Re: Decking the Halls

[Guest]

Kyra was looking up watching Isah place the mistletoe above her door and not noticing her at first. She couldn't help but laugh a little when he noticed she was standing there. She grinned as she spoke.

"Merry Christmas to you as well."

She wasn't exactly sure what Christmas was but everyone else seemed to know and enjoy it. She wasn't about to ruin their fun.

[Guest]

Isah smiled again. "I'm happy to see you Kyra. Is there any chance I could get a hug under the mistletoe? It's supposed to be a kiss, but I know how shy you are." He knelt down before her, their height being so drastically different. Then he opened his arms to her, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of her in his arms, even if only for a moment.

[Guest]

She looked at him curiously as he knelt in front of her but she would humor him and give him a hug. Once she stepped back she was going to have to ask this question.

"Why would anyone want to kiss under that thing and what is it?"

She pointed to the mistletoe as she spoke.

[Guest]

Venis other hand had been dangling loosely at her side. As Benjamin stepped closer Venis reached up and took the amulet in her hand and slipped it into her sweater. It wasn't a perfect solution, but one that would have to work for now. His fingers were leaving a heated trail along her flesh until his hand came to rest upon the back of her neck. Still, this was not bothering her.

His voice was almost melodic as he spoke to her. Benjamin knew she was hurt. She thought she had caught herself starting to wince in time, but he had heard her, or seen her, or both. His hand still rested upon hers, and her hand upon her stomach, but now his fingers were curling around her hand. The tip of his middle finger hit her bellybutton ring. Yes, she had already redone the piercing.

Her eyes closed for a moment as her jaw tightened again. That was even more pain than his initial touch had caused. But she was bearing it. Then he spoke again, and the words he spoke had to be the biggest shock she had ever had. All she had to do was say his name and he would take away her pain. Nothing was ever that straight forward and simple. Especially with Benjamin. No, he had something else up his sleeve, he had to.

Venis met his eyes with her own. Gone was her fake smile. There was a hint of physical pain in her eyes, she knew there was. But she looked him straight in the eye regardless. Had he really just said those words. Not only had she heard them, she had felt them with his breath upon her flesh. She wanted to question his motives, she wanted to tell him no, but the pain was so sharp at the moment that it was clouding her mind. As she stood there looking at him she fought to clear her mind so she could think.

She drew in her bottom lip and slid it back out, she was thinking about his offer. It was very tempting. Hell, he was very tempting, but she would never tell him that. He was the enemy, the big bad wolf. And here he was in his sheep's clothing trying lure his prey. Venis got an idea then. The only way to let him take the pain and nothing else, was a little white magic. She didn't use white magic often, black magic was more useful. But this time it was perfect.

One could always tell what kind of magic Venis was using when they heard her casting. Black magic was always cast in Drow. But white magic, white magic was very different. She measured her words carefully. One wrong word and Benjamin would know a whole lot more about her than she ever shared with anyone. That wasn't going to happen. Nor was she going to allow him to take more than just the pain away.

She closed her eyes slowly for a moment, then opened them again. She looked him in the eyes once more and in soft, slow, measured words she spoke. "Il peut seulement prendre cela que je donne librement. La douleur physique causée près il qui ne vivra plus. Toute autre chose que j'ai resteront, ne pas lui apporter le mal de quelque façon ..." Yes, French, not Drow. Then as she exhailed her next breath she would softly speak the word he wanted to hear. " ... Benjamin."




((Translation: "He may only take that which I freely give. The physical pain caused by he who will no longer live. Anything else I have will stay, not bring him harm in any way."))

[Madeline Cauthon]

Gawain was being awfully silent, and that was never a good thing. Feeling helpless,and stupid for telling Gawain, Maddie stood up, and picked up the box of cut outs. "If you want to talk, I'll be in the meeting hall! I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me anymore."

Maddie took the box and headed towards the door. She noticed it was blocked. She looked around the room, and saw another exit, it led outside. She knew it was cold out, but it beat the cold shoulder her Dad was giving her. She headed for the other exit which lead outside to the porch. Maddie walked across the porch to the back door of the lounge. Hopefully no one would notice her sneak in. Once inside she began setting out the rest of the Santas.

