The Siren's Song

[Hayden]

Hayden listened to the one sided conversation. And read over her shoulder when she texted The Wicked Truth. He was glad she was embracing the AI in the house. She had a stalker on her already, the AI was just a tool to utilize the information he had access too. it was helpful enough he might even let him install it at the safe house. Beat any tech that he could buy on the market. He was already inside the perimeter of Nox's drones. Still a thing to get used to.

"I am glad she's alright. And you know you can check in whenever. If you want to schedule that, it's cool with me. Nox likes Monday mornings, right before the week starts so he can get a good start on the week. But for the love of god don't be like Nox and call at 5am cause it's convenient for you." Hayden rolled his eyes. Nox hardly slept, wasn't good for him, but when nightmares plague you you sleep when you don't have nightmares.

"As for what to say. You tell them the truth. You lost your father. You feel guilty about it, because you think his traveling to Moscow is your fault. You've seen monstrous things, haven't we all. If you want to get into details tell them it's a recurring dream of monsters who were human and you had to kill them. They may give you some subconscious mumbo jumbo but the tools will be useful none-the-less. You say you fear being ostercized because of the color of your eyes. You tell them you dream of wolves that talk to you. Don't lie unless you have to. But you don't need to say any of that either. That's why you got me. I'm stressed at work. There's this guy who I upset with something I said. Or my exboyfriend helped me with something and now he's having issues and I think it's my fault. Which Elyse, by the way, it has ABOLUTELY nothing to do with you so don't you go off and think it's all your fault."

Hayden looked around to see who was in ear shot. They all needed to know. He knew Nox would say something but he wanted to know who might come at Nox first. "Some how. Some way. The horde is gone. His fucking demon vacated the building and with it, it ripped a hole in him taking the power of the gods from him. That light, the thing his life revolved around, what he feels gives him purpose is gone. Left him numb. So you want to worry about him. Don't worry about his mental health. Worry about what's he's going to do when someone pisses him off and he has no moral grounding or point of reference to work with."

[Anna]

Anna listened to the whole thing. It was odd how easily Hayden got Elyse to talk. It was also pretty amazing. Anna was feeling better too. It sounded like they were getting a plan for her to get better. That’s what she needed. She wiped her eyes and reached out m, taking Elyse’s hand.

”May I say something,” she asked. Elyse nodded. ”You have a tendency to isolate. If you’re okay with it and Nox is too, I’ll stay with you so you don’t do that so much. Would you be okay with that. I think it’s better to have you there with all the security,” Elyse agreed.

She turned to Hayden. ”Sound like a good idea? Also if I could get your number in case of something happens - that would be great too. I have no problem blabbing if I think she’s in danger.”

Elyse already looked better, and looked over her shoulder at Hayden. ”Anything else we should do - Wicked - you got any more suggestions?” Anna perked an eyebrow at that. What the hell did that mean?

[Hayden]

Hayden reached into his back pocket and pulled out a brand new business card with the new bar logo on the front with the bar's number listed on front. He'd handwritten his phone number on the back to hand out to prospective employees, girls and other such people. "We've not been properly introduced. I'm Hayden. I don't think Nox will care one way or the other. He probably wouldn't even notice another mouth to feed really. Not saying you aren't noticeable, he's just pretty open about who's running around in his house. As long as you don't invade his space."

Elyse asked her new friend if he had any suggestions and one of Nox's playlists started blaring from the speakers. "I think he wants you to get up and dance. And he's not wrong."

Hayden stood up. Not quite as effortlessly as he'd planned with Elyse firmly nestled in his arms. He unceremoniously dumped her to her feet as he got up.Hayden took Elyse's hand and offered one to Anna as he started to dance. "Nox's taste in music is pretty esoteric, but he does know how to pick a get up and move dance mix." He probably had had a chorographed dance for each and every song on the list. He had a few of those if he recalled. That was going to be the key to putting Nox on a good path. Elyse needed help with her feelings. Nox needed help finding a new direction. Elyse probably needed that too, but not as much as Nox. His self worth was tied up in the power. He needed a new path...

[Elyse]

Hayden didn’t have to explain. Elyse began to laugh as the music started. Hayden stood up and unceremoniously placed Elyse on her feet. Hayden offered Anna a hand and she took it getting up. ”Wicked! Dance with me” she said.

”What does Wicked mean!?” Anna asked starting to dance.

Elyse grinned. ”Thats for you to find out!”

Adrian walked in at that time, a confused look on his face. Elyse spotted him, pointed and beckoned. He came towards him and she took his hands, making him dance with her.

