The Black Parade [ Gavin, ask ]

[Sephira]

Body of a monkey and the feet of a cock,
Dragged from her home on the killing rock,
Black dog dying on the weather vain,
The Devil's in a cat and the baby's brain,


The End - The End of The American,
The End - The End of The American,
The End - The End of The American Witch

The witch bristled, pacing the dark cave in her dagger heeled boots; the furious click, click, click, was the only sound to be heard save the light rain drops from and earlier storm and the occasional flutter of bat wings.
Fear did -not- like to be kept waiting, even more so in such a disgusting place and especially not for a dragon shifter too ruined he couldn’t even take the form of a man anymore.
The ghastly thing was older than dirt, one of the original spawn of her little experiment with Kyle Aodhagan. What do you know? That little experiment had worked; gloriously in fact up until a few months ago.

The reverie of her minions fleeing to return ‘his’ call brought a sneer to her face. -He- was the very thing they were supposed to protect her from.

Not all of them had turned their back on her however; including the broken one she called Lazarus. Laz had been the one that told her the news of the traitors. It was good fortune that he had seen the extent of her anger and still lived.
So here she was now, waiting. And he was late. The fury fairly seethed out of her.

At the smell of brimstone that signified his arrival the raven haired sorceress had to remind her self not to punish him before he’d spoken his information. What good was a roasted dragon if they bore no gossip?
Well, they were quite tasty, but that was neither here nor there…

The massive black reptile struggled to fit into the small cavern, ending up bowing to his queen and then remaining in that position.

“Lazy Lizard.” Fear muttered under her breath and then waved her hand to alight a series of sconces that lined the wall.
She click, click, clicked her way over to him, resting her palm on its lowered head.
“My Queen.” It rasped in a snake-like voice. “Thank you for giving me an audience.”

Fear chuckled and danced her fingertips over his spiny head. “Save your gratitude until I have heard your news. If it is not worthy of my time your thanks will turn to pleas for forgiveness.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “What information do you have for me Lazarus? The sunrise is almost upon us and I am starving. I have a craving for vampire tonight and I intend to see it met.”

The great beast drew back, afraid. He had seen too many of his brethren devoured by those ruby colored lips for much less.
“He is here!” The dragon answered immediately and rose as if to prove his worth. “The others came to him on the outskirts of this very city, aided him in saving a human female and started a confrontation with the new fae king.”

A thin black brow arched curiously over gem-green eyes. “Is that so? Do, tell me more.”

The dragon snorted and stretched its long thorny tail. “Aodhagan remains hidden here, rumored to still be with this female human, a prophet. The city has begun to crumble to the flood of other worlders. The time seems ripe for opportunity. Kill the Kyle while he is distracted, and then capture the empire called New Orleans.”

Fear fairly clapped like a school girl…on the inside, anyway. She would never show a minion any kind of appreciation or praise. It just didn’t bode well when trying to keep an army of feral creatures under your thumb.

Sephira cleared her throat, pulling the crystal shard from a sheath in her boot.
“Have you found exactly where Aodhagan and his bitch are hiding, Laz?” She demanded coolly and fingered the sharp edge of the splinter.

The dragon tensed, his reptilian eye catching the glint off the ancient relic. “No, my queen. I mean to leave here directly in search of them.”

“No, you will not.” The sorceress appeared at his throat, reaching down to cradle his head as the glowing shard fell across the thick skin of his jugular.
Shimmering black-blue blood spilled from the wound, a growing pool of dark cobalt she found her gaze ensnared in until it nearly soiled the toe of her boot.
The female unaffectedly, steeped around it, a scream piercing the night as she let out the fury and pain that had accumulated in her chest. The bloody shard came down in violent slashes as the witch tore into the veil between the worlds like a sheer window curtain that had displeased her.

As if they’d been waiting, an army of vile creatures begun to seep through. A legion of demons, a group of rabid were-beasts, foul lower level reapers; each monster more repulsive than the one before it.

