Howling in the Streets{M} DamoniquexBrokecollege

[Damonique]

Simply so she wouldn't be surprised, Khlia spent the time it took to walk back to the center of the camp explaining to Elisabeth in the simplest possible terms what Lucent had been up to after she had stormed off in a huff,....the joint Nightwaker/Skyclaw attack into the nearest Redmoon territories he had planned, and how she imagined Fang and Evertail fighters might play into it. They came upon the leaders standing where they had been left, speaking privately with only their own guards, the other two Alphas having departing to make preparations in their own territory.

"...of course I won't leave those two entirely unsupervised. I've already spoken to Jameson Thunderhowl...he and his men will be close. If the fighting turns against us, he'll be there to blunt any counterattack. And if it goes too well, he'll dive in and take a share of the credit and territory." Lucent was explaining to Savic. Of course it was just like him to make a grand show of blessing Mauric and Davit with his complete trust, only to later reveal he had been hedging his bets from the outset. Savic would enjoy the irony.

Their plotting was interrupted by the arrival of their respective lieutenants, and neither could hide their surprise at how Khlia and Elisabeth's battered appearances...frankly, they both looked like hell, like they'd been attacked. But their shared smiles said all Lucent needed to know about what they had been up to, and he let out an exasperated sigh. Savic, who had been fully prepared to publicly lay into his lieutenant for going behind his back about the warriors, only seemed further perplexed. Khlia interrupted before either Alpha could get a word out, not even bothering with even the most cursory show of respect upon their approach, scowling slightly when the younger woman beside her did the opposite, giving every courtesy and show of supplication. She was not surprised, though...evading conflict was her way as much as seeking it out was Khlias.

"I knew your talk would bore me, borrowed your lieutenant for something productive. Good challenge hard to come by, 'lizbeth did not disappoint. Will not apologize, but brother can for me, if he likes. He should apologize more, keeps him humble." She stated bluntly, slipping in a not-so-veiled barb for those in know, her words for the both of them but aimed squarely at Lucent, who seemed taken aback, even embarrassed at being chided so abruptly. Even Lash, usually ever-so-quiet off to the side, let out an barely-audible giggle at the reversal. It was clear who's corner Khlia was in when it came to the dominance games he was playing with Elisabeth, and it wasn't his. He shouldn't have been surprised by that.

"Seems I can't send my sister to do anything without her finding a way to fight someone over something. I never could keep her from her play, though this time, it appears she bit of nearly more than she could chew in your girl." Lucent stated with all the grace he could muster, that being little speaking to Savic but keeping his eyes fixed squarely on Elisabeth. Bedraggled as she was, the brunette seemed quite content with herself.

[brokecollege]

Before Savic could scold Elisabeth, as he so desperately seemed to want to do, Khlia informed the two Alphas that she had borrowed Elisabeth for something more productive than quiet, strategic conversation. A good challenge was hard to come by, she said, and Elisabeth had proven to be quite the challenge. But as much of a challenge as Elisabeth had proven to be in their scramble, Khlia still came out on top. Though, Elisabeth was surprised when Khlia didn't mention her win.

Her surprise for what Khlia had lacked to speak about was quickly outshined though by the surprise of what the woman said next. Elisabeth knew that while the twins were close, they did not agree on everything. In fact, she didn't think they agreed on much. But, Elisabeth thought that Khlia would always defend her brother in the end, no matter what. So to have Khlia toss a barb at her brother in Elisabeth's defense was.. surprising. She wondered if Khlia was trying to break the record for how many times she could surprise a person in one day.

Even Lash, who stood quietly off to the side watching the interaction, was even surprised (and amused) by the interaction. So amused, in fact, that she actually let out a giggle. Elisabeth didn't even know the woman was capable of such a joyful sound until now. Savic looked between the three as the tensions between them (more specifically, the twins) rose.

Such an interesting, and so very perplexing, situation. Interesting because Khlia had publically taken a jab at her brother, and perplexing for that very same reason. Even when the twins disagreed about things, Savic had never known them to publicly poke at one another. And yet when the issue seemed to concern Elisabeth... he pursed his lips and looked towards his young, and rather disheveled, Lieutenant.

