Delegates Headquarters

Midnight was exhausted after traveling from Springside all the way back up North to Delegates HQ. It was a jump, skip, and ten hour plane ride away but she really was not keen on shadow traveling the whole way. Finally they all stood at the front gate, and beyond that the massive home of the Delegates. She took a deep breath just happy to be home, she had been away for a year in total, but just three short months since inheriting command.

It was dark but the buildings were so well lit, it really should have been day. It was only 6:30pm but up North everything was darker. Everyone was always awake so she was planning on quietly sneaking in so no one would notice and she could get some rest before starting all of her duties in the morning. She really had no desire to be mobbed by a group of people at this moment. She pressed her finger delicately on the pad to the side of the gate, a small chime and the gates opened. She looked back at her group. "Ok, please try not to make so much noise, I would like to sleep tonight before my door is knocked on every second." She stared at Grant for an extended period of time, it was really meant for him.

She took Koda's arm and leaned her head on his shoulder as they made their way down the drive and towards the house. She glanced back at Shisou who was obviously trying not to look at her and Koda. She sighed, he would just have to get over it. She nuzzled Koda's neck playfully. "Happy to be home?" The driveway was long and it was quite a distance before they reached the front door. Grant had his hands in his pockets trying to act like he wasn't planning to party tonight, Shisou stood there with his arms crossed just happy that he would get to crawl into his own bed, and then there was Midnight thinking about how much work she had to do in the morning. She could always pull an all nighter and knock out a lot of the work while everyone was sleeping, she debated that but knew Koda would be pushing her to sleep or just not work.

Midnight pushed the massive door open and to her dismay it seemed like there was actually quite a few people up and about. She put on the happiest smile she had and tried to quietly sneak away with Koda. She really wished her abilities worked in the house, but there was some type of machine that prevented it. She knew it was for the safety of the expensive house so someone didn't get pissed off and start fighting and then blow it up by accident. She just had to make it down like three hallways without being stopped and she was free, she could lock her door fuck the hell out of Koda and go to sleep. Seemed like a good game plan. If it actually worked.

Arucan stepped out of his bedroom, intercepting Midnight and her team as they made their way down the hallway. He stood in their path, blocking their way. He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at them, despite the fact that he'd rather scowl. He gave the group a once over. He hadn't seen any of them in a while but they seemed mostly unchanged. Even Koda, who he hadn't seen in ten years, looked basically the same. He still had the glazed over eyes that Arucan remembered. He'd been there during Koda's accident after all, looking on with his late father and other advisors who found that Koda's training was of interest to them.

"My my my if it isn't our golden girl and her three musketeers, returning home victorious," he thrummed, "We've certainly missed you all greatly. It's such a pity that you've been away for so long. But as they say, all journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."

He focused his gaze on Midnight, taking her in in all her exquisite beauty. God he hated her. He wanted to rip out her blonde hair and shove her head inside of a blender. That bitch had killed his father and for that, she would pay.

But revenge could wait, and so he could he, as long as he didn't look at Midnight to long. Or else rage may overtake him. He immediately slid his gaze over to Koda who was staring off into nothing blindly, just like he was last time Arucan had seen him. Only then, he'd been scowling.

"You've been on an especially long journey, haven't you Dakota?" he said in a friendly manner, hugging him briefly and ruffling his hair, "It's a shame what happened to you, but I'm happy to see you've overcome it. It's great to have you back kid."

Koda pressed his lips together in annoyance, resisting the urge to smack Arucan. He'd been generally excited about coming home, especially since he'd had Midnight and his team by his side. But then Arucan, the smarmy bastard, had shown up here, spewing condescending nonsense and acting like he was glad to see them. That lying little fucker. Koda didn't believe a word out of his mouth. The guy was Aubrey's son after all; he was destined for awful things from the moment of his conception. Even if he wasn't Aubrey's son, Koda still wouldn't have trusted him. He'd been there during Koda's accident, he'd been one of the guys who kept him locked up in some room, not allowing him to leave and be seen by any of the other delegates.

Koda's scowl grew as Arucan continued to antagonize him by talking to him like he was his little brother or something; ruffling his hair and going as far as to call him kid. Koda shrunk away from him, growling quietly in the back of his throat. "Don't ever call me that" he told him, his voice holding a hint of a snarl. In Koda's mind, that was a civil reaction. If Arucan wasn't a member of the delegates and they hadn't just 'seen' each other for the first time in years, Koda would have smashed his face in.

Dylan was almost skipping over to Midnight, and he easily slipped in front of Arucan. He looked over his shoulder at him.

"Don't you have small animals to torture or something? They just got back, they really don't need your fake hellos laced with I'm going to kill you later. Shoo... I am commandeering this team for a few minutes."

Dylan looked over to Midnight and scooped her up into his arms.

"Princess, I missed you! And... Midnight, shame on you for bring a man back here. There are plenty of men to play with, mainly me."

He squeezed her and smiled petting her hair letting out a chuckle. He looked over to see who the man was because he was so wrapped up playing with Midnight. His jaw dropped a little finally turning into an ear to ear grin.

"Holy shit, Koda?" He set Midnight down gently. "It is you isn't it. Your alive! Oh my favorite drinking buddy, my favorite woman chaser! We must have a party tonight, or at least some drinks!"

