#ccitytask005

@erebus-richter

@covairealpha

Concerned. As small as one who felt so little could show, and yet, in such instance, all the suffering and madness had been worth this moment. After so many years had passed, it had come to this; a worried gaze upon her and a blood dripping smile upon her lips. For how could one not smile when witnessing such expression upon his face when they were the recipient? O’ how she held but little shame to be guilty of missing the coldness of his fingers against her skin in such instance. And yet now, in this moment, it was his gaze upon her that brought her peace.

When the siege had been announced, the petite shewolf had reached to her guardian and yet, it had been impossible to be found for he had been within a jungle with no way to be reached while training her blue pearls. Though, such did not stopped her as she set out to find those branded traitors by their pairs. One would be foolhardy to trust any words coming out of the mouth of those despicable monsters who thought themselves o’ so noble and virtuous and thus cautious she remained as she looked for them..

But time ran out and screams soon filled the dark streets of the city, an invisible enemy quickly approaching her, until she came face to face with those that would rapidly be referred to as hybrids. Léon’s compulsion upon her shattered mind dismantled; letting the madness take over for she was at her most ferocious and lethal when uncontrolled. Pain found at the hands of those things meant but little to her troubled mind, for they did not hold anything against those who had made and sent them. Hunters would always remain the cruelest.

Days passed, as she killed and killed, until exhaustion became her true enemy and stronger hybrids were placed upon her path. And soon, she found herself encircled by three of them with her back against the city’s wall; tottering before their empty, yet hungry gazes. Her left shoulder had been bitten off, thus her arm dangled at her side; dripping blood still from her fingertips. Her ravaged clothes revealed all her other wounds, and how many were they. And such was when she heard it; her name;

Galadrielle!

O’ such concerned it held, and for but a moment time stood still and she found true happiness within his troubled gaze. How childish and cruel of her to find joy in such instance. And such would be the last she would see; as a keen and acute noise seemed to vibrate all around mere seconds before the wall behind her exploded. Shards of rocks drenched in wolfsbane and vervain tore through her back and spine, before she was buried underneath the falling wall.

Galadrielle!

This blackout had been harder on his moral than he was letting on, leaving him to stare at the ocean for hours while sitting by the balustrade at the small table not far from his pool. It was getting pathetic (at least to him), but he could only shake the feeling out of his heart when he wasn’t alone (not that being around people helped either), but Ewan’s presence was helpful. Everyone he had spoken to (who had apparently met him during the attack), said the same thing, that he had saved them. And when he looked at them in confusion, saying he didn’t remember any of it, they all seemed to change their minds on saying more, like it was the right thing to do. And strangely enough. Maximus hadn’t felt like knowing more.

Because deep down, he was jealous of them, envious. They knew something he didn’t about himself and it was driving him nuts. So he just ignored it, because it made things easier to cope with. But there had also been those who had seemed scared of him, or angry for some of the strangest reasons. Some had said he’d been cold to them. And Maximus had found himself apologizing (which was really stupid of him, if you thought about it) for saving someone’s life while being cold.

Maybe this hadn’t been a regular blackout as he usually had though, maybe for once, he was suffering from some kind of PTSD. Though, he couldn’t deny the truth, the beta knew it wasn’t PTSD and that he was only trying to gives himself some false hope that things had been different. So this was his solution for now, distracting himself with the ocean that was hypnotizing, but also calming and Ewan who now he needed to support because his (probably) best friend might die in the upcoming weeks.

Max sighed, stuck in the unknown, because he didn’t know what to do. He was itching to do something to distract himself more. He couldn’t work and he didn’t want to be around people and help rebuild the city (it was why he’d made a generous donation to get out of manual labor with too many strangers surrounding him). And then, the most ridiculous idea suddenly crossed his mind, a cat would be nice. Melanie’s and Seth’s cats were adorable and with someone living with him now, an animal would be nice.

He chuckled, shaking his head, “Callas you’re losing it.”

