RP:Homicide Hotel
Part of the Vakmatharas' Jar Arc
Summary: Brennia and Daermon find out some things about Vermillion and his Hotel/shopping center, but was also able to save one of her students.
Draft Hotel
This sky rise business on the clouds is home to politician Vermillion Draft and the first two floors are occupied by shops, kiosks, and local businesses; what we would consider a mall. The third floor offers a very posh, reservation only, five star restaurant where Mr Draft enjoys most of his meals. Above the restaurant is two floors of hotel rooms where a lot of his employees reside and close friends come to visit, but rumor has it those rooms have a high turnover rate for some odd reason or another. The top floor is a large penthouse that only the elite of the elite would be able to grace Vermillion's private home.
Daermon, or more precisely, Brennia, had been busy. The campaign was moving forward, there had been a few attempts, but they were growing less frequent as Daermon found new ways to kill the would be assassins. Amateurs. He’d slipped easily into that old role, the old mentality of a killer. So the first thing he’d done, is analyze how he’d have killed Brennia if he was an assassin hired to do so. The funny part was, most were not hired killers, or people who had any particular skill in violence. Draft was sending Flewminati to die, yet some barely knew which end of the poison knife went where. Hell, one such man had even stabbed himself by accident with a poisoned blade while trying to knife Daermon. It had been both sad and hilarious at the same time. The pair had come to the Draft hotel as a show of defiance. Eating in his restaurant was beyond dangerous, yet Bren had insisted so Daemon had facilitated. All in all, it had been a nice, if tense dinner. “So, what exactly was the next move. Stiff them on the bill?” Daermon asks, smiling to his charge, his love.
Brennia is in a comfortable silence with Daermon as they are waited on as they have had a busy day of talking, politicking and such. The quiet of the restaurant was a nice change of pace and as she glances to an empty corner of the place she mumbles, “music would do nicely here.” Had the establishment not been run by her corrupt campaigning opponent she would seek out the owner and offer students or guild members to set the ambiance. His smile is returned as her liberty blue eyes linger over every facial feature of the man before her and her alluring alto timbre answers, “no, no. The cooks and waitstaff don’t know what we know and they have worked hard for our enjoyment.” Luckily Daermon looks mostly human and could pass for an avian if he had the ink and ears, so they didn’t get any snobby comments from the hostess or waitress. She talks through their bond now, ‘what I was thinking is, I am going to ask to thank the chef personally and do some more face time with potential voters while you use the shadows to pick up on anything unusual within this building. From what I’ve heard his penthouse is on the top floor, the sixth floor. Please keep in mind that Eva was talking about getting a job here with him and she hasn’t been seen since.’ Even though the little tart was insufferable at times Brennia still was concerned and Daermon would feel that emotion within their bond. The waitress approaches with a broad smile for the pair before asking if everything was good and Brennia smiles back, “yes. Perfection. I would like to thank the chef personally if you would take me to them?”
Daermon held no love for Eva. She had tried to cause a great deal of trouble, and had even tried to blackmail him. As if such a novice could have really convinced him to do anything. Regardless, Bren was worried, so he nodded. ‘I can do that.’ he says. He agreed that it wouldn’t be right to stiff Draft’s employees. Most likely didn’t know the man they were working for. And hell, they only knew a little themselves. The man surely had a bevy of secrets and what better place to learn some than here. Daermon waited until Bren had been led away, then paid from his coin purse, leaving a generous tip for their cute waitress and moving off as if to use the restroom. The hallway to the bathroom was suitably dark and empty, so with a soft pull of power, the vampire moved between planes. This form of shadow walking took a great deal of energy and effort, for it wasn’t the speedy traveling, but a form of walking both worlds, allowing him to see into the true world, but like a wraith, to move between spaces without being hindered by walls or doors; invisible. What better trick for an assassin? He’d used it often in his career. He turned spectral eyes up, and down. “Interesting…” he says to himself as he finds a great darkness below. A mass of spiritual energy and all the negative and bad kind. He returned to the proper plane in the bathroom, leaning against the wall to catch his breath. He would need to feed properly now as well. ‘I found something below. Something bad. I couldn’t get a good look.’ he admits along the bond, letting her know it was just tiredness she heard and felt. He showed what he’d seen to her, what there was.