He wondered what it was about her that affected the twins so. Lucent was attracted to her because she was a woman, and Khlia was attracted (though, he felt her attraction was more platonic than her brother's) to her because she was a female warrior. But, it had to go beyond that. There was something more about Elisabeth that made the twins act the way that they did, at least where it concerned her.

While Elisabeth pursed her lips at Lucent's comment, Savic grunted. He and Khlia both. "As most usually do with her," he replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Lieutenant--" Savic spoke, causing Elisabeth's gaze to immediately shift from Lucent to her Alpha. "Were you ever planning to come and speak to me about sending my warriors off with the Fangs?" he questioned.

Elisabeth opened her mouth to respond, but Savic quickly pulled a hand from his chest and held it in the air. A signal for Elisabeth to remain quiet, and one she listened to without question. "Not now, Elisabeth. We'll have this conversation later when everyone's gone home. In the meantime, the Fangs will have the warriors that you promised them," he informed. Elisabeth bit the inside of her cheek, and then slowly bowed her head. "Yes, sir." she murmured.

Savic stared down his Lieutenant for a moment longer before his attention returned to Lucent. "Things seem to be going according to plan for now. But, do send word if you hear that things are turning south. I would like to remain ahead of the problems for as long as we can." he explained. Though how long they could do that, he didn't know. Things could only go your way for so long before things began to unfold in your hands--that's what Savic had always thought, at least.

"And I'll keep watch of Mauric and Davit, as well as the others on my end. They trust my judgment, for now, so I'll take advantage of that while I still can," he informed with quiet breath. Then, he turned back to Elisabeth. "I'll leave it to you to escort the Fangs then, Elisabeth. Come to my study as soon as you're available. We've still some matters to discuss before the night's end." Savic ordered. Oh, joy. That's just what Elisabeth wanted--to end an exhausting day with work that could bore her to sleep!

And then with a dismissive wave, Savic was off and heading back into his house, leaving the trio standing in the growing dark. Elisabeth waited until Savic had disappeared in his house before she turned back towards the twins. She was quiet for a moment as if thinking about what to say and what to do before she turned to Khlia and smiled. "I enjoyed our conversation. And our fight. I'll have to challenge you to a rematch soon." she hummed before continuing, "Should we go and meet with Bryant and the others at the South gate?"

[Damonique]

Lucent had been preparing for this conversation to go another way. He'd intentionally struck a nerve in Savic by implying his ever-so-trusted lieutenant would go behind his back for the benefit of Lucent and the Fangs, predicting the elder Alpha to berate her, to which Lucent would magnanimously come to her defense, getting back on her good side while trying to drive a wedge between the two that could only serve to push her closer to them.

Lucent had been playing such confidence games, quite successfully, for a long while. But as always when it came to the object of his attention, things had a way of unraveling. And now his sister was taking an active part in confounding him. Elisabeth would surely still get some censure from Savic, if only to assert dominance. But after this display, it would be overshadowed by the reminder that she was his most valuable asset, a unique card he should keep her happy and close at hand in case he need to play it...because none of them knew exactly how things would go if Elisabeth was set against them by her leader. Whatever fondness she might feel for the twins, personally, she was Evertail, not Fang, and betrayal was not in her nature.

"It's good that we agree in these things, Savic. The beauty in this...arrangement, with the once-and-now Alphas, is ensuring that so long as we stand together we are too strong for any of the others, individually or together, to challenge our dominance, and we must keep it that way. Until the next time, friend." Lucent stated in way of parting, offering a slight bow of recognition before he turned away, knowing all present to hear it knew such an codependence cut both ways. Unless they kept faith with each other, their own allies would tear them down for a chance to replace them.

When Elisabeth stated her intention to join the Fang party to see off her wrriors at the gate, Lucent was quick to sidle up beside her on the other side from his twin, and wave off Grigory and Lash to follow at a respectful distance so the three could speak with at least the impression of privacy. Not that the other two wouldn't be listening, but the massive veteran was Fang, through and through, and Lash would never spill their secrets, if only because that would require starting a conversation in the first place. He sighed and turned towards Elisabeth as they started off.

