Blood and Chocolate [Adam]

[Ali Ambrose]

The bar itself was old fashioned. One that had been standing there for a while. One that not many people knew about. There was a few old chairs with chipped wooden legs and tables that creaked slightly. The bar itself was made from cherry wood and gleamed from being freshly polished. If you wiped your hand across the surface you could feel the grease. The bar was not very well lit and there was a faint glow around the place.

But Ali still found herself here. She was at the door, head tilted in a questioning way. She didnt know what she was doing. She had gotten out of her place and just walked, letting her legs take her where they wanted to go. And while she had been thinking...here she was was. She couldnt remember ever having been here but she just shrugged and went over to the bar and sat down in one of the bar stools that was set up around the side. She looked at the bar tender and then chuckled softly. "Scotch." She said.

When she looked around the place she noticed there was only a few people here and there. All humans. Her throat was burning and she realized she hadnt fed in a while. And definately not enough the last time she had. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on leaving them alone. She hated this part of being a vampire. And lately she would give anything to be human again. Anything at all. She sighed as her drink was placed in front of her. Her normally dark eyes were now a dark red. She took a sip and then closed her eyes once more. She wanted some company. But who would come visit her here? They wouldnt even know she was here.

[vagus32000]

Adam Vagus was surprised that he had come back ta Hollywood considering he had vowed not to. He was still exiled, granted it was by choice though. If he wanted to he could come back to Blackwell, perhaps even regain his old job. He bet that all he had ta do was ask. "No, not now," he said aloud. "Perhaps not ever again."

As he walked down the street a familiar scent hit him. It was his sister Ali and it was coming from the old bar just ahead on the right. Wondering why she would be in such a place Adam walked up to the door and entered. He immediately spotted Ali sitting alone at a table drinking. He stood there for several minutes, unable ta decide on what ta do next. Should he walk up ta her? Should he leave and hope she didn't notice him?

He didn't know what ta do so he just stood there staring at his sis. She'd probably he mad at him for leaving, she was when they said goodbye months ago. He could still see the hurt on her face and the tears rolling down Inora's. Those were heart breaking moments that he never wanted repeated. If she saw him again what would she do when he told her that he had to leave again? Perhaps it was best that he just leave? However his legs refused ta turn around. Instead he found himself walking over to her and sitting down across from his sister. "Is this seat taken?" Adam asked in a voice that shocked him at how much it sounded like the old him.

[Ali Ambrose]

Ali was pushing the now empty glass back and forth between her hands on the table. She tilted her head to the side, and let her hair fall partly in front of her face. She was to distracted in her thoughts to even smell Adam. Or else she would have went over to him. She would have tackle hugged him. But as it was she let the glass stop, since it was becoming dangerously close to tipping over. She then pulled out a small chocolate bar she had hidden in her pocket. Normally the brief comfort of chocolate was enough to keep her going when she desperately needed to feed.

But as she took a bite into the chocolate the scent hit her. She looked up and there he was. She smiled and was going to get up but he asked her if the seat was taken and she shook her head. She was beaming. She had missed him so much. She hadnt seen him in months. She wanted to get up and tackle hug him right there and right now. She didnt want to say goodbye to him again. But she could tell in his eyes, that he planned on leaving again. Her heart was mending slowly, but it would never be full again. Not without her brother. She missed him terribly.

She didnt know what to say to him. She wanted to tell him she had missed him but that would make him feel guilty. And she didnt want to guilt him into staying. She wanted him to stay of his own choice. So instead she reached across the table and took his hand and gave it a tight squeeze. She held back tears and she gave him a small smile. The gesture felt foreign to her. She hadnt smiled in months. She hadnt seen anybody really in a long time. Her eyes showed she was sad, but she would pull off being happy for him. "Hi." She said softly. Finally choosing some actual words to say. She let go of his hand, unsure if that would make him uncomfortable.

[vagus32000]

Adam could see that his sister was still sad at him leaving and he held no doubts about her knowing this. She was his sister, how could she not know? Best not ta dwell on it, he thought. You're here ta see how she's doing and making her cry isn't on the list. He smiled a little bigger when she squeezed his hand. There was a time when he was attracted ta her however now he only felt a brotherly love for her. They weren't related, but then some things ran thicker than blood.

