The night was hungry and dark, dark in the way that simple darkness is, yet hungry for it seemed that the same darkness swallowed everything; the world was near pitch black on the out skirts of St. Anne’s and the scent of damp earth came to Raven’s nose far before he’d ever stepped a boot among the decrepit grave stones and with the heady scent there was the mingling presence of death, both new and old. It hung like an aura before the cemetery, both welcoming and dissuading in the same mingled breath that flowed into his lungs.

As he walked and moved among the stones, headed for The Crypt, about half way he paused, waiting as he’d promised Alexandra he would. All in all the crimson haired immortal would rather have simply walked in found his master and informed her of what happened. If she was to punish him for his foolishness, then it was just and fair. Even if that punishment was his life forfeit, he would have gone by it. As he had sworn upon their first meeting, he was hers, she his master to do as she will.

And yet even so Raven waited. He waited for Alexandra as he’d promised. After all in this he had been without a choice. If he’d gone alone, she simply would have followed. She had grown bold and while he might be proud, Raven was not about manipulating her for her own good. He would take the blame for all that happened, this was his responsibility.

Yet even as those thoughts came, Raven put them away, out of his mind. Alexandra need know nothing of his thoughts, of his methods over plans for what was to come. Instead the vampire stood, waiting, his crimson hair flow of blood as the wind caught it just right whipping it and his equally crimson long coat about his body with a tossing flutter.

Beneath the coat, Raven wore only a tank top and dark denim, paired with combat boots, his special combat boots and his default expression was somewhere near a cross between stoic and a wry grin. Indeed he had changed, but this expression was a mask for what he truly felt and yet now was truly not the time to express. Instead he took a seat upon the nearest stone, his senses open to the dark and the world around him. Alexandra would be here soon, indeed Raven had no doubts.

She hadn't wanted to be so late... But her dinner hadn't really cooperated with her tonight... He had been quite stand-offish, and who would have ever thought that he would refuse her. But never mind. She had simply drug him into the nearest ally and drank her fill.

She hurried to the cemetary where Raven promised that he would wait. Alex had made him promise because she knew that he would try to go talk to Kie without her. Why? Simply to save her the trouble. He would accept the blame on his own even if it wasn't his to bear. She had wanted him. She had asked him to do everything. It wasn't his fault that he had lost control. Well, she had that effect on men right?

Striding through the gates of the cemetary she was wearing a long black flowing skirt that nearly covered her feet, a white Elizabethan top with wide sleves. Ah, wonderful how she had managed to keep blood free.

"Raven...." She said quietly as she looked around for him, smelling him off to her right.

"Ah... there you are my love." Alex whispered with a smile as she saw him. She appered at his side as quick as a spark of light. She wrapped her arms around him in a quick hug and took his hand with a reasuring smile. "It's time for us to go. Does Kie know we're coming? Is she waiting for us?" She moved her free hand to his head, running her fingers through his blood red hair.

Raven gave an appreciative smile at Alexandra’s appearance; she was beautiful no matter what she wore. Actually that applied to what she did not wear just as well, but quickly Raven changed the pace of his thoughts at her quick and sudden questions, and he likewise quickly verbalized his answers.

“She knows that we come, simply not why. As for if she is waiting, well I cannot say, only that she knows we are coming to her tonight.”

Raven hadn’t wanted to be more specific in any fashion until they-he was face to face with his master. She could be merciful and she could be cruel, she was well and truly all things befitting her station. And it came upon him…indeed all of this was his fault.

He smiled then as she hugged him and then again at the familiar feel of her hand sliding into his and he couldn’t help the laugh that slipped from his lips.

“Things shall be fine Alexandra.”

And with that he turned through the graveyard and down into the crypt as always Raven was silent during the trip. He didn’t lay eyes upon any of their coven mates and yet the night was still young and perhaps because of it any others were out seeking prey or maybe the night in general. This was something Raven himself had come to keenly appreciate.

Walking on then, and it wasn’t long before he was at Kie’s door.

Alex nodded at his responces. So she was expecting them.... But Alex didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing. "If you say so Raven... There will be some punishment I'm sure... Please though... Do not say that this was all your fault. Because it wasn't Raven... You know that. Or at least you better." She said simply as he stood.

They then walked through the crypt of the coven, Raven leading, Alex just behind him. The silence between them only made her more nervous as if something ominus was rising before them... And indeed it was.

It seemed only a moment later when Kie's door was in front of them.

She moved beside Raven as he stopped, needing the reasurance of his touch, slipping her hand into his again.

They were in this together, why didn't he understand that? Raven had given her so much... And she was scarcely able to return the favor. He had saved her... Taken her in and loved her unlike anyone else ever had... Even her own parents. She would do anything for him, didn't he see that? If Kie did have any punishment for them, she would gladly take it. His as well. Raven didn't need to suffer for something that wasn't his fault.

"Don't do anything stupid Raven... Please?" She asked him as she looked over at his fresh green eyes.

Raven ignored Alex’s first statement or so much as he could ignore it without seeming to, yes he understood that perhaps it was not all his fault, but it was enough his fault. Enough was enough for him, but his expression quickly changed as a wolfish smile broke the continence of his features and he knocked firmly on the door even as he asked.

"What exactly do you consider, 'anything stupid' my fledgling?"

Raven didn't plan anything stupid and well and truly he knew full well of Alexandra's devotion and would have argued fiercely at her supposed lack of repayment and yet in the same breath didn't she understand that he would never take advantage of that devotion. One to do such could hardly be called worthy of a fledgling. So as for a punishment it was his to bear.

He would kneel and well and truly grovel if it meant her life, he’d sacrifice his own. It was more than a sense of duty on his behalf, more than devotion to his leader or his coven; it was even more than what they shared. Raven owed her protection and would provide it, always.

Together they waited then, prepare or so much as any could, for his master.

Kie-Linque stood in front of a mirror. It wan't really a mirror, but it had a high potential for reflection. She saw the jeans that surrounded her thighs, came tight over her hips and flared a little at her ankles. Kie admired the thin material that cupped her breasts and accentuated her waist. The only other thing that Kie could see in the reflection was a silver pendant and chain that hung from her neck. In the mirror, she looked like a ghost from a cheesy b-movie. No skin, no hair, no eyes. If one were seeing her without the mirror, they would see someone looking like a teenager, just off of school with her shoes and socks kicked off. If they were smart, they would see the coven leader of the Ishak.

She ruffled her long curly hair and sat down crossed legged on a rug in the center of her room. Kie-Linque closed her mismatched eyes and waited patiently for her guests to arrive. A meeting had been requested and Kie-Linque had not inquired as to why. She would find out soon enough.

Kie-Linque's eyes fluttered open at the knock at the door. It was time.

Licking her lips and smiled almost girlishly, a little terrifying when one considered that KieLinque usually avoided looking either young or of the time. Kie continued to stay sitting, far from any paperwork or distractions. She would give her coven her full attention when it was needed.

"You may enter."

((Sorry it's short.))

Kie-Linque’s voice reached Raven’s ears like a caress. It was a pleasure all in of itself to simply hear her voice and yet even so it did double duty to raise the indecisiveness that already gnawed at his insides. This could very well be there last meeting and if it was, then Raven would accept it as such. If she chose to end his existence, so be it. Still he worried for his fledgling. He must be clear in his explanations and between them both he worried more that she might throw things off balance.

As he’d said, this was his fault. Perhaps Alexandra would be angry with him if he declared such. But to his sensibilities it was easily the best rout taken. After all, he’d always heal, in time; it was what he did best.

Reaching forward Raven opened the door silently and bowed his head even as he entered.

“My master,” He said casually and moved toward her before stopping short and kneeling.

