Axel was furious, he had gone to see Jean-Claude to set things right and sort out the mess that this city had turned to since the last master was in control and had met her demise at the hands of Anita and others. While yes he was angry he was not going to take it out on any other vampires or humans that were in the.
Though he had found himself at Anita’s apartment, he knocked on the door and waited for her to answer it, when she did he looked at her, his face showing the anger he felt. “Evening Ms. Blake.”
Anita cautiously took hold of his hand with her hand, being sure that she left her gun slinging hand free. She wasn’t too big on holding hands, especially with the amount of surprise visits that seemed to threaten her livelyhood. It was rare for her to ever feel safe, especially when her hands were compromised, but once again, for the sake of cordiality she at least gave him the hand that didn’t do the most damage.
“Thank you, Mr. Alrikson,” she nodded again, taking the steps calmly as she reached to doorway, shaking her head slowly with a casual smirk touching her lips. “This is a pissing contest,” Anita glanced up to the vampire, “Just don’t put me in the crossfire, ohkay?” She slipped her hand out of his grasp and pushed the door open, taking a moment to appreciate the cooling air as it took off her last edge and headed, gratefully, to her car. Mind set to enjoying the rest of her evening with Sigmund and an even warmer bed.
“It is not a pissing contest. I am showing the Master that he is not in charge right now and that I am displeased with him.” He told her as she slipped her hand out of his. As she pushed the door open he leaned forward and kissed her cheek lightly. “Thank you very much for again taking time out of your night to come here, you could have turned me down.” He said softly.
He had no plans of putting her in the crossfire should anything happen between himself and Jean-Claude. “Enjoy the rest of your evening, try to relax and get some sleep.” He smiled as he watched her go to the car, he closed the door and went back to the party.
The party died down just before sunrise when all the vampires had to go for the night and sleep during the day, he had staff to clean the ballroom while he slept.
“Right.” And now was it suggested for her to be social? Anita, social? She could almost hear everyone of her friends laughing at that concept and had to smirk at the thought herself. On the plus side, at least she did show up, make a scene, and capture the attention of the host longer than was probably necessary- so all she had to do is not cause any more trouble for the rest of the night and it was a good day. “I think, I’ll.. I’ll head home.”
She smiled gently again and couldn’t shake the feeling of whether or not she should bow again, and decided to at least nod her head to him. “Thanks again for the invitation.”
For a moment, the animator had a flashing thought of whether or not she should ask him about his further plans. As far as she knew he did not make an appearance at Guilty Pleasures or to Jean-Claude at all and it was her guess that such a thing was an offence. The thought flashed across her face and she decided that it was best not to throw herself into the musings of the vampire world any more than she already did.
“Uh, enjoy the revelry.”
He was one of the few Master vampires that didnt have a human servant and he would keep it that way till he found someone who would be right for him. When she said she would head home he slipped off of his stool and held his hand out to her, planning on seeing her to the door before she left. “You are most welcome, I will be sure to invite you along again to my next function.”
He gave her a nod in return and flashed a wide smile at her. “I shall enjoy it, do not be a stranger Anita, come see me anytime you wish. If you require help I will give it freely.” Axel told her as he gently took her hand and started to walk to the front door with her. “And if your master is unhappy with me tell him to come and see me.” He smirked know that it would annoy both her and Jean-Claude. “Also if you want to know more about being his human servant I will answer all questions.”
Anita was surprised, and she wasn’t usually surprised. It was pleasant and it calmed her, he calmed her and something about that made her nervous, but in less mysterious ways. Her smile came again, soft and sorrowful as it were as she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth again and half coughed half chuckled. “Well, I don’t have a choice in this.”
She looked down at the floor for a moment before meeting his gaze again. “I’m sorry, I’m a mess and I’ve ruined your party.” Anita laughed again, although it held almost no humor, “I, uh. I think I feel better,” she took the chance to glance at their peers, the music had picked up and they no longer felt it was smart to stare, but couldn’t help to keep the two in their peripherals. “Thanks.”
“I know that, but you should have had a choice in this. I have never marked anyone and I never would without telling them everything that came with it.” He told her with a smile. “I know what is like to have something forced upon you so I would never do it to anyone.”
