Post by Marissa Skye ☀ on Mar 14, 2010 13:03:39 GMT -5
Demios:
Saturday nights were definitely his favorite time of the week. Ensconced in a VP booth in the back of the techno club, a dark figure stretched his legs and took a drink of his whiskey. Dark eyes surveyed the crowd from under even darker brows and an air of menace hung over him like a cloud. His whole persona dared someone to approach him and promised death in retribution. Leather rippled along his hard frame when he moved and his expression was bored while he scanned the scantily clad women making eyes at him and dismissing them just as suddenly as he noticed them.
Demios was no one’s fool and the lust in their eyes was enough to bore him to tears. Human women were all the same.
Picking up his glass, the man drained the rest of his drink and then glanced at his clock. His associate should be arriving any moment and he was surprisingly interested in finding out just what the Fae might want from him.
As he watched the dancers, his mind went back over the information he'd gathered on the other man. Corbin was known for his nasty temper, volatile ways and all around mercenary behavior. Just the type of gentleman he liked doing business with. Unfortunately, he also had a taste for world domination and that was something Demios couldn't allow. It may not be all peach and cream the way it was but it suited his purposes. Besides which, for all that he was the god of Terror... What fun was it terrifying an already victimized world?
Rissa:
Practically bouncing with excitement, Marissa Abigail Skye took one last look at her reflection in her handy dandy compact and then looked at her companion. Looping her arm through the brunettes, she grinned impishly as they strolled right up to the front door of the best club in town and were admitted without pause. Once inside the door, she took in the place and gave a twinkling laugh
"OH! This is going to be so much fun!" she called out above the racket of the music and voices. "What should we do first? Grab a drink? Hit the dance floor? I don't know about you but this music is making me wanna move my feet!"
Tossing her golden hair, the slender witch caught the eyes of a man watching them and she gave him a wink before grabbing Lani's hand and dancing towards the bar. The place was so packed that she had to poke and prod their way through but at last they were cozied up to the counter and drinks were being shoved in front of them by a group of men that had gladly let them by in order to get a better look at the women.
Corbin:
Ah, the sounds of pulsing music and stomping feet. It was enough to drive away the soft chirp of the forest, the soothing cool air of the night...and drive a pounding headache between his eyes. Good Gods, why anyone would want to be subject to such NOISE was beyond him! Humans and their obnoxious music; he would never understand it, as long as he cared to walk the asphalt lands.
Passing through the front door without a sideways glance at the bouncer, Corbin made his way into the club, eyes flickering from face to face as he took in the layout of the room. Instinctively, he made note of the exits, of the shady faces in the crowd, those with unnecessary bulges about their person. The strange sounds coming from the speakers around them were offensive, and his fingers twitched to heave a spell or two at their whining encasements. Why did the humans around here find such pleasure in a place like this?
The crowd parted around him, as if sensing his distaste, and he eyed the dancers milling about the middle of the room. Body on body, skin on skin...slowly, a harsh smile fell onto his face. Ah yes, that is where the appeal came. The smell of sweat and sex was in the air, appealing to the Fae in his blood. There was nothing like the taste of temptation to wet a man's appetite and the sight of such scantily clad women made his dislike of the music take a close second.
It was really too bad that he was always thinking about a certain witch nowadays. Oh, the fun that he would have with the little mortals flitting about the room. Some were glancing his way, holding his eyes for a few moments before finding something else to look at, but the messages were all the same: come, tempt, and take.
He wasn't sure if having one woman was something he could ever get used to. The lush little bodies flitting around him, so ripe for the taking...and yet, his human half refused to look twice at the alluring sea of faces around him. To be torn between regret and possessiveness...exactly how he wanted to spend his night.
Entering the VIP room, he scanned the area. Now that he was in public, he refrained from wearing his usual attire, and instead chose leather to cover his normally half bare body. It was harder to pierce, easy to move in, and quite comfortable, if he did say so himself. And, the fact that his woman 'liked the way his butt looked in leather pants...' well, that was an added bonus. It wasn't easy to spot the God sitting in the back of the room; the hairs on the back of his neck were practically standing on end at the subtle waves of power emanating from him. With a casual gait, he strolled over to the reclining man.
"Demios, I presume," He said with a formal bow. Power always respects its fellow Power, after all. He might be an animal, but he could certainly fain civility. "It is an honor. I am Corbin Muunhokhoi. Thank you for meeting with me tonight. I hope that you have thought about my...proposition?"
Lani
With one last glance at the street behind them, Ilani allowed herself to be led to the club before them. It was Saturday night, the weather was beautiful, she had the dress of the century and a kick ass attitude to make any man kiss her pink toe nailed feet...but could she stop thinking about her bar? About the co-manager looking after the place, or the 'what-if' that practically swirled around her mind? It had been almost six months since she'd let herself have a nice night out on the town, obsessed with making her bar a success, despite the disbelieving vibes she was getting from back home. There was a darn REASON why she'd left Brooklyn and why she'd cut off all ties...but did that stop her from checking her darn email every time it pinged? Of course not. Man, call her a masochist and chuck her in front of a speeding truck. Yeesh.
But hell, it was time to put on a happy face, girl! She was not going to think about the bar, about the possible biker fights currently breaking out inside, the fact that her rent was passed due or that her lying, cheating sack of shit boyfriend had been making out with one of her waitresses in her damn office last week. She was going to have fun, going to forget...
Going to be smushed in a crowd of people and get her ass pinched by a drunken dancer. MAN, she didn't know how much she missed having a night life until she got back into things! With a laugh, she hooked her arm through her friend's and followed her into the building. "Jesus, Rissa!" She howled over the music, grinning over at the blond. "You pick all the nicest places! Next time, we hit a...oh, hell, never mind. Thunder Down Under didn't have anything on these guys. HEYA, BABY! NICE ABS! Ooh, look, he pulled off his shirt! BODY SHOTS!"
At mention of the dance floor, however, all thoughts about the body builder by the bar suddenly disappeared. Without a second thought, she snagged her friend's hand and practically dragged her toward the mass of bodies in the middle of the room. "Dance floor!" She crowed, charging into the throng as the music washed over her. Once they made it to the middle of the crowd- her favorite place to be, for some reason, even if she caught sight of Mr. Pinchy Fingers was close by- she released Marissa's hand and raised her own up over her head, moving to the beat with an abandon that made her blood sing.
God, there was nothing like dancing off one's worries. Closing her eyes and tilting back her head, she moved to the thump of the music, basking in the warmth of bodies so close to her and the lure of contentment. Her silky pink dress rode up high on her thighs, and knee high booted feet thumped recklessly on the wooden floor. Because of the past week's many memorable events- what, was it her fault that said cheating boyfriend earned himself ten stitches and the imprint of a bar stool on his head? Hell no- her hair was streaked in a dark, blood red color, with little snarling vampire pieces bobbing in time to her movements.
Demios:
Oh yeah, there was something to be said when grown men couldn't meet your eyes and women seemed to flock to the ebbs’ of power your mere presence gave off. At any time but when he was trying to take care of business that was. He absolutely hated when mortal stuck their noses into business that wasn't their own and the approach of a hard faced, hard bodied warrior signaled that things were about to get interesting. Flicking a finger, he gave those near by a mental shove to leave and then placed one arm casually on the back of the booth. His keen eyes watched the predator lope of the approaching Fae and a slight smile settled on his lips. When the introduction came, a dark brow furrowed and he motioned to the seat across from him. "Please, there is no need to be so formal. I am Demios and I knew who you five minutes after your call came in for this meeting. Have a seat and order a drink. Might as well be comfortable as we talk about mutual.... endeavors."
Watching the other man carefully, Demios made a quick judgement of his companion and then raised one hand to signal a waitress. The woman simpered as she appeared at the table clad in next to nothing and it was almost all D could do to hide his disgust. Mortal women these days certainly weren't very challenging. What he wouldn't give for an Amazon warrior of old who liked to kick a little ass as much as she liked to heat up the sheets. A woman with some will power and intelligence.
Shaking his head inwardly at his own thoughts, he was about to turn his attention back to Muunhokhoi when a flicker of unease hit him. Something or someone in the club was disturbing his relaxation and his gaze went immediately towards the dance floor where the vibe of energy was coming from. After traveling over the crowd once, twice and then a third time, a scowl settled over his features. Two women seemed to be the central of his focus but there was nothing unusual about them. They were just two women having a good time. Maybe his senses were wrong this time.
Pulling his attention back to the matter at hand, Demios waited for Corbin to order and then placed his own. Once the woman was gone, he leaned forward and stepled his fingers.
"Your proposal was interesting to say the least.... However, world domination is a big undertaking.. What makes you think that you will be successful? In my experience, I've found that no matter how powerful you are.. There is always someone more so. We exist in a system of checks and balances. What is it you offer that you think would make it worthwhile for me to back you?"
For some reason, he found himself glancing back to the dancefloor and the two women again. A frown furrowed his brows and he was caught but a particular maneuver made that would drive any hot blooded male made with lust. It was like a fist to the gut and he drew in a quick breath. "And what the bloody hell are those women doing?"