Chills went down Alex's spine as she heard Kie's voice. This was really the moment of truth... There was no going back now.

But... She could feel the throughs and decisions running through his mind... The emotions and basic bits... But he couldn't! She wouldn't let him take the blame, the punishment. Of course she would be angry at him... No uterly and royally pissed would be more like it, but whatever. And then she felt death... That was something she would never allow to happen... Never. She couldn't let him die, and she didn't with to die herself.

Why did Raven even have to be part of this coven? That was the whole stupid problem right there...

but she had to wipe at least that part of her thoughts clean as the door swung open.

Alex followed silently and gracefully behind raven, kneeling and bowing her head just as he did. But she couldn't help but look at Kie again. Jeans? She was actually wearing pants? Modern clothing? She... Didn't really seem the type. Every time she had seen Kie thus far, she was in a rather old fashion outfit that suited her well.. Oddly enough so did this...

"Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice, Master." Alex siad softly, though still not sure if she really was grateful.

Kie-Linque sat cross legged on the carpet. She smiled with a semblance of cheerfulness. Twirling a strand of hair around her left index finger, she motioned for them to sit and relax.

"Screw the formalities for today....unless you'd prefer otherwise." She then leaned back, supporting herself on her right palm. "Both of you...come close and tell me what this is all about. I hate to be left in the dark." Kie-Linque did indeed hate being left out of the loop, she wasn't a fan of surprises. Still, she hadn't inquired further when the request for an audience had been made. She owed most of her coven that much.

What else did the Ishak have if not their pride?

(OOC: Sorry its short...and sorry I have a crappy response time. I just woke up from my first five hours of sleep in 40 some odd hours. I've been swamped with work. SORRY!)

((No worries. We are a patient bunch, I’m just glad you found time. P.S. You really should sleep more…))

Raven rose in a surprisingly graceful motion and there was a ruffling of cloth as the long coat he wore rose with him, moving like a living thing from its place pooled about him. There was more ruffling still as Raven’s hands moved carefully to sooth his hair from his eyes and backward over his skull as the room’s light worked to make the strands of sanguine shimmer like ruby spun silk in the chamber’s soft light.

As instructed Raven moved forward and he sat close without hesitation. After all if he was to be punished, such could come no matter his distance or well and truly his location upon the face of the earth itself. Raven had no illusions about his master’s power. When he had first met her he had known simply looking into her eyes and now, now that he must explain himself, nothing had changed. Well perhaps one thing. Alexandra.

Now he endeavored to protect her, both from his own foolishness and now from his master’s wrath. If there was a focus for wrath, then it should be he, regardless of Alex’s thoughts on the subject.

“Thank you very much, my master.” He said then, meeting her gaze and trying all that he could to make his stance casual, despite the edge of nervousness that strummed through him.

He had been a fool. And meeting Kie’s gaze he simply begged her forgiveness in a look that none but she, his master would ever receive.

“I’m sorry.” He said then thinly. The words were like bile in his throat, bitter. But they were necessary and he quickly continued. “I have not been completely honest with you or my fledgling, master…it is for this that I ask your forgiveness.”

Raven’s eyes had been downcast up until that moment except to meet his master’s gaze before and to give the air of causality, but now they were downcast once more, looking up only to take in the vision of strength and authority that was Kie-Linque Callaiffe. And like Alexandra, Raven couldn’t help but note truly how much her current attire suited her despite its unfamiliarity.

Kie was always majestic and fierce, both attractive and frightening in the same breath and it seemed the other trapping effected this very little and even as his eyes were downcast once more, Raven felt the barest tingle in the pit of his stomach, waiting for what would come next.

Alex was admitedly taken aback by Kie's words. Well, it probably was more important to cut straight to the matter rather than beating around the bush in a futile attempt to pacify her for a few more moments and more than likely making her more angry that she had been drug along when she could have just gone right to the sentencing.

Alex went to join Raven as he moved. She wasn't going to just stay behind. he would have been a fool to think otherwise.

But she of course had to stay silent as he spoke... After all, Raven had been dishonest with her... And Alex couldn't protect him from that really. She couldn't say anything to defend him quite yet.

She bit her lip slightly. But harder than she thought for the metalic taste of blood came to her mouth ever so slightly. Realizing her body was stiff and tense she tried to relax herself at once, but till nervous and fearful a bit of what would happen to raven.

"Well... He didn't really know for sure... Raven ha-" But she cut herself off quickly. It was for Raven to tell, not her. But if he thought he was all better, he wouldn't have been lying right? So if she hadn't provoked him... Wanted more and more from him, he wouldn' have still been fine.

(So SORRY guys.......)

Kie's mismatched eyes turned steely despite her lazy and lounging attitude. She was attentive. She was watchful. She was beginning to see that something serious was amiss. Raven was always attentive, obedient and submissive when appropriate...but he was no domesticated dog. He was a fierce and predatorial animal. Now, the predator was tightly changed and there was the essence of a puppy waiting to be kicked. Waiting to be kicked or no, Kie-Linque noted that Raven was in complete control of the situation. Something she admired about Raven; submission never had to mean a lack of control and often times it meant obtaining it.

Alexandra was following in her master's footsteps both in general and more specifically with this encounter. Even as she cut herself off, Kie-Linque ignored Alexandra for the moment and focused on Raven. She would certainly get her turn--that is if either of them got around to telling them what she was supposedly going to be punishing them for.

"You make it very difficult for me to do my job as an appropriate and trusting leader of my coven when you both leave me so much in the dark. Raven dear, please find it within yourself to disclose the details which for me remain clouded. Neither of you are making much sense and if there's pain to be had," Kie paused to smile sweetly, looking for all the world like someone had offered her icecream for doing good at school, "...then lets get on to it. If not, then we can move on to something more productive."

Raven smiled and it was a wry expression only slightly mocking and decidedly self mocking…after all to mock Kie was a fool’s errand and no matter what had changed about Raven he had never been nor ever would be a fool. And so as his master wished with her steely gaze upon him his voice was a touch humbled as he said.

“When I joined your coven, my master I did not tell you that…how should I put it? I suppose I must call it a division of the mind or perhaps even the spirit. For you see when I found Alexandra she had something similar, a presence in the mind, repressed memories, whatever you would call it. But it is a division of the faculties. A second personality if you will. And that is what I have been dishonest to you both about.”

Raven met his master’s gaze fully then, his eyes strong and yet repentant, like a supplicant before his goddess. And his expression was unreadable.

“You must understand that it had been more than a century since I have had to deal with this part of myself. And yet I should have told you none the less, told my fledgling, for when you allowed us to fuck…ah well my other half made itself rather apparent and decidedly demanding in its desire.”

A part of him felt shame then in what he admitted and yet he continued.

“I was not strong enough to control my urges or rather the urges of this other part. I raped her, there are no other words for what happened between us and a fledgling is never treated this way by their master…more than that I did not reveal myself fully to you my master and so I am at your judgment. If there is indeed pain to be had it is mine and I accept my master’s decision.”

And indeed he would. Raven was a being of honor as much as he was a predator, as he was his master’s servant. A part of him had forgotten that. A part had forgotten while he was a beast, he was also a warrior, a warrior of the old ways.

As she sat there, her eyes on the floor, Alex listened to the words he spoke. Raven thought his problem had gone away... He thought he had control of it... But had come back... Fiercer than ever... Could... Was it possible that she too could once more loose control of herself?

Yes, she enjoyed killing on occasions, but would she once more become the blood thirsty beast that so many had tried to help? Her body shuddered slightly at the thought. She hoped not...

