Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jess's eyes flicked open with the sound of Alaric's voice. He has having yet another outburst. She looked at her watch, "Well at least I got to sleep for an hour.." She listened to what he was saying until what he and Syvra said reached a point when they called Alice reckless. Alice was the first to react, "What did you want me to do? Sit up there until I bled to death? What you people seem to be forgetting is that you may have known about this, but I just found out today. And suddenly I have the weight of the paranormal world on my shoulders. I'm a person Alaric. Not something you can just use." Then her voice turned quiet, "I just want to go home... I don't want to be the cure. I never asked for this. I never wanted this. Everything I have cared abut has been taken from me..well just about everything. But why should I ask compassion from you? I'm just your ticket out..right?"

Jess slowly stood, most of her strength was back, and walked over to Alaric. "What was that all about, Alaric? She wasn't being reckless by coming down here.. She was bleeding to a great extent and I was unconscious. Or maybe you forgot that little fact? It would have been reckless for her to stay up there and DIE while I lay there unconscious and you guys stay down here and argue." She paused, she was still tired but she was sick of people treating Alice like this. It seemed that only Logan and Jess saw Alice as something more than just a cure, a person. A human being. Something they all longed to be. "Alaric, you need to calm down. I don't know what the hell's going on with you. I understand that you're upset that you couldn't help us when we were attacked, but that doesn't entitle you to have these outbursts." Her rant/speech was over. Jess walked over to Alice and slumped down next to her.

Alice's eyes were closed and she was trying to get back to sleep. Jess whispered extremely low in her ear, "Go to sleep, kid. I'll be right here if you need me....Remember..I'm a light sleeper."

Alaric held his tongue after Alice and Jess' rebuttals. Honestly, they were right. It wasn't really her fault at all, but that hardly mattered. Alaric was mostly perplexed with himself. That was two outbursts in one night. He wasn't even sure that he'd ever had an outburst like that before tonight. Syvra's comment just added the icing on the cake. A hot poker up his a**, huh? Yes, he supposed there was.

Why was he even invested in the Cure? After turning it over in his mind a couple times, he supposed it was for the sake of change. He shook himself and slowly worked himself back to a normal state of mind. Purposefully, he found his center and focused on the task at hand. Alaric would just let the others deal with people. Evidently he just wasn't good at it. No, he was good at killing, so that's what he would focus on.

It looked like the majority of them were drifting off to sleep. He returned once again to a vigilant state.

Rosen watched silently from the corner, just as she had done every day since she joined the group only a week ago. Was it really so few days ago that Logan found her and persuaded her to join for their cause? It seemed like years that passed, not hours and minutes.
Her normally solid features slid into a frown. The Cure was found and Jasper lost in only a day. What kind of hell would the next few days bring?
And now Alaric, usually so careful with his words, was having his second outburst of the day. Rose had noticed changes in herself already, but she was still surprised to see how the others were reacting under the pressure. Could just being near the Cure really change them that much?
Rosen watched as most of the others prepared themselves for sleep. Alaric seemed to be the only other person keen on staying awake, but that at least did not surprise her. She looked down at herself, saw how little injury she had sustained besides the wound across her abdomen where Logan’s rival had struck out at her. She felt guilty for being so afraid to fight. When the time came, Rose decided, she would fight to protect herself. She had to be Cured before she died, lest she wish to face the terrible purgatory that her father preached about.
Rose sighed and shook her head to get rid of the cynical thoughts that lingered there. Everything would be alright. Everyone here would fight till the end to make that so.
She stretched out her leg and hooked a foot around another chair that was nearby, dragging it closer so that she could prop-up both of her legs on it. She wouldn’t be sleeping tonight, that was for sure, but she might as well get comfortable.
Rose reached down and fiddled with the haphazard stitches across her abdomen, finding nothing better to do. This was going to be a long night indeed.

((can we assume that a few hours have passed? cuz i'm posting a few hours later))

Syvra woke up. Her last memory was cringing against Logan's naked body, trying to hide from pain that had consumed her entire body. She cringed thinking about it. She looked around. Rosen and Alaric were still awake, but dozing. Everybody else was asleep. She stretched. She knew she needed to pop a few joints, but she didn't dare. It was too quiet. She looked around again, more slowly, and found who she was looking for. There they were, leaning against the wall together. Logan and Alice. They were covered with a blanket, but she was sure they were holding hands underneath. She focused on Alice. She looked so small and weak next to Logan, who looked huge and dangerous sitting next to her. This is the Cure? she thought, her eyes slowly blinking. Syvra's hand went to her throat, gently stroking it. And I almost killed her. Syvra slowly shook her head back and forth. I can't control myself around blood. I can't stay here. I'm too dangerous. I've been on the streets too long. She focused on Logan and an uncharacteristic tear almost fell from her eye, but she blinked it back. And Logan. I bit him. She stared at the bandage on his neck, the blood that stained it long dried. I'm too much of a danger to this group. I have to leave.
She stood, slowly. She didn't want to disturb anyone with sudden movements. It was silly, because they were asleep, but some of the group were light sleepers, and she didn't want any of them awake for what she was going to do. She cautiously crossed the room to Logan. With a determined look on her face, she ignored Alice and placed her hands carefully on either side of Logan's face. She pressed her lips to his, pulled back quickly, breathed out one word, "Goodbye," and dashed out the door with barely a whisper. She hoped no one would follow her. She'd have to get violent. She could already feel the pulse of the city as she rocketed silently out the door. She was street again, and nobody could stand in her way.