He gave Koda a big hug. Ignoring the fact that he was blind because really what did he care? Blind was better then dead. He thought for a moment. He had been wondering why Midnight ordered the whole place to be made 'Blind safe' Braille labeling everything, runners before sudden drop offs or stairs. Simple things, but things that might make it a whole lot easier to live here if you were blind. He was so excited to see Midnight have her whole team together again.

"So come on guys. Drinks? Just one wont hurt anything." He pleaded.

Dylan looked back at Arucan.

"Yea why don't you come to. I bet you would just Love to hear about Midnight latest mission."

He was being a dick but he didn't care. All Arucan did all fucking day was bitch and oppose change after change. He had ever gone as far to challenge Midnight's eligibility. There was one thing that got everyone talking, why Byron Alesten put Midnight in his will as his successor over Aubrey. He was happy, because if Aubrey took over Dylan would take off but still why? He would have to ask the archivist.

Midnight tried to keep that smile plastered on her face, but the more Arucan spoke the less she felt inclined to keep up the false pretense that she was happy to see him. She ran the Delegates, she could do pretty much whatever she wanted. "There is no need for us to pretend to like each other." She frowned at how he treated Koda, I mean sure he was young but Arucan was just doing it to be an asshole. "You know I seem to recall knowing someone with that same asshole personality. Be rude to my team again and I will put a bullet in your head." She didn't need to take it any further, Arucan was a smart boy he would get the drift. She almost wanted him to attack her, tired or not she could still beat the hell out of the insolent pup.

Midnight twitched when Arucan mentioned having seen Koda like this. Why was she not surprised that it was Aubrey and Arucan responsible. She felt like she could explode with anger, she would find some way to punish him later, maybe charm him for 24 hours just to be a major bitch. Her previous snipe was enough most likely to send Arucan off his rocking horse on the inside. He always was so good about keeping public appearances.

She smiled when Dylan interrupted their little reunion with Arucan. "I am happy to see you to." She laughed as he picked her up. "Alright, alright put me down. Your being silly, and stop calling me princess!" Midnight smiled knowing Dylan to only be able to concentrate on one thing at a time. "You remember Ko...." She was interrupted by Dylan's outburst fully recognizing the man she was with.

She smiled, always keeping Arucan in her sights just in case. "You know I was planning on just getting some rest. Why don't you two go and get a drink and catch up? Maybe I will join you in a bit if I can't sleep." Can't sleep in the same building as Arucan... He just gave her the creeps with those eyes, the same eyes that his father looked at her with, except Aubrey's were filled with lust, Arucan's are filled with hatred and rage.

*-*-*-*-*

Grant sighed at Arucan. "Dude your a dick..." He perked up at mentions of drinking and a party. "You have no idea how there I am. I have been dying for a drink all day." He wrapped his arm around Dylan's shoulder. "It's great to be back man, this is going to be great. You, me, Koda running after some girls and getting plastered. Just like we used to." He thought. Midnight was giving him one of those looks. "Well maybe I'll be running after girls..." How could she always do that, that look just made him feel so guilty like he was doing something wrong. It was the look that his mom gave him when he stole sweets or shaved the cat. So he wasn't the nicest three year old.

"Yea...So anyway. Bar is this a way." He nudged Dylan and Koda gently towards the bar hoping they would be open to the idea of getting drinks, if only a couple. He would most likely have to take Koda back to Midnight's room since the location changed and the place was a little more dangerous. "A couple wont kill ya Koda, You heard Mids, she is going to bed.... Please come out with us?" He begged

*-*-*-*-*

Shisou rolled his eyes choosing to just ignore Arucan but keep an eye on him anyway. Was that always the first thing the men thought about, drinking and girls. It was sad really. "You have fun, I'm going with Midnight." He wanted to make sure her room was safe before he just let her wander into it and go to sleep. Shisou didn't do well with trusting anyone to take care of Midnight except for him. Midnight looked upset, what Arucan said must have upset her. He placed his hand on her shoulder gently.

Hearing some of the exchange closeby, a slender figure, wrapped in a long red coat, drifted towards the noise. Embriodered onto the arm of the coat was the distinctive crest of the Neverwinter family, a sanguine wolf rampant on argent. All the inheritors of the Neverinter bloodline tended to wear it somewhere on thier person as a mark of pride at thier heritage. The Neverwinters were a very ancient and well-known bloodline. They were fighters, annd had been long before the delegates were even considered, and it made them a dynasty to be reckoned with, but thier strength came at a price, and nearly every member that had come before had suffered a violent and early death.

Kora Neverwinter, the latest in the line, stepped out of the shadows to survey the situation, her arms folded and head tilted forwards, watching the arrival. It wasn't particularly important to her, she supposed, aside from the fact that conflict was doubtlessly going to follow pretty soon, and, as far as she could tell, her loyalty was already decided. She was one of Arucan's team, she had a duty to be loyal to hear team leader, so it was best not even to consider the political side of it. Her ancestors would be spinning round in their graves like novelty toys if a Neverwinter betrayed thier own commander. The family vault would be like a beyblade convention.


Kora walked over, letting her arms fall to her sides.
"Huh, back from the south then?" mused, somewhat disinterested, looking the team over.

Koda looked pissed off, then again she didn't often remember him looking pleased.
"Oh chill out Koda. The guy's nearly three centuries old. Compared to him, you are a kid." she remarked, trying to sound casualy, though there was a serious intention behind it.

