AuthenticTomb

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: Underground • Time: NighT

Interactions: Tessa - @PotterMentions: Dom - @Oso

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Earlier at The Icebox (Coldfang Den)

Gray fuzzy clouds scattered in his vision as the warm blood dripped from his nose. White-noise drowned out his hearing but could not dull the piercing pain in his blown eardrums. The cold, gray stone of the training room seemed to swirl around him and if there had been anything left in his stomach he might have thrown up once more. A shaky arm and knee where all that kept him from collapsing to the ground.

Despite the overwhelming ache and pain of his injuries, Luther's blank expression showed none of it. Harold Colfang loomed over his son with slightly furrowed brows. His posture straight and perfect as he looked down with a mix of disappointment and contempt. Blood dripped from his fists but none of it was his. "Have you been slacking in your training, boy?" His father's voice was rough and low.

Harold scoffed. "At the very least you bear your failure well. It seems I have been lax with your leash." Luther should have expected such a warm reception when he returned to the pack's den. It was not a surprise that he had gotten upset with his unannounced visit to his mother and the lack of intelligence on the matter regrading Logan's death.

Luther lunged at his father at the comment, his hand shifting so his fingers had sharp claws. The explosiveness of the sudden movement did catch his father off-guard and Luther managed to graze Harold's neck as his father shifted out of the way. The alpha immediately took control of Luther's arm, bending and twisting it until he could no longer move easily. "Insolent pup. That is better." Harold put weight on Luther's arm and it snapped, bone splitting skin with the pressure exerted.

Harold used Luther's shattered arm and flung him to the ground once more, solidifying his position and authority as the alpha of the Coldfangs. "One day you shall draw more than a trickle of blood from me, but not today." His father locked eyes with a Coldfang standing in the glass viewing room and gestured for them to come in. Harold began his slow march out of the room, looking back at his crumbled son. "Your independence as a scout for our pack is a gift I can easily take away. I expect a better effort from now on."

Luther managed to lift himself off the floor just as the pack medic came into the room. All his wounds would be healed in time but it would be cut down with proper treatment. They had been going at this for the better part of the day and he lacked the stamina or energy to do more than groan as the medic began to work.

Luther rolled his right shoulder still feeling the ache from earlier as he he made his way down. His fingers quickly typing out a message to Tessa before the sound and mass of bodies would make it hard to think:

"I'm heading to see Vein Theory. Let me know if you head over."

He planned on keeping his word to Tessa, if only until this situation was resolved. Any mention of his father was purposefully left out, feeling like it was irrelevant. She knew how that song and dance went with him. It was nothing new, he thought. All it would do it make her worry more in the state she was in. The phone was tucked back into the front pocket of his stone-washed jeans.

Truth was he had been always been a rather big fan of Vein Theory and there was no way that he was going to miss this concert. A faint smile crawled onto his lips as he felt the rough, visceral music enter his recently healed ears. The chaotic scene before him was everything he could have hoped for. Luther moved into the room coming after the incident between Vex, Dom, and the unlucky idiot. Sadly, he was not just here to have a good time and drown himself in all the vices to be found. His father had not been entirely wrong. Luther could only act on his own because of the information he brought back and the immediate problem-solving he did in Coldfang's favor.

Luther made his way to the bar, more than glad he decided on a graphic Vein Theory tank top for tonight as he felt the incredible heat from all the people huddled together. It came as more than a small surprise when he spotted Dom briefly as he scanned the crowd and bar patrons. What the hell was he doing here? It really didn't seem like the old man's scene. He order a citrus-flavored pilsner from the bartender, turning his face towards the bar.

Would it have been better to dye his hair for this? Black or red might have been a good shot. It didn't matter now. His drink came and he nearly chugged it down, stopping about halfway down the glass. It was only once it had passed through his throat that its true kick hit him. A faint tingle dancing across his skin.

His thought drifted to earlier as the music hounded his soul and the alcohol fed into his bloodstream. Luther held his drink in is hand and simply stared into the golden liquid. A leash. A collared dog. Trained and groomed to put on a good show. All of the Iron Fangs had been outraged by Logan's death, ready to shred the city apart to find answers. Everyone of the Iron Fangs loyal to him even after his death. It made him reconsider quite a bit, more than he thought it would. There were people he would put his life on the line for, and none of them were Coldfangs.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: Eclipse Time:FridaY NighT

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Tessa arrived at the Eclipse within the half hour. She trudged over to an empty alleyway and transformed painstakingly back into a human. Winded and gasping for air, Tessa doubled over. The stitch in her side was a sharp reminder of her evening. Once she recovered, Tess left the alleyway. She glanced around her surroundings and adjusted her eye-patch carefully.

With a sigh, she texted him she had arrived and continued searching for him. The noise polluted her eardrums and the smells of alcohol, smoke, and drugs filled her nostrils. Her shoulders began to relax. The thumping music mixed with the laughter, cacophony of voices and supernatural life around her was intoxicating. Her racing heart didn’t relent.

