Haunted Roads

Who: Chloé and her favorite pet, Bo
Where: Vivant to start
When: Eightish
What: Chloé and Bo have some fun

The street level doors of Vivant had closed, but inside the lights still shown and a few people still milled about. Not customers, no. These were people Chloe had paid to be here. Models, a photographer, a videographer, and her highly paid web designer. If Chloe could ever convince Drystan to come into the 21st century, he too might find an appreciation for the kind of work those computer people were capable of.

The models and photographer were not an odd thing, and neither was the web designer, as Chloe had, for some time now, been posting high fashion art on her website. Tonight though, they would be doing something new, videotaping the session. That too would be posted on the site, and if Chloe was pleased with it, the next session might well be cast live on her site.

Not that Chloe could truly understand why the visitors to her website would care for the video but the web designer assured her they would, that they'd get a sense of being there, get a better feel for the shop, and then have more of a desire to actually be there in person. They would want to be a part of the action, to live as the glamorous beautiful people do even when they were being casual, and blah blah blah, Chloe had tuned him out after a while, lit a cigarette, and walked away to something of interest while the man had droned on. Though not for long of course, as he'd noticed immediately that the haute couture dress designer had left him hanging. He assumed she'd lost interest. He was right of course, but that didn't mean she didn't like the idea, just his continued explanation. Her attention could only remain focussed on something so dull for so long.

And where exactly did Bo come in? Well, there were other models of course, other male models, but none had quite the personality of her pet. Chloe knew that she loved being in his company, and if the idea of this video was to entice people, and to entertain, then no one could do a better job then that. Although, there was a certain succubus in their building Chloe decided would make a wonderful addition to the next video. Just not this one. Bo could play with the human girls, he didn't need the distraction of a demoness.

Already Chloe and her assistant had arranged several outfits for Bo. The three female models were already dressed in the first of their outfits, had their hair and make up done, and all that was left to do now was to have some wine and cigarettes while they waited for the star model to arrive. Of course, Bo had no idea what was in store for him. No matter, it involved her, and it involved other girls... Bo would be more than happy.

When: Late Night
Where: Hotel
Who: Nikolaos and Chloe

"He's trying to play us for fools..." The growled voice grated, making Nik's teeth clench and eyes blaze. Fingers curled until blood seeped from the flesh as claws dug in, feet wore a path into the carpet where he paced back and forth. "I understand..." he hissed sharply in return, dark eyes cast towards the sound of the voice but there was no demon there to see. His grandfather was in hell, his words spoken by the mouth of another that was scarcely even aware of where they now were. This conversation had played on for hours now. Over and over the warnings told. Over and over the demands made. It was Nik that was made to feel the failure. He had not stopped this from occurring. The work done with the other demon, Dorian, mattered nothing today.

No work would ever mean anything if Nik failed the family in keeping his father away from those fucking corpses. Already he was failing, failing and seen weak by it. Failing and seen as less than a man for it. "How do you expect to rule the family if you can not rule one!" the question slammed through the room and Nikolaos's lips twisted into a sneer. "You expect me to rule he who is ruler of the family now?" Nikolaos was brought to his knees painfully as the demon servant in the room wormed pain through his veins. He was not to question. He was not supposed to doubt. He was to do as he was told. He was to not fail. To fail was to not only make his own self weak but to make them all.

( I expect you to be stronger than this. )

The two others in the room turned without a glance back, leaving Nikolaos alone to the hotel room. Heavy silence hung over head, a weight that threatened to crush him. Nikolaos had sought to deny coming to the surface for this reason. He feared what would come to pass, that his father would fail all the tests placed before him. He knew that if he did it would be on him to correct it. Nikolaos knew he could rule, he could hold the family name up high. But never once had he truly believed that he would have to throw his own father down from that place in order to take it.

The silence exploded as Nikolaos lashed out. Glass shattered to the floor, his fist slammed through the walls; objects were thrown across the room to splinter into hundreds of pieces. There were no words to describe his rage. No…..not just rage. That was too simple. To….hollow. Nikolaos had respected his father. He had believed the man knew the importance of honor, of family and name. And yet here, upon the surface, in this city, he had dragged them all through the mud. He chose that dead bitch over them. He chose her over him. He had to hear it everyday now. Snarled by family, reminded constantly.

Roughly blood was wiped away from his mouth as he went for the door. His jacket grabbed and the door thrown open. He wanted to know what it was about these Baptiste that made them worth lowering ones self for them. What made them worth more then the family name.

“Send word…” he growled in the face of a guard. The man froze, hesitant to listen to Nikolaos’s word. “Do it.” How does one remove a threat without knowing the details of it? If he was to eliminate the problem he had to better understand it. Get to one you get to all….Nikolaos would ruin the corpses one at a time if he had to. But more then that, beyond anything he would ever speak. He needed to know why. Seeing one would not give him an answer but in his rage now it was worth the attempt.

The guard turned, leaving to send word to the youngest Baptiste who had earlier contacted the demon. Nikolaos took only a moment to compose himself before he ventured down to the hotels bar, paying to clear the place out. Waiting for the sister of the bitch to show.

