Snarling Bramble (Akira/Open)

[Demetrius Caldwell]

It was late, the sun had set earlier than normal and Demetrius had planned to go out for a walk. Not the best time for walking alone he knew, but it wasnt like any other Vampire or Malkavian could kill him, hurt him seriously, yes, but only the Lords of both the tribes had the power to potentially kill him, and Lycan's were faster and stronger than Vampires so he didnt worry, Malkavians were powerful due to their Inhuman abilities, but they could have trouble hitting Demetrius, though he knew both Rayne and Nakajima could pin him so he knew he couldnt leave himself an open target really.

It was easy slipping out of the Manor with no questions asked, Demetrius knew the Lycans wouldnt question him anyway, they daren't. Sometimes he ever wondered if any of his clan would grow a backbone! Though when it came to him, he doubted it. The change from human to Lycan used to be painful, and yes, it was painful for new changers but Demetrius was used to it now after four thousand years of doing it. His legs became thinner, leaner and slightly longer as his feet widened and grew claws. His back cracked loudly as the bones inside him stretched and grew longer, his face distorted as a snout began to appear as he began to howl, and soon, the Lycan, fully changed began sprinting off on all fours down to the woodland area, its ears pricked and its silver eyes scanning for anyone or anything that could be following him.

Demetrius' fur was white rather than the brown like most Lycans and he was considerably larger than all the others. The first man he bit, Alistair was smaller than Demetrius, but not by much, his son Kane was taller than most Lycans. Kane wasnt actually Demetrius' son, but he had always looked upon him that way because Alistair was a close friend of Demetri's.

As Demetrius wandered through the undergrowth in the forest, and through some thick bramble bushes, he caught the scent of someone else. His nose sniffed at the air, and then he heard something like footsteps. They were far away and if he was a normal human he would never have heard it, his ears flipped back and forth, seemingly searching for the direction of the sound. He recognised the scent, he was sure it belonged to Akira, it smelled so much like her daughters scent, yet her daughters was sweeter, to his nose, Akira's scent is quite sour. Demetrius moved out of the bramble bush slowly and leaped into a tree, tree hopping Demetrius was good at, even if he was huge. Though as he leapt for the fourth time, he misplaced his paw and fell down back onto the muddy floor right infornt of Akira. Snarling as he looked up, his teeth bared he stood on his hind legs as if waiting for something. Though, as safe as it was to stay in his Lycan form, he reverted back, though he only had his stretch pants on as hi clothes had been torn.

[Akira Nakajima]

Things were moving quickly for the Malkavian so much had happened ever since the death of Chihiro that Akira barely had time to grieve for her daughter properly. Her death was the catalyst that had dragged the Malkavians into a fight that was not theirs simply in the hope that it would stop anymore innocent blood being spilt. Things however were not going as they had planned, it was going to be a tough battle but Akira knew they had the strength to survive and end this blood feud.

Akira was a determined woman and her hatred for the Vampires and Lycans ran deep in her veins. They were nothing more then murders who needed to be brought to justice and if it meant then she would have to be the one to deliver that justice then so be it. This is the attitude and front that she put on when she was with the other Malkavians, their leader who would fight by them and guide them to freedom and the life they all deserve. But there were some nights like tonight when Akira just wanted to be alone with her thoughts, the silence of the night and the memories of Chihiro.

Her boots crushed the undergrowth with every step she took, her long black coat floated behind her in the late autumn breeze that filtered its way through the trees. In her hand Akira absentmindedly flicked a lighter watching the flame dance in the breeze before vanishing. She properly would have continued to watch the flames when she heard something in the trees.

Coming to a stop there seemed to commotion in the tree canopies above her and before she knew it a Lycan had fallen down in front of her, but this was not ordinary Lycan…but Demetrius Caldwell. With a flick of the lighter the flame vanished but this time it had not been put out by the wind but it had moved. Akira now had a small ball of fire hovering above her left palm and she was ready to send it in the direction of the snarling wolf. As the creature stood up onto its hind legs the ball of fire grew bigger, Akira could feel the heat, the burning of her hand but if the beast was going to strike she needed to be ready, she could not falter.