"Damn her, but Khlia is right. I should apologize...not for what I meant, but how I said it was uncalled for. But next time, think about appearances, Elisabeth. Everything that I, that we are trying to achieve..." Lucent started off, already making it clear that this apology wouldn't be much of one...and also raising the question of when precisely Elisabeth had joined that nebulous 'we' that went beyond the Twins or even the Fangs.

"...turns on making them buy into the legend of the man that fool Huntsworn boy raged against. Lucent Mane, savage, soulless, and utterly without scruples. Savic's too smart to fall for it, but the rest are eating it up. Let them, and enjoy being one of the favored few who knows better." He finished....coming from anyone else, it would sound like the height of egotism, this savior complex that Lucent Mane showed in every word and deed. But Elisabeth also knew that he believed every word of it. His twin, for her part, was less impressed...it was hard for her to seperate the scared little boy she remembered from the man he'd grown into.

"Could have just said 'sorry', brother. Quick, easy, to the point. But that's not you." She stated with a derisive snort as they approached the south entrance, where Khlia's chief subordinate Bryant and her four 'Braves', as Khlia called them, Foster, Mason, and Ceasar were waiting, accompanied by Lucent's chained 'prize', the young Elvira Huntsworn, who had finally cried herself out and was simply standing there, quivering like a leaf, numb to the worl. For all their loyalty, even Elisabeth's Evertail Elites seemed uncomfortable with the task of keeping her upright.

[brokecollege]

When Lucent realized that Elisabeth had intended to leave, he quickly shifted positions so that he was on the other side of her. Elisabeth wasn't too happy with his new position, but she didn't stop him. The three then turned and made their way towards the south entrance of the Evertail territory, though what Elisabeth had hoped would turn out to be a quiet walk was not.

Lucent almost immediately spoke, with the first thing coming out of his mouth being a curse directed towards Khlia. And then, an... apology? Elisabeth turned her head to look at Lucent in surprise as he delivered (what some might refer to as) a poor excuse of an apology. But even if it was a poor apology, it was still an apology. And that was much more than Lucent had ever given her in their previous fights and disagreements.

While Elisabeth seemed somewhat moved by it, Khlia did not. She snorted as she informed her brother that he could have simply given the girl a single "sorry," it was simple and to the point. But, that wasn't Lucent. Elisabeth glanced over at Khlia before she placed a gentle hand on the older woman's back as if to quietly tell her that it was alright. Then, she turned back to Lucent and nodded her head. "I accept your apology." she murmured. "But treat me like that again, Lucent, and I can't promise that I won't bite back."

Elisabeth dropped her hand from Khlia's back just as the trio arrived at the south gate. Along with four of Elisabeth's best stood Elvira Huntsworn--well, she wasn't standing so much as she was being held up by Caesar and Mason. When the four warriors noticed Elisabeth (and the twins standing beside her), they immediately paused what they were doing to bow their heads in respect.

Elisabeth stepped forward and crossed her arms back over her chest. "If you have not already heard your orders from Bryant, then here they are: you are to follow the orders of the Mane twins without question. If they say to kill, you kill. If they say to sleep, you sleep. And if they say to fuck--" she glanced over her shoulder and at Khlia with a teasing smirk, before turning her attention back to her men. "--then you fuck. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." came their unified response. "How long will we be under the Fangs for?" Caesar, ever the one to question everything, asked. He briefly adjusted his grip on the girl that he held--but not to keep her up, but rather push her slightly away from him. He had never liked children, especially teenagers. So, holding a hostage child up who had been crying for the last hour was the last thing he wanted to do. "For a few days, after you've all stretched out your claws and tasted some blood. Then, I will send word for you four to return," she informed. Caesar nodded his head in understanding, and as soon as he did Elisabeth spun back around to face the twins.

"Alright, they're ready for you." Elisabeth stated as her arms dropped to her sides. "Do take good care of them, Khlia. They are some of my best." she requested with a smile.

