damon marcello

Isolt's response is not missed, my lips quirking at the thought of calling her royalty in more private settings before her attention is drawn elsewhere at the mention of blood donors. I raise a brow in surprise when she thanks Ceara and agrees for the blood donors to be called in. A smart move on her part to keep the growing tension eased. When she starts to speak, I give her my full attention as I always will, letting her have her moment in the spotlight. As her words die off, I let my gaze wander, wanting to take in the individual reactions of everyone present. Vampires are a creature of mystery and they are well armed at hiding their true emotions but there is a wide range of ages here tonight and that may be in my favor.

Younger vampires may give away their inner thoughts before recomposing themselves while older vampires may still have some subtle sign whether in face or body language that betrays the words to fall from their lips.

It's obvious that Ceara and Sebastian have an odd sense of dependency on this night, perhaps out of some shared experience or relation to the child vampire, Anna. They seem to feed off of each other like lovers or siblings. Ceara lets the topic of Geneva drop instead of pursuing it, probably planning on catching Sebastian alone at some point. I give her a friendly smirk when she lets her gaze linger, one brow rising in amusement, a silent question in my eyes: See something you like? I let it sink in before I give her a playful wink, letting her focus on the task at hand of pulling a phone from her cleavage to call for the donors.

I'm glad when Ceara seems favorable of joining the coven but her sudden announcement that Anna shouldn't be here is unexpected. She's bold; I'll give her that. There will be mixed emotions over it, I'm sure. The tension is like ice in the air now, no knife strong enough to cut through it. I sit back and wait now, either for all hell to break loose or something else less...chaotic. Of course I expect more of the latter since we are creatures of chaos, after all.

I know that Ceara's words must be taken into accord and I know Isolt will give her the due diligence of just that. While there is no doubt that Anna is probably one of the oldest, if not THE oldest vampire here, which gives her experience and power, it could well be a weapon used against us if we're not careful. I have no idea what it's like to have the calculating mind of a predator that's lived through centuries of lifetimes placed into the fragile head of a child. She could well be unpredictable as Ceara says.

Crishlyn is an interesting character to observe. She is intelligent and observant; that much is obvious. Like me, she chooses silence most of the time so that she can sit back and watch the reactions of others. Her protective instinct over Anna is not missed, as is the calculating unreadable glimpses she sends me whenever Isolt is near. I can't read what she thinks of our relationship but it's obvious that she thinks something of it. Perhaps she thinks I could hold Isolt back. There was a time when I believed too that love was unreachable, a frail untrustworthy thing that only makes you weak and gullible. Of course some could say that a relationship of lovers has no different effect on both parties than a relationship of close friends or allies. Just as I could become a burden to Isolt, so too could Anna become a burden to her or vice versa. Hypocrisy is alive and well in any world if you look hard enough.

Of course it is the instincts of the parties involved in such relations that control whether it is a weakness or a strength. Selfish love is the worst love of all but I have already proven that I am not. I left Isolt, abandoned her without a word and disappeared to protect her. I didn't want her to follow and endanger herself so I fought the urges to call or write, to hear her sweet angelic voice on the phone or see the beautiful angles of her penmanship on a piece of paper. I knew she could give up on me and move on, find someone else. I knew what I was risking, but I risked it all for her. I would do it again in a second.

Crishlyn is suspicious of the bond between Sebastian and Anna. I can see it in the subtle arch of her brow as they speak to one another. Could it be jealousy or something else? I'm sure she was satisfied when Sebastian said no to living with them. She speaks up after glaring at Ceara, telling her in no subtle fashion that Anna is no longer her business. Crishlyn is taking full responsibility for the child vampire. I raise a brow with intrigue though I don't miss the hand she places on Anna's shoulder. A touch of love or to sway the child vampire's instinctive urge to fight back? I also don't miss the daring look she affords Sebastian, as if waiting for him to second Ceara's motion.

Anna has a wild range of emotions herself. She takes in everything but I think the way she processes what she sees are a little different than most. She looks at Sebastian with confusion in her doll-like eyes when he declines her offer, like a human child when turned down for that last cookie on the plate. Anger flares to life in her eyes when Ceara speaks and the barely contained fury is not missed when she says that she's not going anywhere. The look she gives Isolt is daring almost and though my face remains stoic, my free hand tightens at my side. I like the child vampire, don't get me wrong, but I won't hesitate to bring her down if she makes a muscle against my girl.

Her next words are for Sebastian, more of a demand than a question on whether he wants her to stay. His questions for Isolt cause my lips to twitch. Careful about commitment, are we? He asks for purpose and an exit clause. What a combination. I can't read much of his reaction to Ceara speaking out, though I have a feeling he shares her thoughts on the matter. Whether he'll speak aloud of them are another thing altogether. He's not so quick to trust, probably a smart thing with vampires. He is no coward, however, as he proves moments later when he meets Crishlyn's own daring gaze to point out her inexperience with Anna. I tilt my head, taking in the true meaning of his words. I can only surmise that Anna is their maker since two vampires cannot create another vampire. Interesting.

He holds out his hand suddenly, fully intending for Anna to take it in assurance that Crishlyn doesn't know all that she may think of the child vampire. Is it a satisfaction of their bond or simply a territory war though? He could just as readily go back to rejecting Anna and avoiding her once this is all over and Crishlyn is no longer in the picture. What then? I scowl, not at all fond of this sudden change in demeanor. It's too extreme, even for a vampire with heightened emotions, too "human." It was obvious when he walked in here that he was not at all happy to see Anna here. Ceara seems to be the only one holding steady to her true thoughts and emotions and so why is he faltering and changing sides? My only guess can be jealousy toward Crishlyn for her possession over his maker. Such a child-like reaction from a mature vampire.

My gaze turns to the lovely redhead at my side, my eyes imploring. I never question her intelligence. I know that she will take this all in and look at it from all angles before coming to a decision but I also know that my experience on this earth has come in handy before in teaching her. I may not her official adviser but in some ways, I am so much more. My words are low and even. I know they will not be for her ears only so I don't try to whisper or be sneaky. I just want it known that my words are for her consideration, not anyone else's. "Perhaps Anna should decide whose business she is, whose responsibility. No sense in so much discord. That way we can put this behind us and move on to the more serious subject....who's hungry?"

It is my way of giving Isolt a solution. It may not make everyone happy but no decision on this will so instead of leaving them to argue it out like children, why not let the prize decide? I almost feel bad for Anna in this moment, vampires suddenly bickering over her like parents in a divorce. You've got the doting mother who has been caring for her and defending her and then you have the reluctant father, perhaps one who didn't want a child in his life to begin with so there's resentment and he pretends like he doesn't care but when his possession of the child in question is threatened, he's suddenly johnny on the spot and ready to step up to the plate.

I don't think it's right to use Anna's urgency for his affection to confuse her like this. She may be a very old experienced vampire, a cold hearted killer for all I care, but it is obvious she dotes on Sebastian and he has done nothing but give her short biting responses and distrustful glares up till this moment. Now to suddenly want her at his side because he was told she isn't his business? It's childish and it has no business here.

I also want to lighten the mood, hence why I threw in the distraction of food. Right on cue, the blood donors start walking in ready for the taking. I won't move to eat until this unrest is settled though.