As she meet his gaze he was surprised it was the first time she had done it since he had met her. “You have not ruined my party, look around everyone else is having fun and for once behaving.” He chuckled as everyone stopped staring at the two. “If you wish to still leave though I will not stop you. You may leave and return home.”
Anita flinched slightly at his touch, thankful that it was light and warm and yet that still irked her. But it wasn’t his fault, none of her anger was necessarily directed at him but he didn’t happen to get the brunt of it by association. “Do we not get a choice?” She felt the rising whelm of tears attempting to breath through her otherwise tough exterior. “Are we just play things for you guys whenever you see fit? Fuck…”
Anita breathed heavily and ignored the slow moving crowd of onlookers, pushing her hand over her pale face and attempting to cool down as her hand followed the long dark curls. She took the time to look at the vampire again, shaking her head as the image of him as a human happened to slide across her vision, a smile touch her lips at the thought of him chasing wild fantasy for the affection of a girl.
“Why are you being so kind to me? No fancy vampire tricks or eloquent phrases… Just.. Why?”
He kept his hand on her even as she flinched from his touch, he understood her anger as it hadnt even been his choice to become a vampire all though years ago, he like her had been forced into something that he didnt choose. “Yes you have a choice, I give everyone a choice, and unlike other vampires I do not feed from humans…I only drink from blood bags. No human is my play thing.” He explained to her.
He looked at the others that were watching and gave them a look to mind their own business. When she smiled he smiled back at her and moved his hand off of her arm.
“Why should I need a reason to be nice? I am a nice person, I was nice when I was a human and I believe it shouldnt change when you become a vampire. I have no need to put a show on like others.” Axel sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“Oh.” She nodded solemnly, her eyes drifting to the dark bubbling glass, “So that would make you at least 500 years old?” Anita’s eyes darted once again, testing at first to his true eye and then slowly to the paler one, “Then your eye, and the limp. Was that before you were turned?” Something about him confused her. He was genuine and it seemed kind natured, how could someone live for that long and be, well, gentle? It didn’t make sense, and her confusion was plain across her brows as the furrowed once more in thought. He was a council member, and from what she gathered, those could be the most ruthless of killers. Did he only choose to hide this from Anita? And if so, what was his end all game?
“What?” The anger poured from her lips like the sweetest of honeys. Her heartbeat began to speed up again, this time not from any sort of fear but rather from the rage and determination to destroy, to hurt and maim- none of it directed at her current companion. “That fucking asshole,” she growled and slammed her glass on the table to the astonishment of the bartender and their ball patrons. How could he do that to her? She was stuck, stuck between a rock and a hard place and if there were anyone near to know her personality, Anita was not one to appreciate her choices being limited, and was even worst when placed in a corner.
“And his death my kill me, right?” She looked up at the older vampire again, her mouth pulled tight as she bit on her bottom lip in defiance, the fire burning sharply in her gaze. “He ‘gave’ me the second one to save his own sorry life,” she spat, shifting uneasily in her chair. “I’m sorry… I… I should go.”
“I am over 500.” He told her as he watched her eyes looking at his. “I was born blind in my right eye and the limp is from when I decided to impress a girl when I was 15. I tried to jump from one rooftop to another and fell, breaking my leg in the process. Medicine back then wasnt like it is today, the doctor did not set it right and I was left with a limp.” He explained to her, when she furrowed her brows and looked confused he tiled his head to the side. “Why so confused Ms. Blake?” Axel asked her.
He recoiled at her anger and he reached out and lightly touched her arm. “He is indeed a fucking asshole for what he did to you. As I said the first mark was understandable in order to save you but he should have explained the marks to you and given you the choice.” He sighed and looked at her, his gaze soft.
“I am not sure about the death part with only the two marks. If you had all four and he was to die then yes you would as well.” Axel told her as he picked up his drink and sipped it. “Do not go just because you are angry at a master vampire that misused his powers on you.”
It was still a little off-putting that vampires could sense her feelings, especially now that the closest vampire she knew was Jean-Claude and because of the marks he could no longer tell what she thought, that is other than the supposed sexual tension between the two. Although she couldn’t lie, he was attractive- as were lions, tigers, and bears (oh my), but that didn’t mean that she was going to pounce on them and call them Fluffy.