Luther took a deep breath before he entered Eclipse. Somewhere Angel was lost amidst this crowd of people but he was not looking for her right now. She was not the one who needed him at this moment. His hands smoothed out the small wrinkles of his blue suit. It was more a comforting gesture than anything. Tessa would smell it on him. No hiding that. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be there when she needed him.

It wasn’t hard to find her face amidst the crowd. He could pick it out anywhere, and no it wasn't just because there weren’t that many badass lycan girls with an eye-patch. Luther used his size and presence to slip past the sea of bodies undulating against each other. The club really seemed lively tonight. A good distraction if he could take her mind off whatever got her troubled.

”Boo.” He said flatly coming from her blindside, though he was willing to bet she picked out his scent the moment he walked in. His eyes lacked the humor his words were meant to convey.

”I’m here Tess. What’s going on?” Luther adopted a softness in his voice as he laid a hand on her shoulder.

Luther’s familiar scent wafted through her nostrils. She glanced around, but with only one eye, it wasn’t easy to find him. His voice in her blind-spot nearly caused her to jump; however, seeing him brought her a mixture of butterflies and relief. The lack of humor behind his words wasn’t lost on Tess. The scent of a female on him temporarily made her blink her only good eye. Nonetheless, she didn’t focus on it.

”Luther!” She exclaimed with glee, momentarily forgetting her plight. She smiled at him, and then the reminder of the night brought back a wave of grief. Tears sparkled in her left eye, and she set her hand on his. Her voice was strong, but underneath it, it shook like an earthquake waiting to erupt.

”Not here, can we go outside or somewhere private?” While it was noisy, talking seriously in a club filled with supernatural beings capable of unnatural hearing would not be wise. Tessa bit her lip and waited for his response.

There was a certain satisfaction that seemed to come whenever Tessa spoke his name. It was dulled this time by the hurt look present in her eye and the tense expression she wore. A Coldfang was trained to always be in control of their emotions so it made picking out whenever someone was about to break easier. ”Yeah, yeah. Let’s take a step outside.”

Luther took the lead walking to the exit, his hand remaining in constant contact. Now that he got to see her in person, he was only more worried about Tessa. He knew the signs when she was in a dark place and the more they talked the more flags were raised. Angel was his ride or die best friend in the entire city of Halcyon, but Tessa was not that far behind. ”Now, mind telling me what’s got you like this?” Luther turned to face her once they had found a suitable place just outside Eclipse, the overbearing music a humming bass.

Tess’s shoulders relaxed once they were outside. A quick glance around told her they were alone. Whatever passer-by existed were not close to them. She glanced up at him with her left eye and swallowed hard.

”Dom doesn’t want us telling anybody this but you’re allowed to know I’m sure he won’t mind.” At first, she rambled, then her voice quaked as she continued. ”Logan, he’s dead, in our territory. We don’t know who or what. You can’t tell anyone.” The tears swelled up in her eye once more. Saying it out loud made it even more real. ”He meant so much to me, Luthy. He was like my second dad besides Dom.”

Her voice cracked now and the hurricane she fought against threatened to erupt. Her entire body began shaking as she pressed a hand to her eye. ”We don’t know if whoever did it wants more of us gone either. Luthy, I’m worried for you too.”

Luther knew the moment she began with that first sentence the next one was not going to be good. He almost wished she hadn’t continued with what she said next. His heart sank and he gritted his teeth seeing the look on Tessa’s face as he told him. Fuck. That was a huge bomb she had dropped. Nuclear, even. There were a million things he wanted to theorize and contemplate but he needed to be here for Tessa right now. He wanted to.

He wrapped his arms around Tessa, palms pressing against her upper back to push her towards him. ”No, Tess. Now is not the time to be strong. It's just me and you here.”

Luther had never gotten along with Logan, especially after Tessa came into the picture. That said, he understood well what the old bastard meant to her. ”Please, don't worry too much about me right now. I'll talk to my father and see what the Coldfangs know.” He detested speaking with his father but for Tessa, he would pull any information he could.

Luther’s hug around her petite body felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. She melted into it and pressed her forehead against his. Her tears soon stained his shirt, but she knew he wouldn’t mind. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. The world had taken Logan, but it better not take the rest of her pack or him. When he provided permission, Tessa allowed herself to cry and clutch him, as if letting go meant he’d disappear. Being emotional was hard, she had been trained to hold on so much over the years as a Warden and not let them get in the way of her investigations; however, since turning, she had been unable to hold it in well anymore. Alarm bells rang inside her mind when he mentioned talking to his dad.

”Oh, Luthy, no, don’t talk to him. He’s not worth this.” She looked up at him with her left eye. ”No, don’t. It’s okay. Let Dom handle it; besides, we can’t let many people know we know.” She tilted his head down to look at hers and she wiped her teary eye. She hugged him gently.

