Haunted Roads

Who: Hope and Nox
When: Saturday Night
Where: The lobby of the King's Inn

Ever since being witness to a murder, Hope was having a very difficult time sleeping. When she closed her eyes, she heard screaming, she saw that.. that.. glove? The more she thought about it the less she thought that it was really a glove. It was like.. nails, or claws rather, and she couldn't get the image out of her head. She had remembered something, two things actually, though whether or not they were actually real or just figments of her overactive imagination, she couldn't be sure. But that was why she had asked the Detective to meet her. Maybe he would think she was crazy, but then again, maybe what she remembered now would help. Maybe it would be similar to someone, or something, that they were looking for.

Hope didn't think that 7pm was ever going to arrive. She had been ready and waiting since 5pm, dressed in a nice, retro-inspired, black dress that looked like something one would wear out rather than something they would wear for a formal meeting. She was supposed to have gone out, to dinner, with Ginger and her father, but they had canceled at the last minute and Hope had been too tired to bother searching through her wardrobe for something a little more casual to wear. She had spent the two hours of free time sitting on the edge of her bed instead, listening to her I-Pod, to music that helped relax her. She had very old-school taste in music. She enjoyed things like Argent and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. She was also a huge Eric Clapton fan. She adored the Moody Blues and Bob Seger. It helped. She felt far less stressed when the clock finally struck five minutes till seven.

Slipping shoes into feet and grabbing her purse and jacket in case they decided to leave the lobby, or in case she decided to go somewhere for dinner after their meeting, she glanced once into the mirror to make sure she looked okay. Skin was pale but cheeks were flushed. Her dark brown eyes seemed troubled, as they always did, her thick, brown hair framing her face with soft curls. Good enough. She took the elevator just because the stairwell scared her a little. It was almost exactly seven when she stepped off into the lobby, eyes scanning for a face that was familiar enough even if she'd seen him only once.

Who: Hope and Nox
When: Late Evening
Where: A Crime Scene on the streets of Seattle

The past two days had come and gone and Hope still had yet to manage to go into the tavern. She had come close to it. She had sat out on a bench across the road from it once for a couple of hours, but she still couldn't bring herself to go inside. It was daunting, to say the least. But she had made up her mind that tonight was going to be the night. She was going to go in, order a drink, and see what happened. Fate, however, had other plans.

She had opted for a walk due to the fact that she needed the fresh air in order to prepare herself. She had dressed simply, a pair of dark wash jeans, black heels, a nicely tailored dress shirt that was black with a few silver pinstripes, her hair up in a loose bun on top of her head, a few strands hanging down to frame her pale face with flushed cheeks.

She was tucked into a black jacket, one cut in the short trench style, hands in her pockets, heels clicking upon the pavement on her way to her destination when she had heard the sound of someone screaming. Being a nurse, it was impossible for her to turn her back on someone that needed help, so she hurried towards the sound just in time to see the woman from whom the scream had issued crumple to the ground, blood gushing from a wound in her side, and a tall man, dressed in black, fleeing the scene, a trail of blood left in his wake, dripping from his weapon, whatever it happened to be.

Hope was one that worked well under pressure. She had never served any time in the trauma department, but she was no stranger to blood. No time was wasted in phoning the authorities, giving them a brief synopsis of what had happened and where she was. The cell was tucked away in her jacket pocket as she moved to the aid of the woman who lay bleeding, dying if truth be told, on the pavement.

Having no gloves was certainly an inconvenience, but in spite of that, hope did all that she could. The belt was tugged from her jacket to serve as a makeshift bandage, bunched up and placed upon the wound, Hope putting as much pressure as she could upon it in an attempt to stall the bleeding.

When her breathing stopped, CPR was performed, Hope using a knee pressed hard against the woman's side to keep the pressure tight while she compressed her chest and breathed into the woman's mouth. She had barely started when she heard the sirens of the ambulance.

Seconds later, the paramedics arrived and Hope moved out of their way to let them do their thing. Her hair was disheveled now, cheeks flushed even more, hands covered in blood. It all happened so fast that she had just now had the chance to digest what had really occurred. She was shaking a bit, trying to focus on her breathing as the woman was placed upon a gurney and loaded into the ambulance.