Rissa:
Darn, girls night out was just way to much fun. Rissa almost hadn't made it out of the compound when she'd told Corbin her plans for the night while he was at his "business" meeting. He'd given her the glare of death and then proceeded to tell her what she could and could not do for the evening before falling THAT up with orders for her to go to only specific clubs he'd OK'd. She'd almost taken offense to his dictatorship but chosen to find it cute instead. He really was so sexy when he got on one of his dominate streaks and of course that had lead to another hour in the bedroom followed by another half hour correcting her makeup.
By the time she'd finally gotten out of his sight, she'd been drastically late and Lani had been about ready to go without her. Luckily, she'd arrived at her place just in time to dive into a vehicle with her and here they were.
Her friend had just had a major break up with some jackass with commitment issues and everyone knew that that called for a night on the town in their sexiest outfits and as much alcohol as they could stand. Toss in some hunky males eager to please and you had an instantly successful night... At least... for Lani that was. Rissa was all for having a good time but she wasn't about to get all touchy feely with some poor fool who would leave his scent on her and give Corbin a road map straight to his door for a midnight smack down.
Sidling up to the bar, Rissa had just tossed back two of the tequila's that had been bought for her when her friend was suddenly grabbing her arm and dragging her towards the dancefloor. Looking forlornly at the perfectly good alcohol they were leaving, she gave in gracefully and impishly gave a good looking dancer a wave on their way by, followed by a "MY FRIEND IS SINGLE" shout.
She knew she'd pay for that one later but when Lani cast her a look, she just smiled brightly and began to move to the beat of the music. Unfortunately, the dance floor was so packed it grew hard to really move and Rissa felt someone cop a feel of her ass but when she turned around, she couldn't tell exactly WHO had done the coping. As she looked, she saw a stage platform and a truly devious thought occured. One that would have gotten her eaten had Corbin been anywhere in the club but was perfectly sane since he was at a business meeting. Grabbing Lani's hand, she pulled her towards the platform and then climbed up on it. Pulling Lani up to, she began to sway sexily to David Guetta and Akons "Sexy Chick"
A grin shared between the two girls was a dare and they grew so engrossed in out doing the other one that they didn't noticed the attention they were garnering
Corbin:
No need to be formal...oh, how he longed to believe it. Sitting here, surrounded by mortals and the pounding music; it was enough to drive him mad. Formality forced him to accept the invitation to meet in town, instead of his quiet stronghold, and formality kept him sitting there, straight backed and resisting the urge to scoot the chair over to the wall. Without it, he would be snarling at everyone who moved, everyone that dared breathe too close to their conversation, and ripping off the shirt Marissa had shoved him into that afternoon.
At the thought of the witch, Corbin slowly felt his muscles relax and the bones in his neck unkink. There was just something about her that made the beast, the madness and all of the anger that drove him...sleep. It was as if, without her, all he could do was chomp at the bit and long for the peace of her presence. Definitely a thought that made his muscles stiffen right back up, because any kind of dependence was a sign of weakness. But, Gods, now was NOT the time for such thoughts. As the deity in front of him began to speak, he forced his mind back to reality.
Curtly relaying his order to the waitress, he leaned back in his chair, expressionless mask in place. He couldn't help a small twitch of amusement as the poor mortal did her best to win over the God's favor, and made it a point to focus his attention on his would-be partner as the woman sauntered away. The Fae in him wanted to come out and play, to seduce and connive, but he pushed it back with a practiced ease. There would be time for seducing...and seducing a certain blond spitfire, his human side whispered. And Corbin couldn't agree more.
His lips quirked as the God began to speak. "Is that was ambition is called, nowadays?" He couldn't help but ask, steepling his fingers under his chin. "'World domination...' how droll. What I am proposing, Sirrah, is an alliance of interest. There is a lot of power to be accumulated in this world and I have the means to get it. With your help, both of us can be very...happy." Ah, the vision of a world ruled by his hand, and time reversed back to a better, more...agreeable period. How he remembered those years of worship, of battle and bloodshed. He did miss the simpler days, when life consisted of bathing, fighting, eating and screwing like rabbits. It was so much easier than today, with all of the 'working women' and rules that one had to follow. With a mental shake, he turned back to the conversation at hand.
"What I offer," He continued, noting the God's roaming eyes. Something akin to irritation itched under his skin and he resisted the urge to growl. He was so used to commanding attention...perhaps this little jaunt into society would be a good test of his control. "What I offer is a chance at power. War brings fear, and rumor has it that you are quite intimate with the emotion. The more power I accumulate, the more fear will be generated and, as I understand, that would be very beneficial for you."
His mouth was open to say more, but before he could get a chance, a question seemed to burst from Demios' mouth. Intrigued, Corbin followed the God's eyes...and then proceeded to lose whatever semblance of 'formality' that he'd been holding onto. "The blond," He said slowly, the chair beneath his clenching fingers groaning under the strength of his grip. "Is mine, and it appears that she is dancing. If you would excuse me." Before the other man could reply, the warrior rose and strode purposefully out of the VIP section and toward the dance floor.
Possessive anger seemed to pour off of him and he couldn't stop himself from moving through the little path that the dancers made for the pissed off Fae, even if he wanted to. In less than a few strides, he was facing a dancer who had jumped up onto the table with the two women and had proceeded to circle Marissa like she was prey. Little did the poor mortal know that she was HIS prey.
With a snarl, his hand shot out and caught the male by the back of his shirt. With a sound that was swallowed by the music, the human went flying back into the crowd, to land with a dull crack. The surrounding dancers were keeping themselves a good distance away from the pissed off tall dude, and Corbin was morbidly disappointed at the fact. Looking up, he caught Marissa's eyes, voice carrying easily over the music. "Having fun tonight, ladies?"
Ilani:
At Rissa's shout, Ilani couldn't help but throw a shocked look her way before bursting out into a fit of laughter. Man, she just wasn't used to hanging around people as crazy as she was! She really had to hang out with Marissa Skye more often, she thought with a happy grin. Up on the little platform, she lifted up her arms and cast a sultry look at the men who cheered at her friend's declaration.
"Yeah, she's single!" She yelled back, winking at the men who scrambled to dance up close to the rise. "And she's hot. To. Trot!" Each word was punctuated by a hip swivel and she laughed at the howls of admiration that followed. With another shriek of laughter, she followed her friend's lead and proceeded to dance. God, how she loved this; loved the freedom of music. It was one of the reasons why she'd decided to open up The Pit, despite her dream of being able to control her own world. Through the money that she earned each night, Ilani made it a point to donate at least half to the local arts community. Struggling musicians, high school bands and other musically talented people were always welcome to play their songs on her stage, and even earned a cut of the night's earnings if they drew in a good crowd. In return, she was forever surrounded by music, whether good or bad, and frankly, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Even if she was broke more often than not. But HELL, there were those freaking annoying thoughts again! She would not dwell, not tonight! Not when she had a friend who knew how to party like a rock star, and Akon singing her favorite song. Ignoring the howls and the urge to kick faces getting a bit too close to the hem of her dress, she basked in the melody and the rhythmic thump of dancing bodies. Her hips ground to the beat and she caught Rissa's hand in a twirl. There was a pole that rose from the platform, and with an evil laugh, she swung around in small circles, gyrating her hips and copying moves she'd seen other women do on TV. She was wild, she was crazy, and she was chasing after some kind of release...
And she was currently being stared at by one helluva hunkamunka. Whoof, hand her a fan and a nice pillow to faint on, because...wowza.
As she twirled around the pole, she'd chanced a glance up at the balcony that marked the VIP section of the club. The Pit didn't have anything like that, and personally, she liked to think that all VIP'ers were snobs and too fugly to think about. It was a bit catty, but necessary to prevent her from snatching someone's pass in order to see what really went on in those coveted back rooms. She normally would have kept her attention on the cuties shaking their butts below her, but something seemed to draw her eyeballs up, until they rested on the rise above them. And man...talk about a sight to behold. She paused in mid-sway when she spotted two faces; one rugged and harsh, and the other...man, did she smell smoke? Were those her panties going up in flames? Talk about spontaneous combustion, because..mmmrow! And was he looking at her? Ooh, was that why the hairs on her arms were standing on end like they were electrified?
Hell, better give him something to stare at, right? She was always one for stealing the spotlight, and hell if she was going to pass it up when it was practically handed to her. Turning, she continued to dance, though her movements slowed, became more dramatic. She let her hands travel along her legs and through her streaked hair, jumping when the beat allowed and grinding when it didn't. And, before curiosity could boil her brain, she glanced at him over her shoulder with a grin and shook her butt like a rabbit waggling its tail. With her luck, Mr. Sexy would be staring at some other girl's fake boobs, but it couldn't hurt to have some fun.
Fun that was immediately interrupted, as some random dude who was dancing it up with Rissa was promptly pulled off stage. Immediately, whatever flirty feelings she was having went directly into Defense Mode, and she took a step closer to Marissa. "You know this guy, Riss?" She asked, glaring, fists clenched as if ready for a fight.
Demios:
Well, well, wasn't this just interesting? And here he thought this was going to be an average ordinary slumming in a mortal sin pit. It was pleasant to be surprised at times... it happened so rarely. As his gaze rested on the two women currently occupying one of the main daises, Demios heard his companion snarl. The pair was certainly a succulent example of opposites and it was obvious by the crowd gathered around them that he wasn't the only one who thought that. Giving both a look over, he decided there was something a bit otherworldly about the blond but it was the brunette that caught his attention. Smirking, he figured that was probably a good thing as Corbin laid claim to her friend.