”Just promise me, you’ll stay safe, yeah? Just let me know where you are and if you’re safe. Don’t worry about our investigation… Just, don’t do anything reckless.. I don’t want you ending up…”

Tessa refused to finish that sentence.

Maybe it was the night he had. Maybe it was the soft vulnerability in Tessa’s voice and eye. He just wanted to comfort her and rip out the throat of whoever did this. His hand slide up her back and began to gently stroke the back of her head. ”It feels like I should be saying that to you.” His tone lacked the playfulness that statement would normally carry. ”I promise to keep in touch and survive whatever is coming. You just better do the same. Relationships are a two-way street, you know?” Luther smirked at his tease, trying to bring some levity.

Tessa glanced up at him. The humor and playfulness absent in his tone did not go unnoticed by her. She bit her lip and watched him with concern. She nodded and laughed softly. ”I’ll do it for you, Luthy.”

Honesty, he really didn’t know how to take hearing just how much she worried for him. There was a different kind of concern in her voice than he felt from Angel earlier that night. Luther was only so close to Angel because he hoped that if he ever turned to that nightmare version of himself she’d be able to grant him mercy. Celeste had changed for him, whatever strange pull she had on the strings of his fate beyond his comprehension. A part of him wondered if this sudden shift in his own life was related to something more going on in the city.

”Just let me know if you need anything from me. One call and I’ll be there, alright?” There had been times when he thought about letting Tessa in on the curse that plagues him. It was times like this that made him not want to tell her. Hell, Angel didn’t even know the full picture but after the incident earlier today he thought the time to tell her was coming closer.

Tessa nodded and took a deep breath. His words had calmed her storm and she began sobering up, at least for the moment. She hugged him tightly and nodded in agreement. ”The same for you,” She replied earnestly and then let go of him. ”What’re you going to do now?” Her eye glanced at the club, then back to him. The rush of adrenaline tempted her to go do something–anything, but focus on the issues at hand.

Luther followed her gaze and then smiled looking back at her. ”I’m going to head back inside and let loose some more. I’d love to buy you a drink…or two if you’re up for it?” He honestly had no idea what or who Angel was getting into so there was no telling when they’d be heading back. Sure, he could have headed back on his own but on nights where they let loose like this they tried to have each other's back.

Tessa eyed the scene and a grin managed to wash across her face. ”Let’s see what kind of trouble two lycans can cause in there,” She let go of him and wrapped an arm around his waist for one more hug, then released her grip. ”Gotta act like nothing’s wrong, anyway,” Guilt filled her with the thought of Dom wondering where she was, so she sent him a quick text:

At one of my favorite places with one of my favorite people. It was mysterious enough, and spoke in code so nobody could understand it.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: The Pink Room - Near Entrance • Time: NighT

Interactions:, Tessa - @Potter • Mentions: Celeste - @Manzanilla

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Luther stood against a protruding pillar in the wall of the Pink Room's entrance as he waited for his date for the night to finish getting ready. He was feeling good, real good after using her service and he was hoping to keep the feeling going tonight. The mental scars of his interaction with his mother nearly faded from his memory. His foot lightly tapped with the deep, bass-rich music that filled the establishment. Excitement was something he did his best to suppress but this one time he couldn't help it. He was eagerly waiting to see what Celeste would be wearing for their little night out.

That was until he heard the familiar chords followed by the lyrics cut out precisely for the caller '~I said, ooh, I'm blinded by lights~' It sounded off before the rest of the lyrics faded out.

A light scowl formed on his brow as he brought the phone to his ear. How had he missed two previous calls? Well, he did have an excuse but probably not one he'd use with Tessa. "I'll be there." He replied firmly, putting as much reassurance as he could into his voice.

The tone of her voice and the intensity of her message caused him concern. Immediately.. That word in particular hung in his head. Luther anxiously looked around the Pink Room for any signs of Celeste. That was where he had been planning to take her anyway so that much would work out. It was just a question of how fast was she going to get there.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

_{T W : Sexual Content}

L U T H E R C O L D F A N G & C E L E S T E E S Q U I V A L
L U T H E R C O L D F A N G & C E L E S T E E S Q U I V A L

THE PINK ROOM
THE PINK ROOM

_{Collab by @AuthenticTomb and @Manzanilla}

The descent from heaven was always slow. A sacrament in reverse. Each step downward heavy with the weight of spilled grace. Guilt curled through the hollows of her ribs like smoke, nesting in the secret places where she once kept her prayers. It festered there. Not unnamed, no, she knew its face. But to speak it would be to taste it again on her tongue, and some hungers are too divine to confess.

Salvation, her kind of salvation, was a throbbing, honeyed thing. It dripped from the altar where Luther had knelt, not in supplication, but surrender. His body, a living psalm, his soul a burnt offering smeared across her skin. She had taken him like communion, the wine of his mouth bitter with the aftertaste of devotion. For a moment, just a moment, the fall didn’t feel like falling. It felt like flight.

