Whysteria Cafe (Gabriel)

[within7temptation]

The night was clear and beautiful, with the moon at just passed full... Pleny of light without the street-lamps or the lamps that filled the lovely garden that surrounded the Whysteria Cafe.
It was about ten thirty at night, and Moonlight Sonata Op. 27, Number 2 -Beethoven, played in the background. The volume was low, almost too low for any of the mortals to hear as they sipped their caffinated beverages and spoke with one another about the latest bands or the newest books. She herself loved music and had spent many day-light hours reading. But she had read so much that, these days, books bord her. After all, in almost seven hundred years, she had read every plot and every ending. She could guess an entire book, and be correct nine times out of ten, just by being told what the title was and getting a breif description of the main character, or the main two characters, seeing as modern day books never semed to have just one. Well, at least some of today's novels were more complicated than the books of the past. Some, but not all...
She lifted a white ceramic cup to her rosey lips with a slight smile. Pale, slender fingers taped buisily upon the top of the table as she listened to the music. This woman had the hands of a pianist; Small palms with thin and elegant fingers. Well manicured nails and three rings; An old mood ring that had turn a constant black on her left thumb, a silver band with a small amythest on her right pinky, and on her left ring finger was a thin, silver band. Carved within this particular ring was "The Aspect may change, but the Essence remains the same." Around her neck was a silver chain that left a silver pentacle suspened right abouve her brest and tended to draw attention to her clevage. The coffe she drank was blavk with plenty of sugar and it burned a little as it passed her soft lips and slid down her lovely throat. Tonight, she was calm, so mortals were not oddly drawn to her or tempted to watch her every movement.
Sadly, over her long and immortal life, her Empathy had changed. It was no longer the simple "I could easily know your every emotion if I focused on you." Now it was, "I know exactly how you feel and I can make you feel feelings that are mine and not yours. And you will be drawn to me for no reason and do what I want you too without me telling you." But, like most Gifts, hers had its faults. Yes, she'd been able to get one or two people's attention at a time by just focusing on them. But now, save for getting some one's attention, her power only worked on mortals and the much younger vampires. If she tried to Enforce one that was her age or older, it would never work. Bu that did not matter, for there were so few that came within two hundred years of her age. Most did not make it to see their third century of life... Hells, she was probably the oldest vampire in England...
The thought depressed her. There were older Vampires, true. Several of them, around fifteen, were currently living in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania at either her castle or the mansion located about thirty miles north and five miles west of the castle. And there might have been eight or nine in America... Roughly sixty years ago. Oh well. She lived here for now, in London. 'Live for tonight. Contemplait your issues at dawn.' She had told herself that so many times in the past few years.
Taking another sip of coffee, the woman reached up with her left hand and slipped a stray lock of her hip-length curles of silky, molten copper behind her ear. She had not bothered to do anything with her hair tonight, save for wash it with lavender shampoo and conditioner, Suave brand, and then put a light layer of hair-spay in it to keep it from frizzing and such. Her long locks were accented by one silver hoop in each ear lobe and her very essentric make-up, which was shades of black and dark grays tonight. Covering her well-curved form was a rather lovely dress. The sleaves were thin, only an inch wide, and had a bad habit of falling off of her delicate shoulders, much as they had now. The bodice of the powdered blue satine dress was tight around her little torso due to the fact that it laced up from just above the V of her legs to the top. Speaking of which, the neck-line came down in a curving v-neck to show a generouse portion, but not too much of her brests. The ribbon used for the lacing was made of silver silk. As for the skirt of her dress, it went down to completely cover her small feet, save for the slit that ran all the way up to her hip on the left side. She wore no shoes and the thin material, though modest for these current times, hinted at the form of a seductress. After all, with legs that were a bit too long in proportion to her torso and arms and a tiny waist with size thirty six hips, she was quite a site when she stood to go and get more coffee.
Her blue-gray eyes were constant, for once. Not changing color tonight... Yet. Duskarie smirked as she sat back down; Just because she was not drawing mortal's attention with her Gift did not mean that she did not feel their eyes on her when they watched her move. 'Mortal Men... Each one is just the same as the one before.' She sipped more of her coffee.

