Missions in Madness [Victor]

[bloodoak]

Ah, Hollywood, she wanted to vomit. She missed her companions. They were fine of course, they could hunt for them selves, but it hurt to be apart from them this long. It had been almost three weeks since she left France. She was supposed to be back at her little two story ranch, in the forests next to Paris, right now. She missed her flight from New Orleans three days ago, because her wolf sent her on a mission. There was a serial rapist in California, that the police had no hope in catching. She sometimes wished that she were a normal lycan. That Sekhmet didn't send her dreams of innocents in pain and she could live in peace with nature. Maybe she could find a mate. Maybe she could be happy, without the constant nagging of the knowledge of others' plight. But now was not the time for self-pity, she had a job to do.

Her small duffel bag was strapped to her back, she traveled light, only carrying three pairs of pants, six shirts and her toiletries. It took her about 26 hours to get here on foot. Basset hadn't stopped but for two hours, where she rested and caught a buck to chew on. Deer wasn't her favorite but it was all that was around at the time. She shook her head, this would be her 601st kill in the last 11 years. When she was young, she couldn't control her wolf, Sekhmet would take over and kill any evil in the general vicinity. In her first year of being a lycan, she had wiped out at least 130 men. She scattered their bodies throughout Georgia. When the different police departments found her handy work, they assumed that they had fallen victim to a wolf pack. They didn't bother measuring the size of the bite marks, nor question the fact that most were in street clothes. They were glad to be rid of them. Evil, vile men, the dead were. She had gained control over Sekhmet and slowed down considerably since then, but she knew her hands would never be rid of the blood she had spilled.

She walked down the incandescently lit road, tracking the bastard that had brought her here. He was on the hunt as well, if she didn't catch him soon, another young woman would have her life ruined. He fancied only virgins, 18 years of age, blonde, with blue eyes. He left a note with them, "And I have made my angels, sinners." it read. He was known as the Demon of 2nd Street to the public. He didn't know what was in store for him, soon he would pay for everything he had done. She stopped for a moment, alarmed. He had found his next target, but she was younger this time, only 16. This wasn't good, he was going to kill this one. She ran, pushing anyone who got in her way. She followed his trail to a abandoned warehouse on 2nd. The girl was scared to death, the smell was so strong it almost burned her nose. She was angry now, very angry. She busted down the door and bust inside. The girl was blind folded and tied to a chair, shaking. He was on his knees in front of her; taunting her, stoking her neck, telling her what he was going to do with her. He looked toward Basset, stunned. Before he had time to even move, she was on top him. She tore her shoes off and transformed. He screamed and Sekhmet tore his throat out. He was dead. Satisfied, Sekhemt relinquished control back to Basset, she shifted back and put on black cargo's and a light blue tank. The child in the chair was petrified. She was shaking all over. Basset covered the vile creatures face and neck with what was left of her tattered clothing. She rushed over and untied the girl. "It's going to alright, your safe." Basset knelled in front of her. "Now if I take off your blind fold you must promise me that you won't look at him, okay?" The girl nodded and she took off her blind fold. She was so young, so innocent. "Is...is he...dead?" the girl stuttered, looking only at Basset, "Yes child, he is dead.", the girl hugged her. She was still shaking, and she started to cry. "I need you to be brave for me, I need you to call the police okay?", the girl sniffed and took the cell phone from her. The girl called and told the police, they were on their way, three minutes. Basset got up and was going to walk out when the girl spoke, "Will...will...will you st-st-tay...please?". She turned, how could she not? She nodded, and sat with to her until the police arrived. Then, she got up and looked the girl straight in the eyes, "Remember, I will always be watching over you." Basset slipped out the back just as the police came rushing in.

Basset sighed, that poor child was never going to be the same, simply because a madman saw it fit to ravage. She needed a drink, this one was going to stay with her forever. She walked down the crowed street in search of a bar worthy of a murderer like her. She found one, not to far away. She paused at the door, there was another Lycan inside. Basset hoped he wasn't territorial, she really didn't feel like finding another bar to drown in. She was far from an alcoholic, but she found that it was helpful when it came to numbing the memories, when it got to much for her to bare. She pushed opened the door and took a seat to the all to crowded bar. The other wolf was extremely close, but she didn't care, "9 shots of vodka please!". Her whole family were heavy weights, and being a lycan only increased her ability to hold her liquor.

[Victor Ambrose]

The alarm clock rang, and Victor was wide awake before the alarm could serve its purpose.
'Great, another sleepless night. Ninety-six hours up.'

Three days straight of no sleep. He didn't know what it was about or why he hasn't been sleeping well, but he could feel his body yell at him to not get up. Sadly though, it was a must that he arises from the sheets of the dream world and walk on the solid ground of the living. Sliding the doors from his closet, he pulled his cloths from the color coordinated shelves.

(Since he is color blind, he needs to have a system for his cloths so he doesn't walk out like an idiot. His closet consists of several Storage Closets arranged in the ROYGBIF order, and each shelf from top to bottom goes from brighter to darker. Each shelf contains three shirts and three pants. So if he forgot where to put the shirt or pants he is wearing, he can just count the number of shirts or pants.)

He grabbed what he needed from the closet, pressed play on the sound system, and showered to the soothing sounds of the magnificent Yanni.
As he listens to the incredible flow of notes, the merging of melody and harmony, and the calming style that is Yanni, his thoughts eluded the tranquil effect of the music and started to think about things concerning things that were, things that are, and things that will be…and this usually doesn't end with him being all "Mr. Sunshine."

