Path to Redemption

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

As Victor grinned, watching her intently as he spoke, tossing aside the remains of a Vampire that had been among his own numbers, a knot seemed to form in the girl's chest. Her fingers tightened on her sword, the leather wrapped around the handle creaking quietly in her grip. Lucia's red eyes narrowed, "I will be sending you, Victor, as a 'thank you' to my father." She spoke through clenched teeth, preparing herself as the Vampire lord charged once more.

To the Hybrid's surprise, his attention fell to another Vampire, attacking him fatally before turning to another Baby Bat, making quick work of him as well. Watching him with scrutiny, Lucia frowned. He would turn on those still loyal to him, too? She shouldn't have been surprised; but she was growing frustrated the traitor's lack of respect.

Charging forth, herself, the girl sped quickly toward Victor as he turned his blade upon a third Vampire. Leading with her shoulder, she threw herself forcefully at the traitor.

He turned with an unexpected quickness, hardly looking her way, grabbing Lucia by the arm and hurling her heavily to the cold ground. "Wait your turn." A smile could be heard on his words, and as Lucia got to her feet, she could feel the whisper of silver cutting the air as the Vampire lord's sword fell upon another soldier.

Casting a sidelong glance back to her council, the Hybrid swiped her hair out of her face and over a shoulder. "With me! Now." It felt like red was beginning to surge up from her chest, filling her sight and thoughts. He was strong.

With the council at her sides, Lucia advanced toward Victor again; her right hand clenched in a fist, twirling the blade once for momentum as she neared in her left hand. Faking a swing with the sword, the girl brought a leg up, planting it hard in Victor's chest, trying to kick through him.

The force was enough to make the Vampire lord take a step back; but he seemed otherwise unimpressed. His blade came up quick, swinging with a flick of his wrist, striking Lucia in the ribs.

White, searing fire exploded out from the silver blade's impact, and the girl cried out. Moving hastily, she brought her own sword around, pushing away Victor's with an inside arc, attempting to step back as his blade pulled free from her skin. Damn it, he was strong. How was she going to do this?

Marcus closed the gap between them quickly, two other Elders in tow, surrounding Victor.

[Pablo]

Pablo felt a heat rise in his cheeks. Lucia loved him? At times he may have thought that to be true. Glancing back to the battlefield he immediately spotted her. She was after all impossible to miss, dressed in red, beautiful, she moved with grace across the battlefield. He did want to be with her, to fall asleep by her side every morning and to take up beside her in the night. To hunt together every day, and chase one another through the forest. "I do." He whispered quietly to himself. "But, Dane he-" The thought frustrated him, he grit his teeth. The vampire had her ensnared, and this woman, Catherine, why did she want this from him? "What do you gain Catherine, why help me?"

Catherine sighed quietly to herself. Looking down at the lycan she held tightly against his bodice. It seemed he didn't care, or realize, men and woman alike would die for her attention and yet he stared into the battlefield, like he only had one car in the world. Meanwhile oblivious of what he did for her, the warmth her body provided it was almost alarming. Her mind strayed from the matter at hand, Viktor. It was pleasing, but too much of a distraction. The vampire battled wit h the thought of taking his heat for her own, and joining the battle, but they lacked one thing, privacy, and she imagined her Queen was rather protective of her pet. The lycan's words barely registered in her mind, and it took her a moment to process a response. " Don't worry young one. It may seem difficult to compare, Dane, he is, so powerful and quick, quite an able lover, but you have something he does not." She said, her voice low and sultry. The vampire grabbed a tuft of the lycan's hair and forced him to face her once again. She smiled down at him, he seemed uncomfortable. "Your heat. It's maddening, even now it fills my chest and warms me to the bone. Why, if we were alone right now." She smiled again reaffirming her hold on the beast. "I'm not quite sure what I would do." The look in his eyes, he stared at Catherine like she was mad, and perhaps she was at the moment. None of this was planned, a spurt of the moment, brought upon by the lycan it seemed. She wanted everything, the lycan, power, Dane; lifeless. "We have mutual interest. You want to rid yourself of Dane, as do I."