[gabriel]

There was so much to do in death. As he strode through the periphery of the garden, the male vampire explored the hours he'd set aside simply to bask in solitude and what little enchantment remained in the world. People were two dimension any more. Nature, however "unremarkable" a particular scene might be, was never quite the same twice. Gardens were something of an exemption seeing how mortals had to keep the place just so perfectly "preserved." Preserved. It needed no preservation, but from the Humans that callously trampled over it in favor of their concrete roads and buildings. Sprawling out in all directions in the name of "progress." Progress. Yes, mortals always talked a good game about their progress.

There were only two fields he would grant them progress and in truth could all fall under one branch of thought: science. Science and, more importantly, Medical Science. Even then their progress was slowing, if not stalled. Monopolies and self adsorbed, self righteous, greedy bastards--the type that had danced in castles while the country side was ravished in disease or languished on the field of battle--scurried and clawed at anything threatening their stable, predictable, and scripted means of acquiring wealth...and for what? A vampire should be entitled to amassing wealth! They wouldn't die from old age, cardiac arrest, disease, or any other numerous means of becoming dead weight to be buried and swiftly left to the foot notes of history as having been the building blocks of what should have been something better. Better. Better medicine all so the wars Humans fought every new generations could go on longer, with fewer casualties for your side--the other side could rot in Hell for anyone cared.

Gabriel hissed to himself, casting his eyes side at a bushel of roses. He reached out and gently slipped his fingers under and around the blooming bud yearning for little, unassuming insects to come around and pollinate it without the slightest idea of what unintentional duty it carried out every day. Such soft, silken petals of deep red to ensnare the senses. Gently rubbing it with his thumb, the man stood there for the longest moment letting the bitterness and weight of creation fall from his shoulders before it consumed him and drove him mad. As a mortal immortality was such a blessing, but as the centuries passed it became more of a curse; a curse, like a drug, you didn't want to shake.

The soft, but crisp notes of a piano in a particular rhythmic order drew his eyes from the rose he caressed fondly. Beethoven? Yes. It was him. His music. Having attended several concerts at the man's height in life Gabriel could not say he mistook this performer for the man himself or his style. Still, the composer had an ear for convey emotion itself through his work and that spirit lingered in each song that had survived the ages.

A cafe basking in the quiet presence of the music scarcely heeded by consumers caught his eye as soon as thoughts of Beethoven drifted from his mind. Yes, a moment of lounging there, floating in calm sea of mortals, would suffice. Better than the prattling on of businessmen, the loud music of younger generations, or the fake laughter of strippers teasing a few more dollars from men trapped in their own little fantasy.

Approaching the edge of the cafe, however, his bright, green eyes shifted over the crowd before settling on a woman in black and silver. An itch gnawed at his fangs as his senses took in the scent of another predator already present. It was nothing personal, simply a matter of instinct. Their numbers had grown over the course of the age as their prey multiplied--swelled--and could support a boom of vampiric growth. Not all of it was planned, of course; there were younger vampires that were simply foolish or outright stupid believing they could simply "take over" the world and reign supreme. They considered older ones, like him, too slow. Meanwhile Gabriel considered them ignorant and a product of their generation--self entitled brats that lacked discipline.

Dressed in a black Armani suit, Gabriel turned his path to sweep in toward the other vampire on scene. A smile lifted his lips outward. It would be rude not to introduce himself to such a fine, attractive woman. A romantic he was not, but that didn't mean he'd lost his sex drive or simple curiosity regarding new faces.

"Good evening," Gabriel's voice was a strong baritone and held subtle mirth in its tone as he came into view of the "goth" woman resting there in peace. "May I join you a moment? It is a pleasant night for company."

