A veil of silence hung over the few contents who crowded around the tracks, gazing in horror at the body of a man who had fallen before the last train. A woman stood in the crowd, her blue optics glimmering in the flickering floresent lights. She held a different expression than the rest, one of loathing and amusement. She turned pulling her coat around her as more patrons crowded about. A whispering arose and Rin smiled upon hearing the words 'accident' and 'poor guy'.

She fought the urge to laugh aloud. This was no accident, and the man was nowhere near poor. His victims were, Rin had traced many crimes to him, he was insane, prying on young women, waving around a gun as if he owned the world. He deserved what he recieved. He had even threatened a woman at gun point before Rin snatched him from Life's embrace.

Her lips where a lustreous red with his cold blood, she licked them slightly as she walked away from the scene. Without hesitance she crept into the cold damp darkness of the subway tunnels, they had called all trains to a stop so she had plenty time. Walking on she listened to the echos of the dripping water and scampering vermen, finding passages that few entered. She could smell others who had come before her, others much older than herself, and others that met their end.

By all accounts, this was her territory. Most of the subway tunnels were connected to the sewers, whether the people around knew it or not, but for the most part, she didn't hunt here. It seemed too easy half the time. Kill someone and make it look like an accident. Yawn. It had all been done before, and didn't leave much room for fun in the mixture. Simply killing was so passé. Watching a human wriggle like a worm on a hook as you tortured them... that was priceless.

Still, this didn't mean she didn't like the view of the man who had been torn apart by the train. Quite the opposite. His intestines were spread over the tracks, looking very much like sausages. His head had been severed off, and lay a few feet away, eyes glazed over and mouth hanging out of his mouth. Although, for such a grave accident, there was surprisingly little blood. Never to be called an idiot, she knew what that meant. In fact, she'd seen the whole show from her spot in the tunnels.

There was another vampire. Quite young she was, but already so vicious. Nyx liked her already. Her disturbingly green eyes glowed in the dark, watching her like a cat. They narrowed slightly as she saw that this fledgling was entering what she considered her territory, but brushed it off. She might be able to play a few games with this one. Games were always fun, right? Her lips curved into a sadistic smile, revealing her double fangs.

She approached quickly from behind, her one of a kind coat floating behind her. Moving quickly, she pinned the other vampire to the wall. Cocking her head to the side, she put on a smile too cheerful to be considered sincere.

"Looks like the itty bitty vampire has some guts." She moved away, her heels clicking on the stone ground. "I like that. It's so - refreshing. Most fledglings are all blah blah blah, whine, you can't kill 'cause it's wrong, etc. It's enough to drive anyone crazy, wouldn't you agree?"

A snarl escaped through clenched jaws as her back hit the wall, her eyes looked upon Nyx and narrowed slightly. She could barely begin to count how many times she had been slammed into a wall since she had been bitten. There was a pause however upon hearing that her work had been admired. Her head nodded in reply to Nyx's question. 'I do ...' She replied curtly. 'I try to be as different from them as possible ... and luckily don't have to try too hard.'

She raised a delicate hand and brushed off some droplets that had fallen on her suede coat. 'My name is Rin ... Rin Hart.' She smiled slightly as she gazed upon Nyx. For once she had found someone as sadistic as her, not burdened with some deed of the past it seemed. 'I'm assuming you saw what happened ... and liked it ... am I correct?' She looked to the mouth of the passage. 'Though that man didn't deserve death ... for that is too far sweet an end ... he deserved more.' She sighed regretfully. 'I just got sick of looking at him.'

Her eyes closed as she remembered the severed corpse strewn so fantasticly across those tracks. She smiled opening her pale blue optics and looked to Nyx. 'So ... I have given you a name ... do I recieve one in return?'

Nyx nearly laughed at the girl as she snarled. It was almost cute, in a very non-cute way. Ohh, a big scary vampire! Nyx cackled mentally, though only her eyes showed just how amused she was. This girl did indeed have guts, though it might get her killed one day. She didn't have nearly enough years to go along with it. Too bad.

Nodding thoughfully, Nyx considered the girl's words. "No... I don't suppose you would have to. You don't seem like the type." The elder vampire clamped her hands behind her back and looked - Rin - over. She certainly didn't look very sadistic from the outside, but then again, neither did she. It certainly helped in the long run. Luring the innocents to the innocent looking and all that. Worked like a charm most of the time.