A vampire who wanted to rid herself of her superior. Where had he heard that before? "You want me to kill him." He said, trying to avoid eye contact with the vampire. The look in her eye, it was more than just blood-lust it seemed, and he finally became aware of the contact between them. It was unnerving, her body felt cold, and unwelcomed. His response seem to satisfy her, as she let go of his hair allowing him to stare into the battle once more. "Why me?" He said, as Viktor confronted Lucia once more, Pablo's eyes went wide as the vampire's blade made contact with the hybrid. He felt another flare of anger in his chest and instinctively Pablo tried to break free from Catherine's grasp. She only held him tighter. "Lucia! She needs us." He growled.

Catherine smiled, he was quite right. "Lucia never mentioned you were intelligent." At his outburst she gazed into the fight. Yes it did seem their 'Queen' needed their assistance. "We'll join the fray, as soon as I've had my say." She paused. "I cannot slay Dane in single combat. My only hope would to catch him in his sleep, but the risk is too high. If I were caught, my fate would be worse than death, but you, let us say, when the pet tracks in dirt, he is only punished."
"Lucia would hate me, if I killed him." Pablo said, with some doubt. Lucia, would have nothing else, but even then it seemed too much worth the risk. Suddenly his arm flared in pain, as he watch Viktor from afar slash Lucia once more. "Please, Catherine, let me fight."

"Lucia will die, if you do not. Little Lycan, do you really think Dane has her best intention in mind?" That seemed to catch Pablo's attention, despite the pain Lucia was enduring. Catherine smirked as Pablo shook his head. Anyone with half a mind can see she was being used. "He will kill her. The day the lycans are defeated, and they are gathered to swear their loyalty to their new Queen, they will be slaughtered, like cattle, all together in one fell swoop. Your Queen will follow, and if that is not incentive enough, you would be next, to suffer at Dane's hand. If it comforts you, I would make a bid for your life, to make you my own."

She could have been lying, Pablo did not think she was. There was some truth there, how much he wasn't sure, but Dane, no he had never trusted Dane or would. He slowly nodded his head. That was he admitted, an effective way of ridding oneself of all your enemies. And Lucia... she was eating out of his hand. "I'll kill him."

"Good." She said slowly. "I'll come to your cage one day, and I will let you free, and provide you with a weapon. I am certain you know which room is there's, you will kill him, and I will allow you to leave, you and Lucia, both alive, with her mother in toe, as a sign of good faith."

That was a lie, she would not leave Alena alive, maybe not even Lucia, but his choices were limited now. "I understand." He said nodding his head, impatiently moving his feet, ready to charge out into the battlefield. The moment she unwrapped her arm from around him, Pablo was off running into the fight. In mid motion donning the form of his wolf, his growing muscles tearing through his clothing as dark brown patches of fur grew from his skin.

Catherine sighed as Pablo ran off. Instantly the warmth from the lycan dissipated. It was jarring the transition, the wind seemed to chill her to the very bone. She wrapped an arm around herself, and stared down at the snow. Had she just committed a terrible mistake? It felt right. She sighed once more. Never could she remember feeling so cold.

Pablo smiled, inwardly as he fell onto all floors and galloped forward; despite the circumstances, the disparity he felt between the strength he felt now, and the weakness just moments ago, unable to ajar himself from either Lucia or Catherine's hold was exhilarating. Nobody could restrain him, not in this form. His eyes fell to Viktor, who still battle Lucia. The elder vampire single handedly keeping her council members at bay; almost casually it seemed, knocking them aside as they approach attempting to provide Lucia some relief. He growled. Viktor would not be able to handle him so easily. Catching movement to the side, he glanced his head. Catherine was suddenly at his side, she'd easily caught up and slowed down to run stride by stride. Lucia needed him, he bent his knees readying for a jump, and he needed to stay away from that vampire. He pushed against the ground, lunging into the air, almost soaring over the battlefield. His aim was true, Pablo quickly descended down upon Lucia and Viktor locked in combat. Lucia, move! He spoke into the girl's mind, seconds before his landing. She moved, just as he crashed into Viktor, launching the vampire across the snow covered field. The elder vampire came to a halt, scrambling to his feet, just as Pablo's attack was followed up. Catherine, with the her strength and the momentum she'd built up struck Viktor with a closed fist across the face, throwing back onto the snow. She slid to a halt behind her former ally.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Blood ran freely down her arm, Victor's silver blade striking her main hand hard, leaving a deep slash. It hurt to flex even her hand to grip her own blade harder; but she wouldn't back away. She couldn't, not after what Victor had done; not after getting this chance, finally. Amid the anger, the determination, something within the girl beamed. Dane had given her this opportunity. He believed in her ability; saw her strength and eagerly awaited witnessing the power she would come to claim as she aged. Victor was strong, and incredibly fast, but she could do this. Marcus' declaration echoed in her mind; she was descendant from Satan, Himself; she was better than this rotting filth.

