Overtime at Work (Vicious)

[luraigarnier]

This had been the third time she'd been to this type of event. A black tie event. A black tie event for a job she was honored to have. So no matter how much she didn't like these parties, she had to go. Lurai slid across the room in a dark black dress of a Victorian mod style. She looked beautiful with her dark hair pulled into a loose bun at the nape of her neck and her makeup dark but simple.

Her hand slid over the glass of champagne that came effortlessly off the black tray that the small waiter was speeding around to each guest. Lurai's mouth parted to take a big swig. She smiled at each person nodding her head politely and walking over to her boss. "Ah yes this is our Scottish intern Lurai Garnier. She's quite gifted with a camera" Melissa spoke. Melissa was one of the heads of National Geographic and she had taken to Lurai quite fondly. Something that she was very grateful for.

"It's a pleasure to meet you" Lurai spoke with her accent strong and of an upper-class breeding. She learned very early in life to be another person at times. She just nodded and smiled as the elite and best of the best spoke with one another. Her lips traveled too and from her glass as she made small polite conversation and soon she was on her third glass of champagne. One thing was for sure, she was glad she was Scottish. "Oh can I have one of those" she said as she placed her hand back onto the familiar glass that sat on the black tray.

[sbs]

There was a man at the event who seemed like he was out of place, then agian was he truely? He stood there looking at an old picture that seemed semi burnt. He recognized the figure instantly. The man in the picture looked much like the man standing their clad in a black suit. A ring on his finger matched the ring on the man's finger in the protrait.

The only subtle differences were the length of their hair, the way they dressed, and the way their eyes were. The man looking at the photo had Redish orange eyes while the man in the portrait had blue eyes. The man in the portait was Gale Neronumus. Vicious' father. The man looking at the portrait? None other than this painted man's son long thought dead and forgotten over the many years. Animus... Vicious...

[luraigarnier]

Lurai grabbed two glasses of champagne and caught a glance at the one man by himself. He was staring intently at a painting. His eyes held a look of sadness that Lurai couldn't help but want to change. She glided across the room nodding this way and that until she slyly slide up next to him holding the full glass out. "It's beautiful isn't it?" she asked her eyes staring only at the painting. "The stories behind this one are absolutely insane" she added sipping her glass of alcohol.

"Apparently this man lived with his family, two children, both boys, and his wife in a castle in Germany" she began smiling at the brush strokes and artistic flare of the painter. "You see the way he captures his expression, it's absolutely exquisite, the brush strokes, this painter was experienced and could capture the soul that was definitely for sure." She chuckled to herself taking a sip once more. "This family was attacked and all of them killed" she spoke her eyes drooping slightly. A wave of sadness overwhelming her.

"History says it was angry peasants" she spoke just above a whisper. "I believe it was something else. Rumor has it that some kind of animal killed them. A group of big dogs. Dogs that terrorized all the villages. Appearing overnight like they were illusions of the night." She smiled to herself sipping once more. "It's amazing what human beings come up with in order to explain the things they don't want to admit."

[sbs]

"Not all of them were killed in that castle... Just the mother... The older brother had vannished, The father went to a meeting and had never returned... The youngest son captured and tortured... Kept as a slave clutching the head of his father that his captors had given him. In his twenties he escaped, killing his captors... and finding out that his older brother was the cause of all of it." He said recalling the events of his past as he accepted the glass of sparkling alchohol. He sipped at it and countinued, the glass being held up by the hand that had the ring that was on the picture on the same finger.

The emblem of the Ring was the family crest of the Neronumus Family, a Pegasus with wings spread wide reaching towards a crecent moon. "The youngest brother brother was now twenty and went after his older brother... and killed him. Lord Kell of Europe..." He said in disgust. As he took another sip from the glass the taste of his brother's blood returned. He looked at the female then back at the painting.

"It was a clan of lycanthrope hired by Kell Neronumus to take out the Court of thirteen Bloods and the Neronumus Family so that he himself could rise to power. However Kell had a heart and had them Spare his younger brother Animus... That prooved to be a mistake. Animus killed Kell and started the dark ages... There are many things in history that the humans have warped around and changed to deny our existance..." He was speaking of the Vampiric and Shifter races of course. He wondered if this woman would catch on to what he was saying.

[luraigarnier]

Lurai's eyes finally gazed from the painting over to the man. It was eerie the similarity between the two and when her eyes fell upon the ring, it dawned on her. She'd know of the existence of a different race for such a small amount of time, it was hard to for to imagine the real possibilities behind it. It was hard for her to see the world still. One benefit though was just shown to her. The truth behind a painting that many just saw as pretty. If there was anything that she loved, it was gaining more knowledge.

She casually took a sip. "It still boggles me. To think how much knowledge is out there" she spoke softly. "I mean, there is a whole world that is almost completely unknown" she finished letting out a deep breath. "Stories like that. They need to be known. They need to be told. There is so much beauty we're all missing." She closed her eyes inhaling deeply. Her Scottish accent was something of a charmer of the crowd, but at the moment it just enhanced the audacity of her words. "So who exactly painted the picture? The museum still can't figure it out. They keep analyzing it but they can't get into down to someone specific."

