~ The Hit Job ~ (Open to All)

[*Casimir Goetschl]

The winds howled through the hills of London. He could not be far. He dragged his feet, lugging them along as he pushed his body forward, his hand pressing against a wound on his left shoulder. Night had fallen on London and now Casimir knew it was time to try and make his way to the only safe place he could. Though the air was cold, sweat beaded on his face as his skin turned a pale white. He had to get away... away from those who pursued him. Goetschl fell to a knee. Pain coursed through his body, his hand drenched in blood. Shock was going to set in soon, very soon. Had the bullet hit the main artery of the shoulder? He could not tell, all Goetschl knew was that it was getting harder to focus, harder to concentrate, harder to continue on.

"He went this way!" The distant voice of one of his purseurs echoed through the air.

"Jesus." Taking several breaths, Casimir pushed himself to his feet. He had to be close to the London Coven, to Aubrey, to anyone really. He knew the area... didn't he? His car wrecked on M4 and he bolted into the woods, the men after him in hot pursuit. What did they want? What had he done? The Federal Agent could not call for support, his cell was missing. He had no way to alert the Bureaus field office in London of his distress nor could he call the London Coven.

The human was on his own.

Again he pushed himself along, his eyes trying to find any sign of other life ahead of him Any chance that a Vampire whom knew of him would assist or some place he could get shelter. "Please... someone..." Casimir began to stumble as he once more got light headed. He continued across the hills surrounding London and spotted what he had been aiming for. Forest. If he had any chance at survival it was to make it to the tree line and vanish into the darkness within. The problem was, the slower he got, it seemed the faster those men were catching up. The air was crisp though his body felt like fire. Sweat slid down his face, dripped from his chin while some stung his eyes. His throat was dry, his voice now raspy and the breathing was labored. "Keep... going... keep... going..."

The trees were so close now, he could smell the vegetation on the gusty breeze. Panic mixed with joy set in as he drew closer... and closer. His heart seemed to skip beats, his chest aching. Goetschl knew the routine. The people he himself chased down while working had the reaction he had now, self preservation. It was needed, a natural human instinct which ensured the survival of a person. Well... what good did it do a severely injured individual. "Coven... protection... now.... anyone..." his thoughts were chaotic and random, unconsciousness now flirting with the young man.

He felt the bullet before he heard the pop which echoed throughout the hills and forest surrounding him. He felt the second and third before he heard their pops. Both echoing as the first had. The first punched through his right calm, the second and third shoving their way into the back of his thigh. Casimir went down, his face just inches from the first tree which marked the beginning of the forest.

He lay motionless for several minutes before he saw the two figures make their appearance above him. The moonlight beat down upon him and with their faced glancing downwards, a dark shadow cast over them, limiting the detail he saw.

"You should have kept your nose out of New York, Mr. Goetschl. Now those close to you will need to pay the price." The man to the right spoke. "It was none of your business, none of your concern. Instead, not only must you suffer but we are dealing with Mr. Abad. In fact, he's being dealt with as we speak. We just can not let any ole' federal agent, no matter where they live, to be snooping around out business and an example must be made."

"Stop. You don't...." Casimir coughed hard, "You don't need to do this."

"Yes we do." The second man chimed in.

"You know the slogan 'Curiosity killed the cat'? That is no more true than it is now." The first man replied. He pointed his pistol, a generic 9 millimeter and pulled the trigger twice. Both bullets slammed into his hip. "Slow and painful and not a soul around to help."

Casimir was too tired to scream out in pain, too tired to try and resist. He hurt and hurt a lot but what was he suppose to do? As both men simply walked away, Goetschl lay perfectly still, finally removing the hand from the wound on his shoulder.

"God I'm even too exhausted to cry." Goetschl smarted to himself. Not one too typically cry, he had always thought he would in an event like this but when it felt like he should... the tears refused to fall.

Ironic.

[* ``Audri;]

London. A decent place, a decent get away. Audri was in need of a break from New York. From the life she’d given away. Nothing felt normal back home.

