"This is gonna be so awesome!" Lizzy exclaimed. The woman was standing in front of a full length mirror on the wall, twisting and turning as she checked out the red heels and the red spaghetti strapped body-con dress she'd chosen for the party. Striking a pose and screwing up her face, she waved off what little discomfort she felt about it and took a step closer to check her earrings and makeup next. "Where did she say it was?" she asked the woman sitting next to her.
"Yeah it is!" Julie answered, leaning forward and looking into a much smaller mirror on the table as she put the finishing touches on her eyes. Finishing up with that, she leaned back and grabbed a tube of lipstick. Pulling the top off, she squinted into the mirror and brought the vibrant red stick up to her lips. "Medieval, I think," she said, just before beginning to spread the color on.
"Ugh!" Lizzy rolled her eyes. "She would," she added, skirting her lower lip with a finger to clear up a smudge she'd spotted there. "I know it's her twenty first birthday and she can go wherever she wants, but...," She straightened, looking down at Julie as she was finishing up. "...why would anyone want to go there at all?"
"What?" Julie started before pressing her lips together and looking in the mirror to check for smudges. "You don't like the vampire, elf, demon scene?" She grinned.
Lizzy whined and turned back to the mirror, looking at herself with a pout. "We're all gonna die."
Julie giggled, looking at her lips one more time and then tilting her head this way and that to check out the rest of her makeup. Satisfied with the results, she stood and grabbed her purse that was slung over the back of the chair. Hoisting the strap onto her shoulder, she went over to the mirror to stand beside Lizzy and smile at her reflection. "You might." The smile widened on Julie's face and a look of horror came over Lizzy's. Bursting into a fit of giggles, Julie smacked her roommate on the ass and went about checking her own outfit in the mirror. "Oh would you stop," she said, turning to look at the woman. "It'll be fine. Just stick with us and we'll make sure nothing happens to you."
"I'm gonna hold you to that," Lizzy countered with a squint, pursing her lips and sticking a hand on her hip.
"Mm." Julie had turned back to the mirror and straightened. Tilting her head, she placed both hands on her hips and gave her outfit one last once over. "If I told you you had a hot body, would you hold that against me too..." Still looking in the mirror, she folded her arms in front of her and her gaze ticked over to Lizzy with a sideways grin. "...again?"
The squint Elizabeth stared at her with deepened and she drew in a deep breath through her nose and let it out slowly. "I told you that was just a one time thing," she countered.
"Mmhmmm," Julie answered. She didn't move from where she was, but a playfully curious brow did rise slowly as she continued to look at her friend. Under the watchful gaze of those dark brown eyes, the squinting scowl lasted a few moments more before it faltered and a grin began to fight its way through.
"And only if you're good," Lizzy finally gave in. "C'mon. We're gonna be late," she added quickly, derailing anything Julie would have said next. She knew if she gave her the opening they would definitely be late. Julie simply unfolded her arms from in front of her and turned to follow with a giggle. "Right behind you."
One Fateful Night
Re: One Fateful Night
When they arrived at the Medieval Tavern, the evening shift had already kicked off and the entire common room was abuzz with the din of patrons. Julie came through the door first wearing a black mini skirt that came down to about mid thigh, a loose fitting shirt to match that dipped low on her chest and a pair of four inch, black heels. Lizzy, the more timid of the pair, peeked around the taller woman's shoulder and looked worriedly into the crowd.
Casting a sidelong glance at her friend, Julie grinned and then looked out to the room again. Out of habit, her gaze drifted upwards to the rafters. There, she spotted a dark figure wearing a long black coat with tails that hung well below the aged beams their owner crouched upon. The broody bastard was looking down into the room, seemingly sizing up the patrons one by one, when blood red eyes ticked to her and lips split to reveal a row of sharp, bloody teeth that dripped of the sanguine liquid like coagulated syrup.
Tilting her head at the menace, one corner of her lips ticked up into a crooked grin and she arched a brow at the man. When the toothy grin started to go wider, Julie's eyes flicked to the right, traveling across the same beam, and there, stuck in a darker corner of the rafters was another man. Shrouded in a cloak that looked as if it were made of wisping, licking shadows, he seemed to be standing up, leaned back against the wall with his ankles crossed. Even in the darkness, the glint of the light below shown off solid black eyes and it was clear, at least to her, where the man's gaze rested.
Looking back to the first man, she saw the confusion etched on his face and her other brow rose with the first and she mouth the words, 'uh oh'. At her silent utterance of them, his head snapped to his left and the look of confusion was replaced with one of terrorized shock. Then...
"Jules!" Came an excited shout.
"Lizzy!" Came another.
Leaving the two, or more, in the rafters to get acquainted on their own, Julie's gaze shot down and landed on Hanna, Kristy, Sara and Isabella with a grin. Kristy, who had called out her name, was waving them over with the hand that held a shot glass. The other was holding a mug of beer. Sara, who had called out Lizzy's name, was waving excitedly at both of them with a gaudy, oversized bracelet clacking noisily against her wrist with the motion. Hanna and Isabella, the birthday girl, were both sitting at the table they'd reserved throwing back shots.
Feeling Lizzy's hand on her shoulder still and gripping hard, Julie leaned back. "Just stick close to me and you'll be fine," she said. "And don't look up," she added.
"What?" Lizzy asked, looking up. "Oh fuck!" Her hand squeezed tighter and she practically slammed into Julie's back in an effort to 'stick to her'. "Fuck! We're all gonna die! Shit!" She panicked.
"Jesus, girl," Julie laughed, shaking her head and started to make her way through the crowd over to the table with Ms. Spaz right behind her.
"Heeeyy!' Julie cheered, lifting both arms as she neared the party table. Kristy was the first to get a hug and then it was over to Sara for another quick one before she turned to both Hanna and Isabella. Hanna waved with one hand and offered a shot glass with the other as her cheeks puffed out and she looked down. Watching as Lizzy slid into a seat on the 'safe' side of the table, she grinned and took the offered shot before looking over at Isabella. "Hey, birthday girl!" she said, then threw the shot back.
Casting a sidelong glance at her friend, Julie grinned and then looked out to the room again. Out of habit, her gaze drifted upwards to the rafters. There, she spotted a dark figure wearing a long black coat with tails that hung well below the aged beams their owner crouched upon. The broody bastard was looking down into the room, seemingly sizing up the patrons one by one, when blood red eyes ticked to her and lips split to reveal a row of sharp, bloody teeth that dripped of the sanguine liquid like coagulated syrup.
Tilting her head at the menace, one corner of her lips ticked up into a crooked grin and she arched a brow at the man. When the toothy grin started to go wider, Julie's eyes flicked to the right, traveling across the same beam, and there, stuck in a darker corner of the rafters was another man. Shrouded in a cloak that looked as if it were made of wisping, licking shadows, he seemed to be standing up, leaned back against the wall with his ankles crossed. Even in the darkness, the glint of the light below shown off solid black eyes and it was clear, at least to her, where the man's gaze rested.
Looking back to the first man, she saw the confusion etched on his face and her other brow rose with the first and she mouth the words, 'uh oh'. At her silent utterance of them, his head snapped to his left and the look of confusion was replaced with one of terrorized shock. Then...
"Jules!" Came an excited shout.
"Lizzy!" Came another.
Leaving the two, or more, in the rafters to get acquainted on their own, Julie's gaze shot down and landed on Hanna, Kristy, Sara and Isabella with a grin. Kristy, who had called out her name, was waving them over with the hand that held a shot glass. The other was holding a mug of beer. Sara, who had called out Lizzy's name, was waving excitedly at both of them with a gaudy, oversized bracelet clacking noisily against her wrist with the motion. Hanna and Isabella, the birthday girl, were both sitting at the table they'd reserved throwing back shots.
Feeling Lizzy's hand on her shoulder still and gripping hard, Julie leaned back. "Just stick close to me and you'll be fine," she said. "And don't look up," she added.
"What?" Lizzy asked, looking up. "Oh fuck!" Her hand squeezed tighter and she practically slammed into Julie's back in an effort to 'stick to her'. "Fuck! We're all gonna die! Shit!" She panicked.
"Jesus, girl," Julie laughed, shaking her head and started to make her way through the crowd over to the table with Ms. Spaz right behind her.
"Heeeyy!' Julie cheered, lifting both arms as she neared the party table. Kristy was the first to get a hug and then it was over to Sara for another quick one before she turned to both Hanna and Isabella. Hanna waved with one hand and offered a shot glass with the other as her cheeks puffed out and she looked down. Watching as Lizzy slid into a seat on the 'safe' side of the table, she grinned and took the offered shot before looking over at Isabella. "Hey, birthday girl!" she said, then threw the shot back.
Re: One Fateful Night
"WOOOOOOOO!" Came the reply from 'Bella, her eyes squinting shut while one balled hand rose into the air triumphantly. Julie and Lizzy weren't late, but it seemed the others had been eager to start the celebration, and it showed.
Pulling out a chair and taking a seat, she leaned on the table with a forearm and took up another shot glass. One of many that littered the table. Hovering it in front of her, she watched as both Kristy and Sara took their seats as well and looked around. "So what's the plan for the big night?" she asked, then downed the second shot.
"Well, 'Bella wanted to come here first," Sara started while Kristy turned up her beer.
"But we were thinking of hitting up the Red Dragon or the Perch after this," Kristy chimed in once she'd taken several gulps and set her mug down.
Taking up another shot glass, Julie leaned over and set it in front of Lizzy. "Have a couple of shots. They'll help," she explained before taking up another one for herself. "Sounds like a plan," she said, then downed the third shot and set it on the table upside down.
"We could always see where he's going," Hanna added, holding yet another shot glass and pointing with that finger across the room.
"Who?" Julie asked, following where that finger led. Then she saw him. "Oh..."
Sitting across the room at a lone table in the corner, Julie was met with a pair of perfect hazel eyes staring back at her. The man was reclining in his chair and his finger swirled lazily around the rim of the glass sitting in front of him. The single note emitting from the crystal was lost to the din of the crowd, but she didn't have to hear it to know what he was doing. The grin on his perfect lips was pulled sideways, exposing just the barest hint of stark white teeth beyond.
Keeping her gaze locked with his, Julie leaned back and to the side a little bit. "Do we know who he is?" she asked anyone willing to answer. While Hanna took her shot, Isabella nodded and waved her hand in front of her mouth from the one she'd just taken.
"Mhm! Said his name is Seth. He came over earlier and said it looked like we were celebrating and asked what the occasion was. We told him it was my twenty first birthday and that we were waiting for some friends." 'Bella explained naively.
"Yeah! And when he heard that, he paid for all of this!" Hanna continued when she was able, motioning to the smattering of shot glasses and drinks on the table.
"Seth, huh?" Julie asked, her dark brown eyes still locked onto his hazel gaze. At the mention of his name, even as far away as he was, he raised his other hand and gave a lazy, two finger salute as that perfect grin slid further up his cheek.
"Mhm," Kristy chimed in. She was sitting on her chair backwards with her arms folded over the back of it as she looked at him over her shoulder. Turning to look at Julie, she smiled. "He said he knew another bar we could go to after this, and he would pay for the drinks there too." she explained.