"It was... suitable," said Nyx in response to her question. "Though really, the train did more damage than you did. You may have killed him, but it was the train that did the actual mutilation. It was rather sloppy too. I would have left more blood in him. Just imagine the fireworks that would have made." The woman giggled, though it was not an innocent giggle. It was the giggle of a psychopath, though the being in question was not so. She was a sadist in every definition of the word.

She didn't think for a moment that she'd been too hard on the girl. Everything that she'd said was true from her point of view. It was hardly even a show. Where's the fun by watching an empty corpse get run over? Nyx herself had done better with nothing but a blunt blade. That was before the more interesting things like chainsaws had been invented. Those had opened up a whole new world, and one that she continued to explore at every occasion.

Nyx tsked at the girl, waving a finger in mock reprimanding. "Ah yes, but you volunteered your name, I did not ask, and therefore, I owe you nothing." She paused for a moment, looking off into space, before settling her green eyes one the girl. Staring, her pupil almost seemed to disappear. "However, since I feel so very generous tonight, I will give it to you. I am Nyx, of the Tarepha."

Rin's eyes narrowed, this is the last thing I need, She thought, being judged by an immortal other than Drake. As much as she hated to admit it though Nyx was right, Rin had met few who refused to sugar-coat life ... truth ... and darker side of reality that lay unseen to many. No matter how much she wanted to say something witty in return, she fought it, knowing she could learn something of value. And being what she was, she needed to right any wrongs to stay alive. She nodded simply choosing to accept the snide remarks and move on.

'You say you are of the Tarepha ... are you the leader?' She looked upon Nyx with curiousity, for a long while now she had wanted to join a coven. At first it had been the Amman, but was turned away due to recently being bitten. From when she was within her mothers womb she had known of immortals. The knowledge of the ancient that had bitten her father had passed to her as well as her image. But still She knew not how to harness her abilities and she was still considered so young.

Her gaze wondered over the walls and she found her thoughts returning to the man whom she threw over into the tracks. She smiled wondering if they had scraped him up off the tracks yet.

Ah, so the girl was ticked off. How interesting. Other's might have missed it, but Nyx picked it up. She'd spent most of her existence figuring out how to read people, and most of the time, she did a very good job of it, such as now. Rin's eyes had narrowed slightly, and therefore, she probably hadn't liked what Nyx had to say. It didn't bother her though. If she tried to be nice to the whole world, she'd spend her whole life lying. If there was one thing Nyx didn't do, it was lie.

Raising an eyebrow, Nyx looked at the girl suspiciously. "And if I am? What then? Are you wishing to join my ranks?" The woman crossed her arms and leaned against the damp wall leading to the sewers. Her mind was buzzing. Did this girl possess telepathy? It might work to her advantage if so. Then again, it might not if the girl couldn't follow orders. The next thing she new, this new girl could rebel against her.

A smile crossed Rin's face, leavig Nyx to wonder at what she was thinking. It was times like this that she actually wished she had telepathy. It would help keep people in order, and help her to know what their motivations are. This girl wouldn't be that big of a threat. If Nyx heard anything even remotely concerning mutiny, she'd have the girl killed so fast, she wouldn't even be able to scream. Not the fun way, no, but it would save her a lot of crap in the end.

Rin paused upon hearing this, relief filled her though she refused to show it. 'It's definitly something I plan on doing ... joining a coven ... wether it's yours well ... or someone elses.' She paused knowing her age would effect the decision greatly, but she knew she could make up for it. 'I still have abilities yet to uncover ... so I cannot say what abilities I possess. But I will know soon.'

Rin wanted so much to hide the hope in her voice, knowing that it could be taken advantage of if wanted. But ever since she had met her father that one ill-fated night she had wanted to join one of the five, she wanted to know she was safe, with so many behind her when she would seek him out for vengance. She needed this ... not only for herself but for her mother.

A soft sigh escaped her slightly parted lips as she looked to Nyx. There was nothing more she could think to say. Her eyes where paler than normal with the rush of emotions she had recieved upon reliving her memories. The icy blueness of her optics added in the determined air she held, being new crippled her ability to be in the ranks she wanted, but she yearned to get there one way or another. 'I suppose ... if at all possible that ... yes ... I would like to join.'