Here, she sat in the middle of a forest. She turned the pages of a book idly, a shabby cabin providing her support as she leaned back. A sigh passed her lips as a small and weakened voice met her ears. She strained to hear. Was it really a voice she heard? Not willing to take chances, she got up, stuffing her ratty book in the bag at her side. She took off toward the edge of the forest, toward the sounds she’d hoping to only have imagined.

She got a bit closer, and a rapid secession of popping noises hit her ears. She stopped dead in her tracks. Were those bullets? she asked herself. She was close enough now to make out outlines of men standing, both talking. She couldn’t quite make out what they were saying; Her mind was racing. What was she to do if she found an injured human?

She ducked behind a tree momentarily, watching as the two men walked away. She hit her hands against her jean pockets; Not even a match. Her thoughts went blank, but quietly she crept from her hiding place. She didn’t know what she expected to find, only that it couldn’t be anything good. However, a crumpled human body didn’t shock her as much as it should.

Silently, she swore, dropping to the ground next to this person. The salty metallic smell of blood hit her senses, and she momentarily closed her eyes to defeat the urges. Now’s no time to desire a snack, she thought to herself. She grabbed this strangers hand, stretching it over her lap. Carefully, she placed two fingers over his wrist. If she’d been breathing, she’d have held her breath until she was sure she felt something. But there it was, a small and very faint thump against her fingertips.

”Poor thing,” she muttered quietly, unsure if he had enough strength to muster a response. She wasn’t skilled in first aid, and she wasn’t sure how to handle this. This may do no good, she thought to herself, biting her lip and ripping shreds from her shirt. Carefully, she secured them to stop blood flow. She couldn’t be sure if she did anything right, but there wasn’t anyway to tell. Granted, if he died at her hand, she knew she did something wrong.

She shook her head slightly. ”Up you go,” she said softly, carefully lifting the stranger off the ground. Watch me kill this man, she thought to herself as she once again ran toward the dingy cabin she’d come from.

Once reaching the door, she used a shoulder to push it open. It was small, and in desperate need of lighting, but it did her just fine. She crossed the room, lying the broken man out across her couch. The bed was folded away, so this was the best she could manage.

She crossed the room and built up a fire, watching the room suddenly take an orange glow. She sat on the ground in the far corner of the room. Nothing to do now, she thought, but sit and wait.

[*Casimir Goetschl]

Flirting with the unknown was not something the Agent was use too. Unlike most people, he knew that each day he faced meeting one of three possibilities. The first being his fellow man, humans. Most were dodgy and rather ignorant of what truly lurked around them. The Agent should have known better, should have been prepared. Tonight of all nights he had chosen not to wear his vest. It would have at least stopped the shot to the shoulder with nothing more than a nasty bruises left as a remembrance. Due to his own ignorance, his own overconfidence in his personal security, Goetschl chose not to wear what had arguably saved him on numerous occasions. Still, the flirtation of darkness, the darkness that would either bring about a coma like state or eternal darkness to which Goetschl would never arise from continued to grapple with the electrical signals his brain was sending his eyes, pleading for them to stay open.

The appearance of another figure did not so much take Casimir by surprise as it did finish unnerving him. He wanted peace in death but what he could make out of this new arrival was that she was shorter than the two men. Was she here to finish him off? Was she the person that apparently ordered the hits on he and Josef Abad? There was no time to concern himself. All he wanted was the ability to die in peace, not a horrid death to which he had personally seen many. What she did next could be constituted as nothing more than a curve ball.


”Poor thing,” the woman spoke. Her tone was low but his hearing was at least keen. Was she mocking him? Was she being cynical? All he knew, in his fight or flight reaction, the reaction that was trying to pump more adrenaline through his system was he could not trust her. He could not trust anyone in his state. His body, however, refused to move. He listened to the rip of fabric then felt her fiddle around with his body, as if wrapping his wounds. The shoulder was first, and as she moved in, he still could not make out her face. The night sucked sometimes. She wrapped the shots to his legs but the waist was a tougher sell. Being shot twice in the hip hurt but it was not the most painful injuries sustained. What she did to stop the bleeding to the waist, didn't matter. His focus was not off of her and trying to maintain some sense of consciousness.

