On The Team pt 1 (Gabe, Larson, Devin)

[Lovely]

June 25, 2006
10:00p.m. - after Coming Out To Flay
University Frat House

Out for the evening seemed the best idea and Gabriel headed directly to find Larson. He had hopes and plans for the boy and best to get started right away. He gathered the few he'd brought to his ranks since the ripple had reset things, so they might serve him in his mission tonight.

The frat party was boring in general to Gabe, his only desire there to gather his boys and one or two girls for their amusements and his ranks. One special girl would be gathered and saved for Larson.. being in Gabriel's favor did have it's benefits.

The office was a small room as far from the kitchen as possible. Even with a party like this folks didn't easily get turned around to wind up in this door. Chris was the Officer this term, taking care of all the donations and receipts, and the alibis when necessary. He'd come in for only a minute himself to lock up the cash from the cover charges and get back to the party. Toyoyuki was probably out there shamelessly spilling himself over a girl, pretending he was really from Japan though the farthest 'East' he'd ever been before starting school here was Lincoln, Nebraska. "What a suck-up, ya dumb**ck," Larson chuckled, thinking about the scene and several dozen like it in recent months, playing up the girls and making a mint while doing it.

"hmm..." Gabe hummed as he walked down the hall to the office, the man behind him lugging the girl they'd aquired for Larson. Without Mitch this time the hired hand to help at the frat party was someone Gabe could kill as an example. -this is what I gave you.. see how easily I can take it away- He was not Mitch and he was not Larson.. he had no name and to Gabe he was just a toy he didn' care about. Larson was around.. Gabe could sense him and was happy to play this little scene with him. It was time to show him more, give him a gift and show him how to play with it. Coming to the office door, Gabe pushed it open and walked right in. Gabe just smiled and watched as a scared but ohhh so sweet 'melody' was brought in and tossed at Larson's feet.. poor thing but Gabe was so amused.

Larson turned at the sound, shifting the safe closed, but not sure it latched. He thought it might by Yuki the way he just came in, but the smile faded fast as he looked at the stranger and his... date? He motioned to the girl on the floor, but watched the expression on the man - was he accusing him of something? "What the f**k is that? Who let you in here? I don't care what she told you, I really didn't touch her. Are you her father? What?"

"A gift for you, for your pleasure and amusement if you find her pleasing." Gabe replied with his usual charming flare, closing the door behind the 'minion' who brought the girl in for him. "Now that we are alone.. this is.. I actually don't really know her.." He motioned to the girl ho'd been dropped on the floor. ".. but her name is Devin Melody.. and she's yours if you agree to work for me."

The girl stared wide eyed at both men, her mouth dropped open a little in shock and fear. She was a dark haired beauty with as much sweetness to her as there was a naughty look, such a fine piece of work. Her hands were tired in front of her, tightly bound by a simple rope and her face bore a small cut on her cheek, her clothes skimpy (as was common for a party but not 'sl*tty') and torn some. She'd just arrived at the party, and was dragged off before she even reached the door, by Gabe's minion.

"Dude, this is just a kegger. I didn't order any stripper. What... you sellin' them door to door? That's new," Chris chuckled, looking at the weepy little thing at his feet. She was banged up pretty well already, not that he wasn't thinking about that himself. She was a darling beaut with gorgeous eyes, but this was just weird.

[Lovely]

"Please.." She spoke softly, her voice nearly melodic as she tried to reason with anyone sane. ".. I don't know what the heck is going on.. whatever you guys are into.. I'm sure there are plenty of girls at this party who want this kind of kinky stuff.. " She bit her lip looking at the guy standing above her. "I'm not like that.. please.. just let me go.."

"This is just a kegger.." Gabe laughed, mocking Larson and circling slowly in towards him and the girl. ".. just let me go.. Oh I'm sorry sweety not happening.. " He started at her as if to strike her and laughed again as she flinched. "So precious isn't she.. handled just right.. she'll be nearly perfect.. if you don't want her.. I'll keep her for myself." He turned toward Chris and shook his head. "Everyone but a handful of the people at this party are not going to be leaving it.. I do hope you'll be one of the few who are given a choice and make the right one."