[B.D. Adams]

She gave him the one thing he had asked: for her to say his name. It was spoken on a last breath, like the last thing someone remembers saying before their mind is overtaken by physical feelings imposed upon it by the body. Her tone held traces of her pain, hints of sadness, and betrayed the care that was masked in her spell. It was in the Vampires job description that she protect people and he was not going to suggest that it were anything more.

The ferel look in his eyes intensified, as did the heat that came from his fingers. Having been privy to her fire exploits before, Benjamin hardly thought that she would be bothered by his bit of heat. Moments before, Venis had removed the amulet from his immediate view and now there wasn't anything in his way. He let go of her hand and, since her hand was against the immediate location of the pain, he flattened his palm directly above it on her sweater. Slightly to the right to avoid the jewel.

He heard what she had said in her spell. and understood. She thought that he was going to go after more than what he had said. Tsk, tsk. When he spoke his words heavy, ladened with what could only be described as primal desire. "Votre douleur," his head moving form one side to the next, "appartient à moi."

Then, two things happened nearly at once, the first being the following. The flattened palm pushed in against her upper stomach as he reached inside of her to feel out the pain. This was a different process than taking a soul, but some elements were the same, and it was almost just as euphoric. Entering into a person gave access to so many of their aspects. Venis wasn't just anyone and he knew that many things would be unavailable. That same sensation she had felt along her hand was now behind directed inward and it was controlled and direct, by-passing other interesting articles of information for what he came to find. Then, he found it; she would a pull before the pain that was there began to subside.

At the same time as he had pushed his hand upon her stomach, Benjamin had closed whatever space that was left. Fingertips moved upwards from her neck and into her hair, their possessive nature still evident, and then, he kissed her. It was tradition for when standing under the mistletoe. Tradition or not, he generally sustained from this sort of contact for it create a different type of connection and pull. One that sent an electric pulse through the system, branching out to all the nerves and sending shivers down the spine. This kiss wasn't short, or light, nor was it hard. It was strong and just as possessive as the hand behind her head - he was not shy about parting her lips to go in deeper. With the kiss, bands were wrapping around her heart. Venis did not have a traditional soul and therefore, there was no tug or pull. Benjamin was leaving a mark. It wasn't anything harmful and, with her being who she was, who's to say if it would even last once contact was broken?

( "Your pain belongs to me." )

[Guest]

Seleen and Shuda had finished their tree. It was very lovely, especialy with the snow falling upon it. Madeline had left for the Meeting Hall out the back door, probably hoping that the cold air would cool her a bit. But that was none of their business. Seleen had started to gather up the discarded boxes from the ornaments and putting them into one of the larger plastic ones. "You ready to go dear?" She stacked the two larger boxes together.

They would the front door as it was the way to the portal to carry the boxes back up to the third floor. Even though Gawain had said nothing to them when he had entered she chose to speak to him anyway. "Merry Christmas Gawain, it was good to see you again." Then to Shuda as she grabbed her cloak and put it on. "Honey, if you will grab up the boxes, I will get the door for you." They were light now that they were empty.

She went to the door and placed her hand on the handle. She pulled it slightly ajar as she waited for Shuda to pick up the boxes and bring them along. She took the time to look over at the tree one more time. "It's so perfect." She smiled as she waited.

[Guest]

Venis noticed the slight change in Benjamin's eyes. He was pleased with her speaking his name. That brought her smile back, only this smile was different. It was only the right side of her lips, they curled up into that which only could be described as a wicked grin. This smile was sincere. She was glad that hearing his name from her lips brought him pleasure. Pleasure was a good thing. It was a wonderful counter the the depression that permeated the air around the holidays. It was also something Venis had an occasion to crave, be it her own or that of others. It worked wonders on a upset stomach.

But Venis was suffering from a bit more than a simple upset stomach, and Benjamin knew this. He wanted the extra pain, she was willing to give it to him. It sounded like a fair trade to her. She spoke his name the way he wanted to hear it, which gave him pleasure, she gives him the pain, the hint of evil that was left with it would give him more pleasure, which would bring her pleasure, which would help her in her dealing with the normal pain she suffered, bringing her even more pleasure. All would be pleased in the end.

