The day had long ago faded into the blackness of night, but the light had not all disappeared. The lights from the city, from the moon and the stars,from the essence of exsistance and being still left their traces, lighting the world for all-- mortal and immortal-- to see by.

But this mattered not to Liatha, as he stepped, slowly and silently up the steps of the church. This, he was told by a vampire he had met in the inner city, was the dewling of the Nephim-- his coven, his family.

His dark clothing concealed a white form-- his skin appeared albino, his hair long and silver, his eyes blood red with wide pupils. All of these were signs of his long years spent as a vampire-- he had grown, as Nephim do, to fit his vampiric form. His skin had not seen sunlight in half a century, his eyes lost color because they only ever saw darkness, his hair fading away, the only sign of decay on his undead body.

Dispite appearing as though he had emerged from a cave, bat-like in almost every aspect, his body still held it's youthful strength, seemless face, and beauty. He wore long black pants that hugged his hips and thighs, a tight black wife-beater, and a long black trench coat. Having just emerged from the city, he still wore dark sunglasses, to protect his sensitive eyes from light.

He pushed open the large doors of the church with long, sinewy arms, muscles rippling under his flesh.

There was not any sign of light in the entire building, so he removed his sunglasses with a deaf sweep of his hand, depositing them into a jacket pocket.

He said nothing, merely waited to see if one of his brethen would appear, to give him aide and help him find some prey, that he might feed this night.

Amadahy was hiding in the church, avoiding her master and her master's lover. The two were so weird and old. Being only a year in death, Amadahy felt out of place. She felt like fresh meat. As if she was an infant. She awoke from her daily coma late after Bliss had gone. Morrigan was the basement's secret room, doing what only God knows about. The gothic girl crept out of her coffin, up the basement stairs, and out the door. She walked straight to the church, not stopping even for blood.

Sitting a corner, tucked away in a black shadow, she played with a long piece of red yarn. Her long, ebony hair shielded her pale face. Only her brilliant green eyes could be seen through the darkness. The only make-up she wore was thick eyeliner and black eye shadow, which accented her eyes beautifully. Upon hearing another vampire enter the church she froze, glaring at him. She tugged at her black corset, pulled on a black leather coat, then tucked the yarn away.

Part of her wanted to remain still and silent. Surely such a vampire did not to be greeted by the likes of her. On second thought, she decided not to judge. Amadahy stood up and approached the stranger. She wore a short, black skirt and knee-high boots. She kept her hands buried in the coat pockets, twisting the yarn between her fingers. She was nervous.

"Hello," she said, clear and strong, then fall silent. She did not know what else to say. She would let him make the first move. Morrigan taught her that.

"Hello." Replied Liatha, droll voice completely concealing his relief at having been approached. The Nephim seemed to be few and far between in this city, and he was npot used to having to fend for himself.

He had been a powerful Nephim when he had lived in the United States, and had grown to rely on his berthen during the almost two hundred years he had spent with them.

He circled the girl, she was timid, scared, and still retained many of her human qualities. He could smell the life that still partially flowed thorugh her veins, her body was not yet in the decaying state it would eventually reach.

She was waiting, waiting for him to make the first move. Blood red eyes pierced her green ones, and he circled her slowly, taking in her every detail.

"What are you called, young one?" He asked, his voice a low hum, as he reached her face again. His stance was tall, firm, he stood in front of her, back straight.

Amadahy trembled in her skin. She was not used to a man circling her like that. Her heart skipped a beat every time his silent feet hit the floor. She felt like a mouse before an owl. The stranger's eyes sent pangs down her spine. His voice did not ease her feelings. For a moment, she forgot how to speak.

"Amadahy," she replied, meekly, after returning to her senses. "Amadahy Yewbeam." The poor lass could feel her knees growing weak, just like first time she met Morrigan. Her fingers squeezed the red yarn, as if it were some kind of protection. She was trying her best not to show fear, but surely he could see through it. The vampiress forced a small smile, trying to appear friendly, and immediately felt akward.

Too bad her power of suggestion would not work on him. She had no other powers that she knew of. Amadahy was at a great disadvantage among other vampires. Some still saw her as a mortal. Apparently, life still clung to her. Nervously, she clicked her tongue ring against her teeth. It was an old, unbreakable habit.

The girl trembled beneathe him. Liatha smiled. "There is nothing to fear, Yewbeam." He could smell the fear in her, she was young, very young. And he knew she could feel his power.

Silver-white hair swung delicately as she stepped closer to her. "You do not behave as though you are one of our kind, do you belong to the Nephim, or are you an intruder?"