When: Night
Where: Old Town Towers; their condo
Who: Dimitri, Juliette, Justine, Chloe

A family dinner seemed a simple thing but for the Baptistes it was always turned into quite the event. Perhaps it was due to the fact that they rarely spent as much time together as they used to. Perhaps it was only because Dimitri had time on his hands and was able to put forth so much effort. Whatever the reason for it, the dinner proved to be quite grand. None of them had need to eat true, but that did not mean that they did not enjoy the tastes of food still. Dinner was more a sampling, small amounts of what each of them loved.

Dimitri had worked through the morning hours as he often did and though he had attempted rest it had not worked as he had planned. Thoughts plagued his mind and made such attempts to relax rather difficult. A curse of the family it seemed as they became that way when they were uncertain on any particular point in their lives. It made the timing for this event perfect in a way, giving them excuse, and means, to forget all else for awhile. A night to simply enjoy being among family..allowing the rest of the world to fade away.

Or at least that was the plan…how well that worked out for any of them was another matter all together.

With much of his workload seen to Dimitri took the hours before nightfall to help in preparation for the night’s meal. Though he rarely cooked he was actually quite skilled in it. A talent that he did not even realize he held till late in his life. It wasn’t exactly a hobby he put much time or effort into however, his attention and time were almost always needed somewhere. He made sure of that, constantly flooding himself with work and projects in order to keep himself busy. Dimitri wasn’t the sort that really enjoyed being still or lacking in something to do.

Though he cooked he wasn’t the only one doing so. Others aided as well as there was too much to make for one person to handle.

Towards the end Dimitri left the finishing touches to others while he checked on some last minute work. There was little else for him to worry on really. The home was always in pristine condition and the large dining room was already prepared. Set with candles and all around the home fireplaces added a faint warmth to the home. It was more for light then for that, as cold was not something any of them truly felt anymore.

Music of long ago also filled the air, music that they used to listen to before times became so struggled and their lives went off in various directions. It reminded him of home, a home lost to all of them but yet remembered well. For times beyond the pain. For smiles and laughter.

There was time yet before the others would begin to arrive, Dimitri took seat in the living room near to the fire…watching the flames dance and cast shadows upon the walls. To the table near to him was a glass of wine briefly touched and to his hand a cigarette held between the fingers that was nearly spent, a window near to him was opened just enough to drag the scent of such away.

WHO: Adian, Chloe, and Drystan
WHEN: Wednesday Night (Approaching midnight.)
WHERE: Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
WHAT: Adian decides to do a bit of performing.



"Good evening." Her voice rang out over the club's sound system, as she spoke into the microphone. Adian stood back, smiling softly, as a few of the regulars broke out in applause. This establishment, had been one of the first she visited, after they made to move to Seattle. When she wasn't baby sitting Vallis, or having a drink at one of the smaller pubs, or bars, she was here. Singing, and performing for any one who would listen. Or simply enjoying the other musicians who frequented the stage. One group in particular, she'd made a deal with. They would back her, while she sang, and any money earned, would go to them.

Now that Vallis was claiming her as his pet, she didn't have to work. He was disgustingly well off, and she was reaping the benefits of that wealth. If having fine clothing, and luxurious living arrangements, meant that she had to put up with his bullshit on occasion... she could handle it. It made sense, that they stuck together. After all, they were both seeking the same woman, and that search bound them together. They were family in a way, tied together through Roslin. There was also a comfort, in having someone to turn to, even if he was bastard.

"I'm Adian, an Britain native, if you can't tell. These gentlemen behind me, are Second Sight, they are Seattle natives. We could like to play a few songs for you this night, if that suits you." When the applause broke once more, she turned to look towards the band. "On three then." The lights dimmed over the stage, before the drummer began to count them off. The house was still, when the begging rift of the song started. A repeating mix of drums, and guitar, sounding in seven. When the music silenced once more, she began. "Cry baby.... I know she told ya, I know she told ya that she loved you. Much more than I do...." The old blues song, made famous by Janis Joplin. A personal favorite of hers. It was one that always seemed to get the crowd going, which was an excellent way to start off a set.

Those in the audience might not know it, but she'd been performing on stage, for almost seventy years now. Having played all through out England, and in the places she, and Vallis moved to, before finally settling here. She was a pro, Adian knew how to work the stage, how to appease the audience. A true entertainer, if there ever was. Her voice carried such soul, and strength, it was surprising that such power came from such a delicate form. It had been surprising people her entire life. Even as a child, when she stood before the congregation, and sang hems from the bible, people were often left with their jaws, resting upon the floor. The talent had been nurtured, and encouraged by her mother. Allowed to blossom to it's full potential, to what it was now.

When the final drum beat seized, the gathered crowd erupted. It gave her a true rush, but her smile was kept at a moderate. She didn't want to draw attention to her fangs. "Thank you..." She said, before returning the mic to it's stand. "This next song, is one of my own. It's called Tender." It was immediately obvious, that the tone of the song would be drastically different from their first. The beat was much heavier, and slower. The guitar began the intro, joined some time later by the drums. Gripping the sides of the mic, Adian stepped forward, placing her lips a few inches from it. "I run, I fall, I drift away. Check my body now, was it body or soul? The darkness fades, fades to the light. Disappearing now, disappears from the night. And all these nightmares I once had as a child. The morning always came, it came too late. What did my mind forget, forget to hide? Could the nightmare be awake? I don't know..."