But heaven is cruel that way. It lets you touch the light before it reminds you how far you have to fall.

The demons that had been plaguing Luther’s mind had been quiet in Celeste’s embrace. It was everything he could have hoped for and more, which left him crashing down once it was over instead of gently falling. A taste of freedom from his curse. One brief glimpse of a life without the future looming over his shoulder. Luther found the weight on his chest to be lighter in the afterglow and for that he was grateful to Celeste, more than he would let her realize.

Cool, blue eyes opened up and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds. It had been truly wonderful from start to finish, but it was time to wake-up to reality. Bitter-sweet as it all was, Luther still held a smile as he sat up from the sweat-coated cushions of the couch.

The cheap red robe clung to her damp skin as Celeste slipped it back over her shoulders, the silk catching on the curve of her hip. She lifted her hair, sticky with sweat, over one shoulder and let out a soft, satisfied sigh as she sank onto the edge of the couch.

His eyes watched with intent as she wrapped herself back up. A disheveled state did not diminish her beauty in the least, he thought. Luther let out a brief sigh of rare contentment as he stood without a shred of cloth to conceal his muscles or scars. Piece by piece he collected his discharged outfit, slipping on a pair of boxers before gathering the rest.

A little tiny grin played at her lips.

She crossed one leg over the other, slowly, lazily, a woman taking her time to study the man before her. Her chin dropped into the heel of her palm, eyes dragging over the curve of his spine to admire the claw-like marks she’d adorned his back with.

“Are you feeling better, cariño ?”

He walked back to the couch, laying his jacket over the top before taking a seat once more, stretching his arms wide along the ridge. His pants were back on yet his dress shirt had yet to be buttoned at all. ”I can’t begin to explain how much I needed that, Luna. You were perfect. Exactly what I needed tonight. Thank you.” He flashed her a smile that expressed his canines before a thoughtful expression overtook it. ”Say, got any plans after you are done your shift?”

”Of course, carino, that is what I am here for.”

Celeste flashed her own canines when she heard his praises, a little tiny flutter of happiness rising from her stomach to her chest. Her smile grew wider when he asked his question.

Planning wasn’t much of her thing, but she may have been thinking of watching 27 Dresses for the fifty-first time this year while she sipped the last of her sweet blood. Which, Celeste remembered, had to text Debra and ask her if they were still going to hang out this week. ”Not at all.” She leaned back and settled herself nicely against his arm and chest. ” What do you have in mind?”

Luther didn’t move a muscle, just letting himself enjoy the heat and pressure of her body against his.
I was thinking we would take a walk down the Row to Eclipse and get to know each other over some drinks..” His voice spoke softly in her ear, his arms finally wrapping around her like a blanket ”Don’t worry, I’ll still pay you for your time.” He let out a single laugh at his own joke, simply prepared to foot the bill for her company.

A slow, feline grin curled her lips as she tilted her head back to look at him, the snow of her eyes gleaming with amusement. Pay for my company? Oh, hell yes. A free night out—one hundred times better than spending it in The Pink Room with the scent of cheap liquor.

”Careful, Luther. That almost sounds like a date.” She traced a finger along the line of his collarbone, her voice a purr. ”But who am I to turn down a gentleman offering to foot the bill?” She shifted, pressing a playful kiss to his jaw before sliding off the couch with effortless grace. The robe slipped just enough to tease as she bent to retrieve her discarded heels, flashing him a smirk over her shoulder. ”Though, if you wanted more of my time, all you had to do was ask.”

Straightening, she flicked her hair back, the gold hoops in her ears catching the dim light. ”But yes. Let’s go. I could use a real drink.” And maybe, just maybe, she was looking forward to it more than she’d admit

A cold shiver bounced along the nerves where her finger danced along his skin, sliding a hand onto her hip in return. Each touch eased his mind. Every spoken word calmed his spirit. The sight of her body moving with a dancer’s grace distracted him from his troubles. The word date snapped him out of his admiration and her statement sobered him up from his daze. He couldn’t ask that of her. The cash was an needed excuse, a necessary barrier between them.

Celeste caught the change in him the moment the word date left her lips. It was small—barely there—but she saw it. Felt it, too, in the slight stiffening of his posture, the way the sparkle in his eye dimmed just a fraction. She didn’t let it show on her face, but a quiet part of her sighed in relief. Clients were best kept at arm’s length. One hand on their thigh, the other on their wallet.
Still, there was no rule against enjoying the perks of that distance. And he had been a very good perk. Her hips still ached in the best way.

”Is that all I had to do? Well, I’ll just have to keep that in mind for the future.” His eyes, the brief glimpses of skin her move had revealed. Luther stood and collected each discarded piece of his clothing before putting it back on. His movements were smooth and methodical, letting the unconsciousness imprint of his training overtake his body. Angel was the only reason he was even here to meet Celeste. He’d have to get her something nice to thank her. Luther didn’t realize his absent-mindedness but his hand smoothed out his suit in a rehearsed manner. An action drilled into his head from his earliest memory.

