“Um…darlin’ are you sure this is where you wanna go?” An uncertain voice asked, more than a bit strained as amber-brown eyes took in the scene before them with a careful consideration. “I mean not to put you down or anything, but this ain’t exactly my style. And besides I gotta a girl and…”

A single digit pressed against his lips then, silencing any other complaint.

“Don’t be like that… You know you sound like you’re married or something.” The feminine voice made “married” sound like a curse and Istar found he couldn’t help but stare as full ruby colored lips separated only to receive a sweep by a pink tongue impaled with a metal stud.

“My Grandfather asked you to show me around didn’t he? What kind of employee are you…the boss is always right.” And she managed a little wink that made Istar search for his breath as she seemed to almost offer her throat with an incline of the head that brought those lips dangerously close to his collar.

If he came home with lipstick on his collar, Istar knew there’d be hell to pay. Maria might not speak to him if he was lucky, if not, well she was stronger than him and their apartment had how many walls? Uh…no. That wasn’t a possibility. And from the sweeping twinkle in the depths of eyes a brown as mahogany and mischievous enough to make the devil proud…yeah this so wasn’t his night.

But then again that went without saying. Istar Indora was standing in line for…well he had no damned clue what, with one of the finest women he’d ever seen in his life. The sister was just the height he’d gotten used to (Maria’s height), dark hair that fell down her back in elaborate Egyptian coils, mocha colored skin, and a figure to make the teeth ache. Oh yeah, definitely not his day.

Ria would kill him for this crap and yet here he was. Got the night off, after getting to work, the old man’s Granddaughter was in town, needed some company. And well after all the breaks that the old man had given him recently, how could Istar say no.

Then again that had been before he’d seen her, drop dead gorgeous, wearing a leather dress. Who owns a leather dress? And of course she’d carted him off to only God knew where and was looking at him like she was the vampire of the pair. Oh, man oh man.

“You sure you don’t want to catch a movie?” He asked, casually, anything but as he looked around at the gathering crowd. There was way too much leather around for his taste, it clashed with the black and white eloquence of his suit /fedora combo, besides he kept feel that Maria was gonna jump out of the shadows and tear him a new one…

Inhaling the smoke of the cigarette deep into her dead lungs, Jax had rarely ever thought about consiquences since she had been left to her own devices. But now she had wondered... She had seen many delinquints around her, ones that she had arrested herself, ones that she had stood in court against, and even one she had shot before...

But apparently none of them recognized her and that was a good thing...

Well well... A vampire? One that was edgy about this place? Curious indeed. But she discovered why the moment the wind shifted. The girl he had with him was a human. Hah... An old fashion vampire like him out with a little Punk-ass Goth girl... It wasn't that she wasn't pretty... No, Jax had to admit she was. But still... Ah kids these days... They were just so... unusual. She hadn't ever been wierd as a child... Well, unless you count having a stalker who killed anyone close to you.

The guy looked familliar too. Like she had seen him before somewhere. At a club perhaps... A while ago, and he had been with another woman. One who looked like she had class. But that had been before she was turned. So... he had been a vampire... Interesting.

"You'd be better off at the movies." Jax said as she stepped closer. "This aint the best of places for delicate damsles as yourself kid." She said before taking another puff of her cigarette. "Captian Jaxon Synclaire. Here on a bit of scum clean up duty." She said with a nod. "There was a murder here not to long ago... Not a drug overdose either... poor girl nearly had her head ripped off. Was chained up to a wall. not pretty stuff." She of course could tell that the man had no desire to be here and hell... She might as well try to help him out right? The girl didn't need to be seeing what went on in there.

This wait is ridiculous... Deidre thought as she stood in line among the dead and living. Go figure, the second experience in this godforsaken town was just as dreadful as the first. She leaned against the wall, resting one boot on the bricks, and looked towards the front, where she saw a small confrontation taking place. Some vampiric man with a mortal girl, quite attractive, and another woman, vampire as well, smoking a cigarette nonchalantly. They were only a few yards ahead and Deidre was downwind, second-hand smoking. She coughed quietly and closed her watering eyes. Damn people who smoke; it's disgusting and annoying.

She slowly made her way toward the strange trio, ignoring the humans yelling at her to move her ass to the end of the line. When she was only a few paces behind them, Deidre stopped and listened in, gasping for air all the way.

"...nearly had her head ripped off."

Oh, that's lovely, she thought, licking her lips. Perhaps this little gothic girl would end up the same way...if she happened to stray from the main line. Deidre was kind of in the mood for a little snack. Still, she listened, no longer trying to hide herself. After all, she was never very good at that around other undead.

