Christian sighed as he plopped down into his chair in the study. Blood had already dried on his upper lip and the inside of his ears. Tsukina slipped around the desk with a cloth and alcohol to clean him up. He sat there, eyes closed, blindly reaching for the glass on his desk. One pat... Two pats... The third found the glass and he smiled weakly. Lifting it to his lips, he smelled the burn in his raw nostrils before he felt the warmth of the drink spilling onto his tongue.

"Thank you Tsukina," he spoke out softly as she finished clearing away the dried mess he'd made of himself. Opening his eyes, he watched her move across the room and discard the cloth. "Would you retrieve one of the packs for me?" he motioned to the small refrigerator in the room. Closing his eyes once again, he leaned his head back and sighed.

"Carlisle did a number on that poor girl's mind. I think, by far, that was the hardest I've had to push to break through any of his warding. One of three things. Either one, I'm growing weaker. Two, he's growing stronger. Or three, we have absolutely no idea exactly what he is capable of..."

Lifting his head and downing his drink, he slid the glass over to Tsukina as he felt her presence come nearer. "All three of those possibilities worry me."

His lip twitched as the smell of blood filled the room when she punctured the packet. He was more drained than normal. Then again, it had been four or more days since he'd fed... Maybe he was just already drained. At least that was what he convinced of himself.

"Kina, my love. You're a gambler of sorts... What are the odds that two children, touched by our father, find our family, in two different cities, in less than a week's time?"

He felt the glass slide back into his open hand and he closed his fingers around it gingerly, lifting it and drinking it's contents in one, guzzling effort. His tongue licked the inside of the glass a bit before he sighed and sat it down, a bit of it running from the edges of his mouth and down, dripping from his chin to stain his otherwise immaculate, white button down. Sliding his glass back to Kina, he knew one more serving awaited being poured in his glass.

"I'm not certain this isn't somehow planned..."

Receiving his glass the second time, he downed it yet again then set it aside.

"What do you think of her, iubirea mea?"

Kina smiled through her worry. She'd seen Christian push himself before, but this was on a different level altogether. Moving around behind him, she tenderly rubbed the tension from his back and shoulders as she pondered his questions. 

"Well, she's extremely perceptive," Kina mused, "Did you notice the way she looked at you and Hiram when I entered the room?"

"At the same time," she continued, "She seems very kind. And very... considerate?" She wasn't entirely sure that was the right word. But it would do for now. Sighing softly, she continued, "She asks no questions. And keeps her observations to herself. Which, is a necessary trait in this life of ours. So... perhaps she is more prepared than we're ready to give her credit for?"

"As for your father..." there was another heavy sigh as she draped herself ever so lightly over his shoulders, nuzzling his cheek, "I see two things. Firstly, you are starving and exhausted. That alone will make you weaker than you are accustomed to. Secondly, given what I witnessed in the kitchen... I have to admit that I think this one may be special. The kind of special that Carlisle can use... the kind of special he would want to keep close lock and key on. So it doesn't surprise me that you would have a more difficult time with this one because of both your physical state of neglect AND his extra invested effort." 

Straightening, she spun his chair to face her, her telltale blue gaze intensely watching the flickering shadows of the fire as the danced across his worn features. "That being said, I don't think any of that is - in any way - a testament to your ability to overcome this demon." 

She held his gaze for a long moment before draping herself across his lap; lither fingers running through his short, dark hair, "And as for them finding us, love, we both know how Hiram is when it comes to seeking out companionship. Surely, at some point in your lifetimes, it was BOUND to be someone your father had interacted with. Given that, outside of your family, this world of ours tends to be a closed system, it was just a matter of time." Kina patted his hand lovingly as she shook her head, "Don't think too much into this. It is just your brother and his way. That is all. And the same goes for Sally, in a way. Six degrees of separation and all that. We know that Matty made Evie... And that alone is unprecedented. Given that part of Matty lives in Sally, it is no surprise that your father would seek her out. If Elyan can learn all that information, Carlisle can too. Again, it was only a matter of time. And better that we find them now than let them try to navigate this world blindly... or worse yet, fall into his traps." 

