A tempting muse...

9:52am: Steamy Surprise
It had been a tense few weeks since the students for Atia's sacrifice she'd culled from the herd had disappeared and the history teacher fingered for the blame. Everyone had been on edge and Leah had kept a close eye out for any signs that people suspected her. When none were displayed by the time of winter break, the hybrid relaxed and continued her plans.

Everything was running smoothly. She'd built a small core of dedicated followers who truly worshiped her as a deity, including the Principal, Vice Principal, and Night Janitor in addition to the students. The school was practically under her thumb, and she was putting less effort into keeping up appearances, especially during winter break when the school was officially closed except for extra curricular activities.

The hybrid's head lolled as she lounged in the steam bath wearing nothing but a sated smile, with two students from the football team at her feet. The studs were exhausted from a feeding session that had gone a little deeper than she'd intended due to her being hungrier than she'd thought. Things were going well indeed, and it was just the first step on the road to godhood.

Denise Starnes, fifteen-year old sophomore, seldom used the steam bath in the gym of Comanche High School. She hadn't lost all of her adolescent chubbiness yet, and self-consciousness kept her out of the facility unless she was the only one there. But she'd managed to get an okay to use it during winter break, and so she let the door close soundlessly behind her before starting across the waxed tile floor. The small squeaks of her tennis shoes sounded very loud in the silence.

She was worried about her brother. Ryan had been acting weird for weeks now, and that was even before all those kids had vanished. Some of them had been Denise's friends, freshmen from her geometry class. A grief counselor had been called to the school after the history teacher, Mr. Avery, was arrested. She had been to see her a couple of times. Things were better now, but it still had her looking over her shoulder now and then.

The door to the sauna creaked a little when she pushed it open, and the girl stopped when she realized it wasn't empty after all. She vaguely recognized Ian Weathers, who was a fullback on the football team, but she didn't know the other boy. Ridiculously, she actually wondered why all three of them, including Ms. Anderson, were naked, and then she realized she was really wondering why the three of them were naked together. There was a rule somewhere about that, wasn't there? One that said a teacher shouldn't be naked if they were with two students.

"Umm..."

More of a sound than an actual word, indicating Denise's flustered state. Maybe it would be better to go away and come back. Or go away and not come back at all. Ms. Anderson looked at lot better without clothes than she did. In another situation, she would have taken the time to be embarrassed and self-conscious about her own percieved inadequacy.

( what are you doing here? )

9:26pm: Getting up to speed
One thing about pretending to be human among a bunch of kids, Grace had decided, was that it gave her the chance to be the 'cool parent'. The school was pretty posh compared to the place she'd grown up in as a human, but the students there still did things like skip classes to go smoke behind the gym and hang out down by the athletics field to gossip and drink the occasional beer after the final bell had rung for the day. Sitting indifferently on the bottom portion of the bleachers, the vampire watched the track team continue their practice with a cigarette in her mouth, laughing internally at the way things worked sometimes.

She and Ruben had been barred from eating the students unless they really got out of hand, but all in all this was one of the softest gigs she'd worked. Adventures in babysitting. In a way she was going to be sorry when it was over. Grace took the smoke out of her mouth and dropped it beneath the stands, figuring she could sneak some beers in tomorrow. It was almost like being in high school again.

Leah meandered toward the track team, in no hurry to start the practice as the students performed their warm ups. The fourteen sacrificial victims had been chosen out of Mr. Jackson's fourth period freshman history class, and it was only a matter of a few days before their short lives would come to an end. It bothered her slightly but it boiled down to being them or her, and she'd choose herself every day.

She spotted Grace at the bleachers and made her way over to the vampire. It was good to have vampiric security even if it hadn't been necessary so far: Leah was still amazed at how easily people overlooked warning signs to see what they wanted to see, this school had been easy pickings.

"Grace," she greeted the vampire with a friendly smile. The older female might technically be an employee, but the hybrid was under no illusion that the vampire was a subordinate. Grace was an independent contractor and it was better to keep her happy than to piss her off unnecessarily. "Everything going smoothly tonight?"

She looked around. "I don't see your partner, he decide to take the night off?"

( Current Events )

10:13pm: Shifting Blame
Leah had arranged to meet Marie after school was out and the students were on their way home from any 'extra curricular' activities she'd conducted that afternoon. The hybrid was in a bind: she needed to provide Atia with fourteen kids to sacrifice and needed to do it in a way that couldn't be traced back to her.

It was easy to select the kids. The hard part of the pulling off the sacrifice was arranging everything else and that's where Wolfram and Hart came in handy.

She'd taken the time to change out of her drab school teacher garb and put on something more stylish before meeting the lawyer at the firm's office.

"Corruption's suiting you, I see," Marie spoke, once the pair had exchanged greetings. When the door had closed, it was Marie's personal inner sanctum. Security cameras notwithstanding, of course. Their last meeting had involved helping to set up Leah's new identity and setting up an agreement for body disposal. "And so are the teenagers," she added with a wink.