Exiting the shower in the cloths he picked and with a rain cloud over his head, he grabbed his duffle back, tossing it over his shoulder, and started out the door. As the eyes of others trail up and down his muscular covered body, they will see that today he chose black cargo pants with a matching shirt and jacket. His friend bought them from an army-designer store, and Victor thought today he was feeling sort of "HOORA" and "Semper Fi"-ish. The shirt was tight on his body, showing the impressions of his muscles, while the jacket was loose fit, giving Victor the feel that his body was free.

His thoughts still circling around the past, present, and future, wondering what has become of him, what he is doing to better himself, and what will happen to him? What about Alisha, Ali, and Nixie? How are they? What has happened to his good friends? Are they in trouble?
His mind then took a turn in a direction that he didn't want to travel down.
'Your Single and 21.'
He shook his head to get the thought out of his mind, but it seemed to be relentless, repeating itself. It was true though. He knew it, and it bothered him. He fell in love with Nixie, but she chose Damien over him. He wasn't upset…okay he was, but he was still happy for Nixie that she was able to be happy. He fell in love with Ali, but she already had Stephan, and just as he was for Nixie, he was happy for Ali that she was able to be happy.
'Stop it Victor! Stop it!'

He made it to the door of the bar. Today was the double shift day. He was going to spend the rest of his day in that bar. For the rest of the day he would be the slave of those who needed a drink or an ear…or both. It was his job, and it paid well…for what he needed.
Over the rest of the 24 hour period, he would bend to the will of others, getting them what they desire, listening to their problems, and if possible, try to help them as much as he could.

"9 shots of vodka please."[/color]

The request hit his hear, and out of reflex grabbed the glasses, put them in front of her and filled them up as fast as he could. Yes, he did some fancy tricks like throw all nine shot glasses into the air in such a way that he would grab, fill, place, and repeat. Years of martial arts and the speed of being a werewolf helped him out immensely. After he filled them up he looked at the woman that made the request, and instinctually realized what she was.

"Werewolf."

He was about to growl, but fought the urge. He was a bartender, not a pack leader or the owner of the property. He didn't mark it, and he really didn't want to. It was bad enough that people that his name brought almost anyone who wanted to challenge him.

'The Great Victor Ambrose. *Scoffs* Right. As if I am that good. Sure, I haven't lost a fight, but that doesn't mean I am worthy of such a title. If I was really that good, I wouldn't be here in this mess, looking for a job that can support the fact I'm a fighter rather than hiding behind an alias.'

He let out a sigh and looked at the woman. Dark brown hair with layers, Light sky blue eyes with a small yellow spot in the left retina, about 5'4" tall and somewhere within the 120-140lb weight marker, all that in black cargo's and a light blue tank top. He knew she was beautiful, but he also knew there was more to here than meets the eye. He could see a fighter, a will to win and live, but also something you don't see in most people…fairness and equality.

"So what brings you to this part of town with such a grand order?"
He was genuinely concerned. It was in his nature to be, which he always thought to be a weakness, but also a strength. What really got to him was the fact that she had an aura about her that seemed to attract him. It could be because she was in fact beautiful, but Victor wasn't the person to go on looks. No, there was more to it than just that. It was the sight of pain. He wanted to help. 'Let me see if I can help her out.'

[bloodoak]

So it was the bar tender, go figure, this was going to be interesting. She could almost hear the suppression of his instinctual growl, a sly smile tugged at the side of her mouth. She loved how lycans were so possessive, no matter what species was intruding on their space. He hadn't marked the bar, so he couldn't complain. Even if he did, Basset would've walked in anyway. She really didn't care. She couldn't care less about other lycans, it hit her hard tonight. It wasn't the killing that messed with her, it was the fact that she couldn't stop them all. It was the fact that no matter what she did, she could never heal the damage that they had already done. She didn't know why it was attempting to knock her on her ass, but there was no way in hell that she would let it. It chiseled at the inside of her internal barriers and there wasn't a thing on this planet that was going to come between her and her vodka.

Despite his wolfs' aggravation, the bartender served her drinks like a pro...Poison and a show, beautiful... she picked up the first glass, "so what brings you to this part of town with such a grand order?" She looked up from her Novocaine; about to answer with something sarcastic, when she saw his eyes. She paused, they were incredible, one green and the other blue; she totally forgot what she was going to say. She threw up a sad but wicked smile and drank. As the vodka stung her throat she wondered why she had been struck speechless. No man, wolf or other wise, had that effect on her.

She pushed her curiosity out of her mind and answered, "Nothing pleasant." She didn't want to say any more. What she does would scare even the toughest of lycans, but something told her that this one was different. She looked down at the clear liquid in the glass she was holding, he seemed to actually care. Of course that was the job of a bar tender, they were practically psychiatrists. They had to try to make the drunkards feel like they had something to live for. But she wasn't a drunk, she never needed that extra push to keep going. Basset had always pulled her self up on her own, even in the darkest of times.

The wolf in her whispered in the back of her mind...Maybe it's time for you to open up a little... Not even Atlas could hold the whole worlds innocents on his shoulders... Sekhmet was always right, but she didn't know how. She had been on her own so long, she had forgotten how to let her emotions show. From the moment she was turned, she was alone. Her family tried to understand, but she couldn't explain it. Her father said it was a gift, that her wolf would guide her. Demeter told her that her emotion was what made her strong, but Basset found that hard to believe. As she understood it, they would lead to her down fall, so she suppressed them. Only two things mattered; justice and nature. She would tell her self that every night until she believed it. She built up her walls and had locked them from the outside. She couldn't get why this wolf had the key and tried her hardest to keep the doors shut by shooting some more vodka.

[Victor Ambrose]

She looked at him and it wasn't pretty...until she saw something that changed her mind.
"Nothing pleasant."