Looking down at the golden watch Ebony's brows pinched together. Surely more than just a few hours had passed. Eyes sliding to the adjacent window Ebony huffed, not one ray of orange sunlight broke the fragmented horizon. Turning from the window Ebony paced the length of the office. Waiting with patience was becoming harder by the minute, Alec had yet to return and the thought of her precious victim in the holding cells below had swept away any previous patience. What level of regression was he at? This thought bit at Ebony's mind, it was like a mosquito that kept coming back, and refused to be caught, it sapped away her restraint. Not to mention that her current assignment was probably the most boring that Alec had ever assigned her to.

Chewing her lip with anxiety, Ebony glanced around the room for something to distract her. Shelves festooned with books, corpse white candles, a few elegant chairs, the city view and the table, there was nothing to encapsulate her well enough. The books wouldn't hold her attention long enough, glaring at a particular red tomb she reflected on the hours that she had attempted to read it. It was interesting enough, it talked of hell and the tortures that were committed there, about the fire that licked and blackened the sinners skin...and yet not even a book of that caliber had passed the time efficiently.

In a show of unrestrained impatience Ebony stomped her heeled foot and crossed her arms. She had already walked the corridors and rooms of the upper floors countless times, she conceded that nothing was going to happen tonight. It wasn't as if the Rogue's would be able to mount a sufficient attack force anytime soon. That at least had been accomplished in the last mission. Running her hand through her hair the manicured nails lightly scratched her scalp as she toyed with the idea of quickly visiting Jasper. Nothing was going to happen right now and a five minute trip wouldn't hurt.

Exhilaration, and something akin to release fueled Ebony's footsteps as she made her way to the cells. Stepping fluidly out of the elevator Ebony stalked down to Jasper's cell and as she approached she could hear the trip of blood, but most importantly she cold her the jangle of chains and the desperate won-ton moans of the captive. A grin lighted up Ebony's face and her footfalls increased in tempo. Arriving at the door of the cell Ebony gripped the bars and leered inside. Her pupils swelled up, capturing any available light, and in the gloom a stain began to take form. Jasper's hands were manacled and weakly they struggled forwards, not knowing how close the blood was. Of course it was far enough away for him not to reach, but close enough to tease and trick the senses. The thin veneer of society, order and restraint still clung to Jasper, but it was apparent that the man had changed. The pale, almost moon like glow of Jasper's skin stood testament to Ebony's present thought, he would be a ghost of the man he once was. Ebony's grin stretched wider.

Alice was uncomfortable at first, the girl sang like a siren..but before she knew what hit her she was slowly drifting into sleep. Only vaguely aware of being handed from person to person. Then she heard Logan's voice at her ear. She didn't quite hear what he said, but it was enough for her. To hear his voice. Something that before today, she believed would never happen again.
Snuggled against his chest Alice feel asleep. A real sleep. No nightmares, no tossing and turning. Just sleep.

But it was shattered by Logan shaking her awake.
"Come on." He whispered urgently. Alice's first reaction would be to slap him stupid then go back to sleep. But his next words stopped her. But she didn't have a chance to ask what the hell was going on. He suddenly yanked her up, nearly dislocating her shoulder. She would punch him for that later.
"What is going on?" Alice asked, wanting answers now. But when Logan refused to explain until they were outside put her on edge. What was up with him?Alice opened her mouth to argue but a stern look from Logan closed it once more. Still pulling her like a rag doll, they got outside. Alice hurried along the side walk as Logan continued to drag her, she realized then that she had no shoes. The harsh concrete tore at the pads of her feet like sand paper. Why was he running like her their lives depended on it? Alice glanced around, there didn't seem to be any one chasing. Frustrated, Alice pressed for answers.
Waiting impatiently for an answer her foot met a small shard of glass. She bit back a yelp, but Logan must have noticed for he slowed. She met eyes with him for a second and saw the pain and conflict in his eyes.
“I couldn’t let the others know I was leaving. I lied when I said I was trading myself to Alec tonight. We really agreed to meet this morning.”
Confusion and anxiety filled her.
"Why did you lie?" She managed to say.
“They would try to stop me. And if they couldn’t do that they would follow me and try to take down Alec. I can’t have them try that.” Logan's voice was somber, fueling the anxiety that now conquered the confusion. She knew what he was going to say before it left his lips. She always did, but denile kept her from believing it. He wasn't coming back.
“I brought you because I can trust you. You have to promise me that you will hide. After they release Jasper and take me, I want you to lead him back to the others. He cant make it on his own.”
At this verbal confirmation of her fears Alice skidded to a stop, pulling Logan around to face her.
"What did you say?" She growled. The sound was so low, and threatening it even surprised her.
Logan raised an eyebrow at the tone, but then his face went back to the serene mask.
"Alice we don't have time, we have to go." He said as he resumed yanking. Alice tried to pull back but he was too strong. Finally he decided carrying her was his best bet. Scooping her up in one fluid motion he continued down the street. Alice now noticed he was wearing pants.
When did those get there? Alice thought, remembering last night's exposure with a slight blush.
Whoa...definitely not the time for reminiscing on that.. She scolded herself. But her blush darkened as she was filled with anger and desperation. He couldn't go through with this...