Mayfair Manor

[Vikteren]

The brief flash of recognition--The Red Crayon Aristocrats again. So much seemed to revolve upon the axis of that macabre collective--was immediately eclipsed by the impending action Antha called for.
The witch-boy. Vikteren had not forgotten the ritual begged of Antha. Even less quickly forgotten was the instinctive distrust that Calais's story, and the ghost they had raised, had inspired within him. There was something in the boy's murky intentions and veiling manners that the vampire did not like.
His place was with Antha, and it did not matter where she was.
I will accompany you. It wasn't a request, and so his tone brooked no argument. Not in this matter.

 

[.David Talbot.]

Courtland stared at her for a minute like he didn't understand. Then he nodded slowly and went to grab his things. Cyrus and Jack gave their attention to Kain but were too confused to say anything.
Atticus was the one in action. He was standing quietly at the front gate when Antha started to look for him.
"Atticus!" Courtland called out the window as he passed through the hall. "What's going on?"
Atticus made a very simple and vague motion of his arms. "Antha will explain to you."
Courtland sighed and continued down the stairs with his bag slung over his shoulder. It was similar to Antha's because it had books and old artifacts the family had used for magic for years. "Ready," he told Antha when he reached her at the bottom of the stairs.

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix didn't say anything when Antha commanded him that he'd be going with her and Courtland. He watched Antha disappear and followed Courtland out of the kitchen. Eventually they all meet up at the bottom of the stair. Felix just waited for them. He kept silent. There was no need for him to speak. Antha would tell him what going on and what to do in her own time. He didn't need to rush it by asking. Besides, Courtland would probably ask if Antha didn't beat him to the answer.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"We are going to see Rynn," she told her cousins very simply, still buried in her own thoughts, "His sister is haunting him. She possessed his other sister, so Atticus and I helped try to get rid of her, but she is not gone."
It was the thoughts she felt in Vikteren's mind that drew her out of herself. She didn't like that he distrusted Rynn, his suspicion. It made her turn to him, the trace of a frown to her lips, and cup his face in her hands. She gave him a kiss that was only a mere brush of lips, but it was more affection than she ever showed to any single person. "You don't have to come if you don't like him," she said softly, her eyes searching his very seriously, as if they held the answers she wanted.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"We are going to see Rynn," she told her cousins very simply, still buried in her own thoughts, "His sister is haunting him. She possessed his other sister, so Atticus and I helped try to get rid of her, but she is not gone."
It was the thoughts she felt in Vikteren's mind that drew her out of herself. She didn't like that he distrusted Rynn, his suspicion. It made her turn to him, the trace of a frown to her lips, and cup his face in her hands. She gave him a kiss that was only a mere brush of lips, but it was more affection than she ever showed to any single person. "You don't have to come if you don't like him," she said softly, her eyes searching his very seriously, as if they held the answers she wanted.

"Yes," the vampire said, levelly, "I do. It's because I don't like him that I want to be there, if--" he paused, almost did not finish the sentence. "If anything should happen."
She most likely thought it foolish, that the boy should concern him to such an extent. But something in the witchboy's simple story rang false.
As though it was too harmless to be true. As though a plea that innocent could not truly exist without falsehood.
He took her hand, kissed her palm gently. "I will follow behind." he told her, and it was more than merely stating that he would guard her upon the roads.
Wherever you go.

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

There were a few more moments in which Antha just stared into his eyes, something akin to suspicion within her own, but eventually she just sighed and closed her eyes, touching his cheek to help pull herself out of her own mind. "There are things he is not telling us," she consented softly, "Important things, no doubt, but if there is anything that I truly understand, it is that witch families have dark, dark secrets that outsiders should never know. We have no right to all of the information about what happened to the girl, or why she clings so vengefully to our world. But it is of no importance. All I really know, and all that I need to know, is that I want her gone." There was a soft forcefulness to those last few words that stemmed from being the true head of her family for years. It was demanding, and carried a determination, a force of will, that her frail body did not look quite capable of. "Whatever ails her, I do not care. She has crossed me, and for that there are heavy consequences."

 

[.David Talbot.]

Courtland watched his cousin and the vampire for a minute and there was some momentary flash of jealousy. He wasn't jealous because of Antha but just because he wanted someone like she had someone. She loved him and he wanted someone to love instead of someone to sleep with.
"If it's good enough for you then it's good enough for me," he told her and then went out the front door to open the gate for Atticus. "Are you suspicious of him too?" he asked.
Atticus shook his head and entered the garden. "Not of him particularly. I am cautious of all of my kind whether they be witch or vampire by nature."
"That's probably a good thing." Courtland didn't have to worry because he was a Mayfair. The family wrapped around him like a big protective blanket. Atticus was on his own though because the Talamasca wasn't as much respected. Atticus had to be careful.
"Antha," the vampire called out to her as he came to the front door. "And Vikteren too. I remember you from the other day." He smiled at him and then Antha. "Then you two are still....." He stopped to find the right words. "Seeing each other?"

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

Antha's eyes flickered to Vikteren, briefly but questioningly, and she said nothing. She gave Atticus a glance that said she didn't know how to answer, then turned and merely walked away, sighing faintly to herself.
"Felix." Though she hadn't known it, he had been her destination, her target, so when he caught her eye, she said his name softly, catching his attention as she stopped before him, reaching out to touch his hand. "Have you ever encountered a ghost before?" she asked, tilting her head and giving him those wide, imploring eyes, "It isn't a problem if you haven't, I will just need to be more...mindful of you." As she spoke, she brushed her fingers along his skin, trying to wear down the barriers that were making her blood connection to him so weak. Touching, skin to skin, pulse against pulse, helped.