As the line moved and they were almost inside, Istar felt the others in an instant, that tingling feeling on the back of his neck that he remembered getting back in the day when he was being watched or followed. Whatever made him a vampire made this stronger still; made it a skin tingling feeling that shuddered through him even as his eyes fell on the woman approaching. Istar could feel another farther behind as well actually he could feel the undead all around.

A part of him had to really wonder if this club was really a club…what the heck was going on here? And lucky him, dragged into it!

As the other approached, Istar watched her carefully. He didn’t think he’d ever met her face to face, but the cigarette she was smoking instantly looked good. Istar tried to lay off around Ria and especially Karyn but his current state of mind definitely deserved a smoke. Still sliding hands into his pockets he stepped forward to put himself between her and pop’s granddaughter. She didn’t seem violent, but better safe than sorry all in all.

When she spoke, well as she spoke, Istar felt his “date” come up behind him, her arms wrapping about his right arm, annoyingly intimate and also annoying because that was his trigger hand. Turns out the gun wasn’t needed, heck he almost wanted to kiss Captain Synclaire where she stood.

“Alright,” He said trying to put regret into his voice. “The movies then…”

A squeeze at his arm then.

“Not on your life…” She said easily, a smile hitting her features hard. “Holy, crap. A murder…this place is so awesome.”

Istar turned, looked at her and was speechless.

“I read about this place online, I never…” And she seemed to trail off, over joyed.

Istar blinked again and didn’t even bother to turn around as he felt the other immortal at his back. All in all Istar was worried, this place was looking less and less inviting and yet just like that her arm was wrapped about his, pulling him forward. Istar so had a bad feeling about this crap. And yet he could only manage a smirk.

“Well thanks for the warning Captain…” He said easily, really thankful that she’d at least tried.

The line moved pretty quick from then on, and it wasn’t long before Istar Indora found himself standing in the middle of…again he had no clue. There was lots of mortals, lots of immortals, lots of leather, alchohol, chains, and last and certainly not least, the smells of death and blood. Yep, Istar’s feeling had been right. Whatever this place was, it wasn’t pleasant…and it wasn’t mortal friendly.

“Man, look at this place!” She said in obvious awe.

“Crap.” Was the only reply that came to mind.

Well, luring the girl away wasn't a choice, it seemed. Nevertheless, Deidre could certainly enjoy a night in this so-called club where, as her hungry scents picked up, there was luscious amounts of blood and stupid humans. This girl in particular was quite dim, the one with the man who seemed all but glad to be there. Sucks for him. And it seems that the 'Captain' as she called herself was trying oh so kindly to help him out of his current situation. Although Deidre really couldn't see why on earth he would want out of a perfect alibi to 'accidentally' lose the mortal ditz. To death.

Deidre was simply simpering with the urge to rid the vampire of his little problem, running her tongue over her double fangs, mouth watering. Then again, a direct approach would be immediately recognized and appear quite nonstrategic on her part. So, she continued to observe, eventually contemplating the possibility of befriending these other undead. After all she was relatively new here, only ten or so years? Perhaps she should learn the tools of the trade in this strict society.

Well, at leas the vampire was getting the warning. it was surprising to her that he hadn't know about it before. Hell, even as a human she had known about this place. Just not the true nature behind it. But of course, ever predictable and ever stupid the girl was intent on going into what would surely be the end of her.

Now... Jax was all for stupid people getting their due... But the guy seemed to be trying to keep her alive. Why? well Jax couldn't really say. The kid was young and naive... That was about it. She was about to get in over her head and didn't even realize it.

Jesus H. Christ... Why did she always have to try and be such a saint sometimes? Humans died, that was the way of things. So what if it was in a rather bloody. gruesom and painful fashion?

With a sigh she followed in after them. The bouncers all knew her by now. The vampires who sorted out preditor from prey, and they knew not to fuck with her or else. It wasn't that they'd get their asses handed to them by her, but rather that killing her would bring on the wrath of the police...

"I'll stick close ta keep the kid alive..." She muttered even quieter than normal to the man. "Who is she anyway?" She was getting a bad vibe from someone around them... It had to be another vampire... One who was watching them closely... God she hated that feeling...

Aloud however she gave an almost hapless grin. "Well don't blame me if you go runnign home to mama with night mares ya hear?" She turned back to the man. "Care for a cigarette?"

Sighing, Deidre followed them further. She was quite bored and desperately wanted to...entertain herself. But of course, she didn't want to stop paying attention to these others, especially the Captain, who began to speak in soft tones so Deidre was unable to hear. She didn't try to. They would confront her sooner or later, she was sure; the vampires around here usually didn't take lightly to being watched, so she'd learned.

