Colton refused to play Celeste's game. "Why not!" She stamped a foot and crossed her arms, tears threatening. "Because this is not a place for games, Celeste. You stay right there and don't move. Not ONE inch."

The walls echoed Colton's words again and again, as if trying to help him make the point stick. His three-year-old niece stood before him, fuming. He was mean, and she hated him. She just wanted to play one round of hide-and-seek. Why couldn't he be nice, just for once? She started screaming, or crying, or something somewhere in the middle of both. Colt heaved an angry sigh, turned away from her, and stormed off. So much for being the adult.

Normally, she'd be left with a sitter, his parents, or Eric. Tonight, though, his sitter was at a sleepover with her friends, his parents were on a get-away for their anniversary, and Colton refused to burden Eric with a screaming toddler. So, like most parents, he was stuck with her.

Colton fumed all the way down to his room, and kicked the door open. His usually passive nature had been obscured by the week’s events, by the fact that his niece hated him, and by the fact that he had been so stupid as to leave his keys in the Nephim catacombs. Colton quickly set to work in digging through his possessions.

Celeste had screamed for a few moments, watching Colton leave, screaming louder and louder with every step he took away from her, until her voice could scream no louder. He disappeared down a stairwell, and she stopped screaming, now whimpering and wailing, then letting out a short scream, which was cut off with more sobs. When he didn't say anything to make her shut up or reappear in the doorway, she stopped. Even she was smart enough to know that if he couldn't hear her, her efforts were futile. That didn't mean she stopped crying. She continued, more subdued, eyes glued on the doorway.

Celeste was a good listener. She waited right where he told her to wait. One minute, two, five minutes passed. She had stopped crying, letting out a little hiccup of a sob every now and again. He still wasn't back, and she wasn't going to wait any longer. Celeste stomped over to the doorway and then down the stairs, with no look back.

Colton heard her stop crying, heard her start walking, and heard her start coming down the stairs. He sighed, and continued looking for his keys. He knew he had left them here. There was no other place he could have put them. The door creaked open behind him, and he knew Celeste was standing there. He said nothing. Maybe if he ignored her, she'd go away.

Celeste saw Colton and grinned deviously. "Count to 30! You're it!" And she took off. Colton took a deep breath, calming the urge to wheel around and yell at her, and then continued looking. They were in here somewhere.

Celeste ran down a hall to a new door, and opened it. Empty, no hiding spots. Next door revealed a bed, but that was all. Next was something of the same thing. She went further, deeper into the halls, till she found a nice door. Very nice, actually, in comparison to a few of the others. She opened this, and stepped into an acutely more lavish room than the rest. Perfect.

Colton found his keys at last, and quickly pocketed them. He'd remember to check the pockets of all his coats first, before turning his room over to find keys. He walked out, and shut the door behind him, glancing down the hall for Celeste. No doors were open. He sighed. "CELESTE!" When there was no answer, he scowled and started down the halls. He wasn't in the mood for hide-and-seek.

Celeste had hid herself behind some thick curtains that hung to the floor, covering her little Velcro sneakers perfectly. She giggled every now and again, when another door slammed shut, meaning Colton couldn't find her. She had found the perfect spot and--

Her door opened, and she stayed quiet. Colton peered inside, and then opened the door wider. He could hear her breathing. "Let's go, Celeste. NOW." When she didn't budge, he released a noise akin to a growl, and started looking around things, in a much less violent manner then he had in his own room. He peeked around crevasses, and around furniture. Lavish room indeed. He picked up a picture of a family, or, rather, of a woman and three kids, two little girls and one older boy. No father. Colton softened somewhat to the people. Jason's 'family'. This must have been Jason's room. He set the frame back down, and continued looking about.

Celeste could see Colton's silhouette, and had to use all her control not to giggle, because he'd never find her here. She waited while he searched.

A perfect game of hide-and-seek.