Tenderly, she nuzzled into him, holding him close as she let him brood. "From what I can see, it doesn't seem as catastrophic as you see to find it. ... for whatever that is worth."

Christian smiled greatly, wrapping his arms around her as she nuzzled into him. They sat in silence for a long while, until he started to chuckle softly. "This is why I keep you... You're the reason to my panic. The answer to my question. The right to my left." Reaching up and running his hands through her long, silky, black hair, he closed his eyes and rest his forehead against her shoulder.

Again he was silent, his mind playing over the memories he'd watched... Over. And over. And again. He couldn't help but grimace as he replayed Carlisle's assault on their new friend. However, as he closed his eyes and stretched his mind over the rest of what he'd witnessed, he chuckled softly.

"Oh my..." he continued to snicker. "It's so great to watch her hunt Hiram... I can imagine he's getting a taste of his own medicine from what he's done to lovers and mates such as yourself!"

Chuckling, he pulled away from her and looked her in her eyes.

"Would you care to see her hunt him? I can share that with you..."

Kina blinked, "He picked a hunter??" Her quizzical expression almost knocked both of them out of the chair as Christian nearly doubled over with laughter. Not understanding, Kina quickly added... sounding concerned, "That's so out of character. He usually goes for fawning little things he can easily influence. Is he okay?? Should I be worried?" 

Christian continued to chuckle and Kina continued to eye him, confused... completely skipping over the self-deprecating inference of her words. It wasn't so long ago that she'd been one of those impressionable 'fawning little things'. Now? She was arguably the Matriarch of the Black family... thanks to their 'brothers' miscalculation. 

"Noooo..." Christian chuckled out as he tried to calm himself.

"No, no..." He took a deep breath, sitting back in his chair and exhaling with a, "Woooo..."

"Okay. No. Hiram didn't pick her. She hunted him down, darling. Literally tracked him to this house without him even noticing."

Christian waited and watched. He wanted to see the complete dawning of realization cross her features. His eyes remained glued to her face in anticipation.

Christian watched as her expression made the 100-yard dash to realization in painfully slow motion. For a few long moments there was no sound... then only soft, strangled croaking as she stammered over the impossible. 

"NOOO... nooooooo... really? No. REALLY?" Kina veritably cackled, nearly tipping the entire chair sideways as she tossed her head back with laughter. 

"How?"

"She's Human!"

"Is he okay?" 

"He must be DYING!" 

"Fucking Christ, I think I love her." 

"Show me, show me, show me," she giggled uncontrollably. It was such sweet irony to know he was finally experiencing what he'd put her and so many others through.

Christian chuckled at her animated response, relishing the excitement and impish joy that washed over her. Grinning wickedly, he allowed her a few moments of breathing and calming herself before nodding.

"She's an Oracle, that is how. She read her own lines of fate, while focusing on meeting him," Christian smirked. "Come, I'll show you."

He stood and ushered her into his seat, leaning it back and spinning it so that he was behind her. Placing his hands on either side of her temple, he coached, "Close your eyes and open your mind." Lowering his head, he pressed his forehead to hers and muttered a few indecipherable words. Shortly following, she would get glimpses of Esmerie following the blue strand of fate from the market, through town as quick as her bare feet would carry her; looking both ways, untying the threads as she went, and deciding her best course of action...

Eventually, she'd find herself standing outside of the home, and then struggling to get over the fence which, of course, set off every alarm the brother's had in place, bringing the three of them to the porch, then to her side...

Tsukina already knew the rest of the story from that part, and Christian muttered something unintelligible yet again that released Kina from his mind. Standing straight, he grinned, chuckling softly as he rubbed her temples. He knew the recipient side of that incantation was rough and, occasionally, it ended in a splitting headache for a few moments.

"Well?" he continued to rub, not certain if she was going to laugh hysterically, or groan in pain, or some mixture of the two.

Tsukina cackled; her musical laughter easily dancing down the hallway and into the kitchen. 

"She fucking TRACKED him!" It was almost too much to believe, and yet she'd seen for herself. "Our Hiram! TRACKED by a human girl!" 

Breathing deeply, she continued chuckle, "My gods, that's rich!" 