"Yeah?" Julie asked, not really looking in her friend's direction.
"That's what he said," Kristy answered, turning back to look at him and resting her chin on her shoulder.
Even with the added onlooker, Seth only seemed to have eyes for Julie.
Finally able to tear her gaze away from him, Julie turned back to the table and placed both hands on the edge of it. Looking at all of her friends, a slow, sly grin spread across her lips and she reached over to take up another shot glass. "Think I'm gonna go over and find out about this other bar," she said.
Pulling out a chair and taking a seat, she leaned on the table with a forearm and took up another shot glass. One of many that littered the table. Hovering it in front of her, she watched as both Kristy and Sara took their seats as well and looked around. "So what's the plan for the big night?" she asked, then downed the second shot.
"Well, 'Bella wanted to come here first," Sara started while Kristy turned up her beer.
"But we were thinking of hitting up the Red Dragon or the Perch after this," Kristy chimed in once she'd taken several gulps and set her mug down.
Taking up another shot glass, Julie leaned over and set it in front of Lizzy. "Have a couple of shots. They'll help," she explained before taking up another one for herself. "Sounds like a plan," she said, then downed the third shot and set it on the table upside down.
"We could always see where he's going," Hanna added, holding yet another shot glass and pointing with that finger across the room.
"Who?" Julie asked, following where that finger led. Then she saw him. "Oh..."
Sitting across the room at a lone table in the corner, Julie was met with a pair of perfect hazel eyes staring back at her. The man was reclining in his chair and his finger swirled lazily around the rim of the glass sitting in front of him. The single note emitting from the crystal was lost to the din of the crowd, but she didn't have to hear it to know what he was doing. The grin on his perfect lips was pulled sideways, exposing just the barest hint of stark white teeth beyond.
Keeping her gaze locked with his, Julie leaned back and to the side a little bit. "Do we know who he is?" she asked anyone willing to answer. While Hanna took her shot, Isabella nodded and waved her hand in front of her mouth from the one she'd just taken.
"Mhm! Said his name is Seth. He came over earlier and said it looked like we were celebrating and asked what the occasion was. We told him it was my twenty first birthday and that we were waiting for some friends." 'Bella explained naively.
"Yeah! And when he heard that, he paid for all of this!" Hanna continued when she was able, motioning to the smattering of shot glasses and drinks on the table.
"Seth, huh?" Julie asked, her dark brown eyes still locked onto his hazel gaze. At the mention of his name, even as far away as he was, he raised his other hand and gave a lazy, two finger salute as that perfect grin slid further up his cheek.
"Mhm," Kristy chimed in. She was sitting on her chair backwards with her arms folded over the back of it as she looked at him over her shoulder. Turning to look at Julie, she smiled. "He said he knew another bar we could go to after this, and he would pay for the drinks there too." she explained.
"Yeah?" Julie asked, not really looking in her friend's direction.
"That's what he said," Kristy answered, turning back to look at him and resting her chin on her shoulder.
Even with the added onlooker, Seth only seemed to have eyes for Julie.
Finally able to tear her gaze away from him, Julie turned back to the table and placed both hands on the edge of it. Looking at all of her friends, a slow, sly grin spread across her lips and she reached over to take up another shot glass. "Think I'm gonna go over and find out about this other bar," she said.
Re: One Fateful Night
"You're going over to talk to him??" Lizzy asked, sitting straight up in her chair with eyes wide.
"Yeah she is!" Sara piped up. Reaching over and taking up another shot glass for herself, she raised it and clinked it against Julie's before tossing it back. Clinking the glasses together, Julie downed hers as well and slammed the shot glass on the table upside down before pushing away, standing up and turning to face sexy over there. Seth didn't move. Simply raising those beautiful eyes up to meet hers, his finger continued its lazy trip around the edge of the glass.
Lizzy, likely contemplating death from all angles, wilted back into her chair and took up the shot glass that had been offered earlier. Tossing it back, she screwed up her face and brought the back of her hand to her mouth before calling out to Julie. "Be careful!" Just before Julie made the trip over, she turned back to Lizzy and mouthed the word 'Nevar!' before shooting her a wink and then turning to walk away.
The distance between them wasn't large, but she intended to make the most of what little there was. Feet criss crossing as she walked, her hips swayed with every step and her arms swung lazily at her sides as she neared. Her eyes remaining on those intoxicating hazel hues for the duration of the short trip, she leaned down and placed both hands on the surface of the table while her lips parted and her tongue traced the ridge of her teeth.
"Hi," he started.
"Hi," she answered.
The finger tracing the rim of that crystal wine glass stopped and he took it up with his fingers. Bringing it to his mouth, the drink stopped halfway and he lifted his index finger. Pointing at her, he tilted his head and squinted. "Don't tell me. You're....Lizzy?"
Julie huffed out a quiet laugh and turned to look at her ogling friends back at their table. Seemed the conversation had entailed more than just a birthday party and waiting for some friends. Her tongue continued its journey along her teeth and she looked back to Seth with a crooked grin as she tossed her raven black mane over one shoulder and paused. Taking in what she could see of him with her eyes, they dipped down slowly and rose lazily until those tempting hazel eyes came back into view. "Julie." she corrected.
"Ah, Julie,” he said, his chin lifting just slightly as he brought his glass the rest of the way to take a sip of his wine. Just before he did, he looked up at her over the rim of it and added, “It suits you.” Setting it back down on the table, his gaze went to the glass briefly and his finger once more found the rim of it to begin that light toiling around the edge. "So...Julie...," he started, using the correct name this time. Still reclined back in his chair, hazel eyes drifted up to her and his lips slid back into that crooked grin. "What can I do for you on this night of celebration?" he asked as if he didn't already know.
Julie's lips pursed and she narrowed her eyes playfully at the man sitting in front of her. He knew far more than he was letting on, that much was certain. That satin soft voice of his didn't help matters much either, at least for her. "My friends say you know of another bar we could go to, and that you’ll pay for the drinks there," she said, echoing the information Kristy had conveyed earlier and nothing else, for now.
Seth chuckled lightly at the woman as she got straight to the point. Looking over at his glass again, his finger ceased its revolution around the rim and he paused as if in contemplation. "I do, and I will...," he admitted. Finally sitting up on the chair, he leaned forward and slid his elbows onto and across the table as he clasped his fingers together and looked up at her with a slight tilt of his head. "But it'll cost you," he added.
"Cost me?" Julie asked, a bit surprised.
"Yes," Seth answered, his lips twisting slowly into a wicked grin.
"What will it cost me?" she asked, narrowing her eyes again.
"A kiss," he answered simply.
"Yeah she is!" Sara piped up. Reaching over and taking up another shot glass for herself, she raised it and clinked it against Julie's before tossing it back. Clinking the glasses together, Julie downed hers as well and slammed the shot glass on the table upside down before pushing away, standing up and turning to face sexy over there. Seth didn't move. Simply raising those beautiful eyes up to meet hers, his finger continued its lazy trip around the edge of the glass.
Lizzy, likely contemplating death from all angles, wilted back into her chair and took up the shot glass that had been offered earlier. Tossing it back, she screwed up her face and brought the back of her hand to her mouth before calling out to Julie. "Be careful!" Just before Julie made the trip over, she turned back to Lizzy and mouthed the word 'Nevar!' before shooting her a wink and then turning to walk away.
The distance between them wasn't large, but she intended to make the most of what little there was. Feet criss crossing as she walked, her hips swayed with every step and her arms swung lazily at her sides as she neared. Her eyes remaining on those intoxicating hazel hues for the duration of the short trip, she leaned down and placed both hands on the surface of the table while her lips parted and her tongue traced the ridge of her teeth.
"Hi," he started.
"Hi," she answered.
The finger tracing the rim of that crystal wine glass stopped and he took it up with his fingers. Bringing it to his mouth, the drink stopped halfway and he lifted his index finger. Pointing at her, he tilted his head and squinted. "Don't tell me. You're....Lizzy?"
Julie huffed out a quiet laugh and turned to look at her ogling friends back at their table. Seemed the conversation had entailed more than just a birthday party and waiting for some friends. Her tongue continued its journey along her teeth and she looked back to Seth with a crooked grin as she tossed her raven black mane over one shoulder and paused. Taking in what she could see of him with her eyes, they dipped down slowly and rose lazily until those tempting hazel eyes came back into view. "Julie." she corrected.
"Ah, Julie,” he said, his chin lifting just slightly as he brought his glass the rest of the way to take a sip of his wine. Just before he did, he looked up at her over the rim of it and added, “It suits you.” Setting it back down on the table, his gaze went to the glass briefly and his finger once more found the rim of it to begin that light toiling around the edge. "So...Julie...," he started, using the correct name this time. Still reclined back in his chair, hazel eyes drifted up to her and his lips slid back into that crooked grin. "What can I do for you on this night of celebration?" he asked as if he didn't already know.
Julie's lips pursed and she narrowed her eyes playfully at the man sitting in front of her. He knew far more than he was letting on, that much was certain. That satin soft voice of his didn't help matters much either, at least for her. "My friends say you know of another bar we could go to, and that you’ll pay for the drinks there," she said, echoing the information Kristy had conveyed earlier and nothing else, for now.
Seth chuckled lightly at the woman as she got straight to the point. Looking over at his glass again, his finger ceased its revolution around the rim and he paused as if in contemplation. "I do, and I will...," he admitted. Finally sitting up on the chair, he leaned forward and slid his elbows onto and across the table as he clasped his fingers together and looked up at her with a slight tilt of his head. "But it'll cost you," he added.
"Cost me?" Julie asked, a bit surprised.
"Yes," Seth answered, his lips twisting slowly into a wicked grin.
"What will it cost me?" she asked, narrowing her eyes again.
"A kiss," he answered simply.
Re: One Fateful Night
Julie took a moment when confronted with that answer to steal a glance at those very lips. Those perfect, intoxicating, inviting lips. Keeping her eyes narrowed in an attempt to hide her eagerness, her gaze slid up to his again and she tilted her head. "Deal."
"Good," he said, that wicked grin parting to expose more of those perfect teeth. Leaning over a little, he took a moment to glance at the table her friends remained at. Seeing Kristy, Sara and Lizzy look away quickly, he noticed that Hanna and 'Bella were taking more shots. Straightening up, he looked back up to Julie and grinned again. "Might I suggest we go now while your friends are still able to walk there?" he asked.
Looking back at the table too, Julie rolled her eyes at the girls' antics and then looked back to Seth. "Probably a good idea," she conceded.
"Probably," he said with a smirk. Reaching over and taking up his wine glass, he brought it to his lips and tilted it up to drain the meager remains of the dark liquid before setting it down and then standing to reveal the rest of his attire. Wearing a pair of dark jeans and a white shirt with the top three buttons knowingly undone, he reached into his pocket and pulled out several bills which he dropped onto the table for a tip.
Julie, still leaning on the table, looked down at the money he'd dropped and her eyes widened. It was in the hundreds, at least. Looking back up at him in disbelief, she was met with a placid expression as if he'd simply dropped a few coins on the table and nothing more.