[Damonique]

Elisabeth seemed genuinely mollified by Lucent's best attempt at an apology, accepting it for what it was without hesitation despite Khlia's objections. And it wasn't that Lucent didn't genuinely want to be kinder to her...she knew well by now that 'friendly' didn't even begin to describe the manner if relationship he wanted. But the brunette had made it perfectly clear she was disinterested, if not dead-set against the idea. For now, at least they would carry on as allies, confidants, perhaps even friends. No more or less.

Without breaking stride, perhaps emboldened by spending too much talking to Khlia, Elisabeth couldn't help herself from adding that that she wasn't about to give him a full pardon for his behavior, promising that the next time he tried to treat her as his inferior, she wasn't going to roll over quite so easily. Lucent could expect nothing less, personally surprised they hadn't come closer to blows themselves earlier. Now that would have been a disaster.

"I wouldn't have it any other way...but next time, just bottle up your righteous indignation to unleash on me all at once, one on one. I'm never far. Say your going hunting and cross into former Whiteclaw territory, give three short howls...yours is quite distinct, someone will hear and tell me. I'll come." Lucent promised, and meant it...in fact, he didn't know if he could keep himself from coming when Elisabeth came calling even if he wanted to. Khlia gave two two of them a knowing smirk, and clapped Elisabeth on the shoulder, clearly pleased by this development. From her straightforward point of view, the Alpha and Lieutenant were just being silly, dancing around the inevitable.

They walked together in a happy semisilence broken up only by idle chatter about goings-on in their respective packs until they reached the assembled Evertail warriors, and Elisabeth detached herself from the Mane twins and was back to her usual persona as a leader of men. Lucent couldn't deny that she was very good in her current role, tough to her men, but never unreasonable and they responded to that with freely-given obedience and even affection. She and Khlia's discussion earlier held true...if only she had been a man, she would have been leading the Evertail pack by now. When Elisabeth turned her soldiers over to Khlia and stepped aside, the tribal woman decided it was only fitting to give them a few of her own words.

"You heard my hunt-sister. Until she says different, you are mine. I've seen you fight, against Whiteclaw and Stormfur and Freerunner. I know your worth. If you were Fangs, I would be glad to gift you each my mark this very night..." She stated, opening with praise and gesturing to the five-line scars worn by Lash and Grigori behind her, the token of esteem that set them apart from the line warriors. She suddenly grew serious. "...I am fair, but I can be harsh. I will not stand for cowardice, nor laziness, nor infighting over kills and women and prizes. We fight together, celebrate together, mourn together. That is my way, and now it is yours." She finished, inspecting over each of Elisbeth's redoubtable warriors in turn and seeming pleased with her assessment.

It was going to be a fun few days, she thought. The only one that gave her pause was the blonde one, Caesar. He was handsome enough, and seemed to know it, that roguish grin had surely won him a girl or ten. But she didn't like the way he spoke to Elisabeth. It was a shame Lucent had traded Lash for them....she could have 'rewarded' that one with a night with the raven-haired sadist, and all that machismo and confidence would be gone by sunrise. Speaking of which, she turned to Elisabeth, bringing aclawed to her lips and letting out a trilling three-note whistle. Lash dropped all pretense of her usual standoffish demeanor, went rigid and flew into motion, at her leaders side in an instant, cool blue eyes regarding Elisabeth intensely.

"Lucent tells me he will be giving you my Lash. She will be a silent shadow, eyes open and whip at the ready, just that whistle away. You should have little trouble with your prisoners and Omegas, with her by your side. Just find cause to use her often enough to keep her entertained, and you'll get along famously. Give it a try." She implored Elisabeth, demonstrating the three fingers she had used to whistle that pitch...her eyes saying it was important to remember to whistle.

[brokecollege]

Lucent wouldn't have it any other way, he said. But he would rather she unleashed her anger on him all at once, one on one. Would Khlia allow that, she wondered? If she ever wanted to, though, all she had to do was go out onto what was once Whiteclaw territory and give three, short howls. Someone would hear them and report them to Lucent. And then, Lucent would arrive shortly after. Well... Elisabeth just might take him up on that offer sometime.