"I hear that." He did. In fact, the words meant more to him that she could possible imagine. His entire life hasn't exactly been luxury and glory. It wasn't a story that an average person could endure listening to. His history has been a dark and violent one from start till now. Granted, most people had been beaten like him, and they suffered abuse from alcoholics and ass holes. Most people who thought they had a "hard-knock life" were usually sadly mistaken, and usually have to reanalyze it. A majority of the people didn't have to live on their own COMPLETELY at the age of eighteen because their drug dealing father died and their whore ((literally, she was a prostitute who sold her self to make money and helped traffic drugs)) mother was sent into an asylum for sever depression and hysteria that made her legally insane. Not many had to grow up from a teen to an adult, learn how to live, fight, survive, and manage both their time and money in just a single, instantaneous moment.

He pushed those thoughts aside. This was now, not then… and this was also about the patron, who seemed to have a lot on her mind. "Well, when ever you feel like talkin' just holler for me. I'm always willing to lend an ear to those in need." He gave her a little smile, and before he left. He opened the register, put two $100 dolor bills in the register, and poured her 5 more shots. "Those are on the house, and now you have a tab. Consider it an investment in a client."

'Wait? What? What the did you just do? Did you really just spend $200 on a person you just met?'

He was trying to make her feel comfortable with him. It wasn't common for Victor to do this. He usually keeps to himself, putting up walls around himself so no one can ever truly know who he is. There will be those times, such as now, where he will slightly lower the walls so he can help someone out, but such cases are blue moon cases. In the end, he really didn't know why he helped the people he helped, and the same applied here. Nothing ever made any sense to Victor when it came to helping people usually. This was no exception.
'No… that's not true. You know why you help some of them. You see your pain in others Victor. You don't want them to end up like you. But sometimes you can't fix what is already broken. Stubborn as you are, you try anyway.'
It was true. He was fighter, but he also tried to be a healer. It's partly the reason why he became a bartender… and why he was trying to help her. But there is something more to it than that.
'What is it about you that I find so… magnetic?'
He couldn't wrap his head around her, and he wanted to know why. She was a normal… werewolf patron. What made her so special? What made her become the splinter in the back of his mind?
What made him care?

He extended a hand to her. "The name's Victor." He was hoping to catch the name of the one who seemed to have his mind intoxicated with the idea of helping her. This was a first… second for him.

[bloodoak]

"I hear that." and she knew he did. His past was full of pain, she could hear it in his voice. He knew agony that few could comprehend, but he had spirit, he survived and was stronger for it."...I'm always will to lend an ear to those in need." She could tell that he meant every word he said, his was a good soul. Then he went and did some thing she didn't expect, he put two-hundred dollars in the cash register for her. "...consider it an investment in a client." She could comprehend maybe fifty, but two-hundred? It was beyond her. He then placed five more shots in front of her. She looked at the vodka, some how she knew that it wasn't going to answer her questions.

Though slightly confused She wanted him to keep asking questions. She couldn't open up on her own. If she wasn't asked she didn't tell, that was her policy. It had worked in her favor for a long time, but some how this was an exeption to all her normal rules. It was tough to break such a habit though, if he didn't push her for answers. Most men were repelled instantly by her inate ablility to send out vibes and stars through their fascades. The vibe was most likely the most efficiant, it screamed touch me and that hand will never touch anything again. She hoped he would walk through it all unscathed. She liked this lycan, for reasons that even she did not completely understand. Friends were rare for Basset, very few people knew who she was inside and no one knew that she had emotion. She shook her head, how was he doing this, to her of all creatures? She couldn't help but wonder if he had this effect on everyone, or if she was special in some way.

She didn't know if she was going to drink everything he had put in front of her, the alcohol wasn't doing much tonight. Subconsciously, she started to stack the shots into a pyramid. The glasses were cold on her finger tips, she smiled, she loved vodka. She froze mid-way; she only did this when she was alone. How the hell was he able to get her this comfortable? She never let her guard down, never, and here she was stacking shots at a public bar. She hoped that he couldn't see her intrigue through her walls, but she had a feeling that he could. It was a bit unnerving, she finally knew what it felt like to others when she searched their souls. It was almost as if she were stripped naked of everything but who she was inside. The lycan reached out his hand and introduced himself. "The name's Victor." She hesitated for a fraction of a second. If he could break through her outer defenses by simply being there, she could only imagine what his touch would do to her. But it was to late for fear. Her wolf whispered her approval, and she reached out her hand to meet his. "Basset Phoenix."

[Victor Ambrose]

What? There was no explanation to it… except for one word. Her. She seemed to do this to him.
Why? No clue
How? No clue

He was confused. What did he just do? More importantly, what was he doing?! He never did anything he is doing now. Two hundred dollars on a stranger, five free vodka shots, and he was this close to spilling his sob story of a life on a person that he didn't even know! She slipped past his walls and broke his barriers, and he still had the balls to ask her for her name and shake her hand.
"Basset Phoenix"
'So that is what an angel calls itself… Wait? What did I just think?!
Their hands meet, and he felt a shiver crawl through his skin and up his spine. The feeling that she could crawl under him like that was unnerving and very, very, very unsatisfying for Victor.
'What is she doin' to me? Why does she have this effect on me?! I feel so helpless… yet, I feel so calm… relaxed… strangely at ease and happy.'
He was usually the one who, despite what anyone did or threw at him, was calm, collect, and never phased. He had to if he was to focus and win. But this wasn't the case now. She was winning. She got to him, and now "Mr. Calm and Collect" became "Mr. 'What is happening?' and 'Shit! I just lost my cool!'." She was able phased him. Very, Very, VERY, unnerving indeed.