He'd heard it when she entered the room. A human child, the space of a wall and a wooden door away. He was curious, of course, but it took him a moment to put back the few things he'd taken from the travel chest. He didn't want those just lying around, in case something happened.

The coven leader's quarters are more lavish than others-- particular in size. He would have a few rooms to himself.

The little girl-- and the sound of another. Not mortal.

"Let's go, Celeste. Now."

A vampire taking care of a human child...?

He's curious, but he's also annoyed that someone-- two someones-- have enetered his room unannounced.

That's why, whenh the connecting door opens and Nicodemus steps into the main chamber, the one containing Celeste and Colton, he cuts something of a menacing figure.

Smooth black clothing in simple lines. Amber hair that's grown long enough to be tied into a short ponytail, which it is. Amber eyes. A dangerous expression.

"What are you doing here."

Maybe it'd be more re-assuring if his voice held any heat at all. As is, it's smooth like silk, ready to wrap around the intruders.

Colton spun, glaring to the opening door, his instinct telling him it was Celeste. When faced with equally angry eyes, Colton couldn't help but keep glaring, almost defiantly. Who the hell was this.

Celeste didn't like the second voice. She peered out of her hiding spot to see the new man in the room, and decided that the game was now over. The man looked big and scary, and she didn't like his eyes. She quickly darted behind Colton, and clutched to his legs, peering around them at the angry man.

"I should be asking you that question." Colt folded his arms across his chest, and continued glaring back at Nicodemus, eyes partially shrouded by his bangs, which were growing out longer than he liked. Again. He was dressed in a long sleeve shirt and typical blue jeans, with a light zip-up jacket overtop. His leg ornament was dressed out of season, wearing a brightly coloured, flower-filled dress and a bonnet-esque hat on her nearly bald head. Colton couldn't get her to wear anything else.

"I wanna go home." Celeste looked up to her uncle with a pitiful face, filled with the naïveté you'd expect from a toddler, especially after causing such a ruckus.

Colton seemed unmoved by her whimpering, expecting an answer from the amber-haired man.

The amber-haired man looks down at his fingernails. When he looks up again, it's into Colton's eyes from two feet away, one hand resting lightly at the fledgling's throat.

Too fast for the mortal eye to see. And sometimes, for the immortal eye.

The reasonableness of his tone is out of tune with his posture.

"Look, I've just go back, I'm travel weary. I was kind of expecting to see Jason here, but he's not. And now you're in my rooms, with this little child here, and I'm wondering."

The amber eyes lighten, just slightly, as though a firefly has been caught somewhere in the depths and was lighting up one last time.

"What are you doing here?"

Celeste clung tighter to Colton's leg for a moment, then the realization hit. The man had just appeared in front of them... Faster than anything she'd ever seen. She let go of Colton's leg, and ran, as if that would save her. The door was still open from when Colton had entered the room, and she darted for it. "Don't move, Celeste." Celeste slowed down, but decided against listening to Colton for once. She wanted out.

Colton threw a glance at the door, and it snapped shut. He repeated himself, slowly, sternly. "Don't. Move." Celeste stopped in front of the door, and looked back at her uncle, bewildered. Colton didn't want her anywhere where he couldn't see her, especially with this second vampire here. Nephim, for sure. He had moved faster than Colton could see. Defining characteristic of their coven, and Colton didn't want it used against him... On his niece.

Colt seemed to not mind being held captive by Nico, mostly because he was arrogant when it came to getting beaten up. He had taken quite a few bad punches from his psuedo-sire. Psuedo, as the vampire had killed him, but never turned him. He shifted a bit, but he made no move to run. He could, easily. The fingers of his captive were too loose to insure his captivity. Even Nico had to know that.

"Jason is gone, and most likely not coming back. However, that doesn't mean that his rooms are now yours." Colton shifted a bit under the vampires hand. He was uncomfortable with the closeness, and the obvious threat. "Again, I should be asking you that, but I assume you came here to look for Jason. Like I said, he's gone. I'm in charge till he gets back. What do you want."