Once Elisabeth's orders had been given to her men, Khlia stepped up to give her own. Though, they weren't so much orders as they were warnings. Warnings which each of Elisabeth's men would need to heed if they wanted to return to their pack and their people alive. Bryant seemed the least worried about Khlia's warnings--they were easy enough to follow, really. Don't be a coward, and do as you were told.

Foster didn't mind too much, either. It was Caesar and Mason who seemed the least receptive of the orders. But regardless of whether or not the four men listened to, or worried about these new orders, they still nodded their heads and released another unified, "Yes, ma'am." Khlia took another moment to look each warrior over before she turned to Elisabeth. She lifted her fingers to her lips and let out a trilling whistle.

Lash, who had been standing nearby, was at her leader's side in a second. How well trained she was. Elisabeth's men were good, and they followed orders without question (for the most part, anyway) but none were so trained that they would be at Elisabeth's side in under a second if she whistled. She wondered how Khlia had trained Lash like that, and if all of her elites were trained in the same way.

Elisabeth was to receive Lash, she said. Lucent's orders. Elisabeth's eyes widened slightly in surprise--since when? Perhaps this new development had formed when Elisabeth had stormed off with Bryant, right before Khlia had joined her for a fight. Or, maybe it was before they had even stepped onto Evertail territory. Elisabeth glanced curiously over at Lucent while Khlia gave Elisabeth instructions regarding the girl.

Elisabeth didn't mind receiving one of Khlia's elites--they were odd wolves, each and every one of them, but they were entertaining and a good fight. But, why must she receive the one who never uttered a word, and who was known to train Omegas in their ways? Were the twins trying to make the woman feel uncomfortable? With a bit of hesitation, Elisabeth lifted three fingers to her lips and let out a whistle.

[Damonique]

Even though she surely had to be expecting it, Lash seemed startled by the trilling sound that issued forth from Elisabeth's lips, and in a maneuver that would put an ballerina to shame, turned on the tip of one stilletto heel and took three steps back to stand beside and slightly behind the Evertail Lieutenant.

Her half-lidded blue eyes regarded Elisabeth cool, considering and judging her new, temporary mistress. But whatever reservations she had didn't stop her from lowering her head in a gesture of complete and total obsciescence.

"Understand what we're trusting you with, Elisabeth, and keep your people well out of her way. She doesn't like being touched." Lucent stated to Elisabeth with a slight edge to his tone for emphasis, and gestured for his party to get moving.

"'Until next time, 'Lisbeth. Hopefully your boys will come back with stories to tell." Khlia said in parting before turning to follow, while her men finally bundled up Elvira Huntsworn, who was refusing to walk, and they all disappeared into the thickening trees, leaving Elisabeth and Lash alone at the gate.

" Miss them already..." The girl said in a tone that made it both a statement and a question in one, nudging the brunette with her elbow.

[brokecollege]

When she whistled, an obviously startled Lash turned on her heel so that she was standing beside, and ever so slightly behind, Elisabeth. The young Lieutenant glanced over her shoulder and at the esteemed warrior as she dropped her hand back to her side. It was so very interesting to see the extent of Lash's obedience. From what she could tell, it truly knew no bounds.

Lucent was the next of the trio to speak, but only to tell her to keep her people out of Lash's way. She doesn't like to be touched. Well, Lash didn't have to worry. Elisabeth wasn't going to be touching the woman any time soon. And, she would make sure her men did the same. With everything having been said, Lucent ordered for his group to depart. Khlia gave her own farewell to Elisabeth before they were off, leaving her and Lash alone.

Once the group had disappeared through the trees, Lash gave Elisabeth a gentle nudge with her elbow and spoke. Miss them already, she said, though it came out as both a statement and a question. Elisabeth released a sigh as she lifted a hand to her head--she didn't know. She didn't know what she felt, or how often she felt it. "You'll be sleeping in the Alpha's house tonight, in the room opposite of Luna Mallory's," Elisabeth informed as she turned to the warrior.