"Do you want to go tell them or should I come too?" he asked.
"I can tell them. We'll meet you outside?" she countered.
"Fair enough," he agreed with a nod. Moving around the table, two fingertips slid along the surface as he rounded it, making his way over to where she stood. Straightening up from her lean, she turned to face him as he neared. When the two were face to face, Seth leaned in for what Julie thought would be the kiss they had agreed upon earlier. Instead, he stopped short and those mesmerizing hazel eyes drifted down to her lips and he paused. He could feel the hitching breath escape her lips and puff delicately against his own, and he smiled. Taking his time, his gaze slowly rose until he stared deeply into those dark brown eyes of hers, lifted his chin just slightly and whispered. "See you soon."
Spellbound as she was, and starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, Julie placed her hand on the table at her side to steady herself against his wandering gaze. Staring at his eyes and her mouth so close to his, she bit her lower lip when he looked up at her again. At his mention of seeing her soon, all she could do was nod quickly in agreement before turning and watching him slip past her and start for the door. Unable to look away just yet, she watched on until he opened the door and paused. Daring a quick glance and a flash of a smile in her direction, he finally turned and went through it before letting it close behind him.
As soon as he was gone, Julie’s shoulders slumped visibly and she let out the deep, sighing breath she’d been holding before turning and quickly making her way back over to her friends.
“Ohmygod! Ohmygod! What’d he say?” Sara was the first to ask excitedly as she bounced and flapped her hands in front of her. Julie had barely reached the table when she heard Sara asking what was said and a squeal from Hanna. Placing her hand on the edge of it, she held the other to her chest and took a couple of deep breaths to steady herself.
“Well?” Kristy asked next, still sitting on her chair backwards and looking up at her expectantly.
“Yeah. Whudee...wait. Hoo wuhshee talkin’ to?” ‘Bella asked, turning to look at Hanna with bloodshot, squinty eyes.
“Oh, girl. We need to get you some water,” Hanna answered ‘Bella sympathetically.
"Good," he said, that wicked grin parting to expose more of those perfect teeth. Leaning over a little, he took a moment to glance at the table her friends remained at. Seeing Kristy, Sara and Lizzy look away quickly, he noticed that Hanna and 'Bella were taking more shots. Straightening up, he looked back up to Julie and grinned again. "Might I suggest we go now while your friends are still able to walk there?" he asked.
Looking back at the table too, Julie rolled her eyes at the girls' antics and then looked back to Seth. "Probably a good idea," she conceded.
"Probably," he said with a smirk. Reaching over and taking up his wine glass, he brought it to his lips and tilted it up to drain the meager remains of the dark liquid before setting it down and then standing to reveal the rest of his attire. Wearing a pair of dark jeans and a white shirt with the top three buttons knowingly undone, he reached into his pocket and pulled out several bills which he dropped onto the table for a tip.
Julie, still leaning on the table, looked down at the money he'd dropped and her eyes widened. It was in the hundreds, at least. Looking back up at him in disbelief, she was met with a placid expression as if he'd simply dropped a few coins on the table and nothing more.
"Do you want to go tell them or should I come too?" he asked.
"I can tell them. We'll meet you outside?" she countered.
"Fair enough," he agreed with a nod. Moving around the table, two fingertips slid along the surface as he rounded it, making his way over to where she stood. Straightening up from her lean, she turned to face him as he neared. When the two were face to face, Seth leaned in for what Julie thought would be the kiss they had agreed upon earlier. Instead, he stopped short and those mesmerizing hazel eyes drifted down to her lips and he paused. He could feel the hitching breath escape her lips and puff delicately against his own, and he smiled. Taking his time, his gaze slowly rose until he stared deeply into those dark brown eyes of hers, lifted his chin just slightly and whispered. "See you soon."
Spellbound as she was, and starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, Julie placed her hand on the table at her side to steady herself against his wandering gaze. Staring at his eyes and her mouth so close to his, she bit her lower lip when he looked up at her again. At his mention of seeing her soon, all she could do was nod quickly in agreement before turning and watching him slip past her and start for the door. Unable to look away just yet, she watched on until he opened the door and paused. Daring a quick glance and a flash of a smile in her direction, he finally turned and went through it before letting it close behind him.
As soon as he was gone, Julie’s shoulders slumped visibly and she let out the deep, sighing breath she’d been holding before turning and quickly making her way back over to her friends.
“Ohmygod! Ohmygod! What’d he say?” Sara was the first to ask excitedly as she bounced and flapped her hands in front of her. Julie had barely reached the table when she heard Sara asking what was said and a squeal from Hanna. Placing her hand on the edge of it, she held the other to her chest and took a couple of deep breaths to steady herself.
“Well?” Kristy asked next, still sitting on her chair backwards and looking up at her expectantly.
“Yeah. Whudee...wait. Hoo wuhshee talkin’ to?” ‘Bella asked, turning to look at Hanna with bloodshot, squinty eyes.
“Oh, girl. We need to get you some water,” Hanna answered ‘Bella sympathetically.
Re: One Fateful Night
“Waater??” Bella asked incredulously, recoiling in the process and screwing up her face. “No no noo,” she said next, smiling lazily and waving a finger at Hanna. “Oh! Shhots!” She’d noticed some of the still full shot glasses remaining on the table and swooped forward as she tried to snatch another one of them up clumsily.
“Oh no!” Hanna blurted out as she tried to intercept the glass Bella was going for. Successful in her attempt, the birthday girl just stared at the table in confusion.
“Where’dit go?” she slurred, sitting up with a jolt and tilting her head to try and figure out the mystery. By that time, all of the girls at the table were looking at Bella with concern. Hanna, still holding the shot glass up and away, looked at the others.
“We need to get her some water,” she said. Looking back to Bella and seeing how she swayed uneasily, looked back at them again. “Some fresh air probably wouldn’t hurt either,” she added.
“Yeah,” Julie agreed. She’d had enough time to recover, and with it, she looked at ‘Bella first and then to the others. “Hopefully we can sober her up a little on the way to the next bar,” she said with a grin.
“Really??” Sara exclaimed, sitting bolt upright and placing her hands on the table.
“Hell. Yes.” Kristy said matter of fact, still leaning forward against the back of her chair.
“Really?” Lizzy deadpanned.
Hanna had placed the shot back on the table, out of Bella's reach, and she was rubbing her back, but there was definitely a smile there at the mention of the next bar.
“Yes really,” Julie giggled at Lizzy. Reaching down and taking her purse by the strap, she lifted it up and slipped it on her shoulder. “Oh come on. Seth is outside and he said he would take us to the other bar. I’m sure it will be nicer and tamer than this one,” she assumed. Judging by the amount of money he threw around so casually, it almost had to be. Lizzy narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips at Julie as she contemplated that. After a few moments, just like it always did, the smile started to fight its way through and she nodded.
“Alright,” she gave in. Reaching down and taking the shot that had been hidden from Bella, she threw it back and set it back on the table. “Let’s...oh...God.” Making a face, she held her hand up to her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. Shaking her head quickly, she finally stood and reached for her purse too. “Yeah. Let’s go. Hopefully the drinks won’t be as awful there,” she managed.
“S’not awful,” Bella chimed in.
“Hush, Bella. You’re drunk,” Hanna shot back.
“Mm not...okay, Mebe a lil,” she said, leaning back too far and pinching her thumb and index finger together.
“God,” Hanna rolled her eyes. “C’mon. Let’s get you up.” With that, Hanna grabbed hers and Bella’s purse and began the process of hoisting her up so they could leave. While she attended to the birthday girl, Kristy, Sara, Lizzy and Julie all got ready as well and started making their way to the door after one of them got Bella a water to go.
The trip from their table to the door was uneventful, more or less. Somewhere in the middle of the common room, Bella had noticed a pair of watchful eyes from a curious Drow with many piercings and attempted to sway in his direction.
“Oooo!” she’d started, tugging against Hanna’s grip.
“Nope!” Julie, on her other side, cut her off and hooked her arm inside of her other, correcting her course for the door.
“Bisch,” Bella muttered.
“You’ll thank me later,” she reassured with a grinning side eye.
“Hmphf!” the Drow muttered, lifting his ale for a drink and looking around the room again.
“Oh no!” Hanna blurted out as she tried to intercept the glass Bella was going for. Successful in her attempt, the birthday girl just stared at the table in confusion.
“Where’dit go?” she slurred, sitting up with a jolt and tilting her head to try and figure out the mystery. By that time, all of the girls at the table were looking at Bella with concern. Hanna, still holding the shot glass up and away, looked at the others.
“We need to get her some water,” she said. Looking back to Bella and seeing how she swayed uneasily, looked back at them again. “Some fresh air probably wouldn’t hurt either,” she added.
“Yeah,” Julie agreed. She’d had enough time to recover, and with it, she looked at ‘Bella first and then to the others. “Hopefully we can sober her up a little on the way to the next bar,” she said with a grin.
“Really??” Sara exclaimed, sitting bolt upright and placing her hands on the table.
“Hell. Yes.” Kristy said matter of fact, still leaning forward against the back of her chair.
“Really?” Lizzy deadpanned.
Hanna had placed the shot back on the table, out of Bella's reach, and she was rubbing her back, but there was definitely a smile there at the mention of the next bar.
“Yes really,” Julie giggled at Lizzy. Reaching down and taking her purse by the strap, she lifted it up and slipped it on her shoulder. “Oh come on. Seth is outside and he said he would take us to the other bar. I’m sure it will be nicer and tamer than this one,” she assumed. Judging by the amount of money he threw around so casually, it almost had to be. Lizzy narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips at Julie as she contemplated that. After a few moments, just like it always did, the smile started to fight its way through and she nodded.
“Alright,” she gave in. Reaching down and taking the shot that had been hidden from Bella, she threw it back and set it back on the table. “Let’s...oh...God.” Making a face, she held her hand up to her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. Shaking her head quickly, she finally stood and reached for her purse too. “Yeah. Let’s go. Hopefully the drinks won’t be as awful there,” she managed.
“S’not awful,” Bella chimed in.
“Hush, Bella. You’re drunk,” Hanna shot back.
“Mm not...okay, Mebe a lil,” she said, leaning back too far and pinching her thumb and index finger together.
“God,” Hanna rolled her eyes. “C’mon. Let’s get you up.” With that, Hanna grabbed hers and Bella’s purse and began the process of hoisting her up so they could leave. While she attended to the birthday girl, Kristy, Sara, Lizzy and Julie all got ready as well and started making their way to the door after one of them got Bella a water to go.
The trip from their table to the door was uneventful, more or less. Somewhere in the middle of the common room, Bella had noticed a pair of watchful eyes from a curious Drow with many piercings and attempted to sway in his direction.
“Oooo!” she’d started, tugging against Hanna’s grip.
“Nope!” Julie, on her other side, cut her off and hooked her arm inside of her other, correcting her course for the door.
“Bisch,” Bella muttered.
“You’ll thank me later,” she reassured with a grinning side eye.
“Hmphf!” the Drow muttered, lifting his ale for a drink and looking around the room again.
