#phoenixrisingbdb

Rhage: As soon as the female had left, it had felt like a part of me was missing. It wasn't something I was used to and I wasn't entirely sure it was something I wanted. Hands on my hips, I shook my head and looked down at the ground, searching for something. Meaning. Answers. Anything, really. Hell, even a drink.

With nothing else doing, I immediately returned the manse and decided to wear myself out. Hours passed by, the repetitive thud-thud-thud of my fists and the bags made everything fade away enough that I could breathe. By the time I crawled into bed, my muscles were like rocks, acid buildup burning in a deliciously painful way.

No sooner had I woken than my cell went off. There was trouble. It was the Cop and Vishous and from what I could hear over the line, it was a fucking mess. It was better than sitting around, thinking about a female I'd never see again so I was gone again, joining in the fight.

Outnumbered, as almost always was the case, the fight took a bad turn. I fought to hold control of myself but it wasn't doing me any good. A lucky hit from the lesser pissed me off to just the right amount and I felt it start.

I blacked out.

When I came to, I felt like I was dying. My stomach was bloated like the beast had devoured each and every lesser around. My skin was stretched taught, my insides let like they could explode any moment. It didn't matter how carefully they drove or how gently they tried to carry me inside, I swore those fuckers were purposefully trying to hit every bump and pothole, trip and knock me into everything they could find. I couldn't even remember when they finally had me in my bed, I only knew it was dark and quiet and it barely took the edge off my misery. @Mary_Tohrture

Mary: *I began to worry about the ride inside this blacked out Mercedes with #JohnMatthew. I was along for the ride to be a translator for #JohnMatthew for some kind of training program he was being offered.

We arrived at some kind of underground parking lot and I was surprised to be escorted by very large scary looking men and we followed behind a butler who looked to be in his seventies through some hallways into what looked like a classroom. One of the men had short black hair and intense dark navy blue eyes the other, looked familiar with brown hair and spoke with South Boston accent and wore a baseball cap. Both were immensely tall, well over six feet each. I would have been scared shitless if not for the butler and his casual yet professional demeanor. Plus there was a black cat with green eyes roaming in the halls. Can’t be that bad … if these men tolerated a cat, right?

After a few hours of translating for #JohnMatthew about various things about his origin and a bracelet, I was given a break and walked into the hallway with a cup of water. I was reading a bulletin board tacked with various sheets of postings of schedules, classes and times.*

Ok, this place is a school. Good. *I whispered relieved at the knowledge that I hadn’t led #JohnMatthew astray when I heard a shuffling from down the corridor.* @VeiledViolence

Rhage: An hour spend in absolute misery, with pain so mind-numbingly constant and persistent that you could feel it pulsate with every beat of your heart, feel it sinking into your very bones and becoming part of who you are, could feel like centuries. I couldn’t wiggle a fucking toe without feeling it in the crown of my skull. I couldn’t lift an eyelid to peer up at the darkened ceiling without wanting to puke my guts up. The beast within had retreated as far back as he could go, giving me little comfort or joy in dealing with the consequences of his arrival on the scene at the slaughter of Lessers earlier in the evening. Silence filled my room, wrapping its warm and gentle embrace around my body, stomach still massively distended.

Somewhere in the fog of my mind, still slowly coming to grips with what had happened and doing its best to not fill in the blanks, I heard it. A faint, melodious whisper that felt like a sweet caress of my cheek. I even turned my head, my ear directed more in the direction of where the sound had come from. It was so faint that, even with my spectacular hearing, I couldn’t quite discern from where the sound came.

What truly surprised me was the way the beast stilled. No longer recognizing pain and agony, no longer itching to get out again, the beast listened to me. I swear it cocked its head to the side all too similar to the way my own head was. But an empty silence was all I heard, all we heard. The sound had disappeared. Moved farther away? If that were the case, I needed to get up and find it again.

That was when the beast stirred, agreeing with my own conclusion. So, despite the pain it caused, I shifted my legs and swung them over the edge of my bed, forcing myself to sit up. It took everything I had to keep control of my limbs, to not fall forward and land on my face, in a heap of muscle, skin, and bone that someone would eventually have to come and clean up for me. Sitting there, I stared at the closed door of my room, silently pleading for The Sound to come back, to give me some indication of where to go, where to follow, where to find it and bury myself in it. @Mary_Tohrture

Mary: *Looking down the hall I saw a large shadow stumbling down the hall using the walls as support. He was only wearing leather pants and was even barefooted. Perhaps he was injured? I walked towards the shadow make it further towards me and as the hall lights hit his visage from the side… and … I could actually feel my jaw slacken.

He was absolutely beautiful. Like Hollywood beautiful, silver screen, modeling career, poster child for advertisements handsome. He well over 6 feet, big boned and thickly muscled. Thick wavy blond hair, golden skin and then oh my God, he looked up at me … thick eyelashes, great nose and perfect lips and then the eyes. They were a gorgeous iridescent electric teal-blue eyes. Nothing like I have ever seen. Almost animated like but they were not focused on me, it was as if they weren’t focused at all.