After a few moments, she calmed herself... her usual matronly concern returning, "He must be nearly out of his mind. How is he taking it?"

"Better yet, how are you taking it? Do you think..." she trailed off for a moment with a bittersweet smile, "Do you think that... once the shock of it wears off... she could be good for him? That maybe... she could help him... you know... get over it... for real?"

She didn't meet his gaze as she spoke. Her concern for either brother always seeming like a betrayal of the other. She, of course, knew this was not th e case for Christian. But Hiram... they both knew that was a different story, no matter how well he camouflaged his pain. 

Esmerie has already proven quite surprising... especially in relation to Hiram. And Kina found herself cautiously hopeful that perhaps... just maybe... she could be his turning point. 

Nodding, Christian stepped away from the desk and ventured to the windows that lined the study. His eyes trailed across the yard as the sun slowly sank below the horizon. "I think she could..."

He stared out, knowing exactly what that meant for his brother... For Tsukina... For him. They could all be some semblance of whole again. The way normal families were. Minus the immortality of it all, of course.

"She matches him, quite well. You saw the blue threads, did you not?" He chuckled. "I'm not, honestly, certain what that's on about, but I'd imagine it means something... Especially since she didn't seem to know either. I'll need to do some in depth research on that to give her a good answer, but I believe it may have to do with either some form of ordained pre-destination, or some divinely influenced type of..."  He paused for a moment before looking up at the sky, "Intervention."

Returning his gaze to the grounds outside of the window, he focused on the gardens and the golf course that surrounded the property. As his mind wandered, he pondered how Sullivan, Salena, and the others were doing in L.A.

"Oh!" he exclaimed as he spun around, hands clasped behind his back. "We need to place a call to Elyan, let him know we're moving up our time schedule... And to prepare an extra room, just in case. Can you take care of that for me, my love?"

"Of course, my love," she moved to the window, lacing her arms around him and holding him close for a few moments. Pressing her cheek to his back, she mentally whispered a silent prayer. ... how sweet it would to be truly free. 

Kissing his shoulder, glanced out at the darkening horizon, mentally calculating the time difference between the two cities. The full moon shone down brightly on the grounds. Elyan and his crew would be busy tonight... but it should be early enough for a call. Sliding over to the desk, she tucked her feet beneath her as she settled into his chair. 

"Tsukina Black for Tarmarand." 

Her use of his name rent an uncontrollable chuckle from his lips. He knew it was for ease of communication, but it still made him smile. Perhaps it was time to consider making that official... in the legal sense... considering her was, after all, a lawyer. As he pondered the many unforeseeable twists of late, Kina's hushed voice danced through the background. 

"Hello, dear one. No, no. Everything is fine. Not to worry. We've had some... unexpected developments, but nothing threatening. However, we will be moving up our flights. As soon as we can get off the ground I'm sure. Yes. .... Yes, and one more thing. I hope it won't be too much trouble, but if you could prepare an extra room? Yes. Just one. No. No, no. She's human...." there was a brief pause and a soft chuckle as Tar's bawdy voice filtered laughingly over the line. "Yeah. It's complicated. I'll explain everything once we arrive just... um... stick her near Hiram, yeah?" 

There was a sarcastic quip from the other line, Kina choosing NOT to correct everyone's assumption for the time being. It would just make things easier. As the call wound down, Kina smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Tarmarand. We'll be seeing you very soon. I'll send word as soon as our flight is confirmed. Run well." 

The phone clicked softly into the receiver as Kina turned to wrap her arms around Christian again, gently tugging him away from the window. "Come, my love. Tonight you need real rest."

Christian nodded as he turned away from the window. "Mmm. That much is true." He allowed her to drag him away from his office, their soft footfalls not even echoing as they practically glided, silently, down the hallway. Through the kitchen, Esme and Hiram nowhere to be seen... He had probably taken her to a room upstairs already. Through the den, Jakoby and Evie now curled up on the couch listening to a radio broadcast. Jakoby waved, but Evie was caught up in the scientific spoutings of the doctor on air. Christian nodded. Down the hallway from the den and into the first room on the left.