”Up you go,” her voice broke the silence once more. Before Casimirs raspy voice could object, he was lifted into the air... almost with ease. 'What the hell?' he thought, his eyes widening. Sense of time was distorted, as was sense of location. He knew he was close to the coven house... wasn't he? Then the thoughts set in... a house full of Vampires... a house full of male Vampires who held nothing but disdain for the pet. He would have been nothing but a meal. He would make it no further than the front gates before he was sucked down like a slushy on a hot day. Even Aubrey would not be able to save him in time. Would he have been a snack of her's personally?

Paranoia was firmly set.



His eyes shot open, blinking occurring in rapid succession. Naturally his torso shot up but he shouted in pain as the nerve receptors shot to life. "Crap." He smarted, his head meeting the back of the small bed he lay on, his eyes tightly shut waiting for the pain to die down slightly. Where was he? The scents of the forest, the breeze were gone. The last memory he had was being carried through a forest. New sounds filled his ears as a calmer state befell him garnishing his attention. Wood surrounding him, encased him like an over sized coffin. Blinking rapidly once more, his eyes went from a foggy haze to somewhat clear. 'A cabin?' he asked himself. Orange covered the walls, going from bright to dim which alerted him to the fireplace, inviting really... the warmth. The flames danced amongst themselves but it was the gleem, the reflection of the flames off the white of the eyes of a person, a woman, who sat in the corner of the room.

Gut instinct took over and Casimir went to draw his gun...

... but where was it?

He patted his hip, the right side bear of the weapon. 'Shit.' He thought. Tonight was not his night. The weapon was back with his wrecked car. When Goetschl drove, the gun always... always sat on the passengers seat, the cell rested in the cup holder. When the car wrecked, lord knows where the two went too but odds were, they still rested within the black metal heap that was once a Ford Fusion. "I am a Fede..." He then caught himself. If she was a Brit she would not care he worked for the United States Government. How should he play this? "My name is Casimir Goetschl." If he was deeper into the woods surrounding London, he knew local Vamps patrolled them. It would not be long until the scent of blood drew them in.

His eyes, with as much focus as they could maintain, ensured they remained upon the woman as he spoke one more, "Who are you?" He coughed several time, his lungs aching with each exhale of breath, "And most importantly... where am I?"

[*Olivia Aisling]

They stood some distance from the cabin, Olivia's hunter green eyes locked onto the cabin like an owl to a field mouse. The scent lingered in the air. His scent. Her fangs exposed, she allowed herself the tantalizing and forbidden thoughts that trailed through her mind. He was so close, so injured, so weak... he was ripe for the picking, that human that Lady Mayor held in such high regard. She was near salivation at the thought of tasting from that which had been strictly forbidden. "He's right in there." Olivia's spoke.

"I know." A deeper, masculine one replied. "He's safe." Judge came to stand beside Olivia and with a flick of his wrist, the other Vampires of the London Coven whom had been out in the search vanished into the darkness, heading home. The Coven was obligated for this humans protection, this humans safety. Along with that protection, an elite few were charged with watching over him in Lady Mayors absence. "She is not going to be happy with us. We let him go to New York without an escort and now he's been injured. Severely."

Olivia turned her attention towards Judge. One of Aubreys two immediate hands, he and Wicked were her most trusted servants, Olivia meanwhile was trying to climb up the Coven social ladder. The only thing holding her back... was her inability to keep her hands of other peoples... toys. In this case, her hands seemed to want to focus on the human that most men in the coven grew increasingly jealous of. "When she returns to London, she'll have our heads for this." Olivia explained, her gaze returning to the cabin.

"Yes." Judge could feel the faint heart beat, his ears focusing solely on that alone. "We only knew of his trouble based on what we saw from the news reports of the car wreck on M4. He's the only person I know who drives a Ford Fusion in London and I immediately knew it was him. Aubrey would have felt him in the wreck, felt him being hurt. There is little doubt she will be on her way back now. For your safety Olivia, I suggest you start controlling your urges. No one knows how long Aubrey will tolerate your continued outward lust towards her pet." It was well known, Aubreys jealousy over any attention given towards her pet that she did not allow or any attention her pet gave another. The Coven knew of Olivia's attraction and no one dared correct her until Aubrey gave word.