Re: One Fateful Night
Filing out of the door, Bella, Hanna and Julie navigated the stairs down to the street carefully while Lizzy preceded them with her hands out, walking backwards. Sara and Kristy brought up the rear, watching the spectacle with a series of giggles. When their feet finally touched pavement, Julie and Hanna relaxed a little when they weren’t on the precarious up and down of the stairs and let Bella go cautiously.
“M’fine,” the girl said, slapping her hands at both of her helpers and making a face. “Juss gotta...gotta…,” As she said it, she patted at her hip and then twirled around, looking for her purse. Not finding it immediately, she made a wobbly circle and finally looked up at the small group of friends. “Heyy. Whuurs muh p..Woop!” Already very drunk, the small spin in search of her purse had put her precariously off balance, and the heels didn’t help either. Julie and Hanna both lurched in her direction, but they were too late. Stumbling off to the side, Bella had fallen face first right into the arms of Seth.
“Whoa there, birthday girl!” he exclaimed with a chuckle as he caught her and dipped his knees to lessen the impact. Julie and Hanna both relaxed. Bella stared up into the enchanting hazel eyes of her rescuer.
“Ooo! Yur preeetty!” she said with a wide, goofy grin.
“Not as pretty as you,” he expertly answered back.
“Op!” she blurted out. Bringing her hand up to her mouth as he righted her, she giggled behind it as Julie and Hanna came over to take Ms. Drunk off of Seth’s hands. Hanna took the lead, taking the brunt of the girl’s weight while Julie stepped in front of both of them.
“Sorry about that,” she started, looking back at her inebriated friend and getting a nod from Hanna. Turning back, she smiled apologetically. “Seems she’s had way too much to drink.” Seth chuckled again and shook his head, holding one hand up to stop her.
“It’s fine. Really. I remember when I was twenty one.” He tilted his head and that crooked grin tugged at one corner of his lips. “Don’t you?” he asked.
“Well...yeah,” she admitted. Looking back at Bella one more time, she narrowed her eyes, then looked back to their new friend and rolled her eyes. “Don’t think I got that drunk though.”
“No?” he asked, one eye squinting as he appraised her answer.
“N-ho!” she laughed.
“Mm.” He nodded, pursing his lips and looking at her like he knew a secret. “You missed out then,” he said cryptically. Straightening up, she turned her head sharply to one side and narrowed her eyes at him.
“Did I?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered, then. “Shall we?” With a sweep of his hand, he turned his attention to the rest of the group and motioned down the street to his right, presumably in the direction of the next bar they would be visiting. One by one, he watched as they all started in that direction.
“Thanks,” Lizzy said flatly with her arms folded. Walking in that direction, she gave Julie a stern side eye and then dropped her arms to her side as she passed her, going in the indicated direction.
“On it!” Kristy said.
“Yesssss!” Sara cheered.
“He sed I wuz preeeetty,” Bella cooed in Hanna’s arms, looking up at her as she was herded in that direction.
“Yes he did. And you are very pretty,” Hanna echoed, rolling her eyes as they too passed Julie and Seth.
“Aw!” Bella blurted.
Looking at Julie next, Seth arched a brow and smiled, still holding his hand out. “After you?”
“Thankssss,” Julie hissed back, smirking. Not moving immediately, she looked him up and down once more and then slowly turned and began walking after her friends. Seth fell in beside her as they walked.
“M’fine,” the girl said, slapping her hands at both of her helpers and making a face. “Juss gotta...gotta…,” As she said it, she patted at her hip and then twirled around, looking for her purse. Not finding it immediately, she made a wobbly circle and finally looked up at the small group of friends. “Heyy. Whuurs muh p..Woop!” Already very drunk, the small spin in search of her purse had put her precariously off balance, and the heels didn’t help either. Julie and Hanna both lurched in her direction, but they were too late. Stumbling off to the side, Bella had fallen face first right into the arms of Seth.
“Whoa there, birthday girl!” he exclaimed with a chuckle as he caught her and dipped his knees to lessen the impact. Julie and Hanna both relaxed. Bella stared up into the enchanting hazel eyes of her rescuer.
“Ooo! Yur preeetty!” she said with a wide, goofy grin.
“Not as pretty as you,” he expertly answered back.
“Op!” she blurted out. Bringing her hand up to her mouth as he righted her, she giggled behind it as Julie and Hanna came over to take Ms. Drunk off of Seth’s hands. Hanna took the lead, taking the brunt of the girl’s weight while Julie stepped in front of both of them.
“Sorry about that,” she started, looking back at her inebriated friend and getting a nod from Hanna. Turning back, she smiled apologetically. “Seems she’s had way too much to drink.” Seth chuckled again and shook his head, holding one hand up to stop her.
“It’s fine. Really. I remember when I was twenty one.” He tilted his head and that crooked grin tugged at one corner of his lips. “Don’t you?” he asked.
“Well...yeah,” she admitted. Looking back at Bella one more time, she narrowed her eyes, then looked back to their new friend and rolled her eyes. “Don’t think I got that drunk though.”
“No?” he asked, one eye squinting as he appraised her answer.
“N-ho!” she laughed.
“Mm.” He nodded, pursing his lips and looking at her like he knew a secret. “You missed out then,” he said cryptically. Straightening up, she turned her head sharply to one side and narrowed her eyes at him.
“Did I?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered, then. “Shall we?” With a sweep of his hand, he turned his attention to the rest of the group and motioned down the street to his right, presumably in the direction of the next bar they would be visiting. One by one, he watched as they all started in that direction.
“Thanks,” Lizzy said flatly with her arms folded. Walking in that direction, she gave Julie a stern side eye and then dropped her arms to her side as she passed her, going in the indicated direction.
“On it!” Kristy said.
“Yesssss!” Sara cheered.
“He sed I wuz preeeetty,” Bella cooed in Hanna’s arms, looking up at her as she was herded in that direction.
“Yes he did. And you are very pretty,” Hanna echoed, rolling her eyes as they too passed Julie and Seth.
“Aw!” Bella blurted.
Looking at Julie next, Seth arched a brow and smiled, still holding his hand out. “After you?”
“Thankssss,” Julie hissed back, smirking. Not moving immediately, she looked him up and down once more and then slowly turned and began walking after her friends. Seth fell in beside her as they walked.
Re: One Fateful Night
As the girls made their way down the sidewalk, Julie watched as they conversed amongst themselves, giggled and joked back and forth. Folding her arms in front of her as she followed, she glanced in Seth’s direction every so often but her gaze never lingered; always moving back to her friends who walked several steps in front of them.
“You know…,” he started.
“Hmm?” she hummed, glancing his way yet again with an arched brow.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” he admitted, looking her way.
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she scoffed playfully, motioning her head to Bella up ahead who stumbled along next to Hanna, and had started to sing, oddly enough.
“Touché,” he chuckled lightly, shaking his head. Lightheartedness aside, he looked over at her again. “But seriously. There’s...there’s just something about you. Something I like. A lot.”
“Yeah?” she questioned, looking over at him again as they walked. “Like what?”
“I don’t know yet,” he admitted. Looking up ahead to the troupe of friends in front of them, he called out. “We’re almost there. It’s just up ahead on the right.”
“Sweeeet!” he heard at least one of them yell back.
“I'd like to find out though,” he said, turning back to her as they walked. Julie didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she simply smiled and contemplated his words and the intentions behind them.
“I think I’d like that too,” she said finally, turning to him and offering a warm smile.
“Good,” he said softly, then stopped walking. Looking up ahead of them again, he nodded to two of the girls as they looked back their way and pointed to an establishment they’d come to. “Yep! That’s the place!” he reassured with a smile.
“Yes!” Sara pumped her arm.
“Jackpot!” Kristy grinned.
“More alcohhichol?” Bella hiccuped.
“God! Maybe! Doubtful though,” Hanna chided.
“Awwww!” her drunkenness lamented.
Lizzy didn’t say anything. Instead, she looked back at the pair that had lagged behind with concern.
Having stopped walking too, Julie watched as her friends started making their way into the next bar one by one. Looking over to Lizzy, she winked and smiled, trying to reassure her from afar. Lizzy smirked back before her gaze drifted to Seth and she slowly turned towards the stairs. Walking up the steps, she stopped near the top just before entering and squinted at the man. Pointing two fingers at her eyes, she turned them towards him and then drifted a cautionary gaze back to Julie before finally turning and walking inside with the others.
“I don’t think your friend likes me,” Seth said after she was out of sight.
“She’ll get over it,” Julie answered, turning to look at him again. “Unless…,” she started.
“Unless?” he questioned with a slight frown.
Unfolding her arms, she let them fall to her sides and took the step or two that would close the distance between them. Raising them again, she rested her forearms on his shoulders and looked up at him, smiling. “Unless your intentions with me aren’t entirely pure, or you hurt me.” She squinted. “Too much.” Her eyes wandered back to the door of the bar and then back to him slowly. “Then I doubt any of them would ever forgive you,” she finished with a pout.
“Ah,” he said in understanding, his hands drifting to her waist as he looked down at her. Daring a glance at her lips as she finished speaking, he looked up from them and found her eyes again, tilting his head. “Well, I do have to admit that all of my intentions aren’t exactly pure, and I would never hurt you.” He squinted back. “Too much.” Looking back to the door of the bar himself, noticing that all had made it inside, he turned back to her and a hint of teeth showed when his grin crooked sideways again. Julie smiled back, liking what she’d heard so far.
Looking over his shoulder, Seth looked at an alleyway that was between them and the bar and that grin widened just a bit. Looking back to her, he motioned his head back to it.
“My place is actually just over there. Do you think your friends will be alright for a couple of hours?” he asked.
“A couple of hours?” she asked back, raising a brow at the implication.
“I’ll be quick,” he smirked.
“You know…,” he started.
“Hmm?” she hummed, glancing his way yet again with an arched brow.
“You’re absolutely stunning,” he admitted, looking her way.
“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she scoffed playfully, motioning her head to Bella up ahead who stumbled along next to Hanna, and had started to sing, oddly enough.
“Touché,” he chuckled lightly, shaking his head. Lightheartedness aside, he looked over at her again. “But seriously. There’s...there’s just something about you. Something I like. A lot.”
“Yeah?” she questioned, looking over at him again as they walked. “Like what?”
“I don’t know yet,” he admitted. Looking up ahead to the troupe of friends in front of them, he called out. “We’re almost there. It’s just up ahead on the right.”
“Sweeeet!” he heard at least one of them yell back.
“I'd like to find out though,” he said, turning back to her as they walked. Julie didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she simply smiled and contemplated his words and the intentions behind them.
“I think I’d like that too,” she said finally, turning to him and offering a warm smile.
“Good,” he said softly, then stopped walking. Looking up ahead of them again, he nodded to two of the girls as they looked back their way and pointed to an establishment they’d come to. “Yep! That’s the place!” he reassured with a smile.
“Yes!” Sara pumped her arm.
“Jackpot!” Kristy grinned.
“More alcohhichol?” Bella hiccuped.
“God! Maybe! Doubtful though,” Hanna chided.