Nothing seemed to make any sense right now. As much as it bothered Victor that he couldn't make heads or tails out of the present situation, he couldn't let it show. He pushed his thoughts aside for now, and tried to divert his thoughts to another matter.

Aside from being unnerved, phased, and almost completely scared the shit out of him that she managed to put his mind in a chain of thoughts he never thought it would resort to, he was intrigued by Basset and wanted to know more. In fact, he wanted to know all. Not just all, but every single detail.
Who is she really?
What is she like?
Why is she the way she is?
And (most importantly) how does she make me feel and act like this?

Why does he want to know? He just wanted to know more about the one that could walk through his defenses like a ghost, but still be so real in his mind.
"So what, aside from nothing pleasant, brings you to this lovely bar in the middle of the wonderful city of Hollywood, California? Meeting some friends or on a vacation?"
He knew this wasn't the truth, as he could smell the faint and almost undetectable smell of blood, but it sure beat saying, "So, have fun ripping game up with your claws and teeth in your werewolf form?" and be sent to an asylum, or ask her for her number and either get the rejection hotline, a slap in the face, or getting his own ass ripped to shreds.
'And they say bartending is easy. Psh. Please. It's an art and a science. You either got it or you don't.'

(((OOC: Sorry if it is not that good. I was studying chemistry while working on this post. >.< Stupid Finals week!)))

[bloodoak]

As his hand touched hers, she experienced something that she had never felt before. She couldn't explain it, but she knew that he was one in a million. Everything that she had thought, everything that she was afraid of the first time she saw him, simply slipped away. Her wolf was right. It wasn't words that she spoke with, but the feeling was clear...told you so... she couldn't help her self, she smiled. It had been a very long time since she smiled this much in genuine happiness. She didn't know how it worked, between his intrusion into her inner self, and the unexplainable comfort and happiness that she felt. It made absolutely no sense, but she couldn't rightfully complain.

"... meeting friends or on vacation?" she laughed at that, ...vacation...ha... She hadn't had a vaction since she was elven, and highly doubted that she ever would. She didn't live in the same world as most creatures. She walked through it like the ghost of justice, not stoping very long to dwell in the human realm. It was rather sad if she thought about it, but that was her life, the slave of morality and the weapon of judgement.

He probably thought she was just out hunting some deer, the smell of blood was so faint that most couldn't tell if it was human or not. It was bound to be on the news by now, the Demon of 2nd Street had been killed, press field day. "The sirens you heard earlier, that was the police finding the body of a serial rapist." The logic behind her blurting that out was at least faulty, if not totally fictional. She was taking a chance by telling him that. For all she knew, he would turn her in, or at least try to. But for some reason, she knew he wouldn't. Then there was the fact that he would be repulsed by her lack of remorse. Hopefully he would at least understand, hopefully. The possibilities were endless, this was risk that she never took. She kept it to her self, for the least amount of people that knew the lower the probability that he would be caught. Of course human jails stood no chance against a lycan, especially one as motivated as she. Being processed and having to escape would be an enormous hassle.

The world around her seemed to lip away. The people, the music, the smoke, everything had been pushed to the back burner. She always knew everything that was going on around her, and now she was almost oblivious to it. She was practically mesmerized by Victor, and she couldn't figure out why. This lycan was special, but how, she had no earthly idea.

[Victor Ambrose]

A laugh escaped her lips, and although he was confused at what he said to make her laugh, he couldn't help but smile a bit at that. It's been a while since he did anything like this. In fact, he tended to stay away from people a lot of the time... but just like every rule, they can be broken... and tonight he was going to break as much as he can to understand who she was and how she was able to get past him in a second.

"The sirens you heard earlier, that was the police finding the body of a serial rapist."[/color]
At first, it didn't make any sense as to why she said it, but then, it clicked. The blood, the sirens, and now this. She did it. She killed that man. He didn't jump, or scream, or do anything. The only thing that came to his mind was, 'He deserved it,' and 'She probably had her reasons.' He sort of felt like he was being clouded a little bit, but despite the uncomfortable feeling he usually get's when he isn't thinking straight sometimes, he didn't really press himself into being cautious and careful.

It was unlike him to ignore his own cautions and his warnings. They are usually what kept him alive till this very point. In fact, they are what made him to an extent. If it weren't for his alarm system, he could be lying in a gutter some where in Vegas right now three or four years back. This isn't a metaphor. This is literal. And it was a "literal" he didn't want to look back on to right now. It was a violent, bloody, and painful period that one should never have to know or think about after it happened. All that matters is that he survived the war and battle. There were "victims", "enemies," and "civilians." They all got hurt, and they all lost something at that moment. Again, he didn't want to look back. He just took a drink for water, and continued to focus his attention on Basset.

"The sirens you heard earlier, that was the police finding the body of a serial rapist."[/color]
What she had said earlier echoed in his mind, and he looked at her. He wanted to understand her even more. He hoped that the sirens and the music around them would have prevented anyone from hearing what she had said. He wasn't disgusted at her, but he wasn't too thrilled with the prospect of meeting the killer of a killer. Although he could tell it wasn't out of malice or anger, the prospect of death was one Victor didn't really approve of. He again pushed these thoughts to the side, and asked Basset, "Want to go for a walk? Not feeling particularly found of having my soul caged within five walls and a floor." It was a little straight forward and quick to the point, but it was true that he did want to go for a walk and he did feel trapped at this point. The ball was in her court now, and it was her chance to either deny him the pleasure to walk with her, or to grant him the gift of having her by his side as they felt the soft California wind across their skin and the smell of the beach in the air.
'Wow… I'm starting to sound like a romantic… not cool.'

