Lemon Eyes

[Adele Holst]

Though she tried, she couldn't wipe away the frown on her face or the concern in her eyes. Pablo's attempt to laugh off her question didn't necessarily help; but she couldn't blame him. She'd basically asked him to confront and admit to trauma that'd happened still so recently. After a moment of brushing the question off, however, her friend gave up the charade.

A thick lump of emotion sat in her throat; she could feel the muscles in her chest tighten. Her heart hurt; but she listened as her best friend spoke. Catherine had smelled like her... small wonder with the amount of blood the vampire had taken from her. A sad smile stayed Adele's lips; Catherine had hurt her. Her shoulders still felt a deep ache from that monster's silver knives, though the wounds themselves had almost completely healed. To say she'd been foolish to join the rescue effort the next day was an understatement; she should have done the sensible thing like Okello and stayed at the Den to heal. A bit of color rose to Adele's cheeks as Pablo continued. What the fuck was wrong with Catherine withholding that kind of information like that? She understood that the vampires and werewolves were enemies; it just seemed so... personal with Catherine.

Adele nodded, numb, when her friend pulled away, expressing a desire to be alone. "Ja, I... okay..." She took a step back, watching dumbly as her best friend made his way into the thicket of trees and she struggled with the words to say. As he disappeared into the woods, Adele ran a hand through her blonde hair, "Fuck." Turning her gaze up to the night sky, "Fuck!" She'd suspected he'd been used in such a way, but she'd never wanted to be right about it. How the fuck was she expecting that conversation to go? She should have said something. [Odin, I'm an idiot.] Adele reached blindly for her necklace before remembering she'd fastened it around Pablo's neck.

The task seemed daunting, but Catherine would have to die, she thought, staring into the trees after her friend.

[Pablo]

