Who: Zach, Nico, Dante, Dione, and Adrienne
When: Early Evening
Where: A cave near the western edge of the haven.
What: Zach and Nico wander off from the search party and find trouble.

Zach sat on the ground a little ways off from the fire, staring off into nowhere. He heard the crackle and pop of the flames eating up the twigs and the dead branches and the quiet murmur of conversation from other people in the group. It served as background noise for his troubled thoughts. He felt useless just sitting here, resting when they should be searching for Adrienne . . . and Dione. He almost forgot about the other girl in the midst of it all, but he wasn’t really trying to rescue her. Adrienne was his main priority. If they were able to take Dante out of the picture, Dione would be safe as well.

Zach already ate, a small helping but enough to keep him going. No one would miss him if he got up and looked around the area while everyone else was still taking their break. However, slipping away by himself wasn’t going to be easy. Glancing over to look at his best friend, Zach knew Nico would want to come with him if he got up to do more searching. There was no way in hell Nico would let him go alone. It wasn’t that bad, Zach reasoned, having your best friend want to come with you. Some people didn’t have best friends to care for them at all.

“You feel like doing more exploring?” Zach asked, reaching up to scratch the side of his head. His hair was itching. It had been a day or two since he last washed it. “I’m getting anxious just sitting here.”

Who: Dante, Dione, and Adrienne
When: Very early morning (~3 am)
Where: A cave near the western edge of the haven
What: A very special
Warning: Will possibly contain violence against a woman. Mature themes. Torture?

The forest was always quietest in the middle of the night, but even then it was never truly silent. There were crickets in the distance, leaves that rustled overhead, and bushes that moved unnaturally because of the nocturnal creatures that stalked their prey. Dante felt most comfortable in the night, but unlike the other animals he already had his prey in his grasp. He sat alongside Adrienne, her ankles and feet bound tightly with thick rope. She was dirty, but that didn't tarnish her beauty, or perfection.

And then there was Dione, the one he didn't have to tie up in any way. She came with him willingly, and that meant she wouldn't try to run away. Dante gazed at her calmly, but when he turned to look at Adrienne there was a fire in his eyes that burned like Hell itself.

He ran his fingers through Adrienne's hair, gentle at first before he turned it rough by grabbing at the strands to pull her head back. "When are you going to realize that you've lost," he said close to her mouth. "And you belong to me?" He licked her bottom lip, and pulled away before she could say anything to him. "Dione realizes she belongs to me," he said. Somewhere in his fucked mentality he thought a comparison would sway Adrienne to his side. Dante sidled over to the blind woman, and cupped her cheek in a manner that resembled love.

"You know you're mine, don't you," he asked Dione before he pressed his lips to hers. The action wasn't loving, but domineering, and rough, and all the while he watched Adrienne from the corner of his eyes. "Dione," he said afterward. "Beautiful Dione. How shall we celebrate this Valentine's Day, hm?"

OOC: Posting order can be Dante, Dione, then Adrienne.

Who: Dante and Dione
When: Around 2 AM
Where: Dione's cottage
What: Dante comes around to take the rest of his possessions

For the first time since his arrival Dante felt as if everything was falling into place. He had Adrienne nestled away in a cave at the furthest reaches of Elysium, and as far as he could tell no one had yet been alerted to her disappearance. He half expected for there to be guards, and townspeople running about looking for the missing girl, but the town was quiet as he stalked back within its boundaries. The silence brought a smile to his face, and without hesitation he made his way toward the water bungalows.

Though Dante had already taken Adrienne there was one more thing he needed to take with him. Another person he had claimed as a possession. Dione’s water bungalow was dark, but he found his way inside through an unlocked window. Sneaking around was easy for the lycanthrope, and he felt most comfortable in its element. The shadows were his friend, and his silent footfalls did not betray his presence to anyone. Another lycanthrope would have been able to smell him, but Dione did not yet have those enhanced senses. It did not matter to Dante what she was or was not able to do. If his first bite did not work then he would bite her again and again until she became one.

