damon marcello

The man was too confident that he was truly alone in this alley. He should know that no one is ever truly alone. Not in the dark, anyway. Damon was living the tame life in Sacrosanct but the monster within was always dormant just below the surface. He wasn't always the business suit wearing fiance that Isolt knew. There was a part of him, a whole other life that he didn't tell her about for good reason. She would never look at him the same if she knew the skills he had acquired before he met her. He could torture with the best, work his way into someone's mind and make them a drooling puppet. And the worst part was that he enjoyed every minute of it. He was a master manipulator and he liked living in the dark. He didn't miss the daylight all that much because nothing was a mystery and they were his favorite. As the other vampire counted his money, Damon twitched his wrist to make an invisible blade slice across the man's flesh. He could already smell the fresh blood to let him know of his success as the envelope fell to the ground.

His nose flared with the victory as a smug smirk tugged across his lips. The vampire cursed and he chuckled under his breath. Confidence emanated from him like the scent of spilled blood as he stepped forward where the other could see him, already drawing on his powers to bolster him should he need to defend himself or block the other's escape. He at least wanted some answers from this one. He could sense the hesitation in the vampire as he watched him. He looked like he wanted to run. Good luck trying. His smirk only grew but he knew better than to step right up to the guy. Not without restraining him in some way first or seeing what his own powers were about. He could feel the kinetic energy within the vampire's grasp. All he had to do was try to use it and Damon would get a power charge. He merely raised a brow when the vampire flashed a fang at him. A warning, really? He was stuck and he knew it. Then the man shrugged and crossed his arms. Playing the stubborn card? So be it.

He tilted his head when the guy started to speak. He hunted vampires. How...unorthodox. He scowled and glanced back down at the semi-conscious employee before looking back at him. He raised a brow.

"How....boring of you. You mean you've never killed before? Never felt the life drain out of someone? Never felt the power surge through you as you stole the last drop of blood from their body?"

His eyes darkened as he thought about it, slowly running his tongue across his upper lip as if picturing that moment in his mind. He watched the vampire closely for his reaction. Just how well disciplined was he when it came to the thought of blood? How well fed was he?

"And why vampires? Have you ever tasted a human's blood? You know you're only getting the second hand experience. The blood is flat and stale when you get to it. It's borrowed blood from another source. Nothing beats the warm fresh stuff."

He could tell he got his attention when he mentioned a coven. Something shifted in the vampire's eyes like he knew of an experience with covens and it wasn't a good one. Well at least he didn't have to explain everything. He watched as the vampire held out his hands, showing off innocence but he hadn't taken any steps back and he wasn't showing signs of fear so it was either a farce or he was stalling, biding his time for something. Damon stayed on guard. He'd been around his share of young starving vampires and he knew the signs of someone just looking to survive. He raised a brow in question when the vampire spoke as if he'd heard of him. Surely he wasn't a household name in Sacrosanct. He'd been gone so long and since he'd been back, he had laid low, letting Isolt take the lead on the coven and the business.

But he did have his name, anyway. Arlo.

"Are you new in town? I've only started seeing you around recently."

He wnated to know more about this guy. Who were his friends? He must not be in a coven if he acted so scared of them. He watched as Arlo picked up the envelope, dusting it off. As he went to hand it over, he swore he saw something flicker but decided for now not to question it. He didn't actually care if Arlo stole money from his worker, only that he'd fed from him and was harassing his clientele and employees. He took the envelope and tucked it in his back pocket. He'd decide later if he wanted to let Lucas know that he got his money back. He might let him fret and think he didn't have the money if only to get him back for not watching his own back better. Surely he had to know when his senses told him someone was watching him. If he didn't, then that was shame on him. Damon wasn't a hero by any means. He noted another shift in Arlo and his eyes twinkled with curiosity. What was going on with him now? Suddenly his eyes dilated and Damon would know that look anywhere. Hunger.

It wasn't so long ago that Damon only knew hunger himself. He'd just never felt it around another vampire before. Wow, this guy really had it bad. He was so turned around it wasn't even funny. Who taught him to feed from vampires? He couldn't imagine the blood tasted all that good. He'd had it before when he got hurt. It was lukewarm at best in the veins of a vampire. We just didn't have the body heat to keep it soft and warm. What could possibly be the appeal? He stood his ground though, too amused to be worried. Arlo reached a hand to the wall as if steadying himself, his voice suddenly hurried. Then the apologies just started rolling off of him. First about Lucas, then about Isolt. Damon raised his brow. He didn't even know they had talked. So he was right in his hunch that Isolt knew more about Arlo than she gave credit for. Something he'd surely bring up in a later conversation.

He tilted his head.

"Arlo, you doin okay? You look so pale all of a sudden. Maybe I should help you to your trash can or cardboard box or wherever it is you call home. Wouldn't want you to trip up and feed on another one of my clients or employees."

His brow raised again, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He wasn't about to just let this guy walk off just yet. He wasn't done picking his brain. The vampire before him was starting to panic though. It was almost adorable. He was clinging to that wall now for dear life. He actually looked like he wanted to win the fight but it was easy to see he was on the edge of surrendering to his hunger. Damon knew the relief of giving in oh so well. He needed to redirect the hunger. He needed to hunt. Arlo started telling him to go away, his warnings more blunt now. He laughed out right when the guy told him he would end up like Lucas.

"Oh, I think I can handle myself just fine, don't you worry your pretty little head. Besides, you think I'm going to leave you all alone in the back alley of my business looking like you're doped up on something and itching for another fix? No, no, that's not how this works. You and me...we're going on a little hunt. You keep your fangs in your mouth and I won't have to pull them out for you."

He raised a brow in warning as he waited to see what the vampire would do. He needed to get himself under control and it seemed survival was big on his list so maybe if Damon just kept threatening him, he would keep himself in check long enough for Damon to teach what it meant to feed off some real blood.