Fear licked at the dark blood from the crystal and tucked it neatly back into its sheath. She watched the procession with the excitement of a child at the circus, emerald eyes sparkling darkly. It was beginning…

(( I figure you can have had him watching the whole thing from the shadows, or coming in with the ‘procession’. XD ))

[Gavin Aodhagán]

"Will you defeat them
Your demons and all the non-believers
The plans that they have made?
Because one day, I'll leave you
A phantom to lead you in the summer
To join the Black Parade"

Gavin was restless. Things were starting to happen, plans were coming together, pieces were falling into place. Sephira was even more ruthless than ever. As she felt her goal coming closer within reach you could feel the dark energy radiate from her. Gavin had needed some space, so he had arrived on his own.

Taking his time he had walked through the forested area and then hiked up the hills to where the cave was hidden. He was trying to clear his own mind. The thoughts were jumbled, he had waited a long time for this as well. To finally, one day find his father. The murderous bastard who had killed his mother, ripped from him his life, his birthright before he'd even had a chance to know what it was.

Gavin was troubled, loyal to Sephira but he still knew that something was not the way it was supposed to be. That his life was taking a path it was never intended to. He blamed his father for all of this. Shaking his head he tried to clear the hovering thoughts. He needed to focus. Soon, he would find the man he sought. Face him for the first and last time in his life before he killed him.

Approaching the cave, Gavin slowed. He could hear voices. Quietly he made his way through the entrance, staying hidden in the shadows as he got closer. Stopping when he was close enough he could see the two. He leaned against the wall as he waited, listening. It was Sephira and one of her dragon minions. Her voice was familiar, he could hear the thinly veiled acid dripping from her tone, even if anyone else couldn't. She was a master of hiding her true thoughts and feelings.

The woman was intriguing to say the last. Her raven black hair, her dark beauty that was only matched by her brutality and cruelty. The only thing not veiled in darkness were her bright emerald green eyes, something he always found odd.

Gavin knew he was different, special. He had never really felt her wrath but he had seen it unleashed many times. Witnessed her odd appetites. None of that mattered, all that was important was she had saved him, made him the warrior he had grown into. Respect, loyalty, in his eyes she deserved them both and he would defend her with his last breath if it came to that.

Listening again, the old broken dragon shifter had news. Gavin stayed quiet, taking it all in. His throat tightened and his jaw clenched when he heard the words, “He is here!” The he that was being referred to was Kyle. His father. Gavin had to push the rising feeling of revenge back down. He needed to be patient he told himself.

Kyle was the reason Fear's dragon army ranks had thinned. They had heeded his call when he was in need. This news was not pleasant. Gavin seethed with anger. At least it was confirmed. His father was here, in this city they called New Orleans. The riffs in the realms were causing chaos and it was the perfect time to make their opening move.

Gavin watched as Sephira pulled the ruby red fragment from her boot. Observed as she cut the dragon's throat. He steeled himself as she let loose a high pitched scream and opened a portal with the crystal. As the summoned creatures crossed through into the earth realm, Gavin pushed himself off the wall of the cave and moved forward.

Scrubbing a hand through his short dark hair he approached Sephira. Making sure he gave the new arrivals a wide berth as he moved around to face her. He couldn't help the smirk that crossed his lips as he let his eyes meet hers. Steady, unflinching.

"You know that losing members of our army to Kyle is a problem. Killing them off ourselves isn't helping. We're going to need all that we can manage to keep loyal."

Gavin let out a long heavy sigh, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he gazed at her. He knew it was her way, there was no changing her. But, he felt it was his responsibility to remind her that they were at a critical time. They needed all they could gather if they were going to succeed. Being over confident would only hinder them right now. Still, he smiled at her.

"And so it begins? I think it is time that I make my appearance to the human world? I'm the best bet to find my father among them. We have always known that."

Folding his arms across his chest he surveyed the interior of the dark cavern. His eyes scanned the rag tag grouping of creatures that had gathered and were dispersing themselves throughout the cave. These demons would serve their purpose with Sephira unleashing them into the world. It was a fine line they walked. Too much chaos and they wouldn't be able to get themselves close to Kyle and the others.