His hand released her own and he pressed his hand against her stomach. She covered the pain of the contact well. Luckily for her, the scar from the stitches was already gone. Otherwise she would be in even more pain as he placed his hand right where the stitches had been, well some of them a least. Then he spoke to her again, in French. French sounded very nice coming from his lips. It had been a long time since she had heard someone speak French with such desire. But it was more, more than just how he spoke to her in French, it was what he said to her in French.

The expression in her eyes changed, curiosity had returned, but there was more. A hint of her own desire came fourth. Venis had her own primal needs and his words, combined with his closeness, were causing them to stir within her. Then she felt his entrance into her body. It tingled, like a limb that had fallen asleep. And as he sent that tingling sensation through her abdomen to search out the pain his hand found it's way to the back of her head.

It was mere seconds as he closed the gap between them and pressed his lips to hers, but to her it felt like it was all happening in slow motion. His hand upon the back of her head moved her hair enough that her ponytail was falling out. As his lips touched hers her eyes closed. There was the slight pull from her stomach area as he had found what he was looking for. That caused her eyes to shoot open again but then they were closed again. And then there was another tingling sensation. Her entire body became covered in goose bumps for a moment as a shiver ran down her spine.

As more pressure was applied to the kiss he parted her lips. she angled her head slightly more. Her own tongue coming fourth to meet with his and caress against it. Their lips pressing against each others full on now she ran her tongue along his slowly. The pain in her stomach was easing. She even turned her wrist and brought her palm against his stomach.

She heard the door to the Lounge opening. Her free hand rose out to the side, in the direction of the door. With a flick of her wrist, the door slammed closed. She clenched her fist and the door sealed. It was a temporary thing, but she did not want to be disturbed. She slowly brought her arm in and placed her hand upon his shoulder. Palm pressed against him, but her fingers did not make contact. They curled only slightly but remained upward. She leaned her head to the other side in the kiss and continued to play with his tongue with her own.

Her body was on the verge of betraying her lust and desire and even more so, her pleasure. His kiss was that intoxicating to her. She wanted to make sure that he was going to get as much pleasure from this as she was getting. She accessed a memory of a time she had felt immense pleasure. Something romantic with her husband perhaps? Time spent with one or more of her friends? Not Venis, and not with Benjamin. No this memory was different all together.

She remembered coming into a village with her army. Radu was rather displeased by the women that had been in the previous village and he was liking what he was seeing in this village even less. That in and of itself brought a sick pleasure to her. She let Benjamin feel it. But there was more. After all, she figured that it would take more than her body pressed against his and her kiss to bring him pleasure.

No, she continued her memory. She had found a man in the village who was extremely attractive. She could feel Benjamin's bands wrapping around her heart as she thought about her memory. He had caused it to start beating again. Her memory was causing it to beat just a little faster and harder. She remembered taking this man in battle. The fight was an adrenaline rush, and remembering it was causing a slightly less version of the same. Once she had defeated this man in battle his wife came to his side.

This was something Venis had always found amusing back then. She understood better now, but back then ... She threw the woman from the man. She ripped his trousers from his body. Radu came and held the woman in place while Venis had her way with the man. The human body was a wonderful thing. The brain didn't always control it. Venis had begun to breath again now. This memory was a powerful one, she hoped that the effects of it were pleasing Benjamin.

She applied more pressure to her kiss with Benjamin. She was still careful to keep his tongue between her fangs. She did not want to taste his blood. She wasn't sure if hers was completely gone from his system or not. It usually lingered for very long periods of time. She continued with her memory. Radu held the woman in place and made her watch every second of what Venis had done with her husband. And that included when Venis sat him up, and without taking his mind, sank her fangs into his neck. She drank him down to the last two drops and let his lifeless body fall to the ground.

Venis chose to stop the memory there. She didn't want to loose her control. But she was more than aroused now. And only part of it was from the memory. She could feel the pleasure Benjamin was feeling. Her pain was lessening more and more. But not just the pain caused by the now almost completely gone bruise. No, he had fed her enough pleasure to block out some other pain as well. More personal pain. The pain that had caused her tears to fall mere minutes before he arrived at her side. She heard voices approaching. She removed her hand from his shoulder and held her arm out in the direction of the voices, palm flat against an unseen wall. And if the sources of the voices got too close, that is just what they would run into, an unseen wall.

