Haunted Roads

When: Late Night
Where: Hotel
Who: Nikolaos, Dorian, Mikkos, Guards
What: Demons - Mikkos' Point of View - Narrative

Such hatred. So strong that it could be felt easily through the walls of the hotel they both still lived in, and even simply within the city. Mikkos spent little time within the city however. Most days were spent in trying to clean up a mess not his own, though surely he too had some dirt on his hands. No, he'd not take all the blame, not for his father's treachery. All the talk of family, all the talk of loyalty, and in the end? It was Haimon who proved the traitor. In the end it was Haimon to sell his own blood, to hand them not to their known enemy, but to another.

The enemy, Mikkos had learned, was now Haimon's ally. The old man had been busy. All he needed was Mikkos and Nik to be gone for an extended amount of time to complete his treachery. Mikkos had learned much, though not enough. He knew no amount of evidence would convince Nik that it was not Mikkos' doing, not even Mikkos' choices on the surface, that had swayed Haimon in his treason, but something deeper and darker that belonged to Haimon alone.

And to his enemy. Yes, Haimon's enemy turned ally.

Mikkos hadn't at first believed it. Even now he had trouble in accepting it, but it was true, he knew. The enemy he had known always to hate, the enemy Haimon had spent a lifetime fighting against... Haimon now had joined forces with. And both men, he learned, were doing a bit of house cleaning. The truth had been hard to swallow, especially since it had come not from his own men, but from the enemies. In fact, it was one of the Kreskas' that first told him. But not before Mikkos and he had a vicious fight. Followed of course, by another.

None of it made sense, and in fact, the Kreskas had very little to offer in the way of evidence or rational conviction, but what little he did offer, coupled with what little Mikkos knew on his own family's side... he knew it was likely all too true. Which meant as bad as it now was, it was only going to get worse.

Of course, he had no idea just how bad it really would get.

That did not mean however, that his guard was down. A message from Nik, from his own guard, the same guard that had watched the boy from his childhood. There was no trust in him, no rust now in any of the guard. No trust in anyone. In fact, if Mikkos were a wiser man, he'd have no trust in his son. Logically, rationally, he knew he should have none, but he knew also, that if he could not trust Nik, ill-placed as that might be, then he had in fact, truly lost everything. The truth of the matter though, was he didn't know how much, if any of Haimon's plot, involved Nik, or if the boy truly was as much a pawn in this game as everyone else now seemed to be.

His eyes swept 'round the room. first Nik, then Dorian, then the guards, and then back on Nik expectantly. He had called this meeting after all, there must have been a reason. Wait. Something was off... some guard that did not belong. Too late. A warning, and then the lights came on. Brilliant, enough to cripple the shadow creatures. A shot, Nik's gun bringing one down, and Mikkos quickly became a part of the shadows, fighting within them. The battle waged on, his own guard, all new, hand picked, and made up one hundred percent of old friends, surface demons... better known back in the day, as pirates.

No epic music played, and the battle was anti-climactic, valiantly fought, but unexpected. As much by the the guards who turned on them as by Mikkos and Nikoloas and Dorian. The mutinous guards, acting on higher orders, had not expected any fight. "Retreat" had been sounded more than once, but Mikkos refused. Not without his son. And not without his sister's son. This now was his family. He knew, beyond all doubt, that this now was his only family. And as the order was given, and Mikkos too, fought as Nik did, and Dorian too, the shadows darkened, all went black, and when he came to he was no longer in the basement, no longer in the hotel, or even in the city, but in the stronghold of his friend. The battle had waged on without him. But not long he was told, as when he fell, the others did retreat, dragging his sorry unconscious ass with them. But not before killing as many of the others as they could, and at least attempting to take his son and nephew.

They'd expected his rage however, and when it came, they simply took up another battle. This was as much fun as the salty old pirates had had in all the centuries since their mate had left them.

When: Late Night
Where: Hotel
Who: Nikolaos, Dorian, Mikkos, Guards
What: Demons - Nikolaos's Point of View - Narrative

Bright light made him squint as he stared across the room at the other still held captive. Trapped there behind bars that never would have held him if it weren't for the light keeping the shadows at bay. How long had it been now? The days began to blend together. Weeks he knew, weeks with so little change. No words, no orders. He was left in this fucking purgatory for acts he had not committed. If he were going to be damned no matter what he did then why keep to the rules of allowing this one life? Why do any of what he was told to do in coming here? Bitterness had begun to snake its way through his veins, slowly feeding the fuels of fires that already nearly tore him apart.

