Shadows and Dust [[open for everyone and anyone]]

[aubrey]

The form sat in an uncannily familiar iron chair, in front of an expected iron table. It was the same patio 'get up' all over the city. Her lone form was the only one outside. Everyone else was tucked away inside. She was sipping a ginger latte' staring out into the streets. It would not be long now, she could feel the rain lying tick and heavy in the air.

She could hear laughter rolling out of the coffee shop every time the door opened. Why shouldn't they celebrate and be happy? They were nice and cozy, tucked away safe in their vague perception. Idiots. She sighed as the first fit of rolling thunder crept in. They all answered with nervous laughter. Their 'Ooohhh's and Ahhhs' Angered her. Mostly because she envied only having a storm to worry about.

If they knew what was going on, really going on-they wouldn't be so oblivious. She sometimes wondered if maybe on the outskirts of their comprehension, if they knew. Sure, some humans knew of the existence of vampires and werewolves, she had. As far as the majority in whole, maybe they did know. Maybe they really were the bogey man. Hadn't she noticed when walking by a family the parents always seemed to clutch their children closer-never making eye contact? Or when a woman territorially grabs her 'man' because of the dreamily way he stared?

They knew. They had to know. They just can't handle it. One day the truth will fall on them. Their entire way of life will crumble from around them. They will panic, they will pray, they will do anything they can think of. She mentally tisked them. A thunderous clap was shortly followed by a heavy, instant downpour. She watched the few people remaining on the streets run into buildings or to the shelter of their cars. She laughed. It rolled out of her mouth like thick honey. Xavier had told her that most vampires gained an attractive vocal sound after being turned.

She was standing. She slipped out of her long coat. It fell to her ankles and the black heels that adorned them. She stepped out into the heavy rain. The hard shower soaked her body. Her hair molded to her head and her black dress clung to her body. She lifted her arms up toward the sky. She was waiting for a light that would never show. She was asking for a salvation that would never come. The Rosary that Xavier had given her hung from her neck and fell down past her chest.

A memory of Shaden pressed against the rosary and her body sent a shutter though her being. She smiled. Xavier would punish her, but she didn't care. She might be able to escape from Xavier after all. She would be no tyrants new beginning. Xavier. His named echoed through her mind. She was calling out to him. She did it often, without meaning to. It was their bond. She hated it. Hated it and loved it. Just as she hated and loved him.

With Shaden it was different, it could be different. If they could free themselves of the men they both belonged to it would be different. Massimo would be coming for her soon. His little wretch of a human had already told him of her and Shaden. He would go to Xavier. There would be hell to pay on both sides. She would kill Massimo, she was stronger than he was already. She had Xavier to thank for that. She would free Shaden of his demon. She would protect him, she would love him.

Colette was in danger as well, just for having ties with Aubrey that she refused to cut. Xavier wanted her to belong to the coven, belong to him and no one else. She wouldn't. Eventually he would have to give up. He could sire a new prodigy for the uprising of his coven. She would not be the poster girl of his little club. She brought her arms down and looked about the empty street. Someone would be coming soon, she could feel it. It was just a matter of who. There were alot of people who wanted her hurt, she couldn't stay hidden in Shaden's house forever. In a moment like this, she wished she would.

[ceudes]

Colette cursed as it started to rain, flipping her collar up around her face. She didn't know why-- habit, she supposed, rather than necessity. After all, she was never cold anymore. She was never cold and she was never sufficiently drunk, which was unfortunate because she'd been drinking all night long.

Hunting had been scarce this evening. Recent events had thrown Colette into one of her cycles-- she couldn't find a middle-ground for feeding. Some nights she slaughtered up to six or seven victims, violently ripping them in unnecessary ways... other nights just looking at a human made her feel ill. She hated to admit it; it was a weakness and it was a bit manic, she supposed. It couldn't be sane or natural, although, were any of them really natural?-- the creatures who never died yet seemed to embody death itself...