"Hi," he said back ta her. "What brings you here? Doesn't seem like the kind of place you'd frequent." But then he wasn't really sure of that. She was a spy after all and who knew where she had ta go ta get some of her information. "How's things at Blackwell? I bet Landon has everything running like clockwork. He was always the heart and soul of the pack."

When a waitress came up ta take his order Adam ordered his usual, a root beer. "And yes I haven't forgotten my promise ta Crapgame. No drinking for me ever again. I learned my lesson." He laughed at this, it felt good ta laugh again. Just being with his sister felt good. Perhaps staying for a little while wouldn't hurt.

[Ali Ambrose]

Ali could feel her old spirits starting to come to the surface. She had buried them down pretty deep after he had left. She had sworn that she would never cry again. No one would make her cry ever again. But it had just left a shell of what the old Ali used to be. Ali wasnt Ali without compassion and caring. She knew this. But still here she was. She wanted her old self back but she was afraid to let emotions back in. Especially with the way she was now.

But she smiled at her brother. She could still remember meeting him for the first time. She had been under suspect that she might go against him, and she hadnt known what to do about him. Or how he would be. But now she trusted him with her life. She just wanted to pin him and keep him here. But he wouldnt like that very much. At his question she sighed. Then a slight nodded was added and she closed her eyes, that were still burning a deep red. She really didnt know how to answer that. "Well...I normally dont hang around bars. But sometimes I do. I always try to go against the forces of nature and get myself wasted. What I wouldnt give to be able to get buzzed out of my mind." She chuckled.

At his next question though she sighed and then chugged down the rest of her drink. She scrunched up her nose at the taste and then placed the glass down. She liked the taste of scotch...just not the after taste. She then looked at Adam and swiped her hair away from her eyes. "Well...To be honest...I havent seen him in a while. After you left I kinda went downhill. I havent seen anyone in ages. Im worried about Landon, but also afraid to go see him. I know he will be busy and just as depressed as me..." She then shook her head. She didnt want to depress him. "I dont want to depress. So what brings you back here bro?"

[vagus32000]

Adam beamed when she saw Ali smiled, it pleased him ta be able to make her smile. After what had happened before it was the least he could do. When Ali said about wanting ta get drunk he gave her a disapproving look. "I know you vamps can't but it's still not a good idea ta try sis so please don't."

When she said about having not seen Landon for a while Adam nearly fell out of his chair. Just what was going on, was the whole world being turned upside down? Landon and her had seemed like they were about ta tie the knot and now this. Was it because of him leaving? Had he so hurt his sis that she was too afraid of being hurt again to love Landon or was the work load he had put on his right hand kept him away so long that the feeling they had for each other cooled? Or was it a combination of both?

"What happened?" Adam asked fearing the worst. "Please tell me I didn't hurt you two again. Man, I bet I did. I bet I fucked everything up. Seems like it's all I'm good at lately. Hurting those I love." When the waitress brought his drink he took it and downed it. "Fuck, I'm sorry sis. I'm sorry for all this. Damn, I bet your life would of been much better if I had never showed up in it." He bowed and shook his head. "I'm so sorry Ali."

[Ali Ambrose]

Ali raised an eyebrow at him when he gave her a disapproving look. It wasnt like she could get drunk. He even said so himself in the next few moments. But she sighed and nodded at him. She would do anything to please him. He was her brother after all. And he was only looking out for her well being. Even if that meant telling her to not drink so much when it wouldnt effect her body at all. She was lucky enough people gave her drinks. She looked really young at times...depending on if she wore make up or not and how she did her hair. At times when she had neither she could look only 15 years old.

But she didnt have long to dwell on thinking. She noticed that her next words floored him. She blushed gently and would have tried to explain but then she saw the look on his face. The look that said he had basically made up his mind. And she had a bad feeling he was blaming himself. And when he went into a long apology she sat there stunned and shook her head. She kept trying to jump in when there was a break in a sentence but he kept right on going. She would have to wait until he was done.

As his words died off and she was sure there wasnt more to follow she reached across the table and took his hands, holding them both in her own small ones. She was so tiny compared to him. Well, she was tiny compared to anyone but Rose. She gave her brothers hands a light squeeze and shook her head. "There is no need to be sorry...Its not your fault. Its mostly mine. I think if I go back Ill just stress him out more. If he really wants to see me...He will come find me. He always has." She trailed off though...What she said was true. He HAD always come to find her. But it had been months....Was he coming this time?