Who: Nox and Hesper
When: Tuesday night, sometime after 10:00
Where: their apartment

Nox was feeling somewhat drowsy. He'd had a busy day, and the previous night was a mentally taxing one. It had taken a lot of patience to explain things to Alex, but in the end it all paid off. Alex didn't fear that Nox would rip his head off and drink from a blood pool. At least he didn't seem as though he feared it. By the time they'd finished talking, they were joking once again and making plans to build a car together. All in all, it had been a successful revelation of a very big secret.

It had never been the plan to let Alex in on Nox's supernatural side, but Nox didn't see another viable option. He wanted to help in the situation involving Serena and Kayden, and Nox didn't know how else to make Alex see that his sister wasn't crazy. Besides, Alex was a good guy, and Nox had solid instincts. He felt he could trust his new friend with such information.

Hopefully Hesper would agree, since in revealing himself, Nox had outed her as well. Hale's secret was out there too, but Nox was confident Hale would trust his judgement, especially since Alex seemed to be ok with it all, at least where Nox was concerned. Alex wasn't fond of Kayden being a vampire, and it worried Nox as well, but hopefully after some investigating, Nox would find out that Kayden was a man worthy of Serena.

Hesper didn't give any indication of when she'd be home, just said 'tonight'. Usually that meant she'd arrive just in time for dinner, or just as Nox was headed to bed. Well, dinner came and went, with leftovers ending up in the fridge for her whenever she decided to munch on them, and Nox's eyelids were starting to feel heavy as he read, legs stretched out across the length of the couch. In fact, his eyes were just about close for the count when he heard keys in the door.

Who: Nox and Alex
When: Monday night, 10ish
Where: The Barking Spider Tavern, then Nox's apartment

Nox finished with work later than expected, but it had taken time to tie up all the loose ends at the crime scene. He had to make sure everything was catalogued, photographed, and taken to the lab if necessary. Then there was the matter of sealing up the residence to ensure any evidence that might still be lingering would stay undisturbed. Elderly woman, killed in her own home. Her husband was missing. Nox didn't like to think about it, but the pieces were starting to add up. It appeared as though he'd likely stabbed the woman to death and ran. How could someone in their 80's, after more than 60 years together, snap like that all of a sudden? It didn't make sense to Nox, then again, few things he saw had any rhyme or reason to them. People were insane.

When he realized he'd soon be leaving, he texted Alex, telling the guy he was on his way. Heading for his car, Nox gave his partner a pat on the back, "I'm off to meet up with Serena's brother. I'll call ya tomorrow." With that, Nox left, trying to clear his mind as he drove. It was difficult not to carry around the gruesomeness of his job, though he'd gotten better at compartmentalizing his life over the years. It was the only way to function. You had to turn off your soul sometimes while working, and you had to put the disturbing scenes in a box when you weren't specifically dealing with them. He couldn't think about that stuff right now, he needed to focus on whatever might be bothering Alex.

The voicemail message had been brief, but Alex sounded sufficiently frustrated, and maybe even a little scared. Nox wasn't sure what to make of it. At least it didn't seem critical in the way that something bad might have happened to Serena, just sounded as though the two might be at odds with one another. 'My sister has lost her fucking mind' could simply mean that she'd made a decision that Alex disapproved of. Nox assumed as much, and that was the attitude he'd keep until Alex gave him cause to actually worry.

Soon enough, Nox pulled up to the Barking Spider. He pulled up the collar of his jacket as he walked from his car to the tavern, a gust biting at the back of his neck. Once inside, he was able to pull off the jacket, loosen his tie, and have a seat.

Who: Justine and Nox
When: Thursday evening
Where: Chroma

Another bitterly cold day by Nox's internal temperature. The wind was biting, but at least the rain had stopped, so that was something to be grateful for. Nox's mind definitely gravitated toward that whole glass half-full mentality. He constantly sought out the good in any given situation. And tonight, he could really use something good. Anything that got his mind off work and the other stress in his life was more than welcome. If that meant simply being appreciative for the lack of rain, so be it! Though, he hoped as he drove away from the station that he might be able to find something else to restore some balance in his head and heart.