I was so focused in studying the specimen of a man that I didn’t realize the dangerous aura he exuded but I instantly learned my mistake as a strong hand struck out like a speed of a cobra, and in one instant had a choke hold on my neck and lifted me easily off the floor and against the wall. My head hit the hard surface with a bang and pain radiated as if a hit my funny bone but throughout my body exhibiting his physical power and strength.* @VeiledViolence

Rhage: From somewhere deep within, I watched as if through a dirty window as I reached out, my hand fully encompassing her throat with ease, lifting her and pinning her against the wall. The Beast was hungry but had yet to decide just what it wanted to devour most. I could see the pain she was in and it caused an echoing pain inside me. With all the power left to me, I forced the Beast back, but barely, lowering her to her feet but still pinning her to the wall. I leaned in, not sure what I was going to do. Drink? Bite? Attack? Instead, I bounced my forehead off the wall, the sharp crack enough to bring me back to the surface of reality if only to gasp for a much needed breath. I squeezed my eyes shut, the close proximity to her revealing a scent that seemed vaguely familiar, but it was the soft whimper that tore through me.

“Speak,” I ordered, desperation thick in my voice.

The simple sound of that whimper had sent a blissfully mind numbing sense of calm through me and I was suddenly desperate for it.

“Speak!”

It didn’t dawn on me that my hand was still tight around her throat, probably making it difficult for her to do much more than stand there in panic. But I couldn’t make myself respond to that more than a slight loosening of my fingers. @Mary_Tohrture

Mary: *His voice thundered as it echoed in the hallways, ringing in my ears. His huge hand encompassed my throat in a tight hold, I could barely breathe and tried to swallow. A hard body was pressed up against me, preventing me from moving or escaping, my anxiety was skyrocketing. Who is he? What the hell?

My name … my name is Mary … Mary Luce. *I managed to get out once he loosens his grip enough for me to talk. I could feel him stop breathing … he was so close that I could notice. But he didn’t respond so I tried again.”

My name is Mary, I’m here with Bella … we were invited. *Still nothing. Why wasn’t he letting me go? Was something wrong? He looked glazed over … was he on something?*

You don’t look well. Do you need a doctor? *He began to sway on his feet and I started to panic. Maybe he was on something. I had no idea what was going on here. I tried pushing against him to get him to let me go, I could get one of those other guys from the room with #JohnMatthew to help this guy.* @VeiledViolence

Rhage: Tension had coiled so deeply inside me that I felt like I could spring through the wall if something didn’t happen soon. As soon as her mouth opened, though, I froze. Expectation filled every cell of my body, waiting for that sound again. Waiting for that feeling that I couldn’t quite identify yet to wash over and through me. And then she did it. She did what I wanted and spoke. Each syllable out of her mouth had the coiled tension deep within loosen and ease. It was a strange sensation, but it felt so incredibly amazing. If I could describe the sound in my head, it was the Beast cooing in pleasure, goosebumps breaking out down my arms and the tiny hairs on the back of my neck rising up in an electric shock that was wickedly hot and icy cold at the same time. More, was all I could think. More, more, more.

More of her. Her voice. Her body, fuck … I became painfully aware of how close I was to her, I could feel each curve of her body, soft flesh pressed up against my harder body, and getting harder. That … could be embarrassing if I were someone else. Instead, I had a deep instinct to plant myself deep inside her, claim her as mine in every sense of the word. It took every last decent thread of instinct I had to hold back and not take her right there in the hallway, as painful as my cock found the idea of not sliding inside her to be. And then the realization that I still had my hand wrapped around her throat broke through that fog of inner turmoil and I let go like I’d been holding the very sun in my palm, skin burning from where I’d touched her.

I backed away to the other side of the hallway, vaguely aware of voices approaching and heavily booted footsteps echoing off the halls. Of course, someone had to have seen what I just did to this woman on the security feeds. Fuck!

“I …” I stammered, not knowing how to excuse myself. I wouldn’t do it again? Yes, I would. I was sorry? No, not really. I needed her to understand? Definitely.

I glanced up, fighting the beast back to try and regain more control over my own body, meeting her frightened gaze. That hurt more than anything, surprisingly. I had a deep-seated need to not scare her, to make her happy and put a smile on those luscious lips that … Fuck … As the voices grew closer, I started to back away, slowly and forcefully moving my feet back and away from the woman. Mary. My Mary. Not my Mary. Not yet. Retreating wasn’t in my nature, but I did it anyway, putting more space between us so I didn’t do something stupid. Something -else- stupid. @Mary_Tohrture

Mary: *The hallway was so warm all of a sudden, his body was pushed to mine as he held me against the wall. I continued to struggle but as I tried to shove him off me, it created a delicious friction between us. I took a deep breath as he loosened his hand. /Be careful what you ask for/, as I remember how I had always dreamed of having a man be enthralled by me. This was not what I was expecting, it was so overwhelming. Sex was seeping from this man’s pores and I could feel the lethal power that he could wield from squeezing my neck.

Then he purred and I could the vibrations through my body and I could feel the hard ridge of his manhood and unexpectedly all the tension eased out of me. I tried and failed not to wonder what it would feel like if he were inside of me.

But before I could get lost into any more inappropriate daydreams, he let me go and backed away from me like I somehow electrocuted him. My heart was thudding in my ears as I sagged against the wall to catch my breath that I didn’t even hear the voices walking towards us until they right beside me. I look up and it was the big guy dressed in leathers with the military haircut and a shrewd navy-blue eyes.* @VeiledViolence

Rhage: I stared down Tohr, ignoring the knowing look the male shot at me. The only problem was he didn’t know the full extent of what I was dealing with. I’m sure I looked like I was ready to attack the female leaning against the wall opposite me, but the opposite was true. Something inside me, some basic need and instinct screamed at me to stand between her and my Brother, to protect her at all costs. The downside to that was the beast inside me was raging for something else entirely, to dispatch Tohr and take the female back to my room and prove to her that she belonged to me and no one else.