He put an icy white finger under the chin of the girl, forcing her face into a more visible position. He studied her face-- slowly, coldly, memorizing every detail within. He sensed that she would not fight his touch, but he also felt she would not appreciate it?

What do you fear, young one? The thought passed through his mind quickly, an idle inquiry. He was not the compassionate sort.

Colton needed no further invitation to the small gathering that had formed in his church.

He had been leaving for the night. Dressed up like a business man, off to manage some tiny, useless staff at his sire's casino. There was no entertainment provided this evening. No one shows up to the casinos on Tuesday nights.

Colt climbed the stairs in silent steps, uncomfortably flinging his wrist, as if hoping to free it from the wristwatch he had to wear on worknights. When he had arrived at the top of the stairs, he paused. Voices in his church. Echoing voices. Colton could recognize Amadahy's voice, but the other... Colton stepped out of the stairwell and into the church.

The man was standing before Amadahy, and she was shaking. "There is nothing to fear, Yewbeam." Colton overreacted. While Amadahy may have been powerless, Colton was not. With very little concentration, and urged by the fear he felt in the situation, he mentally pushed the stranger back away from her. Colton advanced at a jog.

"Back off." Colton put himself between Amadahy and the stranger, which was incredibly bold of him. Colt was a thin little nothing next to the man before him. Younger, weaker, and more terrified of the man than Amadahy was. He, however, didn't show it.

"Who the hell are you, and who the hell do you THINK you are, giving yourself permission to walk into a church to torment some girl." Colton looked stern. The look of a business man, hiding all emotion so as to keep things going smoothly.

Inside his chest, his heart was racing with fear.

Feeling himself suddenly forced away from the girl, Liatha hissed. It was an animalistic sound, guttural, like a snake, or an angry cat.

His whole demeanor changed. Blood red eyes flashed with anger, and rage. He did not have to look for the culprit; he found him standing between himself and the girl. The fire set off in him by this... boy's appearance radiated its heat and furor throughout the room. His eyes ablaze, Liatha raised his right hand, revealing nails growing an inch off of his fingers, sharpened to a point, like claws. He bared his fangs, letting them exstend to their full inch and a half length, and hissed again.

His telepathy took over, and the two Nephim were hit by a wave of anger, bashing into them like a wall.

Controlling himself, Liatha remained poised, like a snake ready to strike.

When he spoke, it was in a deadly whisper, each word biting like acid. "My name," He glared at the boy in front of him. "Is Liatha, I have been a member of the Nephim Coven for 125 years, longer, I'm sure, than you've even been around. I came here hoping my brethren would aide me, I did not know the Nephim here were so untrustworthy. Yewbeam approached me, we were just beginning to get introduced."

His anger was taking over his entire existence, he was barely able to control himself-- his hand itched to slash the boy's face, to see his dead blood flowing out of him. To see him contort in pain, inch deep gashes in his face, dull red blood dripping down his neck.

"I had no intention of harassing her, only of asking her where I might feed, and find shelter from the sun."

He now used his mind to bare down on the other boy, mentally towering over him. Daring him to cross Liatha. As soon as it had started, Liatha cut off the energy.

He stood, seething, almost ready to attack in the most primal way he knew of.

"Let me meet the man who leads this chapter." He commanded, in a voice as cold as ice, and just as deadly.

Amadahy trembled more at his touch. His cold finger felt like ice even against her chilly skin. Her heart pounded her chest, ready to burst. His words gave no comfort to the goth girl. She just stood there, unsure of the vampires intentions. Was he going to kill her? Kiss her? Examine her, then leave her be? The mystery only made the fear worse.

"I...am...am...Nephim," she muttered, her green eyes shining. "Just...y-young." At least, that is what Morrigan kept saying. The old vampiress was constantly telling the girl that one day she fit better into the Nephim. She was just young. And helpless.

Amadahy's heart dropped to her feet at the sound of Colton's voice. Coming to herself, she stepped away from the stranger. She smiled and gasped for air, so thankful for Colton's interference. Colton could make it right. Colton was strong.

That is what Amadahy thought as she stood behind him, hoping the stranger did not have bad intentions. Her fingers let go of the red yarn as she pulled her arms behind her. Her heart was still racing, but she felt a great deal safer.

Colton kept himself upright. He wasn't expecting the man to lash out with energy the first time, and he stumbled back slightly. He wouldn't let that happen again.

