Satis House

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"Probably," she answered dryly, a certain bitterness tinging her voice, "But honestly, do I seem like most mortals to you?" Antha gave a little shrug of her shoulders, a passive gesture of her hand as if to wave the subject away. "At any rate, it doesn't matter. People who don't mind this house tend to pop in and out of it every once in a while. I don't particularly like it, but I suppose I don't despise the idea either." Thorn, Zero, Frost, Claire, and even Malakai had all lived within the walls of Satis House at one point or another and, as many annoyances as it had caused, there was a certain charm to it.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"Probably," she answered dryly, a certain bitterness tinging her voice, "But honestly, do I seem like most mortals to you?" Antha gave a little shrug of her shoulders, a passive gesture of her hand as if to wave the subject away. "At any rate, it doesn't matter. People who don't mind this house tend to pop in and out of it every once in a while. I don't particularly like it, but I suppose I don't despise the idea either." Thorn, Zero, Frost, Claire, and even Malakai had all lived within the walls of Satis House at one point or another and, as many annoyances as it had caused, there was a certain charm to it.

He glanced around the room, as if considering it anew. "Forgive me. I did not mean to imply such an apparently distasteful idea." The vampire bowed his head slightly in her direction. "Are you feeling better now?" he inquired, noticing that she was not shivering quite as much.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

For a moment Antha stood silent, angry at herself for her words which seemed rude to her now. "Yes..." she replied at last, her voice but a little sigh, "It's a bit warmer in here. It's much better." Again there was a pause and Antha stood silently for a second. Finally she turned and padded softly up to Vikteren until they stood but a couple of inches apart, her eyes focused on the floor and her hands clasped together behind her back as if she wanted to be rid of them for the time being. "I'm sorry," she whispered gently. Quickly realizing that this might confuse him, she added, "The first time we met---back in the bar, remember? I wasn't quite fair to you. I apologize. And..." She tensed slightly for several silent seconds before continuing in the same soft tone, "I shouldn't have followed you into the crypt. I was a bother, I'm sure, and I'm sorry for that too. I shouldn't have gone chasing after you."

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

For a moment Antha stood silent, angry at herself for her words which seemed rude to her now. "Yes..." she replied at last, her voice but a little sigh, "It's a bit warmer in here. It's much better." Again there was a pause and Antha stood silently for a second. Finally she turned and padded softly up to Vikteren until they stood but a couple of inches apart, her eyes focused on the floor and her hands clasped together behind her back as if she wanted to be rid of them for the time being. "I'm sorry," she whispered gently. Quickly realizing that this might confuse him, she added, "The first time we met---back in the bar, remember? I wasn't quite fair to you. I apologize. And..." She tensed slightly for several silent seconds before continuing in the same soft tone, "I shouldn't have followed you into the crypt. I was a bother, I'm sure, and I'm sorry for that too. I shouldn't have gone chasing after you."

He considered her words, then shook his head briefly, dark hair falling into his eyes. "You were not a bother. To be truthful-- I am the one who should be apologizing. I perhaps did not think the implications of my actions through. If you had not been there, I may have made--several mistakes. At the very least, one of us would have ended our existence in those crypts." Silence fell again. Then, unexpectedly, he added. "Will you forgive me?"  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

She gave a short sigh and a quick shake of her head as if unsatisfied suddenly. "Of course---but this is getting us nowhere. Honestly, we can't go around both blaming ourselves for everything that happened. That'll never work. Besides...it doesn't matter, does it? Everything worked out fine." As she spoke, Antha felt her eyes lower again until all she saw were the old grayish planks that had been nailed together to form the floor. She assumed too much, this she knew, and she regretted it. What would happen when Vikteren left, or when Sleet came to seek vengeance on her? Or better yet, had Sleet found the pages inside the old book that Antha had hidden from the adults of her family?
That's a horrid thought, Antha said silently to herself, her fingers pressed nervously to her lips as if to hush herself. But no use worrying about it now...if he found them it's already too late and if he didn't then he never will. Mentally she made a quick note to restore the pages to their proper place when next she visited Mayfair Manor.
"At any rate," she continued, dragging herself away from her own thoughts, "Let's just forget it all, alright? It seems the best choice for the both of us." Her eyes diverted finally and fell upon Vikteren, a reassuring smile spreading across her face that was only slightly forced. Antha did well when severely distracted, but not that well. She simply couldn't help it.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