She leaned her head to the other side again as they kissed. Her tongue danced with his in a slow waltz within their mouths. The slightest hint of a moan escaped her throat, she couldn't catch it to stop it. Again with the brain not controlling the body. Her hand that was pressed against his rock hard abdomen curled into a fist as she clenched his sweater. The breath from her nose as she breathed in and out was warm, but not as warm as his touch. Especially on the back of her head. It was very rare for her to find someone who could raise their temperature above her own. Of course, she was trying to keep her own temperature from rising.

[Guest]

Seleen hadn't felt a breeze in the room. Yet for some reason the door pulled from her hand and slammed closed. She reached for the handle again. It turned, yet wouldn't pull open. Her brow furrowed as she tried again. Then she chose a slightly different route. "Shuda, honey, the door is stuck. Very stuck. We seem to be trapped in here." They could use the back door that Maddie had used. But she now felt the need to get this door open.

[Casandra Lightheart]

Cassie and Shamus had finished the doors on the first floor and were heading to the meeting hall to help wrap presents.

She came to an abrupt hault when she saw Venis and Mr Adams. She was not happy with this she didn't trust Mr Adams at all but she had no place to get angry Venis was an adult even if she was married and kissing a man that was not her husband.

She loudly cleared her throught as she walked towards the meeting hall. The look she gave Shamus was one that said keep your mouth shut.

"Venis we have presents to wrap don't we?"

[Guest]

Still in the living quarters of the first floor ...

Isah smiled at Kyra. "Well, it's kinda a long story. But tracing the history of mistletoe-induced kissing means going back to ancient Scandinavia -- to custom and the Norse myths. It was also the plant of peace in Scandinavian antiquity. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they laid down their arms and maintained a truce until the next day. This ancient Scandinavian custom led to the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. But this tradition went hand-in-hand with one of the Norse myths, namely, the myth of Baldur. Baldur's death and resurrection is one of the most fascinating Norse myths and stands at the beginning of the history of mistletoe as a kissing' plant."

Isah was glad he did his homework in mythology class. "Baldur's mother was the Norse goddess, Frigga. When Baldur was born, Frigga made each and every plant, animal and inanimate object promise not to harm Baldur. But Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant -- and the mischievous god of the Norse myths, Loki, took advantage of this oversight. Ever the prankster, Loki tricked one of the other gods into killing Baldur with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. The demise of Baldur, a vegetation deity in the Norse myths, brought winter into the world, although the gods did eventually restore Baldur to life. After which Frigga pronounced the mistletoe sacred, ordering that from now on it should bring love rather than death into the world. Happily complying with Frigga's wishes, any two people passing under the plant from now on would celebrate Baldur's resurrection by kissing under the mistletoe."

He moved to the side so that Casie and Shamus could decorate Kyra's door and continued his story. "If we were to peel off the layers of custom and myth surrounding 'kissing under the mistletoe', we would find ourselves in the midst of ancient erotica. Mistletoe has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac and fertility herb. It may also possess abortifacient qualities, which would help explain its association with uninhibited sexuality. So now, when people put it up at Christmas, they kiss under it. At one time they would put it up and the ladies would stand under it and the men would collect a berry with each kiss and when a ladies berries were gone they wouldn't get any more kisses. We leave the berries now though."

He had told her all that he remembered and he hoped it made more sense to her now. He smiled as he waited to see if there was anything else she wanted to know or had anything to say about the whole thing. It made him happy to share something like that with her and it made him feel rather smart to remember all that as well.


((Sorry it took so long Kyra, had to make sure I had my facts straight.))

[B.D. Adams]

Benjamin did not like being disturbed, especially when he was engaged in something enjoyable. His ears had picked up the sound of the door and Venis was sure to feel the growl in the back of his throat. If she had not closed the door, he would have. This moment was far too enjoyable to have disrupted before its end. He was aware that they were in a public setting and as such were subject to onlookers.