Dante snuck into the girl’s bedroom, and stood silently beside her bed. He spent a few moments staring at her before calling out her name. “Dione,” he said into the darkness. “It’s time to go.”

Who: Dante and Adrienne
When: Night
Where: Adrienne's cottage
What: Dante claims his prize

Freedom tasted like a sweet nectar, a drink fit for the gods of old. Dante was no god, but he thought he was one. He felt powerful, and unstoppable, and now that he was free from the dungeons he was going to use that power for his own desires. He had slipped quietly from the silver lined cell at a time when the guards were switching shifts. They had only left one guard to watch him this time around - a human no less - and Dante took that as a sign from god. God wanted him to escape; wanted him to be free. If he hadn't then why would he have placed such an incompetent guard to watch him?

When Dante left the dungeon the guard was slumped in his chair apparently sleeping. No one would guess that his neck was broken until they came to check on him for the next shift change, and that wouldn't happen for another four hours. That was plenty of time for Dante to get what he wanted, and leave Elysium far behind him.

The lycanthrope was in Adrienne's cottage soon after his escape. He hid in the darkness in the same way as he did with Zach except that there would be no mistake this time. He was going to leave with his prize, and no one would even realize she was gone until it was too late.

Who: Hayate and Dante
When: Late Evening
Where: The dungeons in Town Hall.
What: One devil to another, and chaos is released.

Hayate ran his fingers against the bars as he passed them, humming a tune in the back of his throat. The guards were all away from the dungeon on a break. It wasn’t as if they had to watch the place for every hour of the day. Any prisoner within would be locked up tight away from the public, only open to visitors who chose to come by voluntarily, and would have very little chance to escape. Hayate escaped, of course, but he had also severely wounded himself in the process and endangered his life. Without proper medical care or blood to sustain him, he could have died.

Dante, on the other hand, was locked behind silver bars that even the strongest of werewolves couldn’t break past. Silver was deadly to werewolves. They had taken extra special precautions with their new prisoner. It was almost a shame they hadn’t thought to do the same with Hayate. Complaints were the last thing on Hayate’s mind, though. He had more pressing matters at hand.

Pausing in front of Dante’s cell, Hayate looked past the bars to the man inside them. Eventually, he leaned against the opposite wall and slouched with his hands in his pockets. “Hello,” Hayate said casually, as if he was greeting an old friend. They had never been friends, but they had always understood each other. Perhaps it came with the territory. “It looks like you’re the bad guy of the moment now.” Hayate brought one of his hands to his mouth, sitting three fingers atop his lips as his thumb rested against his chin. “And I seem to be the new good guy . . . ”

A scowl crossed over the vampire’s face, and he shook his head. “People are so fickle.”

Who: Katy and Dante
When: mid-afternoon
Where: Dungeon
What: Visiting the prisoner

Katy chewed on her thumb nail anxiously.

She had been released from the medical pavilion not to long after being admitted. Being a werewolf did have it's perks, like healing much faster than a normal human could. She had ended up spending a few days in her home though, and hadn't left for many reasons. But now her place was starting to become oppressively big for just one person. She found herself locking the doors and making sure the windows were latched, but she kept telling herself it wasn't because of him. Besides, he was locked up behind bars.

She put hand on her neck where he had tried choking her. How dare that psychotic bastard touch her. Katy refused be afraid of him.
Which was what brought her to the dungeon now. She removed her jacket and took a breath so she could talk to the elven guards. She hoped they would allow her to go down and see him. She hadn't been aware that quite a few people had already gone down a visited him already. Apparently he had quite a few female visitors.

Katy's brow furrowed at the idea of so many women coming to visit him. How many people had he threatened and/or stalked. She headed down into the holding cells with the elven guards close at hand, as they wouldn't allow her down without an escort. She had to cover her nose as the smell of little dead things seemed to linger in the cell.

She eyed the figured beyond the bars and narrowed her eyes, waiting for her pupils to get used to the lower lighting in the room. "Well look at you Douglas, or Dante. Whoever you are." She crossed her arms and eyed the silver bars warily. "Mhm. I knew they would lock you up like a caged animal."