“Awwww!” her drunkenness lamented.
Lizzy didn’t say anything. Instead, she looked back at the pair that had lagged behind with concern.
Having stopped walking too, Julie watched as her friends started making their way into the next bar one by one. Looking over to Lizzy, she winked and smiled, trying to reassure her from afar. Lizzy smirked back before her gaze drifted to Seth and she slowly turned towards the stairs. Walking up the steps, she stopped near the top just before entering and squinted at the man. Pointing two fingers at her eyes, she turned them towards him and then drifted a cautionary gaze back to Julie before finally turning and walking inside with the others.
“I don’t think your friend likes me,” Seth said after she was out of sight.
“She’ll get over it,” Julie answered, turning to look at him again. “Unless…,” she started.
“Unless?” he questioned with a slight frown.
Unfolding her arms, she let them fall to her sides and took the step or two that would close the distance between them. Raising them again, she rested her forearms on his shoulders and looked up at him, smiling. “Unless your intentions with me aren’t entirely pure, or you hurt me.” She squinted. “Too much.” Her eyes wandered back to the door of the bar and then back to him slowly. “Then I doubt any of them would ever forgive you,” she finished with a pout.
“Ah,” he said in understanding, his hands drifting to her waist as he looked down at her. Daring a glance at her lips as she finished speaking, he looked up from them and found her eyes again, tilting his head. “Well, I do have to admit that all of my intentions aren’t exactly pure, and I would never hurt you.” He squinted back. “Too much.” Looking back to the door of the bar himself, noticing that all had made it inside, he turned back to her and a hint of teeth showed when his grin crooked sideways again. Julie smiled back, liking what she’d heard so far.
Looking over his shoulder, Seth looked at an alleyway that was between them and the bar and that grin widened just a bit. Looking back to her, he motioned his head back to it.
“My place is actually just over there. Do you think your friends will be alright for a couple of hours?” he asked.
“A couple of hours?” she asked back, raising a brow at the implication.
“I’ll be quick,” he smirked.
Re: One Fateful Night
Julie looked back to the door of the bar. It wasn’t like her friends were completely helpless without her there, but it was Bella’s twenty first birthday. She squinted. It was also entirely likely that Bella would be missing a whole lot more than just two hours from the night in the morning. It was simple, in Julie’s mind. She would slip off with Seth. Have a little fun, and then explain everything when she showed back up at the bar. The girls would understand.
“Alright,” she agreed, turning back to Seth.
“Perfect,” he grinned. In that moment, he moved against her, closing the already scant distance between them even further. Dipping his head down just a little, his lips moved for hers, and then he stopped. Those perfect hazel eyes moving to her deep brown, he paused for a moment more and stared deeply into them as if asking for permission. When she didn’t protest or move away, simply staring back in anticipation, the pause ended and he placed his lips against hers. The kiss was soft at first, tender and pliant as the two soon to be lovers savored the first feeling of intimacy between them. Julie’s arms still on his shoulders, they curled around and one hand found the back of his head, fingers combing through his hair as she tilted her head to deepen it. Seth obliged her eagerly, the hands at her sides slipping around her waist and one sliding up her back to hold her to him. When he tilted his head as well and the kiss slowly became more heated, a soft, whimpering moan passed from her mouth to his. When she parted her lips and her tongue slipped forth to chance a taste, Seth pulled away slowly and opened his eyes to look at her. Those eager lips following his retreat at first, her head dipped with the motion until she realized that he had intentionally broken the kiss. Opening her eyes slowly to look up at him, she noticed the half cocked grin on those very lips and the barest hint of teeth beyond.
“C’mon,” he whispered, motioning his head back to the alleyway once more.
“Okay,” she whispered back, drawing her lower lip in to taste him again.
His arms went slack around her and brushed against her sides as they came down. As he turned, one hand drifted down and found hers, slipping inside and squeezing gently while he started to walk for the entrance of the alley. Julie followed eagerly, her hand in his. Very soon they were slipping between the two buildings that made up the entrance and walking to the other end when Seth stopped abruptly.
“Shit!” he exclaimed, turning back and looking to where they had just entered.
“What? Julie asked, turning to look back at him. When questioned, he turned back to her and closed the distance again. Bringing his hand up to her cheek, he ran his thumb along her jaw and placed a chaste kiss to her lips before pulling back and smiling.
“Let me go pay for your friend’s drinks and I’ll be right back, okay?” he explained.
“Oh shit!” she giggled after returning the kiss. “Okay.”
“To the end of the alley. Take a left and it’s the second door on the right. Apartment A2. Door’s unlocked,” he explained. “Make yourself comfortable and I’ll be right there.” he added with a grin and a third chaste kiss to her lips.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting,” she grinned, kissing him back.
“Mmmm. Can’t wait,” he said quickly, then he turned and headed to the bar to make Bella and company very happy.
Julie watched him go until he disappeared around the corner, then turned and started walking the rest of the way to the end of the alley. As she did, her thoughts went to this man’s apartment she was about to enter and what would happen shortly after, biting her lip and smiling in anticipation. As she was thinking, the sound of a metal can rattled off somewhere behind her and she stopped, turning back to look.
“Seth?” she called back, craning her neck. Just as she called his name, that very man rounded the corner and called up ahead to her.
“Right here!” he said with a beaming smile as he walked towards her.
“Oh. Good.” she smiled back. Waiting a few moments for the distance between them to close, she slowly turned around and continued to walk. Looking to up the excitement factor, she took her time, swaying her hips seductively as she waited for him to catch up.
When he did catch up, Julie felt his hands graze softly against her forearms and his chest press up against her back firmly. His hands closing gently around her upper arms, he pulled her back against him and nestled his face in the crux between her neck and shoulder. Taking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly.
“God your beautiful,” he breathed. “I don’t think I can wait.”
“Yeah?” she questioned, leaning her head to one side so he could place those tender lips wherever he wanted.
“Yeah,” he answered, his voice deep; satin soft.
“Alright,” she agreed, turning back to Seth.
“Perfect,” he grinned. In that moment, he moved against her, closing the already scant distance between them even further. Dipping his head down just a little, his lips moved for hers, and then he stopped. Those perfect hazel eyes moving to her deep brown, he paused for a moment more and stared deeply into them as if asking for permission. When she didn’t protest or move away, simply staring back in anticipation, the pause ended and he placed his lips against hers. The kiss was soft at first, tender and pliant as the two soon to be lovers savored the first feeling of intimacy between them. Julie’s arms still on his shoulders, they curled around and one hand found the back of his head, fingers combing through his hair as she tilted her head to deepen it. Seth obliged her eagerly, the hands at her sides slipping around her waist and one sliding up her back to hold her to him. When he tilted his head as well and the kiss slowly became more heated, a soft, whimpering moan passed from her mouth to his. When she parted her lips and her tongue slipped forth to chance a taste, Seth pulled away slowly and opened his eyes to look at her. Those eager lips following his retreat at first, her head dipped with the motion until she realized that he had intentionally broken the kiss. Opening her eyes slowly to look up at him, she noticed the half cocked grin on those very lips and the barest hint of teeth beyond.
“C’mon,” he whispered, motioning his head back to the alleyway once more.
“Okay,” she whispered back, drawing her lower lip in to taste him again.
His arms went slack around her and brushed against her sides as they came down. As he turned, one hand drifted down and found hers, slipping inside and squeezing gently while he started to walk for the entrance of the alley. Julie followed eagerly, her hand in his. Very soon they were slipping between the two buildings that made up the entrance and walking to the other end when Seth stopped abruptly.
“Shit!” he exclaimed, turning back and looking to where they had just entered.
“What? Julie asked, turning to look back at him. When questioned, he turned back to her and closed the distance again. Bringing his hand up to her cheek, he ran his thumb along her jaw and placed a chaste kiss to her lips before pulling back and smiling.
“Let me go pay for your friend’s drinks and I’ll be right back, okay?” he explained.
“Oh shit!” she giggled after returning the kiss. “Okay.”
“To the end of the alley. Take a left and it’s the second door on the right. Apartment A2. Door’s unlocked,” he explained. “Make yourself comfortable and I’ll be right there.” he added with a grin and a third chaste kiss to her lips.
“Okay. I’ll be waiting,” she grinned, kissing him back.
“Mmmm. Can’t wait,” he said quickly, then he turned and headed to the bar to make Bella and company very happy.
Julie watched him go until he disappeared around the corner, then turned and started walking the rest of the way to the end of the alley. As she did, her thoughts went to this man’s apartment she was about to enter and what would happen shortly after, biting her lip and smiling in anticipation. As she was thinking, the sound of a metal can rattled off somewhere behind her and she stopped, turning back to look.
“Seth?” she called back, craning her neck. Just as she called his name, that very man rounded the corner and called up ahead to her.
“Right here!” he said with a beaming smile as he walked towards her.
“Oh. Good.” she smiled back. Waiting a few moments for the distance between them to close, she slowly turned around and continued to walk. Looking to up the excitement factor, she took her time, swaying her hips seductively as she waited for him to catch up.
When he did catch up, Julie felt his hands graze softly against her forearms and his chest press up against her back firmly. His hands closing gently around her upper arms, he pulled her back against him and nestled his face in the crux between her neck and shoulder. Taking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly.
“God your beautiful,” he breathed. “I don’t think I can wait.”
“Yeah?” she questioned, leaning her head to one side so he could place those tender lips wherever he wanted.
“Yeah,” he answered, his voice deep; satin soft.
Re: One Fateful Night
The shift happened almost instantaneously. Where Seth once stood, chest pressed against Julie’s back and holding her arms, something else entirely towered over her in the next moment. Looming at close to eight feet tall, brown fur streaked with black replaced any vestiges of skin or hair and razor sharp, talon like claws supplanted finger and toenails. Instead of hazel, shattered irises of black, gold and brown that glowed eerily in the darkness looked down at her hungrily. Thick, corded muscles tensed beneath the thick pelt of fur in anticipation of the kill and a low, creaking growl emanated from somewhere deep within that terrible, awful maw.
Julie’s eyes went wide with terror and a chill rocked through her very core at the sudden realization that a nightmare now looked down upon her and there was no escape. The viscous bite that came next was just as sudden. Clamping down between her neck and shoulder with immense pressure, two dagger-like canine teeth measuring six inches long pierced her rib cage, collapsing her lung instantly as well as snapping bone and severing nerves. A sharp intake of breath punctuated a desperate, painful gasp as she was lifted off the pavement, but the scream would never come.
As blood filled her failed lung and the edges of her vision began to darken, the sound of a metal can rattling in the distance again shattered the relative silence and the werewolf spun around, narrowing its eyes at the entrance of the alleyway with claws splayed out menacingly; the girl dangling from his mouth.
“Well...well...well…,” came a low, gravely rumble of a voice as a figure stepped into view, clapping his hands slowly and softly. “Congratulations on the appetizer,” he continued. “Pity you won’t see the main course,” the man threatened as the clapping slowed and then eventually ceased.