[bloodoak]

He adorned a slightly confused look for about a millisecond, then it dawned on him. He understood, but he didn't seem to be afraid of her. She tired to see what he thought about it, his eyes weren't filled with anger nor fear, but not quite agreement either. It was as if he were simply neutral, like he didn't have an opinion on the subject. She looked deeper and found that she was wrong, Victor had two opinions. The fact that the bastard rapist deserved it, and that he wasn't a very big fan of death, even if it was to kill a rapist before he ravaged again. His defenses didn't come up, he remained completely calm, collected and rather unphased. She wondered what he was thinking at that moment, this man was indeed a rare breed. She was never seen such a reaction, or more likely had this reaction to a reaction. she never cared much about what others thought of her. Her pack didn't seem to mind what she did, but it wasn't anything like this. This was something that she had never experienced before, she found her self concerned about his opinion of her. this self conscienceless didn't suit her too well, it made a bit nervous, though she did a good job in hiding it.

She never harmed innocents, there was never any casualties besides the intended target, that much she knew. although she may not have complete control of her wolf, Sekhmet was in control of her self. She only attacking those who that had or were going to harm guiltless people. There was that she changed, but it wasn't in violence, a simple bit on the ankle did the trick. There was no mauling, no striking fear into his hearts, or even telling him that he were a new creature. For the one that she bit was in great need of an attitude adjustment. He had potential locked way inside, that she couldn't help but release. Though he may hate her for it, Josef was better for it. He was the only innocent that had felt the sting of her teeth, not one other had been harmed by her hand.

Victor took a sip from a glass of water, one that she had not noticed before. There was much that escaped her attention at the moment, for he seemed to pull all of her attention to him like a magnet. She knew none of the other patrons had heard what she said. The music was loud and the sounds of the sirens made almost everything inaudible to humans unless they were sitting right next to each other. Even if they had, it would not matter, for all they knew, she was a reporter and had already covered the story for her news station. She looked around for a moment, no one seemed to even notice her.

Her attentions were drawn back to Victor, just as he started to speak. "Want to go for a walk? I'm not feeling particularly found of having my soul caged within five walls and a floor."................. Her mind blanked................. She had to think about what she just heard for a good second, did he seriously just ask what she thought he did?......Yes he just did...... She blinked a couple times, and realized that she had a look of slight surprise on her face with just a hint of utter pleasure. She quickly took control of her facial muscles and smiled "That sounds like a good idea, this place is a bit confining." She tried to sound calm, but wasn't quite she if she pulled it off. She placed the last four shots on the top of her pyramid and stood. She longed to feel the warm sands of the beach on her bare feet, and hoped that the walk would take that long.

[Victor Ambrose]

His reaction to her comment seemed to have an effect on her. She looked deeply at him, and it didn’t scare him. He welcomed it. He even wanted to go as far as tell her everything. He wanted to be her open book. He wanted to be hers…
’ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?!This is the reason why you avoid people Victor! No attachments, no strings, no pain… Plain and simple.’
But it wasn’t that simple. On any other occasion he would have agreed with his logic and pushed this stranger away… Far FAR away. But this was different. He couldn’t explain it, but she, for a reason or another, attracted him. Like a magnet.
’SHE KILLS PEOPLE!!! You could be next! Think before you act Victor! Has fighting taught you nothing!
It was all too strange for Victor. No one, not even Ali or Nixie had this effect on him. It was so frightening, yet exciting, and Victor wanted more from the woman who paralyzed his instinct to back away and move when he himself should have.

He could see that she was a little out of it today. He really couldn’t understand why, but more than anything, he wanted to know.
’Alright already. I get it. You want to be able to understand her every moment of every second of every minute of every hour of every blah blah blah. Seriously. Don’t you have something better to do that sit there looking a her while you are at the JOB, which entails you give attention to EVERY CUSTOMER who might want to you TEND to them since you are a BAR TENDER?!’
It was true, he could feel the other patrons wanting the attention, but there were others with him who could help the load. Besides, who cares about the others.
’Are you listening to yourself man?! SNAP OUT OF IT! It’s you job! It provides money! So you can live. Without money, you can get stuff. Without stuff, you die. Sure, you can probably go into the woods and hunt, but as we established before, YOU DON’T LIKE TO KILL!!!!! So get you mind off of her and start doing your fucking job! GOT ME?!’
Nope. He heard his thoughts and he knew they were ”probably” dead on the marker, but… She was more important… at that moment… and probably other moments… like… the beach… and… maybe after… like… dinner?… or not…

He, out of habit scratched his head, because he was a little confused. What?! Wouldn’t you be if a female stared at you blankly after asking her to join you for a nice walk outside at a random moment? Come on. You would and you know it.
He stopped scratching his head when she gathered herself together and responded to his question:
"That sounds like a good idea, this place is a bit confining."
He was about to jump for joy. And by jump, he really was going to. The only reason he didn’t was because he didn’t want to hit the low ceiling behind the counter where the glasses hung upside down. That and he didn’t want to look like a complete and utter idiot… although he might have already done that.

’God! Women are so confusing… So is their strange power over men… Psh… Women…’
He always knew he was crazy. He was talking with his conscience. HIS CONSCIENCE! It doesn’t get any crazier than that. But it was his guiding voice. It always kept him out of harms way… for the most part…

“Hold on for a second. I’ll meet you by the door. I just need to sign out and grab my jacket. Be with you in a sec.” He only took two steps away from her, and felt like he crossed the Atlantic Ocean. “Hey Joe! Look, I’m not feeling to good right now. Mind if I take the rest of the day off. I know I was suppose to work a double today, but give Tina a chance. She is over qualified and more to be just a bar tender. So give her my double and tell her that if she pulls it off, she can be my assistant. If she bombs it, Take it out of my check. Okay?”