[Sephira]

Fear lifted her arms, waving them about as if she was the conductor of a fierce orchestra. The sound of flapping, leathery wings and the scraping of claws and hooves on the cave floor was a music she could really dance to. Her emerald eyes sparkled intensely as the procession went on and the last ghastly creature spilled out of the fissure, and the witch crossed her arms over her chest and smiled in satisfaction as she pictured the panic those grotesque monsters would cause. Ah, this was a night to celebrate. She was going to paint the town red, literally.

The sound of Gavin’s husky drawl made her taunt smile stretch even further across her dazzlingly pale, etched face. The sorceress smirked and turned to face him, her knowing gaze drifting down his sinewy form and up to those shimmering azure eyes, always so full of quiet reverence.
“But Darkling, he was old…and broken. We can’t afford to send broken soldiers into the vanguard, now can we? He would have been easily caught and made to suffer in exchange for information. What kind of Sovereign would I be if I hadn’t ended his torment before it began?” A malicious laughter bubbled up from her throat. The words had sounded so honest to even her ears it tickled her to imagine she was getting better at lying, a thing she had been perfecting for centuries.
“Besides, we can always make mooooore.” Sephira drew the word into a song, dragging sharpened ruby colored nails across his chest as she moved to the mouth of the cave; in the darkness of the night, it seemed to drop down into nothingness.

The female drew in a long heavy sigh as Gavin quietly demanded to be released into the human realm, a thing she had been dreading for an eternity. Yes, he was a perfectly wicked way to find the ancient shifter; to break his heart all over again and make him suffer as -she- had suffered in the prison of the Other Realm. In her dark castle. With all her slaves and minions…

Still, something in her black heart clenched at the thought of loosing the dark warrior into the human world. How did that old adage go? If you love something set it free?
The raven haired witch couldn’t help but click her tongue against her teeth. Love? Freedom? What did she know of such things?

Steeling herself to the fact she could no more hold the shifter back than she could steal the two moons (yet), she turned to face him, nodding quietly.
“It is time, Gavin. I have known this for too long. If that loathed dragon still lives we will never see our ambitions come to fruition. The world will go on without feeling our wrath and this I cannot tolerate. They will see their skies darken and they will weep as our world seeps into theirs and steals all the goodness and radiance from it.”

Her gaze drifted back towards the cavern opening, and she tilted her head as if to invite the shifter. “Come with me then. I have plans for this Godforsaken place tonight. We will follow the black parade and smear the town with crimson.”

[Gavin Aodhagán]

"Will you defeat them
Your demons and all the non-believers
The plans that they have made?
Because one day, I'll leave you
A phantom to lead you in the summer
To join the Black Parade"

Gavin was amused and somewhat mesmerized by Sephira, as he usually was. She was such a tantalizing creature. So wicked in her ways and yet, he couldn't explain it. He was drawn to her. Most beings were he supposed, but their connection was different than the others. He let out a very quiet sigh.

He watched her face for the slightest signs of emotion. The flicker of feelings that she forced back and tried to hide. She was so much more that what she portrayed to the world. He knew more about her than most, but he often wondered what she hid from him. They had a closeness. However he suffered no illusions, she didn't reveal all of her secrets, even to him. There was a smug smirk that played on his lips as she agreed that it was time.

Waiting, he allowed the other creatures to head out of the cave. Standing side by side with Sephira. His thoughts again wandering. This was only the beginning and how it was going to play out he had no idea. The fact that sometime soon he was going to meet his father welled up inside him. A low growl escaped him of it's own accord at the thought.

His mind drifted. Again, he had to shake himself loose from the descent into his own head. Shifting his attention back to Sephira. He really did spend to much time lost in his own thought. Always analyzing.

"Crimson, it is such a wonderful color. I can't wait to see your eyes sparkling in contrast."

Gavin replied to her invitation.

Finally, when the cavern was empty, Gavin reached out and stroked her shiny raven hair for a moment. Then he held his arm up, offering it to Sephira to take if she wished. He gave her a sly smile and nodded.

"What shall we do first? Perhaps we should let them roam free for a while. We could find a place for us to stay while we are here. We will need an appropriate place to call home and act as a headquarters, I think? Unless you have already taken care of that? This cave simply will not do."