The two voices battled inside my mind while I tried to pay attention to the threats being leveled at my by Tohr. Like I would hurt Mary? I’d kill myself, step into the brightest fucking ray of sunshine, before I could even fathom such a thing. The idea pissed me off so much that my hand shot out and grabbed Tohr by his tight-fitting black shirt, my fist pulling and stretching the material as I forced the male forward until we were practically nose to nose.

“The next time you make assumptions about my intentions or Mary’s, I’ll eat you for breakfast and use your fucking bones to pick my teeth clean afterwards,” I hissed, searching the male’s dark eyes for signs of understanding. There was no way I’d harm a hair on the female’s head. Ever.

I wasn’t a fool, though. I saw Wrath approaching from behind Tohr, the large male’s loping gait covering the distance from the end of the hall to us in minimal time. I didn’t want to deal with this now. Not in front of Mary. Not while I was still recovering from the beast’s feast. I stepped back, turning on my heels to return to my room but not before casting one last glance to Mary, my eyes softening and a hint of smile tugging at the corner of my mouth at the picture she presented there, haloed by the white of the wall behind her. @Mary_Tohrture

Mary: *I watched as the man slowly walked away down the hall, my hands were against the wall to leverage me against the wall to keep from falling flat on my face after that unexpectant encounter. My heart was finally slowing to a normal rate as the tall one with the crew cut started swearing. Well … I thought it was swearing … he was speaking a different language. European? Hungarian? Then he turned to me and asked.* “Are you alright?” *I took a deep cleansing breath and replied.*

I’m fine. Just wondering what that was all about. *Shaking my head to clear the lust that filled my body. I followed the man back into the room back to #JohnMatthew where the questions start over and got stranger and stranger as I translated for him. Before long, we were finally finished and taken back to the Mercedes. The tall one stopped me suddenly and waved his hand across my face …

… *I wake with a jolt—disorientated. Have I been asleep? I open my eyes, feeling groggy and finding myself on the couch.* What the hell? *Where’s #JohnMatthew? I remember talking with Bella about some training pro ... * Fuck! *A searing pain hit between my eyes like a monstrous migraine on steroids. The pain was so staggering that I fell back onto the cushions. What the hell was happening? We were just at some center ... * Ahhhh … *Another jolt of agony pierced my head that it was hard to breathe. Maybe I’m coming down with the flu. I tried to steady my breathing and it seemed to help. I cleared my mind of all thoughts except creating a shopping list of things I need to buy if I was truly getting the flu. Tissues, medicine, hot tea, honey, heat pad, orange juice … and steadily the pain dissipated to a slow dull. I slowly stand and make my way to the kitchen to see if I have most of the list and at least found the meds and orange juice. Eating and drinking the items, I make my way upstairs to my bedroom.

Maybe I just need some sleep to get over this. I pull my covers back and get into bed and cover my body with both the duvet and blanket and snuggled deep inside them to fall back to sleep.* @VeiledViolence

Rhage: I knew they would wipe Mary’s memory. Knew it was probably for the best but I couldn’t fight the feeling that it was wrong. I wanted her to remember me, to know my name, to smile in my direction and shine a light into the darkness for me. For me alone. Tohr, Wrath, all of them had spent wasted time on me, trying to convince me that I should leave Mary alone and forget her, to essentially wipe her from my own mind. What they didn’t understand, what I barely understood myself, was that the beast inside me, the beast I did my best to keep contained for as long as possible, craved Mary, too. It craved the peace the woman seemed to bring with her with her simple presence.

Rhage: He left the club behind, skin crawling and blood nearly boiling with a need that not even the most willing of females could come close to satisfying. As tall as he was, it was easy enough to hide in the shadows of the alleys, his heavy booted feet, blades hidden in the tips, splashed through puddles of refuse. The sickeningly sweet stench filling the air was a mixture of piss, trash, stagnant water, and body odor. Yeah, it was easy to see where that was coming from, a few bodies huddled together behind a dumpster ahead, using the flipped-open lid as protection from the light drizzle that fell. Beyond that, though, he caught the scent of sex, the sounds of two bodies grinding against each other almost lost to the sudden onslaught of heavy street traffic behind him. He didn’t bother looking for the couple, no need to tempt his beast or cause the prostitute to lose her john and the cash he held.

Buildings rose up on either side of him, the brick facades glistening and slick in the light rain and seemingly twinkling light the stars that shown in the skies overhead. He sought that familiar smell, that familiar fight, anything that would promise a fight to slake his thirst. So far, though, he was coming up empty. Humans, humans, and a few rats here and there were all he found, the alley opening up into another street. The foot traffic was a little lighter and he found himself wandering the sidewalks until he reached the park at the heart of the city. The thick scent of fresh cut grass still clung to the area, the rain growing heavier and turning the dirt into mud beneath his feet.