Brennia was met with a surprised look from the waitress and she gets a little nervous with excitement while she tucks some hair behind her ear which reveals a beautiful jeweled drop earring, “of course, candidate Smyth.” When Brennia stands she gently placed a hand on the girl’s elbow when she compliments, “and you were superb tonight as well, thank you.” Blue eyes spot the jewelry - thinking, ‘someone gifted those to her, she doesn’t make enough gold for them.’ Obviously something was odd about them as she pointed them out, “what beautiful earrings. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you purchase them?” She sounded genuinely interested, but the waitress becomes bashful all of the sudden while leading Brennia to the kitchen area of the restaurant. Blushing, eyes dilated and averting her gaze Brennia can see a woman in love from miles away, but the waitress waves off the compliment, “oh, these old things? My father gifted them to me for my birthday years ago.” It was a blatant lie and Brennia can easily see it, especially when the Avian waitress accidentally let slip as her wings shifted - like the wing culture does when looking upon or thinking on someone they are fond of. Just for a test Brennia mentions lightly and smoothly, “I heard Mrs. Draft will be joining his campaign here soon. I’m excited to meet the mysterious and rumored to be charming woman.” She sees it then, the envy as she’s seen it on Eva and the waitresses’ words try to lie for her body language once more, “oh? I hope she comes through this time.” Curiouser… after complimenting the chef to pieces she is lead back out to the main area and she ducked into the dark hallway that leads to the bathroom to wait for Daermon while she speaks to him, ‘more than just one thing isn’t right here.’
Daermon popped open a small flask that was filled with blood and choked a bit down. It was never good cold, or old and this was both. A bit for situations like this, where feeding was out of the question for a time. He downed a bit more, then screwed the cap back on, stowing the flask and making his way out to Brennia. “Yes, things are very queer here. I say we duck down the first doorway outside that says employees only or some such.” he says, always up for an adventure. They left the restaurant, and when they were alone, Daermon asked about Mrs. Draft. “So, what is the deal there?” he asks, having not once even considered the man might be married. Which clearly didn’t stop him from...spreading the wealth as it were.
Brennia’s hand found his out of habit, but she released the gloved hand slowly with a subtle pout that really only he could tell. Once they made their way to where he suggests she felt that rush of excitement like they were doing something illegal or whatever. She answers his inquiry, “I am actually not sure and no one is. I guess Draft tells friends and family she’s on her way back to Lithrydel after being with family, but every time something comes up and she’s detained. I think he’s leading that poor waitress on as well,” a shrug before continuing, “from my understanding, Mrs Draft has barely been seen since their daughter was very little. It’s as if she vanished after her birth, but who knows besides those two.” She had spotted the flask and grimaces. Brennia always hated seeing him having to resort to it, as if she were watching someone eat day old French fries or something. ‘You know… You could always just ask for some from me,’ thinking it’s only fair seeing as she needs him at his strongest while he’s laying his life on the line every day for her… But moreso - she loves being able to be the one to share those moments with. They come across a door that indicates a winding stairwell that goes down behind it and the words, ‘Lower Level Clearance ONLY’. The door looks hardly used and is obviously locked up tight, “is this the door you mean?”
Daermon squeezed her hand in return before they had to drop them. In public, as things stood, they could not be Daer and Bren. They had to be candidate Smyth and bodyguard Daermon. “That is curious. And I’d agree he’s doing something with her. Once you pointed it out, I realized she smelled like him as well.” he concurs. He spoke along the bond next. ‘I know I could. I also know what feeding does to us both. It’s not exactly an ideal place. But perhaps behind the door, I’ll take you up on the offer.’ he says, grinning to her as they stood before the locked door. A quick look about, seeing none around, and with a bit of force applied, the door popped open. Daermon ushered her inside, then pulled it closed behind him. They were close together, in a strange little room with another door. This one was hardly bigger than a closest. “Sorry. Didn’t realize it’d be so tight. And I know how much you hate being pressed against me.” he teases her.