Her attention went back to Raven's words, knowing that her own were not needed and would likely cause more trouble she held her tongue. Even as he stated that he raped her... It... It was true. She had begged him to stop, but he continued simple because it pleasured him. He had said so... And even though he didn't mean the words, they were seared in her mind forever... ((Granted I can't remember them exactly because the thread has been lost in CyberSpace. Heh heh.))

But did he just expect her to sit still while he accepted all the punishment? No! it wasn't just his fault.

"But please! It isn't all his fault Kie. I goaded him to it." She said before biting her lip slightly. "It wasn't his fault what he did to me, he... He would never hurt me like that. He never had before, and I know he won't again. So please. If what happened between us angers you, blame me. It's my fault for goading him." She said as she looked up to Kie.

Kie-Linque was not precisely one to talk. She had her own dualism, would that she knew or remembered it. Coincidentally, Raven was one of few individuals that was not currently decomposing that knew of this other person, one of even fewer that had met her. The major difference would be that her aggressive personality WAS the more active of the two, the other had retreated and hid within the depths of her soul. That would not excuse Raven's behaviour even if she could remember. The gods would be laughing to witness the irony of this situation, for Kie-Linque had been on both ends of this scenario.

Kie-Linque, unlike the gods, was not laughing. She had listened quietly to both and now she slid her legs around and beneath her, pushing her lanky body skyward in one swift motion that was akin to silk against wood in smoothness. The Ishak leader took a measured step forward, reaching her hand out to Raven's face in what could have been like to a lover's caress. Her fingers and palm cupped his jaw line, but as she drewher fingernails across his face in a slow and featherlight touch, a thin metal coating glosssed over her finger nails making them like razors against agains the layers of tissues. She immagined that blood would begin to well acoss the path her fingers had taken. Initially, if she did it properly, the cuts would not hurt though in a few moments they would cause a fiery pain. Despite her malicious but sensual tearing at his face, Kie-Linque held eye contact and finally spoke.

"We all have our demons, our animalistic sides. These are powerful, ruthless and make us above mortal kind. If we abandon this, we lose our potential and spend eternity wilting from unfulfilled potential and being shredded by the desire to be less than ourselves, such at he Enashe or the Nephim. This powerful dark side must be tempered with pride however, lest we become animals like the Tarepha or feed ourselves the hypocrisies of the Amman. This dualism does not surprise or concern me, it is even found mortals, though many of them deny it."

"You speak not as though you with held information from your mistress, but deemed it irrelevant. This was a judgement call that I expect all my coven to make. I am not your mother, nor your goddess and my omniscience only breeds resentment. I trust my coven to tell me all that falls as important. Being a grown vampire like yourself, I would hope you don't need to clasp your mother's apron strings any longer. You made a decision and I, as the leader of the Ishak, respect that." Kie-Linque began to step around behind Raven, bringing her fingernails along his jawline to his left ear. " That does not mean that you made a good decision...but I think you've already encountered your consequences."

The Persian woman's adolescent features peered now to examine Alexandra as Kie stood over Raven. At the mention of Raven's actions Kie-Linque's temper flared. She had wanted to strip Alexandra right then to insure the damage was not extensive. The woman knew however that vampires healed well and fast so the physical wounds meant little so long as there remained that undead spark. Kie could not forget however, that wounds made from another vampire would be far more extensive, traumatic and long lasting then wounds from any other source, nor that most of the damage was not physical.

"You are incorrect Raven, many fledglings are mistreated and our ideals raped for the fure because of it. That does not mean I will permit it." Stepping back around she kneeled very close to Raven. "I wish to examine Alexandra. For every mark that remains on her body, though any damage will be far less extensive than it was initially, will be reproduced on your own. When anatomy does not permit, we will get inventive. That will serve as minor retribution as she does not have the strength to make the marks last as I want them to." Her mismatched gaze slid over Alexandra's covered body momentarily as they crawled upwards to meet Alexandra's own.

"This serves a purpose to you Alexandra. You are in no way responsible for Raven's actions, though you now have better knowledge and experience in dealing with an aggressive demon such as Raven. Do you still feel your initial confidence, Darling, or have you realised that monsters can only choose tenderness for so long." Alexandra might not have appreciated Raven's duality, but Kie-Linque could not supress, not did she want to, a slight interest in the possibilities...buth there was a time and a place for that, unfortunately it was not now. "Apathetic as it sounds, your experience will teach you not to play with fire and to respect your limits and te teachings of those older and more powerful than yourself, little fledgling and seeing Raven hurt from the experience will erase the possibility that you will accept the blame for yourself and perhaps goad him in the future. If the experience has ruined your wonderful sens of pride or destroyed your sense of self, I will do more than simply bruise him."

Kie-Linque sighed, relaxed her posture and looked between the both of them for a minute. "Perhaps it would be best if I placed Alexandra under the care of another...but I've not made any formal decision as of yet. What do you both think of what have said? Given the limited details I can know, do you thik my assessment fair, or am I missing something else?"

(ooc: sorry I'm so rusty guys...)

The rending of flesh came so sudden and with a blade so sharp that Raven could hardly say he felt it. No indeed did he smell the coppery sweet scent of ichor far before they pain came as slow as a branding iron pressed into flesh. However for that pain Raven held a sharp apathy. There was a part of him that might have savored it had situations been different, but another part was more than willing to remind that things were exactly as they were and it was also this part that felt Kie’s word more keenly than any wound and agreed full heartedly with its master.

“Indeed we do my master…” Raven agreed then to Kie’s first statement softly, the pain of his torn face becoming sharper with each movement of his lips and the blood that came flowed faster, even though already the edges of the wounds began to regenerate to slowly close them and yet was so fast a process that the eye could not catch the exact moment of the mending.

And yet he couldn’t help the sad smile that came then as he spoke.

“Indeed I seek nether a goddess nor mother in you… Kie-Linque Callaiffe. But all the world over, a price must be paid for foolish decisions, for act against coven, or member there of. Rather it be blood for blood, flesh for flesh, or even life for life. I’ve never needed a tamer nor shall I ever regret. But you are right of consequences my master and I will accept those as they are…you are leader and master here.”

Raven’s word seemed humble there; however they held something very different in their tone. No, indeed these words were born of a respect that went beyond anything else. It was a respect beyond loyalty, beyond the humble and willing servant. Indeed it was the respect of one warrior to another and yet it also ended with a smile as Kie spoke again and he fell silent to listen.

“Ah, that I know indeed my master, if only by the memories that are once more my own. But the way that things are and should be always differ greatly, and a fledgling ‘should never’ be treated as I have treated mine and yet I’ve always a being that works to be what I should be. And so whatever your search and punishment yield, it shall be but a reminder of what it means to fail.”

His eyes were hard now, and he glanced at Alexandra, a motion that again made his slashed cheek bleed, but neither it nor the pain mattered.

“The wrong was mine and thus is the punishment Alexandra.” He stated simply. Those words were perhaps as good as a noose and yet were they less than true? Indeed they were not.

And Raven faced his master, expression unreadable.

“I do not wish to lose her, my master. But I will always adhere to your will, it is what my oath to you means. The coven comes first in my awareness, but always is my master second. Do as you see fit…”

She watched as Kie's nails traces painfully over Raven's skin, and though he didn't bat an eye at the pain that came a moment later, she felt it too. Fee;in gas if she was being ignored she simply sat there, listening to Kie's words with a building frustration.

Everyone made mistakes! They had made a mistake and they had been punished enough for it hadn't they? Maybe not by her, but the pain and mistrust that both had felt... It was worse than a lot of other punishments. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to come to Kie...

She could smell the blood of Raven as it dripped down his cheek.

Ale's eyes snapped to Kie as she spoke of her though. "No!" She said sharply as Kie said that she would examine her. "I'm fine Kie. He took care of me after he came to his sences." She stood up, she wasn't going to be as submisive as Raven, she wasn't going to be pushed around.