He didn’t care, though. He didn’t hesitate to trek through the first of many puddles gathering, water sluicing down the back of his neck and down the collar of his shirt. The heavy leather of his jacket protected him for the most part, the dark opaque sunglasses perched on his nose keeping his eyes and focus sharp. The rain masked that putrid scent of baby powder, not catching his attention until it was almost too late. He turned his head just in time to see the knife buzzing past his left cheek, the sound of it in his ear as he ducked down and away. Spinning around, he kicked out, sweeping the feet out of the lesser that jumped out at him. The pale white skin seemed to glow in the dark, helped along undoubtedly by the sheen of water coating him. With a casual flick of his wrist, he brought the blade down, striking his target easily enough.

Too easy. Not even a fight, really. He growled in frustration, standing up as he tucked his blade away.

In the few seconds the not-fight lasted, the rain had stopped, the sudden silence in the world around him giving him pause as an eerie sensation ran up his spine. Baby powder. Lots of it, the area suddenly reeked of it. Was it carried to him on the wind? He turned in that direction, narrowing his eyes as he scanned the area. His preternatural ears picked up the sounds of heavy feet sloshing through muddy ground, and that eerie feeling was back.

He followed his instincts and turned to start walking in that direction, doing his best to keep his steps light as he sought to sneak up on whatever and whoever had his senses all firing at peak power.

Mary: *Tying my semi thin jacket closed and putting up the hood as I make my way up the stairs from the parking lot and out into the cold air. It was about ten at night, the start of my volunteer shift at the suicide hotline. I walked across the dark lonely streets as I walk towards the direction of the building that housed Caldwell’s Suicide Hotline that was run by mainly volunteers trying to help those in need and make a difference in the world. I liked volunteering there … it kept me busy and thinking of others and not leaving me to my own thoughts about my own pathetic life. I was single, alone and a workaholic. I worked at a law firm as a secretary. Nothing fancy, nothing great … presumably a boring mediocre job. I was looking for something else. But I didn't know what I was looking for.

It was still drizzling rain as my way over across the pavement, the water sloshing into my cheap flats from Target seeping the cold and wetness into my skin. I wished I had some leather rain boots to keep me warm and dry, but I could barely afford to pay the electricity bill to keep my cottage warm and food in the fridge on my salary. Especially after all of mom’s hospital bills but she was comfortable and at peace when she passed and that’s all that mattered to me. It’s just another obstacle in what was called life. I was hoping for the best and tried to stay positive.

I was ducking between the alleys of the building when I came across a small group of men. I hurried along trying to stay close to the street lights as I prayed they hadn’t noticed me. I could hear their low voices discussing drugs, money, guns … I pressed on knowing that eavesdropping would not be seen as an accident and ignorance was bliss. But I barely got around the corner of the building when I hurt running footsteps and felt the grab of an arm around my waist as I heard the banter.*

“Did that bitch hear our deal?” One said.

“Not so fast, chica … what did you hear?” He spoke into my ear as I felt him pull me into the group and moved his arms around mine.

*I could barely make out the words over the thundering of my heart. I tried to think of a response at the same time as a way out of this mess.* I didn’t hear anything. Nothing at all. Ok?

*I tried to struggle my way out of the stranger's arms and even used the heel of my foot and step on his, but he was wearing heavy boots and it just slipped off into the ground causing a sting to go up my leg. Fuck! Damn my shoes! I tried to elbow him in the ribs but his arms were too tight around my arms. My adrenaline was kicking into overdrive as I fought my way against being robbed or worse .. rapped. It was odd … as my brain got into fight or flight mode … I smelled a sickly sweet scent like baby powder? What the hell?*

Rhage: [He could feel a ripple of excited energy course through him and knew the Beast was only just beginning to wake up. The smell of baby powder grew stronger, followed by the muffled sounds of an argument. The voices were almost jovial in nature, but the menace and lethality that flowed just beneath the surface was unmistakable.

His heavy, booted foot sloshed down in a small puddle, water splashing out in each direction, along with the sucking of the mud as he took another step. Another step, another puddle, the branches of trees and bushes adding their own cacophony of water droplets splashing down overhead. With all his weapons still tucked away, he reached up with the back of his arm and pushed a particularly branch out of his way, and from the corner of his eye, closer towards the paved path that wound its way through the park, he saw them. Just a small group, there were six of them, and in the middle of the little Kumbaya circle, they held a woman.

From what he overheard, the lessers were interrogating the woman, the possibility of her having overheard something seemed to be piquing their interest. He couldn’t quite tell if it was real or just put on for show, a lure to frighten someone away and make the game of Cat And Mouse that much more appealing to them. Not that he’d ever known the lessers to be smart enough for something like that, though. Meanwhile, he’d managed to close in on them, hanging in the shadows of the plant life all around him, the constant drops of water still falling down through the leaves working to his advantage and hiding the tiny splashes he couldn’t quite stop as he took each painstakingly measured step.

As the words in the conversation became clearer, he could hear the woman tell the lessers she hadn’t heard anything. Not that they cared, he figured, given they were more concerned with other things besides a possible set of loose lips. He stepped out of the shadows the moment he saw her struggle, the flash of blade catching his eye in the streetlight.]

She said she didn’t hear anything, assholes. Maybe you should move on.

[He knew he had to be careful around the woman. Human, he couldn’t risk her getting hurt or seeing the fight … if he could help it. He moved in quickly, coming up behind the lesser holding the woman, and wrapped his arm around the guy’s neck, pulling him back and forcing his spine to bend in an unnatural way. Without a care in the world, he let the body fall to his feet, his hand darting out to grab the woman by her arm and pull her back out of the way.]

Run!

