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Daija put the beads back around his neck. "Think nothing of it." He walked out of the cave, but stopped just outside. Without turning, he called out, "Oh, and Alfons--if I see you on Iriomote Island again, you will perish." He lifted his right hand and pointed to his direct right. "There's a river not far in that direction. Follow the current to the bay. There's a harbor and civilization there." Daija resumed his walk, disappearing into the coming darkness.
Alfons shouted back, "Ja ja I know! .... You old coot." He grabbed his gear turned to Dmitri. "Come on, grab your stuff."
"Da, it is about time ve got out of here." He hefted the M60 and the two walked over to Scarlet and Ciro. "All set? Let's head out."

Valthier only half heard her remark. it seemed trivial to him that she worry about that right now; after all, it was just a pair of earrings. what was that compared to the wealth of her family?

just another quirk about Vampires and their tendency towards riches and usually even nobility; they were callous, and he couldn't stand it.

he was sitting, gazing out absentmindedly over the water at the horizon. strangely, despite his hunger and damage he still hadn't fed again yet. he was sullen, and once again considering his undeath. it plagued him that to this day he still cannot seem to find practical or even emotional justification for his choice tor remain a Vampire. Elves had naturally long lives, and many found the means to immortality. and there were all the pains that being a Vampire caused him.

of course, he wasn't ever going to consider reverting to full life -- he never took that idea seriously. somehow he felt right like this. he wasn't just a Vampire, nor was he merely a Dark Elf. the truth has always been that he was greater than the sum of his parts, and he always would be.

this thought once again gracing his mind, a small smile crept onto his lips.

mouse was worried about him. she realy was unsure what had him upset, and she didn't realize before that he might have any reason to be. before now she only thought of him as yet another captor, someone who thought of her as an object of physical desire, prey to be toyed with and then tossed away. but seeing him like this confused the matter.

she didn't approach him, she just sat cross-legged in the middle of the boat. but she wouldn't take her eyes off of him. what could it be? she wondered without direction, having no knowledge of his life to guide her theories.

Scarlet smiled at Ciro and snuggled her way into his arms. "They were a gift, that's all. Sentimental. But sentiment won't help us now. Besides, I suppose if I really want them back, I can send an agent to track them down later." She looked over at Dmitri, puking his guts out over the rail, and smiled wickedly. "Poor mortal. He deserves it tho, for being such a pain in the neck."

Scarlet snuggled into Ciro's arms. It had been a long, long, long time since she had felt so comforted by another's touch.

She snickered and Dmitri. "Maybe we should comfort him with sweet drinks and spicy food. Or recite long poems about men from Nantucket."

She settled into Ciro's embrace, folding her cold arms over his so he wouldn't let her go as the rocking vessel took her passengers through the moonlit seas. It was good to have Ciro nearby; it eased the hollow ache inside her. In her mind, there were two kinds of vampires: those who weathered the centuries alone, and those who found comfort in a companion. She had tried being alone, but found it miserable beyond bearing. She had tried to keep herself company with mortals, but they were fragile, and her brother, but he was...her brother. Even fellow immortals like Val had their own lives that took them away from her, time to time. But having a companion of her creation was turning out beautifully. She might be considered a cougar for being so intimately attracted to a vampire over a 150 years her junior, but after the first century, no one would care.

Scarlet wondered if she should feel guilty for whatever had happened on that island just now, but that was a difficult emotion to manage--almost as difficult as embarrassment. Life went on. Death too, for that matter. At the moment, all she wanted was a hot bath, a clean futon, and Ciro's cool limbs entwined in hers.

The boat chugged on, and finally they came to another island. Scarlet led the way with the scowl of a woman very near scorned, and the mortals gave her a wide birth. When they reached the airport, she used their phone to place a call. News was passed, haggling commenced, funds were wired, and the company of six promptly commandeered the one private jet in the whole place. The pilot was falling over himself to get them off the ground quickly, but Scarlet rested one hand on his shoulder and he instantly stilled as he realized how close her sharp black nails were to his throat.

"Take your time. If we fall out of the sky once more tonight, I shall be very peeved," she informed the captain. He nodded and restarted his pre-flight check list, this time in slow motion.

The plane had two flight attendants who could have been twins. With black hair, honeyed skin, dark eyes, and perfect hourglass figures, it was obvious that they were used to serving whatever the guests might want, no matter how lewd the requests. Scarlet approached one of the attendants, Lu, in the small plane's kitchen when they reached cruising altitude.