"Look, mister... I don't know how you got in here, but this is a private party. Making threats is not a way to have a good time, now is it? You got in, so you must know somebody. If you want a room for your kink, take it upstairs," he said, not believing this guy would just come in demanding shit. He was only in the room to lock up the cash box and then he was gonna go grab a smoke, but if this guy didn't leave, he wasn't going to, either. There was a solution to every problem and if this problem didn't resolve nicely, another solution was sitting loaded in the drawer within reach. "Either way, take your girlfriend here and get out."

Her eyes flew open and she cried out in a paniced voice. "I'm not his girlfriend!" She looked at Larson nearly begging him with her gaze to help her. "Please.. don't let him take me.. please." She shook her head, her chest heaving with her breath, quickened in fear.

Gabriel laughed again. "I think she likes me." He nodded to his minion, whose name he'd already forgotten. "I'm not making threats.. It's a promise.. listen carefully.. you can hear them screaming already." Gabe's army was not what it had been before but he'd gathered a few helpers for the excursion tonight and let them loose on the crowd at the party. Moving with inhuman speed, he back handed Larson and snarled at him. "Shall we have a little fun?"

He felt the sting... from what? He blinked and tried to focus, seeing the man suddenly closer as he dabbed his lip. Enough to bleed? It pulled a small smile. "I tried to warn you, buddy, but if you're just going to come in here and bust people up, I guess we need to do a little crowd control," he said, quickly pulling the gun from the drawer and releasing the safety as he aimed. "Starting here. Back away, nice and easy, untie her and let her go."

His eyes nearly glowed with amusement. "Finally.. something of a spine.. what about I tie you up and make you watch me f*ck her on your desk since you're a stupid sot who obviously doesn't appreciate a gift when one is given." He didn't flinch or back away from the gun, not a slight bit of fear in him as he taunted the boy.. just a little more.

"How about, you take your sick, perverted self out of my office and I call the cops to get your ass off private property. She said leave her alone. I don't think she likes you at all," he shook his head, finding the grin twisting a little more. This guy was out of his tree. He glanced past the man at the window, wondering who had to be taping this sh*t. Maybe it was one of Yuki's jokes. He moved forward and waivered the gun closer, ready to use it. "But you better not touch me. I -know- I don't like you."

Gabe nodded and chuckled. "Damn. I really thought for a moment you were gonna get all wimpy on me and ruin my fun.." His eyes strayed to the girl. "You really don't think she likes me? I bet she really likes you right now... you know if you shoot me and save her.. I bet you get some action from her.. so come on.. shoot me."

[Lovely]

"Oh.. thank you.." She whispered, not thinking anyone would hear her and she froze as Gabe turned his eyes on her. He spoke and she curled a little, feeling a strange shiver walk over her skin. "You're crazy.."

He shook his head. "Doesn't work that way. I just want you out of my office, now go," he said. He wasn't facing a murder rap for anybody. If it went off, it was going off twice and he had no intention of killing the girl. He shoved at the man to get around to her to untie her himself.

Gabe pouted a little, disappointed at the lack of fun in this. "Well.. I guess we're doing it this way then." He shifted and let Larson push past him, only to move faster than the other man and haul the girl off the floor just as Larson was reaching to untie her. "You know.. I'm not sure you deserve her.." He roughly slammed Devin on top of the desk, holding her by her hair and growling, his eyes flaring a deep red as he whispered. "Don't move.. scream and you die."

She yelped when grabbed and slammed, but fell silent as she watched his eyes. Devin trembled and curled to try and somehow protect herself from him. "What are you?" She barely managed to whisper as he let her go and turned to Larson.

She was pulled away as he reached for the bindings. "What? f*cking hell... what kinda freakshow is this? Did Yuki set this up? This has gotta be a sick joke." He wanted to be sure she was okay, but the sound made when the man laid her out on the desk told him she wasn't. That f*cker was solid oak and he'd made it sound like it was made of hollow cardboard. His thought echoed hers as he watched the man come at him. Self defense was a different story, he thought, raising the gun again taking a step back.