[One word was all he could afford, urging her on the way with a gentle shove that belied the ferocity brimming just beneath the surface. With the flick of his wrist, his blade slid down out of the sleeve of his heavy leather duster and the fight was on.]

Mary: *I struggled helplessly against the guy holding me, but his hold was too strong, none of my self defense training could help me against brute force. My fear was taking over as my calculated chances of survival dwindled. Suddenly, I heard someone try to intervene. Thank God! The guys let me go and then I heard the command to run. I ran as fast as I could but I felt another arm grabbed my purse and then using it to pull me closer to get his arm around my neck as one of others grabbed a hold of me. Another one tried to grab my arm so two of them held me on tight, tugging at my upper body and arms, I had to stop struggling in order to not pull my arms out of my sockets. I was able to watch the newcomer, a flash of leather and blonde hair moving incredibly fast, as he grabbed one guy after another fighting them all on his own. He was violent, calm and deadly. The men holding me also were so surprised that their holds laxed and I was able to break free as they ran and joined this brethren against the lone fighter. I ran a bit to get out of arm’s reached and I went into my jacket pocket so I could find my phone and dial 911. I kept looking up to check on my savior and as my hand grabbed hold of my phone I watched in horror as he snapped one of the men’s neck.*

Hey!! Oh my God! What the are you doing?! *The guy laid lifeless at a weird angle and I dropped everything and ran towards the body to double check and then without warning I felt someone grab me by the hair causing me to fall hard on the ground and my arms were seized and I was being dragged away. I screamed as I felt the pain of the impact and the hot scrapping of the pavement as they dragged me across the grass onto the sidewalk and into the street. Then a figure leaped into the air and landed on the back on the man dragging me away and I saw a gleam of silver as I watched a blade go into the man’s sternum and then a flash and pop! As my eyes adjusted back after the explosion of light … there was nothing there.*

What the … *I got to my feet as best I could, hald crawling and half kneeling trying to run from the whole scene … I had no idea what the hell was going on. But I knew I needed to get out of here. I ran towards the lights of the streets. And then he appeared in front of me out of nowhere. I skidded to a halt, confused and scared as my knees gave away.*

Rhage: [The fight was barely enough to take the edge off his insatiable hunger, the beast bristling under the surface to escape. The woman, who didn’t seem to be able to run fast enough to get away the first time, took off again, drawing the attention of the last couple of lessers. The bastards were dumb enough to turn their backs on him to go for her, which was offensive in a way that grated on his non-existent nerves.

Before he could even discern the difference, the fight changed from merely saving a human from the clutches of the lessers, saving her and her soul … it became something else entirely. The beast within lashed out through him, a fierce possessiveness breaking through the surface. A strange sensation coursed through him at the sound of her voice, which finally broke through the blood lust. Like a beacon drawing him near, the closer he got, the more the beast sensed the danger she was in.

And was far from tolerable of it.

With a fierce growl, a neck snapped, a body fell, and chase occurred. In a blur that he barely recognized, he was on top of the last lesser, his blade sinking home through the center of his chest and the puff of gold dust evaporating under him. He didn’t have time to waste, though. He knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that he needed to get to her. He just hadn’t figured out why. Whether it was to pull her into his arms and somehow into himself and make sure she was safe or if it was simply to make sure she didn’t do something foolish like call the human police, he couldn’t quite tell. Either way, when he stood in front of her, chest heaving from the exertion of his battle, all he could do was stare for a moment.

Words didn’t escape him long when he took a single step forward, eyes scanning down her body to her hands where. Empty, he could’ve sworn there had been a phone at one point. He’d have to retrace their steps, make sure no phone call had gone through. No text or anything else, for that matter.

And then, two little words wrapped around him like a lover’s caress. His gaze snapped back up to meet hers, pupils dilating like the hunter who’d just cornered his prey and was getting ready to pounce.]

Say that again.

[Half order, half plea, he suddenly felt drunk with a need he’d never felt before. He couldn’t make sense of it. Didn’t want to. Something inside screamed out for him to take her, to bury himself inside her until he’d found a place to call home again.]

Mary: *I was kneeling on the ground trying to catch my breath as I watched the man looking at me. Well ... analyzing me it seemed as he looked me over from head to toe. Perhaps he was high his eyes were dilated and he was breathing heavily as he started to stalked towards me.

He was huge … built, big-boned and thickly muscled … I mean I just watched him kill those guys. He has cerulean blue eyes that were focused on me. He was dangerously handsome … like he belonged in the movies not standing in front of me. Thick wavy blond hair is short in the back and longer in the front and he had his lashes were thick and he has a great nose and his lips were perfect with a chiseled jaw with golden skin. Seriously … sexy. I shook my head … what the fuck is wrong me? He was a killer.

As he stepped towards me, I fell back on my ass and and I crab walked backwards on the pavement attempting to get away. My hands getting scratched on the gravel and dirt preventing me from escaping as he kept coming towards me. I stretched my arm forward in a poor attempt to stop him from killing me. My adrenaline was pumping in my veins *

Say what? That I just watched you kill those guys!!

*I finally found purchase and I got up quickly looking for my phone that I dropped to finish dialing the CPD. But it was nowhere to be found. I looked around trying to ignore the huge shadow following me … unfortunately he was hard to ignore.*

Rhage: Anything. Say anything.