Who: Dante and (Open to many)
When: All day
Where: Dungeons
What: The crazed lycanthrope is finally behind bars

How had this happened? How had he ended up trapped behind silver-lined bars a prisoner instead of out in the wild a free man? How had he let that damn alchemist slip through his fingers alive, and well? The questions that plagued Dante's mind forced him into an almost fugue-like state of eerie silence. He no longer made any attempt to appear, or act normal. What was the point of it when everyone knew what he truly was? What they saw behind those bars was a stone cold killer. Someone who held human life in such small regard that he could squash it like a child squashed small bugs.

The look in his eyes revealed the emptiness of his soul - a dark abyss that could drown anyone who dared to look deep into them. His jaw was clenched tight, and his hands were balled into fists with his nails digging into his palms. Blood dripped onto the floor of his cell, and seeped in between the cracks in the stone. He sat on a chair in the corner of his cell partially hidden in darkness, and shadows. Dante's eyes glistened evilly even in his dim surroundings, and though he was behind fortified bars danger emanated throughout the dungeon as if he could reach beyond them to tear out your heart.

And so he sat in silence in the partial darkness. The guards and the rats were his only company, but at least he could catch the rats and snap their necks. It was the only release he had for his rage. There were at least a dozen on them on the floor - dead rats. Some were torn in half, others were lucky enough to just have broken necks. Some were missing their heads and limbs as if Dante plucked them off one by one. Like petals off a flower, Dante's victims were just as fragile, and just as expendable.

Who: Dante, Zach, and whoever else wants to join in
When: Evening, after this
Where: The Temple
What: The showdown finally comes to an end

Too many voices. There were just too many voices inside, and out for Dante to deal with. He had to run. Had to feel free even though he was anything but. There was no freedom in this place, and so his frustrations were showing themselves in the most violent of ways.

The lycanthrope carried Zach through the more deserted areas of the town. Back alleys that were nothing like the ones of New York or L.A., but still back alleys with little light, and places to hide. But Dante didn't stop to hide. He just ran, and ran, holding Zach tightly in his clutches. Without realizing it he ran all the way to the Elven temple, a place that would normally be a sanctuary would be the place where Zach would meet his end. It seemed fitting in the werewolf's mind even though it would effectively corner him in one place. Dante just wasn't thinking clearly, but every decision he made was backed-up with a fallacy he created in his mind.

Inside the temple Dante dropped Zach to the floor before he put a heavy foot on his back. He began to revert into a human form if only so he could talk to Zach. He was shirtless when he was done, and wearing a pair of tattered jeans. Dante knelt in front of Zach, and lifted his head by pulling on Zach's hair. "I don't usually kill men," he said with a smirk. "But I'll make an exception for you just like I made an exception for that other guy. What was his name—" He paused, and tapped his chin with his free hand. "Oh right, Simon. You remember Simon, don't you?"

Who: Dante, Zach, and open to others
When: Evening
Where: Beginning at Market Place
What: Dante's a shady mofo, fo'real, and he's mentally unstable.

The dark aura around Dante spread out like grotesque wings, slicing through the tranquil air in the haven and leaving behind a heaviness that hadn't been present before. Dante flew through the night on those dark wings with Zach in tow. One hand clasped tight around the boy's smaller wrists as he dragged him through the dusty trails of the cottages. The lycanthrope didn't know where he was going, or what he was going to do with the boy. No - he did know what he was going to do with Zach. He was going to kill him. Gut him from throat to groin, and let his innards spill to the earth. He'd display the empty shell in front of Adrienne's house as a final show of power. How could he resist her then if she saw how weak the alchemist truly was? Surely, she wouldn't.

He was only semi-shifted with sharp claws on his hands, and sharp teeth in his mouth. His shirt was torn with the protruding muscles of his arms, chest, and back. The vertebrae of his back was pushing upward, curving into the lumbering form of the werewolf. His muzzle had yet to form, but the madness in his eyes was already there. It had always been there. Lying in wait for the perfect moment that didn't exist. There was no perfection in this - only insanity and chaos. All of Dante's planning didn't mean a thing when it seemed violence was the only way to make things happen.