Stepping away quickly as the traitorous Vampire lord flicked his sword once more to strike, Lucia parried, trying to knock his blade aside. His onslaught didn't stop with the one strike, however. With surprising speed, Victor slashed at Lucia again and again, his blade coming down on her hard, strike after violent strike. Bringing her off hand up to try and help brace her sword, the Hybrid blocked his attacks desperately, holding her blade over her head. The sound of metal striking metal filled the night, and with each sequential attack, Lucia could feel the elder Vampire's weight begin to bare down on her. The strength of Victor's attacks hit her blade so forcefully, the impact traveled through her hands, reverberating through her arms in a powerful shock that she could feel in her gritted teeth. It was taking most of the strength and focus Lucia could muster to simply adjust her blade quick enough to block the Vampire's ongoing attacks. There was little else the Hybrid felt capable of, and it felt as if his assault lasted an age. Her arms slowly began to grow fatigued, and she felt her boots begin to slip on the icy ground beneath them.

For a moment, it seemed as if Lucia could see a break in Victor's rapid onslaught; as if there would be just a fraction of a second's pause to his next attack. It wasn't much, but perhaps it would be enough for the girl to adjust her footing, reaffirm her grip on her sword, or try and push the Vampire back.

Pablo's voice entered her mind, sending a warm surge of hope through her body, and Lucia dove to the left, trying to avoid Victor's last attack. She didn't move quick enough; the Vampire's blade came down hard on her right shoulder, digging in only to be ripped painfully away as the Werewolf dropped from the sky, sending the traitor flying across ice and snow.

Crying out, Lucia landed on her hands and knees in the snow; bright red drops of blood fell onto the snow, sinking into its depths, tainting its purity. Looking up, the large form of Pablo dominated her vision; standing on two legs, covered in grizzled muscle and brown fur, the wolf man seemed to show his fangs hatefully to Victor as the Vampire tried to climb to his feet.

With Victor pushed back, Marcus and the rest of her council braced themselves, diving back into the fray. As Catherine sped toward the traitor, a glint in the snow caught the Hybrid's attention. Victor's sword! He must have lost his grip when Pablo sent him flying. She was in the air in an instant, soaring toward the blade. Her feet didn't touch the ground until the traitor's blade was in hand and she'd closed the distance between herself and Victor. "Hold him down." Lucia spoke hatefully as she stepped closer to the Vampire lord.

Marcus and Catherine pulled Victor from the snow, forcing him to his knees and wrenching his arms behind his back hard, while the rest of the council aided in restraining the traitor's legs and arms where they could.

Sheathing her father's sword, and taking Victor's blade into her left hand, Lucia stepped up to her enemy; glaring holes through him. Taking his ponytail in hand, the girl craned his head back hard, exposing his throat to her. "You ought to show proper respect to your betters." Without hesitation, she buried her fangs into the Vampire's neck.

[Pablo]

Pablo felt a streak of fire across his chest as he landed, and Lucia cried out. The lycan cursed himself, roaring at the top of his lungs towards Viktor before quickly glancing at Lucia. She was bleeding, he'd been too slow and she been hurt because of him. Again the lycan quietly cursing himself. Though it had not been entirely his fault. That woman Catherine had slowed him from joining the fray, and Lucia had left him initially with less than a desirable amount of strength to partake in battle. At least the lady vampire had redeemed herself, striking Viktor as he tried to rise onto his feet once more. It was reassuring to know that even monsters such as him could be physically rattled.

He stood protectively over Lucia, growling and snapping his teeth towards the elder vampire, as Lucia stood. Innately he allowed Lucia to take the lead, following but a few steps behind her, ready to lunge in front of her if need be. But it seemed the battle had come to an end. Lucia's council swarmed Viktor as he recovered. Marcus and Catherine, holding him up by the arms and head, two more members of Lucia's council kneeling behind them to pin down his leg. The remaining two members stood by the side, watching their Queen approach the usurper, around them Viktor's supporters had either surrendered, or been slaughtered. For as short as a fight it was the battle had been bloody. The once pure blanket of snow was now tainted with pools of red.