[For the love of the Scribe Virgin herself, the sensation that tickled his skin and seeped in through every pore to caress his very soul, he couldn’t get enough of it. The Beast within craved another note, another syllable, another sigh from her. Even as she retreated, he kept moving forward. Like a moth to a flame, he knew somewhere at the back of his mind that it was to his own peril, but he didn’t stop. Couldn’t stop.

Even when she was back up on her feet, her back turned to him as she looked all around for her phone, he craved more. Distracted as she was in her search, he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. In a lover’s embrace, one arm was around her midsection, hand splayed over her abdomen to keep her from escaping. His other arm curled up, fingers tracing the delicate column of her neck, his thumb expertly tucking up under her chin to tilt her head up and back. He leaned his head down, brushing the tip of his nose against her exposed flesh, inhaling her sweet scent until he was absolutely drunk with it. He hadn’t a care in the world, and the oddest /need/ to keep her. Protect her.]

Speak. [He breathed against her neck, lips brushing her warm skin only to awaken a desire so strong it had his blood singing in his ears.] Please. [Pleading for her to speak even another word, the world was forgotten, her struggles ignored.]

Mary: *I suddenly felt strong arms come around as he pulled me towards him. I struggled at first but then his hand was warm even through the layer of cotton of my shirt while his other hand found purchase on my neck. I remembered how easily he snapped the neck of one of those men and held very still in fear. I could feel my pulse against his hand as I felt a soft caress of his … nose? I heard him inhale … was he smelling me? What the fuck? Then I heard his low timbre as I could actually feel his request against my back as his voice vibrated in his chest … almost as if he were purring.*

Look … uh ... sir? I won’t say anything, ok? Just let me go.

*I could feel his hand spanned across my entire neck easily encompassing it almost fully in the palm of his hand. I could feel the calluses on his hand from what I could only assume were years of fighting and hard labor. Probably years of killing people. I try to wiggle my way out of his arms as he seemed distracted by something as was not holding me as firmly. But as I moved all I could feel … was ...  /him/. Instantly I felt warm and flush and my mind went blank as I could feel his large hard body against my back.*

Rhage: [The more she moved in his arms, the more he responded. He couldn’t fight it. Couldn’t stop it, not that he wanted to. The two separates parts of himself wanted to buried so deeply inside her that the line of demarcation between her and him became blurred by a passionate need. And it was a need. The beast inside him craved her in a way nothing had ever tempted it before.

And when he knew she could tell exactly what she did to him, he swore he could feel her respond, maybe grow a degree warmer herself. It was only when he battled the will of the beast back, knowing he wouldn’t and couldn’t take her without her consent that he could finally release his hold on her. He knew he must look insane, must be scaring the absolute shit out of her. Hell, he was scaring the shit out of himself. He felt drunk, between the fight and the lust that lingered just below the surface, he felt like he wasn’t in control of his own body.

He stumbled back a single step, forcing his arms to drop down to his sides, to let her go despite every fiber of his being screaming at him to keep her and bring her home.]

I didn’t mean to … scare you.

[He was breathing hard, practically panting as he fought to remain in control. Clenching his fists, it was all he could do to keep from reaching out for her again.]

Run …

[Whether he was speaking to her or to himself, even he didn’t know. But, before he could let the beast win and take control of his body, before he risked shifting into that monstrous form, he turned and fled, but not before taking a deep breath to let her intoxicating scent fill his head.]

Mary: *I was released from his arms, his nearness washed through me like an ice-hot rush. My stomach felt like it plummeted to my feet. Or at least a bit lower, between my legs … I had a sudden age I couldn't begin to understand.

The tension in his body was apparent and I tilted my head slightly at his failed attempted at an apology about my fear but instead his body showed signs of holding on barely by a thread. From the heavy breathing to the clenched fists, his focus solely on me … almost as if he was going to explode any moment. It was unnerving. So, I took his command to run to heart and turned to run towards the parking lot to get to my car. My blood pumping clearly from fear but in the back of my mind I knew that I was attracted to the man. Embarrassing as it was to feel arousal during an inopportune moment. I forgot all about the phone and my missing purse. I could replace the phone, credit cards … they were pretty much maxed out anyways and I only had a few dollars. I was barely making ends meet so the purse was inconsequential to getting away from this crazy and dangerous situation.

The night air was cold, I fumbled with the keys since my hands were shaking so badly as my adrenaline was coursing through my veins that I dropped the keys twice before finally being able to open the door. Suddenly a felt a whoosh of air around me and gasped in surprise.*

Rhage: [The fight for control was brought to a whole new level as he watched her run away from him. There was a part of him that wanted to go after the woman and protect her, see her home, hold her … and then there was the other part of him that craved the satisfaction of destroying each of the Lessers that had dared laid a hand on her. He stood there, fists clenched, grinding his teeth and using the pain to ground himself, to give himself something to focus on other than the base need the beast was trying to embrace.

That small bit of clarity that aching pain brought to his jaw also brought a dawning realization. With that realization came a sudden wave of focused calm. He glanced around the small clearing, the sidewalk running through it, and the pool of light from the streetlamp over head. Muddy footprints filled the area, a few of the deeper ones pooled with water from the light drizzle of rain. As clear as if he’d taken a picture with a camera, he swore he remembered the woman with a purse in her hand, the metallic chain of the strap flashing in the streetlight. But, she didn’t have it with her when she ran off as he’d told her.