She wasn't going to have this guy disappear for a decade and then start dictating how people could talk to him.

Being of a family line of exteemely shortlived werewolves, Kora had had to put up with being the 'kid' for quite sometime, even as an adult her years on the planet were dwarfed by most of those around her. She'd learned to put up with it, and she didn't see why he shouldn't have to take a bit of it too.

For a moment Arucan thought his boiling anger would overflow to consume his cool. But he did his father proud by keeping his composure. Despite Midnight's infuriating snipes about his father, Arucan kept himself under control. He kept the smirk on his lips and even managed to tame the enraged shaking of his hands. It helped a little that Kora was there. Odd, because usually her volatile mood was contagious and only egged him on further, spurring him to result to violence. But it felt nice to have her here now; he didn't feel quite so outnumbered. Especially with Dylan here now.

"Well well well, it seems that I've caught you all at a bad time," he kept up the facade, "You all seem a tad bit cranky. I'm sure the flight was terrible, especially for you Dakota. Must be a killer for your ears; don't blind people have hieghtened hearing? Anyway, it was lovely reuniting with you all, I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of each other in the future . . . Midnight." His smirk was absoloutly posionious as he nodded his head in acknowledgment.

He turned his back and began walking. "Come along Kora," he requested, "Let's go find Mimi, shall we?" Once they disapeared around the corner, he dropped the smile and scowled. He still didn't say anything until he was sure he was out of earshot from the others.

"Remind me to kill that bitch," he snarled, "And remind me to make it excruciatingly painful and grusome. Thanks love." He stalked a few more steps down the empty hallay, his shaking fists clenched at his side. "I hate being civil to them; it makes me want to tear my hair out. Actually, I'd rather tear out Midnight's hair. That fucking cunt. How dare she make snide comments about my father. My father is dead, at her hands nontheless. The least she could do is be contrite, then maybe I could be persuaded to kill her in a humane manner, when the times comes."

He shuddered once from his anger and growled again. "I was serious about finding Mimi though," he said, calming slightly, "She needs to be informed of Midnight's return as well. Any idea where she is?"

. . . . . . . .

"They're back," Hazel grumbled, throwing open the door to Sage's room. She slammed it behind her and stalked over to Sage's desk, which she happily perched on. She crossed one feminine leg over the other and placed her hands on the desk, leaning back and sighing. "Midnight and her team," she elaborated, "They're back."

"Ten bucks says Dylan is already down there, crawling around Midnight's feet," she went on with a snort. Her team member's obsession with the blonde werewolf had always disgusted and infuriated Hazel. And she knew that Sage shared her feelings. "It's pathetic really." If he was going to crawl around anybody's feet, it should be Hazel's.

"Anyway," she got back on track, "Would you like to go greet them? I mean, it would be rude not to. If Dylan's there they'll know we're not busy on assignment, after all. Still, I'm in no rush to see Midnight and watch Dylan degrade himself for her. So what would you like to do Sage? I only ask as a formality, I know you don't want to see her," she laughed.

Leslie quietly made her way over to the group. She turned to Midnight.
"I need to speak with you in private. I have a lot of these new changes to go over with you and also your rite to the position has been challenged by you can guess who."
She motioned to where Arucan stalked off.
"We can't keep your little secret under wraps if you want to maintain the leadership role in the Delegates so I should get this out now. Midnight's real name is Midnight Lana Alesten. I know you are all smart enough to connect the dots. She is the rightful heir to the Delegates, but only under certain conditions. I have been looking into the matter quite thoroughly. She is required by law to produce an heir within the first year of ruling in order to solidify candidacy. Much like a royal family functions. This law only applies to women I'm afraid."
She shuffled her feet and tugged on her skirt nervously.
"Fail to do so and the position will pass to the next in line, which is Arucan. You can also be removed from power if challenged in combat and you lose. Now that's out of the way, we have many changes and updates to the charter to go through. So Midnight you are acting regent until you either produce an heir or become disqualified. You are allowed by law to make the changes to the charter and no one is allowed to act upon violence towards you outside of an official sanctioned challenge. Anyone that does so will be convicted of treason and executed."
She looked at Midnight shrugging her shoulders.
"The simplest solution would be for you two to marry and rule together. Any heirs produced would be unquestionable, not to mention it would be a line dating back to the beginning of the Delegates. Think about it, put your petty squabbles aside and look at the bigger picture. Or you two can take the hard road. Your choice."

---

Sage smiled as Hazel walked in but frowned at the words.
"I don't really care that she is back. The only one of them I would enjoy seeing is Grant. He is just so cute. Plus it pisses Midnight off every time I fuck him. You know how I just enjoy seeing her seethe with anger because I'm fucking her darling boy."
She giggled it quickly turning into a scowl.
"Dylan is such a child. I never understood what he saw in her. I would take that bet but really we both know exactly what he is up to."
She sighed leaning back in her chair looking over Hazel. She smiled taking in her casual placement on her desk.
"I have no desire to see her. How about you and I go get a drink instead? My head already hurts thinking about that blonde man stealing whore."

Sage stood up and brushed some hair over Hazel's shoulder delicately. She always had a fondness for Hazel and her soft beautiful features that betrayed how strong she was.
"I can't see how Dylan can prefer her company to yours. Your so much more then she could ever be."
She always complimented Hazel with kinda words, always reassuring her of Sage's affections for her alone.
"Come on, let's go get a drink shall we?"