Getting to his feet, the god of terror moved slowly in the Fae's wake and was rewarded when his own prey's eyes found him and darkened with heat. She was as obviously intrigued by him as he was by here. Oh yes, it was certainly good to be bad at times. Letting his lips curve into a smile that promised many dark delights, Demios arched a brow and then stopped not far behind Corbin as he growled at the enchanting blond.
This should certainly be interesting, he thought to himself as the brunette seemed to snap back to reality and got ready to.. Protect?.. the blond. That was a laugh. Corbin would eat her alive and that would certainly be a shame. He could think of so many better uses for that delightfully curved body. Sighing, the god realized he was about to do something he hadn't done in a long time. He was going to interfere with someone elses fun. Shit.
Moving casually forward, he offered a hand to the little sexy hellcat and waited for her to take it. The blonde was eying her own master like she was debating fleeing and Demios didn't want to see his new little toy damaged before he got a chance to play with her. "Come, my dear... Your friend is perfectly... safe... I assure you.. I think her lord is just a bit .. possessive... Which I can well understand. Two such lovely ladies could be trampled by the stampede for your favors." he drawled out
Marissa
Dancing with all intent and purpose on blowing off some extra steam, Marissa wasn’t at first aware of the stir in the club. The music was so loud and the laser lights fed her impish delight even as her hips swung in a seductive pose. For a moment, she let her eyelashes drift close and she enjoyed the beat of the music that actually rattled the stage she and Lani stood on. Completely unaware of the danger tracking her, she raised her hands and moved with natural grace. Unfortunately, the yelp of someone nearby had her whirling around in time to see the body of a man go flying and Corbin's angry eyes nailed on HER. "OH HOLY CRAP!" she eeped out with frantic glance around for some avenue of retreat.
Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any and to her alarm, she felt Lani prickle at her side. "OH YEAH.. I KNOW HIM.... That’s my lover .. Except... He doesn't look like he’s very lover like right now does he? Err.. or maybe he does?? He does look a bit green around the gills doesn't he?? You know.. I think I'm just going to go to the ladies room."
With that, Rissa's eyes landed on another darkly handsome man standing not far away and her eyes widened. "AND WHOS HE?" she hissed just before her heel hit a spot where some idiot and spilled their drink and her feet flew out from under her sending her backwards and straight into Corbin's arms. Luckily, he caught her and didn't drop her on the floor like she knew he probably wanted too. "Uh... Hi baby?"
Corbin:
Baby? HI BABY?! That was ALL she had to say to him, after allowing that, that..MORTAL to dance so close to her? The urge to strangle her warred with the urge to mark her so that all of the males in the room knew she was his. And, to make things better, his little show of possessiveness had not been ignored by the God he'd met that night. If anything, it would now be known that there was something in the world that could get under the usually unaffected Fae's skin. He would be seen as weak, Marissa would be used against him, his plans for power would be undermined...
Pressure started behind his eyes, and he could feel himself slowly drift into that ever present madness. Before he could dwell on it, however, his arms found themselves filled with the familiar curves of his witch, and with a half groan, half growl, he swung her up into his arms. The God was preoccupied with the female that had accompanied Marissa to the club- he would learn more about her later- and with a stiff bow in the other man's direction, proceeded to carry the irritating wench off toward a secluded corner of the first floor. A thought later, he was diverting his route to the stairs leading up to the VIP area, leaving both Demios and the now squawking mortal woman behind.
"Are you MAD?" He snarled at the woman in his arms, eyes on the path in front of them. "Do you know who that was? Did I not tell you that you could attend one of these...functions, if you kept yourself in the background? Why aren't you afraid enough to heed my orders?" Frustrated, he snarled at a group of younglings who were perched on the only couch in the room. With a collective gasp, they swarmed out of the room. With another growl and a curse under his breath, he proceeded to dump his cargo onto the soft leather beneath her.
"You were letting that...MORTAL dance with you. Touch you! Gods, I want to tear this whole place apart until there is nothing left!" What had begun as mere pressure began to surge into a full out headache, and he growled again, rubbing at the throbbing pulse beneath his temples. He had to stay calm, had to 'keep his cool,' and keep his emotions behind. It would not do to kill all of the dancers below them, or find the stupid human who had danced with her, tear his limbs off and beat him with them. He was trying to show Demios that he could be calm, collected, able to control this pitiful world without turning into a crazed 'world dominating' fool. However, after that last show...
Glaring down at Marissa, he couldn't help but kneel before her, curling his hand around the back of her neck. "You must calm me," He spat out the words, feeling the skin of his face tighten as the Fae inside raged to be let out. "Before I destroy your happy little playground, and everyone in it."
Lani
"Ha, 'a bit' my beautifully curved ass," Ilani continued to glare at the man below them, but it seemed that no one but Mr. Sex On a Stick was paying her any mind. Swatting away the offered hand, she forced herself to look down at him, took a minute to stare and drool, then put her hands on her hips and turned her glare in his direction. "I'd say she's as safe as a lone beer bottle on Saturday night. And...wait, what? Your lover?" Turning to Rissa, she opened her mouth to demand what in the holy hell her guy was doing looking like that, all snarly and scary, but never got the chance. With a very embarrassing 'AAIEEE!', she leapt for Rissa as she tumbled backwards. Thank God that her scary ass lover was there to catch her...or was it? Holy hell, he was just carting her off, as if she were a sack of potatoes! What the hell, man!
As always when a friend was off doing something she didn't like, a surge of protectiveness came swarming into her chest. Jaw clenched, lips pulled down in a severe frown, and eyes on fire, she leapt off of the stage and landed on her booted feet with a grumble. It was time to call in the big boys, because there was no way she was getting up into that VIP room.
It was time to call in the ghosties. Aw, and she'd been having such a nice, pretty, ghost free night. AND with Mr. Melt My Panties Off looking like he was interested in eating her right up, to boot! She just couldn't win.
Ignoring the walking Hamina-Hamina for a minute, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and pulled. According to Cash, who claimed that he'd been sent to her to serve as her 'spirit guide,' if he was ever needed, she could pluck him up from wherever or whatever plane he was at, and transport him to where she was. It always resulted in one helluva headache, both from the pulling AND from her normally chatty-as-all-hell ghost buddy, but right now, she needed a lookout. With a gasp, Cash appeared in front of her, in all of his Renaissance glory. His beard practically quivered as he looked around at the dancers around him. Before he could go lunge at one of the short skirted women, however, she pointed a finger at him.
"Don't you move, or I'm gonna chuck your butt in limbo so fast, you'll be looking for body parts!" Cash gulped and went rail stiff. Turning to Hamina-Hamina, she changed the direction of her finger before he could move...which, given the situation, would probably be soon. And away from her. Dammit. "You, Mr. Sexy Back, just stand there and look nummy. Don't listen to me and don't call the white coats. I'm crazy and I'm packing. Now, you," Finger back at Cash. "Go follow Rissa and her crazy ass boyfriend and make sure he isn't crushing her bones to make his bread. Aaap!" When Cash began to argue, she held up her hand like a cop directing traffic. "Don't you dare say no to me! I know what to say to make you solid enough for me to stick my boot up your butt, so go! Right now! FLOAT, FOREST, FLOAT."
As Cash disappeared, she put one hand up to her head and sighed. So much for her happy, quiet night. Cash would see what was happening, relay it back to her...but wait, would that be enough? Crap, she had to get into the damned VIP section and see for herself, or she'd be sitting there, biting her nails and cursing for the rest of the night. Crap. But, like a light bulb going off, the image of Mr. Sexy up in the VIP balcony flashed into her mind. Oh, look it that; she had a pass right there! Err...well, if he was still right there. Whirling around, she grinned when she caught sight of the aforementioned Mmmrow and poked a finger at his chest. "Okay, so now this is the part where you escort me upstairs, so I can see if my friend's alright. So...let's go. Right now." She blinked, repeated what she'd just said in her head, and winced. Okay, so maybe ordering around a guy who called boyfriends 'lords' might not be a good idea.
"Err...that is, hello, kind Sir. You have a very nice butt and some really mesmerizing eyes. I fawn over you, you make my heart stop, yadda, yadda, blah, blah...please take me upstairs so I don't end up beating up some bouncers? I already got a rap sheet a mile long, and I don't need any more trouble. I just got here."
Rissa:
Aw hell, she'd really done it now.
Those were the only words that would go through her brain as she stared up into Corbin's savage expression. Part of her grew a bit terrified of the fury she could see chasing around in his head but damn it... She wasn't a witch for nothing. If he thought he was going to start bullying her now, he had another thing coming. That thought lasted a whole whopping five seconds as she caught the fast approaching signs of his little evil beastie and concern replaced her disgruntlement. As he dropped her on the leather sofa and then dropped to his knees before her, she took a quick look around and then thought fast. She knew he hated weakness of any kind and this insanity that plagued him was something he desperately tried to cover up.
In a bold move, the petite blond wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard while wrapping her body around his in a manner that suggested that they were getting a tad friendlier that maybe was proper. Her maneuver allowed him to save face and made it appear as if he was dominating her in the age old manner of men with women who simply wouldn't shut up. Everyone would think they were just having a makeup make out session between an erstwhile woman and her poor plagued boyfriend. All sympathy would be with him and he would appear to have properly put her in her place. Keeping with that poses, when she pulled back, she was meekly soft even as her eyes glinted with mischief.