"Hey..." Deidre turned around to see an already drunk, or perhaps just challenged, man. He seemed quite intent on something, which only further annoyed her.

"Sod off," she demanded, stealing a glance towards the strange ensemble ahead of her. "I'm busy," And godforsaken hungry. She was too preoccupied to be bothered with wasting her energy on a pathetic man.

When he grabbed her wrist, she was sure he knew he'd done something terribly wrong, for all the blood drained from his face and he seemed to temporarily forget where he was. With a sweep of her arm, he was sent flying, though not so far as to be noticed. At least not by humans' weak attention spans.

She continued to follow the group through the strange noises of clothing being made by those around. The male vampire certainly didn't fit the stereotype of this place and was all but dressed in a suit. Strange men...

“That’d be much appreciated…” Istar managed carefully, his voice low as not to draw attention from anyone nearby, his so called “date” included. All in all, given his former profession, well let’s just say that Istar and police might be too good tastes, especially good in the former case, but they didn’t taste good together. A really Pro knows how not to involve the cops, but every now and again…yeah.

Still if this Jaxon really was a cop, it went a long way toward proving she wasn’t a man eater…well at least not any more than the rest of them. And it was that more than anything that put Istar at ease with the officer of the law. And he watched as the young woman he’d accompanied detached herself from him to move toward the bar.

“The granddaughter of an old friend…” He said easily. “A friend that asked me to take her out, get her familiar with the town. So yeah, me the great guy that I am, I agree. And enter the leather clad little beauty with tales of a night spot she had to visit.”

Istar rolled his eyes, the whole thing sounded like a bad detective story or something. But then again what could he have done he’d made the old man a promise. Hell he and his brother had been friends before Istar had ever even seen a pair of fangs and besides where…well when he was from you were a stand up guy or you weren’t noting. So old habits die hard. Here’s just hoping he didn’t…

Istar watched her like a hawk. Anita. Her name was Anita and her granddaddy, the old man, had said she was from Chicago. That alone made Istar wonder at the condition of the old neighborhoods. He hadn’t been back in, well since he’d left really, now he wondered what had gone wrong or well really if anything had gone wrong…what had changed while he’d been gone?

The cigarette offer though pulled him out of his watching and his thoughts and he looked away for a moment as he cast a quick and charming grin that almost glowed.

“I thought you’d never ask. Thanks a lot doll.” He said taking to offered cigarette and holding it between two fingers.

“Wanna see a magic trick?” He offered, then before she could answer Istar set the cherry red with a flash of will and thought, the cig lighting itself even as he took a slow pull.

It was a moment later though that cig in lip he turned at the sounds of a confrontation and watched as a man was laid flat.

“Hell of a back hand on ya, darlin.” Istar said, even as he gaze fell on the woman that had dropped the man like a bad habit. There was no doubt in Istar’s mind that she was an immortal, but then again that wasn’t exactly a crime or to be unexpected considering from what he could gather in his nose, this was a vampire bar. Not the literal vampires, well ok a lot of those around, but the pretend kind too…this place just kept getting weirder ad weirder.

“So Captain, a murder really bring you here to the land of Oz?” He asked, turning back toward the mortal woman he’d brought, but speaking to the police officer. It seemed Anita was getting rather friendly with the bartender, but if that guy did anything more than flash fang…

Finally! It would have gotten more incessantly boring had she not been addressed at least once. Then again, that immortal was...a piece of work to say the least. Deidre had been listening in, go figure, and heard quite the story from him. And further more, he'd called her 'darlin'', something she specifically did not take kindly to. Pet names, whether by stranger or lover, were not appreciated and usually resulted like that of the previous man.

However, Deidre wasn't stupid and knew better than to threaten someone who seemed to be quite a bit stronger than her over such a trivial thing as being called 'darlin''. So, instead, she settled on a warning smile, hopefully just enough so he wouldn't call her that, or anything of the sort, again, and said sweetly, "Quite,"

She flashed her honey colored eyes at a human sitting next to the man, opposite the side Captain Jaxon occupied, and he immediately stood up to leave, probably wondering why on earth he had been sitting there in the first place and where he could possibly be going to now. Always amusing.

Deidre said nothing more, and waited to be addressed again. So what, she was a blood-thirsty killer who didn't speak unless spoken to. Usually. It wasn't her fault she'd grown up as an apprentice who was taught to shut up. It was even more severe when a male was around. Plus, her lesson never hurt when she was trying to sort out situations; she usually had a little problem with speaking before thinking and need of anger management. That's probably why she was so inclined to the Terepha.

