The Siren's Song

[Ashton]

Who was she to... Ashton growled and picked up his wallet as he walked by. "Whatever." He wanted to ask here where she thought she got off with telling him about how to use his ability. But then she was fucking Atharim. She killed people and other living creatures for a living. But he didn't say anything. Nox would be pissed if he upset her. She, like him, was one of his strays, someone he vowed to protect and that last thing in the world Ashton wanted to do was alienate Nox. He was their savior, their light and he was the only reason they had a home right now. And she was part of it.

Ashton stormed out of the room.

[Anna]

Ashton left the room in a huff upset at Elyse’s comment. Elyse wasn’t responding to it well. Her friend wasn’t crying, but Elyse could see the pain in her face. ”Elyse…” she said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

”Why do I keep pushing people away…” she said. ”I don’t know who I am anymore.”

The words concerned Anna. It was just the way Elyse said them. She was relapsing. ”Everything is going to be fine Elyse. Do you want to talk to Ashton? There something I can do to help? Elyse shrugged.

Anna didn’t like that either. Her shrug was more of an I don’t care than an I don’t know. Anna was pretty close to calling emergency services. Elyse’s wallet buzzed and the woman picked it up to read a message. No matter what - Anna wasn’t leaving Elyse alone today.

[Elyse]

Ashton’s exit said a lot to Elyse - probably more than words would have. She knew why he had left and it was more than just her words. It was that she had said them. She had harmed people. Just the day before she had helped plot the assassination of her father.

She was a fucking hypocrite.

Anna spoke to her and Elyse’s responses weren’t great. Elyse was relapsing into her depressed state and the bad thoughts were there too. They were exacerbated by the text message she had received from Marta. Nox wasn’t doing well and it was probably her fault. It would have all been better had she not been here. None of this would have happened.

Elyse sent a message to Hayden after confirming to Marta she would. Nox is at his building. Marta says he smells numb and needs help. she didn’t include that she did too. Nox was more important that she was and needed Hayden more.

She wasn’t sure why she did it, but she sent a message to Sage. Maybe it’s because she knew he would watch if he knew what was on her mind. I don’t know who I am anymore. I want to hurt myself again.

Fingers went to her arms and began to scratch. Anna’s hands grabbed hers. ”Thoughts of self harm?” Elyse nodded.

”I need to talk to Ashton - alone.” Elyse stood.

Anna stood too and began to follow. Elyse was about to respond, but Anna interrupted. ”Youre not going anywhere alone.”

Elyse didn’t argue. It felt good to hear Anna say that. She was able to follow Ashton’s scent and find him. ”Can I talk to you…please?” she asked. She could feel Anna’s eyes on her - a constant watcher making sure she didn’t do anything to harm herself.

[Sage]

Why when things went bad did it do it on top of one another. Nox hadn't exactly told him what was going on but he pulled the footage from the last few hours and pieced it all together.

But Elyse's words were concerning and a mass warning text went out to Adrian, Hayden, Carmen and Nox about the potential for self harm. He just forwarded the text to them so they could see it for themselves.

And then he responded with a short video clip of Elyse on stage happily dancing away followed by a few cat videos that might cheer her up. In the mix was also a short clip of him acting like a freak the night they danced together. With the caption "Find a happy place"

[Ashton]

Ashton was stomping around the club. He could go home, but then he'd have to see Nox and explain. He could stay here but he wasn't in the mood. It was dark and dreary and his voice was going to crack so he needed to leave and be alone.

But he didn't get far before Elyse and Anna trailing after her caught up to him. He held his voice level tone, completely devoid of any emotions as he turned around. "I don't need to hear an apology. We are what we are and there is no changing it. I'm just another monster in your eyes."

[Elyse]

Elyse looked at him, meeting his gaze. His words hurt, but she deserved it. ”No it won’t change what I said. Nothing will. You’re not just another monster to me - I’m a bigger monster than you’ll ever be. I’m a fucking hypocrite. I apologize for what I said. I shouldn’t have said it. I can’t take it back but I’m going to try to do better. I don’t ask you to set this aside. You can hate me - I deserve no less than that from you, but I’d like to try to fix this. I want to be better. Is there something I can do?”