"I'm sorry, baby... Next time I promise to do just as you tell me." she declared even while she tried to make it look as if nothing else was amidst. "It wasn't my intention to interrupt your business... In fact, I wasn’t aware this was even the same club. “She whispered under her breath even as she straightened her dress and tried to appear properly chastised.
"And just for the record... I wasn't ALLOWING him to touch me... he hadn't laid a finger on me... if he had; I would have knocked him off the stage myself. Lani was just having a bit of fun and it would have been rude not to go along with it."
Placing a finger on his lips, she shot him another look of mischief and then whispered. "Although that little display has me really turned on.... It’s kind of nice to know you missed me... Too bad this place is so packed... I could certainly show you how much I missed you..."
Hoping that her rambling had distracted him enough, Rissa leaned back and realized that they were being observed by none other than Lani's pet ghostie, Cash. Blinking rapidly, she stared at him as he shrugged and mouthed "SHE TOLD ME TO WATCH YOU." Groaning, Marissa's head dropped onto Corbin's shoulder and she sighed. He was never going to let her out on her own again.
Demios:
Demios couldn't help but admire the way the man held on to his control even as the blond fell straight into his arms. Personally, he always enjoyed watching his women attract attention but the Fae seemed more the type that was possessive of his treasures. A possessive Fae was a dangerous thing as they didn't hesitate to kill anything that dares to threaten their possessions. Demios figured the mortal man that had been flung across the room was probably lucky to still be alive.
Turning his attention back to the now squawking brunette, the god of terror felt his brows arch to the ceiling as she rattled off orders and rambling nonsense. Or at least.. What seemed like rambling nonsense to him? When she pointed her finger at him and proceeded to give HIM orders, his expression really grew bemused. He, the god of Terror and twin of Phobos, god of fear was being ordered around by a willowy little mortal? He had the sudden urge to scratch his head and wonder if this was some sort of insane prank being played by his twin.
Definitely not though, he decided as she seemed to pull on some inner power and a corporal ghost popped into existence. Well, this was DEFINITELY getting interesting now. She had the power to summon the dead? Maybe there was more to her than just a sexy little body after all. Interest peeked; he crossed his arms and waited for her to turn her attention back to him. When it did, she hit him with yet another surprise and he was forced to the conclusions that A.) She had no idea who he was B.) She was going to get herself killed by going after her friend alone and C.) she had to be demented in some sort of way to toss such a blatant challenge into the face of a man who'd hadn't been interested in anything in far too long.
Deciding to at least go along with her plan, he waved her forward and escorted her through the club and to the VIP section. Gaining the upper floor, he arched a brow and drawled. "I think you can relax. Your friend is safe enough in public... he won't eat her in such a public place..."
Walking towards the back, his words were proven correct as their gaze fell upon the couple they sought entwined in what seemed to be a... passionate... embrace. With a sardonic look at the brunette, he arched a brow. "I stand correct... Maybe he WILL try to eat her... just not in the way you pictured..."
Corbin
He caught that look of fear in her eyes before she could hide it, and hated the surge of shame that ripped through him. He couldn't stop himself from wanting her, needing her, CLAIMING HER, as much as he could stop himself from breathing. She had gotten so close to him, that he scarcely could remember a time when she hadn't been a part of his life. That ugly voice in the back of his head couldn't stop twittering about spells, but his common sense knew better. He was far too old to be snared by anyone without his allowing it, and Marissa...she didn't seem to be manipulating him.
The surprise he'd seen in her face had been genuine, not fake, so she hadn't planned on forcing him to lose control in front of his would-be partner. And she had taken pity on him- for his sake or the clubs, either way, he was grateful- when he was about to lose complete control. She couldn't be conspiring against him...could she?
Those sweet lips seemed to calm his mind, turning a roiling sea into a docile beach. Ignoring everything around them, he pulled her closer, leaning over her so that he could press her deep into the couch. He needed to put a mark on her, to show everyone that she was his. He needed to put his scent on her...SOMETHING, so that no one would ever approach her again. The mere thought of that dancer, so close to touching what was his, was enough to make him thirst for blood again. But her voice penetrated the red fog, and he slowly began to relax.
"You are lying," He growled against the soft skin of her neck. "But I like to hear those words. You will say them often...'I will do as you tell me, Corbin.' Yes, I do like those words." Lifting his head, he rested his forehead against hers drinking in the mischief practically pouring out of her eyes. Reluctantly, he pulled away enough to allow her to wiggle around the couch, setting clothes right. Absently, he looked around to make sure that no one was watching, practically growling at any whose eyes lingered too long on those shapely legs next to him. A possessive boyfriend did not begin to describe his current mindset.
Glancing over his shoulder as her attention was diverted, his brows shot up at the sight of the ghost hovering near the door. Upon seeing the Fae's face, Cash quickly dashed behind the wall with a very audible 'EEK,' and Corbin let loose an irritated sigh. Looking back to Marissa, he put on a 'don't argue with me' expression and wound his arms around her.
"We will leave now," He said softly, lips near her ear. "And I will contact the God shortly. I cannot stay here, with so many people around you...and I want you. Naked and in my arms." He nuzzled the soft curve of her neck and breathed out a tortured growl, pulling her close against his chest. Without waiting for an answer, he called on the powers of his people and, in a blink that, thankfully, no one but Demios and Ilani was witness to, seemed to disappear. Invisible to the human eye, he stretched out a hand a gritted his teeth, tearing through the fabric of reality until he created a portal leading to his fortress beyond.
Scooping her up in his arms, he didn't give the others behind him a second glance, before strolling through the opening and back home. Demios would probably turn him down, with the little show. The thought rankled, bringing forth those thoughts of weakness...but with his woman so close, they didn't seem to take route. He had to have her, like an addict needed a fix, and she was hers for the taking.
Lani
Oh goody, Mr. Scrumdidilyumptious wasn't about to run away screaming! How fun! And how...unexpected. For a minute, Ilani could only stare at him as he began to walk toward the VIP room with an exaggerated motion for her to precede him. What the heck? She had just ranted at him, talked to thin air, and then turned back and ranted some more. Didn't the man have any kind of self preservation instincts? Common sense? When a crazy lady started to go...well, crazy, it was probably a good idea to run away.
But he hadn't. Huh, look it that; she was totally surprised. Maybe there were some guys with balls still alive and kicking in the world.
When he spoke, a sputtered laugh escaped her. Pausing on the stairs, she turned to look at him, a droll expression on her face as one brow raised in amusement. "Oh wow, you must be related to Dr. Phil," She said with a snicker. She leaned closer to make sure he heard her...and mmmrow, was that aftershave or just him? Ooh, if it was just him, she was SO tapping that later. "I think I feel better already. Not. Damn, I swear, if he's abusive, I'm gonna kill him. Then kill Marissa for going out with him. Does ANYBODY listen to me when I say 'background checks are our friend?' No, of course not...and then they get beat on my dumb fucks."
Before she could continue her rant, however, Cash's face appeared in front of her. With a surprised noise, she reeled back, almost losing her footing on the stairs under her. In an effort to not fall down the stairs and break her neck, she caught hold of her drool worthy escort and clung for dear life. "JESUS EFFING CHRIST, CASH!" She said breathlessly, thumping a fist on her chest, as if to stop her galloping heart. "Don't DO that! Man, spying is supposed to be helpful, not an attempt to kill me! Yeesh." With a grumble, she turned her face into the warm coat under her clutching hand, leaning against the body beside her...and then proceeded to jerk back with a horrified groan. Oh great, wonderful, FANTASTIC. Let's look like we're wiping our nose on the hot guy's jacket! Fix it, fix it!
"Uh, er...nice jacket. Material's really...um...soft. I gotta get the name of your tailor. Anyway. VIP room! Yay!" As fast as her boots would allow, she burst into the oddly empty room and let out a disappointed sigh. "Man, just tables? No roller coaster? Naughty videos? Half naked waiters? Damn, VIP sucks." Catching sight of her friend and the scary ass lover, however, she was allowed to bring her thoughts back to the situation at hand.
"Oh yeah, HEY YOU!" Cash was doing some kind of weird, jumpy dance, but she didn't have time to listen to him whine about having to pee. As if ghosts could pee...sheeze. "Stand up right now, buster, and do some talking! You man handle my friend like you did downstairs, and you'll be sitting on a doughnut for the rest of your...AAIEEE!" In the blink of an eye, what had been Marissa and Scary Dude in some kind of intimate embrace turned into an empty couch. Ilani blinked, rubbed her eyes, blinked again, then proceeded to take a faltering step back, the back of one hand at her forehead.
"Great," She said in a choked voice. "I'm finally going batshit crazy. They just disappeared. Poof. Thin air. OIVAY...gah. Heart burn?" Her hand went immediately down to her chest as a strange tingling feeling erupted there. It was as if something ghost-like was moving, stretching, tearing...and holy CRAP, the air was shimmering. With another squawk, she backed up a step and smacked right into Mr. Lick Me All Over. The shimmering intensified, the sound of muted voices in her ears and then, with the sound of a crack that made her jaw ache, it was gone.
With another choked laugh, she looked up at the man behind her. "I really wish I knew how to faint. Probably comes in handy in situations like these. So...um...if you're gonna go call the cops, or the white coats...could you gimme a minute to run away screaming? Please?"