The lycan did not want to seem obvious, nor desperate. It took every bit of self-control not to dash away from Adele, and tip off his intentions. She seemed to believe him. Being along was the last thing he wanted. It wasn’t a matter of company, but of who. Despite Adele’s troubled looks, despite his own discomfort with what had occurred, Lucia took precedence. Stepping through a denser part of the wood, he glanced back. If his friend was following it was at a distance. Either way he began to run, a smile threatening to crease his lips. Mentally he reached out to her.
She must have been far, at least she wasn’t in the mansion as her presence did not bring her overwhelming comfort. Lucia, This was where it could all go wrong. He loved the hybrid, but at times she lacked tact. She was too genuine, real. If she rushed off to him at once… That could ruin everything. Don’t overreact Lucia. Stay calm. Play it cool. You can do that, right? There was a giddiness in him just talking to her, just knowing they would soon be together. He paused, knowing there would be no response, but waiting for his words to settle in. She was excited though, somehow, he knew. Alena has let me out of the mansion. At most for an hour. It’s not a big window, but if I can get to you, He swore immediately he could feel her growing closer. Shit, but he laughed, of course she would. He started to run towards her again. I think I’ve shaken my caretaker. If you can lose yours. Lucia this may be our chance. Likely their only chance if they failed.
Pablo pulled off his shirt as he ran towards her. Stumbling as he began to remove his belt and pants, you really couldn’t pull those off while running. He smiled, stooping to the floor, to pull of his shoes and socks. Bundled them within his shirt. And began again to undress as he thought of her. What would they do? Where would they go? It didn’t matter really, as long as she was there. He needed her. Likely they’d go to Catherine and… he shuddered. No, he didn’t want that. But she would want it, he knew. Lucia was fond of her, and they would need a place to stay. And Catherine she wasn’t that bad. She’d pleased him every time, and hadn’t hurt Pablo, much. Not as much as Lucia had. He stopped, belt in his grip, and frowned. Lucia had hurt him; he’d woken practically screaming as she made love to him. No, that hadn’t been love, he’d beg her to stop. As she tore open his wounds she’d made. The strength in which she’d taken him. Lucia had raped him. It was so obvious now. Why couldn’t he see that before? He had to go to her, now.
No, the voice was resolute. Did he truly have to, need to? He felt the necessity. But it was wrong. When he thought of it. Did he to go to the one who had hurt him, the one who would bring him to his abuser. He shook his head. Alena was getting to him. There had been confusion, Dane had manipulated Lucia, she had loved him truly. Their embraces, the laughs their shared, the moments of passion, that had been real, that was love, wasn’t it? But how did that justify what she’d done that moment. How did that explain the smile he’d seen on her when he said he realized his role was to serve. She had trusted Dane over him. And now that he was gone.
There was a pounding in his chest. He felt warm, it was suddenly difficult to breathe. Why? His legs were shaking, he had to sit. He did, against a tree, face in his palms. Remember. He didn’t want to. The cave, the hate he’d felt for her. It was real. She’d made him hurt Alena. The woods. She’d made him kill members of his pack. All he’d wanted was to run. He felt it. Briefly. A surge of anger that grew before suddenly fading. He needed her. Yes. He stood, turning towards her direction. Feeling her growing closer. The hate had felt had left him so quickly. It didn’t make sense. But after all wasn’t that love? He tried to smile, he did so, but it was gone as quickly as his anger. The truth. He knew it now. And hoped it wasn’t a moment of clarity. That he could remember in a days’ time, or hell even an hour, or minutes. He was her thrall. He just had to go to her. The thought brought out at a choked laugh. There were tears in his eyes. When had he started crying? He had to go to her. SO she could bite him, feed off him, give her everything he needed. While they left behind the den, the people he loved. If it wasn’t love, couldn’t she stay for him? Couldn’t she wait the weeks till he was free. He tried to wipe the tears from his eyes, but they kept coming. Somebody was watching him, he felt their gaze, and whipped around. This wasn’t how he wanted Adele to see him. However, it was Alena. That wasn’t much better. And in instant he was running, but not away instead towards her. He practically lunged himself at the pack mother, while falling to his knees, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his head against her abdomen. “What did she do to me?” He tried not to, he cried between the words. “Alena, what did Lucia do.” He believed he understood. But would he in an hour. He couldn’t trust his thoughts. He glanced up the pack mother, thought he saw pity in her eyes. Could he trust her? His instincts told him not to. But again, he couldn’t trust himself. “I- I- I hate her, and I love her.” Alena would understand. Of course, she would. She knew. “Why didn’t you tell me? You can love and hate someone. All in the same?” Had she tried? The day he’d attacked her. He grit his teeth angrily, realized he’d balled a hand into a fist, weakly striking Alena’s back. He stopped, trying to stall his emotional outburst. His voice was quiet. “I thought they were two sides of the same coin. Why didn’t you say?” She had given him an hour, and he hadn’t made it even halfway. He choked out another laugh. Realizing he felt for Alena much of what he did for Lucia.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Lucia felt her body and muscles straining as she pushed to keep up with her brother. How was he so damn fast? Her hair and the tails of her dress billowed behind her as they sped into the night. The scenery below them grew smaller as they flew higher, and everything passed by in a blur.

She found herself staring indignantly at Nero when he finally deigned to respond to her. "You--?" How could he say that about their father? Did he really just admit that he'd had to opportunity to be on Raven's council, but refused? She would have done anything for a position like that; but now their father was dead, and Dane....

Angry tears wanted to surface as the girl felt her chest growing hot. Nero's last comment about not expecting her to get caught up in a mess so soon kind of hurt, and she wanted to scream at him that he didn't know anything he was talking about. But it had been a mess. Mother had only let her look after the den in Rome after much begging on her part. Dane... Hell, Dane might not have even known she'd be at that den; all he wanted was the deaths of her mother's pups; as well as her mother, she'd once believed. He never cared about where she was or how she'd been; didn't care about preserving Raven's legacy. He'd only wanted to use her; and then kill her, too. The whole council had known, and they'd let her just eat right out of Dane's hand; she, the daughter of their true king. Only Catherine, among the vampires, had helped her in the end; and Marcus. Oh, how she wanted to believe their help had been sincere and not due simply to some ulterior motive.

Wiping at her eyes, Lucia pushed herself to keep pace with her brother. Only Pablo had wanted to help her; from their very first run-in in Rome, he'd only wanted to protect her. There hadn't been any hidden motives with him; his loyalty was to the pack, and he'd considered her a part of the pack. Her heart ached thinking about her love. Her mother truly was cruel to keep Pablo away from her.