It was her turn for her eyes to narrow once again. If her eyes had been an odd green before, they positively glowed now. She felt annoyance towards this girl, and felt she needed to say as much. She would not have anyone in her coven that wasn't worthy, and she had yet to prove that this girl was so. Yes, the incident with the man and the train would have been enough to gain her entry normally, perhaps, but Nyx didn't think it would be so with this one.

"Let me tell you," said Nyx slowly, a dangerous undertone to her voice. "I won't let you join if the Tarepha is a last resort; if you make due with it though you really don't want to be in it. I will not have that. All members should relish in what they are, not wonder what it would be like to be in another coven. Let me tell you, the other covens, they aren't so great. The only one I might put up with is the Ishak." Here she paused, pulling out a cigarette, lighting it and taking a long drag. She blew out the toxic fumes from the side of her mouth.

She looked for a long time at Rin before continuing, her eyes boring into the other's. "You give me one good reason to let you join, and I'll consider it. Make it good though, or you'll miss the grand prize, and we wouldn't want that would we?" A coy smile adorned her face.

Rin closed her eyes and hung her head, she had seen how Nyx worked and she knew she was going to have to reach deep within for a good reason.

For a long while she had this attitude of night and day, there was always the lighter side ... but with the dark came many evils. She reserved her softer side for those she loved, her friend, and her beloved. But when it came to be before a mortal or her Sire, her heart hardened.

Also for so long had she thirsted for revenge that she soon found it was apart of her, no matter what she did the shadow always loomed in the back of her mind.

Her eyes opened slowly and she looked up into Nyx's. 'I wish to find my place in my new life ...and more than anything I want to avenge my mother's death. No weak soul could have withstood my life, could have taken it when I watched my mother die in my arms. My father still lives ... out there hunting me ... and I won't stand idly by and let him ruin what good things I have going for me.' She paused swallowing hard. 'As for that place in life ... never have I been able to find others who can withstand the darkness that my heart harbors ... even some immortals fear what lies beneathe my flesh. I want to find somewhere where I can be home ... where I can belong.'

At first, it seemed as if the girl was admitting defeat, which was rather stupid considering there hadn't been much of a competition. Somehow, Nyx didn't think that was it. This girl had proved she had more fire than that. Much more. In fact, Nyx found herself starting to like her. It was annoying, but the girl proved she could be devilish. The woman liked devilish. Devilish always turned out to be a pleasurable experience, one way or another.

When the girl spoke, it forced Nyx to raise her eyebrows. "My... that's rather poetic, in a morbid way." Pushing off the wall, she spread out her arms. "If you're looking for darkness love, you've come to the right place. Understand, I'm not offering you a cozy home with obnoxious siblings and people who will listen to you blather on for hours on end. We're not like that. You need something, we might get it for you. You want revenge? Hell, the more torture the better, but the Tarepha isn't a place for people who want to talk about their feelings and such. We're a place of blood and mayhem, the place where every vampire wants to be, even if they don't know it. You think you can handle that?"

Nyx put down her arms, but it was clear that she wasn't finished. With a smile, she said, "We're about fun darling. I let my members do what they want, within reason. For example, getting the big scary Amman leaders angry is a no-no." The words 'big' and 'scary' were said sarcastically. "Generally speaking, we don't get along. They're so caught up wondering about what will be, that they forget about the now. Frankly speaking, I don't like them for the most part, but I still don't want war with them. Hate to say it, but the buggers might win."

At this part, Nyx smiled. "You're also going to have to get used to the fact that I'm in charge, and my word is law. I'm the head cheese as far as the Tarepha is concerned. You do something extremely stupid, you get punished. If you do something that I can't stand for. You're out. Is that clear?"