Saturday nights were definitely his favorite time of the week. Ensconced in a VP booth in the back of the techno club, a dark figure stretched his legs and took a drink of his whiskey. Dark eyes surveyed the crowd from under even darker brows and an air of menace hung over him like a cloud. His whole persona dared someone to approach him and promised death in retribution. Leather rippled along his hard frame when he moved and his expression was bored while he scanned the scantily clad women making eyes at him and dismissing them just as suddenly as he noticed them.
Demios was no one’s fool and the lust in their eyes was enough to bore him to tears. Human women were all the same.
Picking up his glass, the man drained the rest of his drink and then glanced at his clock. His associate should be arriving any moment and he was surprisingly interested in finding out just what the Fae might want from him.
As he watched the dancers, his mind went back over the information he'd gathered on the other man. Corbin was known for his nasty temper, volatile ways and all around mercenary behavior. Just the type of gentleman he liked doing business with. Unfortunately, he also had a taste for world domination and that was something Demios couldn't allow. It may not be all peach and cream the way it was but it suited his purposes. Besides which, for all that he was the god of Terror... What fun was it terrifying an already victimized world?
Rissa:
Practically bouncing with excitement, Marissa Abigail Skye took one last look at her reflection in her handy dandy compact and then looked at her companion. Looping her arm through the brunettes, she grinned impishly as they strolled right up to the front door of the best club in town and were admitted without pause. Once inside the door, she took in the place and gave a twinkling laugh
"OH! This is going to be so much fun!" she called out above the racket of the music and voices. "What should we do first? Grab a drink? Hit the dance floor? I don't know about you but this music is making me wanna move my feet!"
Tossing her golden hair, the slender witch caught the eyes of a man watching them and she gave him a wink before grabbing Lani's hand and dancing towards the bar. The place was so packed that she had to poke and prod their way through but at last they were cozied up to the counter and drinks were being shoved in front of them by a group of men that had gladly let them by in order to get a better look at the women.
Corbin:
Ah, the sounds of pulsing music and stomping feet. It was enough to drive away the soft chirp of the forest, the soothing cool air of the night...and drive a pounding headache between his eyes. Good Gods, why anyone would want to be subject to such NOISE was beyond him! Humans and their obnoxious music; he would never understand it, as long as he cared to walk the asphalt lands.
Passing through the front door without a sideways glance at the bouncer, Corbin made his way into the club, eyes flickering from face to face as he took in the layout of the room. Instinctively, he made note of the exits, of the shady faces in the crowd, those with unnecessary bulges about their person. The strange sounds coming from the speakers around them were offensive, and his fingers twitched to heave a spell or two at their whining encasements. Why did the humans around here find such pleasure in a place like this?
The crowd parted around him, as if sensing his distaste, and he eyed the dancers milling about the middle of the room. Body on body, skin on skin...slowly, a harsh smile fell onto his face. Ah yes, that is where the appeal came. The smell of sweat and sex was in the air, appealing to the Fae in his blood. There was nothing like the taste of temptation to wet a man's appetite and the sight of such scantily clad women made his dislike of the music take a close second.
It was really too bad that he was always thinking about a certain witch nowadays. Oh, the fun that he would have with the little mortals flitting about the room. Some were glancing his way, holding his eyes for a few moments before finding something else to look at, but the messages were all the same: come, tempt, and take.
He wasn't sure if having one woman was something he could ever get used to. The lush little bodies flitting around him, so ripe for the taking...and yet, his human half refused to look twice at the alluring sea of faces around him. To be torn between regret and possessiveness...exactly how he wanted to spend his night.
Entering the VIP room, he scanned the area. Now that he was in public, he refrained from wearing his usual attire, and instead chose leather to cover his normally half bare body. It was harder to pierce, easy to move in, and quite comfortable, if he did say so himself. And, the fact that his woman 'liked the way his butt looked in leather pants...' well, that was an added bonus. It wasn't easy to spot the God sitting in the back of the room; the hairs on the back of his neck were practically standing on end at the subtle waves of power emanating from him. With a casual gait, he strolled over to the reclining man.
"Demios, I presume," He said with a formal bow. Power always respects its fellow Power, after all. He might be an animal, but he could certainly fain civility. "It is an honor. I am Corbin Muunhokhoi. Thank you for meeting with me tonight. I hope that you have thought about my...proposition?"
Lani
With one last glance at the street behind them, Ilani allowed herself to be led to the club before them. It was Saturday night, the weather was beautiful, she had the dress of the century and a kick ass attitude to make any man kiss her pink toe nailed feet...but could she stop thinking about her bar? About the co-manager looking after the place, or the 'what-if' that practically swirled around her mind? It had been almost six months since she'd let herself have a nice night out on the town, obsessed with making her bar a success, despite the disbelieving vibes she was getting from back home. There was a darn REASON why she'd left Brooklyn and why she'd cut off all ties...but did that stop her from checking her darn email every time it pinged? Of course not. Man, call her a masochist and chuck her in front of a speeding truck. Yeesh.
But hell, it was time to put on a happy face, girl! She was not going to think about the bar, about the possible biker fights currently breaking out inside, the fact that her rent was passed due or that her lying, cheating sack of shit boyfriend had been making out with one of her waitresses in her damn office last week. She was going to have fun, going to forget...
Going to be smushed in a crowd of people and get her ass pinched by a drunken dancer. MAN, she didn't know how much she missed having a night life until she got back into things! With a laugh, she hooked her arm through her friend's and followed her into the building. "Jesus, Rissa!" She howled over the music, grinning over at the blond. "You pick all the nicest places! Next time, we hit a...oh, hell, never mind. Thunder Down Under didn't have anything on these guys. HEYA, BABY! NICE ABS! Ooh, look, he pulled off his shirt! BODY SHOTS!"
At mention of the dance floor, however, all thoughts about the body builder by the bar suddenly disappeared. Without a second thought, she snagged her friend's hand and practically dragged her toward the mass of bodies in the middle of the room. "Dance floor!" She crowed, charging into the throng as the music washed over her. Once they made it to the middle of the crowd- her favorite place to be, for some reason, even if she caught sight of Mr. Pinchy Fingers was close by- she released Marissa's hand and raised her own up over her head, moving to the beat with an abandon that made her blood sing.
God, there was nothing like dancing off one's worries. Closing her eyes and tilting back her head, she moved to the thump of the music, basking in the warmth of bodies so close to her and the lure of contentment. Her silky pink dress rode up high on her thighs, and knee high booted feet thumped recklessly on the wooden floor. Because of the past week's many memorable events- what, was it her fault that said cheating boyfriend earned himself ten stitches and the imprint of a bar stool on his head? Hell no- her hair was streaked in a dark, blood red color, with little snarling vampire pieces bobbing in time to her movements.
Demios:
Oh yeah, there was something to be said when grown men couldn't meet your eyes and women seemed to flock to the ebbs’ of power your mere presence gave off. At any time but when he was trying to take care of business that was. He absolutely hated when mortal stuck their noses into business that wasn't their own and the approach of a hard faced, hard bodied warrior signaled that things were about to get interesting. Flicking a finger, he gave those near by a mental shove to leave and then placed one arm casually on the back of the booth. His keen eyes watched the predator lope of the approaching Fae and a slight smile settled on his lips. When the introduction came, a dark brow furrowed and he motioned to the seat across from him. "Please, there is no need to be so formal. I am Demios and I knew who you five minutes after your call came in for this meeting. Have a seat and order a drink. Might as well be comfortable as we talk about mutual.... endeavors."
Watching the other man carefully, Demios made a quick judgement of his companion and then raised one hand to signal a waitress. The woman simpered as she appeared at the table clad in next to nothing and it was almost all D could do to hide his disgust. Mortal women these days certainly weren't very challenging. What he wouldn't give for an Amazon warrior of old who liked to kick a little ass as much as she liked to heat up the sheets. A woman with some will power and intelligence.
Shaking his head inwardly at his own thoughts, he was about to turn his attention back to Muunhokhoi when a flicker of unease hit him. Something or someone in the club was disturbing his relaxation and his gaze went immediately towards the dance floor where the vibe of energy was coming from. After traveling over the crowd once, twice and then a third time, a scowl settled over his features. Two women seemed to be the central of his focus but there was nothing unusual about them. They were just two women having a good time. Maybe his senses were wrong this time.
Pulling his attention back to the matter at hand, Demios waited for Corbin to order and then placed his own. Once the woman was gone, he leaned forward and stepled his fingers.
"Your proposal was interesting to say the least.... However, world domination is a big undertaking.. What makes you think that you will be successful? In my experience, I've found that no matter how powerful you are.. There is always someone more so. We exist in a system of checks and balances. What is it you offer that you think would make it worthwhile for me to back you?"
For some reason, he found himself glancing back to the dancefloor and the two women again. A frown furrowed his brows and he was caught but a particular maneuver made that would drive any hot blooded male made with lust. It was like a fist to the gut and he drew in a quick breath. "And what the bloody hell are those women doing?"
Rissa:
Darn, girls night out was just way to much fun. Rissa almost hadn't made it out of the compound when she'd told Corbin her plans for the night while he was at his "business" meeting. He'd given her the glare of death and then proceeded to tell her what she could and could not do for the evening before falling THAT up with orders for her to go to only specific clubs he'd OK'd. She'd almost taken offense to his dictatorship but chosen to find it cute instead. He really was so sexy when he got on one of his dominate streaks and of course that had lead to another hour in the bedroom followed by another half hour correcting her makeup.