The girl wasn't sure how long they'd been flying for, only that her muscles ached almost as strong as her anger burned. Finally, her brother motioned somewhere below them and began to rapidly descend. She could pick up the scent of alcohol and hear quiet laughter from the ground below. The laughter quickly turned to screams as Nero and Lucia dropped from the sky, folding leather wings. Despite her fatigue from trying to keep up with Nero, Lucia landed on the street gracefully, closing the distance between her and the nearest human in an instant. Sinking her claws into the woman's shoulder, Lucia dragged her closer to sink her fangs into her throat. The hybrid was greeted with a gush of warm blood; not as electrifying as Lycan's blood, but far better than the chilled blood packs she'd been subsisting on since returning to Stockholm. She pulled the human closer, digging her claws into her prey as she drove her fangs in deeper, drinking desperately.

Lucia had just reaffirmed her hold on the dying human when she felt a welcome and familiar voice in her head. Pablo! An overwhelming amount of emotion rose in the girl as her lover beseeched her to remain calm, and she carefully pulled her teeth free from her victim. Staring off into the middle distance of the night, Lucia tilted her head slightly. Why did she have to 'play it cool'? Even just hearing from her beloved excited her; but the hope in his voice added to her anticipation. And then he spoke those beautiful words. He was free!

She dropped the human in her claws and pushed off the street, speeding into the night. Her chest felt light, it felt like she was vibrating with excitement, her muscles buzzing. Despite the mediocre feeding she'd just had, she felt some of her strength returning from the flight out. Curse Nero, he'd taken her so far away from the den on purpose. But that didn't matter, now; she just needed to get to Pablo. He was the only thing that mattered.

[Nero]

He expected something from his sister; some kind of verbal argument if not her physically lashing out at him. Lucia's silence felt strange; but he didn't press for a response. She was still following him into the night, attempting to keep up; flying further away from the den.

The humans below offered little resistance. Any fight they gave went unnoticed as the two hybrids landed. Nero took a bite from one, but hardly bothered with her blood; he tore a chunk from her throat, pulling away to rip flesh off, chewing lazily. Since returning to Sweden, the hybrid hadn't wanted for any sustenance. This current nightly excursion wasn't for him, after all.

He watched Lucia pull her victim in close, recklessly biting into her neck, while he held his own human at bay, almost as an afterthought. His sister's back was to him, but he watched her pull her fangs free and look up. There it is, he thought; Pablo must have just reached out to her. The girl really was not subtle. He knew what came next; and, as predicted, Lucia soon after took to the sky.

Nero gazed after his sister, giving her a few seconds head start, letting go of the human in his hand as her restsistance faded to cold lifelessness on the ground. He flew into the sky, closing the distance to Lucia even quicker than he'd guessed. He sped to appear in front of her in the sky, and Lucia seemed to panic, her eyes growing wide. But she maneuvered to the side in time to avoid a collision and continued on her path, trying to push herself to go faster.

Raven's son let the girl gain a few meters before pursuing her again. This time he remained behind his sister, and simply reached out, grabbing her by the ankle and pulling on her just hard enough to effect her forward momentum. Lucia let out a quick scream as she began falling to her right, struggling to regain her balance in the air. "Nero!"

"Lucia." His voice was calm and he watched with some small amount of amusement; it did not come as a surprise that Lucia seemed ill-equipped to handle aerial struggles. She would have had no reason to be adept, prior to this.

The girl seemed to huff before pressing herself onward, glancing back before attempting to speed ahead.

This time Nero didn't bother giving her extra time. He moved in, slightly below the girl, and grabbed her by the waist, turning and pulling her into his body in a way that her wings wouldn't get in the way. "Lucia." His voice held patience, if not just boredom.

She kicked wildly at her brother, throwing an elbow into his face. The girl's struggles were more annoying than anything else, but Nero held her firm, "You know Mother will be waiting for you at home, and she won't be as gentle." He grunted as Lucia threw another elbow into the bridge of his nose.

The girl started trembling slightly, flailing even more violently, "I don't care! Why can't you just let me be with him!? He's my only friend...!" She tried throwing her elbow into Nero again, only for him to catch it and pin her arms to her sides. Lucia tried kicking, but it proved less effective. "You don't care about us!" She screamed near the top of her lungs, "If you did, you would have been there for us after Father was murdered!" Her voice grew quieter, "Let me go, Nero."