Having felt her hair begin to unravel his fingers pulled back from her head and moved upwards into her hair, helping her tresses to fall loose. He even took it upon himself to tangle in his fingers. He felt her fangs, even brushed his tongue along its sides as she blocked him from any accidental piercing. He remembered that she did not want to taste any of his blood, and he wasn’t exactly willing to offer, but he liked the feel of the fangs.

The pain he was taking from her was nearing its completion but then he witnessed one of her memories. He had not tried to access anything from her – he knew things were locked from him – and yet, she was offering this tidbit of her memories. It was either something she wanted him to know, or it was a strong enough memory to keep her focused from letting other things show.

In any case it was sufficient and it fueled him onward as he latched on to that memory and it’s power. Every memory, every thought and feeling held it’s own power, whether powerful or detrimental all depended on how it was used. For Benjamin, it was like going back to the time of the memory and capturing all the many feelings: from the man and the female. He wasn’t taking the memory from her, simply feeding from it and as a result it might start to flicker in her mind, or not seem as intense as it was before.

His hand on her stomach began to move, traveling along the fabric of her sweater and to her side, fingers squeezing in. Unlike her, Benjamin was not restraining his fingers and from her side they began an upward climb, the heat of his fingers moving with it. Fingers on the other hand pulled out from her hair and cupped around her face. He was the one holding her in place and pinning her in that corner as he took what he wanted from her. Even with her attempt at pushing him away. That is one way it might have been perceived to a sudden onlooker.

Benjamin caught ear and scent of people approaching, both of which he knew. From the way they moved in their hidden actions nothing was done that wasn’t warranted by the other, but appearances dictated that it should look otherwise. His hand left her face and went to make capture of her hand upon his shoulder, pushing it back and against the door. At the same time he broke the long-lasting kiss, but did not move his head far from hers. Even though she taller than he, right now they could have been the same height for how intensely he was looking into her eyes. There was strength in those eyes and a ferocious quality. The growl from his throat was evident to any that had an ear to listen. It was deep and matched what was reflecting in his eyes.

His right hand had stopped upon Venis’ rib cage and now it moved away, barely noticeable sparks dissipated from his fingertips as his hand moved to his side. Then he smiled. He had done what he wanted in that away that one specific pain, if not also something extra. “Venis.” Said silently. Then he let her other hand go, releasing it from the door as he took a step backwards and pivoted, in one fluid motion breaking eye contact with Venis and setting hard eyes upon Casandra and the man who was with her.

“Casandra….” He said her name slowly.

[Shuda Darkite]

He just kind of looks at Seleen. "What do you mean it is stuck? It should not be that hard to to open." With that he put his hand on the door handle and stops. He kind of tilts his head at the door knob as he gets a feeling that it is hotter than it should be. With knowing that he takes his hand off the handle and grabs Seleen's hands from the handle and starts to move away. "Sweety I suggest that we move away from the door and quickly."

[Guest]

She stood there and listened intently to what Isah was explaining to her about the mistletoes. She smiled as she listened and watched her door get decorated. Once he was done she spoke.

"That is all very interesting, thank you for sharing that with me."

She officially felt dumb for having to ask about Christmas and mistletoes. She sighed and shrugged.

"I think I need to ask my dad...I mean Dre to send me to school to learn stuff like that."

She had a confused look on her face...she wasn't sure what to call Dre now that she knew how she was connected to him.

[Guest]

Isah smiled at her while she thanked him for the information. But then she gave some information of her own. Dre was her father? Isah was shocked. "I wonder what that would make you sweety. Still half God or only like one fourth God. Oh wait, you probably don't know yet. Dre's birth mother is a God. Dre is half God. Your ... Grandmother" He raised an eyebrow at the thought of how Venis would like to be addressed. "She's here, within the Inn."



While Isah was on his break talking to his friend, the rest of them caught up. Keven and Andrew were finally hitting the end of the hall, they had ignored Isah's conversation and worked around him. Joseph finished up the area and headed out into the rest of the Inn to randomly place scones in different areas. He was the first one to see Casie and Shamus standing there. Only by the time he got there, Mr. Adams had released her and had turned like he was ready to walk away. He stood in silence as he watched.