[sbs]

"Many find this man a tyrant, a ruler and killer... But infact he was also a very talented artist... the painter of this picture was a man known as victor Von Heisenburg. Another member that served with Gale and was on the court of thirteen bloods." he said remebering the vampire. Many did not know that the Neronumus family went farther back than even ancient Bablonian times. He took a sip of the bubling liquid alowing it to flow down his throat.

"The days were greater then... enjoyable... a youth well spent. Until that night..." he said to himself aloud. He didn't care if people knew, or anything. What good would it do for them? Maybe a few hunters and such but it wasn't like they'd be able to stop them. He wanted to see for his own eyes if the picture of his father was the genuin deal. "I thought the castle of Neronumus was burned to cinders... It still remains?" He asked curiously. There were many secrets within that Castle that needed to be kept away. If a hunter or enemy were to get their hands on anything it would reveil things about himself and his family he wish for no one to know.

[luraigarnier]

Lurai shook her head back and forth. "As far as I know it's a pile of ash. As of this painting. I believe it was stolen by a servant before they fled the home. Smart investment. Especially considering how much it's worth now" she said her eyes flickering over the art. "Victor Von Heisenburg" she said mulling over the name in her head. "I've never even heard of him" she added, her mind now wandering with thoughts. She wanted to run to the articles in the library and find out who this man was, but she had a feeling she might not find what she would like.

She looked up at the man's eyes. He intrigued her in a way many could not. More than anything she wanted to see into his mind, to know all the thoughts that sat beneath the surface. "Your a curious man you know that?" she spoke, not really expecting an answer. "All beings on earth are vinyl on a record player. Constantly playing over and over. It's only with the past that we can prevent the same mistakes in the future and no longer be that record, but the music in the air" she said and took another sip of the bubbly concoction. "So may I ask why you've come to this soirée?"

[sbs]

He finnished his champagne and placed it on a tray grabbing another one. "I've come... to see the painting of my father..." He stated bluntly. He stared at the pictutre, his redish eyes surveying every detail of the painting of the nobleman. He was a good leader, a kind and just ruler, a good father, and excelent swordsman. Perhaps if things hadn't have played out like they did in his past. He would've ended up just like his father Gale.

However, things didn't happen like that. Instead he became the complete and exact opposite of his father. A killer, a demon, a Sadistic monster. Then agian he didn't mind it, it gave him much power and helped him shut himself off. Besides one of his stature seemed to enjoy hearing the screams and pleas of his victims. The smell of blood that always fogged heavily within the air after each massacre. The scene of red liquid coursed out over the ground mixing with the twisted looks of dead and decrepid corpses.

[luraigarnier]

Lurai nodded taking in the last of her champagne. She could see it very easily on his face. The regard he had for his father. The wish for his life. "I'm sorry you had to loose him. Just from your face it looks like he was a good man" she said softly taking a step back to let him look by himself. She could feel the champagne start to take effect, but suppressed it quickly.

"So I know your technical name I believe. The one from the text books, but what do your friends call you now?" she asked curious to see how the man before her fits into society. She showed confidence on the outside, but below she could feel her heart beating out of her chest. She still didn't quite know how to act around a vampire. She still could barely say the word vampire.

She quickly sent out a prayer to Gaea. Calling element air to send her wish across the land to her beloved goddess. She swore she was more aware of the current of the air whenever she called to it. Like she was watching it take her wishes away. She wanted to be able to deal with this, she wanted to be able to protect and strengthen herself. Most of all she wanted to talk to this vampire, just to get a glimpse of what his eyes had seen.

[sbs]

"I have no friends, Only allies." He stated bluntly as his gaze of scarlet travel towards the woman. "My father was a kind and just ruler, if things had happened differently I would be just like him. But alas my brother has ruined that." He said, if one listened closely you could hear the anger in his voice towards his brother which was now killed. "My name I am called by is Vicious, but for practical terms you may call me Marius."

The Pure Blooded Killer looked at her, seeing her curiosity at it's peek, she wanted to know about him. The vampire fought back a dark grin as he relised this, simply showing her glimps of his past would probably send her into shock and convulsions. But he thought better of it seeing as how he was in the presence of his father. Instead he turned back to the picture, "How much for this..." He said finnishing the drink and then setting it on a tray to be carried away.

[luraigarnier]

Not only could Lurai hear his anger, she could feel it emanate of him. Why was it that she was so interested in a man she could already tell was dangerous. Very dangerous. As a vampire he obviously was, but with the story he told, with the anger at his brother and the death he granted to him, and the deep intensity of those scarlet eyes, she knew he was not one to cross unless you had a death wish. Maybe she did have a death wish.

"Not a very friendly name is it? Marius though, was that an old friends...excuse me allies name or do you just have a not so secret love of Les Miserables?" she asked thinking of the classic musical that stole the hearts of many. "As for the paintings price. I don't know. That you would have to ask the museum owner Daniel Parks. It was donated, so, I don't know how willing he'll be to give it up" she said brushing a strand of hair that had fallen loose behind her ear. Curiosity would be the best word to describe her right now. Curious, very curious. She never felt such an urge to open a book she knew she shouldn't be. She knew the inside was bad. She knew that it would change the way she'd think, but she had to know. Curiosity did kill the cat, but satisfaction brought it back and she wanted satisfaction.