Drake lit his cigarette and took a long drag off it as he watched the two women interacting. So the girl is beginning to understand her inner nature. Its about damn time she stopped acting like a child. Chuckling under his breath Drake stepped out from behind one of the pillars of the subway and clapped lightly. "Bravo. It was a brilliant performance." He took another drag off the cigarette and blew the smoke from his nostrils. "I've been hearing some things in the city. Things about the Covens here." His attention shifted to the other vampire and at once he sensed the power. An ancient. Perfect. Drake inclined his head just a little as a sign of respect. "From what I hear this Tarepha would be perfect." Drake moved forward slowly, so that he would not make himself seem a threat. Pissing off an ancient was a sure way to get himself killed. He noticed the ancients stare and smiled a little. "I dont want to join your coven, but I see no reason for another enemy. So I purpose an exchange of services. I have a problem that your Clan could help me with. Im sure you have enemies you would like removed. I can provide that." Drake held his hands out wide in a gesture of peace. "I am not some idiot novice who has no idea what he is getting into. For the past five hundered years I have fought in the Clan wars of Europe." He took the cigarette from his mouth and tossed it to the floor. "Specifics can be discussed later, but does my offer intrigue you?"

Nyx wasn't particularly surprised when another vampire emerged from his hiding spot. Her green eyes stared at him, her interest piqued just by his appearance in her little discussion with the girl. He seemed to know Rin, but wasn't overly hostile to her. That was good. As far as Nyx was concerned, even though the girl wasn't officially in her coven yet, it would be seen as a sign of weakness to just let her be killed. From now on, if anybody was going to kill her, it would be Nyx, and that was only for punishment.

"Wow, the first words out of your mouth are a compliment to my coven. You're my new best friend," smiled Nyx, rolling her eyes. Putting her hands on her hips, she sauntered towards him. "I won't deny that you have piqued my curiosity. Rarely am I approached about this by Independents." She paused, putting a finger to her chin in over dramatized thought. "What I'm wondering though, is why a big tough guy like yourself would need lil' ol' me to help you. What is it? Girl trouble, darling?"

Chuckling, she ran a hand through her hair, and stared at him, a bit more serious than before, but green eyes still twinkling with mirth. "To answer your question, yes, I do have enemies, but no one you could help me with I'm afraid. If they could be killed so easily, I would have done it long ago, trust me."

With a gleaming red nail, she trailed her finger down his chest. "Besides, why should I help you? You're not in my coven, and don't even want to join." She said this last part with a childish pout. "I don't even know what I'd be agreeing to do. What's in it for me? I do have a high price you know." She smiled sensually. "However, give me something I can't deny, and we might be able to work something out."

"I can give you a great deal..." Drake moved a bit closer "I am no stranger to carnage and slaughter." A smile touched his lips revealing his gleeming fangs "And I still have friends in the Clans of Europe. Name your price and I will name mine..."

Rin watched the two in mild disbelief, her expression was of annoyance. She combed her fingertips through her hair and sighed. 'This is loverly ... really ... getting aqquainted and all.' She looked to Drake as she approached them both, wondering how long he had been there. 'Well ... it's been awhile ... I was begining to worry.' Her eyes glimmered darkly as she crossed her arms before her chest. 'But don't worry I teach myself just fine when abandoned.'

Drake snarled a little and took a step back. "Dont pout child. It is not attractive." He turned back to the ancient before him. "I am at war with a vampire by the name of Gabriel. If I alone conduct attacks the Amman will know it is me for sure, and I will be forced to stop. However if a coven such as yours begins causing chaos, then I can act. It works for both of us. It lets you and yours unleash the animalistic side and allows me more time. Think of the carnage you could cause before the Amman acted. And while your kindred were unleashed on the world, you could stall the Amman in councils. Or if that is not to your liking something else can be arranged..."

Nyx sighed in mock disappointment. "You see, this is why I'm the leader of a coven... and you're not. And here I thought you'd prove to be smart in things like this." She tsked softly, shaking her head. "Just goes to show that you can't judge a present by it's wrapping. While your offer does entice me, I can't accept. Sorry love. The Amman are powerful, and I don't want war for my coven. Not for the revenge of one lone vampire who isn't even a member of the Tarepha. Besides, the bloody Amman would probably know what we were going to do before we even did it. They're like walking receptors for thoughts."

Still, she paused, and thought for a moment, before turning back to the girl behind her. "What do you think Rin? What should I ask him for?" She turned back, a thoughtful smile on her face making her look innocent. She walked forward and began straightening out Drake's coat. She stopped suddenly, her mouth forming into a perfect 'o' making it seem like she'd been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. "I've thought of something... though I doubt you would want to accept my terms." She sighed again, with an air of sadness this time. "Nobody ever wants the job, but I take such pleasure from it." She smiled sadistically.