Keven and Andrew finished and turned the corner to go to the other rooms that needed garland. They saw the others and saw Venis, Mr. Adams was there with her. Andrew spoke first. "I think I remember that look, the day she found Zane's note that he had left her because the Society always seemed to come before him. Might I suggest we all find some cover?" Bo came up behind him and swallowed hard hearing Andrew's words and seeing Venis and Mr. Adams for himself. He backed up and moved back into the hall. "Isah, get her away from that door. Get to the middle of the hall or inside her room. Now."

Isah looked up at Bo with a questioning look. But when he saw the look on Bo's face, he instinctively grabbed up Kyra and moved her away from the door to the middle of the hall. He knelt down beside her prepared to block her from what ever may happen next. "Sorry about this Kyra, it's for your own safety, I promise." He awaited what he knew was going to be coming.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She moved forward and ran in to an invisible wall. She crossed her arms and cleared her thought again.

It was after that that Benjamin broke the kiss and turned to look at her. Was that a glare?

"Mr. Adams."

She looked at Venis

"Venis can we talk later?"

She didn't want to interigate her she just needed clarification.

[Guest]

In the Lounge, where Seleen and Shuda were with Gawain, Seleen looked at Shuda, she thought that the heat of the handle was because of her being so cold. She had no idea it was too warm. But when Shuda wanted her away from the door, she moved with him. "Honey, what's going on?"

[Guest]

His fingers tangling in her hair, his tongue along her fangs, Benjamin was bringing Venis to a heightened state of euphoria. And the more pleasure he derived from her dark past, the more pleasure she gained in return. He was feeding upon the power of the memory, draining it, she could feel it fleeting. But she didn't care, she had more, and she might have even been willing to share.

She felt like he was there with her, it was something she had never felt before. She had shared her memories with others before, but it had never felt like this. She could have given him the rest of the memory, she could have given him more memories, and she wouldn't have even cared where it would have lead to, not at this point. No, nothing she had ever experienced had ever felt like this before. And the darkness she had let out to play was craving more. She was craving more. She had entered a similar state once, maybe twice, and once it caused her to do something no one had ever expected. This was even more intense, and they weren't even having sex. She was fighting the urge to go further with it.

But those damned interruptions. She knew she should have relocated them the second his lips touched hers. It was only a few small movements before he had given the appearance of assaulting her. Which was making things worse for her. No man had ever dared such a feat, and even if this were a facade, it still would look real to others. That was enough for the heightened thrill. He was leaving a trail of heat along her side as his hand moved. His other hand was now upon her face rather than in her hair.

Casie and Shamus rounding the corner caused his hand to move yet again. He removed the hand that was clenched to his sweater and pinned it to the door behind her. This caused two things at once, one her arm being bent back like that made her back slightly arch enough to press her chest against him closer, and two, her breathing became deeper causing her chest to rise and fall with each breath. The end result being her pulse quickening.

But then he was breaking the kiss. She knew this from his tongue slowly withdrawing from her mouth. She moved her tongue to push his tongue up against the side of her fang. She wanted to give him something to remember. No nicking, but still the memory of the feel of her fang against a part of his body. She didn't get to put away what she had let out before his lips parted from hers. Now she was going to be left to deal with the consequences of letting loose something and not getting it put away again.

She looked into his eyes as he did hers. Feral and bestial were understatements for what she saw in his eyes. And even if she hadn't opened up something dark within herself, she still would have found that look erotic. And he punctuated it with a growl, a deep, dark growl that reminded her of just who and what he was. She drew her bottom lip into her mouth. She could still taste him upon her lip. Her eyes showed no fear, not anything close. No, that look was better described as a craving. She would hear him growl like that again. And it wouldn't be because someone interrupted their moment.

As his hand broke contact with her ribs she finally blinked. For a passing moment it was as if something else had been taken from her. He smiled at her and she loved seeing the wickedness of it. She continued to look at him. Then he committed his cardinal sin. In a voice so low, only she would hear ... Benjamin said her name. Had she been anyone else, had they been anywhere else, had both those conditions been met, she would have melted into a puddle.

But here they were and he had stepped back from her. She let her arm down from the door and brought her other hand down as well, letting down the unseen wall that had blocked others from getting to them. She bent her left leg and put her foot against the door behind her. She used this movement to push herself up from the door and away so that she was again standing up straight and again nearly a half foot taller than Benjamin.