"But he's in there with another Vamp. That is unacceptable."

"...and it is not your place to take action. We will only act if he is in trouble. Otherwise we stay put." Judges mind flickered back to the momentary chaos that enveloped the coven when all available had come down to watch the news feed in the main room. Olivia, Judge, and the others watched with absolute attention as the news copter focused on the flaming wreck. When the reporter had stated the man of the vehicle was seen running into the woods, Judge dispatched anyone around to go search. It was not long until Olivia and Judge came across what must have been the place Casimir had fallen. His blood seemed pooled around the same spot at the edge of the tree line and the scent of another Vampire and humans only ushered the urgency. The questions that now loomed was what exactly did Aubreys Pet get himself into?

"He would be safer in the Coven House."

"With the amount of blood I think he's lost and how strong it's filling the air around here, it may be too dangerous to immediately move him." Judge explained. "Only if we must, will we enter and get him."

Olivia could not nothing but comply. Going against Judge who ran the coven in Aubreys absence would be equal to going against Aubrey personally. A certain death wish. "Fine." Olivia huffed. Still, she would enjoy the scent of his blood, the forbidden fruit for the London Vampires while she could.

[*Olivia Aisling]

The front door of the cabin was kicked in, drawing the attention of Olivia and Judge. Shouting could be heard and the smell of another human filled the air. Judge glanced at Olivia but both held the same expressions. Danger. With no hesitation they rushed towards the cabin, each coming up along opposite sites. The windows were covered from the inside by reinforced wood, to prevent light from getting out... or in.

Inside, another gentleman stood over Casimir, who lay in the bed with a rag over his eyes. "Can't ever trust someone to get the job done. If you want it done right, you have to do it yourself it seems." Slowly the gentleman pulled a pistol from the front of his pants, having it rested between his hip and belt. With gloved black hands, he took careful aim. Even in the small amount of lighting the cabins fire offered, his green eyes sparkled, his face clean shaven and his hair tied back. Showing absolutely no fear he took a step closer to Goetschl.

Without sound, Judge gripped the gunman's neck and threw him into a sidewall. His body bounced off the wall and onto the floor where Olivia was there to meet him. A knee to the side of his temple put him out cold. "Don't!" Judge snapped at Olivia who seemed to be aiming to go in for the kill. "We need to figure out who he is first."

"The other Vamp?" Olivia asked questioningly while glancing around.

"She must have picked up on our scent and this humans. I sense this is her makeshift home. We will make note to let Lady Mayor know another Vamp is in our territory." Judge explained. Then his attention turned towards Casimir. The human was covered in sweat, covered in blood, his own. Judge had an acute sense with his smell, more so than his sight and knew Casimir needed help. "Olivia."

The female tossed the unconscious human outside the front door and turned to face judge. In the commotion that was the break in and dealing with this human, her senses had not picked up on what was most important, what was so inviting. Goetschl. His blood held a vice grip on her senses, her fangs piercing through her gums as she approached Casimir. Salvation almost took place as she eyed the motionless human. "Wasn't he just moving?" remembering the sounds she had heard, the faintness of his voice.

"Yes." Judge replied. A sneer escaped his lips as his gaze went from the Pet to the attacker. stalking outside, Judge kicked the human in the gut, sending his body into the air before slamming back down. That jerked the man awake who let out several harsh coughs. "YOU!"

The humans vision was a blur but he spotted the figure of Judge. "Wha..."

"Who are you?"

"I can't tell you." The man smarted back.

"You will!" Again another kick from Judge, this time sending the man into a nearby tree.

His scream echoed throughout the forest as Judge heard a harsh pop. The humans hip had snapped. "Ok... dear god ok, just stop!" he coughed after another harsh scream. Judge made his way over and stomped the mans hand, forcing a squealed plea for mercy, "Franklin! My name is Franklin!"