[Solo] — Cherished (Iliad: Under siege Event)

After all was said and done, Baelfire was probably one of the only citizens in the city who felt like he did– he was fucking pissed. He didn’t give a flying fuck about the hunters, those piece of shit could rot in hell for all he cared. And yeah, he was worried about his friends and devasted over the losses the city as a whole had had. And he was already helping people rebuilding the city, cause Covaire City was a fucking phoenix– even if you burned it down, it would still be reborn stronger than ever after rising from its ashes.

But all those feelings could never compared to how fucking angry he was at Leo-fucking-pold Kennedy. And what pissed him off even more, was knowing that what the asshole had done, had been actually selfless– though, knowing how the vamp’s brain functioned, they had been nothing selfless about that, more like selfish. And man, he was furious. On top of that, he knew the bastard was very satisfied with himself– and that goddamn bunker house.

Because the truth was that Baelfire had been locked inside Leo’s house since the first hybrid had made an apparition in the streets nearby the Chateau. And that had been it. The vamp had kissed him, then knocked him only for him to wake up in the sealed house. And obviously, he’d tried time and time again to unlock it, but the jackass had changed the security code to make sure the wolf wouldn’t be able to get out until it was safe.

So Baelfire had spend all of his time texting and leaving messages to the vamp, telling him that if the asshole died, he would rip hell open himself, bring him back to life only to kill him again. And there was no way Baelfire would ever admit to Leo that he was grateful that he’d care so much about him that he’d gone to such length to protect him, or how much his anger had helped him cope with how terrified he’d been for his Black Rook…

And even less admit, how happy he’d felt when he had seen his shadow, heard and smelled him, or felt his cold lips against his.

Instead, he’d punched him and called him an asshole, only to have Leo roar with laughter.

They were alive, and he smiled, just a lil.

Hell is Empty - Solo para - Event: The Iliad

From the first commandment: Go forth and find them. Bring them to the King and Alpha. Leo Kennedy had called in every guard and sent the four best out to help locate the traitors while the rest kept firm control of the Chateau and prepared for what could come next. When he had gotten word of the panic that was causing the supernatural community to tear into the human civilian quarter Leo had taken the opportunity to walk out among the chaos, forcing order while compelling the truth from the lips of every wolf and human civilian he encountered. A few leads given to those he’d sent to flush the rats out of their holes. But if the hunters had truly been so long inside the city then they were very, very good. And had competent help. It would not be easy and it would not be quick. 

The first hybrid Kennedy had encountered had been near his compound. Creating the necessity to enact the plan he had already formulated to keep his property safe. Including Baelfire Doyle, even if technically he could not ‘own’ another being in the city any longer. He’d sealed his wolf inside, knowing that he would deal with a furious wolf once this was over. But he would not go through what they had put each other through the last time Hunters had come to the city. Unshackled by any possible concern he might have had The Warden brought ruthless efficiency to the defense of the city. Mobilizing the prisoners into groups lead by guards to fight. There were implied possible benefits to serving Covaire though Leo had never promised anything to the prisoners. There would be reviews of each prisoners file that fought and lived. He’d also allowed several guards to turn one section into a makeshift sanctuary for anyone desperate enough to seek shelter inside of the Chateau’s walls. 

He had soaked in the bloodshed, wetting his sword with the red liquid life of both the abominations and the human hunters. When the lightening came one wall had been blown open, bricks and mortar raining down on the unsuspecting. He found it fascinatingly mercenary that the Hunters had targeted the human population. Such delicious monsters they were. He had responded to texts from Baelfire throughout the ordeal without engaging in conversation. One word replies to let him know that he was fine. 

And when the hybrids fell dead and the unnatural explosions and lightening turned to normal rain Leo spread his command: “All prisoners separated from their platoons must be back at the Chateau within the next two hours or be checked in at the hospital at the end of the day or be declared traitors to the city and treated as hostile escapees and their collars activated.” They would look for the bodies later once the time given had elapsed. 

Steve was looking at her with great offense and Leda wondered what exactly she did to offend him. It’s not like she chose the basement to settle while a bloody cold war was literally happening out in the streets.  But here she was because Hayato asked her too. It happened almost the next hour that the announcement was made about the Hunters.