The difference between being hugged by Dylan and being hugged by Arucan, was that being hugged by Dyan didn't make Koda want to vomit. "Yeah I'm alive ..... It's a long and unpleasant story that I can tell you about some other time," he said. It was a story he had a feeling he was going to have to repeat numerous times to numerous people .... eventually. Which was not right now. "In the mean time ..... yes, I would love to get a drink." When Midnight said she didn't want to come Koda had not been surprised; she was probably secretly planning on going to do work. "Alright, as long as you actually try to sleep," he told her. He knew how tired she was, the problem was she probably didn't know.

As Arucan's footsteps faded after his cryptic threat, another set of footsteps approached; the light, clicking steps of a woman wearing heels. When she started speaking Koda automatically knew it was Leslie, not because she recognized the voice, because of what she was saying. It was all so .... unbiased. Never in Koda's entire life had he met someone as neutral as Leslie Trent.

But when she mentioned how Midnight would have to produce an heir ..... And how she should produce an heir with Arucan....Well Koda thought he might pass out. "Motherfucker," he muttered. Just what they needed.

"I think we should all deal with this at later time," he spoke up, "Midnight needs to sleep and I need a drink. C'mon, Grant, Dylan. Let's go to the bar. But feel free to lead the way because I can't remember where the fuck anythng is."

Alana stood over the shattered remains of what was once a living body; blood soaked her dagger as she moved agile and silent in the direction of a nearby window. However before she left she stood at its glass pane like a still spider waiting for a fly to foolishly fly into its web. There she closed her eyes and focused her concentration and sole thought on removing her scent, her touch, her own spilt blood from the cut on her cheek and any sign of her presence having been at this murder. In an instant her existence vanished from the scene, her presence completely taken away so it was as though she had never stepped foot in the entire building.

Opening the window pane Alana jumped out of a three storey building, the air ran through her brown hair making it scatter around her face as she fell from the great height only to land softly on the soles of her feet using the power of a werewolf. Immediately running she left the place of her assassination mark, not looking back or even thinking about who the man was she had just killed, in honesty she had no clue who he was, she never did. The only thing she knew for sure was that every time her blade ran through a targets neck and the life taken she felt a stabbing pain in her heart, a feeling she did not understand or wanted to know of. She had figured it must be either sadness or guilt, she didn't like the idea of either so preferred to ignore it as she was trained to do.

Eventually Alana arrived at a place she only knew of far too well, the Delegates Headquarters. As instructed she made her way into the halls and followed a path until she saw a lone man standing staring at the moonlight his face hidden. He quickly handed her an envelope when he saw her, all too desperate to leave once the deed was done. Alana was used to such actions; after all it was only natural for people to be afraid of trained killers if they had no confidence in their own power.

Rubbing the back of her neck Alana pulled off the black mask she used to hide her identity on missions, she only did assassinations for a means of survival now, since the death of Byron Alestens, the man she considered her master who gave her purpose had died Alana found herself lost. Taking the envelopes contents out Alana's feet after some time carried her themselves towards another familiar place of hers, a local bar. It didn't take her long to find a pint of beer with her new profits and to get a pool table to herself just so she could shoot balls for the heck of it. There was nothing else for her do with her life anymore, it had no purpose, no meaning, and she had no care for the silly politics that had raised in North Delegates. She neither cared that maybe her black jumpsuit for missions stood out a little amongst the small crowd inside the bar, she couldn't find the will to bother going home first to change, or that she had blood on her cheek from the scratch her target had managed to land on her.

Midnight was going to stop Leslie before she spouted out very vital information that Midnight had worked very hard to keep silent. She never wanted to be treated like a spoiled princess, treated like the heir to the delegates. She just wanted to be Midnight. "Thanks a lot Cecilia... Really your a gem." She said sarcastically.

She had been expecting that someone would challenge her candidacy and that her little secret would come out but what she was not expecting was the rite to succession law about producing an heir. "That is ridiculous... I don't want to have a kid, and There is no fucking way I would ever marry Arucan. The thought of it makes me was to hang myself in the main hall. Leslie where did this all come from! I have never seen one law pertaining to this. I want all of these laws on my desk right now so I can review every one of them. Go get them Leslie. Now." Midnight was pissed.

Midnight ran her fingers through her hair and frowned. "Now I need a drink..." He head hurt and her heart was pounding. She had options... She could always kill Arucan, thus solving the contesting problem. But how was she ever going to get past the heir thing. Maybe she could just adopt a kid and name that heir. She doubted Leslie would go for that. "Ok I'm going back to my room because seriously I think I'm having an anxiety attack. You guys have fun." She thought about many ways to get around this, she wasn't ready for children. Not to mention Leslie would want to marry her off to some competitor to keep peace among some waring land by way of marriage. There had to be a way out of it. She would not have children with some asshole she barely knew.

She walked towards her room staring at the marble floor like someone condemned. She pushed her door open and walked in the room. Everything was cleared out and it was clean just like she wanted it. Koda's things had been unpacked and put back in the room next to hers. She sat at the desk and let her head slam onto the hard wood. "Seriously... This is so fucked up. Shisou what should I do?"