He should've known that the only way to get things in life was to take them.

All logic was gone from the man's mind, and he made his way toward the market place without another thought. Dante didn't think of the people he would encounter, or the fact that someone might recognize him. He was a rabid animal running wherever his feet took him. Instinct had taken over, as did madness. Madness must never be overlooked.

He was in the market place before he knew it, and there were eyes on him. Staring at him. Whispering about him. He heard them all, too. It was too much. He growled as loud as he could, a warning to everyone to stay back.

Who: Zach and his Kidnapper [Short Narrative]
When: Early evening
Where: Zach and Nico's cottage.
What: Someone isn't very happy with Zach . . .

Zach was coming back from another day at the alchemy labs with Elijah, wondering when they were supposed to do the binding ritual. No one had told him what was going on with Adam, but it was probably best that he didn't find out. He had enough on his mind already, and more worries to add to his list weren't going to help him clear his mind for the ceremony.

He reached home and trudged up the steps to the front door. It was quiet, which wasn't usual for the house if Nico was there, but Zach figured Nico must have left while he was away. He had been gone for a couple of hours. Zach turned the doorknob and opened the door, stepping inside the cottage with his messenger bag in tow.

Dante had been at Zach's cottage for the greater part of an hour. A feral animal with nothing to lose Dante had come to the final precipice in the entire situation surrounding Adrienne. He realized that the girl was far too attached to the alchemist, and that meant he had to get rid of him. It was the only way, and then Adrienne would be his.

The moment Zach stepped through the door Dante grabbed him from behind, a strong arm tight around the alchemist's neck. He breathed heavily into the boy's ear, and quickly placed an arm around Zach's middle. "Surprise, cupcake," he said with a low growl. "I've been waiting for you."

Who: Adrienne and Danté
When: A little past midnight
Where: A path toward the freshwater lake
What: Danté follows through on a threat

The full moon was waning, and despite the chill in the air it was enough to make Adrienne go out for a walk. It was a beautiful night; blissfully quiet, and peaceful. Adrienne felt as if she were in a wonderland, something that wasn’t too far off from the reality of Elysium. There were times the lycanthrope still couldn’t believe that the haven was real even though she had been there for almost a year. She took a deep breath, and felt the clean air filling her lungs completely. Was the air ever this fresh in Chicago?

Her feet took her toward the freshwater lake, and though it wasn’t her intended destination (she really wasn’t headed anywhere in particular) she didn’t mind it at all. Adrienne was reminded of Lake Michigan every time she went there, and it always brought back good memories.

But that wouldn’t be the case tonight.

Bad memories were just around the corner, and they would rear their ugly head sooner than Adrienne ever expected.

( If I can't have you, no one can. )

ooc: If anyone wants to write a narrative (in the form of a comment to this thread) of their character finding Adrienne, and taking her to the medical pavilion, then please do!

Who: Dante, Zach, Nico
When: Afternoon
Where: Around the cottages
What: It's not smart pissing off a werewolf

He had been watching Zach ever since their last confrontation. The alchemist's activities were of particular interest to the lycanthrope since they involved Adrienne. Adrienne was his only concern. She was the goal, the only thing that mattered in this situation. Dante had been waiting for Zach to follow through with their agreement, but so far he hadn't seen a sign of it. Day in and day out Dante watched, and waited for the alchemist to break up with Adrienne; but all he saw was the two of them growing closer. This wasn't how it was supposed to work; this was all wrong.

Zach hadn't broken up with Adrienne, and it was obvious that he hadn't taken Dante's threat seriously. It was an annoyance that grated Dante like nails on a chalkboard, and all he could do now was deliver the message again. It was a waste of time, time that he could be spending watching Adrienne, being with Adrienne. Adrienne, Adrienne - she was the only thing on his mind right now. He could have been with her now if Zach had followed through, but the little chicken shit decided to grow a pair and defy him. He'd learn that that was a mistake.

