilliant and no longer black at all. It was a shiny, glistening gold. Hot against the skin of his cheek, it illuminated the entire half of his face.

"You're draining her!" Tasha exclaimed with a hiss, falling as she started to dart forward, moving past Sid in a sudden effort to get to Viki.

But Sid was way ahead of her. Blurring with preternatural speed, she moved to grab for the Seer out of Gabriel's hands.

Alas, before they could get to her, Gabriel swirled. He picked the girl up, tucked her close and jumped upwards, landing on the roof. The seer dangled in his arms, murmuring bits of nonsense without the help of sound, though every attempt was a plea, a means to reason.

Mish"Cael's smile was wide, so wide. He shot up of his head and dropped to a knee, perhaps debating on where to fire. Up and the man's shoulder was in his sights. There was an instant thunder-crack of shot. The silver bullet raced out of the barrel and exploded into flesh, but too soon. Gabriel had leapt toward the roof, and Mish"Cael's bullet grazed not his shoulder but his knee.

"Tasha be right, ye frellin' fool!" Sid shouted as she followed the pair, swift and sure, upwards without a thought. Toes to branches and rails, and finally she found the roof. "Ye canna touch them all....open!"

"Try an' en't git in tha way'a a shot, Sid," Mish"Cael grunted from below.

Free falling" Perhaps...Taint of blood in the air. Viki swooned, sure to slip from the angel's grip if the bullet sang truth.

The gunslinger moved inside with a quickness, up the stairs, bare feet slapping hard on the wooden steps and he burst through the first room on the next floor. A shriek from a whore and her john, and he lurched the window open.

Gabriel, from his place on the roof, caught what Tasha said. He glared at Sid. "You think I want to hurt her"! You know nothing!"

Mish"Cael stepped out and onto the roof, his head swiveling around and the golden eye out and searching. He headed in their direction, both sizzling, shining boomdowns out and he got within a good ten feet of Gabriel. "Put 'er down or y'kin git another in yer knee."

Sid continued, attempting reason. "Ye wan' he safe?? The Ancient barely stuck to the tiles, like wind across water her movements danced over the roof keeping Gabriel and the seer in front of her, at arm's length.

The seer was white on white, that ancient glow, a trail of stardust. She no longer looked tangible - just a light in the night, like so many more, but fashioned from blood and sweat and bone.

Under blue moon I saw you So soon you'll take me Up in your arms Too late to beg you or cancel it Though I know it must be the killing time Unwillingly mine

Everett Ogden's Room

Sid held the seer in check, a near weightless bundle as she walked through the hall, muttering all the way to Room Twenty. "Frellin' bastige. Sometimes fathers can seem nae so nice." There were shadows in glamoured blue eyes as she knocked on the door of the room. Everett Ogden's room.

"Yeah, I would agree there. Your staying with Viki right Sid?" Tasha asked as she brought up the middle. Mish"Cael of course was trailing the three, with bare feet plodding along.

"Aye, I be stayin'. Sent word to Scottie a'ready. Ye headin' back to where, sweet?"

"Oh Shadowhold keep. Staying with Luc and family still, as I ain't been sent word to change that. Figure for now that's where Da wants me."

Within Room Twenty, a voice called out. "I am coming..." It was loud enough to be heard through the door.

The youth would then open the door, blinking at the light that poured over his scrawny, only half dressed form. He had begun to recover from the sick months at sea, but Everett Ogden was still a farce of a man beside the typical RhyDinian specimen of masculinity. It took him a beat when he looked at those assembled, but those terribly warm brown eyes came to rest on the colorful friend in the arms of a stranger. Brows arched, and a careful whisper followed. "Gabriel?" He was honestly horrified. He hated to see Viki like that.

Sid only nodded to Tasha, then glanced to youth at the door. "Ye be....Ev-er-ette" This mus' be why I felt need to bring her here."

Mish"Cael leaned against the far wall. His bony, sinew-curled arms crossed over one another - only the necessary muscle to lift and fire all of the guns in his massive collection, not a stitch more. One foot up was propped against the wall underneath him. His inkwell eyes watched Everett, standing in the doorway, an owlish blink and all of the heartfelt candor that Mish didn't understand any longer.

"I am, I am...Godsteeth, come in." He stood aside, holding the door open. Concern woke him fully, made his feet feel cold on the floor boards. His bed was half made, and he was happy to forfeit it to the gypsy- belled creature. No questions asked, though hundreds swam in that earnest gaze.

"Methinks she be wantin' to rest here. She be fine, jus' needs rest." Sid spoke as she carried Viki over to the bed. Once past the door frame she glanced back to Tasha.

Mish"Cael allowed for a slow kick off of the wall, ambling after Sid, who held Viki, into the room. His body-language suggested that it was not up for discussion about his staying in the room the night.

Tasha's silvery violet eyes widened slightly as she caught a feeling about the room but slipped into step behind Mish and just wandered in for a moment, making sure Viki was ensconced safely.