His tone was not nearly as cold as Nico's, but it made its point. He was not in the mood to be threatened by some vampire and not in the mood to play question games.

"Well, I'd like my coven back, thanks."

He steps back and gives Colton a critical eye, apparently ignoring Celeste.

"Jason left leadership to you? How old are you?"

"Your coven?" Colton's words seemed confused, but they clung to a tone of annoyance. That wouldn't be shaken easily.

Colton prefered being threatened with strangling than asked of his age. He knew fully well how insane it was that someone so young was in charge of the entire coven, but, hey, if he was a defiant brat before, he'd continue to be so.

"Just old enough to know that you'd laugh if I told you." He wasn't going to say 20. He refused. Well, 21. He had had a birthday after his death.

"He's the same age as my mommy because they're twins." Colt grimaced as Celeste spoke up again. Nothing stopped her from speaking when she knew the answer. Not even the amber-haired vampire who looked ready to kill Colton. "Mommy said she was 21 years old on... Ummm... October." Celeste seemed to be satisfied with her answer. Colton reminded himself never to take her to the coven's church again. Ever.

"My coven. My coven, which will never be left in the hands of Jason again."

He shakes his head, not laughing, and moves over to the desk, placing Jason's family picture flat.

This is more of a something-to-do than anything else.

"21 is very young. You're pretty brave." To stand up to him, that is.

"Jason's dead. You wouldn't be able to give it to him if you tried."

Colton watched Nicodemus slap the picture down flat, which seemed to solidify the fact that Jason would not be returning to them. Still, the action seemed to unnerve Colton more than he'd admit.

Colton could hear his mother answer Nico in his head. 'You're not brave. You're foolish.' "And who are you, exactly."

The amber-eyes vampire glances over from his contemplations at the desk.

"I'm Nicodemus," he says.

Somewhere under the miles and miles of masks he wears, the elder vampire is curious to see if this fledgling will even recognize his name. The curiosity doesn't show.

There is no flash of recognition in Colton's still-defiant eyes. He hasn't heard of the vampire, and it isn't surprising, considering the fact that Colton is fledgling, and still a young fledgling at that.

"And why should I believe that you're the leader that preceeded Jason? He never mentioned you." Colton didn't want to be caught in a 'fast one'. Yes, he was young, and some power-hungry vampire could try to use his age to their advantage, and trick Colton into assuming that they, indeed, were the original leader. Though somewhat disrespectful, it was smart.

Celeste, forgotten by both the men for the moment, had turned to sitting by the door, tugging at one of the curtains gently, perhaps enjoying the sound.

The elder vampire shrugs.

"You know what? It doesn't bother me that much. In a fair fight I'd beat you within a few seconds, and I don't fight fair."

He turns, and lifts a coppery-orange eyebrow at the boy.

"Many here will remember me," he says mildly. "I'm back. Your turn at playing with power is over."

Colton shrugged. Threats against him were becoming more and more commen, He was getting more and more used to shrugging them off.

"Many here know only me as the leader, and many more only Jason and myself. Now, what of them? I assume they will be as unaccepting of this as I am." He refrained from getting whiney, and telling Nicodemus that he didn't play with power. He just executed all the necessary things that he had to do. There were no games in it. But, that would just make Nico's point more solid.

"And I am sure, Mr. Nicodemus," Colton casually strolled over to Celeste, putting himself between Nico and her. She jumped up, thinking now they'd be allowed to leave. "that you'd beat me in any fight, fair or unfair." He opened the door, and let Celeste rush out, but closed it after she was gone. Seconds later, little hands pounded on the door, and muffled whines crept under the door. Colton leaned against the door. "But I want proof."

Colton wasn't brave. He had a deathwish.

"I'm sure you're aware that we get more powerful as we age."

He sighs, obviously weary of this, and glances off to his left, as though there were other, pressing matters at hand. Which, to his mind, there are.