Brennia blushed slightly at his silent words until they were ushered in and their forms pressed comfortably together as if two puzzle pieces… Mostly - as their clothes would allow. It was dark and she felt the hidden door in the closet they have found themselves in before pressing her ear against it. She didn’t hear anyone directly behind it, ‘I know what it does. I need you at peak strength if you are to pull us out of here in a pinch. I think we can control ourselves until then,’ she let out a soft and short chuckle before her arms rest over his shoulders and she pulls him in closer until they were kissing in the privacy of this small closet-thing. Eventually she would lead his face to rest at the soft part of her neck were he’d fed from so many times before and even moreso recently. Just like always he would be able to taste and smell the power within her bloodline as he fed - which probably doesn’t make things better for what they are about to find…. After a private moment and once they gathered themselves after feeling everything between each other she adjusts her hair right before pushing the hidden door open and taking his hand so he follows close behind.
Daermon didn’t have the willpower necessary to turn her down, to point out she too needed to be strong and clear headed, not fuzzy and having lose some blood. As his fangs pierced her flesh and the hot spill of blood filled his mouth though, there was no room left for arguments. It was a strangely tender moment here in the belly of the beast and Daer did feel much better once fed. He kissed her again, took her hand and as she opened the door, he nearly vomited, having to clutch his hand to his nose. “Gods...the smell.” he whispered. No wonder there was a little chamber acting as an air block. The smell in the tunnels was strong enough even a mortal nose might notice. To Daer it smelled of fear and pain, of death and rot. “Awful, evil things have been done here.” he manages as he has to concentrate past his sense of smell. It must be truly horrible if as staunch a man as Daer was having a hard time. “You should let me take the lead.” he points out, though doubted she’d listen. Thankfully his love was not a delicate flower.
Brennia glanced behind at him with a smirk, “nah, you like the view from back there better.” It was a light tease and her free hand grabbed one of the hidden Sai daggers behind her back. ‘Try and focus on Eva’s scent if you can. If she is down here then we need to get her out,’ she smelled it too and pressed on anyway. A little high on adrenaline from his feeding and the thrill of being together out in public, but having to make it look like they are not, was rushing to her head. Remarkably, she kept focus about herself and where they are and followed the winding staircase down, down and further down as the stench became stronger. Pulling free a kerchief for herself to hold it over her nose while they investigate. Someone was coming and she leads herself and Daermon behind a wall until it was clear again. They come upon a small corridor with locked rooms occupied by victims or those who have recently passed, ‘check through the slots to see if any of them are Eva?’ Asking kindly while she was distracted by chanting coming from the open room beyond. She crouches low and peers around the corner to see an oval shape of masked men during some type of ritual which is centered around a bound young woman at their feet. Her heart clenches at the sight when she sees a couple of the men have drawn daggers and she wishes so badly they could help, but this is not what they are there for and that is not Eva at their feet.
Daermon arched an eyebrow and let out a soft laugh. “You’re not wrong.” he says, reaching out to fondle that which he enjoyed so much. Back to business right after though. “If I must.” he agrees, not looking forward to helping the little tart. Daermon hadn’t brought any visible weapons, not that that made him any less dangerous. He moved in a ready crouch, looking to each door. Slot open, breath in, move on. He wanted to free all of these poor people, and all of these women especially, but now was not the time for open warfare. He moved along each until he and Bren had managed to open a good deal of space between them. He found her. He examined the door. It was rusty in places, likely to squeal and make noise. ‘I found her. Traveling to claim her. What are we doing with her after?’ he asks, turning to look to Brennia and speaking along the bond. It would be hard to leave the mundane way with Eva in tow...if the girl even was in a state to leave.
Brennia peeled her gaze away from the sacrifice the best she could and wiped a tear away just as Daermon exclaimed he had her. She made her way quickly to him while asking, ‘are you able to appear in there? If so would you be able to take her back to the college? To the restricted wing?’ She felt nervous and would definitely pout at the thought of him taking another woman through the shadow plane because she always thought it was special and terrifying at the same time. Like hollows version of skydiving. A near inaudible hum and she can tell Eva is barely with it anyway and she might not even notice the journey, but eyes lock to Daermon’s in the dim of this sick dungeon they have found themselves in, ‘if you can only make one trip with her I can find my way out, no problem… Understand?’ She pulled free her second Sai Dagger and planted a loving kiss on his lips, ‘let me know when the two of you are safe.’