Placing a hand on her cheek, she regarded him with a critical eye. "Yes, you'd do fine. I suppose you have good stamina? You'd need it." She leaned forward, her lips brushing his ear and whispered, "If you want the help so bad, you'll have to do me a teeny tiny favor." She licked her lips, the moist tip touching Drake's ear. "When this is all over, you'd have to let me have my fun with you for however long I'd like." Pulling away, she blinked innocently, but the smile on her face was anything but.

Rin placed a hand over her eyes and sighed softly upon picking up Nyx's voice. oh dear god ..., She thought, damn these senses ... damn me for getting involved in all this shit. She placed her hands calmly by her side and looked to them both, Where is Lionel when I need him most?. She asked herself mentally, at least she wouldn't have felt like a third wheel.

'you know what ... I'm just gunna go ... and you can have all the fun negotiating you want.' She looked to Nyx, 'I want to join ... and no I am not looking for friends to have a pity party with ... I just want to see my father like that man ... only there will be no train.' She looked to Drake. 'and you ... well ... see you around.'

She pulled her coat around her as she started to walk back into the tunnel, she could see at the other end that they where still fussing over the damned remains of that man.

Drake briefly entertained the thought of drawing his kukri and removing head. No, he thought cant have that can I? Then again who knows if I'll even survive this little war. Drake reached behind his coat to the small of his back and drew the heavy blade. He brought it up so that the tip lingered in the air between them, then slowly he drew a line across his wrist. "Even to one as old as you my blood is considered powerful. My sire was quite old..." He trailed off for a moment then lifted it towards her lips "Just a taste..."

Looking from his slit wrist to his face, Nyx raised an eyebrow, clearly not impressed. She crossed her arms and gave him a slight frown. "You think I want your blood?" she asked, saying the word 'blood' like it was the most disgusting thing on the planet. She gave a crisp laugh. "Please. I've had enough powerful blood to last me a while." Shaking her head, her red hair fell around her shoulders. "I wasn't talking about blood, though there would be a lot of that too." Her steps echoed on the stone floor as Nyx circled around him. "And, no, I wasn't talking about sex either, before you ask. I don't sleep with random men," she added, the words coming out harshly.

Giving a dainty shrug, the redhead sniffed and stopped in front of him. "If you don't want to, that's fine. It's your funeral. Personally, I'll be wondering how long it will take before the Amman find out and decide to anihilate you. It should be quite a show. I'll make sure I have a front row seat."

She turned, humming a tune that she made up as it went along. Truthfully, she didn't know if he would stop her, and she didn't really care. If he did, she'd have a new pet, and that was always fun. If he didn't, she'd save her clan from some bad light that causing too big a ruckus could cause.

Drake sighed "You misunderstand. It is symbolic...A binding of our pact. An oath bound in blood..." He trailed off. Would she return? It would make things easier if she did. If not...Well if not he might be forced to declare an alliance to a Clan and that was not something he wanted to do. Not by a long shot. "Honestly woman have you never speant time in the old world???"

Frowning, she swirled around, green fire burning in her eyes. Slowly, but most predatory like, she stalked back and said in a hiss, "I was born in the old world when it was considered the new world. I saw some of the first Roman empires go up, and I saw the people they slaughtered. Don't you dare mistake me for an idiot. I am anything but, and if you forget this, you could wind up dead. I am not one to be triffled with."

She glanced down at his wrist which he still held towards her. Raising an eyebrow, she took his wrist gently. Surprising considering how angry she was. This was exactly the kind of thing she'd left the so called 'old world' to escape. Formalities were a waste of time. Shaking her head internally, Nyx focused on the task at hand. Slowly, she brought her soft lips down on the wrist. Instead of sucking it, she gently lapped at the blood with her tongue, looking up at Drake for a moment, before closing her eyes.

It didn't take long at all for her to pull away. Licking her lips, she looked at him. "The oath is complete, is it not? Though I don't mind your blood, I'm still hoping for so, so much more."

Drake watched as his wrist healed and leveled his gaze at the ancient before him. "Rome fell because of pride. England and France went to war because of pride. Be careful that pride is not your down fall as well Coven Leader." Drake smiled a little "I was briefly employed by one such as you...." He trailed off remembering the shocked look on her face when he had put the torch to her. Better offers always came along. "Now for what I want...I want chaos. Mayhem and mass murder. Unleash that starving pack of wolves you call a Coven. Bring to me five of your most vicious, for I have a special job for them. Is this acceptable?" In his mind the wheels turned. He would have to do a great deal if he had any hope of this working.