”Um…Sure?”
“Thanks Joe. I’ll tell Tina.”
He told Tina, and she was jumping for joy. She has been trying for as long as Victor can remember to get a promotion.

He looked toward the door and saw Bassets eyes. His heart almost got stuck in his throat. He walked towards her, but if felt like it was taking forever.
“Ready?” He asked her when he got to her, and as he held the door open.

(((Sorry for the really bad post. I was a little brain dead and in the middle of a net cafe. So the environment wasn't really helping me. Sorry.)))

[bloodoak]

She made her way to the door and watched him as he spoke to his boss. It was hard for her to leave his presence, almost like stretching an over sized rubber band. if her will slipped even the slightest, she would be back by his side in a heart beat. She wanted nothing more than to simply be close to him, near him. She licked her lips subconsciously, tasting the lingering of her last shot of Vodka. His eyes were as beautiful as the taste of red wine, his voice like smooth southern comfort. He walked strong like the punch of Moonshine and his manner was that of Jack Daniels. She sighed...Look at you, since when do you compare men to alcohol?...She shook her head... Who knows what will become of you if this keeps on, Basset your heart is growing weak! .. the odd thing was that she really didn't care anymore. He was intoxicating, the very beat of his heart hit her like whiskey...Are you seriously falling for a man you just met? Do you think this is wise?...Her answer to her own questions was a stuttering yes.

This man, this Lycan, she wanted. She craved him, she wanted to know him inside and out, like it seemed he knew her. She didn't understand why, nor did she care at this point. It felt as if there were an electric running threw her, and he was her circuit breaker.... My God, he is one of a kind. How he does this to her? She was untouchable in her fortress, but apparently he has the key... Don't you think this is kind of a bad idea? If he has this power, don't you think you should get away from him - NO!... The other voice in her head gave way to the overpowering roar of her wolf. She giggled at her thoughts and waited for him by the door. He had to get someone to cover for him, and lied his ass off to get the rest of the day.

She thought about her job back in France, her restaurant had no problem letting her off for a while. Of course she had to call in for another week of leave, due to her hunt. She now thought she might need a bit longer. For all she knew they might fire her for taking a whole month off but right now, money had nothing to bare on her. She worked twenty thirty six hours at a time, and at 15 euros a hour, she had saved a good deal. Seeing as she only spent it on alcohol and the occasional grocery run, she had nothing to worry about. Some would call her irresponsible, she called it living. All this ran through her mind in about a millisecond, then stopped.

Her attentions were drawn now directly back to Victor. His dark hair hair caught the light of the bar just right and shone like ebony. His blue and green eyes sparked so that it sent a chill up her spine. Even the mere thought of him made her heart sigh. It seemed as if her body, spirit had made up their minds, and her brain was the only one that hadn't grasped it yet. He held the door open for her, "Ready?" In that moment, when their eyes met, she let lost all her inhibitions. If he wanted her, she would be his. All he had to do was claim her. She replied with a smooth "Yes"" and walked out the door into the sweet smell of the ocean.

[Victor Ambrose]

Music to his ears. ”Yes”[/color]
Her voice played in his head over and over again. It was just… beyond the description of words. Everything about her just yelled perfect to him. She made this man of metal (or so he thought) melt like snow. She was his Kryptonite. She was his Achilles heel. Within that small and simple interaction inside the bar, she captivated his senses, his thoughts, his reason, and his emotions. She became the center of his universe in mere seconds… and he would do anything to keep that universe stable, happy… in short… everything and anything within reason… No… even beyond reason… She, in a matter of seconds, became the only thing that mattered to him…

”Yes”[/color]
It just rang again in his mind. He smiled as he held the door for her. Once she was out, he stepped out, and the smell of the cool ocean hit him. He smells it every day, but today… at this current moment… everything had been redefined for him. The presence of moon light seemed to be brighter and clearer. The aroma of the sea was crisper and sharper. And the figure before him grew lovelier by the minute… second… even less than that. She captured his him in every way… Well, not every way… but pretty damn close.
’Think again lover boy. I’m not giving up without a fight. You are crazy and absurd for going this far for this woman. It’s irrational, against all your morals, and completely defies your self-defensive habits and thoughts. I will NOT give up and I certainly will NOT lose.’
He heard, but didn’t listen. Right now, his ears were being reserved for her…

It wasn’t like he wasn’t worried. He was. This woman could penetrate any and all his senses and defenses without having to move a muscle. She could cripple him with words. She could destroy him if she wanted, and he couldn’t do anything about it. It frightened him. It scared him beyond the description of words. The fear was great…

But his interest was even greater. Yes, she could penetrate any and all his senses and defenses without having to move a muscle, but she could also raise him to the highest point in his life. She could cripple him with words, but she could also strengthen his spirit and moral with them as well. She could destroy him if she wanted, and he couldn’t do anything about it… and that was a risk he was willing to take to find more about her and understand what made her do this to him. And there was no better time than today, now, and it was now or never… so here is attempt number one…

”So, tell me about yourself? So far all I know is your name is Basset, you enjoy a good shot of Vodka, and you just rid the world one more evil from the world. Anything else I should know about you?”

It was a bold move to mention the death of the rapist to her, but he wanted to show her that he wouldn’t make it awkward because of it. He wanted to show her that she could turn to him and talk to him about anything. As much as death and killing bothered him, he would put his own personal feelings aside for her. That is what being in love means right?