"Kie. It was a mistake. Everyone has weaknesses, everyone has faults! We screwed up okay, I admit it. But we've paid the price for our mistakes! We suffered more than you can think because of this, and now... Now when we've figured things out... Maybe even fixed the problem you're just going to pull me away from him?! NO!"

She knew she was being stupid, but she didn't care. To be pulled away from Raven just when she had him once more, had him back again in her life an- No. She wasn't one to give up anything she wanted without a fight. And this wasn't going to be any different. If Kie was going to keep Raven away from her, she might as well be dead anyway.

"He might adhere to your will... But I've never done anything I don't want to."

"If you were fully healed, Child, you would have no problem disclosing such to me. However, if you are afraid for him because of the extent of damage or if you are traumatised to the point of being ashamed of your body, then things are worse than I imagined. It wouldn't be right to put you through worse or force you to show yourself, so you could leave the remaining marks to my imagination if you desire. That will be your choice."

Kie-Linque was more than a little frustrated at Alexandra. It was apparent that she still did not understand dynamics. In this case, punishment was not arbitrary, it was not a demonstration of power to cow others and it was not a public punishment there to symbolise Kie-Linque's strength before the coven. This was Kie's responsibility to her coven, to show Raven she was attentive to his needs now and to show Alexandra that her needs were also important to the coven. Alexandra was important enough that what she had suffered would not be forgotten and that no one was so much better than Alexandra that they would avoid retibution when they abused her. This went for Raven, other coven members and any non-Ishak with ballls enough fro brains to tempt Kie-Linque's wrath. Foolish child.

"I believe your fledgling is suffering Stockholm syndrome, Raven. Do you think she would disapprove if I held that as further evidence against you?" She turned her attention once more from Raven to Alexandra.

"Don't presume for an instant, Child, that my long years have given me know understanding of pain, abandonment, aggression and blood. I've been on all sides of the fence and if you think my judgement unfair, take it up with the corpses of my victims. They would say that I'm losing my touch...they would that is, if they still had a tongue rolling about their skulls. Well, I asked you opinion and I got it, headstrong though it may be. Your outbursts are a little on the childish side. Other vampires might take such as weakness. You need to show strength and put forth your desires without coming across as powerless. It got much better toward the end though." Kie's attitude had changed temporarily to one critiquing an art piece and giving a lesson, though it shifted back on topic with her next words.

"Your Sire seems to disagree with you on some things, Alexandra. Neither of you, however, have a desire to be seperated. Why, praytell, should I adhere to your wishes? I have no real desire to seperate you, especially if it would worsen things, but what occurred, despite the minute details you gave me, must never happen again; either for your sakes or for those other vampires and their fledglings who will observe you both and see that this sort of behaviour is permissible. Alexandra, would you like to be responsible for the abuse of another from a master not so caring as Raven? Give me a reason and give me some ideas as to how such a thing can be prevented in the future. Perhaps we can come to my an arrangement that seems appropriate."

Raven rose to his feet with liquid fluidity and yet even as he did he was silent, eyes and even expression shuttered against prying eyes. There was something all at once stoic about the red head and yet even so emerald eyes flashed with a touch of pride, a sliver of excitement. All in all Raven was very much afraid for Alexandra’s safety. Kie was his master; that detail alone spoke not only of her power, but her demeanor. She was not a being to be trifled with in any incarnation and yet also she was fair and wise. Traits that Raven could not say he had always required of a master, but had learned to appreciate of this one.

And he looked at her carefully a soft smile touching his lips.

“What you call Stockholm syndrome my master, is the nature of the beast I’m afraid.” He intoned, something not quite amusement, not quite shame or worry playing in his eyes. “My fledgling is a giving being, my master. Not weak by any means, but too selfless even in her outrage.”

Eyes the color of cut emeralds focused on Alexandra then; and a soft smile touched his lips even closer then, less distant that the expression had been a moment ago.

“Alexandra that is enough.” The words weren’t a command so much as a gentle chiding. “Indeed I am glad and proud that you have found your confidence and each night grow in strength as well as understanding, but you are new to coven life and what my master does is as she said is merely justice and punishment. And this is something for me to bear for it is you I have wronged.”

Raven’s gaze met Kie’s once more then and his smile slid away.

“I understand your words.” He granted. And yet even as his next words were on his tongue Raven was not sure what to do with them. He had prepared to give his words that such would never happen again, even lay down his life upon that oath and yet even as he was now as Raven; as Guidid Orrea Veniconis and all else that he’d reclaimed of himself during Alexandra’s ordeal, the vampire was not sure if he could make that promise. His two halves had become one, the rage and painful memories were exceedingly clear as were the promises he’d made to himself in his youth that carried on even now in how he served, lived, and fed. So very much had happened within and without…

And more than that how much stock could or would his master take in his word?

As it was Raven looked at Alexandra then, his eyes sad for just a moment before they were flawless gem stones once again, and he said.

“I would ask my fledgling that she allow you to examine her…” Raven’s words were careful, words aimed at Alex. “Then if you are satisfied my master, let my punishment begin, and surely you’ve the skill and the intent to show full well that such things are not permissible…indeed if you must I will be an example.”

Then he said finally after consideration.
“It is also my wish that nothing of the kind ever happens again. Indeed put whatever restriction on ‘us’ as you would like. Even if you must be present at all our meetings…”

Raven knew that Alexandra would perhaps not be happy with his words. But indeed there seemed no others, none that might convince her of his utter repentance or that would allow him and his fledgling time together in any form. It had been long since he’d made her, since he’d lost her and truly Raven did not want to do so again. And also did he not doubt his master at her word. She simply needed a solution, that he understood.

"I've never been ashamed of my body!" She snapped. "Broken or flawless, I've always been proud of it." Alex insisted. "Perhaps if you asked me like a person instead of just thinking of me as damaged goods or whatever I'd be more willing! But when you just say you're gonna 'inspect me' it tends to piss me off." She sand with a slightly wary glare. "I'm fine. I have no problem showing you that. But don't you think you'd rather talk too me instead of about me?" There wasn't a mark on her body that she could see, there was no soreness or pain or anything of the like. Raven had taken care of her.

Her eyes narrowed again as Stockholm Syndrome was mentioned... What the hell was that? Whatever it was, it really didn't sound good. "He didn't hurt me Kie. I'm not afraid of him or anything. He didn't do anything wrong, it was just a mistake. I-"

But Raven's words cut her off and she stayed quiet only for him.

Alex was determened not to let Kie use Raven as an example... No. They had made a mistake and had suffered the consequences. It wasn't like they got away with it, or anything else.

Her eyes flashed at Raven as he said that he would ask her to let Kie examin her body. She didn't want to... But for him of course she would. But to let Kie intrude on their time together? Never! That would never be something that Alex would put up with. She already knew that they should have just kept their mouths shut about this, she wasn't going to have 'supervised visits' with him now. Fuck that. Sure she didn't have a clue really how covens worked, not associating with them all that much, and now that she was getting a nice veiw... How the hell could Raven put up with all this!

"It's not gonna happen again Kie. We've fixed the problem. The only way you're going to see my body, besides stripping me yourself, is promising that you won't hurt Raven. I have nothing to hide, but I want your word. He's suffered enough, nearly watching me die. He would do anything for me, and I'll do everything I can to keep you from huting him." Her voice was still angry, but she was surpressing most of the rage she felt, trying to keep her tone as respectful as possible, something she'd been lacking earlier.

"I just want everything to go back to the way it was before I told Raven that we should tell you about this." She held her tongue though from saying what she really wanted to say.

