r e d right hand.

She bit her tongue, knowing there is nothing she could say to change his mind.  Piercing her lips instead, Ori gave the vampire a pointed stare.  “Please enlighten me dear; what exactly is so inconvenient in living with a woman?”  Subconsciously the blond began playing with the ring on her finger.  

Ori perked up slightly at the change of topic.  “Yes, in a way.  She is rather…emotionally unstable.”  She loved Phobe, but that was bit of an understatement.

“Oh, sweetheart, would you like me to give you a list? It’s unnecessary and will only eventually cause problems.” An icy gaze noticed the ring on her finger, a sparkling gem which coaxed a low groan somewhere between disappointment and exhaustion from his lips. “I see it is a bit more serious than just moving in together. That is a fine ring.” He couldn’t blame Marcus for not telling him; after all, the demon knew how Virgil felt both about marriage and about oversharing. Though he’d been married himself at one time, he couldn’t imagine ever going through that again.

His brows arched at the mention of instability. “And you’re sure that finding her a prospect is the best option for someone who is, as you put it, ‘rather emotionally unstable’?”

“I do.” Kira nodded her head. “I will be on time and dressed all fancy-like in the morning.” Then she stepped away. “Well, bye then.” She gave a wave of her hand and turned to walk away. Was she stupid to not have taken his card? She bet that all his employees had jumped for the chance, so she stopped and turned back to him. “Did everyone else take it?” Kira inquired. “the card that is.”

Virgil saw no need in saying farewell, especially not when he would see her the very next day. When she turned to leave, he watched her but said nothing, and planned to remain standing in the same spot until she had completely faded into the night. However, she turned to face him again and asked about the card. “Of course they did,” He answered almost immediately, the slightest hint of amusement obvious in his dull tone. “People are so easily bought.” He thought about it for a moment. “You’ll learn that soon.” Working as close as she would be with Virgil, there was no doubt in his mind that Kira would see that every aspect of his life, from business partners to lovers, ultimately relied on what price they could get out of him.

James hated to admit it, but he really could relate at this moment.  His whole life was a shit show.  The werewolf was about to add to the topic, when Virgil’s next words made something in him snap.  With a ferocious growl he rushed forward, gripping the vampire’s collar and shoving him roughly up against the wall.  “Don’t fucking go there Cross.  I can only take so much of your bullshit.  Leave me the fuck alone.”  He should have known better than to let his guard down, to think Virgil wasn’t as bad as he gave him credit.

There were few times that Virgil Cross lost his composure. He much preferred to hide his bad intentions behind the well-pressed suit and steep bank account. However, when threatened with physical violence, the primal instinct of survival got the best of him, and he found himself hissing as he bared sharp pearly fangs, but pushed himself off the wall; he would not be cornered, not by James, or anyone else. “I would step more carefully, Mr. Goldstein. I’m not a man you want to threaten. I can take anything from my enemies that I’d like to, and most of the time it’s everything.” As soon as the animal within him had reared it’s head, it’d settled once more, his face evening out as he calmly reached up and gripped the werewolf’s wrists, prying them from his collar. “You haven’t learned that yet, because I appreciate a certain amount of our little banter, but if you ever put your hands on me again, I can assure you, you will loathe yourself even more than you clearly already do.”

The way he stared at the man, she knew Virgil was not done with him. It wasn’t his fight. Even if there wasn’t really a fight. Iris knew how to handle herself, but in public, in this town, she knew she couldn’t kill. Iris tried so hard not to kill even in private. She knew when she starts she won’t stop. Her eyes looked Virgil over, curious to see what was going through his mind.

Possession was a common trait between her and Virgil. The need to show what is theirs, but they know they do not own each other. Just the company that they have. “You know I couldn’t.” She simply said, rolling her eyes. She picked up what he said, but not wanting to pick on it. What Virgil wanted to do with a pathetic man, he was more than free to do so.

When the bartender looked at Virgil for permission, she rolled her eyes. She slipped her arm around Virgil being close to him. “You know you need to tell more people not to doubt me.” She stated as she took her own drink and sipped it. “Another round.” She stated before looking up at him. “Did that man get you in a cranky mood?” She teased as a smile grew on her face. “Just focus your thoughts on important things…me.”

“Pity.” The idea of Iris tearing a man to shreds could awaken some twisted desire deep within the vampire, so perhaps it was a good thing that she couldn’t. “I always loathed the fact that I’ve never once seen you kill. Perhaps one day we can change that. I’d like to see your most base and primal side. The instinct of your species.” Other species, especially the bloodthirsty ones, had intrigued Virgil since he learned of the supernatural world. Sirens were easily the more interesting, and he’d had many bed partners that were sirens. However, none quite like Iris.

Whether it was the fact that law held her back or that she resisted the kill herself, Virgil didn’t know. Probably because he’d never bothered to ask. You lived long enough to accept your nature, or you died without ever fully experiencing the ecstasy that being yourself could bring. It was something he’d seen many a young vampire struggle with, even his own sister.

The feel of her warmth colliding with his icy skin could send electric shocks, even through him. Placing a dead hand on her inner thigh he brought her body even closer to his with the motion, keeping a tight grip. “You, and you alone, may drink at my expense with or without me present. I’ll have my assistant inform every establishment in town by tomorrow night.” He shot the bartender a threatening glance, to which received a quick nod as if they were confirming that they understood. When she spoke again, he released a dull scoff, but used the grip on her thigh to keep her close as his eyes trained on her face. “Believe me, at this moment you have my undivided attention.”