Nyx's gaze hardened. "Rome fell because they were a bunch of murderers who thought with the wrong part of their anatomy," said Nyx bitterly. She looked Drake right in the eye, and said, "I was simply telling you the facts. I've killed for less, or worse. You wouldn't believe what I could thing up. If you're really interested, you could ask some of the mortals I keep in my place, but I doubt they'd talk to you. They hardly talk at all any more, save to scream." An amused expression came over her face. "They don't make very good company," she added, wrinkling her nose.

"I don't employ people. They join because they want to, and I offer them safety when they need it. I won't go all mushy feeling-like and say they're my family, because that would be a lie. However, I let them do what they wish, except when they cross me. It's not pleasant for them then." The redhead drew a finger across her throat, slicing it a bit on one of the sides with her nail.

Walking forward, she placed a hand under Drake's chin. "You will have what you desire. I'll make sure they like to have fun, although I don't know if they will follow the strictest orders. Best just to tell them where the best place to kill and maim is. And remember our little deal." She nipped a bit on his cheek before pulling away with a gleeful smile and giggle.

Drake smiled "I dont need them to speak for me to get information if I want it." He slid the kukri back into its sheath and lit another cigarette "And tell your kiddies, if they get in my way they will greet the dawn. I've waited too long for this." He blew a long stream of smoke from his nostrils "And what is it you will be asking of me when this little slaughter is finished?"

Nodding in agreement, Nyx said, "True enough. You could just look at them and tell. I find them beautiful, but they seem to find it revolting. Why, however could that be?" She frowned, her eyes hardening as she heard what he said about her coven members. "You will not punish them. Bring them to me. I'll give them a worse punishment that mere death. Loosing my authority wasn't part of the deal, was it darling?"

"I tell you what," said Nyx, poking Drake on the forehead, "You tell me why you want this Gabriel person dead, and I'll give you a bit of what will happen when you kill him. Is that fair enough? I'd hate to ruin the secret for no apparent reason." There was another innocent expression on her face, but her eyes held a wicked gleam.

Drake ran his tongue over his fangs. "Very well. I want him dead because a little over five hundered years ago I was envolved in a Clan war in Europe." He sighed softly "I was young and in over my head. I knew nothing of the power struggles between the ancients, and even if I had I wouldnt have cared. We were storming a keep and I watched as he slaughtered every member of the Clan that I knew. There were others who escaped, but the few who watched out for me were torn apart and I could do nothing. Torn apart but alive in some form until I set the torch to them." His eyes raked over the ancient from behind his glasses "Satisfied for now?"

Hmm, thought Nyx. She wasn't sure she'd joined the right side. After all, this Gabriel sounded vicious. He could be quite interesting. Too bad she hadn't known the facts before she'd joined up with him. Still, as she looked Drake over, he wasn't too bad on the eyes, and he'd proved he had stamina with his blood. Yes, he would be good. Who knows? Maybe he wouldn't even win this little feud, and she'd get to see this Gabriel person after.

"Ah. This makes slightly more sense now," said Nyx, placing a comforting hand on his arm, never letting her inner thoughts shine through. "I don't know what I'd do if someone slaughtered my coven." Of course she did. She'd make their life a living hell, but she was trying to appear sympathetic, not bold. It would have ruined the effect.

"I believe I promised you a glimpse at what I'd do to you, did I not?" asked Nyx. She walked forward, pressing herself against Drake so that their noses almost touched. With her right hand, she grabbed onto his hair and pulled it back, exposing his neck. With one fluid movement, she licked up the side of his flesh. She smirked, running her nails over his cheek and creating little lines of blood. "I said I don't have sex with random men. What I mean is, I don't have just sex with random men." Standing on her toes, she licked the side of his cheek this time, before pulling away with a devious smile on her face.