Daermon kissed her back, nodding. ‘Yes, I can appear, grab her and take her back to the college. Stay safe and I can come back and get you too. It will be draining, but not so much so that I would leave you here.’ he says, grabbing her for one more kiss for luck, then pulling his power and slipping down into the shadows. The transition into the room was easy. Eva was a mess. The pretty girl was still there under grime and a bit of blood, though compared to some, she looked like she’d been spared more than most. As he touched her, she whimpered and cringed in on herself, expecting pain. His voice was soft, gentle as he whispered to her. “Easy Eva. I’m a friend. I’m taking you home.” he whispers, slowly, as gently as he could he scooped her into his arms and rose. Once more he pulled his power, harder this time for the longer trip, gathering it around him and the weak girl, then he was dropping down and into the shadow plane and away. Brennia would feel the sudden increase in distance on the bond, not that it would stop them from talking or anything, she’d simply know they were away.
Brennia felt the distance grow and that part of their bond was never easy since he came back, but she pressed on anyway. She quietly made her way back to where the bottom of the winding staircase meets the floor when she heard hurried steps coming down. Dipping into a darkened corner and making herself as small as possible while curving her wings wound herself in order to blend into the shadows she hears Vermillion, “why didn’t anyone call me for this!?” The assistant with him was trying to explain he was having one of his blackout fits, but not getting any words in edgewise, “The next time I am late for one of the rituals you are gone. Do you understand me?!” His voice was shrill and irritating in his harsh whisper to his underling. “We are going to have to give that bard student some mind lapse potion and let her free… Too many people are asking questions about the little bitch.” The assistant mumbles in agreement and Brennia felt relieved in that moment and that maybe one of his lackeys would just chalk it up to some slip up. She goes unnoticed while Eva was throwing a full blown fit once Daermon brought her to a guest room within the restricted wing of the college. Sobbing and clinging to the vampire after the nightmare of a travel was over, large watery brown eyes look up at him between sobs and thanking him, calling him her hero…. This might become a problem.
Daermon had brought her into the restricted wing, into the nicer guest room and when he’d gone to set her down, she had clung to him, sobbing, thanking him. “Eva, Eva stop.” he says, trying to be gentle, but firm as he pushed at her. He needed to get back to Brennia. “You’re safe here, I promise, but I need to go back for Brennia. She is the reason you are safe.” he points out, hoping the shock would be enough to shake the girl free of him, as he really did not want to have to get mean or hurt her after her ordeal. ‘We are safely back. I am having trouble getting free of Eva to return. Be safe for a few more moments while I try to calm her down.’ he says to Brennia.
Brennia did well to stay hidden until Vermillion and his lackey found their way to the second part of the ritual where they take turns masking their own faces in the blood of a virgin. ‘Just give her some herbs from our room. It will mellow her out and probably just let her have enough peace of mind to sleep,’ she listened carefully for any more footsteps coming down the staircase and heard none so it was her chance to slip up into that small closet space. Meanwhile, Eva’s face contorted hideously in jealousy at the mention of Brennia, “her!? You are still hung up on her!? She is just using you like she did with Mister Vi and Hinder and Sidd and Aevo and Zachael!” She was obviously really grasping at straws there, “that cynical bitch doesn’t know love!” Hot tears spilling down her grimy cheeks leaving clear rosy skin in their wake once she wiped them away, but she really didn’t understand that she was in unfamiliar waters as she continues, “she pretends to be some burdened and vulnerable glass doll or something, but she is a damn good actress!” Eva was too obvious in her desperation, but she would probably be one of the worst people to let know of Brennia and Daermon’s secret, “no one is as perfect as she pretends to be.”
Daermon had been busy following along with his love through the bond, but his attention focused on Eva as he felt Brennia reach the small closet. His eyes focused on the girl, which is what he saw when he looked at her, a girl, a child. He sat down with her on the bed, hands gripping her shoulders. Those cold glacial hues bored into her tear filled eyes. “Listen to me very carefully and very closely. You can think, believe, lie about whatever you want about Brennia.” his grip tightened a bit, “But the truth of the matter you ungrateful, silly girl, is she cared enough to come rescue you. She stayed behind to make sure I could bring you here, to her rooms, so that you could be safe. I know Brennia better than any other being on this world and I do not care what you say. If you want to thank her, and be grateful, then sleep, rest. She is worried for you.” he says, letting go and rising, moving to get some of the herbs Bren had suggested and giving them to the girl. “She cares about you while you spit in her face.” he says, pressing the herb into her hand. “This will help you sleep, if you want to. I don’t care what you do.” he says, turning away, moving, then stopping and half turning back. “You’d be pretty if you weren’t so petty. Beautiful if you weren’t full of jealousy and hate. Remember one thing if nothing else. You owe her your life. And if you talk so poorly about her again where I can hear, I will collect what is owed for her.” he promised, a glint of madness as his power enveloped him and he was gone. ‘I’m coming.’ he says to Brennia along the bond, not sharing his words with Eva with her. That was for the girl to think on.