His entire life meant nothing. All teachings were thrown away. He knew this now, the evidence was too striking for him to deny now. Even his mother had somehow managed to slip away. Crawling back to the depths to lick the boots of the old man too lost in his own fucking head to see anything anymore. He spent years under his tutelage and for what? For this disrespect. Never had he put disgrace upon the family and yet he was left to that fate. Denied entrance back into hell, viciously kept here. Forced to remain. He wore scars upon the flesh of the battles fought in attempt to regain rightful place.

Guards were dead. Blood of kin coated his hands and never did Nikolaos feel satisfaction in their fall. This was not what he had wanted. This was not what he had thought would come to pass. But how obvious it was now that he'd never be enough. That always his fathers shadow would veil him from true sight of ever being considered leader. All the tests were false; an act to convince both that he would take up place next while other plans were made.

Betrayed. Backs turned. He could see it in their eyes. The way they wished to sneer as they looked at him, the way lips twitched in the act to remain blank. Lips were torn from the faces of those that dared to lose that false state of indifference. Eyes ripped from the sockets of any that happened to glare in his direction. Tongues removed from those that had no right to speak to him of honor or respect. For each that fell another remained. The numbers were indication that something was amiss. More now then there had been before; none spoke word to father or son. None answered to their demands or snarls for obedience. Yet they remained here. Watching over the other. Only uttering that he was to be kept from escaping still. Why? That they would not answer. There were no answers to be found through their pain or their deaths. No answers to be found through the others that no longer remained.

Nikolaos would not even be here if it were not for words that answers would be given tonight. He was told that it was his father that called him here. That solution had been reached. He held no hope in such utterances; he had no faith in any sense of what had been returning to him. The family he had come to respect was lost. The work done his entire life mattered not. His worth had been made clear.

( Still he showed, taking stance in the shadows and waiting. )

When: Late night
Where: Hotel
Who: Nikolaos – Narrative

More then a week had passed. More then a week since his words with Mikkos. More then a week that he'd been seeking to gain entrance back into hell and was denied at every pass. Guards had been killed, slaughtered for trying to prevent him and yet there were always more. The numbers were high; such had been made certain of before they'd even left hell. Now Nikolaos was beginning to understand why. It was not to ensure that they did not fail, but to ensure that if they did fail that they would be punished for it. For Nikoloas this punishment was a slap in the face. This was worse then all other pains. He would take a thousand physical and mental tortures before he would take being denied his home. Yet it mattered not what he wanted.

Still he remained here on the surface. Scorned. Insulted. Belittled.

His worth was made clear. His father’s fate was his own. It was not he that his grandfather wanted at his side still. Not anymore.

The guards would speak nothing however, no matter how Nikolaos sought to...force it out of them. Such attempts to question a superior were rarely met with any acceptance. Nikolaos had been punished in the past for it. But he cared not. No he questioned now, he pushed and he demanded answers. But three was a demon alive that the guards feared far more then Nikolaos. All methods of persuasion went denied. They'd die before speaking that which they were told to not. They did die.

The other demon being contained, however, still seemed to be a part of the family wishes. The guards remained vigilant there and though they did not deny Nikolaos access to the room eyes were always upon him, watching him as though they believed it was he who was traitor. It had never been him. Never once. But he could feel the weight of those sneers from the shadows. It made his skin crawl....made him want to tear into them and rip the sneers from their faces.

( The days passed slowly )

When: Afternoon
Where: Their hotel
Who: Mikkos and Nikolaos

Eighteen days gone. Eighteen days too long. For one so old the days were but a blink, but now held more value to the centuries old demon. Everything had changed. Nothing made sense, and every day held a new urgency.

He’d learned much an absence, and for all he learned he knew he learned not near enough. Only that all he’d known for so long, was now in question. Even family loyalty. No… especially family loyalty. He’d punished the one who brought such questions to light, but that did nothing to erase the doubt. A doubt that now grew with each passing day.