Pablo stood beside the observing council members, watching Lucia step close to Viktor. The lycan shifted back down to his human form, planting his hands on his lips, and glancing over his shoulder at them. "Not too bad for a lycan, right?" Neither seemed to pay him much attention, their eyes focused on their Queen. It appeared only Pablo did not feel the gravity of the moment. Turning back to the scene in front of him, Marcus and Catherine turned their gazes to him. The former smiling, amused, the other a cold gaze in her eyes. He felt uncomfortable painfully aware of how naked he was, and then Lucia grabbed Viktor by the hair and dropped to her knees. He felt something else, deep within his chest, flaring, he was all aware of what Lucia intended as she sunk her fangs into Viktor's neck. Why would she have to feed of off Viktor, when he was available to her. She already had Viktor at her mercy, and her bite was hardly a punishment.

Viktor snarled as Lucia approached him. Trying to pull free from the hold of his former allies. It was proving difficult to even budge, so it seemed, this is how he would die. In the arms of the council he should have ruled over, at the hands of a girl. It was a cruel fate. He struggled one final moment, if this is how he would die, he would die with dignity. He said nothing, no made attempt to look at Lucia until she stood in front of him and spoke. A soft smile formed on his lips. "My better?" He let out a laugh, cut short by Lucia's teeth entering his throat. It turned into a soft gasp. He was expecting her sword, not her teeth to entire his neck. Immediately he felt weaken, as a pleasant fuzz spread throughout his body. He nearly slumped forward, but he would keep his composure. "You're no more than a little girl." He said weakly, "Playing Queen as her caretakers watch. Well little girl," His mind seemed to slow, he felt lightheaded. This was not the first bite he'd experienced. It was not as pleasant as the touch of his kin, but more debilitating. He felt so weak, but he continue. "I think, I'll be seeing you soon. With the company you keep, they couldn't keep your father safe, they didn't want to." He finally fell limp into the arms that held him. Only their strength kept him on his knees.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Now there was an image she wanted burned into her mind for eternity: Victor on his knees, struggling to free himself from the hold of Vampires who had once been his peers and allies. She wanted that to sink in for a moment, for him to understand the feeling and why her fanged smile would be the last thing he'd see before being sent to Hell. No doubt he knew, but Lucia wanted to see the realization in his eyes. What she found, she perceived as solemn resignation that his life ended tonight.

The blood that filled her mouth as she pierced the traitor's throat, while cold, tasted sweet. In years past, her father had let her feed from the occasional Vampire before, usually one who had displeased the King in some way or another. The offering had always carried with it the connotation that this was a treat, to be earned; not something to gorge oneself on on a nightly basis, and certainly not something many Vampires would find acceptable in their own right. She'd almost forgotten the taste of Vampire's blood; and had not bitten into Victor's throat with the intent of partaking of this treat. She simply wanted to weaken the Vampire lord to take away any chance of him resisting and turning the fight once more to his favor.

As he spoke, Lucia chomped harder into the traitor's throat, pulling his head back violently by his hair. Anger spiked in her chest, and as he finished speaking, the Hybrid closed her teeth, pulling out a solid chunk of the Vampire's neck and throat to chew on. Keeping her face close to Victor, she spoke into his ear, barely containing a growl, "Give my regards to my family."

Releasing her hold on Victor's hair, his head slumped forward. She hadn't meant to take quite so much blood from him; but his vitae had hardly sated her at all, which is why she continued to take from him beyond his consciousness. There was something disappointing about the notion of Victor being unconscious while she took his life, instead of looking her in the eyes, but this would have to do. She was loathe to grant him another moment on this earth.

Stepping back as she took Victor's blade into her right hand once more, Lucia pulled her father's sword from its scabbard. Blood dripped from her chin, lending a glossy sheen to her lips as she scowled down at the limp form of Victor. Lifting the Vampire's chin with the point of Raven's silver blade to look upon the traitor's face a final time, the girl set her jaw. Crossing Victor's blade with Raven's, Lucia rested the traitor's neck in the groove the two silver swords created. With a quick, fluid motion, the Hybrid flicked both wrists, cutting through the Vampire's neck with both swords, following through with her arms so they, and the blades, rested straight in the air at her sides. Victor's head came off clean, falling to the snow at Lucia's left boot.