[within7temptation]

Cold... It had just gotten so damned cold... No. Wait. It had not. The others within the room were still acting as though they were enjoying the mild atmosphere of the cafe. And yet chill bumps had rissen for a moment all over her slim form. And now there was a distinct and nagging pressure within her skull. It was not an ache, but a sign... There was another of her forever growing kind entering... She could smell him now; Roses and night time. He had just come in from a walk in the garden, it seemed. Quickly, the ageless woman made an attempt to adjust the straps of her powdery blue dress, but they just fell again. Persisten, even though they were not live things. Her scowl lasted only a moment before she saw him drawing near to her out of the corner of her eye... Wich had just turned silver. The damned color changers.
A shiver ran through her, starting at the base of her neck and then sliding down her spine, as she listened to his voice. It was pleasant and it made her eager to give him permission. She waved one gelegant hand at the seat across from her and smiled slightly.
He was an attractive man, tall and... There was something about him that interested her. But she could not place her slender little fingers on it. It was something that not all vampires had. Something special... Gods damn it all, she could not figure it out! The pressurein her mind increased until her eyes widened just enough for other vampire to notice and for humans to ignore. Her crystaline orbs had also darkened to teal. 'That's it...' Her mind was racing by now as she had realized the problem and had relaxed, though her eyes were still dark at the moment. 'He's one of the older males of our kind.' Her smile warmed as she leaned back in her chair some.
"Might I ask whom my new companion is?" Her voice held mixed accents. Irish, from her birthplace, and Spanish from her father. Romanian from her late husband, and the fact that Romania was her one real home. And Brittish, from all the time she tended to spend here. She lifted her hand to play with a stray lock of her coppery hair.

[gabriel]

"Might I ask whom my new companion is?"

Gabriel kept the smile on his lips as he bowed his head in respectful acceptance of her generous offer to take a seat at her table. Quite an honor to meet such a lovely lady in such an elegant atmosphere. A very attractive, experience lady that wouldn't lash out like a child or try to towering over him as an ancient testament of Human and Vampire races alike. Obviously one either trapped in mysticism of her era or basking in the abandonment of the present. Such a brooding, predatory look she had about her all wrapped up in an approachable, even sensual appearance.

"Cross," he replied to her polite askance, the man rising from his seat to offer to kiss the Lady's hand, "Gabriel Cross. I am honored to meet such pleasant and beautiful company. It is not often gallant companionship is found." True, there were some Humans that held his attention longer than the space it took their scent to fade, but over the past century he'd come to enjoy the presence of his own kind over that of passing mortals.

As he settled down into the chair she'd offered moments ago, Gabriel regarded the regal Lady whose emotions and thoughts might run rampant at any moment. How many years had she seen, he wondered? What conversations could they hold at length? He could scarcely begin to comprehend the sheer breadth of possibility that lay out between them. He'd the pleasure of such company before, someone that'd lived more than a single lifetime, and was absolutely enthused about yet another opportunity. Well, and to be fair to his guest, a marvelous chance to simply bask in the radiance of a striking woman. He was hardly some teenager swept up in the hormonal desire to procreate; on the other hand he certain did enjoy a little late night passion between himself and another--or two. As far as Gabriel was concerned the least he would get was a conversation, and the best a conversation, an evening of pleasant company, and perhaps even wild, indescribable sex (centuries bestowing more knowledge of the art than any one book could contain).

Now to focus on the moment and drink in Duskarie's aura that surrounded her this night.

[within7temptation]

She let the random lock of coppery silk fall and picked up her ceramic mug once again to sip at the steaming liquid elegantly. The entire time, though, she kept her eyes riveted upon the man's face. There were emotions playing in his eyes that she, because her was an immortal of great age, could not pick up on. There were moments every once in a while that she wished that her gift, or curse if you preffered, had no handicaps. But she knew that he was as fully aware of what she was as she was of him. They were, after all, of the same breed.
"...Gabriel..." she lowered her cup to the glass table with a soft clink. "Like the Warrior Angel, known throughout all religions as neither good, nor evil, but terrible and great all at the same time. Champion to the God of Gods and more powerful than any other of his kind." Her smile was genuine. The woman rarely spoke of religiouse matters for her own beleifs were quite different from the veiws of most any other creature's. Paganism. Of course, the pentacle she wore about her neck made her opinions crystal clear.
"Waitress, please bring my new friend a cup of coffee." Duskarie had turned her face towards the counter, but kept her eyes on the man before her. He intrigued her. The way he had carried himself. The way he could keep his secrets to himself when so many others did not even realize that she knew their every emotion. His build, his eyes. Her mind was running wild by the time the girl, a human, had brought the coffee.
"You do enjoy coffee, do you not?" Her left index finger traced the rim of her cup, the silver band on her ring finger catching the dim light and reflecting it. She hoped that she was not anerving this man by wearing the wedding band that her late husband had placed upon her.

