Lemon Eyes

[Alena Wulf]

Cold blue eyes stared emotionlessly down at the hybrid. Alena could hear her daughter's voice crack in her words, and see the agony and defeat in the girl's teary, crimson eyes. The news was crushing; Alena expected it wouldn't be well received, yet seeing just how distraught the girl was right now, the wolf queen grit her teeth. You'd think Lucia's time spent in London with her father would have exposed the girl to the vampire race's fluid duality, grovelling graciously as they pander to their sires in an attempt to keep their own skin safe. Yet, Alena knew the conspiratorial whispers that filled the dark corners of that mansion, and the secret deals and fealties struck between the different lords and ladies therein; deals that could damn a vampire if their sire discovered their existence.

What in hell did Lucia truly think she had with Dane? That leech, admittedly, was a very pretty liar, but he'd lived for centuries before the girl was even an idea, much less born. She'd known him for a handful of years before she'd even begun puberty, and thought that he would view her as an adult or even consider her an equal now?

Some part of the lycan queen wanted to say something comforting to the girl. Alena knew heartache; on some nights, it seemed she felt its presence more potently than she'd ever felt Raven's. But the idea that Lucia would follow Dane so blindly, and believe him so completely that the leech was devoted to her, it was nigh infuriating.

-For the love of hell, don't let this child be a girl.- That was as close to praying as Alena would get. She didn't think she could handle another girl, another Lucia, so soon, and if Dane ever got his hands on a daughter of his, a daughter who might naively wish to know of her father... What living hell that would be.

Cupping her daughter's cheek momentarily, the wolf mother furrowed her brows. So much had been lost the last couple weeks. She could feel anger rising within her again, the wolf inside demanding to come out; to be free. Pushing that ache away, Alena steadied her voice, "Rest, little princess," placed a kiss on the hybrid's forehead, and set the vial of blood on the nightstand before leaving her daughter's room.

She needed to get some air, to stretch her legs and feel the crunch of cartlidge and comfort of sinewy muscle between her teeth. Her body agreed with those thoughts, begging to shift immediately; yet Alena restrained. Instead, she pulled off the shirt and pants she'd adorned for her daughter, as she walked down the hall, draping them unceremoniously over one arm. It was frustrating how constrained even the lightest of clothes could make her feel at times.

From around the corner, Alena heard the door to the basement open, and two sets of footsteps making their way down the stairs. The queen of werewolves met the pair as they reached the bottom of the staircase.

One of the lycans was Adele, the young woman who'd inherited the strengths of her late second in command, Perrin Goldeneyes. The blonde averted her golden gaze almost immediately, and Alena let her eyes linger on the girl for a moment before looking to her friend. This pup was one of Pablo's. A grin crossed the lycan queen's face as she met Shamir's eyes, pointed canines revealing themselves in the smile. And what did these two think the were doing?

"Adele," turning her attention back to the young woman, Alena spoke, "are you lost, child?"

[Adele Holst]

Adele shivered slightly, the air felt colder down here; or was it just her imagination? She'd felt so cold since Rome; well, since after Rome. Yet she realized her palms were sweating as Alena addressed her.

Wiping her hands on her jeans, the blonde looked tentatively up at the werewolf queen, her gaze passing over the raw spots around the woman's ankles, wrists and neck. They appeared to be healing, yet Adele found it difficult at first to tear her eyes away from the angry marks at the lycan queen's throat. She'd been covered in silver; but there were bite marks as well.

"Adele."

Alena's voice grabbed the young woman's attention, and Adele carefully met the pack mother's blue gaze. "We- we wanted to see how Lucia is doing. But, we're unsure where she is staying." Perrin's heir considered trying to fabricate some other accuse for being down here, but if Alena knew anything about her, she'd know that Pablo was her closest friend. The reason she and Shamir were down here might have already been obvious to the queen of lycanthropy.

Smiling softly when the pup spoke, Alena extended a hand out to caress the girl's blonde hair, following through even though Adele flinched slightly. The girl's hair was damp; Alena ran her fingers through a small portion, holding lightly to the ends for a moment before pulling away. "She's not well." The wolf mother kept her gaze on the pup, even as Adele looked away. "And while she heals, she will have no company. But, I don't believe it will be much longer before she joins the pack in rebuilding." Pausing, the queen of werewolves considered Perrin's heir, "There is something I would like to show you and Pablo. Let Pablo...." There was the faintest trace of blood around the blonde, "And you, rest some more. Then I will visit to speak with you both." Outstretching her arms, Alena motioned subtly that the two pups should turn around and go back upstairs.