She could feel her heart ache at the thought that he didnt want her anymore. She would still love him and most likely not move on for centuries. But she pushed that away. She couldnt look sad in front of Adam. He would just blame himself again. "And....If he doesnt want me anymore....Then so be it. I wish him happiness with another girl of his choosing." It crushed her to say those words. But she had to say them. She had to try and pull off the not worried girl.

[vagus32000]

Adam could see that his sister was trying to cheer him up so he obliged her by stopping the pity party. Just as she always tried to please him so too did Adam try and please her. One good turn deserved another after all. Besides, she was family after all and he firmly believed in being a good brother to her. All she had to do was ask and he'd do whatever she needed.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think sis," he said giving her hand a squeeze. "I bet he's just been overworked is all. He already had a heavy work load before I dumped more on him as head of Blackwell." He sighed but refused to start a new pity party. "Well besides waiting for Landon what have you been up to? Me, I've been here and there. Met some new people but mostly just been trying ta find myself. I still have no idea where my new place in life is." He sighed again and let a hint of the sadness he felt peek through for an instant before quickly hiding it again.

[Ali Ambrose]

Ali was so proud of him. She could see that he was trying to stay happy. And that was the biggest thing for her. He was trying to please her. He was like a brother to her. A very close family member. And so that meant the world to her. But not everything could stay happy and go lucky. She knew at one point they couldnt stay happy. But she would just take what she could get right now. She would rather have the happy Adam and not the sad one. So when he spoke up again she nodded at his words. True. He had been pretty busy. But she didnt know if there was room for her anymore. But those thoughts she kept to herself. Instead she nodded and said, "Yeah. Im sure your right." She told him and chuckled.

When he went off about finding himself in this world she listened intently. She wanted to know how he felt right now. She knew that people couldnt hide their real emotions when they were speaking truly to a friend or family member. When he was done she took his hand and held it tightly again. "You will find your place Adam. I know you will. Its out there somewhere. Keep looking. Dont ever give up. And know that Im behind you every step of the way. Ill always be here for you. No matter what." She smiled at him gently and gave his hand another squeeze.

But now it was her turn to answer the question. She sighed slightly and shrugged her shoulders. "As for me....Not much. I have been to these bars a lot lately. Traveling around more often and spending to much money. Just last week I go stuck in Paris. I wanted out of there. Really bad. My sister lives there and I dont want her finding me. That was scary thinking she could come hunt me down at any point. But I scrounged up some money and made it back here."

[vagus32000]

Adam nodded when she said that he would find his place in the world. Truth be told he was thinking more and more about returning to Blackwell, to his pack. He longed to be there with Crapgame and the others, including Landon. He missed them all terribly and wished he could go back. Perhaps he would? Maybe that WAS his place in life? All of his fondest memories where there. Tarus' wedding reception. Meeting Ali. Getting his Bugatti.

"Ya should of called me, I mean Blackwell," he said after she told a little about her trips. You know I gave you a company bank account ta use for whatever. Ya should of used it that's why I gave it ta ya." He squeezed her hand then let go. Taking another drink of his root beer he said, "Speaking of the pack I'm thinking of going back to it if they'll accept me. I don't have ta be leader either, I'm just thinking of rejoining." He sighed then and looked at his glass. "But I don't think they'll accept me after what happened. I know I wouldn't." He sighed and emptied his glass then waved for a refill. He really needed some more. If he was a drinker he'd of ordered the hardest stuff but he wasn't so he'd drown his sorrows with root beer instead.

[Inora Theos]

The door to the bar was pushed open feebly by an even weaker hand and Inora staggered into the bar. Her hair and clothing was in disarray, and her body was looking severly haggard. The news of Landon being seldom seen had brought her back to this place, whereas the news of Adam's disappearance had sent her running far away. She had missed Hollywood, had missed her friends, had missed her life. But that was the problem, missing things had nearly killed her.

All those years ago she'd been strong when her mother had left, but Adam had been one of the most important things in her life and his leaving had come after so much other bad...it had just sent her over the edge.

Men sitting in booths and tables were staring at the pretty young wolf in concern, others were just looking. She ignored them, heading for a table first and foremost. She just wanted to sit. She had run here from the deep jungles of South America, run nonstop to try and help her pack. If Landon and Adam were gone, she was third-in-command, she was their leader and she was failing them. Failing the pack and failing Adam. He had trusted her to stay and help the pack, and she hadn't been strong enough to deal with him gone.