*-*-*-*

Grant stopped poking and prodding Dylan and Koda when Leslie spouted out something that he could not believe. "Mids? Your... wow. I'm kinda blown away. So, yes let's go to the bar. This is going to be amazing." Grant didn't care much about who Midnight's biological father was. She was still Midnight and it made him respect her even more for not playing up on the fact that she was practically royalty among the Delegates. They were Lucky Grant wasn't his kid, he would have other delegates bringing him grapes on a silver platter wearing a fez. He took Koda's arm and led him and Dylan to the bar eagerly.

As they arrived he led Koda to a table and left to go and get some shots. He returned with three shot glasses and a bottle of vodka. So much easier then running up to the bar all the time. He took a seat on the opposite side of Koda and sighed. "Well I knew that coming back here would be a little more crazy then usual but wow. Arucan has gone off the rocking horse huh?" Grant poured the shots. "Good to be home." He grumbled a little and tipped the shot back smiling. "Tell you one thing, I have missed all the good booze we have around here. Down south they just don't have anything that compares."

*-*-*-*

Shisou didn't say anything at all. He wasn't that surprised, he knew something was going on when Byron called Midnight into the office all the time. Gave her all the hard missions. It always seemed like he was grooming her for something big. He was not very happy about someone challenging Midnight's candidacy for the leadership role. She was more then qualified without Byron being her father. He knew it was just Arucan angry at Midnight for the death of his father. Shisou would drop off the report to him later. Maybe then he would see that Midnight had no choice in the matter. Not saying she didn't enjoy it but it really was a life or death situation for her. "Alright, I am going back to your room with you to poke around and check for anything out of the ordinary then." Shisou walked off towards Midnight's room with her. He looked over at her frowning. She looked so disturbed. It made him feel bad that he had no idea what to really do in this situation. He walked into the room with her and closed the door.

He went over and poured her a glass of wine. He set it down in front of her. "It will work out." He started doing a sweep of the room just to make sure someone wasn't going to do something so stupid as to try to kill her.

Dylan followed Grant and Koda walking silently trying to process the new information. Hazel was going to flip or so he assumed because she just about flipped every time Dylan mentioned Midnight. He looked back towards where they left Midnight. He didn't like leaving her so upset like that, it put a damper and drinking and gallivanting around. They arrived at the bar and Dylan sat down at the table and sighed as Grant brought drinks.

"I am happy all of you are home. I knew this would happen though, Arucan is going to make it very hard for Midnight up here. He has been scowling around for the most obscure laws just to fuck with her. Shitty thing being bound to centuries of old laws."

He shook his head and pounded down his shot easily.

"So is Midnight available or what?"

He had been meaning to ask that since they walked in. He wouldn't be upset if she was in a relationship, but he wouldn't be thrilled about it. Aubrey ruined any chance he had with her years ago and with him dead Dylan was thinking about trying to get with her again. That is if she wasn't already involved. She really was never involved seriously with anyone so he assumed this was the same. Dylan poured some more liquor. He glanced at the woman who was playing pool in the bar. She was not familiar and she was dressed as an assassin. He called her over politely. He would have to get to know her and make sure she wasn't trying to take someone out.

"Why don't you come and have a drink with us sweetheart. You look lonely."

Koda smiled slightly when he smelled the Vodka. Seeing as he had a stronger sense of smell than even a werewolf, he could smell the Vodka before Grant had even opened it. He slid his hand across the table, picking up the first glass he located. He could tell by the weight of the glass that was full. Well, it wouldn't be for long. He took a shot, not even minding the way it burned down his throat. He'd drank so much vodka in his time that he almost enjoyed the firey way it climbed down his esphagus. Almost.

He sighed contently, placing the glass back on the table. "Arucan may be a bastard but he was right about one thing ..... That flight was a fucking killer on my ears. A agonizing take off, followed by ten hours of mild discomfort, and an agonizing landing. God I hate flying." He'd been flying all around the world for ten years and he still hated planes. His ears were just so damn sensitive that the change in altitude drove him crazy.

"It is nice to be back though" he admitted "But I can't say we have the best booze up here. Better than in Springside of course. But Italy had some really fucking nice wine. Of course if you're looking for hard liquor as I know you are Grant, I'd have to suggest the Carribean. I've been there a few times .... In the summer, it's fucking amazing there. The weather is just so ..... not depressing like it is up here."

When Dylan asked if Midnight was avialable Koda found himself getting uncomfortable. The way Dylan had asked .... had implied that he was hoping for a no. "Umm no ..... She's actually involved with someone" he mumbled "Me actually."

He really wasn't sure how Dylan would react, but seeing as he called over some random girl right after Koda assumed that Dylan was not too keen on getting with Midnight. He was probably just considering it. Like how he considered fucking all women.

"Still a player I see Dylan" Koda said, lifting his glass appreciatively "Good for you. The best thing about being a guy and a slut ..... Is that you can have as much sex as you want, but nobody ever actually calls you a slut. Marvelous 'aint it?"

Grant smiled. "I will have to take a little trip and seek out amazing booze. I have a new purpose to living." He stated dramatically. He looked over at the girl Dylan was calling over. She was a pretty thing but he understood why Dylan was calling her over and it wasn't sex. Really though Koda wouldn't be able to see what she was wearing so it was only natural he assumed Dylan just wanted to fuck her. He chuckled. He filled Koda's glass back up smiling.

"The flight did suck, but even for Midnight and Shisou, it would have been a long and stressful travel. Not to mention their little shadow tricks make me throw up. I would rather fly." He nodded reenforcing his preference to flying.