”Perfect. Just don’t expect me to source it directly. I’m told I taste a bit sour.” He smirked a bit as he stepped to the door to hold it open for her. Luther was being selfish. Angel knew some of what plagued him, but Celeste wasn’t aware. He was dragging her into something that could end horribly for her if the right mistakes were made. He knew that, but he couldn’t let her slip through his fingers. Celeste had given him shelter from the curse and after living through those terrible visions time and time again…he just hoped she would forgive him in time.

Celeste smiled as she walked past him, hips swaying slowly and smoothly. Her voice followed a second later, playful over the music spilling in. Her fingers brushed the edge of the doorway as she paused.

”I won’t bite you,” She turned to face him and reached up with her free hand. With a soft smile, she smoothed the collar of his shirt, careful and gentle. ”Unless you’d like to.” It wasn’t surprising when clients came in with that particular request.

”You make it feel tempting, but that’s not my thing.” He laughed briefly appreciating the quick once over she was doing of his suit.

”Don’t forget, I get off in two.”

”I definitely won’t and if you decide to leave me standing there…well I’m told I have very sad puppy eyes.” He grinned though he chided himself in his head. Luther was really spending too much time with Angel.

”I’ll see you later, pup.” With that, Luna left him in the mercy of Andrea.

Luther moved through the doors they had come through, the exhilaration twisting into trepidation as his eyes searched for the Fae from earlier. He wanted to get a better look at her face before they left. The hairs that raised along the back of his neck weren’t enough to ward him away. However, he had made a commitment to Celeste for a night out. One he needed more at the moment than whatever vague answers he might get.

Out of the right side of him, and seemingly out of the shadows, a short and stocky woman came into view in front of Luther. She wore a black studded vest with a band t-shirt underneath, whose band name was more akin to chicken scratch than words.

“Hi, hi!” The woman greeted with one of the best and most obvious customer smiles someone would ever see. “I’m Andrea, manager slash owner of The Pink Club!” Her tone oozed with a practiced monotone enthusiasm and fake friendliness. She pulled out a white card reader with a brightly lit screen. The screen read $859.76 in a calming shade of blue hue. “Card? Apple Pay? PayPal? Cash?”

Luther chuckled a little at the price and the faux-energy from the woman. "Card. A pleasure to meet you, Andrea. Oh, and I'll be paying a bit extra as a tip for excellent service.'

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: The Eclipse Time: Night

Interactions: @Tae • @princess Mentions:

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"Volfango will just have to repay your generosity later then." He had found himself a most dangerous partner tonight. The fact she would call that sweet told him plenty, not that he wouldn't mind rougher play. Volfango would take her making an exception for him as a good sign regardless.

He raised a perfectly trimmed brow to her statement. An old flame. Now that was interesting and made the potential all the more desirable. "Volfango thinks the two of us shall have to jog her memory."

His hand spread across Lys's back, fingers dipping around the edge of her curves. Volfango's steps were smooth and precise, gliding along the floor. His clothes glimmering under the passing lights as he walked up to Angel. All the while his own magic wove into the trail left behind by his new queen. Powering it. Accentuating it further. He wanted to fan the flames of her wildfire and see what remained in the ashes.

Beams of lights spread across the dancers, shifting colors just as quickly as they shifted positions on the dance floor. The magic spun by the two Fae making the other patrons moves heated and intense. The loud music made the skin tingle with vibrations as it nearly drowned out all other sounds.

His golden eyes never lost track of Angel through the chaotic movement of the crowd and his hand remained attached to Lys in one position or another. Unlike the other one who had approached her, Volfango did not wait for his nerves to steady.

"You may excuse Volfango, but he can not simply watch when such beauty is before him. Perhaps we may join you?" His voice rolled with the words, harboring no subtle magics to accentuate it or tempt. Cassanova as he was, Volfango didn't like for his close or intimate relationships to be built on a foundation that wasn't strong in the first place. He was not his father. He did not need cheap tricks to get what he wanted.

For Volfango was a deeply hedonistic and greedy Fae. There was much he desired and he wanted it get it his way. Goals laid down way before his self-exodus from his father's estate. Dreams he had laid the groundwork for brick by brick for decades. None of that mattered gazing upon Angel, Lys possessively latched to his side. "Volfango will make this night one to remember, just the way you want it." He added, sliding a finger up the spine of Lys's back.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: The Eclipse • Time: Night

Interactions: @Tae • Mentions: @princess

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Volfango was standing up as he slipped on his shirt purposefully leaving the buttons undone. Truly he was only putting it on so he didn't lose it. The thread count of this particular article was pleasing to his skin, though it was slick with sweat at the moment. Speaking of slick, the booth was thoroughly ruined. Grazie. Volfango had to thank the object's valiant service. His glamour that had displayed the cosmos on the ceiling of the establishment fading from the other patrons.