"Alexandra, you have a funny way of showing gratitude towards those who are trying to care for you. These rules aren't in place only for your protection, but that of everyone. Quit thinking only of your own desires and think of the bigger picture. Like it or not, you came here of your own will to be a part of this coven and you've given all but your precious Raven grief over it. You are certainly not the most abused of all fledglings, but if you would prefer an education I can happily provide it. Maybe afterwards I'll let the Tarepha and the Amman fight over your corpse." Kie-Linque was rolling her eyes and sarcastically remarking to herself that she was growing soft in her old age. Most of the other covens would have done away with the young vampire by now.

"I'm glad that you're not ashamed of your body...at least the ordeal hasn't damaged your pride any. Perhaps instead of flying into an outrage at possiblities and not bothering to even explain situations in detail, you can keep a tamer tongue, listen to what I say and try to work with me. I have no intention of harming my coven, you twit, but reperations must be made. I care much for my fledglings but I am also responsible for those others who are in my coven. I know perfectly well that what Raven did was not out of malice. We all have our demons afterall...but that doesn't mean I won't do my damnedness to prevent another occurence. You say you've fixed the problem, but how? What can you give me? What happened the last time you believed yourself capable of adequately controlling a male?"

Kie-Linque smiled brightly but her eyes were cold and distant.

"I have no problem stripping you myself Alexandra, please don't make the mistake of thinking I can be bartered with so cheaply. Anything I do to Raven isn't out of spite, and even if it were....you should be more wary of stepping around coven leaders and older vampires. We're dangerous. We're older. We're terribly creative. If you really thought I inteneded to bargain with you, I have all manners of persuasive notions that might help you rethink that idea."

Kie-Linque paused, letting her speech sink in. She idly wondered what Alexandra would do if she started to play with Raven right in front of her, but let the thought pass as an idle amusement.

"Come then, Alexandra, would you please allow me to examine you now?"

Raven remained silent, both physically and mentally. He could have spoke to Alexandra, warned her of the anger he could feel raging in her mind, just outside of his mind’s full awareness and yet as much as he cared for her, it was this that prevented him from saying or doing anything to counter what she had in mind. After all Raven had told her, instructed her early on that she should be making her own decisions, forging her own path forward in the shape and course of her life. And yet listening to her speak, he suddenly became anxious.

It was nothing so drastic as fear or even panic. Instead it was something else, something akin to worry that his fledgling might evoke his master’s wrath more fully than either of them could expect. It was not a notion with which Raven was exceedingly comfortable. Indeed while he was confident that he could withstand any punishment. It would be a lie to say that he had the same faith in Alexandra, though of course that lack of faith had the most to do simply with the fact that she was young yet. And Kie’s words enforced this worry into a deep ache in the core of his being (a more intense ache with each word that slipped from between intrepid lips), an ache that was suddenly a harsh and physical thing.

Indeed if only Kie knew, she had given him grief. Grief in many ways and yet it was a grief he gladly accepted after all it had been repaid with grief that he knew could never be forgotten between them and now with Kie’s keen eye upon it, Raven felt keenly helpless. And indeed he was, if he’d been alone perhaps this would be over and done with, a verdict rendered, but Alexandra…ah indeed there was no doubt that she was simply trying to help, trying to understand things as best she could, but she was too young, from a society that had never seen rulers as the truly old had seen them or offered themselves up to them.

Kie was such a ruler. And unlike so many others, she was just and fair, she looked out for the interests of her subjects as much as her own. It was what had drawn Raven to her before he’d ever known her, and yet even her patience wasn’t perpetual and Raven could say nothing now before his master, could not even admonish his fledgling for making semantic into something that very easily could become a danger to them both, lethal danger.

This was foolish…so…foolish indeed.

Restraint taxed, Raven met his fledgling’s gaze then, when Kie had fallen silent. His eyes were soft, not pleading, but indeed he wished his master’s words to make it through to her. Kie was not threatening her, nor being unfair, or bargaining…she was master here. Master in a way that was every bit at iron clad as any mortal monarch ever had been and yet also he knew Alexandra had to know how very divided she made his heart in this whole affair.

Please my fledgling…

Again, not begging was the thought, but the closest that Raven had ever been to asking for anything of any being save his master. And it was in hopes that she could understand just where they stood. Kie cared for them both, she was leader after all, but she cared for the health of the coven more as she should.

She had come to the coven only because Raven had asked it of her. It was something he cared for greatly, the connection with others, but Alex herself was fine without it. She had been fine before and in her mind all she needed was Raven. He was everything to her, and she wanted to make him happy...

She knew that she was causing problems. That he didn't want her fighting Kie. But... Why couldn't she fight for what she thought was right? There was no need for 'reperations' in her minds.

"I was able to make his other half see the light... And I gave him what he wanted. He agreed to our deal and he's no longer divided. But if you want the whole story, just ask and I'll give it to you. I don't know what Raven remembers, but I remember what happened." She said softly, only answering Kie's questions to try to lessen Raven's worries. She didn't care if Kie was older, or whatever. Raven had given her life and she would give it back to him if it meant he would be safe. She owed it to him.

But she very nearly felt tears in her eyes as she heard Raven's voice in her mind. She knew it was as close to pleading as he had ever been, so she nodded. She didn't want to, it was like Kie didn't trust them. Like she thought that the consiquences weren't enough to keep them from making the same mistake.

"Fine... Raven... Could you undo the laces of my shirt please?" She asked. She really didn't need his help, she just wanted him close for reasurance. If Kie didn't trust them, why should she trust Kie to keep from hurting Raven for no reason? Or even her. The laces wound down her back, pulling the shirt against her figure almost like a corset. It was more of a hassle to tie than anything, but she liked it.

Alex was sure that Kie would find nothing. She hadn't seen anything on her body, no cut or bruise marred her skin. There was no pain or anything that she could feel and Vampire skin always healed flawlessly. "If you see nothing, I don't want you hurting him." She said as her blue eyes flicked back at Kie. "He doesn't deserve it..."

"Enough now, you sound like a broken record." Kie-Linque was beginning to get snappish as Alexandra began undressing. It wasn't a matter of Alexandra not undersanding anymore, she simply didnt want to hear. "You're tearing your sire to bits and over nothing important. If you'd let my words fill that empty space between your ears, you'd understand that we're not really arguing...or at least, we don't have to be."

Kie stared at the girl as a whole, there was little wonder as to why Raven favoured her. She was striking and well formed. Perhaps if Alex were quieter, Kie could have her own fun with the fledgling one day, though she knew that as things stood now, Alexandra would not have her except by force. Unlike many males, that took the fun out of it most days, unless the conditions were correct.

Stepping closer, Kie began at the throat and moved behind the ears. The coven leader inspected spine, arms, torso and touched her small fingers to the skin to be sure that all was correct. Though her touch was gentle, it wasn't entirely impersonal as Kie-Linque slid her digits along the muscle, trying to relax the other woman's frustration. Her limbs were present, so were fingers and any bruising that might have been there had disapeared. Even the woman's upperthighs and breasts looked to be in perfect order, as attractive and undamaged as they were before the ordeal. Kie-Linque, as frustrating as Alexandra could be, was glad the girl had no physical signs of damage. Inspecting the woman's body, no matter how frustrating, would rouse the insatiable hunger that had driven Kie-Linque for centuries. Still, she got past it, and sat down once more.

"You...had a discussion with this other side then? When you showed him the light, do you mean you came to an agreement or that you killed him?" A valid question for a vampire.

Raven moved toward Alexandra, helping her with her shirt almost immediately. He himself knew she would have been entirely fine without his help, and yet for this moment he understood her need for reassurance and the sanguine haired vampire did his best to give it to her. Or at least that was his wish. Raven was far better at combat and blood shed than he’d ever been at comfort, but then again he was with perhaps the only two beings in existence that he would offer comfort to and that perhaps more than anything else sheathed that sharper part of him, dulled the hunger that rose almost instantly at Alexandra’s nude form and not to mention Kie-Linque reactions.