[Alena Wulf]

The werewolf queen watched silently from a distance as Pablo asked his friend for space, and departed into the woods. Keeping her distance, she trailed him, flanking wide to keep a better eye on him. His actions seemed calm enough; until he began undressing. Alena moved closer to the pup as he hesitated and seemed to almost have trouble breathing. She watched as he seemed to fight with himself about his course of action, her features grim. Lucia had taken so much from the boy; was their connection finally beginning to fray?

When the pup looked over, noticing her, Alena thought he might flee further into the trees; instead, he approached. It was slight and unintentional, but she tensed as Pablo ran over, throwing his arms around her. He was slow in his human form, but the last time he'd made as if to hug her, he'd stabbed her repeatedly in the back. Now, though, he'd been in the process of undressing; there was nothing hiding up his sleeve; although that didn't mean he wasn't concealing anything in a pants pocket or his waistband. The Queen of Werewolves rested an arm across him, holding him as he buried his head into her. Still, she remained acutely aware of his balled up fists on the small of her back.

The raw emotion falling from his eyes and layered in his voice as he spoke almost brought a frown to the wolf mother's face. Instead, she brought her free hand up to the back of Pablo's head, running her fingers gently through his hair. Clenching her jaw, Alena's smile was soft, and carried neither happiness nor humor. Pablo had stumbled onto one of the more painful aspects of caring for something: just because the one you love hurt you, doesn't mean you stop loving them. Things, generally, would be a lot easier if that were the case. Again, she was reminded just how young Pablo was. The boy she'd taken in had certainly grown, but there was still so much he would learn.

When she spoke, her voice was quiet, intimate. "For whatever solace it brings, I do not believe she intentionally sought to enthrall you. You have the cut of her character correct when you told me: she isn't clever." Alena was all too aware, however, that breaking Pablo's thrallhood would not be made any easier because of Lucia's lack of intent. She let out a nigh inaudible sigh, gazing down at the pup with cold blue eyes, "I am... sorry. The next few days will be rough." Things would get worse for the young man before they got better. The lycan queen hesitated slightly, "When your mind has cleared some, I have something I'd like to teach you." It, in no way would make up for all the damage that had been done; and he likely would be unable to use the talent effectively for a few years. But having the knowledge, Alena believed, would give him another tool to use should he need.

[Pablo]

His eyes were red and watery, they stung, meeting Alena’s gaze. The pack mother smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. They rarely did, her smiles, but there seemed more sorrow there than lately. Pity? It was appropriate. Pitiful is how he felt then, and as of late. He stared at her, expecting, and hoping, although it didn’t show, something from the pack mother. Words of guidance, advice to ail a divided aching heart. He felt the lightest of flutters as she spoke. And then a deep sinking feeling as the words registered. Why, how would that even bring him solace. He couldn’t decide if it was worse of better. Perhaps it meant Lucia’s feelings to him were genuine? The way she had treated him… it was like she could turn off her care with the flick of a switch.

Pablo shook his head. Despite her age, thousands of years of life, it seemed Alena wasn’t any wiser in the ways of love. She should have been a font of wisdom. But why had he expected that? She was still grieving over a man who had made her life miserable at times. Who had caused her far greater pain than Lucia had to him. What Raven had done. A sudden thought flashed into his mind. Lucia taking Adele’s life. Would he tolerate that, allow her to still live? He wanted to say no, but then he would be without either of them. “You can’t help me…” It was quiet, more a thought spoken aloud. He hoped the pack mother hadn’t heard.

With a teary sniff he jerked his arms away from Alena. The pain he was feeling. It would go in an instance if only he went to Lucia. That feeling, the urge, he knew it to be true and wrong. “I’m sorry.” He wiped a tear from his eye. Alena wasn’t the most affectionate in these regards. He nodded. There was so much to lycanthropy he still did not know. The prospect did not interest him not, but it would, in time. “I- I should go back to the den. I’ll try to get to her. I know it.” He said somberly, turning away and making his trek back to the mansion, fighting a desire; that almost physical, to see her. His heart tugged on him in one direction. He walked in the other.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Some hours later, Lucia returned to the den. She was still shaking from the adrenaline of bloodshed, and the anger that had fueled it all. Dropping from the sky, the girl landed in front of the main doors, pushing through them on her way to her room.