He was feeling invigorated by this particular conquest. No. Volfango did not enjoy the taste of the word in this instance. A dance was perhaps a more apt description. A difference that came close to reigniting his passions once from its recent memory. His golden eyes drank in the form of the one responsible for his good mood and came slinking back to the booth. He pressed a hand into the back of the booth and leaned in, holding his head close to hers. "Caro mia..." The words rumbled deep in his throat. "...was Volfango to your liking?" He spoke with confidence, already anticipating the answer. "For you were everything Volfango could dream of." He accompanied his statement by lowering his lips against side of her neck.

Volfango did not stay long enough to make a mark, pulling back soon after, but his eyes did not leave hers. "Volfango would love to find out what other trouble there is to make with you." He could barely fathom the mischief they two of them could throw together, but he was determined to find out.

He shifted to look outwards into the club, seeking out those who had the greatest potential for an unforgettable experience. The crowd blended together now that it lacked his precious bellisma ninfa. Everything he saw felt like a let down now that he found someone so wild and free. A far cry from the gilded cage being a child of the Court brought. Estranged as he was from his father, the man still held a golden leash around his neck and all he would have do is pull.

Then he saw it. A flash of gold and flicker of silver. Colors that seemed to mute all others in the space around them. Volfango might not be able to speak lies, but he also refused to lie to himself. The woman had captured his attention nearly the second he had spotted her. Were it not for Lys, he had no doubt she would be the subject of his passions for the night. However, at the moment he was feeling like one does going to the grocery store after eating a full course meal.

"Caro mia, care to join Volfango for some more entertainment?" His golden eyes flicked between Lys and Angel, plainly showing his intentions. The night had only begun and there was far more he wished to experience with the mysterious woman.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: The Pink Room • Time: EveninG

Interactions:Celeste - @Manzanilla, Wren - @Tpartywithzombi • Mentions: N/A

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“Maybe.”

Luther was unable to fully prevent the low growl that rumbled in his chest as he grinned. There was no need for him to search any further tonight. That look she had given him had nearly knocked him off his seat. It was a promise that if he paid her price, he would find himself more than happy with her service.

He wanted to savor her laugh for much longer than she had let it out. A sweet remedy for his troubled soul. Her word continued to flow through the cracks in his walls, loosening the rigid stone of his resolve. Rules were forgotten. Discipline cast aside. The pale of her eyes a endless snowscape he would gladly wander for hours.

"You could...enlighten me." His words laced with different intentions than an academic one. All of his instincts were howling for him to seal the deal and leave the bar for an more intimate arrangement.

It was precisely those instincts and the long discarded thoughts Celeste drudged to the surface that left him unprepared. A shiver had shot along his nerves when her delicate touch climbed his arm. Luther enjoyed the moment for just a second. Every hair on the back of his neck rose on end as it suddenly sounded like her laugh from earlier echoed in each of the patrons' mouths. The straps that held Celeste's red robe slid up his arms like snakes, coiling and tightening the further they went up. Pink, sweet smoke began to flow out from the taps at the bar as they laughter grew in decibels.

“Mm, I’m not cheap company, Luther."

Confusion threatened to smack him square in the face but Celeste's words grounded him. What he could have sworn was the start of another terrible vision was cut short. Luther fell back on his training immediately as not to spook Celeste with his shock and steeled his expression while she teased along his neck. Her presence had brought him from the brink and he hadn't the faintest clue why.

A mixture of frustration and relief came over him as a man interrupted them. Luther certainly didn't hate the look Celeste gave him on their behalf. It gave him the few seconds to make a decision. There was no point in troubling this woman with questions she likely didn't have the answers to. Instead, there was a different kind of trouble he wanted to get involved in with her. A faint scowl carved its way onto his face at the mention of another client wanting her attention. The thought of her slipping away from him in that moment made him grit his teeth.

"I guess we better move fast then so by all means...lead the way." He happily stood with her, enjoying the connection and the energy it brought between them. Where she stepped, he eagerly followed. Her movements brought her weapons to full power. She was a deadly master in her craft. He felt in his core that she could make him forget, even in for a short time, that he was a...

“...Monster.”

The word came like a splash of ice water. Invisible weight pressed on him from all sides while he stood on what felt like the thinnest glass. Anxiety tensed his muscles waiting for the plunge such a sensation alluded to. Instead, he found his gaze pulled towards a woman that screamed danger so loud in his head it drowned out the fantasies playing inside. What did she know? A better question might be what did she see?

Luther might have confronted the woman right there had Celeste not owned his arm in that moment. He hurried through the doors after the enchanting vampire, feeling the heat and tension that often came with a vision but without the visual aid. It was enough he couldn't fully conceal the distress from Celeste to his dismay.

