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Cassandra executed a fairly well built facade of joy as she danced with Valthier. Her new dress swirled around her as she led Valthier around the dance floor.
As often as she could, however, she kept an eye on Scarlet and Devonte, carefully tracking their minds. She did not attempt to dig within the stranger's mind, for she did not know whether or not he would feel it.
She was waiting for a sign or a signal from Scarlet. Something that would tell her what to do and when to do it. But for now, she continued prancing around, pretending not to have a care in the world.

"alrigt" she mused, "why do you call me child? I am much older then almost everyone here, and not much younger then yourself, it would seem." If she had bloodflow to speak of, her face would have had a slight flush of irritation. The colors swirled around her, and it was becoming difficult to keep track of Scarlet and Devonte.

Markius smiled, it had been so long since he had spoken telepathically; "A habit of age. It has been so long since I have spoken to anyone even close to my age. Might I ask your role in this event?" Markius visibly relaxed in his chair the human prattling on with various praises, thankfully her vocabulary was rather extensive and she hadn't repeated herself yet.

"Merely here to be amongst my own kind. Humans lack the with or long sight to interest me to any real degree any more." Markius grinned to the charmed human he then sent her to fetch some red wine. "So which country either former or current, do you hail from, Cassandra?"

Markius smiled and tipped his hat in response, offering the other chair with a slight gesture. "Please do sit and enjoy a conversation with me. I assure my attentions are pure and I mean no one, living or dead, any harm."

"Some how, I get the feeling that your definition of 'harm' and mine are very different," Scarlet said wryly. "I enjoy the company of humans, where you seem content to exploit them."

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Devonte eyed the confused woman in front of him. "Perhaps you should lie down, even retire for the evening," he suggested.

"I am exhausted," she said wonderingly as she fell into his arms. Devonte's delicate touch could tell that she was bruised all over, her flesh tender and swelling. She clutched at him with weak fingers and wide, fearful eyes. "Is...is something wrong with me?"

Devonte wanted to curse. It seemed that too many of the guests were falling ill.

"Very well then." Markius smiled in reply, "Humans have grown weak with industry. Their children live when they should die. They pervert the natural order even more than we do. Think about it, we are predators, smart elegant and with singular purpose. Industry and other human creations pervert the cycle. The old humans should die from disease, plague, pandemic and yet they thrive." A bat landed on Markius' shoulder and squeaked something into his ear the ancient vampire chuckled before sending the bat on his way. "Why would you enjoy the company of that which would destroy us at every corner? I only use them as a tool like any cunning predator would. I only harm in self defense, after all the older you are the less blood one needs, I haven't drained a human dry in nearly two centuries." Markius smiled not bothering to conceal his fangs.

Markius expanded his mind for a split second before retracting his thoughts, "Ciro do please sit, I do fear that my courtesies are.. dated and I tend to the company of a lady before that of a gentleman." Markius gestured to the remaining seat, "Please do sit."