Stepping aside as Marcus and Catherine let the traitor's body fall lifelessly into the snow, the girl watched quietly. As if in slow motion, Lucia saw the Vampire that took her father's life succumb to the heavy weight of death. His body did not bounce, but sunk clumsily into the snow. Taking a knee, the Hybrid reached for Victor's head, turning it so it faced her. Decomposition had already begun to set in; but this was his face. A face she'd seen often in her childhood; one she believed her father had trusted once. He'd been a fairly prominent figure in her early years; one of her father's council members that she had been able to tolerate in larger doses...

Standing beside her, Marcus cleared his throat softly, bringing the girl's thoughts back to the present. Reaching for the cloak around Victor's shoulders, she gathered it in her arms and set it beside her. Reaching for a limp arm, Lucia used his sleeve to clean Raven's sword of blood before sheathing it and wiping clean the traitor's blade as well. She pulled free Victor's sheath from around his waist, returning the blade to its scabbard, and was about to stand when something else caught her eye. Slinging Victor's blade over her head and around a shoulder for now, the girl grabbed the Vampire's arm, pulling free a ring from a withering finger.

As she stood, her chest felt light. Victor didn't deserve such a clean and easy death; but he -was- dead. A wide grin covered her face, still dripping with blood, as she looked out at the Vampires amassed around her. There was an eerie silence in the air; yet it felt like Lucia's ears were ringing with exultation. Flinging Victor's cloak open in her arms, the Hybrid walked around to Pablo, throwing it over his shoulders to cover his nakedness and provide warmth.

Casting a sidelong glance toward the cave entrance, Lucia spoke finally, addressing all. "Victor has fallen! Any act of treason will be met with a similar fate. I want his cave burned. I don't care if the whole mountain has to come down; nothing remains of this traitor." Her skin seemed to buzz and tingle happily; excitement filled her, but she'd done what she came for. The rest she would leave to her army. "Burn it all. The village included."

Marcus smiled, bowing lavishly, "As you wish. Queen Lucia!"

The army of Vampires rose their voices into the night, a unifying sound of glory. While no howl, the cheering felt almost as nice. Glancing to her council, she motioned for them to join her as she departed, leaving the task for her army. Vampires bowed as she passed, and Lucia placed a hand on Pablo's shoulder as they made their way back to the jet.

As they neared the jet, the door opened from within, an attendant smiling down at them. Bowing to Lucia, he offered his hand to help her as she took the stairs, "I am pleased to see you return from what I imagine was a successful tour, my Queen. If there is anything you require, do not hesitate..."

The Hybrid smiled to the Vampire as she passed him, moving for the private cabin up front. Two beds had been prepared across from each other in their absence. A dark bottle of what Lucia knew was blood sat on a tray beside the seat she'd occupied on the flight here; two empty glasses waiting beside the bottle. She almost laughed at the thought of Pablo sampling blood. Instead, she turned her grin upon the Lycan. "Sit." She motioned to one of the beds. Turning away, the Hybrid lifted Victor's sheathed blade off her shoulders, placing it on the other bed. Her fingers moved to the sword belt at her waist, unclamping her father's blade next, setting it on the bed as well.

Turning the ring her fingers, Lucia looked at it thoughtfully. It was a simple band, now, that looked like any design or ornamentation that had once adorned the piece had been worn down over centuries of wear. If she had to guess by looking at the shallow lines still noticeable over some parts of the ring, it had probably been some ancient Germanic design, but the girl couldn't be sure. All she knew was this was something she'd always seen the traitor wear; and this is what she would offer her mother as a peace offering.

Stepping back to glance at Pablo, she approached him; holding the ring up to show him with her left forefinger and thumb. The ring, itself, was too big to fit even on her thumb. "Perhaps, when you speak to my mother; this may help her see my intentions are good." She watched the young man, looking for his reaction. Lucia could feel the warmth from him without even touching the Werewolf, and she licked her lips quietly.

The wounds she obtained still bled and hurt; but the excitement of the night's kill kept the girl's spirits high. The image of Pablo standing before her, growling and squaring up to Victor as she got to her feet sent butterflies through her chest and stomach. Her fingers itched to reach out and grab the man.