Colette froze as she came up to a little cafe, outside of which a lone figure stood unprotected from the pouring rain. It was dark, of course, and the only light coming from the cafe was the soft, golden light that spilled onto the patio in checkered squares... but even in the darkness she knew. She'd know that silhouette anywhere.

Aubrey.

At first Colette didn't want to see it, but then she realized it was something she'd probably envisioned all along. It made sense to see Aubrey this way. It made Colette laugh for a split second, but then she just felt vaguely ill.

She approached her friend casually in an attempt not to startle her from her private thoughts, then realized that was probably not necessary anymore.

"Have you done something with your hair? You seem different," Colette said dryly, a smirk pulling on the corners of her delicate mouth. She studied Aubrey for a moment, nodding slowly. "Xavier's work, I take it? You seem... strong."

[aubrey]

Colette's grin wiped away Aubrey's dark thoughts. She wrapped her arms around her friend, eyes flashing with joy. She hadn't been able to see Colette since she had been turned. All of her stolen moments had been spent with Shaden. She had found out that Colette was safe. Seeing her here now made Aubrey realize how much she had in fact been worried.

She released Colette and with a wispy air of grace she turned in a circle. She didn't want to talk about Xavier much, she would have to be careful wit her words. She didn't need Colette hounding him about her abuse. It wasn't all bad, he did love her. He just wasn't sure that he could show her until she was fully trained. Aubrey was beginning to think that it would be too late when he finally let his feelings show.

"Xavier has made me incredibly strong. And the things that he shows me..." She waved her hands to accent her meaning. "...and the things that he can do. It's amazing! I feel amazing." She faltered for a moment, her eyes glazing over thinking about the power he shows her when he's angry and she's being punished. She shook it quickly and grasped her Rosary.

She knew Colette would see right through her, but she was hoping that she wouldn't ask. Xavier was already going to hurt her for her time spent wit Shaden. He wouldn't touch Shaden though, he'd leave him for Massimo. Colette was different.

She reached out for Colettes face, but then pulled back. It was an intimate gesture that she had grown so accustomed too. She would not let him touch Colette. Aubrey was loyal to her before Xavier. That was one of the things he was trying to break her of. She could shove it up his bottom. She was not to be broken.

Her voice carried a soft tone. She was already regretting what she was going to say. "I'm glad that you are okay. And it's nice to see you, but...." She looked around, suddenly very aware again of the deserted street. "..I need your help with something. We have to be careful though, and we can't be seen together too often-at least not in public." She thought of her nights tucked away with Shaden in his little house. They were cozy and safe together there, as long as no one else found out about it.

Aubrey gripped Colettes hands into her own. Her face was stripped of all emotion. Only a slight desperation gleamed in her eyes. "It's not safe for you to be around me, you don't have to help me if you don't want to. But I don't know anyone else I would trust with this."

[vagus32000]

Adam Vagus strolled down the deserted street, his raincoat pulled tight against him, it's hood pulled down over his face obscuring most of it with the shadow it cast. He hated the rain, always had. It reminded too much of someone who loved it. Someone who danced in it every chance she got. He silently cursed himself for not having enough money to get a cab back to his hotel. It would of saved him so much trouble.

"I'd probably be there by now," he said aloud to himself. "Sitting on my bed watching Fox News and drinking a rootbeer."

As he turned the corner he noticed two figures standing out in the rain by a cafe.
"Now who besides me is too stupid to get out of the rain?"

[ceudes]

Colette was a little surprised to find Aubrey asking her for help. By the looks of things, and the way she smelled, the way she moved-- not to mention those nails, which made Colette's nose wrinkle reflexively when she noticed them--Aubrey was more than capable of handling herself. But Colette also knew that she had been born into a coven... and a pretty nasty one at that. Colette had never had to deal with anything like it. In life she'd never really respected any boundaries, then when she died she was recreated by a lone vampire and spent over half a century prowling the world at her leisure. And yet Colette smiled. She couldn't help but feel glad that Aubrey still valued Colette's friendship even when she no longer had the allure that vampires have for all human beings.