It was too late in the evening to go to the aquarium, which was a real shame, because the fish and the darkness put him in an instant state of tranquility. Perhaps he should invest in a small tank for the apartment, then that state of peace would be on hand 24-7. That settled it, he was going to the pet store on Friday. Maybe he'd get a dog or a cat too. He'd heard that petting them helped soothe the soul.

Work had been exceptionally stressful for Nox lately, perhaps because he had more open cases than normal. An open case was a direct reflection on him. It meant he wasn't performing up to standards. Maybe he was a bit off lately, and that could probably be blamed on the shadow demon situation he felt was brewing. The man he'd met at the Towers wasn't someone Nox trusted. He was relatively sure the guy wasn't seeking out trouble, but that didn't mean trouble wouldn't follow him. And if the guy was going to be coming to the Towers from time to time, there was a chance his problems would come with him and end up involving Nox and Hesper. Very bad news.

As he drove home, loosening his tie while paused at a stop light, he looked up at the street signs, not really wanting to go home where he would inevitably just sit down with a beer and review all his open cases. His mind wasn't in a state fit for problem solving at the moment, so such work would be pointless. Again he wished the aquarium was open, or that he had tickets to a game, but none of the above were options. The light turned, but instead of turning to head toward the Towers, he went straight, not really sure why just yet, he was simply driving. A few blocks later, his eyes caught a familiar sight, and he realized what else might help improve his mood. Art.

Nox was a lover of classical art, particularly sculpture, but he could appreciate most other forms. Chroma usually had a diverse collection, and they served wine as well, something that definitely appealed to him at the moment. He parked his car and walked on in, seeing that the place had a decent gathering of people. Nox had met the owner several times, both here at the gallery and at the Towers where she was also a resident, but they weren't anything more than acquaintances. Still, he sought out the familiar face upon arriving. It would be nice to have a casual conversation that didn't revolve around autopsy results and murder weapons.

He strolled over to the bar first and got himself a glass of chianti, carrying it with him as he lazily surveyed the current collection. Despite the modern appearance of Nox's home, he couldn't say he was a big fan of much of the works, though there was a great range when it came to modern art. He enjoyed Matisse and Picasso, installations that used light and shapes to distort reality and mess with the senses, and he even found himself drawn to some found object pieces. But there were other things that seemed so very pretentious, as though the artist thought just because they were doing something weird and ugly that no one 'understood' that it had to be art. He wasn't one of those people who believed that anything could be art.

Nox paused in front of a painting he quite liked and stood there for a while to appreciate it, sipping casually from his glass, the only one he'd allow himself to have since he was driving.

Who: Dorian and Nox
When: Wednesday, early evening
Where: Old town towers


It was stupidity like this that was going to get Dorian killed. He knew that fact yet couldn't seem to stop himself from engaging in the reckless behavior. There were points though where he wondered why he continued to run. Was it a matter of pride, did her truly want to live that badly, was what he did any sort of life? All questions that didn't have answers that came anywhere close to explaining what it was that he did on a daily basis.

But he did it anyway. Following the same procedure in each new town he came to. Stay as long was he could, always keeping his eyes open for signs that it was time to move on. Those signs had been glaring him in the face in Seattle. That funny feeling that pulled at his nerves. Not long ago that would have been enough for him to bug out and find another place to call home for whatever stretch of time he could. Had he left though? No. Something kept him here.

It was the same thing that had him following in a resident of the Old Town Towers. Slow closing doors and the fact that darkness fell early on the city allowed him to conceal his entry into the building behind the woman who made a beeline for the elevators, groceries in hand.

What was he really doing inside the place? Looking. Looking for what had kept pulling him toward the building before. H needed proof that it wasn't her. Then he could simply move on. His plan once inside was the only thing he knew. If wandered upon he was Daniel Kennedy, just moved to Seattle from Yakima. First time in a big city and he'd seen an ad in the Stranger, a local free newspaper, that there were some open apartments in the building. He was just taking a look and trying to find the managers office to see if he could get some information on the building.