[Pablo]

“No matter the case, you should tell Addy.” Okello replied firmly. His sire opened his mouth to speak, but Okello rose a hand, he knew the question on Pablo’s tongue, why? “She believes your condition to be of her own fault. It would ease her mind if she knew the truth.”
Pablo could have smiled or laugh, actually he may have done so. That was too like Addy, blaming everything on herself, but what could she had done about. “I don’t understand.” He said nearly grinning. “How could she have anything to do with this?” Maybe he could explain without implicating Lucia, she had truly saved him, but he was unsure if Adele would see it. That girl could be overly protective, but then he’d tear to bits anyone who’d dare harm her.
Sighing Okello briefly shook his head. Someone wasn’t taking this seriously, but perhaps if Adele saw his amusement at the notion, she’d have no choice to accept that she was not at fault. “When the den was attacked, Adele confronted a vampire, Catherine. The vampire she… wanted to Adele with her.” Pablo’s grin vanished as he glanced. That had quickly quieted his sire. “Adele resisted, then the vampire claimed to have you, and that she would hurt you for every second Adele fought back. Our friend managed to avoid capture, but could not defeat the fiend, and for that she has placed a burden upon herself.
The lycan had some memories of that day. Catherine coming to him, demanding he pleased her, she had said Lucia had ordered Adele’s capture. That was something he could not explain, although, it had seemed Catherine was just as if not more interested in his friend. The thought nearly made him blush. He did not like to think about what Lucia and Catherine wanted from her, he had been told he would join them. He shook his head; he wouldn’t entertain the thought. “Well it wasn’t her.” He said, rather adamantly. Thinking about that vampire was strange. She was one of them, vile, but each time she’d taken him it ended with feverish passion, and he’d loved every second no matter the moments she hurt him. He should have hated her, but he didn’t. In fact, he felt regret that Lucia hadn’t accepted her offer. At least then he would still be with the hybrid, they may have ended up her pets, but they be together. Lucia would have preferred it. Pablo looked back up at his friend. Who stood with his arms crossed, waiting for a further answer. “I’ll explain to her.” With limited detail, but she would know Catherine had done this.
The door to his room opened, speaking of the devil, Adele stepped through Shamir quickly behind her. Pablo frowned; they had almost literally just left. It didn’t take a genius to know what had or would dissuade them, Pablo fumed, what was Alena’s problem. Why could not they visit her, why torture Lucia again. Visibly displeased, he rolled to his side, looking away from his friends.

[Adele Holst]

The room seemed quiet as she and Shamir came back in; both Okello and Pablo silent, turning to watch as they came through the door. Her friend did not seem pleased. He could probably guess by the swiftness of their return that their search had been unsuccessful. Yet as Pablo rolled over, looking away from them, Adele glanced over to Okello, frowning.

"Sorry, Pablo." Her voice was quiet. The young lycaness stayed by the door, rubbing at one of her shoulders. "Alena met us just as we got to the basement; she won't let Lucia have visitors yet." Gazing down at her feet momentarily, Adele continued, "We'll try again to visit tomorrow." Maybe that would raise her friend's spirits a bit; she hoped so, at least.

The last couple weeks had been difficult; and Pablo's current state was understandable, but she hated seeing her friend so broken. "Did, um," Adele hesitated, frowning slightly, "Did you want us to let you rest?" She didn't want to leave so soon, but maybe having a little more time would benefit the young man.

[Pablo]

His friend’s explanation was not required. Of course, it had been Alena, it seemed she was determined to torture Lucia by physically punishing her and denying the girl any form of kinship. What did leave her alone and angry accomplish. He could almost feel her resentment to the outside world forming. Pablo bit his lip, wanting to audibly curse the pack mother’s name. I’m sorry Lucia. She won’t let you have visitors. He growled through his link with Lucia. What’s wrong with her? It seemed quite unfair, that his guest could come and go. What difference did it make? They had both been manipulated, both spilled blood, they were one in the same. “I know.” He said solemnly. Would one day make a difference? This could not be happening; his return was meant to be good for them both. He would not allow this.