She stood there for a moment and then remembered that she had a door to unseal. So she figured she would unseal it. And with a wave of her hand, every single door within the entire Inn was suddenly opening with a force. Locked, unlocked, it did not matter. Even the doors up on the third floor were opening. Anyone standing behind a door would get knocked back from it. The door behind her to the Meeting Hall would fly back with such force that it would bounce off of the wall. Her eyes narrowed as she looked over at Casie and Shamus. The others were gathering as well. She removes her amulet from inside her sweater with a pull upon her chain, letting it fall back in place.

Suddenly they were in the spotlight, and she was angry. But this wasn't burning down the house angry, this was the vampire ruled the God angry. Casie asked her a question, it needed to be answered. "No, Casandra, I don't think that is such a good idea right now, I am rather hungry." Her voice betrayed her anger. She returned her gaze to Benjamin for a moment, her eyes barely showing a touch of softening, her voice showed more. "Merry Christmas Benjamin." And in a voice so low, that human ears would not register it, but he would. "To be continued." With those words she turned around and went into the now open doors of the Meeting Hall.

[Guest]

She started to speak until he picked her up and moved her. Kyra started to punch him for picking her up the way he did until he said it was for her own safety. Still she didn't like the idea of being man handled by anyone. Hearing doors open caused her to pause and look at him strangely. She spoke with a bit of an attitude.

"What on earth was that? And why not put me in my room instead of in the hall exposed? If you were trying for safety I'm safer in there than out here."

She let out a sigh a lot had gone on that she wasn't ready to talk about with anyone and she couldn't believe she let that little fact about her father slip. She wasn't ready to talk about family with anyone. But she was curious that he said her grandmother was here she thought Sheena left already. There was a lot for her and her father to talk about.

[Madeline Cauthon]

Maddie had been hanging the last Santa on the back of the meeting hall door. All of a sudden the door blew open so hard it hit Maddie with enough force to knock her clear across the room. She hit her head on the wall, and landed on the floor unconscious.

[Guest]

Isah had been taking the punches but trying to avoid them. When she asked him about why the hallway instead of her room, his reply was a simple and honest one. "Kyra, a gentleman does not enter a ladies room uninvited. And believe me, when your Grandmother gets a chance to speak with her son, and finds out about you, were I to have entered your room in such a way, it would be my hide. As for the doors all flying open. That was your Grandmother getting pissed off about something. And had you still been standing in that doorway, that door would have bounced off the wall and hit you. I did not want to see you hurt."

He knew that pissed was not a way to talk in front of a lady, but he thought that perhaps mad was not a strong enough word. But now she should be safe, so he moved slightly away from her. "I hope you can forgive me for moving you out of the doorway. It would have hurt my heart to see you get hurt by that door." There was a softness to his eyes. His words came in his soft bass tone. If one didn't know any better, they might even think he had taken a liking to the young fairy.

[B.D. Adams]

The first thing Benjamin heard was Venis moving against the wall and door, pushing herself back up to a standing position; and then there was the sound of doors opening. Like the ones behind him that lead into the meeting hall. Those doors opened and the scents from the people within became stronger. He had already known who was inside, this merely affirmed it and he smiled to himself. Madeline was in that room and Gawain wasn't far off as he was in the lounge. Casandra, being the one he currently directed his gaze upon, was privy to his devilish smile.

Following the opening of the doors he heard something hit against the wall and fall. It wasn't something, rather it was someone and he knew who it was. Venis spoke to him and when she did he gave it the attention it required. Continued, thought was a thought he would have to entertain. He made no sign of showing that he had heard her for she would know that he had; and then Venis was moving away and into the Meeting Hall. The sound of her heels against the floor echoing in his ears.

All this time he had his eyes trained on Casandra. She liked referring to him as 'Mr. Adams'. It was spoken almost with disregard and he found that he rather liked it. "You are very fortunate, Casandra, that there is bigger game than you to be had at the moment." The smile he was wearing never reached his eyes, and a few more well placed steps brought him closer to Casandra. He did not stand in front of her now, but moved off to the side and circled around her like a shark, his eyes sizing her up as he made his way around. Once he was on the other side he headed to the Meeting Hall, stopping only momentarily at the open doors.