The corners of the werewolf’s lips pulled back threateningly, exposing those deadly teeth even as they remained lodged in Julie’s chest and shoulder and he growled at the figure and his threat. Just then, the sound of something shifting against brick drew the werewolf’s attention to the right and up, and then again to the left. Looking back to the figure in front of him, the massive wolf growled again and tossed its head to one side, flinging the girl away as he prepared for the coming onslaught.
Julie, very near unconsciousness, slammed hard into the opened lid of a nearby dumpster face first with a sickening CRACK and then fell onto the bags and debris inside helplessly. Through ragged, painful gasps, the edges of her vision darkened further and closed in slowly. She could hear the voice of the man in the alleyway, the snarling growls of Seth growing louder, more scuffling noises coming from somewhere but she couldn’t make sense of the sounds or what occurred very shortly after. Slowly. Painfully. Julie succumbed to the darkness.
Julie’s eyes went wide with terror and a chill rocked through her very core at the sudden realization that a nightmare now looked down upon her and there was no escape. The viscous bite that came next was just as sudden. Clamping down between her neck and shoulder with immense pressure, two dagger-like canine teeth measuring six inches long pierced her rib cage, collapsing her lung instantly as well as snapping bone and severing nerves. A sharp intake of breath punctuated a desperate, painful gasp as she was lifted off the pavement, but the scream would never come.
As blood filled her failed lung and the edges of her vision began to darken, the sound of a metal can rattling in the distance again shattered the relative silence and the werewolf spun around, narrowing its eyes at the entrance of the alleyway with claws splayed out menacingly; the girl dangling from his mouth.
“Well...well...well…,” came a low, gravely rumble of a voice as a figure stepped into view, clapping his hands slowly and softly. “Congratulations on the appetizer,” he continued. “Pity you won’t see the main course,” the man threatened as the clapping slowed and then eventually ceased.
The corners of the werewolf’s lips pulled back threateningly, exposing those deadly teeth even as they remained lodged in Julie’s chest and shoulder and he growled at the figure and his threat. Just then, the sound of something shifting against brick drew the werewolf’s attention to the right and up, and then again to the left. Looking back to the figure in front of him, the massive wolf growled again and tossed its head to one side, flinging the girl away as he prepared for the coming onslaught.
Julie, very near unconsciousness, slammed hard into the opened lid of a nearby dumpster face first with a sickening CRACK and then fell onto the bags and debris inside helplessly. Through ragged, painful gasps, the edges of her vision darkened further and closed in slowly. She could hear the voice of the man in the alleyway, the snarling growls of Seth growing louder, more scuffling noises coming from somewhere but she couldn’t make sense of the sounds or what occurred very shortly after. Slowly. Painfully. Julie succumbed to the darkness.
Re: One Fateful Night
In the early hours of the morning after, after the bars had long since closed and the group of girls celebrating a twenty first birthday were all passed out in their beds or someone else’s, two new figures arrived on the scene in the alleyway. Running up frantically, the first man hit the alley wall hard with his hands and pushed off, running down it. The second, much larger man, was jogging onto the scene shortly after. Both wild eyed and panic stricken, they looked up, down, left, right and checked around corners hastily before ending up somewhere in the middle again.
“Did he say it was this alley?” Stephen asked, catching his breath, pointing down to the pavement he stood on and looking at the other man.
“That’s what he said,” Bear nodded, catching his breath as well as he continued to look around.
“There’s got to be something,” Stephen said, swiveling his head back and forth. In their hasty first run of the alley, distressed as they were, Stephen and Bear had been looking for bigger, more stand out clues. Bodies mostly. When nothing so obvious presented itself and they had time to catch their breath, the more meticulous search produced an alarming amount of evidence. Stephen decided to give the walled walkway another once over. Bear looked around too, flaring his nostrils as he took in a long, deep breath.
“Smells like...him,” Bear sneered, turning to look at the entrance they’d come through. The scent was stronger there.
“No!” Stephen said immediately, his attention snapping up to look at his friend. Walking back over, he stood face to face with Bear, though he had to look up to meet his gaze. “No,” he said again, pointing down to the ground. “That’s why we came here! That was the whole point! He wasn’t supposed to be able to follow!” he continued angrily. Bear stood like a patient statue as the man lashed out. Stephen had known him far too long and knew he never backed down from anything, friend or not. He’d let him have his say. Lolling his head lazily to the side, he looked back at the entrance and upnodded in that direction, then looked back at Stephen.
“You tell me that’s not his stench,” he countered.
Stephen looked at him, then to the entrance and then back to him again.
“Fine,” Stephen said after a long moment. Stalking away from the behemoth of a man in front of him, he walked over to where he’d motioned to. His nostrils flared as he approached and it only took that to stop him in his tracks. Closing his eyes when he knew Bear was right, his head dropped and his shoulders slumped.
“He wasn’t supposed to be able to follow,” he said again, his voice now only a shell of what it was just moments ago. After a minute or two, Stephen turned around to face Bear and the empty alleyway again. Having caught his breath and calmed down considerably, his eyes flitted over the brick walls and pavement. A long, dragging claw mark on the side of the building. A chunk taken out of the wall of the other building. Dried spatters and smears of blood that were hardly discernible from the ruddy appearance of the bricks themselves now. The scent of the mindless horde that had come for him. It was all there. It just took the time to look to be able to see it.
“He did it again.” His words were but a whisper and his expression broken when he looked back at Bear. All of the emotions and heartache from the first time had come flooding back. The larger of the two just looked back guiltily at his friend. There was nothing he could say or do. Not now.
“Did he say it was this alley?” Stephen asked, catching his breath, pointing down to the pavement he stood on and looking at the other man.
“That’s what he said,” Bear nodded, catching his breath as well as he continued to look around.
“There’s got to be something,” Stephen said, swiveling his head back and forth. In their hasty first run of the alley, distressed as they were, Stephen and Bear had been looking for bigger, more stand out clues. Bodies mostly. When nothing so obvious presented itself and they had time to catch their breath, the more meticulous search produced an alarming amount of evidence. Stephen decided to give the walled walkway another once over. Bear looked around too, flaring his nostrils as he took in a long, deep breath.
“Smells like...him,” Bear sneered, turning to look at the entrance they’d come through. The scent was stronger there.
“No!” Stephen said immediately, his attention snapping up to look at his friend. Walking back over, he stood face to face with Bear, though he had to look up to meet his gaze. “No,” he said again, pointing down to the ground. “That’s why we came here! That was the whole point! He wasn’t supposed to be able to follow!” he continued angrily. Bear stood like a patient statue as the man lashed out. Stephen had known him far too long and knew he never backed down from anything, friend or not. He’d let him have his say. Lolling his head lazily to the side, he looked back at the entrance and upnodded in that direction, then looked back at Stephen.
“You tell me that’s not his stench,” he countered.
Stephen looked at him, then to the entrance and then back to him again.
“Fine,” Stephen said after a long moment. Stalking away from the behemoth of a man in front of him, he walked over to where he’d motioned to. His nostrils flared as he approached and it only took that to stop him in his tracks. Closing his eyes when he knew Bear was right, his head dropped and his shoulders slumped.
“He wasn’t supposed to be able to follow,” he said again, his voice now only a shell of what it was just moments ago. After a minute or two, Stephen turned around to face Bear and the empty alleyway again. Having caught his breath and calmed down considerably, his eyes flitted over the brick walls and pavement. A long, dragging claw mark on the side of the building. A chunk taken out of the wall of the other building. Dried spatters and smears of blood that were hardly discernible from the ruddy appearance of the bricks themselves now. The scent of the mindless horde that had come for him. It was all there. It just took the time to look to be able to see it.
“He did it again.” His words were but a whisper and his expression broken when he looked back at Bear. All of the emotions and heartache from the first time had come flooding back. The larger of the two just looked back guiltily at his friend. There was nothing he could say or do. Not now.
Re: One Fateful Night
After a long moment of silence and a fleeting glance back at the alley where their charge had been taken, or worse, murdered, Bear looked back at Stephen and let out a heavy sigh.
“Come on,” he said with a weak wave of his hand and a cant of his head. “Henri wasn’t the only one watching him. Maybe one of the others has more information.”
“Yeah,” Stephen agreed weakly. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said with a feeble nod as he started down the sidewalk. Bear watched him go.
“If all else fails we could ask...her,” he offered up.
“Who?” Stephen asked. His mind was in another place and another time at the moment.
“Nefertiti.” Bear dared her name, though even he said it softly.
Stephen shot him a look at the mention of her name. Bear held his hands up in defense.
“Hey,” he started before Stephen could. “We have to find out. I’m just sayin’,” he continued, defending his actions.
Stephen narrowed his eyes at his enormous friend and opened his mouth to say something. Before he could, a meek, muffled sound from the alley interrupted them. Stephen slowly leaned back and looked past the other man, his eyes still narrowed. Bear turned around as well, looking to see if he could see where the sound had come from. When the sound came again, both men looked at each other and started walking between the buildings again.
It wasn’t long before another meager, strained sound led them to a lone dumpster set against one of the walls closer to the other street behind. Bear arrived first.
“Ah shit,” he managed, wincing away at what he saw inside.
“What?” Stephen questioned, coming up right behind him. Looking up at the man, he looked down when he noticed the pained expression on his face and let out a sigh, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “So that’s why he was in the alley.”
“At least it’s only her. He usually gets them in groups.” He had winced and turned his head, but he was still looking down at the broken and bloody girl futilely trying to grasp at the edge of the dumpster.
“He was interrupted,” Stephen said, turning to look back at the entrance where the one that interrupted him had stood. He looked at the opposite wall next, squinting at the plain brick that made up the exterior of the building. Looking back to the entrance, he looked to the other street that went behind it. He never frequented the establishment, knowing what Seth used it for, but a few things looked vaguely familiar. “This is his bar,” he said softly. Not that it mattered.
Julie couldn’t see that anyone was on the outside of the dumpster looking down at her, nor could she really hear them talking. Her left orbital socket had been shattered and at that point, the swelling on that side of her face had sealed her eye shut completely. A dried trail of crusted blood caked her jaw and the side of her neck from where her eardrum had been ruptured as well. Still able to hear out of her right ear, she could only make out faint and muffled sounds somewhere above her due to the rustling of the bags she laid on and the pounding of her heart in that ear. With her one good eye, she could just make out the edge of the receptacle she laid in and now reached for. Her finger, swollen from the many broken bones in her hand, managed to catch on the edge, but slipped off helplessly on her fourth try and she whimpered again. Barely able to discern that the muffled sounds were probably voices, she figured they were either here to help or to finish the job. Either would be welcome.
Noticing the movement from the girl left with the trash, Stephen looked down at her again. Something else caught his eye then too and he tilted his head and squinted at her back. Reaching down, he picked up a small gold medallion resting on her shirt and brought it up for closer inspection. Twisting and turning it, his eyes narrowed more and he clutched it in his hand tightly.
“It’s a message,” he said softly, looking back down at the girl.