He looked over at Dylan. "So what have we missed up here. Anything we have to be overly concerned with?" He leaned back in his chair taking another shot. God it felt good to drink and just sit down and relax. "Oh and where are those little she devils lurking about at, Hazel and Sage? They are always together, and I have been thinking about that, what do you think are my odds of getting both of them at one time? They are a little psychotic, but hey I'm all for the crazy girls."

He smirked. "yea I totally forgot to mention Koda and Mids hooked up in Springside. So she is really not on the market at the moment. Though we will see who Leslie tries to marry her off to since it is obvious she would never accept Arucan. Really though that is not drinking talk. Let's talk about something more cheerful. Any new members running around?"

Kora nodded and fell into step a little behind Arucan, making her way away from the newly arrived delegates.
"She does have some nerve showing up with not a hint of apology for what she did." Kora replied.
"It's disrespectful. Still, don't let it stress you out, I'm sure we'll get her eventually. Dakota is a bit full of himself too, and unfortunately he can be as much of a prick as he wants to be if Midnight is taking over. I can see this could turn into a nightmare. Quicker this gets sorted out, the better."

She paused for a moment as she tried to rmemeber where the other team member might be.
"I don't know, I haven't seen her in a while. Can't imagine she's gone far though."

Dylan frowned a little. He really should have known that she would be taken.

"Well good for you, I would rather be dating Midnight then be a slut any day of the week. Your a lucky guy. Like really I'm severely jealous."

He tipped his glass towards Koda before taking another shot. He smirked.

"I guess I am a bit of a slut. I don't have much else to do with my time. It keeps me away from Hazel."

Dylan started laughing at Grant's comment about Hazel and Sage.

"They are around somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get them both, but really they would most likely rip your dick off and use it for table tennis. Those women are hardcore."

Thinking on things to be concerned with and new members.

"Well if you think Arucan fuming and planning to kill Midnight for the last few months is something to be concerned with then yea. As for new members, there are tons of them. Midnight had us build a special house for all the kids, she also abolished the parental rights laws that gave the delegates possession of children. Now the parents get to choose whether to put their kids in training or not. She had us recruit children from orphanages, ones without parents, kids that had been turned out on the street. Stuff like that. I like that idea a lot. Plus the children are so happy to have a nice home with food and clean beds. They don't even complain about the training. They are just the cutest little things, and they are really excited to meet Midnight. Don't tell Midnight but I told all the children she was a princess, and now that's all they call her." He laughed. "She is going to be so pissed."

Leslie sighed and jumped slightly when Midnight gave her a command. She ran towards the hall of records and started pulling books down that she knew from memory pertained to the laws. She gathered them quickly and hurried back to Midnight's room. She placed the documents on her desk.
"There. Midnight, I know this is not what you wanted but you are five hundred years old. It really is about time for you to have children anyway, nevermind the law. You may not think your ready, but is anyone ever ready for children? You would be a good mother, I have known you your entire life so I believe that I can speak on the matters of your maternal competency. Werewolves are only pregnant for three months, it wont be that hard. There are plenty of men that would willingly have a child with you. I know the idea of being with Arucan is not what you want, but it would bring peace between the two factions before blood is shed. It is the best move. Think about it."
Leslie didn't enjoy dropping all of this on her right when she got back, but there was really no other time. Midnight had been in command for 3 months or so. She would be pregnant for another three months. That only left her six months to try and get pregnant, pick a guy, and try to survive. Leslie was quite indifferent to who was ruling the Delegates. Her or Arucan she didn't care, she just kept to her books and followed orders.
"If there will be nothing else. I'm going to bed."
She walked out of the room and closed the door. She sighed and returned to her room to sleep, she had no need to party with the rest, if someone needed her they all knew where she would be.

Midnight sighed and picked her head up downing the glass of wine in one gulp and filling it back up again. She frowned and started flipping through the books. "Leslie, I just don't know about this. I don't want to have a child with Arucan, that much I do know. He would be a terrible father." She sighed and started reading, dismissing Leslie. It was true Midnight knew she would make a good mother and she was 500 years old. Maybe it was time for her to settle down that way, but that didn't mean she wanted to. "Fuck off, Arucan is an asshole that is trying to fuck with me because he thinks I murdered his father. I didn't fucking murder him, He tried to kill me and I was simply defending myself. Not to mention he had violated the law and was a damn traitor. My parents violated the law and were killed, why would his father be any different? Does he want special treatment for his family? Well guess what, Not fucking happening. Especially not after his dick head dad abused the fuck out of me and raped me on multiply occasions. He can fucking burn in hell for all I care." She took a deep breath realizing she was shouting at nothing since Leslie had left.

She sat in her room scanning over the laws and regulations committing everything to memory. She was not going to get caught off guard again. Three glasses of wine later she was half way through the book and feeling decently buzzed. It actually took the edge off, she wasn't so angry anymore. She just felt all sad and moody now. What the hell was she going to do about this. There didn't seem to be anyway around this so far. "Shisou can you go please? I want to be alone for a while."