She gave a short sigh and a quick shake of her head as if unsatisfied suddenly. "Of course---but this is getting us nowhere. Honestly, we can't go around both blaming ourselves for everything that happened. That'll never work. Besides...it doesn't matter, does it? Everything worked out fine." As she spoke, Antha felt her eyes lower again until all she saw were the old grayish planks that had been nailed together to form the floor. She assumed too much, this she knew, and she regretted it. What would happen when Vikteren left, or when Sleet came to seek vengeance on her? Or better yet, had Sleet found the pages inside the old book that Antha had hidden from the adults of her family?
That's a horrid thought, Antha said silently to herself, her fingers pressed nervously to her lips as if to hush herself. But no use worrying about it now...if he found them it's already too late and if he didn't then he never will. Mentally she made a quick note to restore the pages to their proper place when next she visited Mayfair Manor.
"At any rate," she continued, dragging herself away from her own thoughts, "Let's just forget it all, alright? It seems the best choice for the both of us." Her eyes diverted finally and fell upon Vikteren, a reassuring smile spreading across her face that was only slightly forced. Antha did well when severely distracted, but not that well. She simply couldn't help it.

He noticed her less-than-genuine smile, but said nothing. Mortal intrigue had never been his area of expertise. No. The words arose, unbidden. You're only good at killing things, aren't you? Vikteren remained impassive as he fought the traitorous thought back, speaking as if nothing was wrong. He was a little better at hiding his emotions; he had, after all, over four centuries of practice. "As you wish." he said, instead. "But will not there be--consequences, once Sleet awakens?"  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

At his words Antha pulled completely away from her thoughts and took one surprised look at him before another smile overcame her, something so forlorn it's only purpose had to be to distract him from her words. "Of course. He'll be absolutely furious---taken over by a mad rage. And he'll come for the book, I'm sure, and his vengeance on me." She gave a little shrug, a nearly nervous laugh. "Oh well, what can I say. What's done is done." Truthfully there was a bit of fright in Antha; surely she would never sleep in the nighttime hours again. "Sleet...he's not stronger than me, but he has something of an army at his command. And he hates me, he's told me so a thousand times." She had no reason not to believe it either for the two of them had been at each other's throats since she was small. "I ruined him once, you see."
For a moment she stopped her nervous babbling and simply stared at Vikteren, a thoughtful glimmer in her eyes. "And you...are you not worried about being seen with someone like me, a filthy witch? You would have every vampire in this city after you were someone to find out you dared to cross that little line."

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

At his words Antha pulled completely away from her thoughts and took one surprised look at him before another smile overcame her, something so forlorn it's only purpose had to be to distract him from her words. "Of course. He'll be absolutely furious---taken over by a mad rage. And he'll come for the book, I'm sure, and his vengeance on me." She gave a little shrug, a nearly nervous laugh. "Oh well, what can I say. What's done is done." Truthfully there was a bit of fright in Antha; surely she would never sleep in the nighttime hours again. "Sleet...he's not stronger than me, but he has something of an army at his command. And he hates me, he's told me so a thousand times." She had no reason not to believe it either for the two of them had been at each other's throats since she was small. "I ruined him once, you see."
For a moment she stopped her nervous babbling and simply stared at Vikteren, a thoughtful glimmer in her eyes. "And you...are you not worried about being seen with someone like me, a filthy witch? You would have every vampire in this city after you were someone to find out you dared to cross that little line."