"But she's not yours... I smell another woman's scent on you... One who's fairly old too..." Jaxon couldn't help but grin as she listened. She could smell the power on him... As if a scent lingering on his very soul. If vampires still had souls.

"That's kind of ya. But kindness can get you or others killed pretty quickly." She muttered as she lit another of her own cigarettes. "Specialy around here. You never wanna-" But a slight commotion cut her short and as she saw the girl Jax's eyes narrowed. She was the one. That was the one with the hungry eyes that had been watching her, well more so them.

But Jax waited until they were inside before saying anything. Her eyes were practicaly glued to the vampire's chick... After all... She said she'd try to keep the girl alive. "This place is a breeding ground for death... This is the home of one of the most vicious of covens... The club is their way of atracting prey... Killing in public to get themselves off and getting away with it." She told him as smoke trickled from her lips.

But her body tenced as she felt a familliar presance. Her eyes flicked quick to her side as the human beside her left. but she gave no other indication. "That girl... She's been watching us... Probably your little date more so. Stay close... I don't know if she's allergic to silver or not... And if she isn't... The kid might be in trouble. She might be influanced to stay away... But I don't know. That's you're choice. I prefer it loud and dirty myself." Jax grinned and patted the side of her jacket before ordering a beer. The gun on the inside pocket woudl be more than adequit for protection really. And silver bullets made it effective to both and some vampires.

Istar’s expression darkened as he listened to Jaxon’s explanation. Damn, he knew something was off about this joint. It was just odd, this many vampires in a single place and playing it off as a “vampire” club. Yeah, all of that made a whole lot of sense suddenly and yet even so he looked at the old man’s granddaughter and knew she’d never just let them or even him just bail. And besides he just couldn’t grab her and walk out, especially with all the hungry eyes darting about.

Taking a glance in the direction of the bar, Istar watched the tender as his little date finally sat on a stool, leather dress squeaking just a bit against equally leather padded stools. The tender was a vampire, no doubt about it. The woman running the bar beside him was a wanna be, but that guy was the real deal and in this place no one called him on the fangs that almost touched his lips as he gave a decidedly toothy grin. Yep, this all made sense and yet…Istar couldn’t help the annoyance that flowed through him at not noticing sooner.

How much of a damned rooky could one man be? He should have saw this, crap, he was so much better than this.

He nodded then, to the captain’s statement.

“Nope, she’s not mine. Haven’t laid a fang on her, and from what you said I’m not sure that’s a good thing in present company.”

He couldn’t help the smile that came after that statement though.

“What you smell, that’d be my girl. And yeah, I suppose she is…though I’d like to think of her as classic. After all classics don’t get old, just better with age.”

He might even have laughed at that, that was if he wasn’t already sliding his right hand into his jacket pocket to be sure that his own gun was there in his shoulder holster and as ready as ever. The smart cut of his white suit had been tailored for more than his frame, an old trick that managed to keep the gun from ruining the cut of his suit, the smaller concern really versus making it being almost impossible to tell that he was carrying…even with a high caliber like his own.

The man met the other vampire’s gaze with a wry grin.

“You know I’ve been known for dirty…” He gave a shrug then. “And let me tell you silver allergy or not, nothing lives without a head.” That last was an allusion to his own shoulder cannon. It was a total hassle to hide, hell let alone get onto a plane, but he hadn’t found a better piece when it came to fighting his own kind. It left big holes, took off limbs, and what’s the head if not a limb.

He hadn't marked her? Even as a fledgling Jax knew in a place like this that wasn't a good thing. She had lived on the rougher side of the tracks since Henri left, learning all the worst of habits and places so she wouldn't ever dilude herself about the nicities again. Hell... She'd beel alone and in this kind of thing all her life. why would she ever expect to get out?

"I know your girl might get mad, but I can't say I'd like to see her slaughtered..." Jax said thoughtfully before taking a swig of her beer, her extra scenses focused on the girl behind them. Her eyes were still on the girl that this vampire had brought. "You might want to lay your claim... Just to try and chase others away." It seemed to work well in this, because those who didn't know the 'owners' often didn't want to get their asses kicked by some ancient or torn apart by some over protective sucker.

Jax smiled though as he spoke of his woman, and nodded as he finished. "A gentleman of sorts I take it. Well, I'm glad you're happy with her. Some are just ment to be alone." She shrugged and turned back to her beer.

"Ah, the silver don't bother me none... And I've shot myself enough times in enough places to know what hurts and what kills. Not too much differance for a vampire than a human." A snort escaped her though as he mentioned that nothing lives without a head. "True, true. But I can't blow off someone's head with a SW1911... Could take a nice chunk out though." She grinned, having done it plenty of times before.