The room felt safe. Still, with what follows and ever-plagues her and hers, Sid could never be sure. Poor Everett, he was going to be having at least three for company tonight. Laying Viki down to the half-made bed, she grinned over at Tasha. "Familiar touch, aye?"

Tasha nodded slowly, perhaps relieved that Viki had such a place to hide when needed and nearby. "It does." She beamed at Sid.

Mish ducked to fit his head inside the doorjamb. He was just, just, just too tall for all of these doorways. Just by a smidgen. The tarpit eyes racing over every inch of the room. He looked at the window and whatever else made up Everett's room.

"Mish'Cael." Everett greeted the man by name, and a nod between them. They had a common interest, and Everett would not think to have him leave. No matter that something in the fierce eyes of the fellow terrified that bookish gent. A cautious peer into the hallway preceded his gentle closing of the door. The room was modest, a double bed, but between the armchair in the corner, the seat at the writing desk, and the two chairs at the very small table, there were places to sit. To be.

"Everett'a Warwick." Mish offered a faint, minute smile to the man.

"I be Sid," the Ancient interjected, and perhaps more gruffly than she planned as Viki was covered. The Trueblood rose, pinning the male with cunning stare. "Ye 'ave comp'ny for the night, Ev-ver-ette."

Mish pulled out a chair equidistant from the window and door. He drug into the corner and he plopped into it unceremoniously.

Tasha continued with the introductions. "I'm Tasha. Viki's family to us and all. But, I'm not staying. Have to head back before Luc sends out a search party. He's taking his duties as guardian a bit over board but well." She shrugged and chuckled quietly.

"Er....Welcome." Everett scratched the back of his head, lowering his eyes. He had never been the alpha wolf in the pack. It was a point of self-consciousness at moments like these. Still, the man who had been rousted from a dead sleep recovered admirably well, a little smile quirking his lips. "Do make yourselves at home." He moved to his closet, pulled a rumpled shirt from the laundry basket there, and slipped it over his bare chest, fastening the buttons as he nodded to the ladies.

"Sid, Tasha....it is good to meet friends of Viki." His gaze slipped again to the sweet lady in his bed, and he wondered that anyone would think to harm her. It was madness, indeed.

Sid gave a glance to Mish as she pulled out one of the chairs from the small table and set it next to the bed near Viki's head, folding her long, lank frame into it. Crossing legs and leaning against the headboard with one arm, she threw a grin as Tasha apologized for her, for them. She'd have to study this "thinking of others" thing better.

The gunslinger cleared his throat, a low, hard sound, like something sticking and clawing and refusing to leave. He undid the buckle of the hip-holsters, and draped it over a thigh. The first cold, shimmering .45 out and with a loud click and whirr, out came the chambers, refilling them slowly, methodically from a little section of the holster's leather. Equally-shiny silver bullets slipped into their beds for the night.

"I will be back around tomorrow to check up on Viki. Um, thanks for letting her, um them, you know stay." Tasha stammered, realizing that the man had just taken in more guests then the room allowed and was trying to ease a little.

"Uh, aye....Than' ye." Sid added.

The gratitude is accepted even as it is dismissed with a gentle wave. "I should want no less for her." Everett peeled his gaze away and moved towards his writing desk, his own corner, turning the chair around so that he might look on his companions for the night.

"Nice to have met you Ev-er-ette. Um, you also Mish." Tasha backed up towards the door quietly, worried Luc would send out his men to find her, as he had done it before already.

The gunslinger was busy at work. With another whirr and click, the chambers went back and he set the gun aside for now. The other finished in equal time and he slipped them both into comfortable hands. The holster draped over a level surface nearby, now. He nodded to Tasha. "Ayup. Well met."

Sid cut in before Tasha could leave. "Ye be careful headin' back, Ana. I dun know wha' tha' one be capable o', wha' he be hidin' up his sleeves. An' there be nae jus' him, as ye know. Give me regards to Luc an' Fio. Dun forget to tell o' this new development."

"Always careful these days. Got plenty enough to keep me on my toes." With an impish grin both amused and wry at the same time, Tasha nodded, brushing hair from her eyes. "I will let them know and will certain inform them about what happened tonight."

Mish shifted in the chair, getting comfortable. The guns hung loose in his hands, gentle now. He was dozing with an eye up, waiting for the chance to snuff out a life or five. Leaning back in the chair, he threw a look to Sid, studying her for a long time without words.

Sid's glamoured eyes moved between Tasha and Viki. Her long fingers of strangely elegant design dusting over the seer's brow, trailing stardust pathways from flesh to flesh contact. Her free hand rose, tucking softly chiming elflocks behind the large point of her left ear, strange symbol beneath that one visible as the 'locks shifted.

"Night all." Tasha called over a shoulder and then slipped out into the hall, closing the door quietly behind her before heading for the stairs, the sound of her docks hitting them as she bounced her way down to the inn below.

"Be well, sweet.? Sid echoed softly.