"Do you have any idea who you are trying to kill?"

"Casimir Goetschl."

"Why?"

"I...." he say Judge come in for another kick, "O.k. I'll tell you." he coughed again, "Ill tell you." His glance turned towards the door of the Cabin as Olivia stood, watching and listening. "My Master received word that Casimir Goetschl was in New York. What most people thought was that he was there to help out some banker with irregularities. When he began putting pieces together we decided that we could not have him snooping around anymore so we set up a fake meeting for him to come back to meet with his boss. Of course when he arrived and noted there was no meeting, it dawned on him that something was wrong. That's when we struck. My men got him into the woods but wandered off without confirming he died so I came back."

"So you thought killing him here, where he has a Covens protection was a bright idea?"

"No. We were trying to stop him before the Coven realized what was happening.. My Master knows about Casimir and knows who specifically he belongs too..." Suddenly the man started laughing. "What Casimir does not know is that as we speak, his Parents are recieving some unwelcomed visitors in Montana." his laugh became labored but sadistic. "No one messes with us."

Olivia was on him quicker than a blink of an eye. She ripped the man from the ground, lifting him by his neck and holding him in the air. "What of his family?"

Judge turned and glanced at the home. "Does Casimir know?"

"Not yet." The man continued to laugh. "But he will.... oh he will..."

"Olivia he is of no more use." She took the cue. With her grip around the back of his neck, a swift jerk of her fingers snapped the spine. She let his lifeless body slump to the ground.

[*Casimir Goetschl]

There was nothing more humbling than to be carried through the forest. Nothing was more embarrassing than to be carried by a woman. Olivia held onto Casimir, an arm supporting his back while another held the legs. Judge walked just a few feet ahead. He kept fighting between consciousness and unconsciousness, slipping in and out of darkness but still, what little glances he could catch of Olivia, her eyes were locked on his face and when Goetschl could muster enough strength to turn his head, Judge gave a glance backwards. The only thoughts that seemed to run through Casimirs head was the continual thought of Oh Shit. The Pet was in trouble and based on the silence and atmosphere around these two Vamps, it was a lot.

They emerged from the woods surrounding the Coven house. Every light in the home was on and it seemed every Vampire who was there this evening was waiting in some facet. Most were wandering about, as if trying to not make it obvious that they were waiting to see in what condition Olivia and Judge were bringing Cas back in while others wanted to be obvious, openly staring. As Goetschl turned back towards Olivia, he spotted two more figures emerge from the woods, near the same spot they had.

Cane and Abel.

Had the Twins been in search of Casimir as well? Funny. If they had it would have been out of their nature, given the tension that was held between them and Casimir in regards to Aubrey. Quietly they made their way into the home, "Talena!" Judge shouted.

'Who was Talena?' Casimir thought quietly, his eyes now shut. He felt Olivia walked through the home, and gently set him on the floor near the fireplace. He was in the den and based on how quiet everyone was being, there were quite a few vampires gathering.

"Casimir." a softer voice spoke, "Open your eyes." The human did as was told. "I'm Talena Macel." She spoke.

Casimir did as was told and, well, was not expecting to see someone dressed as she was. Immediately, Talena pushed her self in, her eyes just an inch from his own. Goetschl swung at her, not liking anyone so close to his body. Macel caught his arm mid swipe and shoved it to the floor. "Limited dilation and movement of the pupils. Based on what I've seen of him right here, he has a severe concussion and I will need to remove the bullets. Judge, get me the sharpest knives you can find as well towels. All you can get your hands on. This is going to be messy. Olivia get me needle, thread. Casimir," Talena turned her focus back to the human, "this is going to hurt."

Goetshl was simply too weak to object. It was in the flicker of the fireplaces light of the Coven home that Goetschl saw the glimmer of Talenas fangs. His eyes glanced about, spotting each Vampire in the room, all of their fangs extended. They were showing extreme self control at this moment, if nothing more than because of their absolute fear for the woman whom ruled this home.

"I want everyone out of this room while I get to work." Talena snapped.