He stalked the two boys for a few minutes until he emerged from some nearby bushes like a bat out of hell. Dante went straight for Zach, and grabbed the boy by the collar. "I thought I told you to stay away from her!" He pushed Zach away from Nico violently. "Listen here, boy, she's mine and you don't belong near her. Got it?" He pointed his finger toward him in a menacing manner, ignoring Nico all the while. He didn't care about the other man, though maybe he should have considered the fact that a witness was not something he should overlook.

Who: Dione and Dante
When: Evening
Where: The Wine Bar
What: Dione's back at the piano, her usual station.

Dione's routine had returned to something close to normal since her minor meltdown for Christmas. It was still a matter of walking into town and seeing people, making her way to the bar and taking up residence at the piano to play whatever struck her fancy. Occasionally Sheldon would take a break from the bar and join her, sitting shoulder to shoulder, assisting when he wanted but mostly just making conversation as she played. Dione didn't always answer him back because a lot sheldon's conversation didn't so much require her to answer as it required her to nod in the appropriate places to let him know she was indeed still listening and paying attention to the words that came out of his mouth. She'd learned to like his accent and didn't even mind his strange sense of humor so much anymore. She still for the most part didn't get it, but whether or not she got it wasn't the important part of the conversation. The important part was that he was talking to her and it was pleasant.

Tonight was a similar night in that she found herself settled at the piano and the soft strains of music floated out from her instrument to those in the room. There were rumors floating about in the air. Snippets of things she took little stock in. Dione didn't know enough people on her own to have any idea who most of the people were others talked about.

Her hair pinned up off her shoulders, she was dressed down in a simple black t-shirt and dark blue jeans. Even still she managed to make it somehow look more elegant than one would normally. Maybe it was just the juxtaposition of a beautiful woman with an impressive instrument, it was hard to tell usually. Dione did have a self-possession when with the piano she didn't have anywhere else. Her jacket and cane were settled on the bench beside her, she never liked for them to go far; after all, there was no telling how long she would stay.

Who: Katy and Dante
When: Midday
Where: Around the town cottages
What: A meeting between werewolves

Katy grinned as she dodged snow balls thrown by kids. It really was her own fault that she was getting pummeled with snow. She had entered the crossfire after all. Katy held her camera protectively as she raced by the flying snowballs. She hadn't realized that after the end of the world was the time she'd find herself being a war correspondent. She picked up a loose snowball and chunked it at the nearest kid, although it hopelessly fell apart before making its intended mark. The kids laughed at her efforts before attacking each other again.

Finally she was safely away from the snowball artillery's range. She had come outside to capture images of the snow and people playing it. She turned around and snapped a picture of the kids and ran off before they decided to move closer in and start pelting her with the frozen slush again. She took a picture of a family making a snow man together, and a picture of some girls making snow angels.  It had been a while actually since she had brought out her father’s camera. She found that she had missed it greatly. It was like an old friend, and she needed to finish the roll so she could go ahead and develop the photographs.

 

Someone suddenly called out, “Watch out below!”

 

She just nearly missed being hit by a sled on its way down from a bunny hill.  Not that it would have done much damage, but Katy didn’t want bruises on her shins. She walked a little away from the more active areas near the cottages.  When she heard a click from a shutter and the unmistakable sound of a Polaroid camera expelling its film, she turned her head quickly and noticed a man with the camera.

 

Had it been pointed in her direction? Katy narrowed her eyes in thought. She was wearing a pretty thick jacket, and some close-fitting but warm pants. She also had on a funny knit hat with pompoms hanging down the sides, and one on top of it as well. Her hair was down and curling slightly, but she would hardly consider how she looked at the moment worth taking a picture of.

 

She grinned and picked up her camera, focusing the lens and zooming in to get a good closer look at the man with the Polaroid.  “Hey there, say cheese!”  She pressed the button down and the picture was now in her camera. It was tit-for-tat as far as she considered.

Who: Dione & Dante
When: Midmorning, December 20
Where: Helicharis
What: Another discussion

Snow. Dione couldn't see it, but it still managed to fascinate her, the sound so very different from the sound of walking through leaves or on hard ground or really being anywhere else. It was closest to her ears as walking on sand, like the beach, in the way that it seemed to both crunch and slide under her boots.