The night was nearly over; in an hour's time the sun would rise and Lucia would be asleep. Alone. She had to get a message to Pablo before the morning came. She flung her bedroom door open with more force than she'd intended, and growled audibly as it crashed into the wall. Rifling through the objects on her desk, the hybrid sat down, pulling a piece of parchment in front of her and reaching for a fountain pen. Lighting a candle beside her, Lucia moved a small stand above the flame and reached for a chunk of hard wax, placing it on the stand to melt while she wrote. Her hands were still shaking with anger and frustration as she pressed pen to paper; but, determined to get her thoughts down, Lucia began writing. In slightly shaky, yet elegant cursive, the girl penned the following in deep red ink:

My Beloved Pablo,
Words cannot express the horror and despair I feel for having failed to make it to your side this evening. I must beg for your forgiveness and understanding, for it was not through a lack of desire that I missed our rendezvous. My mother and brother conspired to take me far from the den; far enough that I was unable to make it back in a timely manner. I was further hindered and betrayed by Nero when I attempted to return to the den anyway. He is not to be trusted.
I hate it here. I regret not leaving Oslo with you. This distance pains me; what I wouldn't do to have you beside me right now. Pablo, I never wish to be apart from you again. Mother is infinitely cruel. I only have the day of our reunion to look forward to. The time between is naught but suffering. I will do everything in my power to see to it that I make it to you at the next opportunity.
I love you for eternity,
Lucia Drusa Severa

Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Lucia folded the parchment into thirds and reached for the red wax that had melted beside her. Pouring the wax on the parchment over the top fold, Lucia took a seal and pressed it into the wax, holding the stamp down for a moment while the wax cooled. Pulling the seal away, the royal insignia of Raven Lestat had been pressed expertly into the wax.

Standing from her desk, Lucia took the letter and made her way to the third floor. Okello had said that he and others of Pablo's pack often spent time in one of the third floor studies. She hoped that would be where she could find Okello tonight. He'd offered to pass along a letter from her.

Making her way to the study, she could hear voices within. She was about to just open the door, but stopped herself to knock first. Waiting a brief moment after her knock, the hybrid opened the door and stepped into the doorway of the study. There were a few people lounging about the study. It didn't dawn on her that she hadn't changed out of the clothes she went hunting it; her dress and legs and parts of her arms appeared quite thoroughly stained with blood. Her bare feet were dirty and the whites of her eyes were red from wiping away tears throughout the night. Brushing some hair behind her shoulder, Lucia met Okello's eyes, "May I speak with you, Okello?"

[Pablo]

Every step down, further into the basement, towards his room, was far heavier than they should have been. He understood now, Lucia’s hold on him, the weightiness of his steps, that string tugging on his heart, demanding he return to her, all else be damned. They were the hybrid’s doings, and that should have made it all the easier to ignore. It did not. Tears streamed down Pablo’s eyes, he wiped them away with the back of his wrist, struggling to stand. There seemed no end to the rivets trailing down his cheeks. Descending onto his floor, hand on the wall, he took a deep breath. Only a little more, he could do this.
“I don’t want any visitors, um Bill. Not a one.” Pablo said weakly as he approached his dwelling, hating how soft and timid his voice came out. The guard stationed outside his room nodded, opening the door for the lycan.
“Got it, not a single visitor.” The guard reaffirmed, slamming the door hard behind Pablo, the lock twisting shut with conviction. That sound echoing in his mind. A good as confirmation as any, that he would be left alone. And a reminder of what kept him Lucia. Chain and bolts, well really just bolts. Locking her away. Leaving him ever wanting for her embrace, or her soft laughter. The mischievous smile that creased her lips as she teased him.
Pablo didn’t make it to the bed, no further than a step into his room before he slumped to the ground, head resting against the door. The sinking feel in his chest, he wasn’t sure if he could get up, not even if he wanted to.
What was better fighting his desire, letting it wash over him, hoping in time it passed? His ears perked. There were footsteps approaching his room. Pablo could just make out her scent. Adele, but it was Catherine’s image that flashed into his mind, her smile, her sickly taunting, coaxing, beautiful smile. Why didn’t Addy understand, he wanted to be left alone tonight. This would end, he wouldn’t associate their scents forever, he knew that or rather hoped it. He couldn’t live like this.
A thought flashed into his mind. It brief, only a musing he promised himself. The image of Xhel’s knife. A quick end. He shook the thought away. He was a mess, but this would end. Alena had promised, Lucia’s hold on him would slip away, it had to. The lycan groaned, he had never been a quitter. Just behind him he could hear a disgruntled Adele, walking away.