[Anna]

Anna took Hayden’s offered hand and began to dance, still baffled at the whole Wicked thing. It was new. Whatever - she’d figure it out later. Elyse began to dance with one of the bouncers, Adrian.

Anna turned to Hayden and took his hands. ”Im Anna,” she said with a smirk. ”And you’re going to dance with me.”

Anna took the lead. If he had the skill and wanted to lead - he’d have to take it. Others in the club, distracted by the music had come to see what was going on. Some joined their impromptu dance party. It was fun, and Elyse was relaxing.

[Hayden]

Hayden chuckled at Elyse's not being helpful vibe about the hacker Anna was about to subject herself too. "Wicked is short for The Wicked Truth. He helps maintain the security of Kallisti and Nox's safe zone. He's a hacker and a voyeur and if you connect to Nox's wifi you will be become the subject of his stalking. Or as he calls them you'll be one of his friends. You know him. He's the guy who hangs around Nox and always looks like he's high."

"I want to say he's perfectly innocent. But he's not. No more so than Nox is perfectly innocent. He's not the scary dangerous guy. He's the freak you the fuck out guy with what he can do and what he knows guy. He's Nox's go to informant, among other things. And before the weeks out he'll know everything there is to know about you. If you are interesting enough for him to dig deeper."

[Anna]

Anna danced with Hayden - filing the information on The Wicked Truth for later. It was odd, but Elyse seemed okay with it. Anna thought about that weird high guy always with Nox. No - Hayden said he looks like he’s high. What was he doing? Voyuerism of some sort. She could ask Elyse later. Somewhere where wicked wouldn’t hear. Wait - was there a place he couldn’t hear.

Hayden was content to follow her lead, but it seemed as if he could dance. Sexy guy with a sexy British accent that could dance. That was quite a catch and it was clear that Elyse had slept with him. Hell - Anna had heard them going at it and what she heard said he was good. That brought Anna back to reality. Hayden’s card said he owned a bar - but he was Elyse’s therapist. No! He wasn’t - Elyse mentioned that he always saline wasn’t. Still he had helped Elyse - and had done so quickly. It had amazed Anna.

Anna pulled him closer, but it wasn’t in a romantic way. She just wanted to talk to him. ”Thanks for helping with Elyse. She really means a lot to me.” The song ended and Anna gave a mock courtly bow. ”For the dance, sir, I thank you! It was very nice to meet you Hayden - see you around!” she gave him a friendly kiss on the cheek and waved at him. Elyse was approaching and she wanted to make sure that Elyse got a chance to talk to him.

[Elyse]

Elyse dance with Adrian who wasn’t so good with his feet as he was with bouncing. She made fun of him a little bit, but it was all in good jest. The pair found a decent rhythm and Elyse kept the dance moves easy for him.

”How you holding up, Little Wolf?” he asked her.

She gave him a small smile. ”Honestly, no so great, but I’m better than before,” she said. He knew the truth. There was no reason to hide it. ”I’m trying to get better though. It’s not so easy.”

He nodded. ”Remember you’re not alone Little Wolf. You got your family here.”

”Ill try,” she shrugged.

”Try not. Do or do not. There is no try!” he said with a smirk.

”Did you just quote Star Wars to me? You’re a surprising man, Big Guy.”

The song ended and she thanked Adrian, giving him a peck on the cheek before she went to Hayden. ”Thanks again Hayden. I don’t deserve…” she caught herself and flicked herself on the ear before he did. ”Im going to work hard on these things. I’m going to get better. For Marta.” she gave him a hug. These things had a tendency to end in sex and she found she didn’t need that. She had to get ready for work anyways. ”I’ll call if I need to - or to just check in. I’ll set an appointment with a psychiatrist tomorrow and I’ll check with everyone the procedure for getting my meds,” she assumed they would be locked up. ”Im sorry I make you work so hard, she said, flicking her ear as she said it, her smirk saying she meant it as a jest. ”Im going to try. Really try.”

[Hayden]

Hayden chuckled. She was getting the point and he hoped it stuck. It was good for Elyse to have Anna and Hayden truly hoped Anna knew what she was getting involved with living with Nox for even a short time. But he warned her and it was going to be what it was.

He hugged both of the women before he left. He had to think about what to do about Nox. He was fine for now, but what happened when he didn't have a precedence to go off of. He could not longer level a block with a through, but he was trained to kill and with no moral gut feelings, what would happen? That was Hayden's only fear. Not that Nox would end his life, but ruin it inexplicably by not caring what happened. He took risks before -- now what risks would be acceptable?

The cold air would do him some good, so Hayden just walked the Red Light District lost in thought.