[sbs]

"It's a simple Alias that niether links me to my present status nor my past." he said simply as he looked at the man she pointed out. He could use a talent that he wasn't to fond of that many vampires had and hypnotize the man into selling him his father's portait. Just as he did with the caretaker that own his father's ring. "If you would excuse me for one moment... I must take care of something. I shall return shortly." He stated giving a curt bow and then walking up to the man she pointed out.

At first the Vampire introduced himself then pointed at the picture. It was easy for the man to fall into hypnosis becuase the fool looked within his eyes. What a mistake, If one focused intently you could see a mesmerizing spark elipsing the Scarlet eyes of the vampire. He pulled out a check book and wrote an amount. Ripping the check out of the book he handed it to the care taker as two men rushed towards the painting to take it from the wall and place it in a tube. Vicious then walked back towards the woman as he was handed the portrait.

"Being a vampire... Comes with it's benefits." He said simply as he smiled a ginue smile of accomplishment. He then looked at the woman as his smile faded, He could tell she wished to know about him... and His past. He finally gave in looking at her and taking her hand. "If you truely wish to see into my past... Then look into my eyes." He said as his Scarlet eyes began to glow.

The world around them faded to black as flashes of his past came to see. The scene of a young Animus watching as his mother was beheaded and his castle burn to the ground. Then him sitting in the cell in the lycan cavern and his escape. Followed by his fight with His older brother Kell and the burning of kell's kingdom. Then followed by being found by His master whom trained him Hitosume` and him falling in love. Then him returning to his home finding his master and his beloved slaughtered and his home burned to ashes.

It all lead up to the points of world war one and two where he was slaughtering countless people that attacked him for killing lycans. And then finally darkness agian as the sound of random chatting and music played in the background and the darkness faded away bringing them back to the world they were in. "I will take my leave. Follow if you wish, but the scene that may unfold tonight is one you yourself may not be able to handle as a mere human." He stated softly letting go of her hand and walking out of the museum with the cylinder with the portrait inside of it.

[luraigarnier]

Lurai watched in awe as he just walked up to the owner and bought it. It always irked her when people could get whatever they wanted, but she didn't know if she was more jealous or just flabbergasted. When he spoke she just smiled. "I can see there is some benefits" she said shaking her head at him. 'Vampires' she thought.

When he entered her mind though, she felt like she was falling, like the weight of each situation pulled her down harder and harder. She didn't even realize she wasn't breathing until he was out. She took a deep breath as she tried to steady her legs. She was so caught up in getting her breath back she didn't notice him leave. Lurai turned quickly and ran after him bursting through the front door. "Hey wait a second!" she screamed after him.

[sbs]

Vicious paused, glancing over his shoulder at the woman as she called out to him. He was becoming rather intreaged by her, He had shown her his past. The bloodshed that he had administored upon the world and yet... she still seemed intranced by him. Holding the cylinder in his hand he turned to face her. "I have shown you thing most mortals would never comprehend. Things that would make the strongest and bravest of men shudder in fear. Yet you still wish an audence with me. Why?" He asked looking at her as his scarlet gaze fell upon her.

She was a precuelar character, showing no fear within the presence of him. Only an dying curiousity that could never be tamed. This would lead her into danger and despair if she countinued her path. However... having a human would work perfectly in his plans. The Killer held back a smirk as he looked at her. Yes, she would do perfectly. "Join me... and I will show you things that modern mortals can only imagine. Also.. I will give you a large sum of riches, and a place to call your own. I will even give you imunity when the world turns back to the way it once was."

[luraigarnier]

When Lurai reached him she paused to listen to his words. A small smile fell upon her lips. "You of all people should know humans come in many different shapes and sizes. None of us are the same. That's the way we work" her grin turned into a smirk. "I don't judge people. I've learned very quickly that fear is something relative. I will die when I'm destined to die. Now I just want to be along for the adventure" she spoke with all her heart.

She did believe it too. She always had. Her mother had taught her many things and in that she learned that not everything goes the way you want it, but it happens for a reason. So when she would die, she would die and there would be no two ways around it. Granted going to face danger wasn't the best way to keep her life, but for some reason she couldn't help wanting to be around this fellow. He was a monster yes, but there was humanity in him. She saw it when he looked at his father.

When he spoke a second time, she couldn't help but let her mouth drop. Here he was offering her a new life and he'd only known her for a mere fraction of time. Her hands grasped one another in front of her body as she let out a sigh. "Thank you for the offer. Really. It's a wonderful thing to think about, but" she began and paused looking up into his scarlet red eyes. Her grey-blue eyes tried to make some sense out of his thoughts. "I've worked very hard to get where I am today. I have another job, my family back in Scotland, my school work. I still wish to see you, but if it's a matter of completely giving up my life I can't do that. I've worked to hard to just take an easy way out. I like to earn what I get" she said her voice strong but soft. She glanced at his face curious to see what his reaction would be.