Gavin walked with Sephira, they made their way out of the entrance of the cave. Heading toward the human city of New Orleans. A tingle ran down his spine. The people there had no idea what was in store for them. The hell that was about to be unleashed. Thoughts of finding his father flashed through his mind again. His face set in solemn determination.

[Sephira]

Sephira was pleased Gavin was willing to be patient instead of rushing headlong into the chaos that was a reunion between he and his father. Truthfully, she had no intention of seeing that happen ever, for she hoped to behead the dragon thorn in her ass before her companion even laid his eyes on the sorry excuse for a shifter.There was no way in hell she could allow a meeting between the males. The sorceress had molded Gavin into the perfect underling; intense, shrewd, powerful and brave. He never showed any fear or loathing towards her despite her cruelty.
In some ways it infuriated the female; in others… it brought her a smidgen of peace.

Where would she be without him? Alone in her wickedness, that’s where.

If Gavin was allowed to speak with his father, would the shifter be able to shatter the web of lies she had weaved for so long? It was doubtful, but the witch didn’t want to take that chance.

“Yes, we should find a place to rest…soon.” The raven haired sorceress assured him and smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle from her black pencil skirt. “But first let us enjoy the evening. My pets are hungry and I should like to watch them get their fill.”

And with that the pair set off for the bustling streets of the city proper.
The night had cooled considerably thanks to an earlier rain, and it seemed the unseasonable breeziness had invited all the people out of their homes and hotel rooms to flock to the busy downtown area of New Orleans.

Sephira stopped to let her gaze wander over the gathered. Her gem-green eyes sparkled with all the intensity of the garish business illuminations and there was even a smile written across her stunning visage.
“Where shall we begin?” Fear cross her arms over her lithe breast and grinned at Gavin mischievously. “Shall we find a beverage and watch the show, or would you rather get started spreading the carnage ourselves?”

Usually Fear wouldn’t ask what someone else wanted. She did as she pleased.
But Gavin was new to this foreign world and his intense azure eyes were wide with curiosity.
How could she deny him just a little taste of the mortal world before they burned it to the ground?

[Gavin Aodhagán]

"Will you defeat them
Your demons and all the non-believers
The plans that they have made?
Because one day, I'll leave you
A phantom to lead you in the summer
To join the Black Parade"

Gavin let his eyes scan every corner of the area as they moved deeper into the city. Taking in a deep breath he let his other senses reach out and drink in the amazing flurry of activity that was going on around him. It was an assault on his sensitive senses but it was glorious and welcome. Gavin was and always would be Sephira’s loyal warrior, he knew her plans, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t find this all remarkable. Where as the humans seem to repulse the sorceress they utterly fascinated the shifter.

He continued to watch and take in his surroundings as they walked. There were noises all around them. The strange things Sephira had called cars moved up and down the streets. Music and voices drifted out of the buildings and from people who just seemed to be wandering the streets. Many voices, some of them loud some of them soft. The loud voices, some of them raised in anger, some of them jovial some of them, just loud. People were laughing, crying, all sorts of emotions exposed and shown without care for others that might see. The humans walked, moved, scurried almost. They all held themselves differently. They all moved at different rates. All the differences seemed to make it’s own kind of strange rhythm to Gavin.

They carried strange devices. Some of them sat with things on their laps as they tapped at them and stared at a screen in front of them. Others had smaller hand held devices they either poked at smaller buttons or some of them held them to their ears and spoke into them. Gavin frowned as he saw one man with such a device held to his head. He could hear the man speaking angrily into the thing as if it had offended him.

Before he could stop himself Gavin strode over to the man and ripped the small metal and plastic thing out of his hand. Taking just a moment to look at it he could see the buttons had number and letters on them and there was a screen that lit up. Quickly he put the device to his ear as the man had, then spoke.

“What have you done to anger this man?”

When he heard a female voice answer back asking for Steven with a question in her voice, Gavin pulled the device away quickly. He stared at it in awe again before he thrust it back into the man’s hand. As the man made an attempt to defend his property Gavin glared and gave a low growl. That froze the man and Gavin turned on his heel and returned to Sephira’s side. Shaking his head as he moved.