“So it was him,” Bear surmised. Nodding, Stephen looked back down at Julie and tilted his head again. Wordlessly, he reached over in front of himself and held his closed hand out. Bear reached out and was rewarded with the gold medallion being dropped in his hand, though Stephen still didn’t look his way. When the small trinket was relinquished, Stephen bent over the lip of the dumpster and very delicately ran his fingers over the woman’s dress just below the shoulder. The black material and the blood made it hard to see at first, but upon closer inspection he could make out two large puncture wounds just below her shoulder blade and two rows of smaller puncture wounds running up her back from them.
“He bit her,” he said, his voice quiet.
Bear didn’t have time to examine the medallion. Instead, he looked down at her and then at Stephen.
“So if Seth is dead,” he started.
“Then it falls to her,” Stephen finished. “Let’s get her out of there.”
“Come on,” he said with a weak wave of his hand and a cant of his head. “Henri wasn’t the only one watching him. Maybe one of the others has more information.”
“Yeah,” Stephen agreed weakly. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said with a feeble nod as he started down the sidewalk. Bear watched him go.
“If all else fails we could ask...her,” he offered up.
“Who?” Stephen asked. His mind was in another place and another time at the moment.
“Nefertiti.” Bear dared her name, though even he said it softly.
Stephen shot him a look at the mention of her name. Bear held his hands up in defense.
“Hey,” he started before Stephen could. “We have to find out. I’m just sayin’,” he continued, defending his actions.
Stephen narrowed his eyes at his enormous friend and opened his mouth to say something. Before he could, a meek, muffled sound from the alley interrupted them. Stephen slowly leaned back and looked past the other man, his eyes still narrowed. Bear turned around as well, looking to see if he could see where the sound had come from. When the sound came again, both men looked at each other and started walking between the buildings again.
It wasn’t long before another meager, strained sound led them to a lone dumpster set against one of the walls closer to the other street behind. Bear arrived first.
“Ah shit,” he managed, wincing away at what he saw inside.
“What?” Stephen questioned, coming up right behind him. Looking up at the man, he looked down when he noticed the pained expression on his face and let out a sigh, closing his eyes and shaking his head. “So that’s why he was in the alley.”
“At least it’s only her. He usually gets them in groups.” He had winced and turned his head, but he was still looking down at the broken and bloody girl futilely trying to grasp at the edge of the dumpster.
“He was interrupted,” Stephen said, turning to look back at the entrance where the one that interrupted him had stood. He looked at the opposite wall next, squinting at the plain brick that made up the exterior of the building. Looking back to the entrance, he looked to the other street that went behind it. He never frequented the establishment, knowing what Seth used it for, but a few things looked vaguely familiar. “This is his bar,” he said softly. Not that it mattered.
Julie couldn’t see that anyone was on the outside of the dumpster looking down at her, nor could she really hear them talking. Her left orbital socket had been shattered and at that point, the swelling on that side of her face had sealed her eye shut completely. A dried trail of crusted blood caked her jaw and the side of her neck from where her eardrum had been ruptured as well. Still able to hear out of her right ear, she could only make out faint and muffled sounds somewhere above her due to the rustling of the bags she laid on and the pounding of her heart in that ear. With her one good eye, she could just make out the edge of the receptacle she laid in and now reached for. Her finger, swollen from the many broken bones in her hand, managed to catch on the edge, but slipped off helplessly on her fourth try and she whimpered again. Barely able to discern that the muffled sounds were probably voices, she figured they were either here to help or to finish the job. Either would be welcome.
Noticing the movement from the girl left with the trash, Stephen looked down at her again. Something else caught his eye then too and he tilted his head and squinted at her back. Reaching down, he picked up a small gold medallion resting on her shirt and brought it up for closer inspection. Twisting and turning it, his eyes narrowed more and he clutched it in his hand tightly.
“It’s a message,” he said softly, looking back down at the girl.
“So it was him,” Bear surmised. Nodding, Stephen looked back down at Julie and tilted his head again. Wordlessly, he reached over in front of himself and held his closed hand out. Bear reached out and was rewarded with the gold medallion being dropped in his hand, though Stephen still didn’t look his way. When the small trinket was relinquished, Stephen bent over the lip of the dumpster and very delicately ran his fingers over the woman’s dress just below the shoulder. The black material and the blood made it hard to see at first, but upon closer inspection he could make out two large puncture wounds just below her shoulder blade and two rows of smaller puncture wounds running up her back from them.
“He bit her,” he said, his voice quiet.
Bear didn’t have time to examine the medallion. Instead, he looked down at her and then at Stephen.
“So if Seth is dead,” he started.
“Then it falls to her,” Stephen finished. “Let’s get her out of there.”
Re: One Fateful Night
Nodding, Bear pocketed the gold piece and leaned over the dumpster, maneuvering his hands to get under the girl’s broken little body. Julie, feeling the sensation of those large hands moving under her, froze in renewed terror and shock as her eye flicked back and forth erratically.
“Jesus,” Bear winced, moving his hands and arms under her as delicately as possible. “It’s like trying to pick up a rag doll filled with jello,” he lamented of the task.
“Do the best you can,” Stephen said, turning and pulling a small flip phone out of his pocket. Flipping it open and looking down at the keypad, he hit a series of numbers and moved the phone to his ear. “We’ll be able to take better care of her at the mansion.”
The mountain of a man nodded. The expression etched onto his features was one of great strain, as if the girl was the heaviest thing he’d ever tried to pick up. In reality, her body was so broken and battered that he was doing his very best not to break her more. Hands and arms finally beneath her, he straightened, hauling her out of the debris as he stood. Taking great care, he rolled her in his arms so that she was cradled within them and he looked down at the wild eyed girl staring back up at him.
“Shhh. I’ve got you. You’re safe now,” he reassured her, his baritone voice soft and soothing.
Absolutely everything hurt. From the very top of her head to the bottoms of her bare feet. Not as intense as the initial searing, burning explosion of agony that had raced through her, hours of suffering had dulled her senses and it was now just a dull ache...everywhere. Along with her orbital socket, ruptured eardrum, broken hand and collapsed lung, both of her arms were broken in different places. Her rib cage had multiple fractures from the impact. One knee cap was completely shattered and the other dislocated. Both femurs, fibula and tibia sported greenstick and hairline fractures along the length of them. They hadn’t broken completely, but it wouldn’t take much at all to snap them the rest of the way. Multiple other smaller bones and joints, though still painful, showed more of the same throughout her body.
Hurting and on the edge of unconsciousness again, Julie simply stared up at her rescuer silently and helplessly. His arms around her and his body next to hers were incredibly warm compared to the cold, damp bags that had been her resting place for the remainder of the night. Slowly, understanding crept into her addled mind and she nodded gently. Warm and safe, her eye drifted closed while Stephen conversed on the phone.
“Yeah,” he answered the unheard voice on the other end.
“No,” he sighed. “But we found…,” he turned, looking over his shoulder at Bear and Julie and his eyes drifted down to her. “...something else,” he explained vaguely.
“It’s...complicated. Just send a car. I’ll explain everything when we get there.” He closed the phone and let his hand fall to his side. It would be several minutes before the car arrived. While they waited, he glanced up to the early morning sky and squinted into the brightness. The sun had risen, but there should have been the ghost of something else looming there still. A few moments passed and his eyes slowly drifted left, then again to the right. Though he hoped to be able to see at least the tiniest sliver of Arabrab somewhere up there, he did not. Sighing, he looked over his shoulder to Bear and the girl he held in his arms.
“It’s gonna be a long two weeks,” he said softly, mostly to himself.
“Jesus,” Bear winced, moving his hands and arms under her as delicately as possible. “It’s like trying to pick up a rag doll filled with jello,” he lamented of the task.
“Do the best you can,” Stephen said, turning and pulling a small flip phone out of his pocket. Flipping it open and looking down at the keypad, he hit a series of numbers and moved the phone to his ear. “We’ll be able to take better care of her at the mansion.”
The mountain of a man nodded. The expression etched onto his features was one of great strain, as if the girl was the heaviest thing he’d ever tried to pick up. In reality, her body was so broken and battered that he was doing his very best not to break her more. Hands and arms finally beneath her, he straightened, hauling her out of the debris as he stood. Taking great care, he rolled her in his arms so that she was cradled within them and he looked down at the wild eyed girl staring back up at him.
“Shhh. I’ve got you. You’re safe now,” he reassured her, his baritone voice soft and soothing.
Absolutely everything hurt. From the very top of her head to the bottoms of her bare feet. Not as intense as the initial searing, burning explosion of agony that had raced through her, hours of suffering had dulled her senses and it was now just a dull ache...everywhere. Along with her orbital socket, ruptured eardrum, broken hand and collapsed lung, both of her arms were broken in different places. Her rib cage had multiple fractures from the impact. One knee cap was completely shattered and the other dislocated. Both femurs, fibula and tibia sported greenstick and hairline fractures along the length of them. They hadn’t broken completely, but it wouldn’t take much at all to snap them the rest of the way. Multiple other smaller bones and joints, though still painful, showed more of the same throughout her body.
Hurting and on the edge of unconsciousness again, Julie simply stared up at her rescuer silently and helplessly. His arms around her and his body next to hers were incredibly warm compared to the cold, damp bags that had been her resting place for the remainder of the night. Slowly, understanding crept into her addled mind and she nodded gently. Warm and safe, her eye drifted closed while Stephen conversed on the phone.
“Yeah,” he answered the unheard voice on the other end.
“No,” he sighed. “But we found…,” he turned, looking over his shoulder at Bear and Julie and his eyes drifted down to her. “...something else,” he explained vaguely.
“It’s...complicated. Just send a car. I’ll explain everything when we get there.” He closed the phone and let his hand fall to his side. It would be several minutes before the car arrived. While they waited, he glanced up to the early morning sky and squinted into the brightness. The sun had risen, but there should have been the ghost of something else looming there still. A few moments passed and his eyes slowly drifted left, then again to the right. Though he hoped to be able to see at least the tiniest sliver of Arabrab somewhere up there, he did not. Sighing, he looked over his shoulder to Bear and the girl he held in his arms.
“It’s gonna be a long two weeks,” he said softly, mostly to himself.
Re: One Fateful Night
Soon, a black Mercedes-Benz S-Class with blackout tint on the windows pulled up and stopped at the mouth of the alley. Seeing the car, Stephen looked back to Bear and nodded in that direction before tossing the burner phone in the dumpster. Together, both men worked diligently and carefully to get the large man and the woman he carried in the back seat safely and comfortably. Once that task was accomplished, Stephen shut the door, opened the front passenger side door and slipped in, shutting the door behind him. Once everybody was inside, the car pulled away slowly and began the short drive to their destination.
The scenery on the outside of the car slowly changed from cityscape, with its shops, cafes and various businesses, to homes that dotted the outskirts of the city proper and finally, to a more rural and remote setting. The three passengers in the car hardly noticed though. Julie was still asleep in the massive arms that seemed to swallow her whole. Bear looked down at the severely damaged girl apologetically, hoping and praying that she would be okay. Stephen looked straight ahead, but despite the passing buildings and then trees, he saw none of it. Too focused on what to tell the one he knew would be waiting for them, the lush scenery passed by silently without even the slightest of glances.