"I guess we also get wiser."

He's standing across the room, his hand resting on the overturned photo on the desk. The next moment, he has Colton pinned to the wall, usng a single hand to hold the fledgling's neck there. His fangs are bared.

"I don't. Have time. For this."

Colton nodded. He knew. More powerful, and much wiser. But really, did he care? No, the thought of dying right now was pretty nice. Except the whole... You know. Death part.

His back seared with the contact it made to the wall, but he could tune it out. His toes were on the floor, and he was happy to have some ground below him. He weighed his options hastily, and somewhat carelessly, as he didn't think clearly when someone pinned him up against a wall with the full intent to fufill Colton's wish of proof.

"Obviously you do. You're partaking in it."

Colton kicked up and pulled himself down in one swift motion, causing more pain to his back, and considerable discomfort to his neck, where Nico's hand had been. His kick aimed for Nicodemus's groin, hoping to cause enough discomfort to allow Colton the time he'd need to get up. Otherwise, he was at Nico's feet, just begging to be stomped on.

Nico's groin, and in fact, Nico, 's not where it used to be.

He's moved to the side. In a swift motion, he drops himself on top of Colton, using arms and legs to pin the younger vampire to the ground. He leans in close to Colton's neck, and nicks him with a fag-- just lightly.

First blood. Old rules, and not necessarily one the fledgling knows.

"Say uncle."

Yes, he appears to be serious.

Of course he has no idea what a little nick in the neck is supposed to mean. Colton wasn't lucky enough to get the hand guide on Vampire Actions, and thus, was oblivious to just about everything. He'd probably be curious to look into it later, though.

Colton tensed under Nico, not liking the closeness of the man. Painfully reminded him of the Beltan feast, and though this man was rather handsome, he didn't like the results the first time he got involved in such a scandal. Something told him that he was supposed to learn from his actions and not repeat them. And, besides. That was just wrong.

"No way in hell." Colt struggled for a minute, fully aware that he wouldn't be able to push the amber-haired man off of him. He stopped thrashing, looking as if he might give in, when he thought of something. His left arm shot up above his head, along the floor, pulling Nico's hand with him. In a split second, before the older vampire could regain balance that would have been thrown by this and react accordingly, Colton spun towards his left, using his outstretched arm as a pivot, rolling himself, and Nico, sideways.

The weight was off him, and with that, he scrambled backwards, out of Nico's reach.

The elder vampire rolls to the side, against a wall, and rises.

"Now see, I had you pinned. I drew first blood. Technically, I won."

Speed again. The aim this time is to pin Colton to the floor with one arm underneath him-- the other three limbs Nico would keep pinned, and Nico's spare hand would go around Colton's throat.

Colton smiles slyly, and shrugs. "When you said you fought unfair, I believed you." The man stood quickly, not about to let himself be pinned again.

Colt is much more of a wimp than a fighter. He really wasn't able to back himself up, and it was very blatently ovbious that Nico would beat him down soon. Of course, that didn't mean he'd save them both some time and just walk away. No, he had to aggrivate this Nephim till he really did some damage.

Nico ran for him again--quick, but Colton was expecting it. They weren't standing around to talk. He moved before his thought decided where exactly to move too, darting sideways into a billow of curtains. And effectively disappeared behind them, or, well, no. The curtains appeared empty. There was a scruff from a shoe somewhere deeper into the room, and a slight flicker of movement behind a pillar of stone.

He still hadn't perfected his hiding tactics.

Nico follows right behind-- curtains flutter, a rug furrows, and his hand's around Colton's throat again.

This time, he squeezes. This time, he lifts the fledgling above the floor and dangles him in the air, giving him no purchase. The older vampire's nails dig in.

"Ah, well, maybe I'm more honourable than I thought. If you don't submit, I'm going to break your arm. Your left arm. Okay?"