Even speaking with his father had done nothing to diminish it. No, no questions were asked of the old man, and Mikkos was careful not to allow any doubt to show, but neither did his father utter a word about all the questions now in Mikkos mind.

No word from Haimon seemed as good as a confirmation. Haimon after all, feigned as much carelessness as Mikkos, when both knew neither felt anywhere near as careless as they seemed.

Still, it made no sense. None at all. Especially when given word that Nik had Dorian in custody. All the years, all the urgency, and now that they had him, there was no hurry at all in bringing him home.

Mikkos hadn’t even returned to his own suite, instead he went straight to that which Nik stayed in. The guards alerted Nik even before his father arrived and let the elder in. Once inside, the demon washed his hands, splashed cool water on his face, and straightened his suit before fixing himself a drink at the bar.

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: Late Night
Where: Underground
Who: Nikolaos and Dorian

Dear Dorian was thinking about leaving. Nikolaos knew this; he knew that it would occur all too quickly. He'd wanted to act swiftly when they first arrived because of it. The other was skittish, paranoid of his own shadow and constantly seeking out a reason to pack himself up and move again. The only reason he'd delayed this time was because of that succubus that had his balls leashed. That had worked in their favor and was going to continue to. But first Dorian needed to be made aware of this. More then that he had need to be told just how things were going to go. Running wasn't an option for him right now and Nik was going to be the one to deliver that news.

It was about time that they had a bit of...family bonding wasn't it? Nikolaos had been told to keep back; it was well know how much he truly loathed the weaker demon. He wanted to kill him, bring his head back as a trophy to remind all what living on the surface made a demon become. It weakened the spine. It made them forget what power and place really was. More then that it weakened the blood. Their name. It was something to hate...and something to stop. For more then just this one.

Plans had changed however; Nikolaos took it upon himself to see to that. But he had the backing of both mother and grandfather on this one regardless. Why leave this task to the other too distracted by his past to worry about the task he was sent here to complete. Did he know what Dorian planned to do? Or that he'd seen his precious succubus. Had he been watching him like he should have been? How could you watch when you were watching another? Nikolaos would see to the job himself then.

Someone needed to.

It was far from the best time of course, but timing mattered little. Nikolaos knew that the departure of the other needed to be stopped and his own anger would not jeopardize what he was told to do. Nikolas knew how to bite back that rage, to contain it and appear eerily calm. He was taught well to keep that control. He knew he'd have chance to let that anger out. But this wasn't it. Not yet...soon....but not tonight.

Down into the underground Nikolaos and loyal guards went. They knew exactly where the man was. Nikolaos knew where he sat even and what drink was currently in his hand. Another was there, watching, listening. They knew what the man had planned for after that drink. One last shot to still the doubts hmm? One last drink before family came to visit.

The smell of chaos was in the air, Nikolaos could nearly taste blood upon his tongue with each breathe. The underground was familiar territory for the demon even if it didn’t compare to home. Tonight he was down here for a different kind of play then typical. Tonight he had a job to do. Every exit of the bar was soon watched. Nikolaos waited at the exit, back to the wall near the door. The other would come out on his own or soon he’d be flushed out. Nikolaos certainly hoped that his dear cousin made tonight difficult on himself.

All thoughts were pushed from his mind but the task at hand. The events of the nights before were all but forgotten. The anger so buried back that it scarcely was even a flicker now inside of him. None of it mattered tonight. Nikolaos knew how to see to tasks given to him. The job came before all else. Nikolaos stood, calmly now…waiting.

When: Night
Where: Outside of Old Town Towers
Who: Nikolaos – Narrative

Did his father really think that he could go rush off to see that bitch and someone wasn’t going to get hell for it? He thought he was sly in going off when Nikolaos wasn’t around but he wasn’t so sly as to evade every pair of eyes and ears that were instructed to watch the older demon no matter what he said. Some were loyal to Mikkos above all others. But many others knew their place and knew who to truly listen to. It wasn’t the guards getting the earful for the fuck up however. No, it was Nikolaos, and both grandfather and mother could scream worse then banshee cries.