"Well, I apologize for stepping in, but you were touching her." Colton's tone was no more warm than him. It was a tone of voice he had picked up from Lily. She did it better. You literally felt like your blood ran to ice when she spoke in her frostbitten tone. "You were making her uncomfortable." And to Colton, that was all the justification he felt he needed to give, and all the justification this Liatha was going to get.

Liatha wanted to hurt Colton so badly, it filled the air around them. Colton clenched his jaw, but he didn't back down. To him, this could have been the man who raped and killed his sister. Amadahy could have been his sister. His sister. That was why he wasn't about to back down. He hadn't been there for Codi, but he was going to try and be there for everyone else so maybe, by the time he died, he wouldn't feel such a gut wrenching guilt.

"My name is Colton Holstein, and I am the leader of the entire Nephim Coven." Colton kept his voice frosty. "And, unfortunately, you've made me late to work. So, Mr. Liatha, if you have nothing pressing to discuss, I am taking Amadahy and we are leaving." Colton stepped forward, and, with the rest of the anger and fear he had towards the man, shoved him back another foot. "And when I tell you to back off, I expect you to listen next time."

"I was merely examining the girl, I did not yet know if she was trustworthy. If my actions made her uncomfortable, I suppose she should have said something. I told her there was nothing to fear. I am not to blame if she chose not to take me for my word." His voice oozed with hatred, and his power rang in it's every note. Any mortal could feel the energy, the pain and anger of the undead, that was emitting from every pore of his body.

Liatha almost laughed as the child told him that he was the leader of the entire Nephim coven. He could not hide the mirth from his face, and let his lips press into a grin that was more like a smirk than anything else.

He immediately dropped his attitude toward the boy-- Holstein-- knowing the serious damage it could cause to get himself kicked out of the coven on his first night in this city. His face resumed passive anger, he would not attack-- yet. But his blood was still boiling.

"If you are who you say you are, boy," spat Liatha, "Then I have no doubt that you have heard about the tragedy that has befallen the Nephim of Los Angeles-- a city in the western part of America. Burned, by mortals, hundreds of Nephim dead, the rest fled. I came here. My name is Liatha, I lead the chapter, I have dedicated my life to the ways of the Nephim, and have lived with their values since the day I was turned almost 600 years ago. I did not come here to find out that the leader of our entire coven is so crude as to attack a fellow member solely seeking shelter and help from those he considered his family. If this is what the Nephim are really like, then any member of this coven has made a terrible mistake."

He turned towards the door, but Holstein kept talking, blabbering on about how he was late for work. The silly man, probably thought that he could still live like a human. In Liatha's mind, he still was human-- ignorant, stupid, cowardly, mortal.

That was when Holstein pushed him. Instantly, a wall of pure electrifying energy shot out of him, straight into the other man's heart, aiming to slam Holstein into the wall behind him. At the same time he had spun around to direct the energy, Liatha's hand and nails re-emerged, his claws lashed out at the younger vampire's arm, close to his wrist.

Calling on every ounce of energy he had, he look the man directly in the eye, forcing his command down on the weaker vampire. 600 years of practice made Liatha an impossible opponent for Holstein, and Liatha knew it.

"Next time I visit here, Holstein, I expect to be treated with more hospitality from you. You ought to have more respect for your elders, and more courtesy for members of your coven. When you see me again, we will begin anew."


(( OOC: Skirr-- Um, so I am really new to this board, but I have been RPing for a couple of years now, so I'm just a little confused about your post. I thought that you saying that you pushed Liatha and he fell back a foot was god-moding, which is against the rules of this board. So I'm wondering if maybe little things like that don't count, like maybe you guys are lax about it? I'm really trying hard not to seem overly critical or hypocritical since I know that this is really easy to take as me trying to point out you making a mistake, but that's not what I'm trying to do at all. So, yeah, I figured since you did that, it was okay for me to say how the energy I sent at your character affected him, but I'm not sure because on a lot of boards, I know you can get in serious trouble for god-moding something like that. I guess I'm really just confused, I hope you are not offended, and if you could please explain, that would be great. Thanks! ))

((In my post, Liatha did not fall. He slid back another foot. To me, god-moding is causing harm to another character, or when a character that is being caused harm lets none of it affect him. What I did was push your character back a foot. He was not harmed. What you did was slam my character into a wall and cut him up pretty bad, and then erases his memory (Which is not a power that Nephim members, nor any coven but Amman, possess to affect other vampires with), which is god moding. If you had said, "Liatha sent a wall of electrifying energy at the boy, with force enough to crash him into a wall" I would have responded with something like, "Colton flew backwards, unable to fight the sheer power the older vampire had sent at him" OR "Colton had braced for the attack, and lowered his body, allowing the energy to slide him back many feet, but not entirely to the wall. The blow left him upright, but quite shaken." The difference is that I have a choice in picking the extent of my character's injuries. When someone pats you on the back or runs into you on the street, you don't consider it god moding because it really doesn't cause harm.