For once however the Lycan leader was clearly not looking for a fight and as he reverted back to his humanesk form Akira showed the same form of gratitude with her other hand she clapped her hands together putting out the flame and in the process healing the burns that it had caused. Once the tingling had stopped and her wounds healed Akira’s purple eyes gave Demetrius the once over and with a pert smile the woman folded her arms.

“My my Demetrius I have to say for someone who is 4000 you look positively stunning. Have you do something new with your hair?”

[Demetrius Caldwell]

"Do not toy with me Nakajima"

Demetrius practically snarled this. He wasnt looking for a fight but he was far from pleasant when it came to Akira or Alexandria. He used to wonder if the mother would taste like the daughter, though judging from her sour scent he suspected her blood to be not as sweet. It was true, Lycans never hurt humans unless they could help it, but Akira's daughter had gotten in the way and the result was, she was killed by Demetrius.

"Do you want something?"

Even if she said yes and told Demetrius what she wanted, he would never help her get it. The three clans were in the middle of a war, it didnt matter that the Vampires and Lycans used to live harmoniously together, they didnt now and to Demetrius, that was all that mattered. He side stepped a little bit, his feet catching a twig and cutting him slightly, though this didnt matter it was only a cut and it would have healed within five minutes or so anyway. Demetrius never took his eyes off the Malkavian, he darent, just like she wouldnt take hers of him, if either of them took their eyes off eachother, it was likely the other would attack.

The air was thick around them as a mist began to slowly rise. The moon was high in the sky, Demetrius didnt have to look up to know it was full, the smell of the moon and the power radiating from it was over whelming. His blood was rushing through his body, the feeling. He knew it all too well, his blood screaming at him to change into his Lycan form and embrace the moonlight, it was like an adrenaline rush, only faster and a lot more powerful. This was what it felt like when you couldnt stop yourself from changing, this was the reason you changed. The blood calling the change was so strong in new Lycans that they couldnt stop their bodys from morphing, but after a bit of training, they got used to it.

He could hear the howls from the Manor a little way back, at the full moon some of the younger Lycans who still couldnt control the change would howl for hours until one of the older Lycans got them to shut up. Though they knew Demetrius wasnt there and they were calling for him, though for now, he ignored it as his silver eyes stared into Akira's purple ones.

[Akira Nakajima]

Akira was only trying to be friendly to her fellow Lord but then as normal he turned everything she said into some form of insult. His words although aggressive merely seemed like a teenager having a strop, she could not understand why they could not be civil adults about this all. Yes they were enemies and had killed many of each others kind but death was not what Akira wanted, no matter the species. However by now she had grown used to Demetrius attitudes and so knew just how to handle the conversation, so with a small smile Akira answered his question.

“Of course I do.” Akira paused and unfolded her arms. “We all want something but not everyone can have it. I want peace but you and your vampire friends clearly have other ideas.”

There was something else that Akira wanted more then peace and that was her daughter back but it did not matter how much she wished it, it would never happen. Breathing in the night air deeply the leader of the Malkavian held her head high, her purple eyes fixed upon Demetrius grey ones as she refused to show any sign of weakness to the enemy.

In the distance Akira could hear the other Lycans howling in the distance, walking alone, in a forest during a full moon may not have been the wisest of moves by some people’s books but then Akira was no ordinary Malkavian, she was the first, their leader and if the Lycan tried anything he would have a fight on his hands, although if he had backup then only then would Akira even contemplate running.

[Demetrius Caldwell]

Well Demetrius was never going to be friendly to Akira, no matter what had happened in the past. Of course that was all a play anyway and he had played his role perfectly at the time, or so he thought. Looking back now he wondered why he had even bothered, it had not turned out how he had wanted anyway. Civil, in a War was not something you heard, unless it was a Civil War of course. Which could have many meanings he supposed. Demetrius had a lot to be resentful for, over the past three thousand plus years, he had done many things that got people angry at him, people had done things which had made him angry, yes it was true the Vampires and the Lycans used to get along, well Demetrius and Silas never did, but now they couldnt stand eachother and the Malkavians coming into the war had only stirred up even more trouble. Especially for Demetrius.