Anita was busy drinking her soda and slightly swinging her short legs against the bar stool to realize that Axel found his way next to her. A small yelp of surprise squeaking from her lips and she instantly frowned in indignation. “How about a grunt or shuffling your feet before you sneak up on someone,” she frowned deeper.
“Wait,” her brow tilted at that, “Are you religious?” It never was lost to the animator and executor that a vampire could be religious, although it seemed it was like finding a needle in a hastack. Something about wanting to tear the living daylights out of a baby might have altered a vampires idea on God and his friends. “I mean, I’ve met a few- The Church of Eternal Life to name, but they are a bit… well, over the top.”
She turned towards the vampire and looked down at the nape of her neck, deciding to push the small pendant into the abyss of her dress so not to distract him with its light. There wasn’t much of a reason to by cordial with him other than the fact that he was trying, and maybe the enemy of her enemy was her friend? That is, if she was deciding to rule against Jean-Claude, which provoked a thought.
“How can you get out of a vampire mark?”
Axel chuckled at the small yelp that came from her as he sat down. He nodded and smiled as he sipped his drink. “I shall walk a little louder next time.” He told her with a wide smirk, he hadnt meant to give her a fright as he assumed she would be expecting him or someone else to sit next to her.
“I am. When I was a human my family were pagans till the Christians came and showed us their god. And my father believed in god more than the pagan gods so we converted to Christianity. I still believe in god.” He explained, perhaps giving a little too much of himself away in the process. “The church of Eternal Life are not….true followers of Christ.” Axel mumbled.
As she put her cross away he nodded his head slightly, silently thanking her for it, he turned on the stool and raised an eyebrow as she asked how to get out of the marks. “The only way to get rid of them is for another master vampire to mark you more than Jean-Claude has. Or death.” He sighed, knowing thats not the answer she wanted.
“From what you have told me I can understand him giving you the first mark to save your life but the second was not needed…He should not have forced any on you. THe marks are to be taken on by someone who wants to serve the vampire for the rest of their life.”
“Well, I don’t necessarily enjoy being in the middle of your vampire pissing contest or even a prized pony between you two. I already have to deal with more than I want to in this than being the butt of the joke.”
Anita was tired. But not nearly tired enough to appreciate the way his accent touched her name. It was different than how Jean-Claude spoke it, the sensual vampire always attempting to woo her and bribe her into accepting a so-called gift that she wanted nothing to do with. Once again, Anita wanted to believe that Axel wished well, it touched somewhere in her humanity and her desire to accept everyone by their actions and their promises. But that had never worked out for her in the past and she doubted that it would change in any time in the future.
“Thanks,” she smiled tightly again, her eyes darting to his fangs, trying to ignore the roaring rush of blood to her ears as fear attempted to take hold. “Thanks for your hospitality.” There was a moment that she felt that she needed to bow, but laughed at the thought and took the opportunity to slowly walk away first, keeping him in her peripherals while she moved towards the bar in search of a soda to calm her nerves.
Anita found herself the entertainment for most of the party patrons. Having to catch the stares of both human and vampire, and what ever else goes bump in the night set her in an almost sour mood. She knew what everyone saw when they looked at her, The Executioner, The Master of St. Louis pet attack dog. And boy, did she hate it. She hated that now the humans looked at her with pity and disgust and she hated that she almost felt the same way whenever her eyes caught the mirror. God, was she a joke.
Grabbing her cross necklace that was hidden beneath her dress and against her chest, Anita set it directly in the middle. At least now when the hungered vampires would turn to sneer or leer at her they would get an eye full of the silver light. “Coke, please.”
He laughed at her calling what he was doing a pissing contest. “You are not a pony Anita, I would never think of you as an animal. And I am trying to put your maser in his place.” He explained. “And you will never be the butt of one of my jokes.”
As she thanked him he could hear her heatbeat pick up in speed and he could feel that she was feeling a little scared. “I am sorry if I have scared you Ms. Blake. I shall take my leave for now, if you need me I will not be too far away.” Axel said with a small bow before turning on his heel and walking away from her.