Drake ran his fingernails down her arm "Your charms must wait." He untangled himself from her arms and smiled "Gabriel is a vicious creature, but he has grown lax in the last three or four hundered years." He leaned forward so that his lips were an inch or two from hers "I havent." Again he ran his tongue over his fangs as he took several steps back. This was going to be interesting at least. He glanced down at a fallen news paper and felt a chill run up his spine. He had made the front page. Perhaps that will prove a bit to this one... He picked up the paper and handed it to her. Boy Crucified to Ceiling! Family Slain! was written at the top and Drake had a strange sense of pride "I think they got my first message clear enough..."

Nyx almost shuddered with anticipation when their lips almost touched. It had been so long since someone had enjoyed her games besides her. While the pleading and begging for mercy from her playmates was always fun, she missed having someone who would let her do what she wanted... and liked it. There was just a certain appeal to having the person scream her name instead of scream in sorrow. While she wasn't sure Drake would go to that extreme, he was rapidly beginning to show that he would indeed.

Taking the newspaper from him, she quickly read through it. A gasp of wonder came from her, like a child in the middle of a candy shop. It wasn't because it was gory, no, she'd done things like this before. It was that he had done it to someone who had an angelic name. Irony always proved to be worthy of amusement. It never failed to make things interesting.

Dropping the newspaper, she looked at him, a smile tuggin on the corner of her mouth. "I look forward to seeing many more of these stunts. It seems that this deal shall be more to my benefit that I originally thought it would be. I'm glad, though I would be much happier if once this was all done, you decided to join my ranks... much happier."

Drake chuckled "Rarely do I choose sides other than my own." His smile grew just a little "Though things might be to my advantage here..." The tone of his voice left very little to the imagination. He looked at the ancient and took a drag off his cigarette. She was beautiful, but the angelic looks betrayed a vicious side Drake had rarely seen. She reminded him of someone he had known long ago... He managed to pry himself away from those memories and flicked a bit of ash off the end. "What can you tell me of the Ishak? Are they worthy vampires?"

Nyx gave him an amused smile out of the corner of her eye as she looked over the newspaper once again. She could grow to like this one. He was thoughtful in his murders, plotted them out with as much gore as possible, and he wasn't bad on the eyes either. If he joined Tarepha, she might keep him longer than she'd estimated. This Drake was proving more enticing with every passing second. It was her new goal to find out what his breaking point would be when she got her way with him. He didn't look like one who would give up easily. That was good. Very good.

"And who says we're on two different sides?" inquired Nyx, throwing the newspaper to the side and turning to the side. She slid her hand down his chest. "After your retribution is completed, what will you do? The Tarepha have no real ultimate purpose, save to have our fun. Could you say no to that fun, when I would offer it to you freely?"

She took a deep breath, swirling around before facing him. "The Ishak, the Ishak. As far as the covens in the city go, they are the one I respect the most, though even that isn't a lot of respect. They like scaring mortals, which gains them brownie points. They kill their victims, which is also good, but they have one itty bitty flaw. They think that they are the masters of the universe. No joke. I hate them more than the Amman in this sense. While the Amman possess quiet pride, the Ishak have arrogance that is both loud and obnoxious. If you're asking if they'll help you... They might, but you might have to make a bigger deal with them than you did with me."

Drake shuddered just a little. It had been a long time since he had allowed any other vampire to touch him. A very long time. "They do have it partly right. We as vampires are superior to the mortals." He moved just an inch or two closer, his arms hanging loosely at his side "Though I doubt any of them could make such a tempting offer." The scent of age, power, and just a hint of lust was intoxicating. Her charms were making him lose his senses and, while aware of it, Drake did nothing to change it....\

Seeing him shudder and move closer, Nyx couldn't help but smirk. She was getting to him, and he knew it. That wasn't to say she wasn't entirely affected by him, for he did appeal to her a great deal. What he had done to that family only made it stronger, but the woman had great self-control. If need be, she could hold off until he owed it to her. It was certain to her that he wouldn't escape her then.

"Love, did I say they were wrong in that regard? No. I agree, we are much better than the lowly scum that have the nerve to assume that they're at the top of the foodchain. What I meant was that they think they are better than the rest of us, when that so clearly is not the case," said Nyx, looking at him through her eyelashes. "And although I may be biased, I personally think that the Tarepha are the best, for we deny ourselves nothing. We want something, we have it." There was clearly a second meaning to the last phrase, but Nyx didn't elaborate further. Instead, she slipped her hand under his shirt, and slid her hand back up his bare chest, her eyes clearly indicating that she knew what she was doing, and wasn't about to stop if Drake said nothing.