From the woman he’d only snarled back in return that he could not be expected to watch his fathers every fucking move. She knew her place and would not seek to push him. But with the grandfathers rather harsh words it was another matter. The man was still elder to the family and Nikolaos knew any such words to him would earn swift punishment. Enjoy pain as he might there was a distinct difference between punishment and pleasure.

Through it all Nik kept gritted teeth and dark eyes were narrowed into angry slits. The other man knew that this trip to the surface was not about playing with past flames that could scarcely be called such. It was about business. And still knowing Nik was here to watch him, knowing all the family held no trust in his steps, he’d done so anyways. Putting not only himself in the path of wrath but Nikolaos. To say that Nik was displeased would be the understatement of the century.

He was furious.

Did his father even understand how disloyal it made him appear to be drawn back by that cold blooded lesser creature? To even to think to utter words of love or care towards her. If Nikolaos had his way he’d see the entire family wiped out to simply have them no longer be threat or worry. It would certainly make his life a hell of a lot easier. Of course enslaved would have its advantages as well…but scarcely was the true point of the matter. He stood no chance against them but that just barely stilled the desire to go find the woman again and tear her head from her shoulders. He’d even be kind enough to give the trophy to his father. Maybe then he’d realize the error of it all.

Yes perhaps he’d gone only to speak that there was nothing left between them. Nikolaos could think to that optimistic fashion that his father only wanted to fully close down all possible connections. Did he really believe such however? No, not truly. There were other ways to do such. Ways that would not verify the disdain that many in the family held for past actions. Ways that would not prove to Nik that his fathers focus had become...swayed.

No it was difficult to believe such things were innocent. He’d seen the way the woman’s eyes lit up at the scent of him even if her mind hadn’t yet placed the familiarity. There was something there still. Something that needed to die. They should have simply wiped their memories. There was risks in such of course but doing so to the woman wouldn’t bring about any concern towards the family now would it?

Anger was such a palpable thing for demons. A surge of emotion that rarely liked to be quenched. Nikolaos knew that calm, however, was needed for him. No other way to keep himself in check in this human world without it. But the only way to find that again was to release just a bit of that anger. Too bad for the poor girl that had been so eager for him to go home with her the night before. How quickly she had agreed to meet with him again. A foolish little thing with eyes so wide and hopeful in looking at him. She didn’t even hesitate to go somewhere private…but things didn’t go as she’d thought after that. The screams were an all together different kind.

The body was left behind for guards to deal with. The act helped, slightly, but not near enough. With lips still holding a vague sneer Nikolaos made his way through the faint shadows to his room once more to clean up and then leave again for the night. Staying indoors trapped by those walls…was not the best of ideas for the demon right now.

When: Afternoon
Who: Nikolaos and Open
Where: Tropical Butterfly House at the pacific science center

Nikolaos was not a place that anyone would ever really guess him to willingly go. It was bright. It was cheerful. It was colorfully dressed up in fantasy themes of delight to appeal to the young children giggling about. It was everything that gave the hell demon means to sneer and yet he kept that light hearted smile near plastered to his lips. Most however, simply passed him by. A vaguely shadowed corner of the display keeping him out of the direct path of those bustling about with children to entertain. He very well could have sought to blend in, snatch up some child and tell them to play along. But that was more then was needed, for now simply out of sight and mind worked. But the moment curious looks from overly paranoid mothers began to glance his way, he’d have to…step up that ability to blend in of his.

Why was he enduring this menially form of torture? Because a contact was certain that here of all places Nikolaos would not attack or harm him. He was wrong of course, completely so in fact, but Nik wasn’t going to tell him that. Truth be told Nikolaos would kill any many or woman before a grand audience of law officers, children, and innocent hearts, should he have the need. It was in the informant’s best interest that he didn’t give Nikolaos that sort of need. A fact he’d been reminded of when this meeting was put into place.

Still despite the location Nik had shown early as he always did to such meetings. He found a place with easy sight of the entire room and of course his own guards were mixed among the fluttering butterflies and oh so happy humans. Did the little children realize that those gleaming red flecks in the shadows weren’t butterflies trying to hide but instead the great boogiemen that kept them buried under their bed sheets at night? How amusing it would be to simply have one of them jump out and scream. Such panic would ensue, such utter and complete chaos.