"You have had previous contact with him?" he inquired, genuinely curious. "What have you done to him, that he would despise you so?" And to the latter question--he did not give a derisive snort, but there was a sense that he might have liked to. "I do not have a particularly strong rapport with my kind. I was never grateful to be turned."  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"Even if you don't have much of a connection with them...Vikteren, that's all the more reason they'd go hunting after you." If anything, Antha felt a little helpless finally. She didn't know how to stress the severity of his situation to him and quite honestly she didn't want him to leave. "Did you know that you're really rather frustrating?" she asked him calmly, finally collecting herself and returning to her normal state. "My warnings aren't even reaching you, are they? Honestly ducky, I don't want you to get hurt. That's just what will happen if Sleet or any others find you around me though. Breaking into his crypt he'll forgive for the mere fact that I'm the one who did the actual damage but for this he won't, nor anyone else. However, considering your condition when we left, I'd be afraid to let you out of my sight. No one fully heals quite that fast. And I suppose..." She took another moment here in silence where she stood looking him over as if conflicted about her next words. "I suppose I wouldn't really want you to go anyways, now that I think of it. But the point remains and the choice is yours, be stubborn and stay or play it safe and leave now."
His first question she completely disregarded for the sake of simplicity and the fact that she thought the explanation made her seem quite weak.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"Even if you don't have much of a connection with them...Vikteren, that's all the more reason they'd go hunting after you." If anything, Antha felt a little helpless finally. She didn't know how to stress the severity of his situation to him and quite honestly she didn't want him to leave. "Did you know that you're really rather frustrating?" she asked him calmly, finally collecting herself and returning to her normal state. "My warnings aren't even reaching you, are they? Honestly ducky, I don't want you to get hurt. That's just what will happen if Sleet or any others find you around me though. Breaking into his crypt he'll forgive for the mere fact that I'm the one who did the actual damage but for this he won't, nor anyone else. However, considering your condition when we left, I'd be afraid to let you out of my sight. No one fully heals quite that fast. And I suppose..." She took another moment here in silence where she stood looking him over as if conflicted about her next words. "I suppose I wouldn't really want you to go anyways, now that I think of it. But the point remains and the choice is yours, be stubborn and stay or play it safe and leave now."
His first question she completely disregarded for the sake of simplicity and the fact that she thought the explanation made her seem quite weak.

Vikteren's eyes flickered imperceptibly. "I know." he acknowledged. "But it would not be the first time. I have--" he halted, uncertain of the correct wording, the memory--of plunging his bare hands into chest devoid of a beating heart, hot crimson blood staining his fingers, spilling out endlessly, stolen from the young, the innocent, the weak, partaken of by the damned--still fresh in his mind. Finally, he settled for, "It would not be the first time I have been subject to such a hunt." After a second, something seemed to register. "'Ducky'?" He shook his head impatiently, then continued. "Antha, I am not without my own protections. You do not need to concern yourself for my welfare; nor will I leave your service simply because a danger has presented itself. If I--displease you in some manner, you are free to deal with me as you see fit."  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"No, that's not the case," she answered softly, a bit distracted perhaps, "I'm just worried. You'll come to see that I have a tendency to become very paranoid at times." There was a short laugh that issued from her as she continued across the room and back to the window, her arms crossed and her head tipped to the side a bit, a pose usually accompanying deep thought. "I still don't think you understand the magnitude of this...but if you say you can handle yourself then I'll leave the subject be." However, that did rid Antha of her problems. True, she was calm now; she only became anxious when worried about others. But still she couldn't get her mind to stop obsessing over whether or not Sleet had found her page in the book.
It struck Antha suddenly that her clothes were absolutely filty. She din't know what brought the idea about, but she couldn't ignore the graveyard soil and even traces of dried blood on her dress any longer. "If you'll excuse me," she said hurriedly to Vikteren as she padded up to her closet and plucked out some random dress, "I really must change." As soon as the last word had been uttered she went rushing off into the hallway and vanished into the darkness so that only the soft thud of her footsteps proved she was indeed still there.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"No, that's not the case," she answered softly, a bit distracted perhaps, "I'm just worried. You'll come to see that I have a tendency to become very paranoid at times." There was a short laugh that issued from her as she continued across the room and back to the window, her arms crossed and her head tipped to the side a bit, a pose usually accompanying deep thought. "I still don't think you understand the magnitude of this...but if you say you can handle yourself then I'll leave the subject be." However, that did rid Antha of her problems. True, she was calm now; she only became anxious when worried about others. But still she couldn't get her mind to stop obsessing over whether or not Sleet had found her page in the book.
It struck Antha suddenly that her clothes were absolutely filty. She din't know what brought the idea about, but she couldn't ignore the graveyard soil and even traces of dried blood on her dress any longer. "If you'll excuse me," she said hurriedly to Vikteren as she padded up to her closet and plucked out some random dress, "I really must change." As soon as the last word had been uttered she went rushing off into the hallway and vanished into the darkness so that only the soft thud of her footsteps proved she was indeed still there.