’You did not just say that? Love?! LOVE?! It’s called lust. You can’t love someone you just met a couple minutes ago. Love at first sight is a myth, and it is as superficial as your so called “love” for this person. You can’t even be sure her name is Basset. The only thing you can be sure of is that she is a lycan. Aside from that, anything and everything that comes out of her lips and anything she does cannot be trusted. Everything about her must be place under suspicion………………………


Don’t fall again… Stop before you end up for the vultures… Please… Neither of us can take it…

[bloodoak]

She stuck her hands in her pockets, then took them out again. She wanted to be as close to him as possible, and the fabric only served as a boundary. Victors feet fell in time with hers, the quiet thud like the heart-beat of her emotions. She wanted to be an open book for this man, so that maybe one person on this earth could truly understand her. That maybe, if it was possible, she could be loved for her whole self. Just as if he had be listening to her thoughts he spoke.

“…Anything else I should know about you?”

That was a loaded question. She wanted to tell him everything, but everything wasn’t pleasant. There to many things that he should know, things that most people would run scarred shitless from. She was a monster, a just monster, but a monster none the less. She couldn’t help but wonder what he was, if her wolfs addiction didn’t even faze him… If he is okay with you killing, imagine what he does when people aren’t looking. He may not like death but who knows, he could be a rapist and you wouldn’t even know it because your vision is clouded!… Sekhmet gave a lurch inside of her, in response. Basset didn’t care, she knew for a fact that Victor was a good man. She wasn’t about to ruin her chance with him simply because her mind had issues accepting love. She knew that Sekhmet wouldn’t let give in to her insecurities in any event, they both were attracted to him. They began to walk toward the smell of the ocean. It drew her in like a bee to honey, it was then that she decided to tell him her story. Taking a deep breath, she began to speak.

“I was born in Georgia, Gordon, Georgia to be exact. Raised on a wheat farm, and brought up to be a friend to the earth. I was eleven when a Lycan killed my mother and bit me, during our full moon celebration. My two sisters and I used to dance around the fire after our parents told us stories about our ancestors. I was a nice child, I really was, but Sekhmet changed that.” She looked at the ground for a second. She wasn’t sure why she was telling him this, she didn’t think he actually was interested in her past, her story. She didn’t want a pity, but she felt this unyielding desire to tell him why she was the way she was. Why, where ever she went, bodies soon followed.

She had come to grips with what had happened to her, and she accepted who she was now. She understood her self, she knew who she was, and she wanted him to know as well. “See, she brings out the violent side of me, the side that…that scares even the strongest men to death. In my first year, I killed at least one-hundred and thirty men, that I know of… I couldn’t control her, and she was, and is, extremely powerful. When I was near a evil human, she would take over.” There little walk took them to the beach, a beautiful beach at that. She paused right before the beginning of the sand.

She knelt down and started to untie her boots. “I use to wake, clothed in only tatters with bloody corpses lying before me. You can imagine what that would do to an eleven year old girl.” Slipping out of her socks, she shoved them into her shoes and tied them together with a bowline. She stood, carrying them in her left hand and looked straight at the ocean. “Well to make a long story short, I eventually got a handle on her.” She glanced at Victor and began to walk out toward the water. “Now, I have relative choice on how often and how many get to know Sekhmet. Unfortunately though, I doubt she will be satisfied.” She inhaled deeply, the humid ocean air filling her lungs. It reminded her of the times she had with her family, back when she was just Basset. Back to the summers spent down at the beach in Florida where the sun and water were all she needed. The velvet sand took her back to the laughter of a sweet, innocent child, whose future was not of death, but of life. Whose gifts were only human and not enhanced by the supernatural. Back to a child , whose dreams were of rainbows, not of people she had yet to save.

Every step she took seem to dredge up older and older memories. It reminded her of the years she spent blacking out, remembering only bits and pieces. “The creature’s who’s soul I took today, he was my six hundred and first.” She looked the ground for another second, then let her eyes slide up to his. She wanted to see how he reacted, he had the balls to mention what she had done, and now she wanted to know tough he really was. She doubted he had ever met a serial killer like herself, or even at all. He didn’t like death, and she was the most violent form of justice there was… O, Divine one, please do not let Sekhmet come between us, she is part of me, and as much as I would like to say I would give her up, I can‘t, in the name of everything holy in this world, please hear my prayer…

[Victor Ambrose]

Out into the open, he could feel the breeze on his skin, he could smell the ocean, hear the waves crash, and he could tell where Basset was. It was bizarre. He could feel the pull between them, and it was amazing, unique, different, and yet it felt like it was second nature. Her presence was just intoxicating his senses.
It was… It was… It was…
Unexplainable.

Her voice tore him away from his thoughts, and he didn’t care what he was thinking about. In a flash, he dedicated himself to her.
“I was born in Georgia, Gordon, Georgia to be exact. Raised on a wheat farm, and brought up to be a friend to the earth. I was eleven when a Lycan killed my mother and bit me, during our full moon celebration. My two sisters and I used to dance around the fire after our parents told us stories about our ancestors. I was a nice child, I really was, but Sekhmet changed that.”[/color]
She seemed to see something that no one could see. Her pain and misery has showed her more than most people will ever understand in a life time. It was sad to see such an angel tormented for something she had no control over. He wished he could do something to make her pain just dissipate… even if it was for a second…

“See, she brings out the violent side of me, the side that…that scares even the strongest men to death. In my first year, I killed at least one-hundred and thirty men, that I know of… I couldn’t control her, and she was, and is, extremely powerful. When I was near a evil human, she would take over. I use to wake, clothed in only tatters with bloody corpses lying before me. You can imagine what that would do to an eleven year old girl. Well to make a long story short, I eventually got a handle on her. Now, I have relative choice on how often and how many get to know Sekhmet. Unfortunately though, I doubt she will be satisfied. The creature’s who’s soul I took today, he was my six hundred and first.”[/color]

He took it all in, and he couldn’t react… No… that was a lie. He could, and he did without thinking. He gave her a hug. An eleven year old who suffered the torture and torment of witnessing blood, death, and pain beyond the comprehension of most men, and it wasn’t even her doing. She lost control of herself when she wanted to be just a child. She was just a child forced to grow up faster and face the harsh realities of the world without a choice. It was cruel and unusual… and it was just like what he was forced to do.