They arrived at a luxurious expanse of architecture at the base of a rolling hillside that was surrounded by a smattering of evergreen trees. The structure, immense and beautiful as it was, was affectionately dubbed ‘The Mansion’ by most that had the pleasure of visiting or staying there. More of a complex than an actual home, it was the size of a small university if one took into account the smaller, but no less luxurious, satellite buildings that dotted the hillside around it. In different, more business attuned circles, it was known as Wolf Industries.
The four story Rhy’Dinian limestone main building had many interesting features included in its construction and design. Passing through the porte-cochere, one was rewarded with a balanced façade with two projecting wings that connected to the entrance tower. With marble flooring throughout, several rooms sported floor to ceiling windows instead of walls, affording breathtaking views to the outside landscape. A large, fully supporting kitchen lay within the heart of it and there were no shortages of balconies, fireplaces, luxury baths and at least 5 large safe rooms tucked away in strategic locations throughout. Passing through the grand porte-cochere, the black sedan entered the central courtyard and rounded its way to the east wing of the building where a woman stood with arms crossed and a very expectant expression etched onto her features. When the car stopped and the passenger door opened, Stephen stepped out to a curiously arched brow and golden eyes that looked him over unapologetically.
“Something...else,” she said immediately, the calm in her voice measured; practiced. It was an echo of his vague and cryptic response from earlier, but the question behind it was heavily implicated.
“Something else,” he replied yet again as he reached for the back passenger door and opened it for her. Squinting dangerously, she kept those intense golden eyes on him even as she dipped her head down. Looking inside at the back seat of the car, her eyes flicked to Bear sitting there and immediately looked down to what he held in his arms. Raising back up just as quickly, she shot an accusatory look at Stephen.
“The fuck is that?” she blurted out, one arm uncrossing from in front of her to point at the opened door.
“She’s been bitten,” he explained of the girl.
“We don’t take in strays,” she shot back flatly, her arm again folding within her other and her head canting just slightly while her gaze narrowed more.
“By Seth,” he said finally, squinting back just as dangerously.
The scenery on the outside of the car slowly changed from cityscape, with its shops, cafes and various businesses, to homes that dotted the outskirts of the city proper and finally, to a more rural and remote setting. The three passengers in the car hardly noticed though. Julie was still asleep in the massive arms that seemed to swallow her whole. Bear looked down at the severely damaged girl apologetically, hoping and praying that she would be okay. Stephen looked straight ahead, but despite the passing buildings and then trees, he saw none of it. Too focused on what to tell the one he knew would be waiting for them, the lush scenery passed by silently without even the slightest of glances.
They arrived at a luxurious expanse of architecture at the base of a rolling hillside that was surrounded by a smattering of evergreen trees. The structure, immense and beautiful as it was, was affectionately dubbed ‘The Mansion’ by most that had the pleasure of visiting or staying there. More of a complex than an actual home, it was the size of a small university if one took into account the smaller, but no less luxurious, satellite buildings that dotted the hillside around it. In different, more business attuned circles, it was known as Wolf Industries.
The four story Rhy’Dinian limestone main building had many interesting features included in its construction and design. Passing through the porte-cochere, one was rewarded with a balanced façade with two projecting wings that connected to the entrance tower. With marble flooring throughout, several rooms sported floor to ceiling windows instead of walls, affording breathtaking views to the outside landscape. A large, fully supporting kitchen lay within the heart of it and there were no shortages of balconies, fireplaces, luxury baths and at least 5 large safe rooms tucked away in strategic locations throughout. Passing through the grand porte-cochere, the black sedan entered the central courtyard and rounded its way to the east wing of the building where a woman stood with arms crossed and a very expectant expression etched onto her features. When the car stopped and the passenger door opened, Stephen stepped out to a curiously arched brow and golden eyes that looked him over unapologetically.
“Something...else,” she said immediately, the calm in her voice measured; practiced. It was an echo of his vague and cryptic response from earlier, but the question behind it was heavily implicated.
“Something else,” he replied yet again as he reached for the back passenger door and opened it for her. Squinting dangerously, she kept those intense golden eyes on him even as she dipped her head down. Looking inside at the back seat of the car, her eyes flicked to Bear sitting there and immediately looked down to what he held in his arms. Raising back up just as quickly, she shot an accusatory look at Stephen.
“The fuck is that?” she blurted out, one arm uncrossing from in front of her to point at the opened door.
“She’s been bitten,” he explained of the girl.
“We don’t take in strays,” she shot back flatly, her arm again folding within her other and her head canting just slightly while her gaze narrowed more.
“By Seth,” he said finally, squinting back just as dangerously.
Re: One Fateful Night
A long silence followed but her gaze never wavered from the defiant man standing in front of her. Eyes still narrowed, she pursed her lips to one side, contemplating whether his words were true and what that would mean if they were.
“So is he…?” she started the question. Stephen sighed.
“We don’t know yet. We’ll find out, but first we need to get her taken care of just in case,” he offered. The woman nodded and then half turned to face the interior of the courtyard they stood in. Placing her hand to her ear, she spoke quickly but calmly.
“I need a gurney in the courtyard. Send two nurses and prepare the stabilizing room. I’ll be there shortly,” she said into the earpiece. Turning back to the man, her hand fell from her ear and she crossed her arms in front of her again. “We’ll take care of her, until you find out for sure,” she added. The implication at the end was grave and Stephen understood it all too well. They didn’t take in strays. Or appetizers.
Almost immediately, the two nurses and gurney requested arrived in the courtyard and positioned themselves at the back door of the car when directed there. With expert care and Bear’s help, they extricated Julie from the back seat, secured her as best they could and began wheeling her back to the stabilizing room.
“We’ll have her ready right away, ma’am,” one of the nurses said as they passed the woman. She nodded, looking down at the swollen, bloodied face of the girl as she passed in front of her. Waiting until the two nurses were out of earshot, she narrowed her eyes at their backs and slowly turned her attention back to Stephen.
“Odd. He usually goes for the pretty ones,” she said facetiously.
Meanwhile, relieved of the dead weight of the girl who had been wheeled away, Bear had made his way out of the back seat and slowly stood to his full height as he closed the door. Looking down at her, his expression was defensive, but still playful.
“We can’t all be as beautiful as you, Nermal.” The corner of his mouth perked up instantly after voicing one of the many nicknames he had for her.
“Fuck you,” she said lazily, lolling her head in his direction as she looked at him with an upwards slant. Whether for the comment, the nickname or both, it wasn’t clear.
“In your dreams,” he poked back, grin ever widening.
“Look, Baloo…,” she’d started, taking the time to actually turn to face him.
“Enough!” Stephen yelled. “Both of you,” he said once both had turned to him at the outburst. He was used to the back and forth banter between the two, but now was definitely not the time. “We...have work to do,” he said to Bear first. “And so do you,” he added, turning to the woman next. She closed her eyes and gave a slow, slanted bow of her head before she turned and started walking towards the stabilizing room.
“Let me know what you find out,” she called over her shoulder, her words punctuated by the slow staccato of the four inch stiletto heels she wore.
“If we find out,” Bear said incredulously, re-opening the car door.
“You’ll find out,” the woman said as she neared the door. Just as she placed her hand on the knob to push it open, she stopped. A slow, devilish grin twisted her lips, but she didn’t turn around. The two men at the car wouldn’t see the smile, only the way she paused and the two chopsticks stuck in her long, raven black hair to pin it up. “Pretend like somebody just stole your picnic basket,” she added, then twisted the knob and slipped inside before the larger of the two could get anything in edgewise.
“Bitch,” Bear said under his breath, looking that way with one hand resting on top of the door.
“Wrong one,” Stephen said, smiling despite the seriousness of their situation as he slipped into the passenger seat and shut the door behind him. Bear looked at him and then the closed door before looking back to the door the woman had gone through.
“Pussy,” he corrected, before slipping into the car himself and shutting the door behind him.
The car pulled away slowly, exiting the same way it had come in. Hopefully, they would come back with answers.
“So is he…?” she started the question. Stephen sighed.
“We don’t know yet. We’ll find out, but first we need to get her taken care of just in case,” he offered. The woman nodded and then half turned to face the interior of the courtyard they stood in. Placing her hand to her ear, she spoke quickly but calmly.
“I need a gurney in the courtyard. Send two nurses and prepare the stabilizing room. I’ll be there shortly,” she said into the earpiece. Turning back to the man, her hand fell from her ear and she crossed her arms in front of her again. “We’ll take care of her, until you find out for sure,” she added. The implication at the end was grave and Stephen understood it all too well. They didn’t take in strays. Or appetizers.
Almost immediately, the two nurses and gurney requested arrived in the courtyard and positioned themselves at the back door of the car when directed there. With expert care and Bear’s help, they extricated Julie from the back seat, secured her as best they could and began wheeling her back to the stabilizing room.
“We’ll have her ready right away, ma’am,” one of the nurses said as they passed the woman. She nodded, looking down at the swollen, bloodied face of the girl as she passed in front of her. Waiting until the two nurses were out of earshot, she narrowed her eyes at their backs and slowly turned her attention back to Stephen.
“Odd. He usually goes for the pretty ones,” she said facetiously.
Meanwhile, relieved of the dead weight of the girl who had been wheeled away, Bear had made his way out of the back seat and slowly stood to his full height as he closed the door. Looking down at her, his expression was defensive, but still playful.
“We can’t all be as beautiful as you, Nermal.” The corner of his mouth perked up instantly after voicing one of the many nicknames he had for her.
“Fuck you,” she said lazily, lolling her head in his direction as she looked at him with an upwards slant. Whether for the comment, the nickname or both, it wasn’t clear.
“In your dreams,” he poked back, grin ever widening.
“Look, Baloo…,” she’d started, taking the time to actually turn to face him.
“Enough!” Stephen yelled. “Both of you,” he said once both had turned to him at the outburst. He was used to the back and forth banter between the two, but now was definitely not the time. “We...have work to do,” he said to Bear first. “And so do you,” he added, turning to the woman next. She closed her eyes and gave a slow, slanted bow of her head before she turned and started walking towards the stabilizing room.
“Let me know what you find out,” she called over her shoulder, her words punctuated by the slow staccato of the four inch stiletto heels she wore.
“If we find out,” Bear said incredulously, re-opening the car door.
“You’ll find out,” the woman said as she neared the door. Just as she placed her hand on the knob to push it open, she stopped. A slow, devilish grin twisted her lips, but she didn’t turn around. The two men at the car wouldn’t see the smile, only the way she paused and the two chopsticks stuck in her long, raven black hair to pin it up. “Pretend like somebody just stole your picnic basket,” she added, then twisted the knob and slipped inside before the larger of the two could get anything in edgewise.
“Bitch,” Bear said under his breath, looking that way with one hand resting on top of the door.
“Wrong one,” Stephen said, smiling despite the seriousness of their situation as he slipped into the passenger seat and shut the door behind him. Bear looked at him and then the closed door before looking back to the door the woman had gone through.
“Pussy,” he corrected, before slipping into the car himself and shutting the door behind him.
The car pulled away slowly, exiting the same way it had come in. Hopefully, they would come back with answers.
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