( Dex, say something. )

Who: Adrienne and Danté
When: Afternoon
Where: Just a little outside Adrienne's cottage
What: Adrienne bumps into her new neighbor

The snow beckoned Adrienne to venture forth from her cottage. The frozen crystals shimmered like sequence upon the branches of the trees that surrounded the town cottages. It was beautiful out, and though it was cold Adrienne was never the type to stay inside because of it.

She had buttoned up the jacket that Zach had given her for her birthday, and wrapped a scarf around her neck. Her hands were protected within gloves though she probably didn't need it. Adrienne just liked the cozy feel of gloves on her hands, especially in the cold. The lycanthrope let out a long breath when she finally stepped outside, and watched with childlike glee as the steam rose into the air.

She began to walk down the path and away from her cottage. Adrienne made her way toward the stables, something she normally did during her afternoons.

( Dante had kept close watch... )

Who: Dante - Narrative
When: Evening
Where: His new cottage in town
What: Moving in

He closed the front door of his cottage with a light kick upon the wood, his arms full with the last two boxes of his belongings. There was a very slight smile upon his lips as his feet ascended the steps of his new home. Why he hadn't done this sooner was beyond him; it made more sense for him to be in town since it was closer to her. He could keep a better eye on her, get closer to her, and in the end he would possess her. There was no mistaking that fact; if it wasn't fated then why was he brought to this place of all places? The same place where she had come seeking sanctuary.

Dante placed the box down on the dresser and carefully pulled out the contents within. A few items he had collected in his time here; it was all he had since he came in with nothing. Several knives were now laid upon the wooden dresser, along with various pictures he had managed to take with the polaroid camera he had stolen. Beautiful women, all of them. He traced a slow finger along the smooth surface of the picture, following the contours of their face. His finger moved over their eyes, lips, and nose. He took great care with each picture as if he could actually feel them through the photograph.

Dark-haired beauties, each of them. If he couldn't have the one then he would bide his time with the others. He could play with them and they could satisfy his sinful urges — each and every one of them.

Possession. The voice in the back of his mind was screaming it out loud.

Dante moved to his bedroom window to open it. Shutters were pushed aside carelessly as he leaned his head out to breath in the crisp, evening air. His eyes closed as his lungs filled — so fresh and clean. Nothing like the city. His eyelids opened once more, his sight falling upon a house that was across from his. Such a wonderful view, he thought, before he retreated back into the darkened interior of his room. Yes, this was his new home, and he would make the most of it.

Who: Dante and Open
When: Mid afternoon
Where: Park Bench/Market Place
What: Enjoying the smell of carnage in the morning

There was something soothing about the smell of coffee interlaced with the pungent smell of blood all around him. There were traces of the attack that occurred yesterday, and the lycanthrope was a bit disappointed that he had missed all the fun. Sadly, it couldn't be helped - he had spent the entire day before exploring the Southern parts of Elysium and the various caves that were in that region. He brought the 'to go' cup to his lips, sipping the hot beverage slowly. It warmed him from the inside, but it was a superficial warmth. There were a few things that made him feel alive and sadly, this was not one of them. But it was comforting... and soothing. Definitely soothing.

His eyes glanced around him slowly. He imagined the 'battle' in his head, and the confused state of all the denizens in the town. It made him chuckle a bit - a low, resonating sound that shook his chest. Dante's voice, coupled with a darkened room, would have been enough to scare the piss out of those with faint hearts. He was not someone that anyone would want to run into in a dark alley. Or maybe he was? He had his moments of kindness, when something tugged at his heart, if you could even call it that. Dante didn't have a heart that he knew of, and he certainly didn't have any emotions. Obsession was the furthest thing he knew, and he had a couple of things on his plate currently occupying his attention.

Dante's breath rose into the air with each exhale. The chill made it visible, and he did it a couple of times in amusement. "You know, there's room on this bench for another," he said suddenly though his voice was calm. A person had approached him, and though he didn't look up to see who it was he knew someone was there. He could smell them, and he heard them as they took steps toward him. It was hard sneaking up on a werewolf, especially one as trained as he was.