[Pablo]

Pablo watched uneasily as Lucia drained from Viktor. His gut wretched in an unpleasant manner at the sight. It was jealously he knew, admittedly strange to feel at a moment like this. Viktor would soon be dead, at Lucia's hand, yet still it was difficult watching her. It was always an intimate moment, between Lucia and Pablo when she fed off him, even when he adamantly refused. Is that what they shared right now? Lucia with her mortal enemy, making his final good bye to the word one of near pleasantry. To see her so close with somebody else, he mentally grumbled to himself. It seemed for a moment she was done, but instead reaffirmed her bite into Viktor's throat, taking from him until he fell unconscious. Did she really have to take so much blood, he thought, just as he tore out his throat. The sight reassuring him. That was closer to what he'd expected from the moment.

His stomach fluttered as Viktor's head rolled onto the snow. Just as watching Lucia drain Viktor had made him more jealous than expected, watching him die sent a wave of pure unfiltered joy through him. Every dead vampire was a good vampire, but Viktor was quite near the worst of them all. He wanted to charge Lucia and tackle her into the snow, but he steadied himself. Impatiently watching Lucia go through the motions. Her entire life had been building to this moment. Avenging her father, killing the traitor, she must have been so happy.

Smiling as Lucia approached him with Viktor's cloak in her arms, the lycan shook his head. "Lucia, that's not necessary. I can scavange some clothes from the bodies. They won't be needing them." He said grinning, she seemed to ignore his words. Enclosing him within the traitor's cloak. Pablo shrugged his shoulders. Was this a gift? He'd never considered adding a cloak to his attire, it probably wouldn't go well with his trenchcoat. That was half a cloak as it was, on him at least. He pulled the cloak tight around him, barely registering the words Lucia spoke as she adressed the crowd.

When the hybrid grabbed him by the shoulder, he happily followed. Why were they already heading back to the plane? They'd traveled halfway across the world to slay Viktor sure, but why not take advantage of the trip and do a little sight seeing, hunt some of the local cuisine. He'd never had polar bear before, or an American moose. Unfortunately Lucia probably wouldn't see it that way. There were important affairs to attend to or such.

He smiled back at Lucia as she ordered him onto the bed. Sitting on the edge he let his feet dangle. His stomach was still fluttering, and it seemed his heart was beating a pace or two quicker. It seemed he'd recuperated quite quickly from the lack of blood in his veins, he was ready for another fight. A whole battle between two vampire arms, and he was only able to whack one, that was a shame. Pablo nodded his head as Lucia spoke of the ring, although at the moment, Alena was the last thing he wanted to speak of. "Lucia," He smiled, she'd finally done it. Viktor was as dead as a ghost, the thought tickled him, he felt antsy sitting still, and as she approached him, he jumped off the bed. "Let's worry about your mother later." The lycan quickly closed what little distance was between them, and wrapped his arms around Lucia, pulling her close into a sweet embrace. His cloak sliding off his shoulders. He glanced up at her, smiling wide. "Tell me, how does it feel to finally avenge Raven?" The question was sincere. Vengeance, how long Xhel had saught it, and to an extent Pablo as well. There would always be an innate hatred towards vampires, but vengeance for them was a far off dream, when they blamed an entire race. The lycan nuzzled his head against her shoulders before looking up again. He caught a glimpse of her fangs and was reminded of the sight of her teeth sinking into Viktor's neck. For a moment his grin vanished, and he glanced away from her, towards the floor. "Did you have to bite him, Lucia? You have me now..."

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Pablo closed the distance between them quickly, wrapping his arms excitedly around her. Lucia flinched at the initial contact of the Lycan's arm pressing against the deep slice in her ribs; but did not pull away from his embrace. While she hadn't been expecting this sudden contact, Lucia could not complain. His hugs had a way of disarming her that the girl couldn't quite understand. In London, she'd been ready to rip out the human's throat, or get as close to that as she could. Yet with a simple action, Pablo had taken much of the rage away. Similarly, on the flight here, the Hybrid had gotten so upset and riled up during their conversation that she felt very nearly like she might hit him. Yet now, being angry with the Werewolf was the farthest thing from her mind. It dawned on her, slowly at first, that Pablo seemed to be the only one to make her feel such extremes in as short a timespan as half a day. She began to wonder why that was, but as the man held her close, nuzzling his head into her, Lucia couldn't help but relax into his gesture. His grip was firm, but by no means restrictive. It felt like his arms held her naturally; he wasn't forcing her still, but held her in such a way that she felt... was it: loved?