Her breath was short gasps, trying not to scream or cry, he'd hurt her and scared her beyond anything she'd known. Somehow she knew he wasn't done and she obeyed his warning, not moving more than to curl as she could with the pain, her eyes locked on the men, though she wanted to look away.

Gabe was moving at Larson with a dangerous gleam in his eyes, the gun didn't matter to him. His intention to tear into his neck and show him how weak he truly was, then show him how strong he could be. "Yuki? No, do you think we should let him in on our lessons?"

"What are you talking about? Wh-.. Are you on meth, man? We don't do that shit here. What kinda 'lessons'? Yeah, I bet this is something Yuki cooked up to freak me out. Nice acting, there, sunshine. Hope you get paid well for this gig." He said past Gabe's shoulder to the girl, not believing something this f*cked up could be real.

She curled just a little more as Larson spoke towards her, not believing she was not part of this insane man's 'act'. The degree of terror in her eyes if he could see it, might argue for her more than the soft whimper that escaped her lips as her head shook.

Gabe just smiled and flew at Larson in a motion that was so fast it looked like a small flash and then he had ahold of the man by his throat. "Maybe I should make you her pet.. bet she'd like to lead you around on a leash." He chuckled, letting Larson see the red of his eyes and the sharp fangs that would tear his flesh open.

[Lovely]

"Get off me!" larson barked out, swinging the butt of the gun at the man's head... he was strong and whatever it was he was doing was sooo not right. "What kinda shit are you on? That's f*cked.. up...."

"You.." He grinned and dove toward Larson's neck, driving the man back a few steps.

The force pushed him back and the grip was strong enough that he was feeling it crush and cut off his air. Larson reached to pull the man off, but damn, the f*ck must have been on Crack or whatever it was that boosted the adrenaline.. like those guys that lifted cars off people in crashes or whatever. He didn't have time to think of it further. Was this guy trying to make out with him or what?

That split second turned to an eternity of panic when the fangs he'd seen dug into his throat. One shot... then the next, and a third went off, but the man continued biting him and he was losing the ability to fight or breathe. He didn't know how he could possibly miss, but the logic of it was fading as quickly as his consciousness.

Gabe was greedy and enjoying far too much the taste of this man, the burn of the bullets cutting through him were hardly noticed. Larson began to fade and he drank deeply all he could, dragging the limp man to the desk and dumping him over it next to the frightened girl. He smiled at Devin in a gruesome bloody visage, then used his fang to open his wrist and pour his blood into Larson's mouth. "Be a good boy and drink up.. " He cooed, delighted at the way the night was going.. this was a hell of alot more fun than he'd had lately.

He'd been tense in his fight and now his muscles convulsed as the poison dripped through his veins, begging the change from the powerful man. Chris seized and flailed, swinging to throw him off and push him away but at the same time, grappling for the drink that drove him. Growling like a wounded mountain lion and biting out at the air, he contorted and stretched, screeching out between mouthfuls, feeling the raw intensity of the man's treachery soak into his soul.

Thoughts he'd kept hidden away burrowed up to the surface, leaving gaping holes through which smaller memories skittered forth like roaches, filling his mind with gorey and torturous scenes - places that seemed familiar and actions and creatures all-too-real to be real. These were things he remembered and had managed with the Powers' help until now to forget as the nightmares they were - only to start realizing they were real afterall. After a moment, he lay still finally, but only a moment before hungrily grabbing at the man's arm to take his fill.

[Lovely]

Gabe watched with merriment as Devin watched in horror, having a view of it all right in front of her, which only added to Gabe's amusement. He allowed Larson to drink some more, but not his fill -shoving the man's head back with force. "I'm not your dinner boy."

Chris understood the words from deep beyond the searing effect of the poisoning blood in his veins. "Dinner..." He looked up at Gabe and sneered, swinging at the man to push him away so he could get up, not caring if he broke the man in two. "Dinner...."