"Peace is never something you will have, Akira." He was of course talking about many things, things she had done and regretted, things she never did and her own personal demons. Demetrius knew a lot more about Akira than she thought he did. And this gave him an advantage. "So why wish for something that can never be, at least this war gives you purpose. Without it what would you have? A life of regret and mistakes with nothing to take your anger out upon, and it would eventually eat you up inside until you are an empty shell sat in the corner of a room in some desolate place, So no. I do not think you truly wish for peace."

Sometimes Demetrius himself wondered what would have happened if he had allowed Akira's daughter to live. There were so many complications with her daughter that lead to her death, that lead to Demetrius killing her. He was surpised that Akira didnt know he had killed the kid, afterall, he had left her alive, just too fatally wounded to be able to be healed. Funnily enough he had not felt anything, though when he bit into her he did get some of her memories. The more painful ones which made him angry at first, though now, even though the childs memories stayed inside him, he had slolwy forgotten.

The Lycans were calling for Demetrius, they wanted to know where he was, though even as the howling got more pursistant, Demetrius carried on ignoring it as he stared into the eyes of Akira.

[Akira Nakajima]

She could claim that she knew Demetrius well and how to push all the right buttons to get to him, but the problem was he could do exactly the same thing to her. At the mere mention of her own regrets Akira faulted and broke eye contact, she could not look at him, not when he was bringing up Chihiro.

“Yes I will have my regrets.” She spoke slowly, “But I would never have been able to live with the fact I did nothing to stop anymore families suffering the same pain that I went through.” Her voice wavered slightly; the pain was still all too real for Akira. With a deep breath through to compose herself she managed to find her footing again, and the sly smile spread across her lips once more “But then you were never one for caring how others felts where you Demetrius.”

Her words were not meant to sound bitter but then how could she forget the way that Demetrius had treated her, how she stupidly believed herself to be in love with him. It took a few years for her broken heart to mend, but it was sown together with a thread of hatred and resentment. She had gotten through the dark nights on the run dreaming of his eventfully demise, how she would be the one to finish him off, that one day he would feel the same pain that she did…how Akira just had even more pain to make him suffer.

In the distance the howls of the other Lycans could be heard and yet Demetrius still seemed unfazed by it all. With a small sigh Akira slowly moved towards the closest tree and leaned against the trunk. She had already lost their little staring contest so she saw no point in trying to carry on the act of the tough and unafraid leader; it was clear Demetrius saw past that anyway.

Looking up to the sky Akira could see a few stars glistening in the mass of darkness, when she was younger she would always sit and talk to the stars, tell them her deepest worries and darkest secrets, they never answered back they just listened and that was all she needed.

“You should really go back to your children.” Akira’s purple eyes flashed over the Lycan. “By the sounds of it they want their Daddy.”

[Demetrius Caldwell]

Unfortunatly for Demetrius that was true, Akira was one of the only people who actually knew Demetrius. Only three people in the world could claim to actually know him. Akira, because of what had gone on between them. He had to let her get to know him a little bit or his ploy would never have worked, though of course it hadnt anyway so this did not matter anymore anyway. Alexandria, because the two of them were partners when the Lycans and the Vampires were one clan, he never cared much for Silas or Ranvier. He deemed those two as the worst mistakes Alex had ever made, and of course the one person he would risk his life for. Kane. The person he had agreed to look after as a dying wish to the man he bit first. He was satisfyed however, when Akira broke eye contact and knew with the right words, he had gotten under her skin literally once again.

Demetrius looked away, he was heartless and he was cruel, but he wasnt completly without feelings. He did feel pain and he, himself had regrets. Though Demetrius was just better at hiding it, though he felt more hatred for everyone apart from his own clan than anything else. Demetrius had no reason for killing Chihiro apart from the fact she was an abomination in his eyes. Mixed Lycan with Malkavian, that was where his plan had seriously failed him, he had not wanted to become a father, even though he never fathered her, he just helped create her. The pain inside her eyes when he left her to die was not pysical, only emotional when she realised she was looking up at her father, the man who killed her, and all Demetrius did was smile down upon her, before leaving her to her fate. That was probably the worst thing he had done, but nobody, not even Kane knew he killed his own child. He would never tell anyone cause now, after biting her and ravashing her, her memories had sunk into him and he felt guilty for what he had put Akira and Chihiro through, though he would never admit that.