That hunger however was his own. Indeed it was somehow more fiercely his than it had ever been before. It was like a fire instant and sudden and yet it was as if before this moment, before now all he’d ever seen was bond fires banked and controlled. And this was suddenly an inferno.

Shrugging aside his distraction, Raven reluctantly moved away. He stood away so that Kie could make a full inspection and yet close enough that if need be he could at least force his way between them.

Raven had no desire for disharmony between his master or his fledgling, but indeed it was a problem he considered. A problem that he would take onto himself if it became more, Raven believed he could survive anything the duo could throw at one another, and indeed he hope he was right. Kie had been patient thus far, but Raven had seen what comes when a coven leader loses patience, indeed he’d felt some of the worst of it and yet knew Kie could perhaps easily be so much more creative than any of his former masters before her.

So it was with those thoughts that Raven stood silently, still, his muscles tense, if only to see what was to come.

She looked at Raven, confused as he moved away, but she felt his hunger and understood. "Perhaps later..." She whispered to him, a small smile coming to her face even as Kie examined her.

The woman's touch was soothing... Calming for some reason and she felt her anger and frustration slowly dissapate.

As Kie seemed satisfied and moved away to sit once more, Alex sat as well, not bothering with her clothes. They were off, better to leave them that way in her opinion. Unless it was too much for Raven of course.

She wanted to rub the fact that she had been right in Kie's face, but thought better of it. Instead Alex simply answered Kie's question.

"Yes... He was not simply an animal... Just more sagave than most. But he loved me just as much as Raven. That he had simply been... Dissapointed in me the night before. But... He understood that it was not fair to keep the memories and the life of himself hidden from everyone... And that to keep me from Raven was to keep me from himself." She said thoughtfully. "I think to kill one... Would leave Raven even worse off... It was like there were two seperate people, but to kill one, would kill the other. We came to an agreement, and it seems to be fine now..." She looked over to Raven, wanting to hear what he thought. After all, even she couldn't get into his head as well as he could. So who better to ask?

Kie-Linque looked between her two coven members.

"Is this personality subconscious or just reclusive? How are you both feeling? Will he come back or be satisfied with sleeping and what will he be like upon awakening?" Kie-Linque had taken in all of Alexandra's words and if she had had her own memories, she could have told Alexandra the danger of trying to kill off another personality. Even without, she agreed with the fledgling.

"You might not believe me, but I am concerned for your safety and I'm not going to spend the effort trying to convince you. I do need to understand this side of Raven better. Is there any chance I can encounter him?"

"Raven...what are your thoughts on the matter? How do you feel about this event?"

Now that people's tempers had been raked down, there was a little less tension. That meant things could get down to business. Kie-Linque was not so much afraid of Raven's other personality, though having not encountered them or taking a good cautious look at loyalties she was concerned for her coven. She was still concerned for Raven himself too.

For the first time in a while Raven smiled and it was a wry smile. What could he say; these particular questions amused him if only because they seemed rather fruitless now. And yet even Raven himself realized this wasn’t the usual kind of amusement he found in anything. Well and truly it was a much more bitter and ironic humor and yet all the same it was his humor, the humor of what he’d become.

The smile was soft, his expression softer still.

“Well, my dearest Kie-Linque Callaiffe; no my master in all things…” He gave her a delighted if slightly sensual smile that was both submissive and provocative in the same breath. “He was both reclusive and subconscious.”

His smile waned a bit then, melting at its edges into a look of consideration. Then speaking once again he continued along the questions posed.

“As for how I’m feeling, ah well that is something not easily explained... But as to if he shall ever return…well yes and no. For you see what my fledgling and I most notably failed to mention is that he and I, we are one and the same now. Raven didn’t remember his past but for broken shards. Guidid, the personality of which we speak had all of his-my memories and yet it was these very memories, knowing how we came to be that made him exactly what he was.”

Raven’s eyes met the gaze of his master fully then, he paused for a moment taking in what he had already once called beautiful, those wholly uncanny coloration of her eyes and yet this time he savored it, the sight with a warmth that surged in his veins even as he once again changed the focus of his attention and once again began speaking.

“And for you my master, I will explain that he was all aggression and anger. Or at least he was an anger and a hatred that had been suppressed and held at bay for so very long that if found an escape and took with it all that I was. Indeed he was that man Raven had once been, and yet the Raven you knew was what had become of memory loss.”

He smiled then and it was a slightly predatory smile.

“I am the culmination of the two. I remember what I was and know what I am. I remember everything and while I’ll admit to having all that anger and aggression I told you about…I am and shall always be more adept at control it than particular part of me could ever have been capable.”

Finally he kneeled respectfully.

“However I admit that the things, the emotions I feel…they seem sharper, perhaps it would make sense if I said the feel more whole than they ever have before.”

Ah and indeed that was an understatement. Everything, Raven felt suddenly felt more real, more vibrant, and truly did it enthuse him. Still no matter with what he’d become now, he was still guilty of the crimes he’d confessed. No matter that it had been a part of him that had fractured off long ago or that this fracture had now been repaired, still Guidid Orrea Veniconis: The Raven Warrior or Raven as he called himself these days, was still guilty and as such would make amends.

He looked up at Kie then.

“I am what his left my master.”

No, it would have been a waist of time for Kie to warn her. Alex wouldn't listen anyways. She'd rather find things out her own way. At least she had learned that much.

But the conversation went away from her again... Back to feeling like a property debated over... Proven that there was no damage, what use was she? So she slumped slighlty, not really paying attention to the two older vampires who simply seemed to disguard her. Whatever.

But... The desire... That hunger that she felt in him. It made her interest flare in the conversation, but her heart fell like a stone once she noticed what was really going on. She was going her best to keep her temper low... But it was hard. Was a clothed Kie more tempting to him than her sitting naked so close to him? That was what is seemed like to her. Dissapointing really... No. Irritating.

Alex felt the desire, the hunger that struck his body as he looked at her.

She hadn't felt that same thing when she undressed for Kie. Only a distraction really... A slight interest from his mind.

With a mental sigh Alex tugged on her bra and shirt, knotting the strings back up properly. After all, if Raven wasn't interested in her anymore, why bother? Kie's attention and presance was distracting him sufficiantly. Maybe he wasn't interested in her tonight at all, but had different plans. Fine. Again, whatever. If he didn't want her, she was more than sure she could find another to scratch her itch for the night. Granted, probably no one could do a better job than him, but she wasn't going to be too picky.

Was this why she didn't like Kie? Why she had something against the woman, because she held a part of Raven's heart, mind and body? She had never been the jealous type... Never really cared. But for some reason with Raven it was different... She didn't know why, it just was. Ask her to explain it and she'd probably just glare and walk away.

Raven no longer seemed the quiet penitent. He had changed, as he spoke about himself to his more aggressive and predatory mentality. His aggression brought out her own, though that in no way meant that either was spoiling for a fight, simply her emotions became more raw and animalistic. One could not forget how the man made her feel like she had a real pulse.

Kie-Linque was now a little less concerned about their safety. She understood much better now.

"If you ever need a release for the aggression and hatred, you always have a place here and I'd prefer that you not take anything out on your fledgling. Perhaps you could use something a little hardier to take your agressions out on." Kie-Linque was offering him access without question to her if he was ever in need. She had said so a discreetly as possible so that Alexandra could choose not to get snarly over it though she had to rely on Raven's intelligence and trust in her for him to understand without second guessing himself. Kie-Linque hated to be so delicate...but wasn't she the pastoral one? the Nephim would giggle themselves to sleep if they saw it.