Colton didn't know what hurt more: the fact that his neck was being squeezed tight and nails had dug into it, or the fact that he really couldn't do much else but hang there. He did know one thing: Nicodemus was quick. Served him right to try and flaunt the true authority.

"Gnow!" It was a rough sounding, very forced noise that meant 'No', but given his current state, he hadn't quite the luxuray of clear, intelligable speech. But 'no' to what? Giving in, or breaking his arm?

Colton had debated this in his head. He was tempted to refuse giving in, but a broken arm, however quickly mended, did not appeal to him. Sure, the bones would fix themselves, but there would still be a hell of a lot of pain for a few days. Colt wasn't macho enough to take that much pain for that long.

"Lummne duwn."

"Okay."

Nicodemus lowers the younger vampire to the ground-- almost to the ground-- and holds him with his feet just a few tantalizing inches off the stone floor.

"But no more, or I will break your arm."

And he releases Colton, and dusts off his hands, one eye on the other, watching for any signs of movement.

Colton glared at Nico somewhat, and nodded. He'd be good to his word.

Colton rubbed his neck ruefully, and tuned out the fact that Celeste was crying from behind the door, muffled, erratic banging breaking the near-silence every few moments.

"So where exactly have you been for the last half a year?" Colton knew it had to have been longer, as Jason had already entrenched himself in the 'leadership' stuff he claimed was so important, like getting revenge on the Tarepha for some killing they pinned on him to the Amman, and making sure the Enashe supported their coven, and were on terms with them. That had been one of the only reasons why he left Colton in charge. The fledgling of the Enashe leader was a sure way to insure that the covens would remain friendly.

"Europe." And his tone says, enough about me.

"Maybe you could brief me on what's been going on?"

From fighting to business-- Nicodemus doesn't necessarily let his instinct rule.

Colton seems less flamed now aswell. Accepting, perhaps, but mostly just too smart to think he could do anything but this.

"Jason left about 7 months ago. I've been holding down the fort as well as I can... The leaders of the other covens have shuffled around some. Marcus still leads the Amman, and Nyx the Tarepha, but Lily Colwyn now heads the Enashe, and the D'Cafrion twins who led the Ishak have been replaced by Anton Vladmir."

Colt paused, fishing for any other topics of concern, then spoke again, whatever previous gruffness of his voice now gone. "There aren't a whole lot of Nephim living in the catacombs... 10 or so." Colton shrugged. "We do have the occasional visitor, though. I assume there are others in the area who live in the nearby apartments. There are two new members you've not met, Elena and Adonis. I'll leave it to you to tell them about yourself." Colton said it in a tone that hinted to a slight bitter feeling, but it was quickly covered by a joke. "Elena's very mellow and will likely not be of any trouble to you, but Adonis is a whore, and I'm assuming he'll find you quite the catch... Just warning you, before you get raped..." Colton said this with a bit of a crooked grin, and then shrugged. "Anything else?"

"How did you find your time administrating a coven?" he asks, moving over to the desk against the wall and oepning a drawer, shuffling the papers inside.

Colton sighed, and leaned up against the column. "It was easy. I spent most of my time in the catacombs, in the church... If people had questions, they'd find me and tell me. We didn't have many problems. I guess you could account that to the derth of members here." Colton remembered only one major issue; there had been an assassin working in their midst, and the Amman had told him to control her. It had been a very awkward desicion, but he decided to turn her out. They hadn't seen her since.

"It hasn't been as easy recently because of..." He frowned some, listening to another wail from behind the door. Celeste was still there, and not liking being forgotten. "Because of Celeste. I find myself paying off a babysitter more often than I like." Colton glanced back at the door. He really felt he should let her in, just to keep her from crying, but then she'd talk and talk and talk. No one needed that kind of headache.

The red-haired vampire pulls a sheet of paper out, inspects it, and the files it in another drawer.

"How would you like to continue in an administrative capacity? Not as leader, of course... but, say, secretary."