[*Olivia Aisling]

Olivia stood with Judge in the hallway, acting as guards. The majority of the homes occupants were cluttered in and around, many having returned early from their hunts heaving received words of Goetschl's return. The atmosphere had gone from relief to absolute nervousness. The entire coven failed. While Aubrey was away, it was their jobs to ensure her pets protection. How he managed to elude the coven, how he managed to get to New York and then back without their being made aware. It showed his skills. When Aubrey had departed for whatever it was that the Lady of the home did just north of the city, Goetschl became... unpredictable. Olivia learned that, as did Judge. The human felt as though he only answered to Aubrey, even if Olivia and Judge were suppose to watch him. Admirable that his loyalty to Aubrey was that strong but a pity he would not have at least alerted the coven to what he was doing. Though it was also their own fault that he was hurt.

Then his screams started. Talena had gotten to work. To prevent Cas from fighting her, Judge and Olivia tied his body to the coffee table, pinning his arms under it so the Vampire, whom in her previous life had been a surgeon, could get to work. No one looked at each other, even Judge who always carried an air of superiority and of confidence was forced to lower his head. By now word had gotten out about the attack in the woods then at the cabin and some had overheard a brief conversation between Olivia and Judge about Casimir's family being a target. How would Casimir react and what did they mean that Goetschl would find out.

His screams continued and with each one, each Vampire within the Coven shook slightly, knowing that his screams were symbolic examples of their failures. Lady Mayor was good to them, all of them but when they failed, when they messed up, she was cruel and justly so. The smell of his blood filled the air of the home, so strongly that even those outside took notice. Those who had returned early from their hunts, those whom had not fed quaked in pain as the lust for fresh fluids took their senses over. Still, they kept their composures, even as it tore them up, their bodies pleading for the life giving fluids that dripped from Goetschl. Blood was blood but when Casimir was the Pet to Aubrey, the only thing she fed from, a key difference from Schuyler, they respected the boundaries. Everyone loved Aubrey. No one would want her anger. Though it would be coming, it was felt much like an oncoming thunder storm.

Mayor was drawing close to London now.



"Finished." Talena said, emerging from the den. She was a wreck. Completely topless, having removed her coat and laying it across Goetschl's torso though her once tanned skin was bloodied over. Her hair a mess, her hands, forearms, chest, abdomen and legs were covered in Casimir's crimson fluids.

"Wash up." Judge ordered. The subtle warning was for Talena not to taste of the blood. If she did, it was a death sentence and the former surgeon knew it.

"I will. He needs to be moved to Lady Mayors quarters. Clean his body with luke warm water." Talena explained, "Oh Judge." She grasped the elder Vampires bicep, "I only gave him a couple hours at most. Without Aubrey, he won't survive to see dawn." Letting go, Talena vanished towards her quarters, more specifically her shower.

Judge made his way into the den, snagging up the bloody clothes and immediately tossing them into the fireplace. "Olivia, clean Casimir. Everyone else, clean the floor, table and anywhere else his blood could be. I'm making a call."

Before Olivia could ask, Judge made his way into the main kitchen, where he snagged a cordless phone. Checking through the call log, he spotted the number he was aiming for and pressed dial. It took a minute to ring, as the international call registered through the various systems. Four rings and then a voice mail picked up. Casimir's mother had a heavenly voice. Wonderful. Judge had spoken to her once before, briefly though. "Mrs. Goetschl. This is Judge, calling on behalf of Lady Mayor." All that Casimirs parents knew was that their son was staying in the home of a noble. They knew nothing of Vampires nor Werewolves and Goetshl made it clear thats how he wanted it to stay. "Could you give us a call back? Thank you." He hung up but did not set the phone down.

He dialed another number, this time speaking with the international phone service provider. After asking for the number to the Butte Montana Police Department, Judge let the answering officer know he was concerned over the Goetshls, using the reasoning no one has heard from them in weeks. With a reassurance from the officer that someone would go investigate the residence, Judge hung up then set the phone down before reentering the den. Olivia had already moved Casimir while the other Vampires still got to cleaning. "Burn the rags when your done." He ordered before making his leave to find Olivia and Casimir.