He held on to her, and he had to share himself like she had with him. ”I was born color blind. I can only see red, blue, green, and shades of grey, along with black and white. Every other color is beyond my color receptors in my eyes. Even then, blue and green are rare for me to witness. Sometimes I see one, none, or both. I was born into a family that really didn’t want me. I was the bastard child of a hooker and drug dealer. My father was also drug user and an alcoholic. He beat my mother constantly and when that wasn't enough, which it usually wasn't, he would take it out on me. Even if my father was angry for no reason, I was his beating pole. As a child, I was weak and frail. Lack of money and constant beatings does that to a child. Even in that mayhem of a life, I managed to go to school. Finally, out of the blue, my dad left us. I was five years old when this happened. I was relieved and grateful but my mother though was distraught and uneasy after the removal of the unstable element that brought nothing but misfortune and horror into our lives.”

He knew it wasn’t the happiest life to talk about, but neither was hers, and if she was ready to share her life with him, he should have been willing to share his with her.

”Post-Separation was a hard time on my mom. She had to take on two jobs, and none of them would be considered reasonable. She sold herself to a lot of people who were willing to pay, and on the side, she would work with her friend Ricky the Dealer. Together they would traffic and split the shares 60-40. 40% may not seem a lot, but when it came to trafficking, it was enough for us… or her. I never did approve my mom’s choice in jobs. Eventually, the paranoia and insomnia took my mom. At the age of 18, my mom was forced into an asylum, and I was forced to live on my own. The government really didn't look at my matter to be serious enough for consideration. At that moment, I was all alone and nothing was going right. I lost faith in everything I ever had faith in. God, love, life, happiness, and whatever kids that time considered to be real. I gave up on them. For the next three years. I had to work things on my own. Half way through my life as an 18 year old, my father dies, and what he had was now all mine, seeing as I was the legal next of kin. Car, House, etc.” It wasn’t easy to deal with the death. As much as he hated his father, he was still the person who gave him life. He didn’t cry and he didn’t grieve… but he did have a slight depression. Blood is still blood.
”I sold the car and rented rooms of the house. The car paid for the part of my fees that wasn't covered by financial aid. Eventually, one of the tenants I rented to told me of a bar that was hiring. I took the job, and eventually became a supervisor of the place at the age of 21… the same bar you met me in.”
He smiled at her and flowed his rant about his life with:

”Give me the depth of love that springs
From friendship in misfortune grown,
As ivy to the ruin clings
When every other hope has flown.

Give me that fond confiding love
That nought but death itself can blight;
A flame that slander cannot move,
But burns in darkness doubly bright.”

[bloodoak]

His arms rapped around her, holding her in his warmth. She let her head on his shoulder, his heart beat was strong and calm. She dropped her boots into the sand and slipped her up on to his chest, felling his pulse with her palms. It was so pure, so beautiful., so wonderful, so strong. She didn’t want to him to let go, staying there forever, in his arms. This man, this Lycan, she had only just met, but she had never felt so connected to someone in her life. Before the eyes and ears of the earth, Basset Phoenix was in love. Something that so many had said would never happen. A cold soul they said she had, one that could never care for anyone. But here in this moment, she loved him, like no one ever before.

“…I was relieved and grateful but my mother though was distraught and uneasy after the removal of the unstable element that brought nothing but misfortune and horror into our lives.”

[/b]

His voice soothed her soul like the rain of southern Georgia. His arms still wrapped around her body, she began to see what had made them so close in such a short time. He had known pain, but not just the pain that crippled the body, but also the soul. He knew the kind of pain that no one should know. But his story was not over, he began to speak again, and she listened.

“…I had to work things on my own. Half way through my life as an 18 year old, my father dies, and what he had was now all mine, seeing as I was the legal next of kin. Car, House, etc. I sold the car and rented rooms of the house. The car paid for the part of my fees that wasn't covered by financial aid. Eventually, one of the tenants I rented to told me of a bar that was hiring. I took the job, and eventually became a supervisor of the place at the age of 21… the same bar you met me in.”

Every word he said, she absorbed, for she knew that this was going to be part of her as well as it was him. Even if they were never to go farther then this, she would never forget him. She wanted to make him feel better, feel loved. She wanted him to know that he was not alone. She lifted her arms and slipped her hands behind his neck, and holding her right with her left. He smiled at her and began to speak again.

“Give me the depth of love that springs
From friendship in misfortune grown,
As ivy to the ruin clings
When every other hope has flown.

Give me that fond confiding love
That nought but death itself can blight;
A flame that slander cannot move,
But burns in darkness doubly bright.”

She held him tight and looked into his eyes, and for the first time in years she began to cry. The dams that she had so carefully constructed were now blow to oblivion. No one had ever seen her cry, no one save the wind, the rain and the earth. Yet the simple smile and quote brought all the walls down, and let loose the raging river of her emotions. She made not a sound, her face in a small returning smile. She simply stood there, in his embrace and let all the pain of eleven years of solitude go. She knew now, she was never going to be truly alone. That no matter where life took her, no matter how many men Sekhmet killed, there was always hope. Without a second thought, she kissed him.