The tenseness in Hayato was palpable, bringing out a gun even if he was never for firearms. Even if he knew and trusted her, Hayato made it very clear he wanted to know she would be in one place while he helped the city hunt down the traitorous hunters. He assured her it was for the time being, while they sniff out the hunters. But what really broke her stubbornness was when Hayato asked her to stay down, because he needed to know she was safe.

After getting a futon, around three dozen of books, some back-up chargers for her phone, a radio, a pissed off Steve and enough human and cat snacks for the apocalypse, Leda settled down. The calico cat seemed to catch the mood in the atmosphere like he could almost felt that something was wrong in the city. Leda didn’t have as acute senses as the cat, but she felt the same.

Since being brought to the city as a slave, she knew how many felt about humans. Leda, once she witnessed of what the hunter had wrought upon Covaire, she could see the why. An endless cycle of revenge, marred with tears and blood. Humans could be as monstrous as the monsters themselves. And here she was, in the lukewarm territory as she felt for both. Humans, wolves, and vampires called for blood, in response to blood, and so went on

Leda did not what to do, what to say. So she does the one thing she sure. She stays down, using the basement as home while she waits. And she prays. For Hayato, for less blood, for less death. God be merciful, God protect the innocents, the weak. For this to all be over.

“ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done...”

Raphaël entered Covaire City in 2016, but he heard of the horrors surrounding the 2015 attack on the city. It was often the only thing slaves had talked about as a way to convince him to claim them, their fear had been palpable, and their desire to make sure they were safe had not escaped him. At the time, Raphaël couldn’t have cared less. He saw their begging as desperate and the fear as an excuse.

Now, in 2019, he could sense the fear starting to rear it’s head again with the reemergence of the hunters, and while it was a fear he didn’t understand, he knew better than to be underprepared. Before the siege began, he’d shuttered up all the windows in his house and most of the doors; he left the front door mildly accessible. The gate at the end of the driveway that he always left open, he shut and locked. It might not keep hunters out completely, but he knew he stood a better chance this way.

Theoretically, Raphaël knew he should be out looking for the traitors, and at some point he might, but getting caught up in the first wave of nonsense wouldn’t be helpful to anybody. Let the stupid and the berserkers weed themselves out before attempting to step into the battle field. He was loyal to the city to a fault, but he wasn’t willing to get himself killed for it, not yet.

Just as he settled into his chair, ready to read and relax through the first wave of bullshit, he was hit with what felt like a stake to the stomach. Vampires were not yet the target of attack, he was theoretically safe, but one of his favorite toys would not be. Seth was human. Seth would become a target. 

“Fuck, Seth.”

Raphaël jumped out of his chair with his heart in his throat. He shouldn’t care and he was rationalizing it by telling himself that losing Seth would mean the antique store, and the fantastic sex went with it. As he sprinted from his home, throwing apart barricades and ripping open the gate, he continued to remind himself that this was nothing. All the way up until he skid to a stop in front of Seth. The scent of his blood burning in Raphaël’s nose, and concern wearing heavily on his shoulders. At least the kid was alive.

Peace. 

Freedom from disturbance; tranquility. 

A state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

It’s laughable. The thought of ‘peace’ in this place. I used to think it was possible, once. But that was many years ago. I was naive, stupid, my mind could be molded like putty. Peace doesn’t exist. It never has. Not here. Not anywhere. It’s just something people think about to give themselves a sound mind. It’s a fantasy concept. It's like fucking for virginity. There’s always going to be something disrupting the current of life. Because that’s how life works. Maybe, maybe this will be the end. Lights out forever. The hunters would surely storm the prison cells because we’re easy pickens. Why not kill the scum of Covaire off first? Logically it makes sense.

I remember running into a hunter once. Staring down at the Beretta 93R he held all too calmly in our apartment. I remember tonguing the barrel of the gun as it was shoved past my lips and silently wondering if it had ever been cleaned properly. How many people have had its chamber fuck their mouths? I couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. I laugh during the most inappropriate times.  There’s nothing funny about someone threatening to blow your brains out. But it makes me feel better. Laughing brings me peace.

Hygge. A quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. I used to know what this feeling meant but not anymore. Strange how that happens. That we just... forget?