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix attention turned to Antha when she called his name. He would of course answer the question, but he did wonder about the gestures she used. Touching his hand, tilting her head and giving him a look that she has yet to. Having her fingers trail themselfves down his flesh. His mind would have been assulted with question if it wasn't for the fact that he still needed to answer the question he was asked.

"No I have not. I haven't seen one nor did I know that they can actually exist. And even if I had known, there's not much need to kill that which is already dead." Even with the question answered, he still kept those questions of his own down and tried to stop them from rising again. They weren't important. All he had to do was focus on the task at hand. And that would be given to him in due time.  

[.David Talbot.]

Courtland laughed. He couldn't help it. He never thought he'd see Antha of all people so uncertain of her romantic standing.
Atticus gave them confused eyes and then they turned apologetic and questioning when he looked only at Vikteren. "I did not mean to upset her in any way. Or you if I have done so. It is only that Nicholas called me last night. He thought I should know. But I was not sure I could trust information from Nicholas."
He forced a cough into his hand. Vampires didn't just naturally coughed but he felt the need to hide hisexpression. Atticus didn't like Nicholas and it showed.
Cyrus and Jack meanwhile were left staring at each other back in the kitchen. "You could drink," Jack replied to Kain. "It's what I do. Fun for all the boys and girls!" It made a big grin spread across his face. "I don't really know though. What would it take to keep you entertained?"
Cyrus was busy staring at him. His face showed his concentration. "It's only Antha you feel that draw too isn't it?" he asked. Cyrus wasn't strong but he was perceptive and it wasn't just witch powers. He had spent a long time studying people's expressions and reactions. He had to do something while he waswaiting for the birth of his Designee of the Legacy. Kain's actions had persuaded Cyrus to look into his mind and what he found there made him curious because he knew Antha had used no magic on him.

 

[XCandy and LunacyX]

In almost the blink of an eye, Antha's expression became one of frustration. There was no anger to it, no impatience, just a very base frustration that she had tried so hard to contain. "Ask me," she said, quiet but firm, "Ask me anything you want. Mon cher, you are family. You are a Mayfair." She closed her fingers over his own, gripping his hand as a sort of emphasis. "The same blood runs through our veins. You cannot be a Mayfair and not open up to us. More importantly, you cannot be mine and try to keep to yourself." Because whether he---or any of her cousins, for that matter---liked it or not, he was hers. They were hers. It was the what came with the role of Designee of the Legacy. "Please, Felix, why can you not simply ask me a question when everyone else we share blood with never gives me rest?" She paused only to sigh, deeply, and let her expression fall into a childish pout. "They believe me to know the answers to anything and everything that ever was and still find the energy to question my every move, yet you hardly speak, let alone ask anything of me. It's frustrating, really."

 

[Azure Halfbreed]

Felix understood what Antha said, but he still kept those questions down. They were starting to settle. He had a different reason for not asking them. One that branched back into his guild life. But he would ask one from a different topic. "If everyone is asking enough of you to the point where you can't rest, why do you want me to do the same and add to that?" The reasoning behind that did try and confuse Felix, but if Antha wanted a question, that was probably a good place to start.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

A long sigh escaped Antha listening to him. "I don't," she said very simply, taking his hand and beginning the walk to the car, "You do not yet understand the bond that exists between a Designee of the Legacy and a Mayfair of her generation, so I do not think I can explain it to you. The point, Felix, is not that I want you to question me, but that I want you to be open with me. If you do not understand, I want you to ask. If you disagree, I want you to tell me so." She didn't bother to further explain,or to see if he understood. One day he would understand that bond, but she had to be patient until then.
"Courtland, you drive," she instructed, setting the keys down on the roof of the car and sliding into the passenger's seat, "Everyone else, get in. I'm tired of waiting." With that she closed the door, stashing the backpack on the floorboard at her feet, and sat back to rest on the drive. Her day had become one tiresome ordeal after another, and it was draining away her energy at an alarming rate.

 

[Vikteren]

He checked the skies before he ventured outside, once again calculating the time left until sunrise. Then, the vampire followed Antha and her cousins to the car, standing a little ways from it to allow them to enter.
Actually--although he would not have told Antha this, not under torture--he was surprised to find that he was glad Antha was not driving. Her nerves were already frayed as cut rope from the events of the day. Under the gibbous moon, he raised his face to the sky, to the clear and pale light. It had none of the warmth or the life of the sun, but after centuries without daylight, it had found acceptance as a passable imitation.

 

[.David Talbot.]

((I'm not waiting for azure. he can catch up))
Courtland did as he was told. He snatched the keys off the roof of the car and threw himself behind the wheel.
"Buckle up," he reminded his cousin while he threw his own bag to her feet. "I'd hate to scar that pretty little face." He gave her a wink and a quick kiss on the cheek before shutting himself in and starting the car.
Atticus stood beside the car for a minute and looked at Felix then looked at Vikteren. He finally sighed and slid into the middle seat. He tried to ball himself up after he had buckled himself in but it didn't help. His hair still stood on end thinking of being trapped between strangers.
The minute everyone was in the car Courtland drove off. He didn't drive as fast as Antha but he drove more recklessly. He didn't have her skill. "Where are we going Evie?" he asked.