Rest was exactly what he needed. “Yes, I’m sorry, I’m very tired, I know you just arrived.” Alena’s behavior was unacceptable, if continued, once he recovered, they- he and Lucia were leaving. He would assure of it. Pablo noted Shamir’s brief frown. Okello nodded but made eye contact. Tell her. Pablo nodded, there was little harm in that, he hoped. “I’ll reach you when I’m feeling rested or come back tomorrow.” He said to them, with a forced smile. “Actually, Addy there’s something I need to tell you.” Pablo said, rolling over to face her, he gave the side of his bed a pat, motioning her to sit as the others departed.

[Adele Holst]

Adele nodded as Pablo spoke, admitting his weary state, casting her gold eyes to the floor. She understood, but it still sucked. The day when not only their physical wounds, but the emotional scarring began to heal could not come fast enough. She missed the days of running with her friend, hunting and playing in the night. "Rest well, Pablo." Adele reached for the door handle as Okello and Shamir approached, but her ears perked when her best friend spoke again.

Meeting her friend's eyes before stepping aside to let them leave, Adele neared the bed. Part of her was thrilled Pablo had asked her stay. After the last few encounters with her friend during these unfortunate circumstances, with him shooing her away for fear he might hurt her, this was a welcome relief. Yet he still seemed somber.

Sitting at the edge of the bed as he motioned for her, Adele glanced at the necklace he was still wearing, smiling softly as she met her friend's gaze. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Adele tried to conceal the concern plaguing her, reminding herself of Okello's words that their friend would need a sense of normalcy after all this turmoil. "What's up, Pablo?"

[Pablo]

Pablo watched as Adele strolled over besides his bed. Part of him was bitter, so he had to remind himself that this was Alena’s fault. Addy had wanted to do as he said, she was trying to do whatever she could for him. It wasn’t loss upon the lycan that she had saved him, even with how the circumstances were it would have been a travesty to remain with Catherine while Lucia was here. They would be much further apart without Adele, that nearly made him grin. Adele’s gaze meeting his, her own smile, making his gut flutter, did manage to bring a smile to his lips. She was so pretty, her golden eyes seem to draw him in, had they always been so alluring? That was an image he couldn’t keep to himself.

He felt a tad guilty or strange rather, to be so pleased by the sight of his friend. Had that ever been the case? Maybe after spending so much time with Lucia, and Catherine he simply enjoyed having someone pleasant to look at. That wasn’t so wrong, when he was back with Lucia his eyes would only be for her. Pablo smiled at her query. Reaching out her grabbed her by the hand. “Addy you saved me, you did what I should have done for you.” Pablo said, slowly sitting up. “I can’t thank you enough, but I’ll try.” He used, what strength and energy left in him, to pull Adele into a tight embrace. Pablo shivered as he wrapped an arm beneath her shoulder, she was so warm, a sign of the sorry state he was in. “Thank you, thank you.” He repeated, falling back onto the bed, pulling her down with him. The lycan let out a slight laugh, before yawning. He was tired, and the heat that radiated off his friend was comforting. “Got you.” He said, trying to hold on to Adele, though in the state he was in the choice was very much hers. Laying beside her, he met her gaze.

“Addy.” His tone a little more serious. “Okello told me, about the raid on the warehouse.” Pablo shook his head, smiling briefly. “You’re insane, fighting Catherine. She’s powerful, and you held your own, hurt. I’m so proud of you.” He said giving her arm a squeeze. That was beyond the point. “What she said, it does sound like her, but Catherine didn’t do this.” Pablo glanced down at his scars. “She never seemed too interested in hurting me.” Not that he thought her words were a bluff, she likely didn’t have the time. His blood, his body had been the more pressing matters. His cheeks felt warm, but he continued. “It was Dane. One night, well I tried to stab the bastard, didn’t work so well. He wanted to execute me, but Lucia convinced him otherwise.” His voice was somber for a moment. “So here I am.” He said again with a hint of cheer. “Scarred instead of dead because Lucia saved me.” The admiration as he spoke her name was clear. “It was never your fault. But please, don’t blame Lucia.” He said with a smile, sighing softly before inhaling taking in Adele’s scent. It was off, most, probably few would notice, they smelt quite similar, Damien and Adele. That was a little strange. He sighed again, his eyes fluttering. “Have you and Damien been getting along?” They’d always seemed so tense around another. It wasn’t right, considering the connection they shared.