“What was that strange thing? There was a woman inside there, I heard her voice.”

Gavin and Sephira continued their journey through the city. There was much more for Gavin to see. The public displays these humans made, of everything. They were not shy. At least it did not seem so. Gavin witnessed everything, from simple hand holding, quick pecks on the cheeks to some so wrapped up in each other they weren’t aware of anything else around them. There were others who took things even farther, a man with a woman pressed up against a wall in an alley their clothes half removed. He could not only see, but smell what was going on there. The scent of sex weighed heavy in the air as they passed by. Gavin raised an eyebrow, glanced over at Sephria and gave her a smirk.

“I think I might like to have that drink. Is it always like this here?”

Taking a deep breath he let it out slowly. The sight of the couple in the alley had caught him off guard and he needed to settle himself down. It didn’t help that Sephira was near. He attempted to clear his throat but it turned into a bit of a growl, that in turn changed into a bit of a frustrated grumble. He wondered what else was in store for him, where Sephira would take him now. He definitely needed a drink. The strongest sort of libation these humans had would be good right about now.

[Sephira]

Fear was amused by the way Gavin’s emotions played across his visage like a film.His keen eyes took in everything, narrowing as they lit on so many foreign things, and the corners of his ample lips curved up when he found something intriguing.
And the night was full of intriguing things.

Inhibition was a heady perfume that lingered in the humid night air. It tasted rich and sinful; like dark chocolate on the back of the witch’s tongue.
The melody of wickedness was a beautiful music that made Sephira want to dance, and so she followed the sound of a hypnotic, thumping rhythm to a dimly lit dance club.

A glittering rumble actually escaped the sorceress’ throat when Gavin interrupted the male on the cell phone. She was still chuckling quietly when he made his way back over to her, inquiring as to the modern device.
“I must admit darkling, the humans have their own unique type of magic. It is called technology…”
She proceeded to pull out her own iPhone, explaining the way it worked and what it was used for. The device was a complete nuisance, but served its purpose.

a.) It was easier to communicate with her spies in the human realm that way than constantly having to shift through the veil, and
b.) If the measly humans had such a power at their fingertips than by Goddess so would she!

The witch could feel the shift in the dragon’s demeanor at the exact moment the stimulating smell of human procreation wafted to her on the breeze. Ruby red lips curved up into an impious smile and she slid her cold hand into his, tugging him into the club and towards the bar. She hardly looked at the bartender when she ordered two doubles of the best liquor that they had, turning to face the dragon and pressing her body against his in a way that she knew would further encourage his frustration. Of course she had to tease him. They didn’t call her a bitch for nothing.

“Don’t let these pitiful creatures trouble you Gavin.” She reached to brush a short tuft of hair off his forehead and then slid her palm to his cheek. “If we have our way, the only ones that will live will be the ones act as our slaves.”

She twisted her body, purposely shifting her hips into the curve of his groin as she collected the tumblers from the countertop, turning back to the shifter with a puckish smile. “Here drink this. I don’t like your head so full of worry…”

Fear tilted the glass full of golden liquid to her virtuous lips and let the spicy libation slide down her throat. It was a good, stiff drink and one that left a nice tingle in her belly.
Feeling impish, she set the glass back down on the bar and tilted her head towards the crammed dance floor. She wondered what Gavin would think of the way they worked their bodies to the rhythm. “Do you want me to show you how these creatures dance, Darkling?”

[Gavin Aodhagán]

Gavin was still a bit enthralled with his new surroundings when Fear clutched his hand and started moving them toward a building where pulsating sounds of something akin to music erupted from the entrance. The beat had a deep heavy sound and seemed never ending with it's thump, thump, thump.

He allowed himself to be lead into the dark, crowded and very noisy club. He took in the new environment, his senses going on overload again. There were so many people, so much activity. He was awestruck again by it all. Remaining silent he found himself at a strange type of counter among a crowd of humans. Sephira made her way to the edge keeping a tight grip on his hand. When she turned to face him she brushed against him, teasing him with her close proximity. Tilting his head he took some slow even breaths as she touched his face.