Gabe pushed back, like a father putting his child in place. "Dinner.. " Gabe cautioned in a stern voice, turning to the minion who waited obediantly for his instructions. "Bring us a few morsels." He barely looked at the boy and off he scurried to do his master's bidding. Larson on the other hand was not likely to be a cowering sniveling maggot. Gabe smiled and motioned to the terrified girl who'd witnessed the entire thing, from the front row. "..what is she..?" He asked with a wicked grin, testing and willing to teach the man anything he would learn.

He smelled the air, something he'd not noticed a few minutes before. His thoughts were gaining clarity moment by moment, reknitting and layering his newly-reborn instincts on the man that still resided beneath. He looked at her and turned his glare at the man. "Scared. She doesn't like you."

Devin was beyond frightened, she was staring with wide blue eyes, tears damp on her cheeks and her head shaking now and then in denial of what she'd just seen. her head tilted as Larson stood and she tried to comprehend how and what was happening.. some rational explaination for it all.

His nod was slight but his laugh clear and amused. "Yes.. she is that.. " He came the few steps to the desk, running his cool hand over her bare leg and smiling as she flinched but still didn't move from where he'd told her to stay. "What else is she?"

"Safe here... from you. You hurt her," he said, knocking Gabe's hand away and moving to stand between them.

[Lovely]

"mmm...but why?" He smiled, wiggling his fingers at the girl, but letting Larson have his prize.. if he was to show he deserved it.

Devin closed her eyes, she felt like she might pass out but was way to scared of what that man might do to her if she did. Her eyes fluttered open when Larson's voice was heard defending her? She looked up at him, wondering.. was he protecting her from the other?

"What did you do to me?..... I... shot you," he realized as the fog lifted more and his power of rational thought returned. His voice still held the harsh rasp of the damage, but his sire's blood was strong and knitted him quickly. "You attacked me.. what did you do?"

"I made you mine.. " His smile turned darker and his arms folded over himself. "Bullets won't kill me.. though they annoy me.. "

"I'm sorry you're annoyed, then." Chris said, folding his own arms as well. He could almost laugh. He felt sick and strange, but remained cautious. "So you think you're superman? That's just great. Thought I told you to leave. I don't belong to anybody. Neither does she, now get out."

"Oh dear.. hmmm I just ripped your throat out.. why aren't you dead? Are you superman?" He pulled at sire connection giving Chris a strong enough tug to be felt.

Chris's ears rang sharply and he curled into his shoulder. "Gah... damn... did you guys hear that? Who's got the damn whistle... what is that?" His hand raised to jiggle the sound from his ear, then he felt the dampness on his neck, pulling his fingers away to see the drying blood. He grasped at it again, feeling the raw mark that was still sealing itself back together. "You f*cker... you bit me! What if you've got AIDS or some shit. Are you f*cking insane?" He scrambled to look for something in which he could see the mark. If it was one of Yuki's pranks, the punk would make it look pretty real, but the thing would peel off.

Devin pushed up slowly from the desk, watching Larson and eyeing Gabe.. scared the vampire would attack her for daring to move.

[Lovely]

Gabe smirked as he too watched Larson, it was so odd.. he didn't believe it. His throat torn out, death and rebirth and he was thinking it was all some joke. "You're a stubborn shit aren't you?"

"Been called worse," he said, trying to find anything that he could use to see it, but the office was overall pretty sparse except beer cans, books and piles of papers and magazines and other things that just hadn't been tidied up in a while. "What is your deal, mister? What do you want, huh? You come in here making threats, scaring the girls.. acting like a bigshot punk in our house and you go and bite the shit outta my neck, which hurts like a sonuvab*tch, I'll add... why?"

Devin glanced around the room as Chris did, noticing that he seemed to be searching for something, she got the feeling he wanted a mirror or some such. She saw her purse on the floor, where it had dropped when they hauled her in, the strap broken. She cleared her throat softly and motioned to the small purse. "There's a little mirror in it." She whispered, lifting her bound hands to wipe the tears off her cheek and glanced to Gabe, cringing back from the look he gave.