As the cloak slid off his shoulders, the girl wrapped her arms around Pablo, resting her head against his. She could feel his heart beating against her chest and the warmth emanating from him felt comforting and invigorating at the same time. She hadn't noticed it at first, but as her fingers trailed over the smooth skin of his back, the Hybrid found herself almost digging her nails into him, pulling him closer. Stopping herself before digging to hard, Lucia pulled away only far enough to watch Pablo as he spoke.

The grin across her face felt like nothing could shake it, and as she was about to speak of the exuberance that came with vengeance, Pablo looked down, asking something a little different. Lucia giggled; light, childlike laughter rising easily from her chest. For a moment, she watched him with crimson eyes, trying to decide how serious the Werewolf was. He seemed truly disheartened, and though she still smiled, the girl took on a more serious tone, "Pablo." She nudged his forehead with the tip of her nose. "I wanted only to weaken him; to ensure victory beyond any doubt. Truthfully, I hadn't intended to take quite so much, however his blood left me feeling... well, empty. It was hard to gauge how much I'd actually taken."

She paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes as she looked to him. Then, as if making up her mind, she laughed again quietly, pushing the Werewolf back so he'd fall into the bed. Without a moment's hesitation, Lucia had joined him in bed, straddling his lap and peering into his eyes with a mischievous glint. She leaned forward, getting close to his face, and scrunched her nose playfully, "Were you worried I had enjoyed taking from a dead man?" She smiled happily to him, "Pablo. I could not have done this without you."

[Pablo]

The lycan smiled to himself, closing his eyes as Lucia returned the embrace. There was a comfort that Pablo felt when in Lucia's arms, it was near indescribable. It felt like home, he could stay there within her arms for centuries he was certain. She held him tighter than usual, restricting his breath slight, but he barely noticed. The increased contact with her, their bodies pressed close together, he was all too aware of the silky fabric of her dress pressed against his bare chest by her breast. He sighed, at that moment remembering what the vampire, Catherine had said to him. How his warmth was to put it mildly pleasing to her. That Lucia would feel the same. It seemed true. The vampire had warned him too, not to be caught by her alone. He was alone now, with Lucia.

His eyes opened as Lucia pulled away. She was smiling, the sight of her four fangs poking out from her lips always made his stomach fluttered, he smiled. And then she laughed. An eyebrow rose on the young man's face, that was unexpected. Was it so wrong to wonder about her bite with Viktor? Every time they'd shared the moment, it was an intimate one. No matter the circumstances. Chained in her bedroom, after their duel, fleeing from her, it always left him feeling closer to her. He glanced away for a moment, before she nudged him with her nose. Her cool skin on his forehead made him smile again.

Her explanation was suitable enough. At least she wasn't mocking him anymore. He narrowed his eyes in return as she looked at him, wondering what was on her mind before she laughed. Her laughter tickled him, her soft girlish giggle, his lips creaked into another grin, before he found him quickly pushed back onto the bed behind him. He caught himself with his forearms, reclining back, Lucia was quick to jump onto the bed after him, straddling his lap before he could sit up. Immediately red began to rise to his cheeks. Lucia had always seemed unconcerned with one's personal space, but even she had to be aware of his actions. He was in fact quite nudge, and sitting on his lap, her proximity was quite close. He could feel himself begin to breath heavier. His brown eyes met her crimson gaze, the way she looked at him, like she was peering into his very soul, it was hypnotizing. He wanted to be with her, emotionally and physically it was more obvious at that moment that at any time. She was beautiful, and playful, and full of life. And she was with Dane. The thought did not dishearten him though. He could take her from him. Dane didn't deserve her, hell Dane wanted to kill her. He had to take her, and what he felt, it was reciprocated. "I told you Lucia. Sun Tzu knows his stuff." He smiled bashfully. No he was certain Lucia had enjoyed Viktor's blood, she was part vampire after all. "Lucia, I wasn't worried. I was jealous." The lycan stared at scrunched nose. He would do anything to be with her, and it would be easy. He had something Dane did not. Warmth and life running through his veins. His gaze fell to her mouth, her smile, never had he seen lips so inviting. He held his breath for a moment, why wait? There was no moment but the present, and they were after all alone. He sat up, and without a word planted his lips on Lucia's. Wrapping an arm around her head, he held her close, running his fingers through her soft hair, the lycan leaned forward. Brushing his chest into her.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

At this distance, the Werewolf's scent filled her senses completely, and Lucia inexplicably felt a strong desire building within her. His hair smelled of fresh air and there was something wild and primal, but clean and intoxicating about his scent that was incredibly alluring.