Keep the conversation short and keep moving. He had a check list. Check the mail boxes and make a round through the floors. Amazing what one could discover if they let their senses work. For the moment he stood quietly in the entryway, holding the paper with the ad in his hand for evidence's sake and took in the space. Feeling the dark hollows that lined the edges of the room, feeling the energy that shimmered through the entire place, energy that could only come from it's supernatural residents.

Question was... was she one of those residents.

Where: The Halls of Old Town Towers
When: Evening
Who: Alex and Nox

Serena was at work, setting up her office or filling out paperwork or something, and then afterwards she was going to go pick up some stuff for the house, so Alex was at home alone, had been all day long, and he was bored out of his mind. He'd slept until noon, unpacked everything that he had brought with him, gotten online for a bit and emailed his friends back home to let them know how he was doing, shaved, showered, gotten dressed in a white wife beater and a pair of worn out jeans, walked the dog a couple of times, gone outside to smoke a couple of times, made some Ramen for lunch, watched a whole lot of daytime television, then proceeded to sit on the sofa and stare out the window as the sun began to set. It was at that point in time when he could take no more.

Sure, the neighbors probably didn't care too much for people wandering about the hallways of the building aimlessly, but that was exactly what he was doing at this point in time. He had first had another cigarette, taken Tony for a short walk, then walked down to the corner market to get a fresh pack of smokes and a 20 ounce Mountain Dew, and now he was just drifting, taking the stairs up and up and up in levels, seeing what the rest of the building looked like.

He didn't know much about building, architecture, whatever, but he knew enough to know that this building was a tiny bit strange. There was something about the way the light filtered in through the windows, something about the smell of the place that made his hair stand up on the back of his neck and make him feel completely uneasy. But it was probably all just in his head. Probably all because he was in a new place for the first time in his life. Probably because whether he would admit it or not, he was a little bit scared about being here, about being on his own, or without his parents anyways, for the first time in his life.

He thought briefly about lighting up a smoke in the hallway but decided against it. This was his sister's home, after all, and he didn't want to get her in bad with the neighbors. Instead he took a healthy swig of his Mountain Dew to sate his nicotine fit for a least a little while longer.

Who: Hesper and Nox
Where: Room E4 Old Town Towers
When: Thursday Evening

It had been a few days since she had been home. Really it was so hard to just stay at home, and her most recent job had been on the other side of the state. Really it was unavoidable. Though this did normally mean that once Nox saw her that he would go all mother hen and she would get smothered to death. Though as aggravating as it was she still allowed her brother to do it because it made him feel better about things, especially with her fondness for running off without him. She half wondered if he thought she was going to bolt completely like she had from hell with barely a word to him.

Considering the past few weeks she was almost wanting to. Seattle was a lovely place but she had gotten used to not having to deal with demons really. She had definitely not had to deal with someone being faster than her. Even most older vampires she could handle herself around, she did keep her own senses wary enough that for the most part it was pretty easy. But demons... they were an entire different thing. And if one was being hunted and jumpy enough at one as young as herself, there were things to worry about.

Walking through the quiet apartment, she walked into the kitchen and took a beer out of the fridge. Opening it she took a pull and leaned against the counter, shaking her head. This did not bode well for her and certainly not for Nox. Demons that hunted other demons were things to stay away from. She knew all about them from her days down under. Having a taste for the powerful lead a girl to hanging around with those types. And she saw what those kinds of hunters did. While titillating when it was not happening to you, it was horrifying when it was.

She doubted Nox would have heard anything but he damn well needed to know something like this. Really she should have been telling him about it sooner but that was not something to ponder on now. All she had to do now was wait until her brother got home. There was plenty in the apartment to keep her occupied till then, even if it was sadly lacking of someone pretty to play with.