[gabriel]

Relaxing opposite of his eternal companion, Gabriel just kept smiling not only for politeness' sake, but from a genuine interest in the woman before him. Toward what end remain up for debate, but just being there was sufficient for the moment. Strange how time taught you patience, while at the same time there were things that should not be put off simply because there was time to spare.

Her lips, dark and sensual, parted to speak words that drew the muscles of his back to tighten. The smile lost just a hair of it genuine nature and was replaced by a sliver of forced nature. Religion. Fortunate that the experienced Vampiress wouldn't come off ranting about how any one of the major religions on the planet was The One, True Religion and that he should conform to its tenants. Gabriel despised creatures that believed they held The Absolute Answer to Everything. As if they could scarcely begin to comprehend the world around them! Gabriel, himself, only understood the affairs of Planet Earth. Who could tell what remain unexplored out in the vastness of space?

He had to concede, however, the lady's astute recollection. "A man of everything and nothing," he replied in agreement. It was a fact his parents had chosen the name for him for their own religious beliefs. As a baby it'd hardly been his choice, nor could he have foreseen becoming a Vampire and wandering the world over six centuries. All beliefs and no belief in a single package. He was receptive to the strange ideas that came and went with Humanity, so long as they recognized where their beliefs ended where his began and respected that difference.

"As you, my Lady, may be as well." Gabriel's emerald eyes fell on that pentagram as it hung suspended over her breasts, the light merrily dancing upon its silver surfaces. "A powerful and praise worthy symbol," the vampire mused, having no shortage of appreciation for the Modern creation, The Church of Satan. Quite unlike most people would believe from the name itself, that Church didn't worship the Devil--which Gabriel wouldn't have minded in any event considering Vampires would no doubt have been blood relatives--but simply what the Devil stood for (aside from Murder, Carnage, and Destruction of property, after all you reap what you sow): lust, greed, passion, desire, revelry, abandon, and so forth. The Lady, however, could ascribe to any number of beliefs that might fall under Paganism. It had become more of a catch all by the dominant religions these days--heathen, heretic, blasphemer.

"You do enjoy coffee, do you not?"

As he traced a finger about the rim of the cup, Gabriel kept his eyes locked with those of the woman. "That depends on whether the stock is fresh or chemically processed." In the old days coffee could be fresh from the field. Ah, what a wonderful taste. Of course, in the old days the coffee could also be months old if you happened to reside in a village out in the middle of no where. Modern technology solved the delay in receipt, but it left man and woman weak to the thought that 'good enough' sufficed. Sacrifice the taste for mass production. There was some truly terrible coffee in the world nowadays.

Lifting the cup, Gabriel gently whisked some of the steamy fog from the placid surface of the brew with a breath. A smile spread out of his lips just for a moment before he took a sip of the beverage. The heat would have sent any mortal man out of their chair, running in circles while spitting the nearly boiling substance out. To Gabriel, however, the pain stung, but only just. Natural healing ability took care of any damage, years of living left the pain as duller sensation than not, but all the same it had given him that poignant reminder despite being dead Gabriel was very much alive. "It excites the senses. A good flavor to help us enjoy the garden landscape."

After setting the cup down with an equally soft click upon the saucer, he entertained a few speculations about the woman. "Come for the atmosphere, or the people?" Might help to know what the other's expectations and plans were; after all, it'd be terrible of him to keep her from enjoying a late night snack if that'd been her purpose. They could share in the experience either way.