[Adele Holst]

Adele smiled quietly when Pablo grabbed her hand, looking away momentarily as he spoke. Slight color rose to her cheeks, and she laughed quietly, "Pablo, you don't--" but was cut short as her friend pulled her into a hug. She barely had time to get her arms around him in return when he pulled her back, onto the bed beside him. His laughter tickled her, and the fervor with which he tried to hold her brought soft laughter to her as well. Hearing Pablo laugh and smile after everything that'd happened, Adele could practically feel a weight being lifted from her shoulders. "I couldn't lose you, Pablo." Didn't he understand? It would have broken her.

When her friend's tone grew a little more serious, Adele pulled away slightly to better see his features. She blushed hard when Pablo praised her for attempting to fight Catherine, but she shook her head slightly. "N-nah. Okello saved my ass. You'd have been proud of him," she smiled fondly, "he shot the leech with UV when she... When she had me." That was still an uncomfortable thought: being in that vampire's clutches. Yet the young woman pushed the memory away when her friend continued speaking. Adele watched him silently, considering his features as he spoke of Catherine. There was a quiet implication in his words that didn't sit right in her stomach. Maybe she was reading too into something that wasn't there; yet Marcus' words came back to her, giving doubt that she might have been imagining anything.

"You?" Adele looked at him, unamused; he tried to kill Dane? By himself? What had he been thinking? She wanted to ask him as much, but his point seemed to come around to Lucia. The way he spoke of the hybrid; Adele sighed quietly. Regardless, he'd made his point. The blonde pulled her friend in for another hug, even as his eyes began to flutter. "I was so worried... Thank you." She was relieved to hear that her friend's recent battle scars were not due to her interaction with Catherine. Yet, she wanted to bring up her last run-in with the vampiress, and Marcus. It seemed, however, that Pablo had said everything on the matter that he wanted to for the time being.

His final question caught Adele off guard, something in her chest fluttered and her face turned a bright red. Right; she was wearing Damien's hoodie. Pablo probably got a pretty good whiff of their sire's son when he pulled her in for a hug. "Ah, yeah. We have been." Pulling away slightly, Adele felt a little guilty, though she couldn't exactly say why. "He's been really..." She was about to go on, but as she pulled free, it became apparent that Pablo's exhaustion had gotten the better of him. "..nice." Her friend appeared to be sleeping peacefully; a trait of his that Adele had always envied.

Carefully sliding her other arm free from underneath the young man, Adele pulled the covers over him before retreating silently toward the door to be let out. "Rest well."

[Lucia Drusa Severa]

Why was her mother torturing her like this; hadn't she been punished enough? It was bad enough that Dane had slept with Alena not just once, but multiple times; bad enough that Catherine and Marcus, and who knew how many others at the warehouse, knew that this was going on. That Dane's feelings for her were feigned when he had been her greatest desire for years. She'd hurt and misled Pablo, her only true friend in any of this, and all because of her feelings for her father's closest subject. Lucia felt broken inside, and her mother had beaten her enough that her body likely resembled that initial turmoil. Yet that wasn't enough for the queen of lycanthropy, was it. Her mother felt it necessary to torment her further by telling her that she was carrying Dane's child; as if the girl was still in denial that her love had truly betrayed her in such a disgusting manner. She didn't want to know that Dane had gotten her mother pregnant; and, really, she didn't need to know. Her mother could have just kept her mouth shut and let her have some small semblance of dignity left; she knew there was no way Alena was going to keep that child. It'd be an afront to her father, Raven Lestat. Lucia's mother was a monster, but it could never be said that she didn't love the late vampire king. The idea was unthinkable, almost laughable: Dane's bastard running around a mansion of werewolves. Impossible.

Whining quietly, the hybrid quickly gave up attempting to roll onto her side when painful lightning shot through her bones. This was probably just another of her mother's lies anyway; just another tactic to try and hurt her. Hybrids were rare, even Dane knew that. In her short life, Lucia had only met two, both of them her brothers; and in all the centuries of their love, her parents had only had four children. Four hybrids born from the unholy union of the true vampire king and the queen of werewolves. Alena had said they were difficult to conceive, difficult to carry, and difficult to raise. There was no way Dane had gotten her mother pregnant.

Carefully crossing her arms, Lucia forced herself to roll onto her side, facing the door. Alena locked the door behind her, hadn't she? Pouting as Pablo reached out to her again to tell her that her mother wouldn't let her have guests, the girl wanted to scream. She tried to move in her bed to sit up, but was quickly dissuaded when one of her ribs shifted noticeably, moving back into place, slowly healing. "What's wrong with her?" Pablo's frustration with her mother nearly made the girl laugh aloud. That's what she'd been asking this whole time; but it was amusing to hear it from Pablo. How she missed him; it wasn't fair.