"Of course," he said, tipping his head and stepping back as she ran past him. Only then did he allow himself to untense. His head dropped. Despite his protests, it was true; although, as a vampire, he did have extraordinary powers of regeneration, no wound could heal instantly, the drain on him could not be immediately replenished. Vikteren tilted his head, listening to her moving about upstairs, his own steps utterly silent as he moved to replace her at the window. Vikteren let his eyes slide closed. He didn't quite know what to think of her. She was most likely easily the most powerful Mayfair, but she was sent about on their errands like some expendable messenger. She did not seem to take kindly to such treatment, but she would not refuse it, even when to do so would be in her best interests. He opened his eyes. But it was not correct for him to critique her family; his own had been little better.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

For a moment Antha stood silently in the hallway, gathering her thoughts. She never was much good unless she had some plan in mind, no matter how vague, and so she formed one as she hid herself away in the bathroom behind lock and key. She stepped in the shower only long enough to rid herself of the dirt caked on her skin and but a few hurried moments throwing on her new dress. There was simply too much to be done in too little a time to be sluggish.
Once cleaned up properly, she started off back down the hall and wound down the stairs into the entrance hall, quickly grabbing hold of the old Mayfair book and darting into the parlor. The thought occurred to her to start a fire, at which time the fireplace immediately burst into flame. Here she tossed her old stained clothes and watched a few seconds as they set fire. Once rid of these, she dropped to her knees on the floor and began frantically leafing through the yellowed pages of the book until finally a loose one was caught in her fingers. It was old and yellowed, though not nearly as much so as the pages of the book, and appeared to have been crumpled up at one point or another. What's more, there was a childishly rendered rose drawn on the back in red crayon, a sight that pleased Antha apparently as she folded it carefully up and stuck it in her pocket before snapping the book shut and returning it to the little table by the door.
"Ashes to ashes," she whispered softly as she passed by the parlor door and watched the flame as it disappeared then continued on lightly up the stairs. "Dust to dust," she finished in the same tone, something similar to satisfaction in her voice as she smoothed down the skirt of her dress and finally returned to her room. "I apologize for that, but I really can't stand filth." It wasn't true, but it sounded better than anything else she could think of to say to Vikteren.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

For a moment Antha stood silently in the hallway, gathering her thoughts. She never was much good unless she had some plan in mind, no matter how vague, and so she formed one as she hid herself away in the bathroom behind lock and key. She stepped in the shower only long enough to rid herself of the dirt caked on her skin and but a few hurried moments throwing on her new dress. There was simply too much to be done in too little a time to be sluggish.
Once cleaned up properly, she started off back down the hall and wound down the stairs into the entrance hall, quickly grabbing hold of the old Mayfair book and darting into the parlor. The thought occurred to her to start a fire, at which time the fireplace immediately burst into flame. Here she tossed her old stained clothes and watched a few seconds as they set fire. Once rid of these, she dropped to her knees on the floor and began frantically leafing through the yellowed pages of the book until finally a loose one was caught in her fingers. It was old and yellowed, though not nearly as much so as the pages of the book, and appeared to have been crumpled up at one point or another. What's more, there was a childishly rendered rose drawn on the back in red crayon, a sight that pleased Antha apparently as she folded it carefully up and stuck it in her pocket before snapping the book shut and returning it to the little table by the door.
"Ashes to ashes," she whispered softly as she passed by the parlor door and watched the flame as it disappeared then continued on lightly up the stairs. "Dust to dust," she finished in the same tone, something similar to satisfaction in her voice as she smoothed down the skirt of her dress and finally returned to her room. "I apologize for that, but I really can't stand filth." It wasn't true, but it sounded better than anything else she could think of to say to Vikteren.

Vikteren glanced up sharply at the sound of her footsteps, turning around so fast that he didn't look as if he had been gazing out the window introspectively only moments before. The scent of magic hung on her, too strong to ignore. "What did you do, Antha?" The words snapped from his lips before he could rein them in, almost as soon as she entered the room.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

Antha looked at first quite shocked by his words, stopping abruptly where she stood, and then suddenly she again looked quite pleased. "I wonder...observant or talented?" she mused, looking Vikteren up and down before continuing with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "Gathering information is tricky business, you know. It just so happens to be Sleet's specialty---he knows where to find it and what to do with it. If one should be so lucky as to retrieve information from him that could turn the tables in his favor, one should be careful to make sure it is never taken again." She took several steps forward, halting only to take another careful look at Vikteren, and proceeded to the window where she flipped the little latch and threw open the glass panels to allow the winter breeze inside. As horribly cold as it was, it felt good to fold her arms on the windowsill while the cold air streamed in and stare out at the fresh snow on the ground. "The bottom line is I did nothing to harm anyone so does it matter, Vikteren?"