Haunted Roads

Who: Slade and Anthony
Where: His place
When: Dinnertime
What: A bit of plottage, perhaps?

It had been far too long since she and Anthony had spent an evening cooking up the downfall of a mutual or, in this case individual, enemy whom they saw fit to take care of. Her curiosity was admittedly getting the better of her; it had been in full swing since the very first mention of the trouble that could be to come in the e-mail she'd sent to announce her return home - the very e-mail that had lead to their dinner plans for this evening. Truly, it was the conversation she was looking forward to most, nothing got an appetite going like talk of ruining lives and plotting against others. Now that the hour to share such delicious issues was nearly at hand, she could almost taste the havoc they could wreak.

Slade had even done so far as to dig up the gift box he'd left for her so soon after his arrival to Seattle, pulling it from it the black scrap he'd claimed was a dress. Usually she would dress for no man, wouldn't wear such a ridiculous get up if you paid her, but for tonight she was making an exception. After all, if he was going to give her the chance to cause a bit of trouble, then surely she could repay such generosity by donning some silly dress.

She left her office with enough time to come home and take a quick shower, washing away the scent that clung to Seattle, that faint hint of paltry little humans that clung to her high priced power-suits at the end of the day. Dark hair was washed and blow dried straight, then curled before she pinned it up and out of the way for the night - baring a tempting line of neck could never hurt when dealing with a vampire now could it? Or perhaps she simply liked to play with fire...it was her element, after all. Those icy eyes of hers were rimmed in smoky kohl liner, lips glossed in a pale pink before she tugged that little bit of fabric up over her curves. She toyed a moment with the rouching at the side, tying it off to bear a tempting glimpse of thigh. All that was left was pulling on a pair of black, strappy heels and lifting the black clutch she'd filled with what she'd need from its resting place.

Obviously the walk to Anthony's wasn't that long, in a matter of moment's she stood just outside his door. The sun had set nearly an hour earlier, plenty of time for him to be up and moving about. Raising a hand, she knocked loudly, waiting for him to let her in.

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.

Who: Slade and Vallis
Where: An alley outside the Metropolitan Grill
When: Friday night

Being damn good at your job afforded one certain luxuries - one of which was being able to actually choose whose money you were playing with, for once. Slade was especially picky seeing as her nest egg was large enough to tide her over for quite awhile and so it was only the most elite in any given social setting that she would even consider. Thankfully Seattle seemed to have an abundance of wealthy individuals with absolutely no idea in how to invest their bulging bank accounts. Her reputation from Manhattan had proceeded her to this new coast it seemed, thanks to a few of her bi-coastal clients. She'd already had some sort of dinner or brunch with a potential investor every day this week. Tonight was yet another one - a kid in his thirties who still had a nice chunk of change he'd made in the dot com boom whose prior advisors hadn't done shit with. Slade, on the other hand, was more than confident she could do quite the turnaround number on it.

When inquiring where she'd like to meet, she'd gone with the Metropolitan Grill over any of her other usual haunts that might be drawing an unsavory Friday night crowd. The place was on her top ten of best places for a very, very dry martini and that was really all she needed out of this little business dinner. Sure the food was good, the atmosphere rather impressive for a first time meeting setting, but it was the shaken martini that really drew her in. To keep up appearances though, she'd only had one at dinner - no sense in appearing to be some unprofessional lush. She'd walked the potential investor to his car afterwards, a brief exchange of business cards marking his exit before the dark sedan pulled away from the curb. Slade fully intended to go back inside and have another drink or two, unwind before she headed home to the Towers, but first there was the small issue of a nicotine craving.

Dressed in one of her usual dark designer suits and a pair of rather pricey vintage Chanel pumps she'd had for years, she started towards an alley running alongside the Grill for a quick smoke. She fished a cigarette from her handbag, deposited it between her lips and ignited the end until the embers caught. She inhaled sharply, a cloud of smoke filling the air as she tucked the remaining pack back into her clutch. She'd barely made it a foot into the alley when something splashed across her calf, soaking the top of her shoe. "Fucking christ," she growled, the scent of blood assaulting her senses. Goddamn vampires, did they have to be so messy about the whole feeding bit? Didn't the years teach them anything?