By the time she'd finally gotten out of his sight, she'd been drastically late and Lani had been about ready to go without her. Luckily, she'd arrived at her place just in time to dive into a vehicle with her and here they were.
Her friend had just had a major break up with some jackass with commitment issues and everyone knew that that called for a night on the town in their sexiest outfits and as much alcohol as they could stand. Toss in some hunky males eager to please and you had an instantly successful night... At least... for Lani that was. Rissa was all for having a good time but she wasn't about to get all touchy feely with some poor fool who would leave his scent on her and give Corbin a road map straight to his door for a midnight smack down.
Sidling up to the bar, Rissa had just tossed back two of the tequila's that had been bought for her when her friend was suddenly grabbing her arm and dragging her towards the dancefloor. Looking forlornly at the perfectly good alcohol they were leaving, she gave in gracefully and impishly gave a good looking dancer a wave on their way by, followed by a "MY FRIEND IS SINGLE" shout.
She knew she'd pay for that one later but when Lani cast her a look, she just smiled brightly and began to move to the beat of the music. Unfortunately, the dance floor was so packed it grew hard to really move and Rissa felt someone cop a feel of her ass but when she turned around, she couldn't tell exactly WHO had done the coping. As she looked, she saw a stage platform and a truly devious thought occured. One that would have gotten her eaten had Corbin been anywhere in the club but was perfectly sane since he was at a business meeting. Grabbing Lani's hand, she pulled her towards the platform and then climbed up on it. Pulling Lani up to, she began to sway sexily to David Guetta and Akons "Sexy Chick"
A grin shared between the two girls was a dare and they grew so engrossed in out doing the other one that they didn't noticed the attention they were garnering
Corbin:
No need to be formal...oh, how he longed to believe it. Sitting here, surrounded by mortals and the pounding music; it was enough to drive him mad. Formality forced him to accept the invitation to meet in town, instead of his quiet stronghold, and formality kept him sitting there, straight backed and resisting the urge to scoot the chair over to the wall. Without it, he would be snarling at everyone who moved, everyone that dared breathe too close to their conversation, and ripping off the shirt Marissa had shoved him into that afternoon.
At the thought of the witch, Corbin slowly felt his muscles relax and the bones in his neck unkink. There was just something about her that made the beast, the madness and all of the anger that drove him...sleep. It was as if, without her, all he could do was chomp at the bit and long for the peace of her presence. Definitely a thought that made his muscles stiffen right back up, because any kind of dependence was a sign of weakness. But, Gods, now was NOT the time for such thoughts. As the deity in front of him began to speak, he forced his mind back to reality.
Curtly relaying his order to the waitress, he leaned back in his chair, expressionless mask in place. He couldn't help a small twitch of amusement as the poor mortal did her best to win over the God's favor, and made it a point to focus his attention on his would-be partner as the woman sauntered away. The Fae in him wanted to come out and play, to seduce and connive, but he pushed it back with a practiced ease. There would be time for seducing...and seducing a certain blond spitfire, his human side whispered. And Corbin couldn't agree more.
His lips quirked as the God began to speak. "Is that was ambition is called, nowadays?" He couldn't help but ask, steepling his fingers under his chin. "'World domination...' how droll. What I am proposing, Sirrah, is an alliance of interest. There is a lot of power to be accumulated in this world and I have the means to get it. With your help, both of us can be very...happy." Ah, the vision of a world ruled by his hand, and time reversed back to a better, more...agreeable period. How he remembered those years of worship, of battle and bloodshed. He did miss the simpler days, when life consisted of bathing, fighting, eating and screwing like rabbits. It was so much easier than today, with all of the 'working women' and rules that one had to follow. With a mental shake, he turned back to the conversation at hand.
"What I offer," He continued, noting the God's roaming eyes. Something akin to irritation itched under his skin and he resisted the urge to growl. He was so used to commanding attention...perhaps this little jaunt into society would be a good test of his control. "What I offer is a chance at power. War brings fear, and rumor has it that you are quite intimate with the emotion. The more power I accumulate, the more fear will be generated and, as I understand, that would be very beneficial for you."
His mouth was open to say more, but before he could get a chance, a question seemed to burst from Demios' mouth. Intrigued, Corbin followed the God's eyes...and then proceeded to lose whatever semblance of 'formality' that he'd been holding onto. "The blond," He said slowly, the chair beneath his clenching fingers groaning under the strength of his grip. "Is mine, and it appears that she is dancing. If you would excuse me." Before the other man could reply, the warrior rose and strode purposefully out of the VIP section and toward the dance floor.
Possessive anger seemed to pour off of him and he couldn't stop himself from moving through the little path that the dancers made for the pissed off Fae, even if he wanted to. In less than a few strides, he was facing a dancer who had jumped up onto the table with the two women and had proceeded to circle Marissa like she was prey. Little did the poor mortal know that she was HIS prey.
With a snarl, his hand shot out and caught the male by the back of his shirt. With a sound that was swallowed by the music, the human went flying back into the crowd, to land with a dull crack. The surrounding dancers were keeping themselves a good distance away from the pissed off tall dude, and Corbin was morbidly disappointed at the fact. Looking up, he caught Marissa's eyes, voice carrying easily over the music. "Having fun tonight, ladies?"
Ilani:
At Rissa's shout, Ilani couldn't help but throw a shocked look her way before bursting out into a fit of laughter. Man, she just wasn't used to hanging around people as crazy as she was! She really had to hang out with Marissa Skye more often, she thought with a happy grin. Up on the little platform, she lifted up her arms and cast a sultry look at the men who cheered at her friend's declaration.
"Yeah, she's single!" She yelled back, winking at the men who scrambled to dance up close to the rise. "And she's hot. To. Trot!" Each word was punctuated by a hip swivel and she laughed at the howls of admiration that followed. With another shriek of laughter, she followed her friend's lead and proceeded to dance. God, how she loved this; loved the freedom of music. It was one of the reasons why she'd decided to open up The Pit, despite her dream of being able to control her own world. Through the money that she earned each night, Ilani made it a point to donate at least half to the local arts community. Struggling musicians, high school bands and other musically talented people were always welcome to play their songs on her stage, and even earned a cut of the night's earnings if they drew in a good crowd. In return, she was forever surrounded by music, whether good or bad, and frankly, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Even if she was broke more often than not. But HELL, there were those freaking annoying thoughts again! She would not dwell, not tonight! Not when she had a friend who knew how to party like a rock star, and Akon singing her favorite song. Ignoring the howls and the urge to kick faces getting a bit too close to the hem of her dress, she basked in the melody and the rhythmic thump of dancing bodies. Her hips ground to the beat and she caught Rissa's hand in a twirl. There was a pole that rose from the platform, and with an evil laugh, she swung around in small circles, gyrating her hips and copying moves she'd seen other women do on TV. She was wild, she was crazy, and she was chasing after some kind of release...
And she was currently being stared at by one helluva hunkamunka. Whoof, hand her a fan and a nice pillow to faint on, because...wowza.
As she twirled around the pole, she'd chanced a glance up at the balcony that marked the VIP section of the club. The Pit didn't have anything like that, and personally, she liked to think that all VIP'ers were snobs and too fugly to think about. It was a bit catty, but necessary to prevent her from snatching someone's pass in order to see what really went on in those coveted back rooms. She normally would have kept her attention on the cuties shaking their butts below her, but something seemed to draw her eyeballs up, until they rested on the rise above them. And man...talk about a sight to behold. She paused in mid-sway when she spotted two faces; one rugged and harsh, and the other...man, did she smell smoke? Were those her panties going up in flames? Talk about spontaneous combustion, because..mmmrow! And was he looking at her? Ooh, was that why the hairs on her arms were standing on end like they were electrified?
Hell, better give him something to stare at, right? She was always one for stealing the spotlight, and hell if she was going to pass it up when it was practically handed to her. Turning, she continued to dance, though her movements slowed, became more dramatic. She let her hands travel along her legs and through her streaked hair, jumping when the beat allowed and grinding when it didn't. And, before curiosity could boil her brain, she glanced at him over her shoulder with a grin and shook her butt like a rabbit waggling its tail. With her luck, Mr. Sexy would be staring at some other girl's fake boobs, but it couldn't hurt to have some fun.
Fun that was immediately interrupted, as some random dude who was dancing it up with Rissa was promptly pulled off stage. Immediately, whatever flirty feelings she was having went directly into Defense Mode, and she took a step closer to Marissa. "You know this guy, Riss?" She asked, glaring, fists clenched as if ready for a fight.
Demios:
Well, well, wasn't this just interesting? And here he thought this was going to be an average ordinary slumming in a mortal sin pit. It was pleasant to be surprised at times... it happened so rarely. As his gaze rested on the two women currently occupying one of the main daises, Demios heard his companion snarl. The pair was certainly a succulent example of opposites and it was obvious by the crowd gathered around them that he wasn't the only one who thought that. Giving both a look over, he decided there was something a bit otherworldly about the blond but it was the brunette that caught his attention. Smirking, he figured that was probably a good thing as Corbin laid claim to her friend.