"Training starts at five in the morning. Since you aren't technically my warrior, you're not required to attend. You can participate if you'd like, or you can watch. But if you would prefer to do neither, then you'll be assigned to guard a portion of the hostages. And..." she sucked in a breath as she continued, "And if someone is misbehaving, then you'll be the first wolf notified to give them an attitude readjustment. Understood?"

[Damonique]

"Guard. Train. Teach." The younger woman said with the slightest nod to say she understood and would do all the things mentioned, totally without emotion but for the barest curve of a smile gracing her lips when Elisabeth explained that she would be the one delivering necessary punishments from this point forward. And so, with the dynamic and extent of their 'relationship' set, she proceeded to follow on Elisabeth's heels for the rest of the night, gliding along with a catlike grace. A silent shadow, just as Lucent had said...but whenever the Lieutenant turned around, there she'd be, staring at her as if trying to see directly into her soul.

Whenever Elisabeth stopped to speak with someone or perform some task, she would find the nearest corner and wait there invisibly until the brunette was on the move again. Eventually, when everything that she could do to put it off had been, she was forced to go meet with Savic, who surely had more than a few words to say about the days developments. While it could be assumed that the Alpha would want to speak to the lieutenant alone, Lash followed anyway, waiting patiently in the corner, wondering which, or either of them, would send her away.

------------------

The combined group of Fang and Evertail warriors forged through the former Whiteclaw packlands and crossed into Lucent's territory. At the border, a patrol of his warriors seemed to materialize out of thin air to greet and join them, no doubt drawn by the unfamiliar scents of Evertail and Huntsworn. Allies or not, the Fangs still guarded all of their borders, it seemed....or perhaps Lucent had arranged this show ahead of time precisely to give that impression, who could say?

And so Bryant, Foster, Mason, and Caesar got their first look at the beating heart of Lucent's ever-growing empire. While the Evertails own compound, and most of the other dens that they had seen were usually rustic and haphazard structures being expanded and added over the generations, the wide boulevard the Fangs occupied was clean, well-ordered, and built to plan like everything Lucent designed. Many buildings were being demolished a rebuilt further down on each side of the street as Lucent slowly bought it all up with the profits of his various, often unsavory side-businesses.

A group of Omegas finally relieved the Evertail warriors of their young burden, and proceeded with Lucent to the multi-story red brick building that was his command center, while Khlia led the fighters down a side street to what she called, and could only be, 'her place'. It was a bar, of course, it was always going to be a bar...and it was the seediest dive that one could imagine, clashing harshly with it's clean and well-ordered surroundings.

Over a dozen large motorcycles were parked haphazardly out front, loud music blared out into the street. Every window was shattered, and hadn't been replaced because they would just be broken again anyway. The flickering neon sign above the door just seemed to be every dirty word in the dictionary, one after the other with no spaces between them. Before they went inside, Khlia turned around and threw her arms out in front of the gathered warriors, beaconing them forward, and shouting over the bass beat, almost deafening even out here, so that she could be heard.

"You, Elisabeth's boss-boy, Bryant, join me in the back. The rest of you, have fun. Drink a beer or five, fuck a girl or three, get to know your battle-brothers, all is free to friends of Khlia Mane. At moon's height, we howl and hunt and kill!" She said with increasing fervor, and then pushed past where two Omegas were hauling off a passed-out, or perhaps dead warrior, and through the doors. There was no bartender, just cases of booze stolen from one warehouse or another littering the inside. In a chained-off ring in the center, two bruised and bloody warriors were trading blows while spectators called bets using fist-fulls of human currency. It was absolutely worthless to them, but didn't stop them from getting enraged and their losses and gloating about their winnings. Flanking it were stages where females, and even a few males, were performing scandalous routines in various stages of transformation, from nude human shape to furry hybrid to full-on wolf. Some were collared and chained Omegas, while others were free, unmated wolves of the various packs that were just enjoying the unrestrained hedonism of it all.