Swallowing the gentle snarl which had begun to form, she glanced at Alexandra who was replacing the clothes on her nude body. What a pity. Kie-Linque had to redirect her attention back to Raven to keep from creating ribbons from Alexandra's clothing. They would make such fine ties for limbs too...

Of course, looking at Raven didn't dissapate her more instinctual, albeit induced, hungers...simply redirected them.

"Is there anything else that I should be aware of? Since Alexandra is fine and clearly wants no reperations that don't consist of my own blood I'm not entirely under the impression that anything else is required from you. Matters will be different if this occurs again however. I want to take some preventative action though, Raven. If you feel that this might occur again I want you to come and see me...whether or not you think the rage is subdued. At minimum, I want to keep track."

Raven understood perfectly and his hungry smile might have said as such if he’d allowed it to remain more than a moment before he bowed respectfully and gave a humbled.

“Yes, my master. I understand, and I apologize to you, the coven,” And his eyes slid sultrily to Alexandra.

Raven couldn’t help it, he moved to his feet; closed in on her, even as he felt his blood heat with simple nearness to her and his arms slid about her as he said.

“And my fledgling…”

He wasn’t harsh with her; instead his eyes burned as sudden but decidedly subdued crimson as his consciousness touched hers.

Have I given you such reason for jealousy then? His voice was light and faint in her mind, spun delicately down their link and yet holding no touch of accusation, displeasure or chiding. Instead it was a searching question. Perhaps strange given that had he wished Raven could simply have read her emotion or even scented it upon the air, but he wasn’t going to do that…no not now and probably not soon.

Alexandra, you are my fledgling…and never shall I knowingly neglect you.

He smiled then and it was again a predatory expression.

However you are not a child and I’m afraid that I’ve been treating you as one for much too long now. My master does not treat you as one and neither shall I. Rather you believe it or not, we both care for you very much...

He chuckled then, dark amusement touching his expression.

Indeed did she not I do not believe either of us would have left this exchange intact.

Raven’s eyes found Kie then, slowly considering.

“Thank you my master.” He said then.

Alexandra's eyes flashed as Kie gave her offer. What, did Kie think she was so stupid as to not understand what she meant? Her anger flared sharp for a moment at the insult but she held her tongue.

Something hardier? It wasn't like Alex had wanted them to come because she was hurt and demanded reperations. No. She had come because she knew it wouldn't be good to keep the truth from a coven leader. Hell, that should have at least meant something to Kie, thinking about the coven rather than herself... But where did that get her?

Being talk to and about like a kid, or a peice of ass. Nice. Sure she was a fledgling, but that didn't mean she was ignorant of everything going on around her. God... If only. Ignorance at times truly was bliss.

She ignored him as he touched her, not a flinch, not an affectionate settling in his arms. Nothing. And as he spoke into her mind she brushed the words away as his voice was simply an annoying fly.

But she glared as he said that he would no longer treat her as a child because Kie was not. "She doesn't treat me like a kid? Did she think I wouldn't understand what she meant then? Something hardier to take your agression out on? Like I'm not strong enough?!" She snapped at him before shutting her mind off to him completely, throwing up the steel wall that he had taught her to make.

Jealousy? Not completely. Irritation, anger and annyance... Yeah they were all mixed in too. When she was by herself, she never had to deal with all this leader approval crap... No one treated her like a kid. But the way Kie tried to speak above her, the way Raven tried to suck up to her after he gave Kie that smile... Did they think she was stupid?

Her face was blank and impassive as she sat there, her mind shut off to keep at the anger and irritation seething inside and keep it from leaking out.

Kie-Linque smelled annoyance on the air and looked between Raven and Alexandra. Since neither was speaking to her at the moment and they seemed to be concentrating elsewhere, Kie-Linque just assumed they were communicationg in their own way. She raised an eyebrow in the directions of both vampires but said nothing while the exchange was going on.

The Ishak mistress watched Raven in his affection and Alexandra bristle at his touch. There was no working with the silly twit. It was fortunate that Raven didn't belong to some other coven. That girl still did not look pleased. She had gotten exactly what she wanted, though she had little influence on Kie's actions. Kie felt her temper rising, settling on more talk rather than bloody actions.

"Is there something you would like to say to me Alexandra? You're not helping Raven by being so snotty. I am calm and reasonable with you, you near spit on me. Do you respect on violence and shows of power? Would a more regal presence suit you or would you perhaps enjoy some display of power. Would you respect me more if shredded your clothes and raped you in front of your sire? In front of the coven? What if I were to cut on you? Keep you from blood? Feed you only blood that has no thing good for vampires? What if I were to feed you dead blood? You've been nothing but miserable this whole evening and I have done little to incur that." Kie Linque stepped closer to the other woman.

"Would you prefer that I use my ever vivid imagination to humiliate, torture and prove which of us is the stronger? More capable of tearing out the other's lifeblood, or handling another dangerous vampire like your sire? Do you think my millenia does not trump your half a century?" Kie-Linque raised a hand as if to stroke the other vampires cheek but it barely touched.

"You might think yourself one excellent predator and even without Raven's backing I'm sure you are...but make no mistake....experience and age counts for somethings. Don't put it to the test." Perhaps it was the jeans and t-shirt on her body, making her look like a mortal teenager that created the illusion of not beig the coven leader. Kie's mismatched demon eyes were cold and hard, though she tried to quell her aggression. She would take it all out on some mortal before the night was through and if she had the oppurtunity, the body of some other vampire who could withstand her lusty embrace.

Raven felt her annoyance even as he didn’t hear her thoughts; Alexandra had closed her mind to him. May the surprises never cease. And yet while Raven could rather easily have over come her. Even without conventional mental abilities, he had learned enough, experienced enough that he knew he could have shred her defenses at any moment and yet Raven didn’t, instead he continued his touch. And continued speaking at her, rather she would listen or not.

Then just like that she was speaking to him or rather at least raging at him and while a part of him was amused, another and decidedly much more wise part was worried and not just over Alexandra’s displeasure.

Indeed she did think you would know what she meant. Raven began bluntly. In fact she has no reason to keep it from you. Have I hid it? Have I been dishonest with you, over bearing? She simply wanted to spare your sensibilities. Sometimes the message is less important than how it is given. Indeed…

He paused, unsure of what to say as she mentioned her not being strong enough. It wasn’t true, never and yet that didn’t stop the truth of thing from crossing his mind. And as much as Raven might want to keep it from her, might want to simply pretend that it wasn’t true, he had promised to treat her like an adult and was trying his best to do just that. She was his fledgling, but more than that she was his lover, and perhaps well and truly much-much more.

Alexandra, there are things that Kie will do, that I would do to her that I would never do to you…never. That was the simple truth of it. Kie and Alexandra were not the same; Raven had told her as much before. Does a man compare the sun that shines and the storm that batters the earth? Is one truly more wondrous than the other or does he not need them both to make his crops thrive?

My master is of the same mind as I am when it comes to some points Alexandra and they are things I know you would never find solace in. In fact he had no doubt that they were things that would perhaps push her away, frighten her, and while he was sorry to keep thing at odds with her, Raven always wanted to spare her sensibilities. Something that if Alex realized it or not, Kie-Linque had been doing herself. Such a thing was a large concession for a leader to make, indeed especially for the leader of The Ishak.

And it was just as he had this thought that Raven moved quickly, his gaze instantly on Kie, but he dared not stand between her and Alexandra. Even if his every sense told him to do just that, to let her vent her rage and frustration on him, his body would always heal, even his mind could take it now. But Alexandra, poor young Alexandra had never experienced anything close to a truly enraged Coven leader. Even amongst the others; The Amman, The Nephim, no matter the breed, all of them were as kings and queens with power absolute.