[within7temptation]

Her own Paganistic beleif was the of neither good, nor that of evil. In her heart, she saw things in shades of gray. There were reasons why people did things for "good," just as there were reasons why people did "evil" things. An Illusionist, she worshipped the Nordic goddess of all magick. Magick, she beleave, was just the same as a person. Grays of varying shades, but never trully white and never trully black. She traced her fingers over the right-side-up star-and-circle pendant as she finnally lowered her gaze to her mug. His eyes bothered her, just the same as every one else's did. She could not look into any person'e eyes for very long without becoming what the other person was, emotionally that is. Eyes were the Window to the Soul, after all. The worst thing for an Empth to do was look into another's eyes for more than a few minutes.
Fresh coffee... Excites the senses... A good flavor to help us enjoy the garden landscape. That was why she had chosen this particular cafe as her nightly haunt. Their coffee was always fresh and left her feeling relaxed and energized at the same time. Only the finest for herself, seeing as how she had reacted quite badly to the first cup of old coffee. She had already been a vampire by the time she had first started drinking coffee, so the "bad" coffee had left her feeling drained and very sick.
Having already fed about an hour before entering the warmly lit cafe, she had come here for the atmosphere, and she told him so. People tended to bore her quickly, with very few exceptions. "What about yourself, Gabriel? Hungry, or simply looking for some place to relax?" Duskarie stood and, leaving her emptied cup on the table, grinned her normal, lovely, and lusty grin. "Walk out into the garden with me?

[gabriel]

"Enjoying a pleasant evening away from business. Not everything had to be about them," Gabriel replied casually, expecting the other Vampire to know just who they were without actually saying 'mortal' or 'Human' and drawing a strange look from anyone--that anyone potentially being a spy for Hunters or Conspiracy Theorists that the elder Vampire simply wasn't in the mood to deal with at that moment. "But if I happen to indulge myself in a late snack with a beautiful Lady at myself," he mused, letting the thought trail off and replaced words with a smile. No, he certainly wouldn't mind enjoying a drink of blood with his own kind. They were predators, but not mindlessly territorial.

Then the offer of a walk in the park... Ah, so much more interesting. Slowly standing to his feet, Gabriel stepped around the table to help slide Duskarie's chair back to join him. It was distinctly possible she'd rise to her own feet, but then she couldn't fault him for trying to be polite. Chivalry may no mean much to their kind, but there were some Human traditions he didn't mind indulging when opportunities arose.

"I would be delighted." How could he pass up the opportunity? A relaxing evening in the garden with a lovely, experience Vampiress? Exquisite. He even offered her his arm for the journey. Nothing like a little romantic stroll through the night to set them in the mood.

[within7temptation]

Business? He ment to tell her that he, an elder of their eternal kind, actually worked? So strange... Maybe it was because the only work that Duskarie had ever done had consisted of Feeding, Fighting, and Equestrian and Canine work. After all, she had been born to a long line of horse breeders and dog breeders. So, naturally, she would wish to creat mounts and working dogs that were extremely intelligent, faster than and mortal could possibly imagine an animal of such being, with the amazing stamina of a werewolf. And, of course, her animals were immortals. Vampiric mounts and dogs, breed to perfection and then bitten. Of course, she did actually get out there and work with her creations. Her "babies," as she called them, needed to be trained, so she and a few of the other elders often got out and worked with them.
Her favorites were Korbaste, a very large and very black Friesian stallion, and Shadow Dog --more commonly reffered to as Korly(Core-lie)-- who was a black lab/border collie mixed bitch. She black with asingle white blaze from her throat to the base of her chest with several white toes and white on her lips. Breed for speed and stamina, even as a mortal dog she had been better than all others.
Once they were out of the garden, Duskarie smiled. Her hand was hooks gently through Gabriel's arm and resting there nicely. The smell ofso many differet and lovely flowers bombarded her scences the moment a light breeze came through to ruffle her coppery curls. She smiled as they walked, enjoying the night air, but stopped abrutly. She would never have known that the small rose that had caught her attention was the same rose that had caught Gabriel's. Her delicate fingers graced over the crimson petals in a motion that was so gentle than it was the same as the caress of a lover. She had once been told that roses were like women. Beautiful, but they did not care who got cut so long as they got what they wanted. She had corrected the mortal in telling him that roses were like pairs of lovers; Only one thing mattered, and everything else was irrelevent.
She stared at the rose for another long minute before she turned back to the man beside her. A slight rush of desire ran through her. Not enough to be considered lust, but it was still desire. She wanted to know this man, this elder, in any way possible.