“Cody. This,” Quinn held out a bottle of booze, shaking it before the reticent man. A slight slur to the Irishman’s words. “This is older than your country. Taste that way.” He pulled out the cork, a bitter foul smell permeated into the room. “Smells that way too.”
The young lycan leaned forward, sniffing before recoiling. “Agh, where do you even get this thing?”
“Borrowed it. Better if you don’t know from who. I think.”
Cody pushed the bottle away, frowning. “Right. Well, it seems I don’t care enough to bother. And by the way, for the last time, I’m not American.” He said. “Nor Canadian. Or Even Australian.” He added, before Quinn could cut in.
“You’re not? Well damn.” Quinn rubbed at his chin. And then searched the room. “Laura… shit. Where are the lass’?”
Shamir laughed, exchanging smiles with his brother. “You are this drunk, already? Come here, swig me please.” He sat up, right as Quinn tossed the bottle, catching it effortless. “It’s just us, men.” He said, with an emphasis.
“We should rectify that.”
There was a knock on the door. Five sets of nostrils wrinkled, only one of them in recognition. Okello turned away from the window with subtle quickness. Lucia opened it, right before he could get there… and walked into the room dripping blood.
“Ah Lucia. Hello once more. Please.” Okello, held out an arm nudging, Lucia back, as Quinn appeared by his side. “We try not to bleed on the carpet in here.”
“Who’s this?”
The Irishman was nudged back with a sharp elbow before Okello ushered Lucia back into the hall. He closed the door shut behind him.
“That’s her?!”
“Forgive him, please. Is everything okay? You seem distressed.”

The tears kept coming. At this rate he’d flood the room, Pablo thought. Staring at his wet hands. As tears fell into his palms. He couldn’t say how long he sat there, just staring. His stupor was broke, when a sheet of paper was slid underneath his door. The lycan nearly jumped… at such a measly thing. And then he realized the letter smelt of Lucia, and the knot in his gut quickly uncoiled, and next the sheet was in his hands, and he read it with a desperation.
Reach out to her. He knew he shouldn’t, connecting his mind with hers. After what he knew, In his addled state he could gather that wouldn’t help sever her hold. The thought brought that knot back, his gut clenching. It would help ease his distress, and possibly Lucia’s. She’d be expecting him in some form or a manner. And all he’d done was retreat to his room. Not even an effort to get to her. He held the paper tightly to his chest, before bringing it up to read again, smelling her, picturing the pain in her eyes as she wrote this. There was a tear stain. Lucia’s. That nearly made him smile. He could picture her upset at having ruined her letter before realizing it was the perfect punctuation. (Lucia… you have my love. In this life and the next.) It was quick, a brief message couldn’t hurt. He felt a sudden relief wash over him, before his eyes closed shut.