"Since when have I cared about safety when deciding how to spend my weekend?" Colette asked flippantly, grinning. "You know I'm in. Don't think I'm about to let you start doing stupid things without me-- just because you're a vampire now doesn't mean you get to have all the fun."

She paused a moment, clearing her throat uncomfortably, then scuffing the toe of her left shoe against the pavement. "Look, Aubrey... I just wanted to let you know that I had no way of helping you once he got his paws on you. I was too weak and I didn't have time to feed before the sun came up, I just--"

Colette was cut off by her own recognition of a familiar smell, and turned to see none other than Vagus. Equally soaked and equally indifferent.

"Now who besides me is too stupid to get out of the rain?"

"Well look who it is!" Colette said with a sideways grin. "We're just having ourselves a regular reunion, aren't we? What are you doing out so late Vagus, don't you mutts have a curfew?" Her mischievous smile let him know that, for once, Colette was only kidding. She was actually relieved to see that he was fully recovered-- it was nice to know that her stupid trouble-making had only seriously affected a handful of unfortunates.

[vagus32000]

"I live by my own rules," Adam replied with a naughty boy grin at Colette as he walked up to her and wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders. His blue eyes gazing into her's. "I guess you could say I'm a bad dog."
The smile vanished however when he looked at Aubrey and saw her nails. "I see ya let him turn you. So, how's life as a...whatever you are. Black Nail Coven right?" Adam tried to hide the contempt he felt at her joining that gay corpse but he knew he wasn't completely successful. He wasn't angry because she was a vampire, after all he liked Colette. It was just that the thought of her joining his enemy after all that happened pissed him off. Sure, he didn't know the circumstances behind it but still she should of fought. Should of resisted. Then again, perhaps it wasn't her weakness that pissed him off but his own. HE should of protected her better. HE should of stopped that bastard corpse.

[aubrey]

She glared at him, eyes wide pooling black with anger. How dare he. She cleared her throat and spoke very carefully. "Sorry Colette, the streets are just a little too crowded tonight." She shoved past the two of them and started down the street. Before she disappeared from sight she turned and yelled back to them.

"Just so you know asshole, i didn't let him turn me. He did it on his own. The only reason I let him take me was to stop him from killing all of you. And he would have. I live in hell because of him." She glared at him for a moment and then shot Colette a very sad pair of kissy fangs.

She headed toward Shaden's house. She didn't need any shit from Adam Vagus.

[vagus32000]

Man did he know how to mess things up. Letting go of Colette Adam ran after Aubrey and grabbing her arm spun her around to face him. "Listen, I'm sorry. I was mad at myself for letting him take you and I took it out on you. I shouldn't of done that and I ask for your forgiveness," he said sincerely.

[aubrey]

Aubrey pushed him away from her. Not hard enough to hurt him or to cause offense, just enough to make him stumble back a few steps. "I didn't need you protecting me. It's not your fault, it's not anyone's fault. You are all going to have to stop trying to take blame."

Her face softened and she placed her hand on Adam's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I wasn't stronger and that I put you all in that position. I forgive you, but you have to forgive me too."

She looked past him to Colette. "I have to go out of town for a few days. If anyone comes looking for me. You tell them I ran off to Antarctica with Shaden." She looked back to Adam. "You watch over her for me. Don't let her do anything stupid." That statement made her smile. "I might not come back, someone has to keep her in check." She looked back up to Colette, tears beginning to brim her eyes. She couldn't say goodbye to her. She blew her a kiss instead. "Find a good guy in uniform for me, Colie."

Then, she was simply gone.

[vagus32000]

Adam rubbed his eyes not believing what he just saw. One moment Aubrey was standing before him, the next she was gone like she was never there.
"Man, maybe I joined the wrong club," he said to himself then turned back to Colette. Grinning and shaking his head he said, " 'Tell them I went to Antarctica with Shaden.' Is she crazy? Like anyone would believe that. We might as well tell whoever's looking for her that she went to the moon. Oh, well if that's what she wants then I guess we should do it unless you have any better ideas Colette."