"Do you not think they suffer because of what you are doing?" He shot back, though when she said he was never one for caring, he looked upon Akira stunned. That was not true, he cared for his clan and their wellbeing. He cared about a lot of things, even the most stony heated of men cared for something and Demetrius was no different. "Like it matters what I am one for, Akira." He smirked, "It is not my fault you could not stay away from me, was it?"

He knew her hatred for him, he could smell it, but at the same time he thought he sensed a flicker of her old feelings for him somewhere deep inside her. Though it was pushed deep it did not mean it would not surface again. She had lost her daughter, and Demetrius was probably just another painful reminder to her, because it was likely when she looked upon Demetrius, she saw her dead daughter looking back at her. Demetrius couldnt help a smirk when he thought of this.

It was hard not to see past Akira's outershell. She had let him in, under her skin and in her mind and her heart, and he could still see through her because no matter how much she tried to cast him out, she couldnt, not properly and this gave Demetrius a sense of victory, knowing how much he had affected her, he did everything to make her believe he was genuine. He had pretended he cared, took her out, treated her like a princess for over three years. It was after he had dropped her painfully with no net to land in, and he just watched.

"You'd know all about that wouldnt you?" He smirked, meaning she would know all about children wanting thier dad. With a feined bow, he smirked, "Then I shall bid you goodnight then, I must attend to my children."

[Akira Nakajima]

Akira’s jaw clenched at Demetrius curt remark about her unable to stay away from him, Chihiro and children wanting there fathers. She knew him to be a cruel sod who cared little for the feeling of others that were not of his species but she always hoped that maybe…she was his own daughter, his flesh and blood as after all that is the reason they were all here on the plant in reality, to have offspring. To put the cream on the cake it seemed that the Lycan wanted to leave it like that, the bow, the smirk it was all there and it was just like he was poised to drop the cherry on top to celebrate his own victory over the Malkavian leader.

Surprising or not Akira would not stand for that.

She knew she had enough built up frustration to not need her lighter this time, all she needed was the negative energy to be channelled and instead of sapping her reserves she can just use that…the perfect way of distressing. There was a small flicker at the end of her figures a flame danced from her thumb to her middle finger and with a small flick a ball of fire appeared and it was soon sent flying over towards Demetrius blocking his exit.

“Oh I am not done with you yet Caldwell.” A playful smile filled Akira’s face. “I think your children can wait a few more hours if you made Chihiro wait all her life.”

Had it been all those years ago when Demetrius and Akira had first met she would have most likely given way, let the Lycan walk all over her but the Malkavian had learnt the hard way that she needed to be strong if she was to get what she wanted. In all honesty Akira did not know what she wanted with Demetrius anymore she hated him so much, she blamed him for everything that went wrong, every Malkavian who died at the hands of a Lycan it had to be his fault. But despite all the blood that he had on his hands a part of her could not stop herself from loving him. He was the first person to show her a form of kindness in the new and scary world, Demetrius had spoiled her but it was all for his own gain, he had used her.

Another gust of the light autumn breeze blew between the trees, the sound of the leaves rustled overhead and in the light of the small fire that was crackling and slowly engulfing the undergrowth Akira could only look upon Demetrius. Her purple eyes fixed upon his silver grey eyes just expecting words to tumble out of her mouth and fill the silence that seemed so deafening, but Akira’s mind was blank and this only vexed the woman even more. She always felt she knew something to say in every situation and that she was always in control (although her emotions seemed to always get the better of her which although some would say made her more human she only saw it has a weakness)

“You would think…” she stared casually running her hand through her shoulder length hair, “…that over a hundred years we would have something to talk about other then ‘who did you bite last night?’ or ‘When was the last time you actually left HQ?’…” Her hand dropt limply to her side. “…but then you and I have always been quite different.”