Who: Nox and Serena
When: Tuesday evening
Where: Starting at the Towers and heading to the Sonics game

Nox jogged into the bathroom for a quick shower. He'd spent the last hour tidying up the apartment, and he didn't much care to smell like Pinesol when Serena arrived. Women wore the strangest variety of scents, some that Nox really couldn't stand, but he was quite sure Pinesol wouldn't appeal to her nose. The apartment had been messier than normal, and it really needed a scrubbing. The last few days had been busy and stressful for Nox, so he was grateful to be spending some time away from work tonight with someone who could hold a conversation that didn't include phrases like "rate of decay", or "revenge killing", or "mutilated corpse". Real downers. They came with the job, and Nox did live his job, but it was nice to break away sometimes.

He scrubbed off his stress, along with the smell of household cleaning products, and hopped out of the shower, quickly dressing. A basketball game called for casual comfort, so he threw on jeans and a long sleeve, black, cotton shirt. When he emerged from his bedroom and checked his watch, he realized he needed to sprint down to the lobby. Serena would be arriving any second.

Not wasting a moment, Nox took the stairs. He was fast, and he found he often made it to the ground floor on foot faster than he would in the elevator. Running from the stairwell and into the lobby, he looked down at his watch again and started walking around the lobby to see if she'd snuck in early. His phone hadn't rang, but maybe she was just waiting politely.

Who: Nox and Serena (and Hale joining)
When: 3:15 AM
Where: Totally awesome 24-7 Thai restaurant... yay!

Nox had been on the other line when he heard a beep of another call coming through. He couldn't switch over. He was talking to the M.E. about some autopsy results, and they took precedence over just about everything else at the moment. The second he ended the call and saw that he had a voicemail, he listened. His face had been quite serious just a moment before, not happy to learn that the cause of death wasn't blunt force trauma, but poisoning instead, making the husband look a lot more guilty than before. But now, as he listened to a chipper voice asking him about Thai food, he busted out a broad smile. That was a message worth saving... at least for the time being.

Seemed strange that she was calling so late/early, but maybe she was a night owl like him. He preferred the overnight hours, and even when he wasn't working, he could often be found up late in front of the TV just passing the time. That's where he was right now. Camped out in his boxers and a tank top, a half eaten turkey sandwich on the coffee table beside an empty bottle of beer, and the remote in his hand... he was the very model of chilling out. There was also a great deal of case work spread out on the the couch cushions to his left and right, as well as under his sandwich plate. He had yet to nail down a solid suspect in the case of the murdered seven year old from the week before. Sure, there were a few persons of interest, but not enough evidence to actually arrest any of them. Something was missing, and he was determined to figure out what it was. He couldn't get a decent bit of sleep until the elusive clue was found.

Still, maybe a break would do him some good. Nox had a good memory for numbers, typically remembering a string of them after only hearing it once. Picking up his cell again, he quickly dialed Serena's number and waited for her to answer. When she did, he couldn't help but smile again at the sound of her voice. "Hey. It's Nox. And I know a great Thai place."

Who: Serena and Nox
When: Afternoon
Where: Seattle Aquarium

Nox had spent most of the morning at the station trying to put a dent in a massive pile of paperwork on his desk. Extreme concentration and a slow day in the crime world had allowed him to make a bigger dent than he'd expected. By the time afternoon rolled around, and he was able to take a lunch break, he decided he needed something to soothe the senses and reward himself for a job well done. The aquarium nearly always helped in that regard. It was dark, quiet, and watching the fish put his mind at ease. He was particularly enamored with the underwater dome exhibit.

Leaving the station, he took a cab to the aquarium. Nox came here a lot, so he actually had a membership, something Hesper laughed about until she was blue in the face. Yeah, so he was a bit of a nerd. It didn't bother Nox. He always enjoyed himself at the aquarium, and even the simple act of handing his membership card to the teen at the entrance managed to put a smile on his face. Walking in, he headed straight for the underwater dome to park for the next hour.

To ensure the tranquility of the environment wouldn't be disrupted, Nox switched his phone to vibrate. There was always a chance he'd get a call or text from work, and he didn't want to ruin the ocean experience for anyone else in attendance. As he stood before the glass, watching the poetic movement of the animals on the other side, he caught sight of a little girl to his right who pressed her nose right up against the glass. The blond's eyes were impossibly wide, and their blue hue was intensified by the reflection of the water in them. His smile grew by miles as he watched her watching the sea creatures. Having spent much of the last two weeks working on the case of a murdered seven year old, it helped to see a child alive and happy. This was why he worked so hard... to keep such terrible crimes from happening, and to ensure justice was served when the worst did occur.