Don't worry about asking questions! We were all new once, and this board can be a bit vague in rules to allow for more freedom in character... Does what I said help explain things? And, don't worry about what you said in your post. The only part I'm going to disregard is the memory erasing.))

"You froze her with fear," Colton spat back. "You knew she was scared--I knew she was scared, and I was half a room away!" As Liatha's anger grew, Colton's anger grew. Colton wasn't going to back down from this.

"I have heard. We already have a refugee from that event here in our city. My sympathies are with you." In accordance to his tone, he was most definitely not being sympathetic to Liatha. As of right now, Colton was condemning the mortals in LA for not getting one more vampire dead. "I understand that you have dedicated your life to the Nephim, but if you truly have, then you would understand that respect for one's leader is highest amongst our coven's rules. Right now, I'm not feeling very respected." And he knew he shouldn't be, not by this elder. But the rules had been in place long before Colton had been born, and Colton wasn't about to change them to say, 'Don't respect your newest leader, because he's quite a coward and he's a little baby of a vampire.' That would just be silly.

There was no doubt that Colton was not strong enough to hold at bay such a powerful vampire. He braced himself as best as he could, but Colton still managed to hit the wall. Not as hard, though, as he would have. Colton stood tall as Liatha approached, just mere inches shorter than him. He wasn't going to allow Liatha to bear down on him, but he did not expect Liatha to further attack him, and the gash weakened his stance some, to the point where he was being bored down on. It was then that Colton felt helpless again.

"Liatha, that's a threat that goes both ways. The next time I see you, I expect to be treated with the utmost respect your black heart has in it. If it is not, then you will no longer need my courtesy, because you will not be in my coven. Have I made myself clear...?" And he probably hadn't, being hunched over like he was. Probably sounded muffled. Probably wasn't as commanding as Liatha had been. Colton glanced up, awaiting an answer.

(( Thanks for clearing that up... I was interpreting the power of command thing as a way to get characters to do anything-- even to force them to forget something. Which is why I said that, if that is not included, I am more than happy to take it out. (Which I did.) And I changed the actions too, so that you are not forced into the wall, or cut. ))

"Do not assume what I do and do not know, Holstein, perhaps she was afraid, perhaps she was simply being obedient." In truth, Liatha had known the girl was scared, terrified really, but he also knew she was weak. Broken. Her fright would not subside until her master was there protecting her. It was obvious-- it was in her eyes, and in her actions.

When Holsten spoke from his position next to the wall, Liatha received his words with an almost inaudible chuckle.

"Yes, you have made yourself perfectly clear. However, it matters not how you are feeling, Holstein. What matters is how you are acting. And right now, you are shaping up to be a pretty poor coven leader. I cannot even think of any circumstances which would cause the likes of you to be put in the position you are in, but they obviously had absolutely no other choice."

He was more relaxed now, feeling that he had finally beaten Holstein into some sort of submission, even if it was only long enough to get the bastard to listen to him.

"There is, of course," Liatha spoke now with cold indifference, as though nothing had happened between them, and as though he were just meeting the man. "A chance for you to earn your redemption, and begin to earn my respect. I still require food and shelter, and I do not know this city at all. If you would kindly do you duty, and help a mere member of your coven, perhaps I can find a way to give you the respect you feel you deserve."

He felt as though he should mention what a mistake it would be for Holstein to make Liatha his enemy, but he was already close to being removed from the coven, and didn't want to push his luck. He also felt that Holstein probably already knew how detrimental it would be to his health.

He waited, still glaring at the boy, like an angry professor waiting for a student's apology.

"I will assume whatever I want to assume, Mr. Liatha, especially because, even now, your toughts are back to her weakness. And mine." Colton was trying to have the edge here, and if that meant probing the elder's thoughts, then so be it.

Colton stood up, subtly using the wall as a bit of support. Having something solid behind him made him feel more secure. It didn't occur to him how much more trouble he could be in, willing putting himself backed up into a wall.

"If you had not invoked a leader's need to step in and protect another coven member, we would not be having this arguement. I was doing my job." Colton folded his arms across his chest, ignoring the smarting pain that moving caused him.

