The Ultimate Reality

[Nox]

The night was an utter waste of time. Pyotr was boring as usual - without Bas hanging was difficult. There was always this awkward feeling when Pyotr was around. The whole catching his friend checking him out made Nox nervous. It wasn't the first time a guy had shown interest. It wasn't likely the last time either. It came with the whole I am great philosophy, Nox expected a few guys to pick up the vibe too. Nox knew his egotism was getting the better of him, but who was he to purge such fantastical thoughts from his own head. Everyone thought they were great. It helped Nox get through the day. Every fucking day - every nightmare - every hunt gone wrong - every disappointing failure of his life.

And right now even the beer and the good show was hardly a match for the resounding depression lingering inside. His life was empty without Aurora. Celebrating Bas was just a facade. Nox wanted to curl up in his bed alone and fall into the black hole of grief. But he pushed forward - he made himself get up after his nightmares and use Dorian's basement to get a good workout in. He made himself make breakfast instead of letting Christian cook for him. Everyday was a new challenge. Tonight had been no different. It was just another string of failures right after the other. Something Nox should have been used to by now, but he wasn't.

But the night changed when Bas' thug friends showed up and pointed to the dangerous woman who was stalking a uniformed soldier. Her blood red lips, the slinky black dress and the high heels spoke danger, but it was the way she moved that said she was a predator. She moved with the grace of a cat, but with the attitude of a King Cobra who knew exactly what she was doing.

Nox watched as she spoke to the man in uniform. His companions were now lost in the murmur of the club. He had only eyes for the danger at hand. It was perfect - beautiful. The hunt - it called strongly to him. Almost as strong as the power of the gods. The two combined were the only thing worth getting out of bed in the morning. He was going soft in the few days he'd been at Dorian's. He would have to remedy that.

Pyotr left him hanging alone with the two thugs. There was no reason to stay so Nox dropped some cash on the table and smiled. "Enjoy your night. I'm gonna see about a girl." It was meant as a tip for the waitress but if they wanted to grab it would barely buy another drink in that joint. Nox had already spent way too much money and he really had no means of making more money now that he wasn't going to get a check from the Atharim much longer. Just another piece bullshit that he had to deal with - thanks Aria.

Nox dropped the power and walked casually over to the pair he hadn't taken his eyes from. He looked the uniform up and down with a grin then turned to the she-devil in disguise. "I don't think your uniform wants to play. I'm game." He leaned close to whisper into her ear, careful not to touch her in any place. "I can be anything you want, Duckling."

She slowly turned her gaze to him, those dark predatory eyes both frightening and hypnotic. For a moment, it seemed he could get lost in them. A single hand teased out slowly, the sharp blood red nails tipping the long elegant fingers playing with the pearls at her throat. Voice throaty. "Duckling..." she said, as if savoring the words. A hint of a smile touched her blood red lips. A low chuckle from her throat, felt as much as heard. "And you. You wish to be my... lamb?"

He bit his bottom lip in anticipation of what those fingers on her necklace could do. He chuckled at her words as much as his own thoughts. She'd rip him open like that lamb, but it was all part of the game. Nox loved the game. "I don't know if I will bleat well, but I'll be your lamb." It hadn't sounded so cheezy in his head. "I'll be your anything. I'll do anything. Tell me your fantasy and I'll grant it." The line rarely worked in this fashion, but it had worked in the past.

She looked at him and then back to the uniformed man with a sly grin. "And you? Do have anything to say?" Nox wondered if she wanted to play more than just a simple game. Nox didn't need to play, he only had to follow her when she left.

Nox shrugged. "If you want to waste your time chasing a man who is clearly on duty." Nox turned and walked a few steps before he turned back around with a smile. "I said I'd be anything you wanted. I'm won't compete with someone I got nothing on." Nox turned and felt a small stab of regret in his actions. He wanted this ploy to work. It would be easier he told himself. It had nothing to do with the commitment he'd made to a particular girl. At least that what he kept telling himself.