[Demetrius Caldwell]

He knew he had hit nerves as soon as her jaw clenched, and this satisfied the Lycan greatly. He knew better than most the losses of Akira, a smirk began to fill the Lycans face as more howls from his Manor began to sound. They were calling out for him yet Demetrius was ignoring his children, something he often did unless he was training them. Demetrius had a way with making people feel worse than they did before, he had done it to Alexandria, someone he had spent the better years of his life with, both working and lovers, then to Akira. Taking away from Akira the last thing she cared about was one of Demetrius' finer moments, even though it did fill him with sorrow.

He watched as the flame danced around her fingers, and when it left her hands, blocking his way home he simply laughed, "That is a wondeful trick." He crossed his arms over his chest, apparently unfazed by the flames even if Akira was now stood between him and his other exit. That did not seem to matter much to the Lycan, if he wanted, he could move her with ease anyway, but this was proving to be too much fun to pass up.

"Chihro?" He mused, putting a hand on his chin and furrowing his brow as though in concentration. "The girl always by your side? Young, rather attractive, a lot like you?" He asked as though he didnt know who she was, and as far as Akira was concerned, Demetrius didnt. He shrugged and looked at her, "What does she have to do with me? I did not make her wait for anything as I never knew the girl so therefor I see no connection from her to me." He was lying once more, but Demetrius was so good at it, it was unlikely Akira would figure out if he was lying or not. This always gave him an advantage.

Akira had saved his life many years ago, he had lay injured and dying when she stumbled upon him, she had cured his fatal wounds and immediatly Demetrius was interested in her powers. He had given her a home, looked after her and pretended as though he loved her, and his ploy had worked to a certain point. The two of them had lived in Manchester together, though Demetrius never told her where he really lived, he bought a flat and the two lived, seemingly, happily together there for a good few years. He knew she blamed him for everything that happened, but if she was to send Malkavians into his way, they would be killed. Dog eat dog world, only the toughest survived. Demetrius had up and left one day without a word, Akira was never able to forgive him for that, yet another thing Demetri never cared for.

"Have we?" Demetrius asked, moving closer to the Malkavian so now they were only centremetres apart. He looked down at her, his silver eyes meeting her purple ones. He looked at her exactly how he used too, as if she was all he saw, but he was able to put on expressions easily, yet he didnt doubt she would feel a stab of something. "I didnt bite anyone last night, in fact I havnt bitten anyone for a while, just for the record." He gave a small smirk and tilted his head to the side, putting his hand on her lower back pulling her closer to him so their chest's were touching. "If we were so different, then why did you love me?"

The breeze seemed to travel around them, Akira's hair wafting infront of her face. Demetrius moved her hair with his hand and tilted her head up to look at him. "Why were we together all those years if you thought we were so different?" He smiled, his silver eyes reflecting more of the moonlight than usual, "You see, I dont think we are... I just think you tell yourself that to make you feel better, why? Because I think you're afraid to be who you actually are." He pushed his own head down, his lips meeting hers as he kissed the Malkavian. He was only doing this because he knew he could and he knew it would torture her even more than he already did, and Demetrius loved the effect he had on Akira. She just couldnt stay away from him, even if she wanted to.

[Akira Nakajima]

Every time she heard him say Chihiro’s name she could not help but feel a stab of pain in her heart. Every time she looked at Demetrius Akira would see aspects of her daughter in him and even after over hundred years it still hurt. But even among the twinges of guilt and grief that was surrounding her mind there was something about what Demetrius had said that did not sit right. Maybe it was just her paranoia seeping through and clouding her better judgement and when she was around Demetrius she always had to have a clear head. Especially when he was moving closer to her

“Opposites attract, it is a simple fact of science. Just like how something acidic can be neutralised with an alkaline, how at some point two forces will be in equilibrium.”

Akira was rambling, science and maths was the only thing that made sense, there was something safe about them how there would always be a right answer and there were set rules that everything followed. Akira liked organisation, things that followed a set pattern, some would argue that life would be no fun if it was predictable but then after two hundred years a bit of predictability was always nice. Yet when you were with Demetrius nothing was ever predictable, here they were his strong arms wrapped around her waist they were so close she could feel the warmth of his breath, the familiar smell that forever in her mind would be Demetrius and that look in his cold grey eyes.