The vampire felt a certain glee at scaring the girl, eyeing her wrists which were getting raw from the tightly wound, rough rope. "It's kind of a thing vampires do.. you'll learn soon enough. Why did you suck the shit out of my arm?" He countered with a chuckle.

He chuckled this time though it made the wound hurt worse and he was beginning to get the uneasy idea that, sick or not, this guy wasn't joking around. "Vampires? You're shooting up something reeeeaal good. Is that it? You're selling and you want us to let you loose out back to wheel and deal?" He kicked the girl's purse over and pushed the contents out with his toe. If the guy was dealing spike, he didn't want to find needles the hard way. He saw the little mirror and picked it up, his expression going wan as he looked into it. "Okay, this is just taking it too damned far. Get out. NOW!" He tossed the useless trinket down and charged at the man, trying to usher him and his sick amusement out the door.

Gabe was like a solid wall not giving an inch, his arms folded and once again giving a pull on the sire connection, this time a sharper one. "No.. I think I'll stay awhile.. hungry Larson?" He asked softly as two slags were dragged in by the missing minion and dumped on the floor much more roughly than the girl had been.

Devin clamped her hand over her mouth to muffle the sceam at the two bloody busted up 'kids' that were dragged in and tossed on the floor -their heads making a sickening noise as they bounced off the floor. Devin curled, and cringed in fear and pain from some bruises she'd sustained herself. "Oh god.." She whispered, bringing her hands up over her face more. ".. I want to go home.. I just want to go home.."

[Lovely]

The shrill sound, more a feeling like that nightmare of waking up after falling, but not waking up entirely, pounded off the inside of his skull like a warhead and he crumpled. He stumbled back from the man with his arms folding over his head and stomach at once, feeling everything twist and rip and bind like he was being turned inside out. He knew Chris's name. "You... how do you know me?" He panted out, finding he was on the floor, struggling to find his way back up. On some level, he felt he'd met the man before, but couldn't place it. He knew for sure only what evil was real and what he'd done in his own past, but other evil thoughts and images wrapped around that one, making it small and insignificant in comparison. The bodies thrown to the floor didn't faze him. His focus was on the man still, trying to figure out why it felt familiar and so sickeningly strange. "Why do I know... what I know?" he demanded, looking at the bodies and feeling the draw, the hunger, the desire to rid them of their flesh and drink every drop they had.

"Because this is meant to be.. a little different this time from the last. But still you that I want to join me." He stepped to grab one of the slags. "It's alright.. you should eat. It will help you gain your strength back and it's also a good idea to be full when you taste her or else you may not stop yourself from draining her dry."

The pull was intense, but he was still repulsed and horrified by the fact he -wanted- it. He shook his head and pulled away. "No murder rap for anybody," he murmured, looking at the man he knew he'd shot. One of the slugs had gone through and was lodged in the desk beside him. They weren't blanks. His throat was raw and sore ... no peel-off plastic wound, but a real one. He could -smell- the girl's fear and knew she wasn't acting. Looking at the piles on the floor, one presented to him like a choice pheasant... he knew they weren't acting either. They were limp and even from here he could feel them growing colder.

She was rocking slightly, her head tilted down and her knees curled up, her bound hands wrapped down around her slender bare legs. Devin closed her eyes, not wanting to see anymore and so very confused as to why both men seemed so familiar.. especially Larson. Something about him made her feel safe and terrified of him at once and yet she wanted to fly off the desk and be at his side. She was so confused.. why was this happening?

"No murder rap Larson.. come on.. you know this. You're sooo damn good at this." Gabe encouraged him, with a gentle almost affectionate tone. His eyes flickered between the girl, Larson and the slag. "I gave you the girl. I'm giving you power, strength, endless time and youth, who doesn't want that?"

"Devin... her name's Devin... not 'the girl'," he swallowed, feeling the raking cold behind the wound in his throat. His gaze was solidly on man. "Gabriel."

Gabe broke into a wide grin, his dark eyes dancing with laughter. "Yes. She's Devin.. but what is she? I am Gabriel.. and what am I?" He chuckled, giving him a second grade teacher look. "You're Larson.. and what are you?.. once we conclude this lesson we can move on.."