[gabriel]

Gabriel lingered at Lady Duskarie's side with a faint smile on his lips. Watching as she reached out to caress the rose, the male Vampire's eyes sharpened and the emerald portals brightened beneath the vibrant moonlight suspended above. Such a magnificent woman--though he might say that about many such women he'd claimed, but rare few were of his own kind. He held no fear regarding the sinful avenues his thoughts took as he stood there in her company.

Once she turned back to him, their eyes met. Gabriel stepped in closer to the woman. Call it a character flaw, but he enjoyed the sensual company of others. Creativity was difficult after all these years, but the subtly between creatures kept the passion alive. Lady Duskarie was no different and, in fact, was more than some mortal Gabriel seduced into his embrace. So, even the hint of desire, to know more of the man before her, was akin to the scent a predator seized upon in hunting its prey.

His left hand slowly traveled up the woman's right arm as he stood before her as the rose bush sat an innocent, silent witness to the scene. "So few flowers that have come and gone embody the rich, velvet radiance of crimson vitae as a rose. Fewer still roam the world gracing the lands with its unmatched beauty." Without any signal to stop, the man's fingers would slip from her shoulder to caress the right side of the Lady's face. Tactile contact, sensing every minute detail of her pale, glorious flesh. The physical shell embodying something truly wonderful and magnificent; something mortals were never allowed to bask in its glory out of fear they would destroy it--and there was such a rich history of Humanity destroying works of art it didn't understand.

Gabriel wanted her. Should he press the matter, however? A part of him recognized his flaw, but there were few times he actually fought the urge aside as he might the thirst for blood. Perhaps they should finish their walk in the garden then bother to seduce one another. Choices, choices. He would make his advance and decide what it was the woman desired from him. Was it a walk, calmly discussing all manners of things, or something more? Either path through the garden would sate him, but a physical--or at least the sharing of a hunt--encounter would do to culminate the evening's affair. It would be a shame if nothing more than a conversation came from their meeting, but Gabriel wasn't one to force woman to submit to his carnal needs. Relentless pursue a woman he desired until they surrender, perhaps, but not rape them. He was far too old and wise for that.

[within7temptation]

Deep pools of emeralds held her as their prisoner for only a moment until she felt the skin of his hand carressing her pale flesh. And as she felt him move to stroke her cheek... He was so close... She lifted her own delicate hands and placed them on the man's broad chest, hooking her fingers ever so slightly so that her nails dug lightly into the expensive cloth. Images flashed within her mind... Well, more like colored sihloetts. Purples and blues and blacks, all in the shapes of intwined bodies moving together.
It took the woman a moment to collect herself from the shock of their touching skins. A smile played upon her face as she reached up and pressed her petal-colored lips to the hollow of Gabriel's throat. His scent had surrounded her and was making her forget her age-old manners. She had always been the polite Lady, and now, here she was tempting, and allowing herself to be tempted by, a complete stranger. Her eyes had darkened by this time to a deep and clear sapphire blue. Her ever-changing orbs only grew so dark when she was... Extremely excited.
"My new companion is a poet?" she whispered against the male's skin as her dark eyes closed half-way and she siddled closer to him. Duskarie pressed herself lightly against him and trailed her fingers up along his pulse. "It is odd, is it not?, that we Vampires seem to grow more alive after our deaths? Less amused and interested in things, but more alive..." Her dainty and gentle carress moved on to that tender place behind the ear and she kissed along the other vampire's jaw-line. Gentle kisses, though passionet. Seeking.
She sensed a certain kind of danger in this man as she slowly pulled away, cutting off all physical contact. Duskarie turned and sauntered down the path, her hips swaying just enough to be sensual without making her seem in any way slutty. Tonight was a night for games in her eyes.

[gabriel]

It was hard not to notice the woman press her hands against his body as he slowly caressed her exposed flesh. A sufficient sign to stoke the fire in his heart to press the moment. Duskarie had not thrown herself at him, but she wanted him as he wanted her. Gabriel lips parted to reveal the hidden fangs anxious to tease and torture such a creature that stood before him. It didn't matter how she grabbed hold of the expensive fabrics that could be replaced. Mortals concerned themselves with petty matters of consequence, not an immortal. What was money and wealth to him, but the means to enjoy the riches of life itself so many allowed others to keep from them? The richer got richer, the poor got poorer, and no one really cared either way.