"How many days has it been since I actually took my rest in this room?" he asked as Tsukina already started unbuttoning his shirt, his arms instinctively outstretched to the sides.

"Too many, my dear." She slid the shirt from his shoulders and down his arms, tossing it into his wicker basket near the door. Unclasping his belt, that was the next thing as she expertly whipped it from around his waist, drawing a chuckle. "You take pride and pleasure in that, don't you?"

He was certain he noticed a flush of color return to her otherwise unnaturally pale skin. Smirking, he reached and caressed her face. "I do so very much adore you, my dearest Tsukina. Thank you for everything you do to take care of me."

Stepping away from her, he finished undressing himself and crawled into the cool sheets of his bed, closing his eyes to allow his body a chance at long needed rest... "Are you to join me, or will you continue prepping for our departure?"

Kina carefully untangled herself from the heavy yards of silk that draped her delicate frame, sliding over to snuggle close. "What preparations haven't been can wait until tomorrow. Amelia is extremely effective at such things... and we'll need a bit of extra time to prepare the new girl anyway," she excused her lack of concern with an accurate but thin excuse as tangled herself into his embrace to keep careful vigil over his fitful rest for the long night ahead. 

It wasn't often that Christian slept... far less so that the old nightmares plagued him. But the week's events weighed heavily on him and tonight, though... tonight Kina new, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he would need her gentle presence there each time he shook from dark dreams of the past if he were to get any real semblance of rest... rest that he would desperately need in preparation for the coming days.

She didn't sleep; attentive eyes watching his expressions carefully as he tossed and turned, tender fingers caressing the fear and worry from his features when it came, quiet lullabies and familiar ancient prayers whispered softly into his ears to drown out his family's screams or his father's laughter as they slipped unbidden into his dreams. She was soft and gentle... never waking him fully... but ensuring that her soft presence kept the monsters at bay. She was his anchor, his balance, his sanity. And he was her whole reason. For always. Never was it more apparent then behind the privacy of closed doors. If only Hiram could see the way she cared for him... perhaps he wouldn't ache so over her choice. 

But... with any luck, maybe... just maybe... that would no longer be a concern. 

Down the hall, Esme tiptoed silently toward Hiram's door... 'first door down the hallway off the main den'. She had to find the den first... slinking like a ghost past the open door as Evie and Jakoby finished the last of whatever broadcast they'd been enjoying. The two shared a startled look of surprise and concern... which only intensified as they lurched from the couch just in time to see her nightgown-clad form slip into the room with a soft knock. 

"Great," Evie grumbled softly, "He's gone and done it again." Shaking her head, she gave Jaokoby a gentle pat with an expression that read 'I'll explain later' as she led him down the hall to her own room. With everyone else safely tucked away for sleep... no one needed to know fi whe kept company... right?

Hiram's door opened with a soft, barely-there knock, the familiar scent of cedar, spikenard, and hyssop filtering into the room before Esme's thinly veiled form slipped shyly through the door. 

She didn't wait for an answer, he noted... either naive or brash. But, a soft chuckle stopped his thoughts in their tracks. "Don't look at me that way," she chastized him softly, "I knew you weren't sleeping yet. And don't pretend you mind. Your loneliness is like an aura." 

Smiling, she hesitantly parted the gossamer curtains and perched herself on the edge of his sprawling canopy bed. Her eyes traced the faint weave of his unbelievably fluffy and unbelievably white down comforter. For a split second, she giggled... imaging herself diving into the soft sea of feathers like a child into piled fall leaves. It was fantastically enticing. 

Blushing, she glanced up at him, avoiding his etherically glowing gaze as she whispered, "I couldn't sleep." 

And was it any wonder? Given the nightmares they'd uncovered after who knows how many years of repression? Given she shared a room with those same monsters? Given that suddenly, in a single evening, every beast, demon, and childhood horror she'd convinced herself didn't exist was suddenly undeniably, screamingly REAL in the most personal and inarguable of ways?

Her whole world had been turned upside down. Of course, she couldn't sleep. But what was HE supposed to do about it?