"You want me to say 'she's mine' and get all fierce. Fine. She's mine," he sneered. "And you're still a sick f*ck and I'm... what I am - what you made me to be. Happy?"

[Lovely]

"Yes.. thank you.. you gonna eat this or should I just snap it's neck?" He grinned and gave a nearly playful wink.

"Leave it," he growled. It was getting to be more than he could stand and fighting it was pointless. What he'd made him to be... a brutal killer, one who could taste the savory meat of the kill and sought it. "Devin... close your eyes," he snarled, reaching for the heap himself to rip into.

Strangely she just listened to him and squeezed her eyes closed, bringing her hands to cover them, though she could still hear everything. She wasn't opening her eyes until someone -Larson told her she could look again, Gabe just scared her to pieces.

Gabe stepped back to watch, propping against the desk and smirking. "Would you like me to teach you.. let you have the pleasure of turning the g.. Devin?"

"What if I don't want to," he sneered again, remaining stubborn as before, wiping down the garish mar over his mouth and chin. He sat back, saited for now, feeling the throb of life that wasn't his own pulsing through his veins, charging his senses more. He heard it clearly now, the screams downstairs and the breaking of glass and other chaos. He could sense the others, others like him as they swooped through the halls and rooms looking to take down anyone breathing and piling a few to take home. It was like he remembered it, thinking it was only a nightmare, some twisted dream coming down from a high, but he shook his head, leaning back against the desk. "Devin.. it's okay. Come down here."

In his mind he'd clearly hear the answer about Devin -told you if you didn't want her -I'd keep her and do you even want to imagine what I'd do with her?- Gabe shifted to allow him the room to come beside the desk, watching carefully as he dealt with the girl.

Devin slowly opened her eyes and uncurled to look at Gabe, her eyes wide. She felt stiff and tender in a few places, but she'd been handled in a way to cause much less damage than had been done to the others. Her smooth lean legs swung over the edge of the desk, and hung next to Larson for a moment as she tried to carefully ease herself down. She crumpled a little and came down beside him, somewhat curled up again, her eyes were so bright as she stared at him. She opened her mouth as if to speak, looking as though many questions were flying through her mind but she didn't know how or what to ask. Devin leaned against the desk facing Chris and asked silently with her eyes what was going to happen now.

He continued to stare Gabriel down and tried to whip the thought back at him, not sure where to hold it or turn it around, but to tell him to back off. He did want her, wanted her safe and not to hurt anymore. It would be her choice, not his, but he wasn't about to let Gabe decide.

[Lovely]

Gabe rolled his eyes, huffing a little and wandering to the other side of the desk and flopping down in the chair. "You gonna buy her flowers and hold her hand for a month too.." He muttered under his breath and propped his feet over the desk.

"And if I do?" He spoke quietly over his shoulder, feeling the man's presence behind him and being ready to shift quickly if necessary. "You've got what you really wanted, didn't you... so leave her out of it. What -do- you want Gabriel?"

"Yes, I have you. I want you to be kept happy. I think you agree she will keep you happy.." He let his head rest back. "You want her.. you take her.. it seems very simple to me. I went through all the trouble of getting her for you.. suit yourself.. waste her.. what do I care? Other then I'd have fun with her for some time if you don't.. but I can find plenty of others to rip and rend."

"Guess you'll have to find one of the plenty, this one's not for you," he said, still quiet, feeling sorry that she was put in this position. She knew too much to be able to walk out the door safely... and too much to even want to walk out alone. He offered his hands for hers to untie those ropes at least.

Devin listened to Gabe and couldn't help the shiver that ran through her, when Chris reached for her hands she held them out a little away from herself for him. "I.. can't leave.. he's not going to let me..?" She whispered, searching Larson's face, wondering about the man who seemed so familiar and again strangely comforting to have him close.

Green eyes misted in shadows looked up her in combined kindness and cruelty. He didn't have to tell her, she knew. Even if she did get away, it wouldn't take long to find her. "You'll be alright, just stay close," he somewhat grinned as the ropes slid away and he rubbed the raw marks gently.