[brokecollege]

The night progressed rather smoothly after that. Elisabeth went about her usual routine without much trouble, performing this task and that task (which mostly concerned her warriors, of course). The actual only difference in her routine was the fact that Lash followed her through every task, watching her from the shadows with her piercing gaze. It was an uncomfortable feeling to have the woman's eyes on her constantly, at every turn and every stop.

She wondered how Lucent and Khlia were able to do it. Did they just block out the feeling, did Lash eventually just become background noise? But, how could she with that intense gaze of hers? When all of her chores and tasks had been finished, and when all the patrols and warriors had been checked and then doubled checked, Elisabeth finally made her way towards the Alpha's house. And, of course, Lash followed.

Elisabeth greeted the old man in his study, though before she could actually step into the room he was standing up and gesturing for her to stop. "The Fang warrior," he spoke as he rounded his desk towards Elisabeth. "Why don't you have her check out her room while we speak?" he questioned. Elisabeth paused and then turned to the silent and lurking warrior behind her. "Go ahead and examine your room, Lash. See if it's up to your standards. It's just down the hall to the right--should be the only door that's open." she informed.

With the Fang woman having been dismissed, Savic finally allowed Elisabeth to step inside before he closed the door behind her. "You know, that warrior wouldn't be following you if you hadn't offered Lucent your best." he casually informed. Elisabeth crossed her arms over her chest as she walked over to the chairs in front of his desk and took a seat. Savic, meanwhile, remained standing.

"I know Lucent. He only gave us Lash because he did not want to take everything, and give nothing. It's all politics with him." Elisabeth sighed as she relaxed in the chair. Savic shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps. But, either way, you only have yourself to blame for that shadow of yours. And, by the way, I know that the man has a price on his head, but we all do. Did you really have to offer him our warriors?" he questioned as he finally made his way back to his seat behind the desk.

"The man is protected by Khlia Mane, the impenetrable shield. The last thing he needs is more protection," he complained. Elisabeth released a huff of laughter--impenetrable shield? Well, he certainly wasn't wrong. "It's only for a few days, Savic. Then we will have them back. They were getting antsy, anyways. Guarding all these hostages." she explained, "It's good for them to get out, get some blood. Better that than have them upset."

Savic pursed his lips and then sighed. What was done was done, he supposed. No use in complaining about it--but, he still probably would. At least, only to Elisabeth and his Liliana.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The men had all heard tales of the Fang territory, of the blood that covered it and the bodies that masked it. But nothing that they heard compared to what they actually saw. And it wasn't filled with death or with gore, either. It was actually beautiful! Far beautiful than their own territory, or any other territory that they'd seen. They took in everything with awe, with a few quiet remarks being made among the four.

The only one who wasn't all that impressed was Bryant. But he was older than the rest, more experienced. He had seen things that the others could only dream of, and so a sight like this was not all that remarkable to him. But, it was impressive, he'd give them that. After they'd handed off the girl to the Omegas, the four followed Khlia down a side street where, near the very end, sat a building far different than the rest.

It was old, broken, and barely standing. Why, it looked like it would collapse right then and there if the men walked inside of it! The famed Fang motorcycles were parked (or more like drunkenly tossed) around in the parking places. The windows of the building were completely shattered, with sharp little points in the corners or on the edges. And the music--oh, the music! It was loud, so loud that they could hardly hear themselves think.

But Khlia Mane did not seem to care. Once they were gathered by the front door, Khlia spun around and gave a little speech. Everyone was free to do whatever they wanted--they could drink, they could fight, and they could fuck to their heart's content. The only one who wasn't free to do those things was Bryant, who was supposed to meet with Khlia in the back. But at the moon's height, she said, they would fight.

And then they were all stepping inside, to a place that could have very well been their Heaven just as much as their Hell. And they went wild. Caesar first went to the woman--or, at least, the ones who weren't already being occupied. Mason and Foster, meanwhile, rushed over to the beer to get themselves the biggest glass they could find. Elisabeth wasn't strict when it came to what they could and couldn't do, but she would never let them do something like this.

They almost felt like children in a candy store. Except for Bryant, who obediently followed Khlia to the back of the bar where the pounding bass was less loud.