*-*-*-*

Shisou finished his sweep frowning. He didn't want to go. "Midnight, I am going to my room. Please, please try to go to sleep." He grabbed a thick file and left the room. He wasn't going to his room, he was feeling stressed himself. He went to drop off the file to Arucan. It didn't take him long to track down Arucan and Kora. "Here I brought you something. Midnight didn't turn it in yet because she wanted to do it personally. But since she is currently indisposed, I am delivering it to you. It's the report on your father from Springside. It has everything including witness accounts of unbiased people that witnessed the incident. The last page you will be particularly interested in. It is the copy of the contract the Delegates put out when Aubrey defected and went after Midnight. He was a dead man with or without Midnight pulling the trigger. I don't want any trouble between you and Midnight."

Shisou left the file with him and walked back out. He went to the bar joining the rest. He frowned stealing a shot from Grant.

Dylan looked up as Shisou walked over and sat down. He was a little beside himself when he took a shot.

"You know Shisou, I have only seen you drink maybe two times ever. And you never hang out with us in the bar. So whats up?"

He didn't so much need to ask to know Midnight was sitting in her room working on something or another, most likely stressed out beyond belief. That made him sad. He hated it when Midnight was all stressed out, that's pretty much how she was for the last ten years and he really had no desire to see her like that again.

"Well if Midnight needs anything, if I can help just let me know."

He took another shot and he was starting to feel a little woozy. He looked at the bottle, had they really killed the whole thing. He got up and made his way over to the bar to get another bottle. It took him a little while but he eventually made his way back with the bottle pouring another round of shots.

"Jesus, I hope she doesn't agree to get with Arucan. He would be like the worlds worst father. Talk about a kid with some issues."

He chuckled a little bit.

"Anyway, What do you guys wanna do tonight? Because I hope it's not something that involves walking to far. I am getting a little drunk."

Alana successfully hit a red ball spinning it into the pocket of the pool table, as she did she suddenly felt uncomfortable. The omen was proven when it appeared a man called over to her, a vampire occurring to his smell, at least she fairly sure he was addressing her since she was the only woman alone in the bar.

"Why don't you come and have a drink with us sweetheart. You look lonely.” His tone seemed genuinely friendly, but then again Alana believed that the friendly a person appears the more likely they are to stab you. She was taught never to trust strangers or anybody for that fact; other people only result in betrayal and the outcome of her own death.

Studying the vampire, through smell Alana determined that he was younger than her, his campaigns were another matter, the other vampire was older, and the werewolf too. Older age means more experience making an individual more deadly, immediately she put up her guard.

In the old days Alana would have walked away from them, but today was different, she no longer had a steady income, she struggled to keep the small home she had, and with the suffering in her heart of feeling un-needed without a purpose or meaning anymore a drink would be a miracle.

Laying the cue softly down on the pool table Alana fixed her hair into a ponytail, it had come lose before during her kill. Steadily she made her way over to the group, as she got there another male vampire had appeared, he seemed quiet compared to the others. Their voices had been loud to her hearing.
“I am never lonely” she looked at the one who had addressed her, being lonely meant feeling an emotion; she was trained not to feel those emotions. “However, I am willing to drink with you if you are paying”

Dylan chuckled at the woman sizing them all up. She was on her guard and well she should be around delegates. Not all of them were as friendly as this group.

"I wouldn't have asked you over if I was going to make you pay for your own drinks."

He smiled at her and poured her a drink.

"So I would ask you how you got that scratch but seeing how your dressed and smell like fresh blood. I can only assume your some kind of assassin. My question to you darling, You have any other marks in the area?"

He was concerned that Arucan paid her to take out Midnight. Not like it would be an easy thing, Midnight was very old and legendary in combat. He slid the drink over to her and pulled up a chair so she could sit with them.

"You live around here I'm assuming as well. There is really not much in the area, you must be bored as hell up here. So there are only Delegates in this area, what is a lone assassin doing around here exactly?"

He was simply curious, she looked like she was very skilled. She also looked like she belonged here quite well which made him wonder even more what she was doing in the area. He didn't recall her being in the delegates and he never would forget a face like that.

Koda was pleased with Dylan's reaction to the news that him and Midnight were together. He wasn't surprised though. Dylan was famously well tempered. He took another shot and frowned slightly when Grant mentioned getting with Hazel and Sage at the same time. He'd gone down the Hazel road a few times before. He could only nod when Dylan mentioned how they'd probably cut off Grant's dick to play ping pong with. Koda was pretty sure Sage was a nut, but he knew for a fact that Hazel was a psycho. The crazy bitch had given him a fucking concussion. Not something you expected to happen during your first time.

When Shisou joined them without saying a word, Koda frowned. What had happened to put Shisou in a fouler mood? His frown deepened when Grant mentioned Leslie trying to set Midnight up with Arucan. The very thought made him want to vomit. He took another shot as he heard the approach of the female Dylan had called over. Now that she was closer he could smell blood on her. Fresh blood. He wrinkled his nose.

Assassin. He turned the word over in his mind. He didn't like the sound of that. An unfamiliar assassin in the area. Assassinations usually involved people of power. People like Midnight. He took another shot.

"An assassin huh?" Koda asked dryly, taking a shot "Do tell, did you just get back from killing someone? Cause you smell like blood."
.............

Mimi twirled down the hallway, giggling to herself. She was planning on going to go get something to eat. She was hungry and was in the mood for something pink. A strawberry milkshake? A shirely temple? A cherry Italian ice? Maybe all three.