Entering in there was synonymous to walking into a trap. For one thing it was an inclosed space, for another quite a few people were there who did not exactly appreciate his presence. However, there was something he had to do.

Venis was not far from the doorway and when he entered he side-stepped her, moving to the other side of the room, giving her a tale-tell look as he passed. Benjamin stopped by Madeline. She was unconscious. He could hear her heart beating and her slow breathing and therefore there was no immediate danger. Bending down he moved his arms under her arms and the bend of her knees and lifted her into a cradle. As he stood he shifted her again to carry her over his shoulder. She was secure.

Another glance to the people in the room before he started on his way out. There was one more stop he had to make. The Lounge. Gawain was there.

Arriving at the door he reached into his black leather coat and pulled out a manilla envelop. It was overall flat, but something was in it. Evident by the slight bulge in the package. He scanned the room and the people there. Benjamin held the envelop up, the tiniest hint of a spark running over the package. "This is a package for De'Ryanna. Dispense your curiosity. No one but blood touch it." That having been said he tossed it on a table near where Gawain sat.

He could only wonder if they would head him and what they would think of him carrying Madeline over his shoulder. Smiling to himself he turned and began his way out.

[Guest]

Venis had looked around the Meeting Hall to see what else was to be done within before she moved on. She had chose to leave his mark upon her heart for the moment, it was rather interesting how it felt to her. She looked over at Madeline and sighed. As she caught site of her she heard Benjamin speaking to Casie out in the hall. He stepped into the room with her a moment later. He had side stepped her but she spoke regardless. "Leave Casandra alone Benjamin. Harm to her brings death." She saw his look and it made her smile. But this was not a pleasant smile, although, he might have thought so. Others definitely would not, for it was the wickedest of grins. But, even though the vampire was in charge at the moment, the Goddess was still there, and some things were still forbidden and would bring fourth her rage, even unto Benjamin.

Benjamin was dealing with the unconscious Madeline. Something Venis should have rushed to do herself. But he had beat her to it. So she chose to speak her mind again instead. "Benjamin, do not make me harm you. I had better see Madeline back here safe and sound." She let him leave with her then. She was in no mood to play nurse maid at the moment. And he would have to at least pass the room where Gawain was. How did she know he was there? Alpha bond of course, she always knew where he was. Only certain death that could not be undone could break an alpha bond with a God. And Gawain still walked and breathed, so the bond remained. But it also went both ways. And Gawain knew what she had just done. That, combined with Benjamin now having Madeline over his shoulder, was sure to raise his fur. Sounded like a good time to Venis, so she chose to step back out into the hall behind Benjamin and watch for the show.

[Shuda Darkite]

"I do not know but I do not like it." As soon as the door opened up he put himself in front shielding Seleen from harm if there was any. After the blast look at Seleen and smiled. He looked around at the other people in the room making sure they were ok. He looked back as Seleen. "Are you..." He stops as he feels evil even though it was small and it has been a few minutes since the blast happened it still had an effect on him. He closes his eyes and breaths in deep.

Tilting his head his hair started to change to onyx black as an evil malice smirk appears on his face. He opens his eyes, they had changed as well into the same cold onyx black look. It was only for a second before he closed his eyes and he shook his head. The red came back into his hair taking over the onyx look. He opened his eyes again showing his normal eye color. He was breathing heavily. "Seleen sweety I think I need to leave this place for a moment." He did not want to leave the Inn just leave

[B.D. Adams]

Females in skirts. There was always something to be said for a female wearing a skirt, especially when he was carrying one over his shoulder. To keep her secure as he moved Benjamin's hand was at the bottom of Madeline hips, his elbow near her knees. This enabled him to have a secure hold so she wouldn't fall, and also to prevent her from too much movement. This was the second time he had been close to Madeline. She was a pretty young thing and she felt good beneath his hand.

He heard the first thing Venis had said about Casandra, and that warranted a bit of a smile, then he was halfway to the door when he heard the second bit from her and it made him laugh. The way she said it was almost like she was speaking to a child, telling them what they should and should not do.

"I'm not yours to order Vampire." He didn't even give her benefit of turning to look at her. "I'll do to Madeline what I please and return her when I'm done."

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