Who: Hesper and Nox
When: Evening
Where: Old Town Towers, E4
What: Hesper has decided to make an appearance at home.

It always felt nice to be home after an away job. She had spent the past few days on a quick assignment Las Vegas. It was a miracle really that she had resisted a few rounds at the card tables, but while the job was quick enough it had been a bit messy. It was always too much fun when they decided to put up a fight. While they never actually stood a chance it was something that invigorated her beyond belief. Still, the job was done and she had collected her payment which was now neatly deposited in her account.

Walking into the apartment complex she and her brother called home, she light up a cigarette. It was a shock to the system after the much nicer Nevada climate. Washington was fucking cold and it was hailing outside. Evil little pieces of ice just falling from the sky. Hesper was pretty sure hail was the most dastardly thing ever created, and she had seen her fair share of things that end of the spectrum. Made her want to hop back on a plane to the warm casinos. Still, she was in the building now at least so there was less to be disgruntled about.

While she could not be bothered to check the time, she figured Nox would be home. He always worried more than usual whenever she was gone more then a few hours. Really it was a little cute how he worried, but really it was ridiculous. Still that was just how Nox was, neurotic and anal. She amused herself on the trip up the stairs figuring out just exactly how he was going to yell at her this time. She should have thought to bring a boy, it was always funnier when she did.

Reaching their apartment she fished around her pockets for her key before unlocking the door and heading in. Closing the door rather loudly, she stood in front of it with her hands on her hips and looking into the apartment. "You home, Nox? Maybe squirreled away with some pretty girl off the street corner or whatever?" she shouted out before heading to the kitchen. "You did go shopping recently, didn't you?"

Who: Nox and OPEN Cecily
When: Early evening, just before 5:00
Where: Old Town Towers, main floor

Another day passed without word from his sister. It had only been three days so far, including today, but when even one flip of the day calendar went by with Hesper's bed being empty, Nox worried. Yes, this behavior was typical. No, Nox wasn't ever going to get used to it. Every time she up and vanished, he expected to be called to the morgue to identify her body... or, perhaps worse, he'd be called by one of his coworkers at the jail to bail her out. Why couldn't she assimilate the way he had? There were good paying jobs among humans, and the lifestyle was fulfilling. He would never understand the appeal of the city's underworld that Hesper seemed to lose herself in so often. He'd spent enough time down there when he'd first arrived in Seattle, and the bad taste still lingered in his mouth.

He looked as though he was tasting it right then. The corners of his lips turned down, and the skin above the bridge of his nose pinched, his mood was obvious. Worry had invaded his features. He kept his head down as he walked through the lobby to the mailboxes, only looking up to unlock the one belonging to him. Standard stuffing could be found inside: a few bills, far too many advertisements for credit cards and home loans, and a paper filled with community coupons. He slid the bills into the back pocket of his jeans, and then he got to work tearing up the junk mail before tossing it in the trash can that sat beside the mailboxes.

It would be getting dark soon, and in just a few hours he'd head into work for his normal overnight shift. Getting the mail at this hour was part of his routine, and he saw the same familiar faces pass through the lobby. Everyone had a schedule, and Nox was an observant man. He kept unofficial tabs on all that took place around him. He knew in an instant when something was 'off'. This evening, everything appeared to be in place, and that was of great comfort, even if he was still upset about his sister being missing once again. Well, at least her absence was 'normal'. Perhaps he'd be more concerned if she suddenly broke routine and stayed put for a solid month.

A man who lived on the same floor as Nox. The two had never actually conversed, but they acknowledged each other politely. Nox offered a warm smile, and the other man nodded with respect before continuing on through the lobby to the elevators. When he was gone, Nox left the lobby and ventured back to the commons area. He sometimes bumped into acquaintances while there. Perhaps someone had seen Hesper when she left the other night and could tell Nox who she was with at the time.