It was Colton's turn to chuckle, and he, too, made it nearly inaudiable. He had to earn his respect? His obedience? It was laughable. Colton had a slight smile on his face at the thought of it. Quickly, he faded back to stern, and spoke in a tone matching Liatha's. "The catacombs are down the stairwell behind the alter. Untaken rooms don't have candles by the doors. If you need to feed, I suggest a bar. Pick up some drunk girl or something, take her off somewhere, feed, and leave. Nearest bar in a block from here, called White Mice."

Colton glanced back down at his watch, and sighed. "Now, really. I have a kid to feed, and I'm late for work. And, oh--by the way. Don't cross me. You think you'd make a bad enemy, but you really don't know the connections I have... So, please. Make yourself at home. Have a nice meal. Leave me the heck alone." Colton gave a fake smile, a nod in leave, and then turned to Amadahy. "Let's go, Amadahy." He wasn't about to leave her with Liatha. Colton strode across the room, masking the little limp he was going to have for the evening, and paused at the door, waiting for Amadahy, and any retort Liatha was going to throw at him.

Liatha instantly felt the younger vampire probing his thoughts, and found it quite comical. If he had to stoop to that to get an edge, then he was even weaker than he had at first seemed. Liatha let the boy poke around, a sinister smile on his face.

Then he promptly cut the boy off, with a snap that he hoped would send the other vampire a painful sting. He walled his mind, pathetic as the boy was, he did not want him to be second-guessing what he was thinking all the time.

"Why, thank you for your kindness," Liatha replied in a voice that dripped sarcasm from it's every note. "As I have said many times, something you seem unable to comprehend, I was not going to hurt the girl. I was only asking for her help. Instead, I got you. Not everything is as dangerous as you'd like to think it is, Holstein. You can't step in and be a hero whereever you feel like it, especially when no one needs saving. It simply makes you look like a fool."

He grinned as Holstein limped passed him, quite pleased with the damage he had done.

"I see you are anxious to get on with your mortality, so I suppose I shall do just as you have suggested. But I cannot guarantee I shall leave you alone." He whisked around, toward the catacombs, and began a steady walk toward the entrace, intending to find himself a room for the night.

((ooc: Sorry I took so long to post! I was uber busy yesterday.))

Amadahy just stood there, dumbfounded. She watched, helpless and useless, as two vampires became enemies. The young one could not help but feel guilt. If she had shown some courage maybe Colton would not be butting heads with an elder right now. Her eyes fell to her shoes and her hands went back into their pockets. The red yard found it's way between her fingers. What have I done?

Then, Colton was pushed into the wall. Amadahy jumped; her heart skipped a beat. She glanced between to the two vampires, ready to at least help Colton in some way, but it seemed they were done. They spat more hate-filled words, then Colton headed towards the door. He call for Amadahy, thank goodness. After seeing what Liatha could do, she was more afraid of him now than before. She trotted to Colton's side and paused. She sent Liatha an expression of curiousity, guilt, fear, and even envy. It seemed that Liatha could not care less about her. Just like Drakeon. Just like Bliss...sometimes. Men sweeping her up in the moment only to drop her like a bad habit. She looked away, hiding in Colton's shadow. Colton cared about her, at least a little.

"Thank you, Colton," she whispered, smiling.

Then, it hit her. The name Morrigan popped into her head and screamed. Her smile became a smirk. Morrigan will hear about this. Liatha was a child compared to her. She laughed.

Colton kept a hold on his fake smile. "Let's just say I don't like surprises, Mr. Liatha." His tone was back to an icy one as he continued. "And a leader who gets surprised with catastrophe looks like more of a fool than one that is being careful not to trust shady outsiders. The only one who thinks I look like a fool is you. But, then again, you thought of me as one from the words 'Back off.'"

Though Liatha thought it disgusting and weak for one to try and keep a slice of their mortality, Colton could care less. He still had a life to live. If it meant 10 years longer, 100 years long, even thousands of years longer, he was going to live it socially, not in alienation, as the stranger in his church preferred to do.

"You're welcome." Colton whispered back, eyes still on the retreating Liatha. "I don't trust him any further than I could throw him..." Colton glanced down to Amadahy, then to his watch. He really was late today... Oops. He'd have to apologize to Lily while he tried to clean himself up.

"Let's go." Colton quickly turned away and strode out the door of the church.


((If you want to continue, we can. If not, then we can do that too. ;)))

((OOC: Fabby playing with you all! I hope Morrigan isn't too hard on me.... :P Hope to see you all later! ))

((ooc: It was fun! Maybe Morrigan will play nice....maybe not. ;) ))