Chuckling at her, Hiram slid over from the center of his bed and closed the book he was reading, his thumb between pages to keep his place. Resting it in his lap, he pat the bed with his free hand.

"Would it comfort you to have company while you tried to sleep?"

He reached over and turned the comforter back revealing an earthy colored tone of sheets, tossing the fluffy sham pillows off to the floor and smiling at her.

"You're welcome to lay down here if it will make you feel better. I'd offer to walk you home now, but we both know after what you now remember, sleeping by yourself in your wagon is not going to feel safe. At least here you know the home is well warded, and guarded."

Smirking, he added, "And so are its inhabitants."

Watching her carefully, his gaze alight with entertainment, he couldn't help but wonder why he both felt like throwing her out and cuddling her close at the same time. He was truly caught in a whirlwind of emotions, and he had absolutely no idea how to handle it.

Esme hesitated for only the briefest moment, climbing unceremoniously into the bed with a warm, shy smile. "Are you sure?" her dark eyes blinked up at him, a pale blush ruddying her cheeks. Curling up as close as she could, she slipped one leg over his as she tucked herself into the crook of his arm... once again not waiting for an answer. 

It was an odd habit and one that he would have to get used to... something that she did as an imitation of normalcy rather than out of any real need for answers. Snuggling up, she layed her head on his chest, nuzzling down comfortably. "Thank you," she glanced up at him softly. "I'm sure you're rather... conflicted... at the moment. So I appreciate the... extreme hospitality." There it was again, that surety and knowingness... all of him laid bare like the book in his hands. It made him... uncomfortable. 

Sensing his mild distress... something she'd come to expect from other's reactions to her... she politely changed the subject. 

"What are you reading," she asked with a lilting curiosity that reminded him of a small child. "A person's choice of literature speaks volumes about their personality, you know," she added with an impish smile. "What are your favourites?"

Hiram smirked, turning the book over. "'Red Harvest', by Hammett. It's interesting. It's about an agent who works for a Continental Detective Agency, I feel like it's based off the Pinkertons. Hammett worked for them, so I assume the references are from that anyway. However, the agent is tasked to go and clean up a corrupt town. You know, a lot like here where the police are simply another criminal organization. He ends up leaving the town with a lot of major players dead. It's a good read, probably my sixth time through it?" He chuckled.

"However, I do enjoy a Agatha Christie book, or even Dorothy Sayers. 'Whose Body?' was a very well written murder mystery that kept me second guessing myself as I read it the first time."

"What about you, do you enjoy reading books? I already know how well you read people." He smirked.

Esme chuckled, "Of COURSE you would choose mysteries." She shook her head softly, "And here I thought you might surprise me with something out of character... romances, perhaps." 

She mused softly for a moment, and for a second, he lamented that this woman he was stuck with must NOT like to read... perish the thought. But, as he brooded, she simply shook her head. "I don't know any more," she chuckled with wide bewildered eyes. "I love reading, don't get me wrong," she reassured him. "But... it seems like my favourites... well..." she laughed uncontrollably for a few long moments. 

"Poe," she admitted with a blush, "by FAR my favourite of all times. His poetry is heartwrenching and poignant and moving. His mysteries are by far some of the most engaging I've encountered. And his darker works are utterly haunting! Stoker, Shelley, Wells... even Norris. Mcteague was downright disturbing.  Ellison and Guy Endore as more contemporary authors." She prattled on, like an excited child. "I have a sordid love affair with Gothic Horror and Supernatural Thrillers." 

She shook her head, "Now I'm living it."

Chuckling, her words brought a smile to his face... "You know, I like good poetry too. Anything that can actually stem the senses and tickle the fantasies... But supernatural thrillers and gothic horror were never my favorites." He snickered. "They get it all wrong, all of the time. They paint us so horribly. Well, most of them. Occasionally you find someone with a love affair for the monstrous... But then their concept of our reality is so far skewed and off base that it makes it almost unenjoyable..."

He looked at her. "But Poe? I rather enjoy myself some of  his musings. It inspires me that someone of your youth can enjoy and understand his words. There may be hope for you yet, dear child." He laughed, almost seeming happy for the first time in a long time. If it weren't for that impending doom of "TRAPPED" that loomed over his chest...