He went and mingled with the humans and vampires that were there to see him and try to get on his good side, he disliked their attempts which were mostly telling him secrets about the master of the city and his new servant. He wasn’t really focused on them anyway his mind and eyes were more looking at Anita as she sat at the bar.
He excused himself from the others and made his way over to the bar sitting down next to her and ordering a whiskey. “I miss being able to wear one.” He told her as he pointed to her cross.
Just as it was when she had first met him, Anita felt his presence before he entered the ballroom and from the silence of the court, it seemed so did everyone else. He walk was smoother than last time and his presence was even stronger and that made her both wonder and worry, she could tell that he had already eaten but was wonder what gave him such an extra edge of power.
She still wasn’t interested in the politics that vampires played around with each other, monarchs and all, but Anita understood now that she was forced into this world. Birthed into the deep darkness under the likeness of a trained monkey. A puppet for the now Master of the City and mouth piece… She didn’t like it not one bit.
“Mr. Alrikson,” she smiled sharply, “He’s not my Master.” He was barely a companion. Jean-Claude was good for fear tactics and beauty consultation at this point in her life. She wasn’t briefed on what it meant to be a vampire servant, she wasn’t given the options to weigh before being forced into submission and she wasn’t going down easily.
“Speaking of which, did his invite get lost in the mail or something?”
Axel was well aware of the effect he had on others and that wasn’t because of his powers as a vampire, he had managed to even draw the attention onto himself when he had been a human, he smiled as everyone started to talk among themselves once he had finished talking. He hoped that his words would keep them inline though he was ready to deal with any should they decided to go against what he said.
“Ah but he is whether you choose to accept it or not. He has marked you as his human servant and everyone in this room know that.” At the question of her masters invitation he just laughed and tilted his head towards her. “Have you not realised that I do not care for him. He forced the marks upon you and he is no better than Nikolaos from what i have heard. Sure he does not treat them like she used to but he is not as nice as he seems Anita.” Axel told her, this time actually using her first name rather than calling her Ms. Blake.
“If you request that I be nicer and perhaps invite him to my next thing….I may take it into consideration.” Axel smiled this time flashing the tips of his fangs at her. “Please enjoy yourself this evening, I will try to promise that nothing will happen that requires you to use your guns.”
There was nowhere Anita felt more out of place than at any vampire gathering, especially where gowns and suits and symphonies played waltz in revolving succession.
If it wasn’t for the ravings and almost pleading of Katherine paired with the solemn and dejected mutterings of Jean-Claude, Anita would’ve happily found herself snuggled in bed with her stuffed penguin. As opposed to attempting to walk and fit her guns in the tight dress picked by the French vampire, hating every moment that she felt her scars being ransacked by the eyes of her peers. Why Jean-Claude took her coat away from her at the last minute went beyond her, but he was certain to get a true talking to when she could, after dealing with whatever reason she received the invitation to the Council Vampire and he didn’t.
Anita stood closest to the shadows and nearest to the walls. Her dark eyes darting around for any sign of trouble and hoping not to cause any. Thankfully, she realized that she wasn’t the only human in the building, the club appearing more enthusiastic as her first visit a few months ago. Still, she felt like she was being watched, and that never helped an already trigger happy woman.
Axel wasn’t one for throwing parties or balls but he had felt the need to make his presence more know in the city, after all he had chosen to stay there for a while longer. He ran a hand through his hair and tried to make it sit as flat as he could before straitening out his suit and tie.
He had chosen not to invite the master as he had been doing things that the other did not like. Axel had also made sure that Anita had gotten a invite, just to rub it in Jean-Claude’s face a little and he was sure that the master of the city would try and make it so that Anita was dressed as he wanted.
Axel stepped down stairs and into the ballroom, looking around at the others, knowing that their eyes were on him, he had fed that night so that his limp wasnt as pronounced as it had been when he meet Anita in his club. “Evening all. Welcome to my Ball, please do not feed on the wait staff and behave yourselves for one evening.” He told them as he walked through the crowd till he found Anita.
“Good evening Ms. Blake. I see your Master picked out your dress for the evening.” He commented with a smirk.
the-solitary-monster 