Distracted by thoughts of pink deserts, she spun right into Kora. She grabbed hold of Kora's forearms to keep her from falling. "Sorry Kor-Kor!" she apologized, stepping back. She saw that Kora wasn't alone, she was with Arucan. "Oh hi Arucan!" she chirped, smiling, "How's it going? I was just going to get something to eat! You guys wanna come?"

Alana was glad she got a free drink and couldn't hide the small smile of thanks; however the vampire didn't waste time asking questions. She should have expected some curiosity considering her current outfit. Maybe she should have changed.

However, it would be impolite not to answer his questions somewhat after he had bought her a drink, she didn't have to tell him everything though, she didn't have to tell him anything at all, only enough to satisfy his hunger, but then that could be dangerous, he may want to know more. It would be best if she avoid answering and keep her secrets to herself, the important ones anyway.

"My marks may or may not be anyone nearby. I could receive a request for your murder tomorrow" that much could be true, she spoke taking the seat he pulled up for her then looked at the other one which spoke "Maybe you will find out tomorrow if they meant anything to you" she smirked, most assassinations weren't big news unless it was a big shot to the public, only close family cared if it was and ordinary delegate.

"Yes I live 'around' here, though I doubt I shall for long" it was time to moved out before the home Byron had given her would be discovered, with a new leader arriving many delegates were clearing out old rooms and have a 'spring clean' as some humans say. She could be found easily and who knows what would happen then, her existence would no longer be a secret, many targets families would want revenge.

"The reason I am here no longer matters, he is gone now and so is my need, this place is all I really know of anyway so maybe it is best I leave. I do not find it boring as you say after all because I know nothing else." Byron left her with little other than knowing how to follow orders and live in the North Delegate Headquarters; now that he is dead her purpose for living must lye somewhere else now.

"Besides, why is it you offer a woman like me a drink when you know my profession? Shouldn't you follow me in the shadows if you really want to know my target instead of asking me out right? Or are you planning on getting me drunk and having me tell you everything from my own mouth, if so I wouldn't get your hopes up I can handle my liquor."
To prove a point Alana took back a shot glass followed quickly by another without showing any sign of feeling the burn down her throat even though it was there.

Dylan laughed at the woman's vague responses. She was dancing around every question like a ballerina. How clever, but even in his inebriated state he was not going to let all of that slide.

"Ok I will settle for your name then. I am Dylan. These guys here are Koda, Grant, and Shisou. Feel it would be best to warn you, if you do perhaps have a contract out or acquire one on the new leader of the Delegates, we will kill you. So if that particular contract drops by, I suggest you pass on it."

He poured her another drink, and another round for the boys. He tipped it back chuckling.

"It would be a shame to kill such a pretty thing. Not like I could kill you right now even if I wanted to. Guess I will have to settle for admiring you."

Something struck a note with him, the way she talked about not knowing anything else. It reminded him of Shisou, kind of to a sickening degree. He didn't know any other organizations that trained like the Delegates. He shrugged and dismissed the line of thought. He was a little tipsy after all and was prone to strange thoughts.

Arucan considered Kora's words. "Dakota is vulnerable," he said thoughtfully, "He is a child. Despite being a few decades older than you, he lacks the maturity that you possess. He's always been that way; letting his emotions dictate his behavior. But now he's far more vulnerable than he was back then . . . Having been away from the delegates for so long surely his skills are rusty. Not to mention he is blind now. He is quite vulnerable, and quite possibly useful to us. Midnight has always been fond of him and I can see that that hasn't changed. If he was in danger . . . She might be prone to rash decisions . . . And thus prone to mistakes..." He smiled wickedly at the idea. "Food for thought. I'll have to look into that."

He stopped speaking when he heard footsteps approaching. Shisou appeared around the corner and handed him a file and began telling him about it. Arucan growled when Shisou called his father a dead man walking. "So are you," he snarled as the man left.

Snarling angrily, he thrust the file at Kora. "Burn it," he said. He refused to read it. He refused to drink from their fountain of lies. It would take a whole lot more than a collection of fiction to convince Arucan of anything than the truth. That Midnight had killed his father.

"We need to find Mimi and Finn," he said, "They need to be aware of the situation." Suddenly Mimi came spinning town the hallway. Arucan was not surprised. Twirling around like a ballerina was a typical form of movement for Mimi. The girl was strange. If her ability wasn't so powerful, Arucan would have had her removed from his team the moment he met her. The girl was a ditz, but she had grown on him.

He rolled his eyes when she crashed into Kora. Normally, he would laugh at their expense, but tonight was not a normal night. "We've been looking for you," he said, ignoring her, "Where have you been?"

. . . . . . .

Hazel grinned at Sage. She always had a way of brightening Hazel's mood with her praise. "Thank you Sage," she said, hopping lightly off the desk, "You're right. Who cares about Midnight? Let's go to the bar." She linked arms with Sage and they left the room together. "Who knows? Maybe we'll see Grant." She laughed. "I can't believe I've never fucked him; he's adorable. Even if he wasn't, it'd be worth fucking him just to piss off Saint Midnight. I remember back when I was laying Koda . . . She used to give me the most murderous looks . . . Like she wanted to stab me in the eye." Thinking of Koda made her sigh. It had been ten years since he'd been gone. She hadn't thought of him in a while, but she still missed him. Although, she had always doubted that he was dead. The delegates had said he was dead but they'd never produced a body. As a delegate, she'd been trained to believe that nobody was dead until she saw a body. She assumed he'd run away or something of the like.