[Anna]

Anna followed. This had the potential to go bad. Tensions were high and Elyse was damn near suicidal. Anna prepared her power. She would restrain Elyse if needed, but Ashton didn’t know what was going on.

”Shes thinking of hurting herself, Ashton. She didn’t know what she was saying!”

[Ashton]

Ashton rolled his eyes. Bigger monster -- maybe but that wasn't remorse it was guilt talking. But he didn't hate her. Hate was a powerful thing. And Ashton didn't hate anyone not even the Blackthorns they were just living a life they could live. They were monsters too but they were people. They had lives, and loved ones and family. They were his family, but he didn't miss them -- not even a little. He had a new family now.

Anna blurted out Elyse's intention of harming herself. She didn't do it to make things worse or better but as a statement of fact, but that sorta removed any reaction Ashton had for himself about the situation. He couldn't yell at her or tell her what he thought and if he did she might go and try to do the shit she was thinking.

"I don't hate you. And there is nothing you can do to fix it." He had so many things to say but he didn't say them. Ashton added as clarification "There's nothing broken."

But he didn't stay where he was. He headed for the coat room to find his coat and then he was leaving. He didn't want to be here anymore.

[Hayden]

Four text in almost rapid succession. First Nox wanting to talk. Hayden didn't nearly understand what any of it meant. Or how any of the things he said were gone could just vanish. It didn't seem possible.

The next text was Elyse -- Marta worried about Nox. So something was obviously up with Nox if he smelt numb -- whatever that meant. But he trusted the girls instincts. Though Nox being numb was probably a good thing. Numb sounded like no emotions. And if his emotions weren't there they would only have to worry about what he might do with out that gut check. It would be a good idea to talk to him. See what his plans were.

But then the next text rolled in with a quoted text from Sage about Elyse. And Hayden sighed. "What the fuck is up with these people?" Hayden had worked with Atharim before, talked them through some horrible shit. Hayden was kinda glad that Elyse was out of the biz, he was pretty sure she couldn't cut it in the long run. Shit hits the fan a lot when you work for a secret society who kills things and people for a living.

On the heels of the warning Nox sent another message.

I'm fine. Deal with Elyse. I'm not in a bad place -- honest. I have Lily with me. I won't do anything with her here. You know that. I'm going to see a man about a song.

Hayden didn't know exactly what the last one meant, but Hayden did know that Lily was his life line. She was the reason he got out of bed in the morning, and his entire morality without that gut check was going to be answered by how it affected Lily or the rest of the family.

What do you do when the survival of one trumps the survival of the other. Hayden's job and his stay in Moscow relied on Nox's continued service to the Atharim. He could stay, work Moscow like London, but his father would prefer if he returned. This was supposed to be Ethan's territory. Not that he'd seen hide-nor-hair of his brother/father since he got here. And he didn't expect he would anyway, even if Ethan knew he was in town.

But Elyse was far more fragile than Nox. Nox was already dealing with intrusive thoughts from his upbringing. His life with his father and the things he'd suppressed as a younger person. Elyse was self sacrificing, so was Nox. Hayden growled.

It was ultimately Nox's promise to not go out like his father did. He wouldn't take the easy way out. That meant he wouldn't succumb to drugs or alcohol. He'd not slice his wrists or put a bullet in his brain. He wouldn't leave a mess for his family to clean up. And Nox was a man of his word, even if he fucks up at times. He never stops trying.

Hayden grabbed his coat and went to Kallisti.

[Anna]

Anna went to Elyse who dropped to the floor as soon as Ashton left. Elyse was sobbing now and Anna wrapped her in a hug. Elyse sobbed into her shoulder. ”It will be okay, Elyse. You didn’t do anything wrong. It will be okay. I’m here. We’re all here for you.”

Anna couldn’t hold back her tears anymore though. She cried too, worrying about her friend. Anna took Elyse’s wallet, which was in her hand and looked at the last message. It was a breach of trust but Anna needed to know who she contacted. It was…Sage?

That was odd - why would she send the kid who was always high a message. Anna sent one to him from her own wallet. Help coming?

If the answer was no or he didn’t respond, she’d call the ambulance.