[Alena Wulf]

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Punching a command into the control panel in front of her, the thick glass door of the second cell opened quickly. Alena stood beside the control panel, out of view from the occupant, her arms crossed, waiting. There was silence at first, no movement from within at all. The werewolf queen sighed quietly; she didn’t have time for this. “Will you be staying in there, then?” Perhaps he should stay in there longer. Alena had been pleasantly surprised upon hearing that Renn had survived the attack that’d killed half the caravan going to Oslo with her, and that had landed her straight into Dane’s arms. Yet hearing how he’d handled things upon returning to the den left much to be desired. In many ways, he was lucky Adele was known for her timidity; although the wolf mother had heard an account that Perrin’s chosen heir had showed a different side of herself in her altercation with Renn. Alena’s lips curled into a quiet smile at that thought.

“My queen?” The pup’s voice was rough from lack of use, and he came around the corner of the cell carefully. A short laugh escaped the man as he saw Alena waiting for him; one of disbelief, but pleasant surprise. Renn’s smile faded as he got closer to the werewolf queen, however, noticing the still-visible remnants of the abuse she’d endured since they’d left for Oslo with the intention of terminating the leeches that’d moved in.

Alena was not smiling. Straightening his back momentarily, Renn dropped to a knee before the wolf mother, “Your safe return fills me with joy, my queen. The pack is whole once more.”

Watching her pup with cold eyes, Alena closed the cell door. She was happy to see him alive. “Get up. You’ve disappointed me, Renn.” Her voice was hard and as he stood, Alena gripped his shoulder, making him walk in front of her.

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Standing just inside the room, Alena watched her daughter finish her meal before standing and smoothing out the front of her dress. The hybrid's scarlet eyes had a subtle glow to them; it seemed the meat offered had not quite been enough for Lucia. That didn’t come as a complete surprise to the wolf queen. Still, she didn’t intend to allow the girl to hunt until the following night. Lucia insisted she wasn’t a child anymore and shouldn’t be treated as one, yet her actions of late had been far from mature. Now was her chance to start proving she was an adult by acting like one and showing some restraint. That thought brought a smile to Alena’s lips. Reece would not be far from Lucia’s side during the night, and should the girl manage to slip away from him, Nero would have little trouble retrieving his sister.

“Come,” Alena motioned for her daughter to approach. As the girl hesitantly stepped forward, the queen of werewolves pulled her closer, inspecting the gunshot wound she’d taken as well as some of the more dire injuries Alena’s punishment had left the girl with. Though Lucia flinched and tried to pull away, everything appeared to be healing without issue.

“Please, Mother. Only for a moment, just to see how he’s doing. I need to see Pablo.” The hybrid pleaded, tears slowly starting to fill her eyes. “He... He’s my only true friend.” It’d been three nights since their return to Stockholm; Lucia had been locked in her room for the entire duration thus far, alone. From what she’d heard, Pablo was sharing a similar fate. The thought pained her; they should be together. Instead, her mother continued to deny her the comfort of being with her friend and love.

“Lucia, love.” The lycan queen brought a hand up to her daughter’s cheek, running her thumb beneath Lucia’s eyes to catch her crocodile tears. “I’m not your father, and your tears will not change my mind. You aren’t being let out as a reward. Remember, Child, you’ve much to atone for.”

The girl grimaced, casting her eyes away from Alena, “Yes, Mum.”

The wolf queen sighed silently, “You’ll see him again. Now, come.” Opening the bedroom door, Alena led her daughter to where she would be helping out that night. Reece met them on the main floor, and the mother of lycanthropy left the hybrid in his hands.

Making her way through the den, Alena grabbed a plate of food from a waiting pup, and descended the stairs leading to where Pablo was staying. She opened the door without knocking, appraising the young man within. “How have you been healing?” Stepping into the room, Alena kept her gaze on Pablo, setting the plate of food down on the nightstand beside his bed. The wolf queen had not visited since their first day back, but she knew that his friends had come to see him multiple times. She was here, now, to see how he was adjusting; and to see how, if at all, her daughter’s influence over the pup had faded. A soft smile lifted the corners of her lips.