Brennia was hidden in the closet still as she was trapped, in a way, after she tried to crack the door open to see if the coast was clear, but it was not. She could have sworn she heard Vermillion rush off to the ritual, but that must have been his assistant because he had made his way back to the first floor, the lobby. Once Daermon appeared in the shadows Brennia put her hand over Daermon’s lips and one finger over her own in a ‘shh’ fashion. Just outside the door there was a hushed, but heated argument taking place between Vermillion and the waitress from before… Maybe there are more secret passageways then Daermon and Brennia anticipated. There was some juicy drama unfolding and Brennia was definitely listening as they could pick up on the words clear as day, “but you told me that she knows! You said it was over and ‘there is nothing left in that cold dead marriage’! Those were your words, Vermillion!” Hes trying to ‘shhh’ her and adds, “keep your voice down.” A sound of shuffling, “you know what?! Take these. They obviously don’t mean anything,” a sound of something small and metallic hitting the floor can be heard just before the sound of footsteps walking away, then another pair following. The voices are more distant and possibly softer as he was manipulating the poor woman into sticking around with more false promises. ‘Let’s go,’ she pressed herself fully to the vampire and her wings follow suit to get ready for the shadow plane journey.
Daermon hoped that the poor waitress didn’t find herself in the dungeon or sacrificial altar. She seemed nice. He wrapped his arms around Brennia and once again flared his magic hard, taking them back to the main room in the forbidden wing. Now they would get to see if Eva had taken her herbs and went to sleep, or if she had been too curious of the forbidden wing and had gone exploring. ‘The girl is trouble. I’m not sure why you bothered saving her.’ he says along the bond before the trip ended and they stepped free. Daermon took a half step back, a stumble really, and his hand went to his head as a bit of blood dripped from his nose. “I’m fine.” he assures to stem any worry as he pulls a handkerchief free to dab his nose, even bending down to wipe it from the floor.
Brennia and Daermon would be greeted by the heavy smell that those herbs give off. So, they know she took them and was probably calming down. She was probably too weak, drained and traumatized to go adventuring in the restricted wing. Brennia used the handkerchief she had from before in the sacrificial dungeon to wipe the blood from him with a slight frown, “thank you, love.” She meant it, “my vampire.” Her hand rose up and caressed the slightly cool touch of his face, “I do not know why I felt the need to save her and for always giving her chances… I see greatness in her once she becomes secure in the woman she is going to become, but she just isn’t done baking.” He would know these words are true even if she feels like some weak fool for allowing such a poisonous person continue to make everything negative around them. Kill them with kindness. She softly hummed another inaudible note through the restricted wing, “she’s asleep now. When she wakes I need to know everything about what happened to her…” Liberty blue eyes look far into Daermon’s once more, “but first.” Slowly and passionately she plants a supple kiss upon the vampire’s lips. Avians regenerate fast, so feeding from her once more probably won’t do much of anything to her, “let’s take care of you first.” Making her way to her door to make sure to lock it, “we must be quiet this time.” A wink before she closes the distance between them once more while leading him towards their bed.
Daermon nuzzled the hand, smiling at the thanks and the way she called him hers. It did feel good to hear it. “You are welcome. And you are right. I said something similar to her, that she could be beautiful if she was not so filled with jealousy and hate. Perhaps she will listen and learn from this.” he says, gently touching Bren’s hand. “I will join you when she wakes. Unless you prefer to do it alone.” he offers his support, even if they would be back to bodyguard and charge before the girl. Though, if all else failed, Daer could likely seduce a few answers from her with some kind words and friendly touches. A last resort offer though and not one brought up. “Oh are you going to take care of me?” he teases in return. “Quiet has never been our strong suit.” he points out, but was moving with her, hands already moving to remove garments. “But we will manage, I think.”