Tempting…but he had reason for being here beyond watching pathetic little humans become terrified and run about like little lemmings.

Arms were folded against his stomach, his back was to a wall and his eyes were quickly scanning over every face that came into the exhibit waiting for the man to show. A pair, both man and woman, but it was always the man that showed to give the information over. The woman apparently was far too “delicate” for the task. Why she thought the information game was for her then Nik had no idea. But she’d learn someday that she didn’t have the spine for it. Until then Nikolaos was going to take advantage of both what her and the man came to find.

A minute or two after the set time the man finally showed. Dashing into the room, already making a mother or two glance his way. Idiot. But even armatures could stumble onto rather interesting facts about certain demons. Quickly the man glanced around, spotting Nikolaos only when he let the shadows slide away slightly from his form.

The conversation was brief and to the point, something Nik always made a point of. Just as quickly as the man had stumbled in he was stumbling out. Nikolaos could only shake his head. With the man gone Nikolaos would wait another minute or two before leaving himself. Which meant he had to endure some child suddenly screeching and giggling, making inhuman noises at just the sight of a butterfly. It was grating to the nerves.

When: Night
Where: Alibi Room
Who: Nikolaos and Slade

Beyond the music played here at the Alibi room, was the sound of pounding rain. Thunderous as it beat against the pavement and those wandering souls that could not seem to get inside quite quick enough. The rain was still a strange thing to Nikolaos, a foreign sight that was not found within hells depths. Not in the same way it was found here. This rain held no heat and did not burn at its touch; any rain found in hell was more the falling of ash and cinders. What Nik found most amusing about the rain was how everyone acted as though it did them harm. Rushing through it, frantic to get away. Nik himself had walked for hours earlier, traveling through the shadows of the newly fallen night, uncaring of the rain that soaked his form.

Quite the sights were on the streets to see. The true nature of some beasts exposed with the darker weather so commonly found here. Shoving others out of their way, splashing them with cars, running before them to get a taxi or inside. So many shouts and sneers; cursing and frowns. Subtle little acts of chaos but each one had a domino affect. Angered by the acts of one the person snapped at someone else. Who pushed someone else aside. Who then nearly ran someone off the road with their car…on and on it went, building. Till quite the accident came to pass. Nik was an eye witness, close enough to watch the glass pierce the dainty cheek of a female driver. He could smell the blood and hear perfectly the scream caught in the wind.

He didn’t help of course, but savored that pain and anguish before leaving them behind to crawl out of the wreckage. If they were strong they’d survive…and if not they were meant to die.

His night was not meant for just wandering however, for all the interesting sights he ran across it did become quite tedious. Nikolaos needed a bit of variety. One plan and then another, of course many were already set up for him. An eager woman met underground nights prior wished for him to meet her again. She had that shine about her eyes that showed an eagerness for so much more. Nik had every plan to crush that pathetic little desire… But not until he’d had his chance for some continued play.

And play he had, the manager for the night at the Alibi Room didn’t seem to mind letting Nik use a lower room for awhile. A bit of cash to the pocket made him turn that blind eye. Typically that wouldn’t work well, not with how women did love to scream. But it hadn’t been difficult to find something to gag the pretty little thing with. The choked screams then were just for Nik’s ears alone…and scream she did. Pushing her limits, testing those lines, forcing the body to nearly reach its breaking point. He couldn’t push too far though…not in public as they were.

Not that a show wasn’t made. Especially when afterwards Nik simply adjusted his suit and walked out. The women had been more then a bit taken back. A few sharp words quieted her complaints quickly. Such pitiful tears in her eyes as she dashed off. Cruel thing that he was, just no concern for the heart. No…not at fucking all. The girl should consider herself lucky if she never saw Nik again. Another meeting and he just might have to really show her how pointless matters of the heart were. But by the time she left the parking lot her tears for the night would be gone. She'd scarcly remember a thing. The demons following in the shadows saw to such things.

With that temporary playmate dismissed Nik returned to the bar. A tucked away table to the back near to a window. Nik seemingly sat alone, though neither he nor his father were ever really alone. They always had eyes watching them, those eyes just happened to be rarely seem. Hidden in the dark corners, buried deep in the shadows. No true eyes, no real forms, but the darkness always held a presence for the demons.