Who:  Sydni and Dante
What:  An unexpected meeting
When:  Late, after festivities
Where:  Private/concealed location in the forest

"...So mote it be!"  With that, Sydni lowered the hand that held her wand and took a deep breath.  She could 'see' (or visualize, really) the last of the electric blue flame that made up her circle return to the wand.  There, it was done.  She had never been very good at 'seeing', but when she had been scrying in her blacked mirror tonight, she had felt a strong sense of peace, and she had cried.  Her parents were there.  There were so many people awaiting the opening of the Veil, it was nearly oppressive.  Like anyone with faith, she believed she felt and saw these things, whether or not anyone else believed it was real.

Pouring out the rest of her cakes and ale, she offered the libation up to the Lord and Lady, the Elements, and any who had participated in her ritual.  Putting away her things, a slight smile graced her lips.  She had been dreading this night for a long time.  But she felt freer and more peaceful than she had in a long time.  Her parents were at peace.  She had been wrestling with that for a long time, and she had been unable to think  of them as happy.  Now she could.  Their lives, like so many others', had been stolen away, and she imagined them as bitter as she.  Now she could begin to let go of that.

Certain that most people were either at the festivities or asleep, Sydni had been unafraid of interruption.  After leaving Idehr and Maddy, she had returned home to let Molly out and change into more suitable clothing.  This place was 'hers'; or at least, she used it for her rituals.  There was a large, flat rock she could use as an altar, and the space was a natural clearing.  Tonight, she had even built a small fire.  Dousing it with dirt and stirring the coals with the blade of her athame, the brunette shivered.  She had removed her jacket for the ritual, but now the cool air was upon her dampened skin; she often got exceptionally hot during ritual.  Just a bit more dirt, and-

Her head looked up sharply.  She had heard someone.  So she thought.  Listening carefully, though, she could detect no other sound.  Pausing, she took a whiff of the air.  Again nothing.  Maybe her senses were still not tuned enough.  Or, more likely, no one was there.  She couldn't shake the feeling, though, as she went back to cleaning up her ritual area.  Mentally, she set up a 'shield' and bid the entity leave.  The last thing she needed was some dark entity following her around.

Who: Dante and Hayate
When: Late night
Where: The Wine Bar
What: A not so usual encounter

The cold shadows of the night were the places that Dante normally roamed. They were his own haven, his home away from home, whenever he needed to stalk his prey. He could function in the daylight - he could seem perfectly normal in the light of day. But looks, as the saying went, could be deceiving, and deception was the name of Dante's game. He played the roles that other people wanted to see in order to ensure his survival. He was an expert at hiding in plain sight; after all, who suspected the man who acted like he had nothing to hide?

Dante found himself 'hiding' at the Wine Bar once more, sipping on ale and eying the women in the bar. Eliza was missing, and her absence reminded him of the times they spent together indulging in their carnal desires. Despite the fact that it was the day after the full moon, and Dante normally found himself calm after its wake, he was unusually jittery. The voice in his head hadn't stopped whispering to him, playing upon the urges that could no longer remain dormant. They needed to be released, and though he had done plenty of hunting the night before, his claws and fangs still thirsted for blood.

He dismissed the impulses for now, submitting to the ache in his bones and muscles that told him he still needed rest. Lycanthropic healing did little for the nights where he was especially rough. He had slept from the moment he returned to his cottage that morning, until the very late evening. It didn't do a damn thing for him. He still hurt, and he was still tired. So why was he even out at the Wine Bar when he should have been at home resting? It was the voice from the dark abyss of his soul that aggravated the itch to do more than just lie around.

The lycanthrope nursed his ale, and ordered a double shot of whiskey to wash it down. The woman sitting at the bar next to Dante kept glancing at him out of the corner of her eyes. Even if he was half-way to being drunk he could still tell when a woman was giving him a once-over. He smiled at her, "You keep staring at me, and you'll burn a hole in my head." The woman giggled, and turned in her seat to face him. Maybe the night wouldn't be a waste if he could go home with this girl and get lucky.