An electrifying kiss, cool and damp pressed against his neck. Gabriel angled his head a hair to the side and slight upward as she swept down upon him. Take him, he softly hissed to himself as his heart pounded in anticipation. Sex and blood, what a wonderful combination.

The man's lips turned upward as his emerald eyes fell, meeting his partner's gaze with crackling, raw energy burning within them. "A poet? I am anything you need me to be, my Lady. We could bask in the majestic astral storm, or float under pale moonlight in the bone chilling waters; travel to ruins and caves of ages past, or pass as meager mortals seeking refuge in monuments of 'better times forgot.' A man on the street, a man in a pub, or a man steering a course far from these shores to leave all trivial things behind." A low growl formed in the back of his throat, then, as the woman drew closer.

"We grew tired of the mundane and the ordinary. The 'simple' pleasures of creatures whose time comes and goes. We stand apart and see life for what it is...for more than the sum of its parts. So...much," his words slowed to a crawl as those lips found themselves higher to the side of his head, teasing at his ear, "more." A low hiss of agreement passed from his throat, hands falling to rest upon her feminine hips. Yes, the play before the storm was most enjoyable. All things were a matter of the journey, not the destination, and why not sexual pleasure?

And then she was gone. Gabriel's chin fell, his back stiffened and shoulders squared. Duskarie was leading him on a chase then. The elder Vampire's eyes sharpened, honed on his prey for the night. Dangerous? He was quite dangerous. Murderous at times. But not toward Duskarie. She was too beautiful and playful to discard without a substantial reason. Something other than boredom.

A grin that bore his fangs behind his peeled lips, Gabriel kept her scent fresh in his mind's eye as his body followed after her along the trail. Let the hunt begin, then; the years had done nothing more than hone his senses as a predator and tonight would only serve to sharpen the wits that every passing century were threatened by sheer primal desire.

"Whither wander you? Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon's sphere;" Gabriel followed the lovely lady so, increasing his step to fancy faster in her path lest she slip into the abyss and torment his soul as any God--should they exist--desire for his sins, "And I serve the fairy queen, To dew her orbs upon the green." What a magnificent queen she might be.

[within7temptation]

She listened to his voice as she slowed to let him draw nearer to herself before quickening her graceful pace. Each step she took was like that of a dancer's, the simple movements that made a complicated dance so lovely. Her smile was soft as she spun around and walked swiftly to the man, to reach up and touch his cheek before dancing off again. Torment and tease and tempt and seduce. A game that she would never grow tired of. And that look in his eyes. That burning flame of desire and need. Empathy was never needed in order to know that particular emotion. No one could hide Lust.
She stopped and looked over her shoulder before stepping beneath the long, green curtain of a willow's branches. Fire bugs danced around them in the night, blinking and moving and then blinking again. Beautiful as they lit up the roses and the trees with their tiny lights. "Gabriel..." Duskarie turned to face him and then lowered herself to the damp grass with the most graceful of movements. Her dress spred around her in a pool of light blue and exposed her leg. The woman pulled her hair around to the side and toyed with the individual curls as she watched the man that seemed so deathly intent on following her.
"Gabriel, magnificent Gabriel... Leader of wars. Champion of our gods." She twireled her fingers through the long grass as she softly spoke a poem from her childhood. A poem the did not rhyme. "Spread thy wings and weild thy sword. Gabriel, my magnificent Arch Angel, Gabriel." The mix of accents within her bell-like voice was dominated by Irish for a moment before becoming a balanced mix once more.
A large, white moth landed on her shoulder as she waited, only to flutter down to her knee as she leaned back, reclining, to lie down in the soft grass. More of her leg had been exposed by this simple action, but all thoughts of modesty had convieniantly drifted away as soon as the chace had begun. Her coppery curls fanned out around her and she chuckled softly. What must her new companion have been thinking at that precice moment? Would he gaze upon her and think of her as much too open and willing? Or would he smile and come to her? The mystery of the question whireled around within her mind.