Drake felt her hands slide over his skin and brush against one of the scars left from the arrows that had led to his being made a vampire. Those scars would remain forever. He knew what she was doing, and knew that he didnt care. He was not fool enough to trust her, but for the moment he knew she meant no harm. Or rather no serious harm. "I like that. Taking is so much easier." He closed the small distance between them in a single step. Reaching up he pulled away his sun glasses so that his eyes looked into those of the vicious ancient. "Is there something you want?"

"It is, isn't it?" agreed Nyx. "I much prefer taking to asking politely, or even, ick, working for it. Those are the things of the past in my book." Her fingers traced the scar that she came in contact with. So he'd had a violent encounter before he was made, huh? Well, that made two of them, though Nyx was sure that they were two encounters that were largely different. Then again, possibly not, but she didn't have scars like this. All hers were psychological. Or had been. She was quite positive she was over them all by now. After all, revenge is the best medicine for people like her... and this Drake apparently.

He stepped closer, and her smirk intensified. He seemed like the kind of man who would want to take charge. She'd have to show him better sooner or later. Looking up at him, for he was a good six inches taller, she put on an affronted expression. "Why, I would have thought that it was obvious." Within a second, the look had disappeared. "Besides, I think you already know. I can smell it on you." Her green eyes blazed, but not with anger this time.

Drake smiled "Im no fool." He considered touching her mind and seeing what he could learn, but quickly decided against it. One should always try to not anger someone who had seen the Roman Empire. He leaned down and whispered in her ear "Violence and sex...a dangerous and intoxicating brew. The question is which would you rather come first?" He nibbled slightly on her ear before standing strait again and awaited her answer.

As he whispered into her ear, Nyx took in a sharp (and unneeded) intake of air. Oh yes, this was a good specimen. He would do nicely, and if how things were going was any indication, he wouldn't be saying no to their little agreement after this was all done. The nibble on her ear made her press against him, slipping both hands under his shirt and hold onto his shoulders. There was a sly smile on her face, and the look in her eyes was anything but innocent.

"Who says one has to come before the other? I much prefer them both at the same time." She stood on her tiptoes, her mouth a quater of an inch away from his cheek. "It makes things much more..." She dragged her tongue along his cheek, while dragging her nails down his chest. "... Interesting." Taking a hand out from under his shirt and wrapped it around his next, pressing the whole of herself to him. "Wouldn't you agree?"

Drake twisted one of her arms behind her back and pulled her tight against him "I would indeed." He bent his head and took her lips with his. The kiss was anything but gentle, and both of their tongues were cut upon the other's fangs. Blood and the kiss was all that mattered for a long moment, when suddenly the moment was shattered by a mortal's voice. "Dear god," he said obviously annoyed "get a damn room already." Drake broke the kiss his eyes betraying the rage that lay beneath his cold exterior. He untangled himself from the ancient and replaced his sun glasses, "This will only take a moment." Drake turned and before the mortal had uttered a sound Drake had him off his feet by the throat...

The kiss was bloody. That was good. He was hurting her with her arm behing her back. That was good too. His blood was like an elixir in her mouth, sliding gently down her throat with each passing second. It was different from mortal blood... colder, but the power in it was far greater than any mortal could hope to have. She felt her own tongue get sliced by his fangs, and wondered what he thought of her blood. It had been a long time - a very long time - since she'd let someone taste her blood. Still, this only proved that he would be able to withstand the things that she was going to do to him in the future.

She nearly laughed when the mortal called out to them. Drake's eyes were so angry, so full of rage. It was positively amusing. She watched as he replaced his sunglasses and strode over to the perpetrator. He picked up the man with one hand, but that was hardly anything uncommon. "What are you going to do to him?" asked Nyx. "If you have nothing planned, I have something in mind." Her smile was small, but her eyes twinkled with sadism.

His senses were still swimming from the ancient blood. It was like that of his makers, old and filled with a hidden power. It felt like liquid fire as he held the fool at arms length. "Plans? I was just going to toss him into the next train to come by." A smile crossed his face "It seems to be the thing to do now days." He looked at the squirming mortal then back to the ancient "If you want him he's yours."