Getting to his feet, the god of terror moved slowly in the Fae's wake and was rewarded when his own prey's eyes found him and darkened with heat. She was as obviously intrigued by him as he was by here. Oh yes, it was certainly good to be bad at times. Letting his lips curve into a smile that promised many dark delights, Demios arched a brow and then stopped not far behind Corbin as he growled at the enchanting blond.
This should certainly be interesting, he thought to himself as the brunette seemed to snap back to reality and got ready to.. Protect?.. the blond. That was a laugh. Corbin would eat her alive and that would certainly be a shame. He could think of so many better uses for that delightfully curved body. Sighing, the god realized he was about to do something he hadn't done in a long time. He was going to interfere with someone elses fun. Shit.
Moving casually forward, he offered a hand to the little sexy hellcat and waited for her to take it. The blonde was eying her own master like she was debating fleeing and Demios didn't want to see his new little toy damaged before he got a chance to play with her. "Come, my dear... Your friend is perfectly... safe... I assure you.. I think her lord is just a bit .. possessive... Which I can well understand. Two such lovely ladies could be trampled by the stampede for your favors." he drawled out
Marissa
Dancing with all intent and purpose on blowing off some extra steam, Marissa wasn’t at first aware of the stir in the club. The music was so loud and the laser lights fed her impish delight even as her hips swung in a seductive pose. For a moment, she let her eyelashes drift close and she enjoyed the beat of the music that actually rattled the stage she and Lani stood on. Completely unaware of the danger tracking her, she raised her hands and moved with natural grace. Unfortunately, the yelp of someone nearby had her whirling around in time to see the body of a man go flying and Corbin's angry eyes nailed on HER. "OH HOLY CRAP!" she eeped out with frantic glance around for some avenue of retreat.
Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be any and to her alarm, she felt Lani prickle at her side. "OH YEAH.. I KNOW HIM.... That’s my lover .. Except... He doesn't look like he’s very lover like right now does he? Err.. or maybe he does?? He does look a bit green around the gills doesn't he?? You know.. I think I'm just going to go to the ladies room."
With that, Rissa's eyes landed on another darkly handsome man standing not far away and her eyes widened. "AND WHOS HE?" she hissed just before her heel hit a spot where some idiot and spilled their drink and her feet flew out from under her sending her backwards and straight into Corbin's arms. Luckily, he caught her and didn't drop her on the floor like she knew he probably wanted too. "Uh... Hi baby?"
Corbin:
Baby? HI BABY?! That was ALL she had to say to him, after allowing that, that..MORTAL to dance so close to her? The urge to strangle her warred with the urge to mark her so that all of the males in the room knew she was his. And, to make things better, his little show of possessiveness had not been ignored by the God he'd met that night. If anything, it would now be known that there was something in the world that could get under the usually unaffected Fae's skin. He would be seen as weak, Marissa would be used against him, his plans for power would be undermined...
Pressure started behind his eyes, and he could feel himself slowly drift into that ever present madness. Before he could dwell on it, however, his arms found themselves filled with the familiar curves of his witch, and with a half groan, half growl, he swung her up into his arms. The God was preoccupied with the female that had accompanied Marissa to the club- he would learn more about her later- and with a stiff bow in the other man's direction, proceeded to carry the irritating wench off toward a secluded corner of the first floor. A thought later, he was diverting his route to the stairs leading up to the VIP area, leaving both Demios and the now squawking mortal woman behind.
"Are you MAD?" He snarled at the woman in his arms, eyes on the path in front of them. "Do you know who that was? Did I not tell you that you could attend one of these...functions, if you kept yourself in the background? Why aren't you afraid enough to heed my orders?" Frustrated, he snarled at a group of younglings who were perched on the only couch in the room. With a collective gasp, they swarmed out of the room. With another growl and a curse under his breath, he proceeded to dump his cargo onto the soft leather beneath her.
"You were letting that...MORTAL dance with you. Touch you! Gods, I want to tear this whole place apart until there is nothing left!" What had begun as mere pressure began to surge into a full out headache, and he growled again, rubbing at the throbbing pulse beneath his temples. He had to stay calm, had to 'keep his cool,' and keep his emotions behind. It would not do to kill all of the dancers below them, or find the stupid human who had danced with her, tear his limbs off and beat him with them. He was trying to show Demios that he could be calm, collected, able to control this pitiful world without turning into a crazed 'world dominating' fool. However, after that last show...
Glaring down at Marissa, he couldn't help but kneel before her, curling his hand around the back of her neck. "You must calm me," He spat out the words, feeling the skin of his face tighten as the Fae inside raged to be let out. "Before I destroy your happy little playground, and everyone in it."
Lani
"Ha, 'a bit' my beautifully curved ass," Ilani continued to glare at the man below them, but it seemed that no one but Mr. Sex On a Stick was paying her any mind. Swatting away the offered hand, she forced herself to look down at him, took a minute to stare and drool, then put her hands on her hips and turned her glare in his direction. "I'd say she's as safe as a lone beer bottle on Saturday night. And...wait, what? Your lover?" Turning to Rissa, she opened her mouth to demand what in the holy hell her guy was doing looking like that, all snarly and scary, but never got the chance. With a very embarrassing 'AAIEEE!', she leapt for Rissa as she tumbled backwards. Thank God that her scary ass lover was there to catch her...or was it? Holy hell, he was just carting her off, as if she were a sack of potatoes! What the hell, man!
As always when a friend was off doing something she didn't like, a surge of protectiveness came swarming into her chest. Jaw clenched, lips pulled down in a severe frown, and eyes on fire, she leapt off of the stage and landed on her booted feet with a grumble. It was time to call in the big boys, because there was no way she was getting up into that VIP room.
It was time to call in the ghosties. Aw, and she'd been having such a nice, pretty, ghost free night. AND with Mr. Melt My Panties Off looking like he was interested in eating her right up, to boot! She just couldn't win.
Ignoring the walking Hamina-Hamina for a minute, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and pulled. According to Cash, who claimed that he'd been sent to her to serve as her 'spirit guide,' if he was ever needed, she could pluck him up from wherever or whatever plane he was at, and transport him to where she was. It always resulted in one helluva headache, both from the pulling AND from her normally chatty-as-all-hell ghost buddy, but right now, she needed a lookout. With a gasp, Cash appeared in front of her, in all of his Renaissance glory. His beard practically quivered as he looked around at the dancers around him. Before he could go lunge at one of the short skirted women, however, she pointed a finger at him.
"Don't you move, or I'm gonna chuck your butt in limbo so fast, you'll be looking for body parts!" Cash gulped and went rail stiff. Turning to Hamina-Hamina, she changed the direction of her finger before he could move...which, given the situation, would probably be soon. And away from her. Dammit. "You, Mr. Sexy Back, just stand there and look nummy. Don't listen to me and don't call the white coats. I'm crazy and I'm packing. Now, you," Finger back at Cash. "Go follow Rissa and her crazy ass boyfriend and make sure he isn't crushing her bones to make his bread. Aaap!" When Cash began to argue, she held up her hand like a cop directing traffic. "Don't you dare say no to me! I know what to say to make you solid enough for me to stick my boot up your butt, so go! Right now! FLOAT, FOREST, FLOAT."
As Cash disappeared, she put one hand up to her head and sighed. So much for her happy, quiet night. Cash would see what was happening, relay it back to her...but wait, would that be enough? Crap, she had to get into the damned VIP section and see for herself, or she'd be sitting there, biting her nails and cursing for the rest of the night. Crap. But, like a light bulb going off, the image of Mr. Sexy up in the VIP balcony flashed into her mind. Oh, look it that; she had a pass right there! Err...well, if he was still right there. Whirling around, she grinned when she caught sight of the aforementioned Mmmrow and poked a finger at his chest. "Okay, so now this is the part where you escort me upstairs, so I can see if my friend's alright. So...let's go. Right now." She blinked, repeated what she'd just said in her head, and winced. Okay, so maybe ordering around a guy who called boyfriends 'lords' might not be a good idea.
"Err...that is, hello, kind Sir. You have a very nice butt and some really mesmerizing eyes. I fawn over you, you make my heart stop, yadda, yadda, blah, blah...please take me upstairs so I don't end up beating up some bouncers? I already got a rap sheet a mile long, and I don't need any more trouble. I just got here."
Rissa:
Aw hell, she'd really done it now.
Those were the only words that would go through her brain as she stared up into Corbin's savage expression. Part of her grew a bit terrified of the fury she could see chasing around in his head but damn it... She wasn't a witch for nothing. If he thought he was going to start bullying her now, he had another thing coming. That thought lasted a whole whopping five seconds as she caught the fast approaching signs of his little evil beastie and concern replaced her disgruntlement. As he dropped her on the leather sofa and then dropped to his knees before her, she took a quick look around and then thought fast. She knew he hated weakness of any kind and this insanity that plagued him was something he desperately tried to cover up.
In a bold move, the petite blond wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hard while wrapping her body around his in a manner that suggested that they were getting a tad friendlier that maybe was proper. Her maneuver allowed him to save face and made it appear as if he was dominating her in the age old manner of men with women who simply wouldn't shut up. Everyone would think they were just having a makeup make out session between an erstwhile woman and her poor plagued boyfriend. All sympathy would be with him and he would appear to have properly put her in her place. Keeping with that poses, when she pulled back, she was meekly soft even as her eyes glinted with mischief.