[gabriel]

Gabriel smiled and grinned at the flirtatious woman as she drew near before stealing herself from him. At times he might hide his desire for the benefit of a working relationship; tonight, however, with a creature so beautiful he didn't want to hide anything from her. He couldn't bring himself to such underhanded efforts, especially once she'd shown herself open to receiving such amorous feelings.

As he stopped at the edge of the temptress' grove, the aged man watched the radiant, dark woman as she settled upon her lushly grown throne. Why rush? He could bask in the moment. There were so many more things to follow as they met one anothers' gaze. He hardly considered what she thought of him; it might do him good to be concerned with such things, but then lust was one of the few sensations that could still swallow him whole. It was one sin that reminded him he was still a part of the world. To say nothing about how selfishly enjoyable it could be.

The beating of war drums did not come following her gentle prose, though his blood boiled and his fangs itched to taste of her equally experienced blood. Such lewd thoughts came to mind to consider how much the woman must know of the world. She knew just as much as he did perhaps. Though he didn't know her age, it was obvious--to him--she was no fledgling looking to throw herself before an elder in the hopes of a comfortable eternity.

A short wave of his hand through a cloud of fluttering, glowing fireflies looking for nourishment and mates, the emerald eyed Vampire smiled to himself. Archangel indeed. How many mortals regarded the famed Angels as carnal creatures with little regard for morality, ethics, or any other paltry belief of the age? He was much more akin to an Archfiend any more. In his eternal youth Gabriel had been so much more caring, forgiving, and even understanding; but the centuries grew tiresome of repetition.

Duskarie, the prey, lay back atop the fullness of the flora covering the ground around them. An attentive gaze watched the fabric slide up and away from the feminine's exposed flesh. It clouded his mind and caused his eyelids to become heavy. Too open? Too wanting? He could find a creature such. A woman throwing herself at him, begging to surrender her body and even her soul to him for all time was disgusting to him. One that refused was alluring in the sense she was something he couldn't have. Duskarie was neither. She was the gentle middle; concerned with not appearing immodest while yearning for his touch. It drew forth a soft, drawn out hiss.

He stepped forward, then, and knelt down beside the copper-haired woman. Right hand lighted upon her skin as a ghost, traveling from the lowest point left free for him toward the uppermost with painstaking care. Slow. Gentle. Drink the moment of life itself and cherish what was still to come. This as he leaned in over his beloved and with his left hand reached out to caress the fair skin of her cheek and slip his fingers around the back of her neck to hold her in his arms. "Lady Duskarie," he breathed as Gabriel leaned in ever closer. The scent of his companion filled his senses, and the seductress' wiles tore at his heart and mind to embrace her without restraint. "Tell me your desires, my Lady, and I swear they will be done."

[within7temptation]

Her desires? So few males had ever asked her of her desires. So few, in fact, that she had come to ignore the things that she desired for her self and focused, in stead, on the things that were needed for her covenant. So what was it that she did want? What were her desires? She could have desired impossible things, for she could see it in his yes that her would have done the impossible. Even if it were just or this one, chance encounter, she knew he would have chanced the impossible. Many men would, if the prize were great enough.
And her prize was a great one, by the standards of two immortals such as theirselves. Knowledge and companionship. It was all that most wished for. Equality... Her one desire. Her true desire. The woman reached up to run her fingers through Gabriel's hair as her eyes closed half-way. His hands upon her cheek and her bared skin were so tantalizing and warm. She found herself trembling under his touch as hisright hand moved up along her flesh.
"My only desire, Gabriel, is equality. I find so many males that are so much younger than myself and they watch me as though they were my puppies. I desire a man that looks at me as though I am a woman, not some terrible and cruel goddess."
She watched him closely and leaned up to press a gentle kiss on the man's brow when she felt his hand on the back of her neck. "I just need a man to be on the same level as me for once."
Her hands moved slowly over Gabriel's chest, the tips of her fingers toying with his suit as she rested her head back on the grass. She did not know him, not a damned thing except that he was close to her own age, if not older, and that she felt safe. Even as dangerouse as she knew he was, she felt safe as she lay there beneath the willowwith him.