Such a thing was hard for the modern mind to grasp, but the old and experienced knew. Angry monarchs crumbled not just kingdoms, but civilizations. A single being before such a thing was like a wisp of smoke in a tempest gale, doomed beyond all hope.

Raven shuddered then as Kie began expressing her displeasure and with each word he could feel his worry heighten. Each word he knew was not a threat, but instead simple matter of fact. And while Kie might very well have a certain fondness for them both, that wouldn’t for a moment stop her from doing any of the things that passed her lips. The Coven leader is respected or there is no coven. The master is master always and foremost…Raven had known those who wore their power like a garment, paraded about with bluster and ego. He had served such beings and Kie wasn’t one of them. Much the opposite, but right here, right at this moment he was afraid. Not for himself, but for his pupil, she that he should instruct, should have known well enough not to let things go so far as they had and Raven worried for her even as he bowed his head.

“Please my master…” He said, as humbly as he could manage. “She is my responsibility and as such, so are her offenses.”

The fire in Raven’s blood had been doused long ago now and his expression was now as stoic as stone. But within, ah within that fire had been replaced with the icy touch of fear and the cold calculation of consideration. Raven knew he had to take whatever Kie had in mind, it had to be him, not Alexandra. Not that he didn’t believe in her, no. Instead he could almost taste Kie’s displeasure on the air and always would he recover. Always.

Annoyance changed to a forced indifferance as Alex's mind became numb to Kie's words. They were only words, she told herself. And Kie could talk all she wanted. Granted a part of her knew that the coven leader wasn't afraid of following through with them, but still, if she though of that her weakness would show. And she wasn't going to let anyone, even Kie, break her with threats.

"Why would I need you to do all that? I know you can, so what would be the point in showing me?" She asked simply. But her eyes flicked over to Raven once more as she felt him brush at her mind again. Yeah he could push through if he wanted, but at least he was respecting her irritation.

Raven's words reached her once more and there was something unusual in the hint of his voice... Fear? Was it actually possible? Well.. Kie did seem rather pissed..

"I know I'm not as old as you Kie. I understand it, and I don't mind being treated like it in most cases. But I'm not ignorant, or blind and deaf to what's going on around me. I already know what you two share, I'm not stupid Kie. You don't need to speak around me, if you have something to say, say it. I don't care. I know I'm only a fraction of your age, but don't treat me like a kid okay?" Her words were soft, yet still strong. She didn't want to piss Kie off any more, but she wanted to make her point clear.

"And I know I'm not as strong as you, I know that. But I'm stronger than I look."

She narrowed her eyes at Raven as he bowed to Kie, claming that he was responsible for her actions, her words.

"This is what I mean!" She said with a sigh of exasperation. "I'm for all intents and purposes an adult Raven. Just because I'm not as old as you guys doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. Sure I'm new to coven life and there are something I don't get yet." She admitted. "But I'm old enough to know what I'm saying, even if it's not at the right time. I'm perfectly able to make my own choices, and perfectly able to take any consiquences that come with them."

No, she wasn't going to let Kie use Raven as a punching bag for her rash words. She said what she felt and what she thought. If Kie thought them wrong, so be it. She'd deal with it when the time came. If there was one thing that she had learned from her parents was to be accuntable for your actions, and to stand up for what you believe in. Hippies, what could she say?

"Raven, do not go back on your promise to treat her as an adult. She might be your responsibility but her actions are her own. She has neither the need nor desire for your protection at the moment and she has the pluck to stand by her actions. You are coddling her." Kie-Linque had hissed this, never taking her eyes of Alexandra. She did not have to move to address Alexandra, one deaf to the world might assume that she had been addressing the younger vampire the entire time.

"I am not treating you as a child, Alexandra. You are correct, I do not need to show you these things. You know what I can do to you....but acknowledge that you cannot do the same in return." Kie-Linque shifted her weight to her left foot and inclined herself closer to Alexandra, her voice becoming soothing and personal, like a lover discussing something over pillowtalk. "You are strong Alexandra, I do not doubt this, but by your own admission, I am stronger. As his fledgling, you have certain duties, no? And as his lover, you have others....just as he has duties to you. As a leader, I also have a duty to my coven. I have duties to you, to see that you are safe and I have duties to Raven, to be sure that he is also safe...not all danger or pain comes from without."

Kie Linque cocked her head, dark tresses falling over her left shoulder.

"I have both a duty and the ability to help Raven in a way that like it or not, you cannot. I cannot take away the pain of his past, but I can damn well ease it at present. I can survive it and give him the truly aggressive release he desires without the guilt of harming something he actually loves. I can enjoy it and so can he, without worrying in the back of his mind. I'm built that way." Whether Kie remembered it or not, she had been built like that. She was what might have happened to Raven had things continued consistently.

Kie was not intending to use Raven as a punching bag...it was more likely to occur the other way around, though Kie would most likely get in her fair share of aggression. Why did Alex seem so set on teh notion that Kie intened to harm each and every individual under her protection. The grl could be damn confusing at times.

Raven for his part nodded at Kie’s reproach, indeed did his head fall. Perhaps she was right, perhaps he was coddling Alexandra, but then again how could he not. He wanted to treat her as the adult she was, to allow her the freedom to do as she pleased, but never the less he would admit that he hadn’t taught her much about the ways of the coven indeed he’d taught her almost nothing. And Raven couldn’t himself ignore that bit of responsibility on his part. Perhaps she could stand by her own words, but he had never taught her what the consequences of those words might be.

Oh and how varying they could be. He knew that first hand, sometimes as punisher and sometimes as punished, indeed any other coven leader might already have exercised their absolute power and such an exercise from Kie, one of the strongest beings that Raven could admit to knowing…well there was fear, the likes of which he’d never felt before. And yet he fell silent and moved away, eyes down cast, but crimson with the ichor that had bled into irises and trying his best not to grind fangs as the soft sound of his nails becoming talons was the only visible sign of what might or might not have been distress, but it was emotion. But of course, for only emotion and will drew these changes from him and will was far away indeed.

He was silent then, listening as Kie continued to speak. And a part of him was glad that she did, ater all speech was so much better than other alternative courses of action. And so as she spoke, he listened, bracing and preparing for Alexandra’s reply.

A slight and unexpected chill ran down her spine as Kie leaned loser and nearly whispered. Alex didn't know what it was, and she didn't like that little fact.

"Well of course you're stronger. I doubt that you would be a coven leader if you were not more powerful than a vampire that was only a fraction of your age. That would be down right pathetic really..." Alex said in a thoughtful mutter. "I'm not stupid Kie." She reminded the vampire.

Her eyes narrowed as Kie spoke of being able to let Raven take out his agression on her and survive. Alex was just about to say something when she felt Raven's... Unease. He was nervous it seemed. Worried that things would only get worse? She didn't really know, but that seemed the only logical option.

She saw his nails sharper and longer than before and she knew that something was wrong even without feeling the odd mix of emotions from him. Frowning she gave his mind a soft nudge as she leaned against him, moving so she was nearly sitting in his lap like a cat would, her fingers brushing against the top of his hand as her head leaned against his chest.

"Do not worry my love..." She said softly in his mind. "Don't stress yourself." She told him as she nuzzled affectionatly at his chest.

Sighing softly Alex then did what normaly she would have never done. "As you say master. I suppose I am too young to see your reasoning. All I can do is accept it and do my best to try to understand later." She said without a hit of sarcasm, bitterness or reluctance. She hated saying it. Hated submitting when she thought she was right. But she would give in for Raven's sake. She didn't want him worried about her, and she didn't want anything to happen to him because of her stubornness.