She stared at him for a long moment, in that unsettling way that he had before sighing softly. "That makes sense," was all she said... refusing to drudge up whatever it was that 'made sense'. "I'm sorry," she added softly, hugging him in the most tender and gentle way imaginable. 

"What's your favourite, then?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation away from her sight. "You seem like the sort to favour his Dupin pieces. The Murders in the Rue Morgue, perhaps? Or are you more for Horror? Mask of the Red Death? The Pit and Pendulum? Tell-tale Heart?" 

She tactfully avoided those reasons she suspected - Anabel Lee, The RAven, Morella, Eleonora, The Sleeper, A Dream Within A Dream... No, she would not stir that lonesome, wretched ache which made him loathe to send her away and equally loathe to have her stay. She would not pry at the memory that made him what he was... that cooled his bones and steeled his heart. She would not incite that hollow longing that surely had made him into a hunter. 

Instead, she simply curled tighter into his side with a soft, sad whimper... as if with her warmth she could somehow chase away his ghosts.

Melting with her whimper, he pulled her close. She did fit rather nicely into the crooks of his body, and her warmth carried an odd sensation of comfort. "'Masque of the Red Death' is one of my favorites, but 'Tell-tale Heart' will always have a place in mine. Then there's 'The Raven' as well. Lots of longing and sorrow. It always felt as if he understood my tribulations."

Shrugging away those feelings, he chuckled. "But somehow, I don't really see any of those being relevant to right here, right now. Tell me, Esme. What troubles you so? What nightmares plague your mind that keep you from sleep? Obviously those of my father, but then you come here and feel safe, resting your head with a four-hundred year old monster... Tell me there isn't something ironic and yet poetic about all of that? Perhaps you shall become my favorite author as I watch fate unfold in your hands?"

He smiled, leaning away and setting his book on the nightstand before situating himself.

"Tell me about yourself, Esme. Tell me about yourself so that I may know more about the woman in my bed." His arm wrapped around her frame and his cool fingers drug lightly along the heated skin of her arm, teasing the flesh until goosebumps transpired. The soft, subtle bumps along her arm drew a smirk from his lips as he looked down at her.

Esmerie pushed her gloomy thoughts out of her mind. She was here. She was safe. Whatever the past had been, it was the past... even if it did haunt the living with prickling poignancy. 

"What do you want to know that you don't already?" she asked with hollow exhaustion. "I'm a woman without family and without country. I have a gift... which I swindle on geezers and widows who never want to hear what is truly important. So more often than not I am just as phoney as the next wandering gypsy rover. I've never been so blessed as to find any companion stimulating enough to grace my life for more than a few nights at most. I find most people to be willful simpletons or self-righteous braggarts with all the social grace of a snail." 

She chuckled softly, "Is that what you want to hear? Or would you prefer to dally with the quirks of my character? Such as... I have a dreadful habit of biting my nails. Or... my favourite meal comes from a little diner near the market that sells... of all things... chicken and waffles. Or perhaps that my favourite bouquet is lobelia, laurel, and larkspur. Or that I prefer Hemlock to Belladonna, despite the latter's beauty and Queen Anne's Lace to Baby's Breath for the former's offer of sanctuary. Would it tickle you to know that my window boxes grow garlic and wolf's bane? That I mix salt into the paint for my porch and windows? And I sleep with sprigs of hawthorn and heather over my bed and iron scissors under the mattress? I have a childish fascination with masquerades... especially the masks. I find perfume distasteful. But I love incense. Especially the less used, more exotic varieties. I loathe undergarments with EVERY fiber of my being. But the aesthetic of corsetry I find tantalizing. Let's see... It takes focused effort for me NOT to read people. And I really do TRY to give everyone the greatest privacy that I am able at any given moment... though I admit it is far more difficult when under duress or exhausted. But I find it extremely difficult to read my own lines. II am a menagerie of contradictions. And yet, I imagine, to someone like you I am rather homogenous and boring." 

She glanced up with a sheepish smile. "What about you? What kind of man shares his bed with me so  unquestioningly?"