Have you ever tried to speak with a gun in your mouth? It isn’t easy. You only speak in thick muffled syllables. If even that. With some effort, I managed to push the gun into my cheek. I carefully asked him-- tried to ask him what he would accomplish by killing me. His answer? He didn’t know. It would just bring him peace of mind. In his eyes, I was a monster. I mean he wasn’t wrong. But. Keep in mind this was before I toppled off the ledge of sanity. I know, a weird concept to think about. I asked him calmly why he thought I was a monster. I already knew the answer to his question. But I wanted to hear him say it anyway. It wasn’t because I shifted in front of him. No, I’m sloppy but not that sloppy. Although, I suppose I’ve grown sloppier over the years. I’ve reached a point in my life where I’ve just kind of stopped caring.

Anyway, I watched him as he produced a file and waved it in my face smugly. I stared - dumbfounded and confused. A manila folder. That’s what had started all of this? Then it hit me. He had stumbled upon my research on cell regeneration. I can’t remember much of what happened after that. I just remember watching the gun leave my mouth. Strands of saliva stretching against the barrel. I remember watching him blubber that he didn’t want to do this. And I all too calmly standing there with the disgusting thing pressed to my temple. Eventually, the cops arrived. Situation deescalated. And I moved on with my life.

At this moment I feel oddly at peace. I have no clue what is going on beyond these walls. Why? Because I’m in solitary confinement. I hear nothing. I see nothing. I’m just... existing? I don’t know how long I’ve been down here. A couple weeks? Maybe a month? I’m surprised they took my threat seriously this time. That I would really take that broken mop handle and jam it into my fucking aorta. I must’ve looked really fucking desperate. If anything I’m really fucking desperate for a cheeseburger smothered in mushrooms and onions. My thoughts on food are suddenly disrupted by voices. Am I hearing things again? Maybe I’m actually dying. No, no. Not dying and the voices aren’t my imagination. The guards are talking about the mess outside again. Something about traitors, the high tensions in the city. Maybe Covaire would implode on itself. Oh, that would be funny. I snicker but it’s not like you can hear it.

I wonder... What if they do actually storm the prison? Would they kill us? Or would they free us? Maybe they would enslave us. Wouldn’t be the first time humans have enslaved anyone. Hell, they enslave their own kind. But maybe they’d keep the useful ones alive. I could be useful. Granted for my own personal gain. Maybe this could be my ticket out of here. 

“Are you going to actually behave now?” A voice asks. I look up and grin. I don’t know the meaning of that word. Behave? It isn’t in my extensive vocabulary. They know this. Do I ever? I ask in return before the door opens. You know what they say about doors? 

She’d been working so hard to help the humans. Even humans that she didn’t particularly like, and that was a lot for Sarah. Still, she couldn’t just sit idle while actual innocents were killed over what they may (or many of them — MAY NOT ) have known. Some of the other wolves and vampires had surprised her. There were a lot of them attacking other citizens, but some of them were offering their businesses as save havens. Sarah helped find them and get them there.

Sarah gave it a good couple of minutes before she leaned up and looked over the dumpster. “Stay here,” she whispered and walked around the dumpster. She went all the way to the edge of the alley — no vampire. The street almost looked dead. She was on her heels in a second, running back to the dumpster. “Okay, we can—” BLOOD. Everywhere. The girl’s throat had been slashed open. Sarah could feel the vampire’s presence, but she couldn’t turn in time. He had her by the throat and slammed her into the wall.

There was a sharp pain under her chest. Likely a broken rib. ‘Absolutely worthless,’ he growled, tossing her back on the ground. Sarah winced, pushing herself up on her elbows. ‘You HELP them?! They harbor traitors, bring the hunters back and YOU HELP THEM.’ A hard kick rattled her body and sent her flying clear against the wall of one of the buildings. She heard a sharp snap from somewhere behind her, and she forced herself up. The second she turned, she was greeted with a sharp pain; and those angry eyes of the vampire. He was right next to her, a sharp blade of metal in his hand, holding it in place to keep impaled. Breathing was hard. He’d punctured a lung. His other hand grasped her jaws and he bounced her head off of the wall before snatching out his weapon.