The bar that had gone silent as the woman rushed through, now had returned to it’s idly buzz. Nikolaos’s eyes were trained upon the window, watching the humans scurry about. Despites “laws” in Seattle a cigarette was at Nik’s lips and a tall glass of amber liquor rested next to a wineglass with blood red contents half finished inside of it.

When: Night
Where: Hotel they are staying in
Who: Nik and Mikkos

( But he was to behave. ) No deaths in the hotel, he’d given his word at least to that much. And so the pretty little woman with raven hair and smeared make up was let go. Released back to the night, brought to a cab with the help of a guard Nik had sent with her. It would take some time to heal from the damage done…one piece but Nik hadn’t been able to resist breaking a few bones. Just to hear the snap, just to hear the scream…

By the time she got into the cab she wouldn’t remember his face, the demon guard would muffle the memory, chase away the image and the name..fake as it had been that he gave her.

Nik hated holding back.

Blood was scattered across the room, smeared upon the wall, dotting the ground. Nik licked what remained from his lips before another guard came to knock upon the door. Nik finished pulling on a pair of pants before opening the door, sensing just who it was on the other side. “Your father wants to see you.” Here he didn’t even get to enjoy the remnants of the pain still scenting the air. “Of course, let him know I will be there shortly.” Nik remarked though he shut the door then.

A shower, a drink, a change of clothes…scarcely an hour later Nik was leaving his room to go meet with his father. The room would be seen to by one of their own, though he would be rather amused by the face a human room service worker would make. Still…no drawing attention to them. They had need to stay to those shadows still, keep the light off of them. They worked best in that cover but Nik could not deny there was a desire here, on the surface, to step out of it and test the limits of the mortals around him. Did all demons from hell feel that urge? That desire to just…test those human limits. To see how they truly compared…

A fresh suit was worn though no tie had been put on to complete the look. Steps were silent through the hall that lead him to his fathers room not too far from his own. There was no need to knock, another of their group opened the door to let Nik in.

“Father” a respectful nod of the head was given, eyes dropped for just a moment before rising again to meet his fathers own gaze. Always Nik gave him respect, respect earned from a man that time and time again had shown strength and power. Nik had reason to doubt that strength now, to question truly his father’s actions. Part of him held desire to sneer and hiss questions.

But no such thing was done. Nik gave no hint at all to what he knew or who he had..briefly spoken with nights prior. Until there was need for it such words would never be spoken. Unlike his mother Nik would not so blindly believe that his father would choose this world over their own again. Times were different now.

His mother did not believe any of that enough. Nik could only wait and see.

Who: Justine and Nikolaos
Where: Chroma
When: The evening, of course
What: Nik seeks out the infamous vamp

Chroma was already open and buzzing with quite the crowd by the time Justine arrived. Just after dusk she'd taken a meeting with a local artist, one whose work she'd spotted in a local publication and had had an interest in displaying. Her current gallery was filled for another month but then it would be time to ship off the pieces she had now and hang a new display. She'd wanted something a bit different than usual, something bound to provoke some emotion from her patrons and the artist whose studio she had seen could supply her with that very type of work. No deal was set in stone yet, but promising headway had been made. Another post-sunset meeting was scheduled for the following week and she was sure that during that session she could surely cement an agreement into place. She paused to leave word with her assistant that, should said artist call, he was to be patched through to Justine's cell phone immediately. There was no need to run the risk of losing a potential display because she was unreachable.

As usual, she took to strolling through the spacious establishment, checking out each of the lounge areas to ensure that things were running smoothly. She had dressed for the evening in a pair of sand colored wool trousers, a wide-leg style that flowed easily down over the open-toed heels she wore. Her top was a cream color and nearly sleeveless, baring elegant shoulders and contrasting sharply with her dark hair, left curly and pinned at the crown of her head. As always her make-up was light, used only to enhance features instead of mask them. A few slender bracelets from Chloe's boutique jingled gently on one wrist as she greeted some of her more regular patrons, pausing to briefly converse with them as she spotted them in their usual haunts. Over all the crowd was a bit small for a Thursday evening, though the place was definitely still crowded. It tended to be a favorite hangout for those who sought to have a few cocktails with friends but wanted to avoid the typical bar atmosphere as much as possible.