Colton almost laughed. He wondered if Nicodemus had seen his penmanship, but chased the thought off. Of course he hadn't.

"If you mean that, you'd better have an ability at decyphring handwriting." Colton focused his gaze back towards the desk and Nico, letting Celeste sit out and suffer a few minutes more.

"I'm sure we can arrange some sort of laptop."

The elder vampire glances over and his serious Business Face breaks with a smile.

"I just got back. Obviously I'm not going to be able to handle things all on my own, right?"

Colton shrugged. "If I can cling on for a few months, I'm sure you'd be fully capable." He returns the grin, only to grimace at another ear-piercing wail. He righted himself, no longer leaning, and walked to the door, raising his voice to still be heard.

"I have my own laptop, but the thing doesn't run long on a battery, and from what I have been told, all the electricity to the church is shut off." And the fact that all the walls were completely stone, with no chance of finding an outlet. Colt opened the door, the sobs growing louder, then stopping. "UNCLE COTTON, WHY DIDN'T YOU GET ME!" Celeste clung to one of his legs. Colton wondered if she was afraid of the dark; he'd never have figured she missed him that much.

She, of course, didn't find intrest in him long. Her blue eyes found Nico, and she gazed up at him, carefully hiding behind Colton's leg.

For the most part, Nicodemus ignores the child.

"So get a new one-- one that works on a battery. I have funds."

He closes the drawer and turns around.

"Basically it comes down to the fact that I've been doing some... personal investigatios, let's call them, of late. It's amazing how much paperwork an underground coven of legally nonexistant vampires can generate, but there it is-- and you seem like you might be able to deal with it."

He smiles, almost ironically.

"So lets say I'm offering you a job, instead of a broken bone."

The offer was good, though Colton was much too frugal to throw away his perfectly able laptop. He'd keep it in his office at Ace High.

"I've yet to forge my own disappearance... I don't think I will till my parents pass away." He reminded himself that they had already burried one child, and the affect it had had on his mother was devastating. Also, they were free babysitting. Colt didn't want to lose that very convenient option.

"From the sounds of it, I think I'm going to prefer the broken bone one day." He eyed the desk for a moment, then spoke again. "I'm going to have to deal with it on a limited basis... I still have to work my pay-the-bills job."

Celeste yawned, and sat at his feet, but refused to let go of Colton's pantleg. The conversation seemed to pass over her entirely.

"Surely feeding the kid can't be too hard on your grocery bills."

Nicodemus lifts an eyebrow, then shrugs.

"Anyhow, have it your way. I'll see you again tomorrow night to discuss the details-- now, I'm going to get back to unpacking... if that's all right with you?"

Yes, the last is mocking, but it's a friendly sort of mock, as a joke between friends. Whether or not Colton will take it that way is questionable.

"You'd be surprised how much she costs," Colton muttered. It wasn't just groceries, but the rent for an actual aparetment, as no logical human (or vampire) would welcome the child protective services into their catacomb room and try to explain how this was the perfect environment in which to raise a kid, as well as the electric, water, heating, and gas bills, which came disguised in the rent. Colton couldn't abandon his job for the finacial aspect, but also the fact that Lily had given him that job, and it was one of the few excuses he had left to visit his sire.

"I'll get a sitter." Colton looked down to Celeste, who looked up at the mention of having to be baby sat. She hadn't been paying much attention to the going ons, but she liked her sitter. "When, when!" She tugged on his pantleg. "And it's fine with me." Colton caught the mockery, and took it in stride. He, like Nicodemus, didn't mean it in disrespect. Playful, if you will, was his tone. "I'll be here."

Celeste stood quickly as Colton moved around her to the door. "When do I get to see Michelle! When, Uncle Cotton! When when when!" The little girl followed him out, and the door shut behind them, the 'When's continuing indefinitely, until silence was once again restored to the coven house, and dampened footsteps hear overhead.

The great door of the church above could faintly be heard as it creaked open, then thudded shut.

They were gone.