This Vampire was a modern one... But not exactly from this era. "You police from a different era huh? You seem like one anyway. Or at least someone that I'd like to have by my side if worst came to worst." And really that was one of the highest compliments she could really offer. She just had a feeling that he was someone of honor, pride and a certian animalistic viciousness... One that would do well in a fight to the death if it all came down to it. Maybe she'd challenge him one day... It would be entertaining to say the least.

Istar nodded.

“I get you, don’t think I don’t. But well see that’s the thing…even if we leave no telling what might follow. I don’t want to see her slaughtered, but I’d like her family slaughter a whole lot less…”

Even as he said it, Istar knew it was true. He didn’t doubt he could out fight more than a few of the immortals slinking about, but then again this was (if Jaxon be believed and Istar did believe) Tarepha territory. Istar had never run across a Tarepha, but all the hype…well he’d heard some pretty nasty stories and really didn’t want to fight anything close to what he’d heard about if he didn’t have to. So with that decided this was probably going to take more tact and showmanship than raw power.

And in that last he agreed with the good captain.

“I guess I could mark her.” He said, thoughtfully. “But then again my suit well it kind of screams my origins or at least some might see it that way…”

Yeah Istar could admit that he seemed to scream roaring twenties. Nothing wrong with that, but well yeah anyone that much older knew exactly where he was coming from, had lived through it like it was a weekend. And that more than anything made him look back for the other girl, the one that was watching them, watching his “date.”

Then his gaze moved just as quickly back to the captain.

“Now that was just a bunch of nonsense…” He replied easily, not going for p.c. but direct. “Beautiful woman like you, strong, smart, owns her own pair of hand cuffs…what’s not for us male folk not to like.”

Istar then spared the smiling bartender a glance. He was still talking to the girl, he was obviously pouring it on. After all her smile was shy and maybe a bit embarrassed, him well he just looked like a wolf licking his lips at a lamb, even through the fangy confident smile. That made Istar a bit apprehensive…but again he’d let it go for now. He could always grab her, take a bite right there and lay claim in front of every thing with fangs at any moment or at least he told himself that even as he pondered putting a few bullets through a few choice heads.

“I don’t know about the gentleman part.” He said then, meeting Jax with a pleased smile even as he interlaced finger before himself. “You’d be surprised…I can be a real animal all in all.”

And that smile stayed with him even as he shook his head to her police question.

“Not police. And while I’ll say I have a health respect for the law and all it stands for…” He said that with a slightly sardonic tilt of his lips and a predatory flourish in his eyes. “Alas you guys would never take me…naw I got too much history to be a cop. But I’ll watch your back in a shootout, promise!”

He order a beer of his own then, raising it he gave the bottle a slight tip.

“Here’s to hoping that it doesn’t come to that though.” He gave a toast.

What the bloody mother lovin' hell are they talking about?! Deidre thought as she tried and failed to follow their conversation. Not only was it about things she didn't particularly know about, it was also extremely boring! How could they be so absorbed in something so tedious and...boring? Okay, so Deidre didn't have a long attention span, had a short fuse, and was easily bored. She pushed some stray strands of hair behind her ears and leaned on the bar.

"I should go outside," she started mumbling to herself. "Or find a place where it's raining. Or maybe go to a library, or a place not so boring. Maybe I should...nah, takes too much energy. Just like this non-existent dinner I'm having. Oh so wonderfully kept from me!"

Deidre continued to talk to herself, desperately trying to pass the time and ignore the frightfully boring conversation happening near her. She still forgot to act her age every now and again, reverting to her old human self, which she sorely cursed when notified of her unacceptable behaviour. Naturally, she tried to be frightful, which she was good at, but sometimes she just wanted to dance in the rain like a child. Quite an embarrassing concept for a Terepha vampire.

"...need to grow up..." she murmured. Need to stop talking to self... She drummed her fingers on the bar top, deciding she might just leave. This whole stalking thing...not her cup of tea at the moment. Actually, she didn't even like tea. But if she did, this wouldn't come close to it. Tea, that is.

Again, Deidre tried to follow the conversation and caught a hint of her type in the words. It's not like she was going to go out of her way to kill that human girl! Goodness, some vampires simply didn't judge her well. She wasn't like all of the 'vicious covens' around here, she just happened to be a demonic killer at times. Of course, right now was one of those weird times where she would like nothing more than to kill something, but only had the energy to sit and listen to boring people talk about silver and hand cuffs and what not. Exciting. Really.