iliana amaranth

She's habitually paradoxical, a parallel perpendicular;

Was she being followed? She peered over her shoulder as that nagging sensation of someone looming near couldn't quite be shaken. Only this time there was someone, a form drawing ever closer as she walked along the sidewalk, her light footsteps hugged close to the right edge. There were people out, fortunately, even though they were sporadic.Yet she still felt that alarm racing through her veins all the same. Part of her wanted to laugh at that silliness, she was usually so carefree! Especially when she was so very certain she was imagining things. Surely no one would actually want to harm her. But then there he was. His shape looming even closer. Oh dear. Perhaps she should have faced him if she were bolder, but tonight she scarcely felt the urge to ask a vampire questions, not after the last one she had met had devastated her feelings. She felt like she was being stalked by a mountain lion and she was but a mere hare. Even then she would have preferred the mountain lion!

At the very least she wasn't alone, not truly. She had the silvery moon casting its celestial glow, that seemed to come in and out of view as those towering buildings hindered it from truly peeking through. She focused on what she could control, like her breath, listening to that distinct inhale and exhale. The soothing sensation of oxygen expanding her lungs seemed to do the trick, at least a little bit.

Oh, she wished Mr. Crow were here. He would know what to do. Those streets that were once her friends seemed like they were turning on her. Which only brought her closer to that ever-looming figure got too. He seemed to enjoy that slow, methodical chase down those very streets, waiting for the right moment to corner his prey. Vampire. She was sure.

The fae walked briskly, her pace increased with long fluid steps, with the occasional skip, simply because she enjoyed changing it up. She was lost to a gait of her own making, lost between a walk and a flat out run. That was when she saw it, her saving grace. A building with a large glowing sign overhead was like a beacon of hope, even with the bizarre music that bled out into the streets. There was a congregation of people outside that establishment. Aha! Take that scary dude.

It was a bar or club, or something she hardly knew. That music she hardly knew seemed to be like a pied piper all the same, but not to rats, but people. How she loved music. Loved dancing and the way those notes filled her soul even though she had to admit these ones... were rather frantic. How did anyone dance this? Maybe they hopped.... Really fast?

Perhaps she could pass the time lost to its strange sound, figuring how to dance to it. Oh, that sounded wonderful. She thought she had successfully lost the vampire hot upon her trail, in which case she was sure would abandon her for far easier prey.

Prey. Such a silly notion. She had never once thought of herself so. Not even amongst those carnivorous woodland friends.

She was quickly admitted into the building, unaware of any gazes with the dark embrace of the club as pretty dim lights lit her way. Ah, safety. She could feel her pattering in time to the music. Or maybe it was faster.... She moved inside that establishment, it was fancier than she had thought, her pale locks seemed to reflect the mood lighting that changed slowly in an almost hypnotic fashion that appealed to her side attracted to pretty things. For a moment she allowed herself to be lost within the crowd, they were all lost in their own worlds, some couples, some friends, some lonely hearts searching for company. She could see them all. It was exhilarating.

Her wide silvery, starry eyes seemed to take it all in. Why had she thought that the vampire wouldn't follow her here? His presence chilled her.

Surely not all vampires were bad. She hardly had it in her heart to believe that. No, just because a few were, didn't mean they all were. He placed a hand on her shoulder, almost roughly. Oh dear, she did not like that. Her lip twitched. "Sorry... I am busy." She uttered lamely, desperately wriggling free, loosening herself just barely.

No, she hardly wished to cause a scene and neither did he. She moved quickly, her heartbeat raced a frantic pace now. That was when she saw those couches, vaguely in the dimly lit room towards the back. It was sectioned off from the rest, but it seemed the safest place to be. It was guarded too! VIP was written in bold on a golden plaque, along with a rather stern face blocking the only entrance. He looked silly... all puffed up like an outraged crow, the sight of him almost brought a giggle to her lips even given her bleak situation. To give him the slip was no easy feat, but she was used to such impossible tasks. After all, she did not become a very good borrower if she was not a little bit stealthy when she needed to be.

There were a bunch of private booths back there. Several of them already occupied. One... only had one man, but the booth next to him was unoccupied. That one. She moved with the group wearing flashy outfits before veered off to that vacant spot. It was easy to hide back here. There were lavish drapes, meant for secrecy..and the way the booths were built into the wall almost made it private. It had these very pretty glowy backlights too. That was a wonderful place to hide even though she would have loved to dance instead.

It was a boring place. But a safe place.

It didn't take long before Illy began to grow stir crazy, having taken off her jacket along with her bag which sat next to her. She toyed with the soft fabric on the sleeves of her sweater, fidgeting. She peered up from behind her booth, on her knees to rise and look over top the back of that leather-lined chair. It was comfortable, she could not deny its pleasant squishiness. But she didn't have a clear view of the crowd of people, or where her potential hunter was. No. But she did have a view of the man sitting alone in the booth next to her, those curtains weren't even tugged closed all the way. She peered over top the back of that seat to eye him curiously.

He seemed occupied and important. She studied him for a long moment as if he wouldn't notice her. Only half of her face exposed. How sneaky she thought herself to be, as though she were invisible. Maybe she was. Clearly the man hadn't seen her and her curious glances. She ducked, admittedly, delayed, the moment she thought he might have been privy to her, the drapes rippling from her abrupt movement. Ok...that last time... was close. Maybe she should just stick to her own squishy booth. Yes, that was a sound idea... But not even five minutes later. She was back at it. Unable to resist. Perhaps he could see if that vampire was still out there for her. Maybe he would check. The vampire who looked for her certainly would not expect it. Oh, she was excellent at this! "Psst.. Mister..." She whispered... her voice trying to be quiet, but really it was more like a yell whisper that combated the loudness of the song.

"By any chance.... Do you see a reaaaallly big guy out there? I think he has.... Red hair." She rested her chin on top of that seat, peering at him with large, curious doe eyes, her long silvery silken pale locks threatening to spill in front of her face."He's.... a vampire. I don't think he means to be scary. But he really is. Please... can you check? Just this once? I think he is following me.. or was.." It was like.. Maybe he thought she was an ice cream truck or something. Maybe that's why he followed her here. Maybe this dark-haired stranger would be nice enough to check for her. She smiled, truly, beaming at him. He seemed nice. At least his face seemed nice, trusting even, for a stranger. How she was sure that was enough to merit her trust, as naive as that was.

barefoot in nightgowns, that's how she dances in the rain;