A hand clamped over Pablo’s mouth as he tried to cry out in protest. He had to stop this, had to. Lucia’s eyes a hateful red as she hung from the wall, shackled by the ankles and wrist, a muzzle over his lover’s mouth. Dane leaned in close, a soft hand brushing back Lucia’s hairs as he dove the blade again into the hybrid. This time her thigh, sinking it to the hilt, he watched as Lucia flailed within her restraints. Guttural noises a feeble attempt at trying to cry out. He kicked and punched, tried as feebly as Lucia to bite at the hand over mouth.
“It appears to me, Lucia, I may have spoke far too quickly. Your flesh still holds purpose. Red suits you.”
Dane gave the hilt a twist, Lucia’s leg spasmed madly, as he slowly pulled free the blade, only to sink into her once more. A pain, physical, shot through the lycan. Watching was like the knife was being plunged into his own flesh. He had to stop him, he had to. Dane was killing her. He struggled sinking his nails into the offending arm, watching the blood rise as he was suddenly further held. By each arm, pinned back to the sides, he glanced to his right, and then his left. Okello, and Adele. His heart sunk, they knew he loved her. He struggled to look over his shoulder. It was Alena’s hand clamped over his mouth. A soft smile on her lips. They would let her die, each and every one of them. They would keep him from her. More, hands fell onto his body. He felt a pair, around his chest, so soft, nauseatingly so, he didn’t need to turn to know who they belonged to. Another who had tried to keep him from Lucia.
Dane drew forth his blade from the hybrid’s flesh. Holding its tip to his lips, letting every drop of blood fall onto his waiting tongue. “So sweet. Like your mother.” He lowered the blade onto her flesh. Slowly peeling away a flab of skin. Pablo felt a hateful fire swell into him.

He woke up screaming. Dane had Lucia. He would kill her. There was no question of it. The lycan slipped from his human form with a roar. The very walls of his room shaking before his claws tore at the heavily enforced door. Nothing would keep him from her. For all its strength there was one true way of restraining a lycan. Silver. His claws buried into the frame. Dane had her, he… he… he donned his human skin once again, slumping to his knees. Dane was far from here. Oh so very far. The last person to be anywhere near the den. Lucia was… here, safe, in the basements with him. He couldn’t quite stop laughing. A deranged sound, but a genuine one. Lucia was safe from Dane. What had he been thinking?

[Adele Holst]

Adele hadn't been able to sleep since overhearing Pablo's interaction with Alena. The turmoil in her friend's voice struck her hard. She'd wanted to speak with her friend, to reassure him or lighten his mood; but when she'd gone down to his cell, she'd been turned away. He didn't want company. She understood; but it did nothing to ease her worries.

Instead, she'd spent some of the day with Okello. Apparently Lucia had sought out Okello toward the end of the previous night and given him a letter for Pablo. Adele wasn't entirely sure how to feel about that, so she tried not to think about it. Her success with that throughout the day varied, even with her friend's distraction.

The end of the day she'd spent with Damian. With him, she inhabited her wolf skin, trying to control the mixture of rage and unhindered power that'd recently come over her. Adele felt like she lacked so much control and she worried constantly about lashing out at Damian; but he'd taken all of this in stride, slowly guiding her into a somewhat calmer state.

Come the evening, Adele was exhausted. Damian had gone ahead to grab food for the two of them with the plan to meet back at her room. The young woman adjusted the hoodie she was wearing, one of Damian's, and approached the back of the den from the forest, yawning slightly. As much as she wanted to check in on Pablo, Adele was feeling beat. She decided giving him another night of space might be what he needed anyway. If he wanted company sooner, he could always reach out to her.

"Adele!" The voice of a child called into the night. It was odd enough that the young woman didn't realize she was the one being called out to until a little girl came running up to her. Crying, the child threw her arms around Adele's legs, speaking in slightly mumbled... French?

Bringing her arms up, Perrin's heir looked down at the young girl, then up to see who this kid belonged to. No one else nearby appeared to be the girl's guardian. "Hello? Where is your parent?" The girl responded in French, not understanding Adele's question, holding tighter to her legs. "Ah, fuck..." Hesitating for a moment, Adele lowered her arms, resting one on the girl's back to try and comfort her. She scanned the nearby area again in hopes of finding whose kid this was.

