The First Age

((OoC: Anyone who resides there or who would happen to be there can post - I know most of the residents are still busy in the morning after thread - so no worries if not :-D ))

Elyse hasn’t slept the night before. It was a combination of a new living arrangement and all the thoughts in her mind that just wouldn’t shut up. Anna had been a good distraction for her. She had talked a lot about Cade and how stupid she felt for having what she called a “high school crush” but deep down Anna knew it was okay. Elyse hoped she texted him soon if for no other reason than to keep in touch. It sounded like they were going to do something after Cade met Nox though. 

Anna had left when Mae had gotten back home. And Mae was always a good distraction. Elyse hadn’t fallen asleep but had still felt Mae wrapped around her all night. That had been a comfort at least. Elyse hadn’t fallen asleep tried to stay still so that she didn’t wake Mae. 

But now she pulled her wallet out and checked the time. A little before six. Carefully, Elyse pulled herself out from underneath Mae and began to pull some clothes on. A little food and a lot of coffee would go a long way. Dressed she left the room, closing to door quietly behind her. 

Heading down the stairs she checked to see what time it was in the US - Moscow was at least 9 hours ahead. That meant it was about 10 PM yesterday where Nox was. Well maybe. It depended on where he was, but if he was farther west it would be earlier. Having thought about it all night she sent him a text. She felt compelled to. 

Hey Nox. I’m sorry that my stupid mistake brought you into this mess…should have never made that phone call. But thank you - for everything you’re doing.

She didn’t need to say more than that. She knew trying to convince him not to wouldn’t do anything. The tears began to build up again. Nox was paying for her mistake. She knew a lot of her emotions with regard to this was because she was exhausted. Really thinking about it, she knew that her father would have found out eventually. Long enough silence from her would compel him to search. At least this way she knew he was coming. 

But Elyse knew of Nox’s nightmares. Better than many. And she would add another person’s life to his conscience. The guilt he would feel with this was her fault, and she wouldn’t, no couldn’t, forget that. She had fucked up. And others were paying the price. 

She made it to the kitchen and one of the men who had assisted the night before was there, sipping a cup of coffee. He moved immediately when seeing her tears. ”Its okay, little wolf,” he said. ”You're protected.”

He mistook her tears as tears of sadness when really it was guilt that drove them right now. Her mother’s blood was on her hands and so was Nox’s guilt. 

But he got her a cup of coffee, and that would help. At least it would wake her up enough so that she could think clearly. ”Thanks,” she said with a brief smile. ”Im sorry - I don’t know your name.”

”Adrian, little wolf,” he said. ”cream or sugar?” Elyse shook her head no. ”Besides, I hear you’re a good shot with that big gun of yours. You can protect yourself too, no?”


Elyse laughed. ”I can, but I’m out of practice. Need to hit the range soon.”

”When you do, I’ll go too. Have ourselves a little competition, da?

Elyse smiled and nodded. It would be fun. But not today. She had things to do today.

Nox sent Elyse a response the first chance he got.


I promised I'd always keep you safe. That never changed. Not ever.

And don't worry about me, I know you are. I'll be fine.

And so will you. We always think family will understand, but that's not always the case. This is not your fault.

[[ooc: Not adding any action to Nox cause I honestly don't know what he'd be doing at 10pm on this night]]

Liam was curled up on the couch watching a random movie with the security camera's feed hovering in the upper right corner. It cycled through all the cameras around the neighborhood. No one needed to watch it, it was all automated and Sky would alert them to anything. But he saw when their newest arrival had come down the stairs. The bodyguard/bouncer dude from Kallisti sat at the counter drinking coffee.

"Can't sleep either? Been here a few days, and I know it's safe, but still can't get used to it. It's so quiet here. And I don't have to worry about being up at the ass crack of dawn to feed the Blackthorns and..." He didn't say more, didn't really want to remember more. Soon Liv would be up and they'd start getting things ready for the rest of the kids. Liv didn't have school, but she had to start looking for a job, none of them wanted to be deadbeats.

Elyse checked her wallet as it beeped to see a response from Nox. She sighed. He meant well, but it wasn’t that simple. She couldn’t just let this go. Likely Nox understood that too, but she could try. But felt Nox would respect the truth.

It’s going to be a while before I believe that.

Suddenly another voice entered their conversation. Elyse turned golden eyes to face the young man, maybe 17 or 18, who sat watching a movie. It was a mark of her tiredness that she hadn’t noticed him sitting there. Elyse was meeting the first of her housemates.

”Nope couldn’t sleep. The quiet I don’t mind so much though,” she shrugged. ”That will probably change in a few days. I’m Elyse. Forgive me not standing to come shake your hand or something.” the sentence was punctuated with a yawn. Adrian refilled her coffee.

Liam smiled. "I know who you are. I'm Liam. And I don't mind. We all sorta just fell into this place not knowing anyone. Not even, Nox. Though Ashton and Liv got to know him better in the cage. I didn't go down there often. I'm just waiting for Nox to come home and kick us out. No idea why he's being so nice to us. We kidnapped him and fed him to our masters. It's not like he owes us anything. At least he knows you. He saved Miss Mara too, doesn't know her any more than the rest of us. I mean I'm grateful, but nothing good ever happens to us."

Her wallet beeped again, and Elyse looked at it with a frown. Nox wouldn’t let it go. He’d probably see it as his duty to protect her, and in reality, she didn’t want him to let it go. Deep down the text was because she knew he understood the guilt she felt.

Ill try to remember. Maybe make a sign for my wall so I read it everyday. All I know is now it hurts. Like something is eating me from the inside. And all I can think of is that I fucked up and nothing is taking that thought away now. I promise I’ll try to remember.

Liam’s introduction increased the guilt slightly. There were people who had it worse than her. These strays Nox took in for one. Sounded like they were in a family of rougs. Shit. Her father wanted to murder her and others had it worse. There are true monsters for the Atharim to hunt. Some of them within their own ranks.

”Nox won’t throw you out. Trust me on that. It’s who he is,” she forced a smile she didn’t feel, despite speaking the truth. ”He took you in because you needed help and that’s what he does. I’m sure he did the same for Mara too.”

Liam smiled back at her though his was geniune. "You don't have to pretend to be happy or well adjusted for me, for any of us really. We know Nox does, what little he's been here. But you don't have to. He doesn't either. I don't think there is a single well adjusted person living here, except maybe Lily but that's only cause she's a baby and brand new to the world. Lily will never know the fate she had in store for her. I don't think they'd let Max keep another girl, not when Iz was having his son."

Liam realized he was just spilling everything out. He needed the outlet, but this was a stranger, a stranger he was living, but still a stranger. "I'm sorry. I don't need to drop all our problems on you. You got enough to deal with. Can't imagine being hunted. Nox will take care of it though. He took out the whole mansion while he was near dying. I can't imagine how fucking scary he is when he's feeling normal."

Nox texted again. She knew it was helping even if she didn’t show it.

Ill be careful. I know I’m not restricted in my movements but I’m planning to mostly stay in your perimeter until things are taken care of. Unless I have to go out.

Emotionally, Mae has been a big help. And Anna, she’s a delight. Probably my new best friend :-D

I’m gonna be out today - looking for a good discreet tattoo artist. Know any good ones. I want it gone.

She turned back to Liam. ”Say whatever you need to say. Holding it in doesn’t help. Sometimes I should open up a little more myself. And the smile - it’s more for myself. Fake it until you make it you know?”