Her eyes shifted over his face again and she nodded, her fear subsiding only minimally. "Are you a friend of Robbie? I just keep feeling like I know you.. like we've met somewhere before.. but it feels more like from a dream.. and maybe all this has just made me lose my mind.." She closed her eyes again for a moment, then winced a little at her raw wrists. "I saw.. watched what he did to you.. this can't be real.. I have to be crazy right?"

[Lovely]

"No... I'm not Robbie's friend. He likes me about as much as you like him," he nodded back towards Gabriel. "For much of the same reason. Do you understand? And you're not crazy. I wish I could say you were," he said as gently as he could manage. "I thought it wasn't real... but it is."

"Yes and no.. If I'm not crazy.. " She paused, biting her lip sharply and asking an a tiny whisper. "Is he going to.." She couldn't finish it, it had been so brutal and harsh, her fingers lifted to touch his neck softly. The wound was closed and though there was a mark it was sealed and no longer raw.

"No," he tried to reassure her, but only as far as he could. Gabriel wouldn't as long as he did it first. His eyes shuttered as she moved her finger over the mark and he leaned back, hitting the desk hard with his skull, not that he noticed the thump or really cared. He shook his head and opened an apologetic glance to her. "No... I'm sorry."

He'd feel the tremble of her fingertips over his skin. "I.. are you going to..?" She asked him, watching his face and slowly putting together his words and Gabriel's. "If you don't keep.. take me.. he will.. won't he?"

He nodded only a little, but that was still more than enough. He reached for her wrist to kiss the marks left by the rope. Above all else, he didn't want her to be afraid, at least not of him - not for this.

"Why.. why me? Did I do something?" She was scared, not of him but of what was happening, what she had witnessed, and the.. man who sat on the other side of the desk. "Teach me to come to a frat party alone.. won't it? First one since I broke up with Robbie.." She tried to smile a little and hold back the tears that shone in her eyes.

He watched her and spoke over the desk, 'feeling' where he was, still in the chair. "Let her go, Gabriel. At least let her come back with me. I can't stay here, so I guess we're leaving with you anyway."

[Lovely]

"Letting her go is out of the question. I'll snap her neck before I'll let her go." He warned in a very serious voice, not moving from where he sat. "Besides.. after tonight that jerk of a boyfriend will look like a saint to her.. you really want her to go back to him?.. Take her with us back to the keep.. I think I will allow that.. if you give me a good reason why you want to"

His own voice was as stern, just as serious. "Do I really need a reason? I didn't say I was letting her go. I just want you to back off and let her rest first. It's not like I'm going anywhere, so if she stays with me and I'm not leaving, then what's the f*cking problem?"

"Fine.. you want to stop for flowers and a stuffed bear on the way back?" The chair pushed away from the desk and Gabe stood up. "She stays with you.. you never know what will happen to her should she wander or be left alone." The warning was part to taunt but partly sincere. "You may be an intelligent creature but I wasn't as selective with my other underlings.. in case the sounds beyond the door were not enough indication of that."

"Then I shouldn't have to justify myself to you, should I? And thank you," he said low, quietly, sliding his hand down into hers. "She'll stay, believe me. C'mon. We're leaving now," he turned to speak quietly to her. It was time.

Gabe snapped his fingers and the minion jumped to attention. "Go get the car.. these two will be riding with us."

His fingers slid to take her hand and she glanced back at Gabriel not trusting that he would just leave her as she was for now. "Alright.." She nodded, turning back to Chris and curling her fingers tightly in his.

He pulled her closer, keeping a watchful eye on the others who came and went with Gabe's finger snaps and orders as they cleared out. He was glad he'd done as Gabe had said, to drink his fill, or he'd have already torn her up himself with the taste of the raw marks the ropes left. He'd taken the barest sip in the kiss and helped the marks to fade a little. "Just stay close and even if you're scared, don't run away from me, no matter what you see me do. If you have to, just keep your eyes closed, but keep up."