As if those thoughts had snapped her out of a daze, her senses kicked in and she smelled them...Ali and Adam. Her best friends, her life, her family. They just happened to be in the very bar that she'd decided to stumble into.

"Ali....? Adam....?" She took two faltering steps towards them and sank to her knees. Her hands and feet were covered in cuts, bruises, welts. She was, frankly, a mess. Her hair, normally so shiny and bouncy, was flat and dirty. Her eyes still had their spark but it was fading as she tried to exert too much energy. "I'm sorry." She said, staying on the floor her head bowed. She would need their help to get up. She would need their help to start over.

[Ali Ambrose]

Ali chuckled softly when he reminded her that he had given her a company card. She remembered that now. But at the time she hadnt. And even if she had remembered it wouldnt have done any good. The night of the fire back in London had destroyed everything she had ever owned. Everything she had ever loved and held dear. Gone. Including that card. The card that had enabled her to travel to places. But after that went up in smoke she had went back to her old ways of getting money by working here and there. And doing shady jobs. "I would have. If it was still in my possession. Remember the fire? The card was in my apartment."

She had on a gentle smile right now. But then at the mention that he might be coming back her smile widened. Her eyes brightened and she had to keep herself from crying out with joy. Would he come back? Could he? She tried to stiffle her eagerness but that wasnt going to happen. It was plain on her face that she wanted this to happen. When he said they wouldnt take him back she rolled her eyes. "You really think that Landon and Inora wouldnt take you back? Truly Adam? Dont look me in the eyes and tell me they wouldnt." Because she knew they would take him back. She knew.

After Adam ordered his drink she realized something. A scent. Something very familiar. One she hadnt taken a whiff of in a long time. And it was almost enough to knock her to the floor. She hadnt seen, "Inora...." She whispered, moments before she heard her precious friends voice. She turned in her chair, and looked at her with wide eyes. When she sank to her knees she shot up out of her chair and went to her. Wrapping her arms around her tightly. She felt tears threatening to fall, but she kept them back. She had sworn she wouldnt ever cry again. She pulled back and looked at her friend and touched her cheek softly. "Oh Nora love..."

[vagus32000]

"Ah yes, the fire," Adam replied with a grin. "You really should of told me ya lost it. I would of gave you a new one. The reason I didn't ask was because I thought you carried it in your wallet." He figured that was what his sis used as he had never seen her with a purse. He figured it was more because of her line of work than any fashion statement though. Call him crazy but he didn't see Ali as a real tomboy.

As he took a sip of his drink a familiar scent hit his nose, causing him to drop his glass and look for it's source. He immediately spotted it, it was his baby sister Inora and she looked horrible. Jumping out of his chair he got to her a split second after Ali did. Kneeling down beside her Adam almost wanted ta cry. She looked horrible and he knew it was because of him. He had left and broke her fragile little heart. He had done this to her, but now was not the time to wallow in self pity, his baby sister needed him right now. "Inora, what happened? You look terrible. Are you OK?" He held onto her shoulders, helping to keep her upright.

[Inora Theos]

Inora wept with joy as she felt her friends around her, her heart fairly bursting from all the excitement. She hadn't seen anyone in so long, and now that the first people she was seeing were Adam and Ali, she almost couldn't handle it. She mustered up enough strength to throw her arms around Adam and hug him as tightly as she could.

"I just...I ran all the way here...I heard about Landon...I'm sorry Ali....I couldn't....stay away....if the pack needed me.....you trusted me to stay and help.....but I just couldn't......I just...I left...and I lived in...in South America...it's nice there."

She took deep breaths throughout her explanation, trying to make it sound like she'd just had to get away for a little while, not that she'd been running away because of something, because of him. She knew, like Ali did, that he would simply beat himself up, and if he did that he might think that he should leave again. She didn't think she could survive him leaving again.

"Are you back Adam? Forever?"

She certainly hoped so, as much as she'd be willing to try, she didn't think she could run the pack all by herself. And then again there was the other reason.

"Please...don't leave me again." Inora broke down as the tears began to fall again. She was so sick of crying but she wasn't strong like Ali, she couldn't force herself not to...not anymore. "Everybody's always leaving me, is it because I'm so young?"

She suddenly let go of Adam and launched herself at Ali. "Ali, I'm so sorry I left you."