“Well no… not tha-” but he spoke over her and was flashing the card in her face before she could say anything else. “I need to quit my other job first you know?” Kira didn’t take the card. “I have what I need.”

Virgil took in Kira’s expression, and even though he had his doubts, he slowly withdrew the card. Sliding it back into his wallet and tucking it safely away over his cold heart, he made a mental note of the fact that none of his other employees had refused the card, in fact most leapt at the opportunity to spend his money when he offered it. That was what he was used to, and it was slightly unnerving that the werewolf didn’t. “Then it sounds as if you have a phone call to make.” He uttered after a moment of carefully studying her. 

“I don’t know.” She shrugged a little. “In an office? I mean, I make a decent cup of coffee, or tea if that’s what you prefer. I’m great with organisation.”

“You’d like to be my secretary.” It was more of a statement than a question as realization settled into the vampire’s mind. His face was unreadable for a moment, then his face twisted into a nonchalant expression and he gave a couple of nods. “Very well.” After a short clearing of his throat, Virgil discarded the finished cigarette and stepped on it, reaching into the pocket of his wrinkle-free jacket, retrieving his wallet. He slid out one of the many gold-plated credit cards and held it out to her between two long, cold digits. “For the clothes, shoes, whatever work related attire you need. I’ll send an assistant with you, she’ll go over what all you’ll need and shadow you on your first day, tomorrow night. Six sharp.”

“See, people like you always have some type of motive to get people like me, desperate people, into your pockets.” Kira put her hands on her hips then sighed. “Fine, but don’t call me she-wolf again and don’t waste me on the factory floor, deal?”

The vampire watched her with careful intrigue. She was certainly not wrong; he had used many a desperate person to get what he wanted, she would not be the first or the last. “The desperate are always the most reliable, they’ll do exactly what you ask of them.” He commented. Her body language told him she wasn’t thrilled about working for him, but perhaps it was the guarantee of good pay that had persuaded her to be employed to such a devil. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare waste you. I am curious to know where you think you would prefer to be.”

He had a good point, it probably meant a better pay cheque as well (maybe not, she couldn’t foretell that) but there was still a bit of an air there. “Why are you taking this pity on me, Virgil? There’s no way that you don’t want anything in return.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Virgil didn’t bother hiding the fact that he may or may not have ulterior motives for offering the shewolf a job. “Working for me or my company is never as simple as it sounds, but the money is well worth it, I assure you. Whatever I may want in return, you’ll have to wait until I decide to collect to learn what exactly it is. Perhaps I don’t even know yet.” Virgil cracked a dry smirk, one that disappeared in an in instant as icy blue eyes met hers. “So what do you say, shewolf?”

there is such an incredible amount of things you end up regretting when you’ve lived as long as I have.

I am a firm believer that the dead should stay dead, as ironic as that might sound. However, I would choose my daughter, Aurelie. I’d like to see what manner of woman she became without me.

That depends heavily on what you rely on me for.

Well, that sort of takes away the secrecy, doesn’t it? I am quite handy with firearms, if we’re being honest. Older models I’m more familiar with, clearly, since I haven’t had the need for a gun in ninety years. The inner workings of them used to fascinate me. I can take one apart and reassemble it quite quickly.

Iris laughed at his comment. “Yes, they do believe they can have me, but sadly mistaken afterwards.” She was a creature of desire and blood lust. The fun of having them attract to her and she ends their life, but she hasn’t killed in awhile, or used her charm to manipulate someone’s mind.

After hearing Virgil had to say about the town, Iris shrugged. There still had to be some hope. Not all just sitting ducks to be taken out by hunters or themselves. “If you believe that, then why come back?” She asked looking up at him as they continued to reach her home. “Not that I’m complaining. I am very pleased to see you. Gift or not.”

She walked up to the door and unlocked it before dragging them both in. She placed the bottle down and her stuff before starting to take off Virgil’s coat.

Everything about Iris’ home was familiar to the vampire, as if he had stepped inside yesterday and a hundred times before. He’d been there multiple times, it’s true, but the familiarity came with how incredibly her it felt. It took him a moment after entering her home for him to answer her question, even as she removed his coat with no fuss or resistance from him. It was as if he were trying to voice a true reason he came back. He kept eyes on her, taking his time with his answer before placing a hand on either of her arms, right at the shoulder. “It was my sister’s idea that we come here, lest we be targeted because of our social status as well as being vampires. I’m sure I can deflect any threat that would arise, but I brought us here to appease her. My company, my livelihood, and my family are here now.”

Before he spoke again, one cold dead hand made it’s way to Iris face, thumb rubbing against the supple skin of her cheek before resting on her chin, forefinger curling under to tilt her head up towards him as he began to close the distance to their lips. He stopped just short of kissing her, eyes focused on her face. His voice no more than a whisper. “But we both know that’s not the only reason.” He didn’t say it, the other reason he’d come back, even though it was clear. Clear that he’d come back to see her again, but also clear that he could never allow himself to believe and accept that. His heart was cold, and it was on lockdown, and it had been for a long time. Whether he longed to or not was irrelevant, it was harder to open himself up again than it was to numb himself of all feeling in the first place. However, if there was someone that he might try for, it would be Iris.

He didn’t wait for her answer, possibly because he didn’t want it. Instead, he closed the gap between them with his lips pressed fiercely to hers.