The color rising in his cheeks did not go unnoticed by the girl as she closed the distance between them; and it made her all the more aware of the situation at hand. What was she doing? He was completely naked beneath her, and so impossibly warm. It felt like she could stay here for ages. Even the contact of her thighs against his legs was maddening. It almost felt like she had planned for this to happen, but the thought hadn't quite taken a physical form in her mind. That she was conscious of, at least. Her proximity to him had a far stronger affect on her than she'd anticipated. She could practically taste his blood on her tongue already; and as if in response, her fangs grew longer.

Pablo smiled as he spoke; and the Hybrid felt happy and light. She wanted always to see him smile. When he admitted his jealousy, she could feel something in her chest flutter excitedly. Yes, she had wanted to hear him say it; and hearing the words from his lips brought far more satisfaction to her than she could have imagined. He enjoyed her presence and the feel of her fangs in his neck. He wanted to be near her and the thought of her taking from another when he was willing to provide made the Lycan feel jealous. In a way, he'd just openly admitted he cared for her; isn't that essentially what he'd done anyway? He was here with her, now. Pablo had picked her after all. After she'd been certain his heart and loyalty and belonged to her mother.

If Pablo hadn't sat up to press his lips against hers, Lucia felt very nearly like she would have been the one to steal a kiss. As he sat up, she sat back, resting completely on his lap now as his fingers trailed through her hair, over her scalp. She pushed into the kiss; returning his affection happily, greedily. The warmth that seemed to surround her was maddening. He held her so close, Lucia swore she could feel his heart beating through his lips and fingertips, reverberating through her entire body.

Kissing him felt natural, and the girl wrapped an arm around his neck in kind. Her other hand found its way down, between her legs where Pablo's body reacted positively to her touch. He was warmer than she could have imagined. Holding him firm, Lucia began massaging him. A grin spread her lips, and she pulled away only a millimetre to tell him, "You are my favourite game, Pablo," before kissing him again, slipping her tongue playfully between his lips.

[Pablo]

Lucia's lips were as soft as Pablo imagined, and why wouldn't they be? The hybrid was born of the highest pedigree, she was perfect in nearly every manner, and she had just returned his show of affection. The thought of rejection had never necessarily occurred to him, not much had scared him in life, and kissing a girl certainly wouldn't. Still it elated him to know she reciprocated his feelings for her, and of course the chance to taste her lips, to hold her close, that didn't hurt. His body reacted positively, his heart beginning to race as there was a slight motion between his legs. It seemed at least that Lucia did notice.

He was incorrect, while Pablo closed his eyes, happy to remain in Lucia's arms, kissing her, the girl wanted more. His eyes shot open as Lucia grabbed him firmly. The new sensation making him gasp softly as Lucia pulled away. Her cool soft hands against his warm flesh, his heart seemed to melt within his chest, it was almost too much. "Lucia," He whispered her name softly, barely audible. What was she doing? He closed his eyes once more, as her lips graced his again. Her wet tongue entering his mouth, bombarding him again with a new wave of sensations, his body shivered pleasantly. With it a feeling growing within his chest, gnawing at him. The best calling to him, begging for some measure of relief from the desire growing within him. As Lucia continued to fondle him he pulled away. The wolf wanted him to let go, not unleash itself but for him, to revel in Lucia, to give in to the passion. "That's not fair." He said. Leaning back into the kiss. He was nude, she was grabbing him by her man bits, fully clothed. Pablo gazed up into her eyes, running his free hand into her dress. There was a moment of uncertainty, where to touch her, what to grab. Feeling her skin beneath his hand, that was almost enough. It was smooth to the touch, he wanted to feel more, to feel her body against his. The dress, it had to go. He ran his hand up to her shoulder, searching for a strap to undress her.