"I'm sorry, baby... Next time I promise to do just as you tell me." she declared even while she tried to make it look as if nothing else was amidst. "It wasn't my intention to interrupt your business... In fact, I wasn’t aware this was even the same club. “She whispered under her breath even as she straightened her dress and tried to appear properly chastised.
"And just for the record... I wasn't ALLOWING him to touch me... he hadn't laid a finger on me... if he had; I would have knocked him off the stage myself. Lani was just having a bit of fun and it would have been rude not to go along with it."
Placing a finger on his lips, she shot him another look of mischief and then whispered. "Although that little display has me really turned on.... It’s kind of nice to know you missed me... Too bad this place is so packed... I could certainly show you how much I missed you..."
Hoping that her rambling had distracted him enough, Rissa leaned back and realized that they were being observed by none other than Lani's pet ghostie, Cash. Blinking rapidly, she stared at him as he shrugged and mouthed "SHE TOLD ME TO WATCH YOU." Groaning, Marissa's head dropped onto Corbin's shoulder and she sighed. He was never going to let her out on her own again.
Demios:
Demios couldn't help but admire the way the man held on to his control even as the blond fell straight into his arms. Personally, he always enjoyed watching his women attract attention but the Fae seemed more the type that was possessive of his treasures. A possessive Fae was a dangerous thing as they didn't hesitate to kill anything that dares to threaten their possessions. Demios figured the mortal man that had been flung across the room was probably lucky to still be alive.
Turning his attention back to the now squawking brunette, the god of terror felt his brows arch to the ceiling as she rattled off orders and rambling nonsense. Or at least.. What seemed like rambling nonsense to him? When she pointed her finger at him and proceeded to give HIM orders, his expression really grew bemused. He, the god of Terror and twin of Phobos, god of fear was being ordered around by a willowy little mortal? He had the sudden urge to scratch his head and wonder if this was some sort of insane prank being played by his twin.
Definitely not though, he decided as she seemed to pull on some inner power and a corporal ghost popped into existence. Well, this was DEFINITELY getting interesting now. She had the power to summon the dead? Maybe there was more to her than just a sexy little body after all. Interest peeked; he crossed his arms and waited for her to turn her attention back to him. When it did, she hit him with yet another surprise and he was forced to the conclusions that A.) She had no idea who he was B.) She was going to get herself killed by going after her friend alone and C.) she had to be demented in some sort of way to toss such a blatant challenge into the face of a man who'd hadn't been interested in anything in far too long.
Deciding to at least go along with her plan, he waved her forward and escorted her through the club and to the VIP section. Gaining the upper floor, he arched a brow and drawled. "I think you can relax. Your friend is safe enough in public... he won't eat her in such a public place..."
Walking towards the back, his words were proven correct as their gaze fell upon the couple they sought entwined in what seemed to be a... passionate... embrace. With a sardonic look at the brunette, he arched a brow. "I stand correct... Maybe he WILL try to eat her... just not in the way you pictured..."
Corbin
He caught that look of fear in her eyes before she could hide it, and hated the surge of shame that ripped through him. He couldn't stop himself from wanting her, needing her, CLAIMING HER, as much as he could stop himself from breathing. She had gotten so close to him, that he scarcely could remember a time when she hadn't been a part of his life. That ugly voice in the back of his head couldn't stop twittering about spells, but his common sense knew better. He was far too old to be snared by anyone without his allowing it, and Marissa...she didn't seem to be manipulating him.
The surprise he'd seen in her face had been genuine, not fake, so she hadn't planned on forcing him to lose control in front of his would-be partner. And she had taken pity on him- for his sake or the clubs, either way, he was grateful- when he was about to lose complete control. She couldn't be conspiring against him...could she?
Those sweet lips seemed to calm his mind, turning a roiling sea into a docile beach. Ignoring everything around them, he pulled her closer, leaning over her so that he could press her deep into the couch. He needed to put a mark on her, to show everyone that she was his. He needed to put his scent on her...SOMETHING, so that no one would ever approach her again. The mere thought of that dancer, so close to touching what was his, was enough to make him thirst for blood again. But her voice penetrated the red fog, and he slowly began to relax.
"You are lying," He growled against the soft skin of her neck. "But I like to hear those words. You will say them often...'I will do as you tell me, Corbin.' Yes, I do like those words." Lifting his head, he rested his forehead against hers drinking in the mischief practically pouring out of her eyes. Reluctantly, he pulled away enough to allow her to wiggle around the couch, setting clothes right. Absently, he looked around to make sure that no one was watching, practically growling at any whose eyes lingered too long on those shapely legs next to him. A possessive boyfriend did not begin to describe his current mindset.
Glancing over his shoulder as her attention was diverted, his brows shot up at the sight of the ghost hovering near the door. Upon seeing the Fae's face, Cash quickly dashed behind the wall with a very audible 'EEK,' and Corbin let loose an irritated sigh. Looking back to Marissa, he put on a 'don't argue with me' expression and wound his arms around her.
"We will leave now," He said softly, lips near her ear. "And I will contact the God shortly. I cannot stay here, with so many people around you...and I want you. Naked and in my arms." He nuzzled the soft curve of her neck and breathed out a tortured growl, pulling her close against his chest. Without waiting for an answer, he called on the powers of his people and, in a blink that, thankfully, no one but Demios and Ilani was witness to, seemed to disappear. Invisible to the human eye, he stretched out a hand a gritted his teeth, tearing through the fabric of reality until he created a portal leading to his fortress beyond.
Scooping her up in his arms, he didn't give the others behind him a second glance, before strolling through the opening and back home. Demios would probably turn him down, with the little show. The thought rankled, bringing forth those thoughts of weakness...but with his woman so close, they didn't seem to take route. He had to have her, like an addict needed a fix, and she was hers for the taking.
Lani
Oh goody, Mr. Scrumdidilyumptious wasn't about to run away screaming! How fun! And how...unexpected. For a minute, Ilani could only stare at him as he began to walk toward the VIP room with an exaggerated motion for her to precede him. What the heck? She had just ranted at him, talked to thin air, and then turned back and ranted some more. Didn't the man have any kind of self preservation instincts? Common sense? When a crazy lady started to go...well, crazy, it was probably a good idea to run away.
But he hadn't. Huh, look it that; she was totally surprised. Maybe there were some guys with balls still alive and kicking in the world.
When he spoke, a sputtered laugh escaped her. Pausing on the stairs, she turned to look at him, a droll expression on her face as one brow raised in amusement. "Oh wow, you must be related to Dr. Phil," She said with a snicker. She leaned closer to make sure he heard her...and mmmrow, was that aftershave or just him? Ooh, if it was just him, she was SO tapping that later. "I think I feel better already. Not. Damn, I swear, if he's abusive, I'm gonna kill him. Then kill Marissa for going out with him. Does ANYBODY listen to me when I say 'background checks are our friend?' No, of course not...and then they get beat on my dumb fucks."
Before she could continue her rant, however, Cash's face appeared in front of her. With a surprised noise, she reeled back, almost losing her footing on the stairs under her. In an effort to not fall down the stairs and break her neck, she caught hold of her drool worthy escort and clung for dear life. "JESUS EFFING CHRIST, CASH!" She said breathlessly, thumping a fist on her chest, as if to stop her galloping heart. "Don't DO that! Man, spying is supposed to be helpful, not an attempt to kill me! Yeesh." With a grumble, she turned her face into the warm coat under her clutching hand, leaning against the body beside her...and then proceeded to jerk back with a horrified groan. Oh great, wonderful, FANTASTIC. Let's look like we're wiping our nose on the hot guy's jacket! Fix it, fix it!
"Uh, er...nice jacket. Material's really...um...soft. I gotta get the name of your tailor. Anyway. VIP room! Yay!" As fast as her boots would allow, she burst into the oddly empty room and let out a disappointed sigh. "Man, just tables? No roller coaster? Naughty videos? Half naked waiters? Damn, VIP sucks." Catching sight of her friend and the scary ass lover, however, she was allowed to bring her thoughts back to the situation at hand.
"Oh yeah, HEY YOU!" Cash was doing some kind of weird, jumpy dance, but she didn't have time to listen to him whine about having to pee. As if ghosts could pee...sheeze. "Stand up right now, buster, and do some talking! You man handle my friend like you did downstairs, and you'll be sitting on a doughnut for the rest of your...AAIEEE!" In the blink of an eye, what had been Marissa and Scary Dude in some kind of intimate embrace turned into an empty couch. Ilani blinked, rubbed her eyes, blinked again, then proceeded to take a faltering step back, the back of one hand at her forehead.
"Great," She said in a choked voice. "I'm finally going batshit crazy. They just disappeared. Poof. Thin air. OIVAY...gah. Heart burn?" Her hand went immediately down to her chest as a strange tingling feeling erupted there. It was as if something ghost-like was moving, stretching, tearing...and holy CRAP, the air was shimmering. With another squawk, she backed up a step and smacked right into Mr. Lick Me All Over. The shimmering intensified, the sound of muted voices in her ears and then, with the sound of a crack that made her jaw ache, it was gone.
With another choked laugh, she looked up at the man behind her. "I really wish I knew how to faint. Probably comes in handy in situations like these. So...um...if you're gonna go call the cops, or the white coats...could you gimme a minute to run away screaming? Please?"