Her dark eyes weighed him. "One drink. There," she said, pointing to a secluded spot. "I like to sample my lamb before I order it." And then, without looking to see if he'd follow, she turned, her hips swaying off toward one of the more secluded corners. The tight black thigh length cocktail dress drew long elegant lines and he couldn't help but stare. Damn, it was too bad really she was the mark - the monster. In that moment Nox hoped he was wrong in his assessment of the danger.

Nox dutifully followed, he was to be a lamb to the slaughter, he could act the part. He let his desire show. It wasn't feigned, Nox knew it was partially the danger but she was attractive. A vision of Elyse floated through his mind which he stomped down promptly. Nox watched as the dranaika slide into the booth and the smile from her blood red lips was not what he expected. It was a perfect smile even if it was laced with seduction. Nox wondered where the teeth were. Dranaika were part of the myths of vampires. Hidden fangs. Nox had not actually tried to get up close and personal with one before.

Nox slide in next to her. His leg a hairs breath from hers. Touch was dangerous. Touch could give him away. He smiled at her and licked his lips waiting for her next instruction. There was no feigning his desire. It had been a long time since he'd played this game. Nox's heart raced, his breath was quick and shallow. No he wasn't faking the desire.

Her sharp nails gently touched the nape of his neck even as a server came and took their order sending a shiver down his spine. Fuck! "Absinthe rimmed with e sugar." The words were smooth and silky and made his skin prickle with desire.

"Forgive me, lamb, but you do not seem the type of man to frequent this establishment." Her smile tried to take the sting out of it.

Nox shrugged and her nails dug deeper into his skin from the gesture. He bit back the hiss of enjoyment from the pressure. He wasn't here to get laid. He did have to keep his mind on things. He focused on his words. "I go where there is fun to be had. It's difficult to find the right girl in this situation. No touching, makes the game harder. And the prices just aren't worth the effort - most of the time." He grinned at her. "Tonight is so worth it."

Her smile seemed genuine now, as if she were impressed with his honesty. Her touch became a bit softer. Somehow, she softened. The sharpness of her eyes had melted a little, seemed a bit more rounder. The predatory gaze had all but vanished. Not that her dress didn't still promise evil. But there was an innocence about her now, as if she could drop the charade now that he was being more honest. "Aww...You think I'm worth the effort? With all the beautiful women here?" There was something girlish in the way she said it.

The change in her behavior took Nox by surprise. The allure from before had changed, she was starting to remind him more of Elyse than of the predator from before. It was hard to put a finger on it, but had he been wrong? Was this just a girl playing a game? Her drink arrived and Nox took it from their server with gentle fingers and set it down on the napkin and slid it to her.

He was slightly disappointed but he smiled at her. If he'd been wrong this was the wrong game to play. He'd wanted something from the interaction and now that was falling flat on it's ass. The hardness from his catch was gone - she changed the game on him.

Nox looked down pretending to be the shy little lamb she wanted at first. The catch, the chase, she was playing him. He looked up at her through the hair that had fallen in front of his eyes. "How can I please you?"

She smiled at him again and squeezed his neck gently sending bolts of electricity down his spine. She took a sip and seemed to luxuriate in the taste, licking her lips and taking a deep breath. "Please me...hmm....Well. There are crude and obvious ways. But you didn't come here for that. Or at least that's what you said." She winked at him.

"Perhaps all I want is your company?" She whispered conspiratorially. "Maybe we can find some trouble. That is, if you like trouble. The city IS on high alert. I can think of a few places we can go that might be worth the difficulty." She raised an eyebrow to him as she took another sip. And gently rubbed his neck.

"I like trouble." He smiled. Her touch was intoxicating, it was no wonder dranaika were successful in theirs hunts. But Nox still doubted his earlier observation. "I'm ready for whatever you can dish out."

She waved her hand and Nox slide across the seat out of the booth with a grin. This was going to be a good night.