Each lounge bore a name somehow related to art - after all, Chroma itself meant 'the intensity of color' - carrying on the naming theme was only appropriate. Cobalt was the lounge at the farthest end of the gallery, dimly lit and specializing in dark, rich red wines. It was popular among vampires especially, serving one of the finest vintages of bloodwine that she'd been able to get her hands on. It tended to be relatively drama-free and so Justine generally just strolled past, glancing in to make sure things stayed that way. It was calm tonight as well and so she walked on, bypassing a number of loungers where everything was under control. Her final stop was Crimson, a red-walled lounge towards the heart of the place, the most popular amongst her customers as a whole. It featured the most complete wine bar of any of the rooms and had an extensive art display. It was here that Justine tended to spend most of her evening, keeping on eye on those who came and left as passing through the Crimson lounge was necessary to get to any others. She stepped behind the bar to do a quick reading on the register, a brief check of the evening's take so far. Everything was running smoothly so far and so she settled into her usual station, watching over the crowd, on hand should anything require her attention.

When: Night
Where: Bar or strip club
Who: Nikolaos and...

The air was cold, so cold that breath came in puffs before a persons lips. The sting of it clung against Nikolaos's skin and yet he'd barely blinked an eye to it since coming to the surface. Others had complained, low mutters of the chill compared to hells heat. Such whining earned them nothing good, a weakness that Nikolaos had decided to force them to face. It took little work to break into the kitchen of the hotel they were staying in after hours to throw the guards into the walk in freezer. But after a few hours the pair had ceased to complain about the surface world’s cold...all they had needed was a bit of perspective to what cold really was.

The first few days were spent adjusting, settling into the hotel and gathering up information so that all would know exactly what they were doing here. Or at the least...most of what they were doing here. The guards were unaware of any reason to think plans would change. it was best that way. It wasn't on them to keep everything going on schedule, it was Nik's. Yes he recalled the growled pleads of his mother well, claws digging into his hand, her eyes black. She knew better then to demand, all the woman of their family did. But she knew that Nik had the same...disgust...that she held towards all that could possibly come to pass on the surface.

For tonight he'd left the hotel and his father's side. He gave only word that he was going to do a bit of...exploring. If he was to work on the surface he had need to know the city now didn't he? The surface was not completely foreign to him but he'd not spent near the same amount of time on it as his father had. He was born and raised in hell, the ways of that world were what he kept to...not the pathetic rules made on the surface to protect the worthless weak. He'd already been given warning by his father to behave. Nik had merely smirked and said of course.

Ones definition of behave was rather different with all that you asked. But he knew what his father spoke of and Nik would attempt to walk that thin line of enjoyment and pushing the law here too far.

Cloaked in the nights shadows he moved, silently cutting his way through the city to finally reach the destination of some bar, strip club, tavern, as though he cared or knew. The bright lights and woman dressed in little had drawn his attention. There was the scent of sin and pain in the air, a familiar scent that made gray eyes nearly flash in anticipation. But there was a distinct problem with the surface world...the shows they gave were so...weak. The strongest dominatrix and the pet that loved pain...it still paled compared to the shows that Nikolaos could put on. Sitting to a back booth with boots upon the table and a waitress or two buzzing around him he had the distinct urge to show them all. One show, just a few moments, that’s all it would take to open their eyes...

"Another drink..." one of the girls sweetly cooed, breaking his focus away from the stage. "Not unless you have something better then this piss." he returned in that same sickly sweet tone with a bright smile flashed. The girl looked confused "But...this is the most expensive we have!" a pointless argument, the liquor tasted hardly better then water. Shelling out money for something that could barely be called sub par, Nik couldn't help but sneer. “Your best is pathetic, come back when you can really offer me something.” Nik hissed, waving the plastic looking creature away from him like he was swatting at a fly.

The girl hmphed, hands on her hips and her eyes attempting to shoot daggers but it was such a pathetic attempt that Nik could only laugh at her. The girl ran quickly away, one gone but he had no doubt others would soon try to get money out of him. Nik simply shook his head in disappointment and let his eyes draw back up to the stage to watch the next worthless attempt to entertain start.