Akira knew she needed to move away, she needed to stop herself from falling doing something stupid that would compromise everything the Malkavians had worked for over the years but there was a slight problem, Demetrius had her wrapped around his little finger. His words were like lulling her into a false sense of security, even though she knew he was right her sheer determination to be her own person seemed to falter and as he moved closer her heart stopped. Their lips met and Akira could not help herself, it was like a first kiss all over again, something in all her stupidity she had longed even though she knew that Demetrius would never feel the way she did, how every time he touched her it felt like an electric shock running through her.

Her eyes flashed open mid kiss and quickly her left hand dropt into her pocket and wrapped themselves around the battery she always carried with her. Closing her eyes once more and engrossing herself in the kiss her right hand gently travelled up his chest. Her hand was placed directly over his heart when she let the electricity surge through her and out her right hand. Breaking away from the kiss with a small satisfied smile she pushed herself up onto her tiptoes and leaned close to his ear, whispering softly almost in fear that anyone else might hear.

“Now you know how I feel.”

Her hand let go of the battery in her pocket and the current stopped and as she stood firmly on the ground once more. She still had her hand on resting Demetrius chest and gave it a few small pats before stepping away. It would have been a lie for Akira to say that it had enjoyed the kiss but she did not want a repeat of what had happened in the past she knew that her heart would not be able to with stand the pain anymore but more importantly she knew that her mind would not allow it either. She had grown a lot since the day she met Demetrius, he had taught her a lot about life but after he had left her reality bit hard and fast and she had to adapt. She was no longer that love struck naïve Japanese girl who was new to a strange world, she was a leader a determined, life experienced leader who harboured a small crush for the enemy.

[Demetrius Caldwell]

Demetrius was always happy with the effect he had on Akira. It was something he never grew tired of having the upperhand with. In his own way, Demetrius still cared, but he would never show it to her. In fact, he was hell bent on destroying everything around her. His plan had failed in the beginning, then he was father to an abomination, then they got involved in the war which placed Akira as his enemy, there was no two ways looking on that. So, he was treating her exactly the same way he would any of his other enemies.

"It never lasts though does it," He smirked, "Everything is set for a fall, and unless I'm killed, which by your crowds measly play toys and the Vampires mismatched skills, it is doubtful. So I will still be here years after you are not. Still playing my part in this world."

Taking refuge in simple Human things. Maths and Science didnt mean a thing to him, of course he used it but he wasnt really that fussed about them. Demetrius could easily survive without that mass of number or knowing how many atoms is in such a thing. He knew Akira liked stable, and things that she could answer simply by looking at a perodic table. Demetrius however, liked unstability and the rush that came with the not knowing. He didnt know what would happen now he had wrapped his arms around her. For all he knew she would electricute him into the next century. However, she seemed to just stand there and do nothing. He could do anything, bite her, kill her, rip her throat out, and now she wouldnt have enough time to react.

But he didnt.

He loved the effect he had on her, how she didnt even try and fight him. He, whether she liked it or not, was in the centre of her world. The very core. Not only was he in her heart, but he held the answers she so longingly wanted to find out. Things he would never tell, however this did not mean she wouldnt find out. She would in the end and a part of him was waiting for that confrontation, one that would be a final confrontation for one of them. However, Demetrius was confident, the only one who really posed a threat to him was Alexandria. The rest were just ants to him. Including her generals. They could inflict decent enough damage sure but, they could never kill him.

What were Malkavians? Citizen bloody soldiers? Caring for the Humans and fighting to protect the Humans who would never accept them, not only that but Demetrius could feel a darkness rising. Something bad was coming, not just for him. For all of them. He knew that the Vampires would have sensed it, why else would they have gone to fetch that Seer? His eyes snapped open when he felt a surge of electricity surge through him, giving his heart a good jolt. Raising his eyebrows he smirked.

"I never expected anything less."

[nefasturris]

i was standing watching from a far away position sensing there words and there thoughts i folded my arms and listening in slience simply smiled as the darkness wrapped around me and shrouded me from detection as if i was never there