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

The hybrid woke whimpering, on the verge of a scream. Her body ached, in some places more than others. Anger and hate held the girl; but so did fear. Looking around herself frantically, Lucia found she could move her arms and legs. She wasn't in Alena's cell; she was in Stockholm, in her bedroom. Alone. Then why did her thigh feel warm, almost painful? Throwing off the covers to view her leg, she ran her hand over the affected area. Tears began to bubble up. Even knowing where she was, the residual emotion of the dream stuck with her. Dane had been here; or, she'd been there. He'd looked far too pleased driving his knife into her; he wouldn't have stopped until she was dead. Whining quietly, Lucia brought her knees up, hugging them, trying not to cry. This was, by far, the worst dream she'd ever had; her adrenaline still felt so high, she was practically shaking. She couldn't help but feel like it was real; like that is what Dane would have done to her if they hadn't gotten away. He'd never loved her. That fact hurt; Lucia felt something sharp turn in her chest. Pablo had tried to tell her that, and that Dane was dangerous, not to be trusted. But had she listened? The girl ran a hand through her hair, tears falling readily. She wanted to believe it was all just a misunderstanding; but no, Pablo had been right. Dane didn't care at all about her; all those years she'd known him in London when she was a child didn't matter. Had he even really been friends with her father or was all that a lie too? She supposed she knew the answer; and it didn't much matter. Her father was dead anyway, and in Dane's ideal world, she would be dead too, along with most of the more powerful lycans and vampires, except for her mother apparently. Although, she figured, her mother wouldn't really be Living. The image of her dream came back in her head; she'd been tied up and restrained how Alena had been. How she'd been kept for over a week. Pouting, Lucia wiped at her eyes. She never wanted to see Dane again, certainly not while he was alive at any rate. How could she have been so naïve? Anger and something like guilt mixed in her, curdling in her stomach. It sat with her uncomfortably; the hybrid didn't like the feeling. She wanted it to go away. She wanted the comfort of Pablo's embrace. Closing her eyes shut tight, Lucia remembered their first hug. It had taken the girl by surprise; but oh, how she'd needed it. He'd held her so tight. In that moment it had felt like everything would be alright. And every embrace since then had given her the same comfort. She needed it now more than ever.

Slowly getting out of bed, Lucia moved to her full-length mirror, gazing at her reflection. Her eyes looked red and slightly puffy, like she'd been crying. Again. It wouldn't do. Someone of her stature should appear far more composed in the presence of others. She wasn't a queen anymore; but she was still a princess. And she'd been raise better than this. Her brow furrowed and the hybrid found herself having to fight back tears again. How much longer would she have to endure this?

Turning away from her reflection, Lucia leafed through the dresses in her wardrobe, trying to take her mind off how badly she missed Pablo. If Alena had wanted her to do chores tonight, she would have sent someone by now. Maybe she could meet up with Addy and Okello and spend some actual time with the members of Pablo's pack tonight. The thought of that lifted her spirits a bit. The trace of a small smile lifted her lips as Lucia pulled out a pretty white dress with a delicate lace detail sewn across the chest, and a lace hem at the bottom of the dress. It wasn't often she wore white, but she thought it would make a good impression with her lover's friends. Pulling the dress on, Lucia straightened it and adjusted it until it fit perfectly. Smiling at her reflection now, Lucia began combing her hair, watching as her eyes cleared up, leaving no traces of the fact that she'd been crying.

Satisfied with how she looked, the girl tossed her hair over her shoulder and left her room. She could try going back to the office she found Okello in last night; but he'd also said that there were usually a couple of them out hunting on any given night as well.

Making up her mind, Lucia stepped out into the night air, gazing out into the thicket of trees in the back of the property. She'd been prepared to run into the forest and follow her nose; but she was greeted with an unexpected sight: Adele holding a child, looking around as if she were lost. The sight of Adele put a bounce in her step, and Lucia approached Pablo's best friend smiling, "Addy!" The hybrid paused, realizing the child was speaking, and dropped her attention to the young girl. Folding her dress beneath her legs, Lucia bent down modestly to be at the child's level. Adele seemed to have no idea what this girl was saying; Lucia giggled softly, using French to ask the girl a question. The child clung to Adele's leg, but turned to look at Lucia before answering softly. Satisfied, Lucia stood, meeting Adele's golden gaze with her own crimson one. "Addy, you're a hero. This is Seraphina. She says you helped her. That you - you "made the monsters go away" during the attack."

"Seraphina!" A voice called out from the direction of the den, and out of nowhere a grey wolf came running up to the girl, nudging her with its big head.

Lucia looked toward the voice to see a woman with dark hair gesturing for the child to come back inside. Seraphina held tighter to Adele's leg, but at the wolf's insistence, reluctantly let go. With one last glance at the golden-haired werewolf, Seraphina turned back toward the den and the guardian awaiting her, "Merci."