She sidled up to Lu and snaked one arm around the thin girl's waist. "Darling, you wouldn't happen to have any hemogobular products or by-products on board, now would you?" she crooned.

"Please pardon, I do not understand?" Lu replied.

Scarlet sighed. "I fear you are in bad company, my child. While your liqueurs and wines tickle the pallet, three of us are in need of a...blood donation. Just a small one, I assure you, and I am more than willing to compensate you and your coworker. Grant us this favor, and I will give you almost anything: Money, gems, university admission, another job, whatever you like. I realize not a lot of vampires are in the habit of asking their prey for permission but I've always operated on a policy of Consent and Care. It's what separates the Red Court from the Black."

Lu's eyes went wide as she started to understand. "I--we--it's not--"

"Do you doubt my word? I am Scarlet, of the House of Frost, and I have yet to break the letter of my vow."

The woman considered, and Scarlet could see the intelligence in her eyes. A flight attendant of questionable honor was probably the best job she could secure in her small village, and leaving it would mean greater vulnerability to the dangers of the darker world beyond. On the other hand, she had maybe five more years in this job before she would be fired for no greater crime than aging. What was a little blood now for greater payoffs later? She was seriously considering Scarlet's offer with grave seriousness.

"Will it hurt?" Lu asked with a wince.

"Only a little precious," Scarlet assured her, drawing her back toward the gentlemen.

The other attendant, Su, was serving alcoholic drinks to the Russians, and Mouse clutched a mug of cocoa resting on the rock in her lap. Scarlet caught Val's and Ciro's eye as she returned.

"My dearest friends, I have secured a small repast for us. As you are my guest and have paid a dear price for our survivial, Val, you get first choice," she offered, steadying the nervous Lu with one gentle hand.

"This isn't so bad, this whiskey. It's not scotch, but it's good." Alfons noted. Dmitri took a gulp of vodka. Alfons sighed, and the said in his native German, "Ich hoffe, der alte Mann ist in Ordnung...." He was concerned about Daija's brother. Dmitri raised an eyebrow, and responded with "Starik? Chto vy govorite?" Alfons grew cross. "Nichts was Sie brauchen um zu kommentieren, Schweinehund." "Eĭ! Ne nazyvaĭ menya suka, mudak!" *Devolves into nothing but insults in German and Russian*
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"You've earned that Val." Ciro said with a grin. "Drink up." He paused, realizing how thirsty he was too. He glanced out the window, into the darkness. For a moment, Ciro thought he saw someone observing them, but he chalked it up to his imagination. Dmitri and Alfons's cacophony of insults snapped him out of it. "WILL YOU TWO SHUT IT?!" The two glared at him for a second, downed their respective drinks, then resumed their squabble, only several decibels softer.
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Outside, the man in the trench-coat watched the plane. *Beep beep de deep beep* His cell phone rang, and he answered, "Speak." "Yes." "What about the others?" "Understood. He will lead us to it. Vincent out." *click* He turned and walked away.

unlike he usual behaved when he was so thirsty, the Elf managed to compose himself and drink slowly and careful. this was partly to be courteous to his snack, and partly in case he noticed he should share her.

he whispered encouragement and comfort to Lu, letting her know she was safe and that he wouldn't kill her or turn her -- unless she wanted. she had asked him what it woud do for her, and he responded bluntly.

"you'd be immortal, if you count your heart not beating. you'd gain strength and speed and other mighty powers. specifics vary. however, you'd be unnatural, you'd need blood to sustain yourself, and be unable to go in the sun or running water. you couldn't enter private domains without permission. and since you'd be unholy, you could be easily rebuked by strong faith. the worst part in my opinion, though, is the cold; you'd be damnably cold, all the time."

Lu shivered. she politely passed.

Mouse was watching, from her seat next to them. she had the window seat, so she couldn't realy get up to leave. she tried not to blush. she didn't know why, but this made her very uncomfortable. she looked out the window and tried to ignore them.

she thought she saw something. it looked like a piece of black fabric whipping on the wing, but then it was gone. she wondered if it was just her imagination.

with a shy humm, she tugged on Val's coat and pointed out the window. he let Lu go and glanced outside. he didn't see anything, but emmediately became worried.

"hey, Scarlet. we should keep a weather eye out. I think Mouse saw something outside."