In a mere instant, a slew of scenarios played out before his eyes. One of the lessers had managed to snag her purse, had her wallet with her ID and her address. They could show up at any time, during the daylight hours, and finish whatever sadistic game they’d started here in the park. They could rob her blind and screw her life up. Hurt her. Kill her. Things that wouldn’t let him have a moment’s peace for the rest of his existence.

Just like that, he disappeared, reappearing in the shadows just behind her. He watched her open her car door and he was tempted to step up and force his way in and to drive her home. He was such a fool. If any of the Brothers were around, bore witness to this, he’d be the laughing stock. Instead, he managed to hold back from such insipid measures. He stepped up behind her, still standing within the shadows, and took a deep breath before reaching out and pulling himself from her memories. He left her with just enough to scare her, having barely escaping a mugging hoping it would encourage to hurry on her way home.

When he was finished, he drew back, watching her for just a moment, waiting for her to drive off and leave him behind.]

Mary: *I suddenly felt a wave come over me … wait … where am I? I looked around, alone now. Crap. I should just go home and call in sick. I’m not feeling well. Thank God those guys only took my purse and ran. It could have been so much worse, I just need to get out of here. I can replace things. I wondered if I should place a police report … but seriously it's Caldwell … I’m sure they have bigger problems than petty theft.

*I sat on the couch with Hal wondering why he was looking around the house so often, almost as if he expected someone to try and break inside. Seems ridiculous ... my cottage was secluded. Only Bella lived a few yards away. But knowing that he was here if that /should/ happen was comforting. I never really imagined ever having a guy inside my house, much less a man like Hal. I couldn’t help but stare at this gorgeous face.

For the millionth time I wonder why he was here with me, why did he kept wanting to spend time with me even after we had finished dinner. I sighed as I remembered dinner. The night was not at all what I was I expected. The fact that he stayed even after finding me as his blind date was ... surprising. Especially, after getting some pretty blatant offers from some other women before, while and even after our dinner. He chose to stay with me.

Me?! A secretary at a legal office who volunteers at a suicide line occasionally. This man had the looks and the body to date a supermodel or a Hollywood actress for goodness sake. Actually he could be a model/actor himself.

Co-written with @SympathRehv

Bella: *I checked my phone to see that Rehv had texted me to meet him for First Meal once the sun set for the evening. I texted that I would meet him. I was still pissed about our last “family event” where he was requesting a sehclusion status be placed on me courtesy of the Glymera Council. It has been a few nights since dinner … and I have been holed up in my cottage trying to find a way out of it. I was so livid. I am still but I knew how stubborn my big brother and that he could barely be reasoned with. I had a few hours to try and come up with something that would help my case.*

Rehv: {After receiving the message back from Bella, I put the phone to the side. Everything that has happened with Xhex getting hurt while out; had me wondering if I needed to up the security at Bella’s place. Running my hand over my face as I thought back to the talk last night with Xhex. It was still fresh on my mind and the talk of the sehclusion with Bella a few nights ago fresh as well. Things have gotten crazy and I knew I had to talk to her. I was hoping that she wouldn't come up with some excuse to not come over for first meal. Mahmen has been on me about getting her back to the house since the last time she was here, she kept telling me that she was missing her and I needed to make sure she came over. I didn't like to disappoint our mahmen and told her I would try to get Bella to come over and that there was still a few hours before first meal was being served.}

Bella: *As I paced more and more inside my refuge from my overprotective family, I remembered how difficult it was to convince them to let me have a place of my own. I could imagine how much convincing I would need to plead in order to get out of a sehclusion. Perhaps I needed to avoid the request but I knew that it would upset mahmen and Rehv. Sighing I sat on my porch once the sun had set looking over to @Mary_Tohrture’s and wondering what choices I had. I needed to get ready soon.*

Rehv: {Looking at the clock next to my bed, I still had enough time to take a shower. I just gave myself a shot of dopamine, things were already feeling cold and my vision was normal, if that's what you wanted to call it. I despised the fact I always felt cold when I gave myself the shot but it helped control my symphath side and I didn't need Bella finding out about me. Reaching for my cane as I got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom. Turning the water on in the shower and waited for a couple of minutes before stepping into the shower as the steam was filling the bathroom. Taking hold of the soap, thoroughly cleaning my body a few times over. Then standing under the water stream letting the hot water run over my body, wishing like hell I would stay warm. Shutting the water off and pulling a towel from the hook and wrapping it around my waist before taking the cane and going back into my room. Heading straight for the closet I pulled one of my suits out and walked towards the bed where I could dress without having to rely on the wall or cane.}

Bella: *I chose to be myself this time around since it was just my brother and myself so I chose a pair of Seven jeans and a loose, flowy top and some boots. I called it good. I wanted to dress casual and comfortable since I knew this would be more than likely an uncomfortable situation. I took a few deep breaths to calm my nerves … my anger was slowly surfacing and I knew I needed to think of ways to try to avoid a blow up at dinner this evening. I sat on my couch and leaned my head against the back and looked up into my ceiling with different thoughts running through my head. From the whole issue of the sehclusion, my independance to my family as a whole. I loved my brother. Rehv has always been there for me … but as the years progressed his attitude towards my independance has changed. When I was a child, he always seemed to encourage to do things on my own and be my own person … but after my transition … things became more exasperating to say the least. It began with my decision to move out of mahmen’s house and living alone. That was such a fight … and now with this. I took one more deep breath to center myself and got up from my couch and got ready to leave.*

Rehv: {My mind on other things as I dressed and just wanted to make sure Bella was safe where she lived. After what happened to Xhex, I really didn't want anything happening to my own sister. I'd kill anyone that would touch her. I've always kept the females around me safe, my sister and mahmen being the main ones. Xhex and the ones that worked for me were also in that list, seeing Xhex hurting like she was, had my symphath side wanting the life of the one who has done that to her. It was trying to get the name from her that was going to be the hard part, she kept locking her grid down while she was at work. Which made the thought of the sehclusion for Bella come back to my mind. She wasn't happy about it, so for now I'd leave it alone and make her home she's staying in more secure and if need be, I'd be making sure someone was watching her while she was home.