"Now," He spoke, attempting to pull himself back into the right move. "how about we unwind after what must have been a long day for both of us?" Luther smiled enough to show off his own powerful canines, the fingertips of his free hand brushing her hip.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: The Pink Room • Time: EveninG

Interactions:Celeste - @Manzanilla • Mentions: N/A

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“Trying to sweeten me up?”

A bright smile flashed on Luther's lips as he leaned on the bar with his elbow, arms crossed out in front as he faced Celeste properly. Her voice was like a siren song drawing him in and he was not about to resist. "That depends..." His lips shifted into a smirk "...is it working?"

He gladly rose his glass to hers when they came together, noticing the velvet red hue her drink took. "My pleasure." Luther gave her a small nod taking an immediate sip of his drink before setting it down. "That is their stupidity then. I find everything goes much smoother when both sides have fun." He flashed a brief wink watching her take her own sip.

The truth was the Pink Room was far from the first establishment of its kind that Luther had visited. It was easier for him. A one-night arrangement in which each party was only interested in the acts to be performed. No visons plagued him and the guilt of what he might do one day didn't weigh down on him. Honestly, the less he knew about his partner for the night the easier it was. There was just something he found looking in Celeste's eyes that called to him, overriding any distance he might have wanted to keep between them.

He wanted to believe her small smile was genuine and it caused him to return it. Luther had not come to Sundown Row to be responsible or measured in his fun. No. Luther needed to forget himself for a night and he wanted nothing more than to get lost in the beauty before him. "Luna, huh? Because I'm a Lycan?" He did let himself have a soft laugh at that, more than accustomed to Angel's more directed teasings. "Nice to meet you, Luna. I'm Luther."

Luther gave a purposeful, slow gaze from her eyes down to her tantalizing chest and back up. He finished off his drink before he replied. "The drinks aren't bad, but I'd love some of your company for awhile."

The richness of her sweet voice and barely concealed figure was far more intoxicating than the empty cocktail next to him on the bar. His eyes did darken for a moment after he had spoken. There was only one thing that helped to bring him back into balance after a night like this one, however artificial it might be. The intimate moments a reminder he was in control of himself.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: Sundown Row ----> The Pink Room • Time: EveninG

Interactions: Angel - @princess, Celeste - @Manzanilla • Mentions: Locke - @Oso

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Luther sat in the passenger seat bobbing his head to the heavy bass of the music that pushed the speakers of Angel's Nissan to the limit. His new clothes brought forth a fresh attitude. A rich, dark blue suit with a velvet sheen and a warm black dress shirt underneath, tailored by one of the finest Fae seamstresses in the city. He was not above using his family's money for his own indulgence. Hell. They owed him that much. That thought had him glancing over at Angel, who he knew as Sicily, as they parked.

There were no words he could speak that would be able to properly express her beauty in the moment the neon lights illuminated her. Every description would lack the visual punch seeing such a fierce-some, brilliant woman in a dress created just for her. Luther returned the smile she offered him, the unspoken exchanged in the glances they shared in this brief and quiet moment before the night exploded into delirious sensations.

This moment was because of her. She was the reason that he was getting ready for a night full of fun instead of tearing through the gutter like a wild beast. The reason that he was able to enjoy being himself instead of another dog on a leash for his father's machinations. To Luther, Angel was the only thing that felt real to him in this whole city. Amidst the chaos and violence of Halcyon, they had each other's back.

Luther followed Angel's lead and planted his shoes on the misted pavement, straightening his collar as he stood up. His supernatural senses blitzed by an assault of distant bass and scented smoke that came in all kinds of flavor. He made his way around the car to stand at Angel's side, clearing his mind of the night's problems and focusing on making new ones. Tonight, he was going to cut loose and peer...

"Hey, you know it drives the pack girls wild. Although...might want to check it's not burnt toast that your smelling." He quipped back with a smirk, showing the tips of his canines. "You're the one letting me off my leash so no complaining when I get into something, yeah? See ya in an hour, Sicily." Luther gave her a quick wink before he headed off on his own for some personal time with one place on the strip of sin that he had been dying to visit.

This was far from their first time on Sundown Row and Luther had no reason to be concerned about Angel's safety. Whatever poor sap thought they could harass her likely weren't going to wake up the next morning. His fine shoes clacked against the wet stone as he passed under the shifting colors of neon signs. Each tempting him with their own unique brand of indulgence. He was weak to the Hallucinogenic kind. There was a twisted kind of comfort in using similar drugs to the ones that had nearly broke him in that dark, dank dungeon. That was for the end of the night. A roll of the dice for a chance of sweet dreams instead of the night terrors he hadn't even brought up to Angel.

Away from her sight, Luther let the Coldfang mask slip over him as he came up to the Pink Room's entrance. The walls and humidity could not dampen the scents that drifted from the cracks. He appeared bored almost uninterested as he pushed open the plush door. There was no doubt there would be Fae working the joint and, despite his desires, he could not let his guard down. No matter what he tried he couldn't stop the sheer unease the Fae brought him, let alone those who were called soothsayers.