[Lovely]

Her eyes widened just slightly as she lisened to his words, wondering what he might do and not wanting to think about it either. "okay.." She nodded, her hand was squeezing his tightly and she curled closer to him, hiding in the protection his shoulder and arm offered her. When the door opened the sights and sounds of the rest of the house came at them, including a few of Gabe's who eyed her with curiosity and hunger, she'd not been drained or turned and they were full of the crazed rampage they had been on.

Gabriel took the lead in a quick smooth pace, the others cowering back from him as he passed them. He expected Larson to follow and bring Devin along with him, to keep up and obey as much as the strong willed young man would. The house was torn apart, blood and signs of torment and carnage were everywhere.

He followed at a close clip, keeping his eyes ahead, looking at Gabe and toward the exit, but he was aware. His hand went to Gabe's shoulder, not to stop him, but to ensure he was heard. "What about Yuki? Ichiro... where is he?"

He continued out the door, speaking softly to one of his men as he passed, then over his shoulder to Larson. "He will be brought to the keep.. he is marked as one of ours, so he will fare better than the rest." He said nothing more, sure that Chris would understand the meaning.

Chris showed some relief that his friend had not been forgotten, but on some level, he grieved that he was spared only to serve again like himself. His hand lowered and he turned to Devin, feeling the others homing in on her. "Can you hang on if I carry you?" He offered her to ride on his back, but her injuries would make it uncomfortable. It wasn't that far to the car, but if he needed to move faster, he could do it better carrying her than dragging her behind.

Gabe was aware of those around them and of how sweet Devin would smell to them, he almost smiled as he slipped into the car.

Devin sighed as they stopped walking for a moment and Chris offered to give her a ride. She hesitated to accept it, despite everything that had happened, she glanced down at the skirt she was wearing. Nevermind the bruises that would be aggrivated, her skirt ended high on her thighs and a piggy back would.. well she might as well just take it off in that case. Her tongue ran over her lips and she looked back up to Larson's eyes, noting the intensity in them and she nodded slowly. "Oh.. I suppose it might be wiser.." The moment of doubt was long enough for a braver welp to make a move to steal the girl away from Larson and have a taste of her. She yelped softly as a blur of vampire tackled her and dragged her to the ground. She could barely blink and she was pinned to the ground under the much stronger creature.

[Lovely]

The searing growl of his rank being pulled on the underling should have been warning enough, but examples needed to be made and this whelp just volunteered himself. Those who halted at the sound would hear Larson as he hissed at Devin, "Eyes...!" That was all he should have needed to say as he separated her from the underling with a grip on the whelp's head, separating it from the body in a solid twist before holding it up for the others to see. "Who's next? You don't touch her or me... got it?"

The growl had her trembling more than the fright of the creature who had her pinned. The hissed word had her eyes closing just as Chris grabbed at the other's head a warmth splattered over her and she was sure she knew what dampened her face and chest in a warm spray. To her it felt like her face was drenched but it was not as much as that. She dared not open her eyes, taking in quick shallow breaths and holding herself still, her heart pounding against her chest.

He let the head drop next to its former owner and bid it farewell with a match from his pocket, setting it into flames. "Til we meet again," he said with a cold nod to the glow and ashen pile. "Let's go," he said, pulling her back up beside him. It was only a few more yards to the car and hopefully the others would think twice.. at least think once at all about attempting to get a piece of either of them.

Her eyes stayed closed and she swayed slightly, nearly falling against him and burrying into his chest. She didn't want to look, didn't want to see.. she just wanted to be gone as quickly as they could be. "Please.. get me out of here.."

"Shh... almost there," he reassured, watching the others who still wavered close by. "This will all be over soon. Hold on tight and don't worry about hurting me." His arm pulled her up at the waist, just enough to lift her feet from the floor, though he knew the pain was horrendous having seen her marks. His strides were long and fast to get them out to the car.

She tried not to cry out loudly as he scooped her at the waist, her fingers dug into his arm and shoulder and her face turned into his chest. Her cries muffled softly there until they reached the car and she finally peeked up at him again.

{{Continues: On The Team part 2 - Gabriel's Keep }}