        Sighing as I grabbed my cane and walked down to the dining room, mahmen wasn't going to be at this dinner so it wasn't as formal as she always had it and the doggen prepared food we both liked. I took my seat and went through my phone, checking the messages that I knew wasn't there.}

Bella: *I dematerialized and reappeared at the doorstep of my family childhood home and knocked on the door. Our family doggen opened the door and allowed me entry into the foyer and was lead to the dining room. The house, as always, was impeccably decorated, clean, tidy … as mahmen always wanted and how the doggen always carried out her wishes. You could barely noticed the security details that were in place unless you were really looking for them. The doggen hid them well from sight as mahmen felt that although they were necessary, they need not be seen.

Rehv was seated at the table on his phone when I entered and as he stood up at my arrival, I dutifully presented my cheek for his traditional kiss and returned one as custom. I took my seat to his left and waited as the doggen began to serve us dinner all the while trying to relax, stay calm and think positively.*

Rehv: {As soon as Bella entered the dinner room, I stood up and gave her cheek a kiss. Letting her take a seat before sitting down myself, clearing my throat and waiting for the doggen to finished putting the food onto the tables} Bella, I've been thinking about what we had talked about before. I'm going to let it be for now, but I'm going to be upgrading the security at your home. {I picked up my glass of water that was there and took a drink. I could knew she was surprised at what I just said but I was waiting for the anger I could sense brewing just below that. She didn't like I was doing such but I didn't need anything happening to her if I could help it. I didn't want to make her move back home and stay here with our mother. I could understand the need to have her own place, I have a couple places of my own they didn't know about.}

Bella: *After picking up my fork and about to take a bit of my salad, Rehv dropped the ball right off the bat. Setting down my biteful of lettuce, I turned fully to mine brother.*

Seriously? Just like that? No, argument? No other additional demands? Just an upgrade to my security system … that’s it? *I didn’t know what to say. All he did was nod as confirmation and started with his meal, I sat there just staring down at the table at the beautiful linens and place settings that mahmen personally chose.

I mean I was pretty ready for an all out battle without my mahmen here to prevent certain actions and words being said that I knew we both suppressed to avoid causing my mahmen to be upset. Though she and I were never very close, her and Rehv were very much so that he did everything he could to provide and always deferred to her wishes. There were very exceptions … the family’s security and protection and me. He helped me moved out on my own, especially after what happened with the Glymera all those years ago. I sometimes wondered what he said to my former “fiancé” … regardless I was shunned by the families of the Princep’s Council along with the members of the Glymera. Thank the Scribe, mahmen was a Fallen Chosen who spiritually counseled others, that even though her daughter was an outcast … she remained a well-loved female of worth.

I picked up my fork and started to eat again to fill the empty air between us.*

Rehv: {Giving her a nod and eating my food, yeah, I was all for the sehclusion but things have gotten crazy with everything that happened to Xhex. I had to get to the bottom of that, if she was up to talking to me yet. She kept her grid locked down tight around me. Clearing my thoughts and picking my glass up to take a drink before looking at my sister.} That's it for now Bella, this discussion will continue later. I've got a lot going on and not sure when I should continue the argument with you since I know that's what will happen. {Picking up my fork to eat the food I had in front of me as I thought of things I needed to do. I needed to get things done this week, being back and not quite myself after meeting with the bitch has had me off my game. I hated doing this but for everyone's sake it had to be done. Now I was dealing with Bella’s attitude and I knew not to say anything to her, it was best she didn't know the truth about me. I heard my phone signal a message but I ignored it for now. Whoever it was could wait until I was at the office.}

Bella: *I listened quietly afraid to say anything that might change my brother’s mind. He was as stubborn as my mahmen was loyal to the Scribe Virgin. So, I just nodded and continued my meal as we both were finishing up. A chirp sounded indicating a text message from his phone which apparently he chose to disregard. I couldn’t finish anymore of the doggen’s meal, delicious as it was. I also wanted to go ahead and end the night so that nothing else could possibly happen.*

Rehv, the meal was impeccable and delightful as always. My compliments. *I scooted back in my chair as I waited for a signal for my dismal as he was prone to subject me to when he was frustrated with me. I wanted to wanted to go visit Mary to see what was going on with John Matthew after the visit to the Brotherhood. Which my brother had no knowledge of … are you kidding me? He’d have a heart attack for sure.*

Rehv: {Finishing my meal and knowing her being quiet ... was never good thing. I tried to avoid going into her mind but I was tempted to tonight but there something she kept thinking loudly enough and I was wondering about this male and female she was thinking about. I ignored it for now, the questioning will happen later on. Giving her a nod as I heard her words.} I'll send someone to make the upgrades to your security soon. I'll see you next time, sister mine.