Gavin sucked in a breath still working to maintain control of himself, his body stirring when she moved again. He let out a low growl as she unabashedly rubbed her body against his. She handed him a glass and encouraged him to drink. Quickly he raised the glass and drank down the contents in one long swallow, as easily as if it were a glass of water. He felt the warmth and the burn of the liquid as is flowed down his throat. It was a comforting distraction, if only momentary.

With her movements Fear had successfully focused his attention on her and away from the flurry of activity going on around them. When she asked about dancing, his eyes made a slow slide to glance out to the dance floor then back to lock onto Sephira's emerald gaze. He stood there with his eyes connected to hers for a long moment.


Without a word, he grabbed her hand and pulled her out to where the crowd of humans were gyrating and moving to the beat of the music. Gavin knew his place as a loyal and faithful member of Sephira's entourage. But, he was still a full blooded male and a warrior, and he wasn't afraid of reminding the sorceress of that fact. Pulling her close he growled into her ear.

"Show me how the humans here dance. But, be forewarned. After all this teasing, later it will be my turn to arouse your body unmercifully, and it will not be a game."

As he stopped speaking, before he pulled his head back, Gavin let his dragon fangs partially emerge and pricked her ear, drawing a slight drop of blood that he licked up quickly. Then with the elongated tooth he traced a line down her neck. Stopping at her collar bone he ran his tongue across the protruding ridge. Raising his head back up with a smirk he retracted the fangs, licked his lips and gazed at her with heavy half-lidded eyes.

"Shall we?"

[Sephira]

Fear’s jade eyebrows lifted in pleasure when she felt the way Gavin’ body stirred at such simple teasing. She could hear the sharp intake of air, and the growl that resonated in his throat was like a corporal caress to her ego. The sorceress was nothing short of confident about herself, but having such a stalwart, powerful man being so tempted by her little bodily taunting made the -woman- in her roar like a lioness.

The shifter seemed to consider her offer for a long moment. While his sapphire eyes were locked in her gaze Sephira let her lip curve up at one corner into a playful, suggestive smirk before she palmed the glass tumbler and poured the rest of its contents down her throat.
When he suddenly answered her inquiry by unexpectedly tugging her onto the dance floor, the witch let out a surprised gasp, which soon turned into a satisfied laughter as she tossed her head back and let him take control.

Her perfectly manicured black eyebrow rose in astonishment at his confident, sensuous suggestion, and before she could open her lips to argue that he would have to work for that kind of reward, the dragon stole her breath, drawing blood and then whispering his fang and his tongue down her throat.
A shiver of anticipation surged through the witch. Reveries of passion and ascendancy played out in her mind like a delicious porno. Unbidden, her crimson lips parted and a whimper of contentment escaped before she caught herself, inhaling sharply and wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders.

There would be time for dominance and punishment later, for now; she was quite enjoying his little show of supremacy.

“My brave warrior...” Sephira let one arm drop from his shoulders to fall to his waist, grabbing the hem of his slacks so she could guide his hips in time with hers. “Such a game is no fun unless there is a challenge to it. Do you think I am so easily won over?”

And is if to echo her sentiments, Lady Gaga sang over the crowd, ‘When it comes to love if its not rough it isn’t fun…’

Holding onto his hips so she could pull her against him, Fear worked her lower body against his in a rhythm that echoed the music. She dropped her head into the crook of his neck and inhaled the heady scent of his provocation, blowing it out like a cold whispery kiss against his skin.

The limb wrapped around Gavin drew a path across his back with sharp fingernails; the other hand fisted in the material of his pants as she gyrated against him; sliding slowly up and down his body in time with the rhythmic pumping of the base pouring out of the loud speakers.

“You are a champion.” She purred as she came back up, lips catching the yielding lobe of his ear. “You already move like one of them. There were no need for lessons…you are a natural. Are you enjoying this?”

An impish smile was written across her visage. The question was really unnecessary. She could feel Gavin's enjoyment as sure as she could feel the quickening pulse in his chest.