Luther stared briefly at a dark-haired Fae man currently getting propositioned as he made his way to the bar, glad the Fae had arrived before him to attract some attention. Luther had an hour to spend and he was looking for a cold drink and a warm body to spend it with. He rested an elbow on the bar top to reserve some space, catching the eyes of the bartender he gave her a quick nod. "I'll have a Painkiller, put it on a tab under Coldfang." His voice carried through the deep, rhythmic music that pulsed through the club.

Two seats down, however, was a woman that captured his attention so violently his mask cracked while taking a sip from his fruity cocktail. The soft sheen of her raven-black hair framing a perfect heart-shaped face. His eyes drawn to the rich red of her lips and the fangs that he could catch the faintest glimpse of. All packaged in a fine red robe that he wanted to peel away behind closed doors.

"On your break?" The coldness from his expression had been dropped as he maneuvered around the back to stand next to Celeste, his deep ocean blue eyes caught up in her own. "Mind if order you another one?" Luther pointed at her drink then raised that hand up to get the bartender's attention "Another Painkiller and whatever she's drinking!" He called over the noise.

✨Beyond The Veil✨

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Location: The Eclipse • Time: DUSK

Interactions: @Tae • Mentions: N/A

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"Welcome back you lovely denizens of the night to 'Stroke of Midnight'! I'm your hostess, the beautiful and talented Isabella St.Claire." The enchanting voice came from vampire woman sitting on a black, leather lounge chair. Her illustrious blonde hair was done in several large curls that flowed down her back. A figure-hugging red dress show off her curves adorned with a cropped leather jacket that was purposefully kept open. Isabella's lips shined in a glossy, crimson red that matched her nails.

She had her legs currently crossed as her eyes quickly shifted over the guest sitting across from her, showing no shame in expressing her interest in the man. "Now, I believe we were just getting to talking about your latest production, Hearts of Darkness: Volume 2, before we cut to break. I must say..." Isabella looked at him with a hint of hunger as she licked the underside of her lips to avoid messing with her lipstick. "...what an experience it was. First question I have to ask, what makes you make such media for the citizens of Halcyon?" The sultry tones that had underlined her speech faded as the question was made.

Voflango sat across from the hostess wearing a simple black v-neck shirt with gray, stone-washed jeans. Both were tailored to his exact profile. A warm, inviting smile drew those watching his chiseled features and brilliant eyes. "Volfango thanks you for such a wonderful introduction to the question. He had not realized with such beauty before him that a break had even occurred." The words rolled off his tongue, carried with the clear diction of a performer. "The answer is quite simple, no? Volfango does it to connect to the hearts of his people and give them a story that is theirs." Volfango leaned forward from his perfectly upright posture.

"Love between a Lycan and a vampire. A taboo to some but in the darkness of the theatre it. is. hope." Volfango punctuated the last three words, his expression serious as he continued. "Hope that a special kind love one searches eternity might be out there, no matter the odds or challenges. A story that only the good people of Halycon can understand and appreciate its truth." He leaned back against the somewhat stiff back of the chair. Never once did his eyes leave Isabella's.

A faint blush was clear on the vampire's cheeks as the camera shifted towards her. "Speaking of love, my viewers would burn me on a stake for not asking if there wasn't some special someone for Volfango?" The shift of her weight suggested the statement was not entirely truthful.

Volfango let out a deep chuckle flashing his perfectly white teeth. "Volfango is quite generous and he has yet to find one that can handle all his charity." He finished the statement with a not-so-subtle wink at Isabella.

She blinked once at his flirtatious gesture and coughed softly into her hand "I see. Well, since our time is coming to end I have a few questions from our viewers. The first one comes from Saul Petrand and he asks..."

---

Volfango had come to Eclipse for one purpose alone and likely so did the various other patrons that crowded the space. A glamour of his own creation prevented those who gave him passing glances not to recognize him. It would slowly come undone faced with a lingering gaze and close proximity but that was by design rather than a flaw of the magic itself. Volfango needed to unwind and let himself loose after months of filming and a interview that ended in a particularly heated way. The best way one might even say.

The Fae flowed amidst the dancers on the floor. His hand resting on one hip only to shift with the beat to another, pressing himself against their back as the music carried the energy of the night. Graceful and fluid as his movements were, they belonged to a hunter in search of suitable prey. Volfango had been on his way to the bar for a drink and had nearly gotten to the bar when the most tantalizing of accents was carried to his ear on the wings of fairies.

Volfango had barely budged when the small woman crashed into him and he smiled brightly down a her letting a small laugh of his own. "Oh, Volfango needs no such convincing when he has eyes. The question, he thinks, is how many bad choices should we make?" His Italian roots made it easy to rolls the words into one sensual wave of suggestion.