Part of Marie was interested in pregnancy. That went without saying. No protection was 100%, unless it involved surgical removal.

And for Wolfram and Hart, there were even ways around that.

Nevertheless, it would be much more beneficial for Leah to have a demonic partner. A human father for the offspring would result in something a lot less capable than Leah. Still, 25% was better than nothing, right?

"So, what can I do for ya'?"

( There's a new bride in town...and she's pissed )

9:23pm: Axes and Demons
( It's hard work, creating worshipers )

5:28pm: Shop Talk
"I... I can't help it! It's... It's that smell... It's driving me crazy..."

For months Victoria had tried to avoid it, the vampiress trying to avoid breathing whenever around the buxom young hybrid. Here, though, having finally tracked Leah down to confront her about what had come to pass with Fang Noir, with Mallory's friend, the elder brunette could feel herself slipping. Had since the moment she stepped through the door.

Leah's pheremonal abilities had been getting more and more use since starting to take over the school. Here and now, in her unliving friend's midst, things had steadily gone from distracted conversation to something far more visceral.

And pushing her against the wall with a deadly resolve, human strength was no match against vampiric eagerness.

"You..." Victoria asserted, fangs and regal crest raising as she kissed hungrily up the former dancer's luscious neck. "You're driving me crazy..."

"No!" Leah pounded futilely against the vampiress to try and escape, then felt the fangs pierce her skin and begin draining the blood out of her. What had started as simple conversation had turned into a life or death situation

She could feel herself weakening with every heartbeat, as more and more of her blood was siphoned off by Victoria.

"No, please, don't do this," Leah protested weakly as the vampiress continued to feed...

( CUT! )

A bell rang on set and someone jogged over to the pair. "Viki? Leia?" The assistant called. "They'd like to talk with you two on an alternative idea. Something about a tub of ice cream..."

9:14pm: A Night in the Basement
Leah had been mildly concerned when she heard the news on TV of Fang Noir's transformation from Club to smoking ruin, and her call to Vicky's phone had ended in voicemail, which heightened her anxiety just a touch higher. She might not have been the best employee or friend in the past few weeks, but she still cared about the Vampiress.

If she didn't hear from Vicky or Deanna in the next day or so she'd start to worry, but for now she'd simply assume the two were busy dealing with the aftermath. She had her own issues to deal with.

With her current job masquerading as a high school teacher Leah had found herself working harder than she had in years. She was actually trying to teach her classes the value of physical exercise instead of just allowing the will of the mob to rule, and it was a difficult task.

Leah wanted followers, worshipers, but she didn't want worshipers that were slackers. The whole point was to mold the young minds of Las Vegas's potential movers and shakers to worship her without turning them into stoned out losers. It was tiring work, and after 'extra curricular activities' with some of the more promising students Leah was ready to relax and indulge in a drink or three.

She'd heard good things about 'The Basement' from some of the patrons of Fang Noir and had decided to check the place out. As she walked into the bar she could tell why the place held such appeal for the supernatural set, at first glance she could see vampires in full form, a fair number of humans, and several demons, all seeming to get along without issues.

There was one creature in particular that caught Leah's attention, resting on the coils of her tail...
( Fancy meeting you here )

8:45pm: First Day of School
( Non Journal Entry )

9:31pm: Generation Gap
( Johnny Cash vs Van Halen )

2:37pm: Epiphany
(Note: takes place before Scent of a Woman and Stool Pigeons)

( Eureka! )

9:02pm: Confession
Fang Noir seemed to be on the road to recovery, along with its owner. Leah had noticed right away that the sadism and viciousness that had been a hallmark of the establishment the past few weeks was gone, instead it had returned to the previous standards.

The hybrid had just finished her last performance of the evening, and was dressed (if one wanted to use the term loosely, there wasn't much to the costume) as an Aztec princess ready for sacrifice. Leah removed her headdress and managed to avoid sneezing as the feathers tickled her nose. Her job was done for the night and it was time to check up on her friend.

Vicky hadn't spent very much time outside of her private office and living quarters since she'd come back from Searchlight, but from what Leah had seen the vampiress was suffering from the mother of all hangovers. Keeping that in mind, she made a point to knock softly when she reached the door to her employer's office. "Vicky, it's Leah. Can I come in?"

She hoped her voice wasn't too loud, she'd spoken in a quiet voice to avoid grating on sensitive ears.

The transition back to what passed for 'normality' at Fang Noir had been gradual, but within the space of a week or so, Victoria had regained her former perspective on things, even if she seemed to prefer keeping matters to an arm's length.

Her vampiric nature meant that the transformation between corruption and her average self had been different than most. She was demonic, after all. Elfleda had been more or less accurate when her abilities were alternatively described as a 'purification', depending on the affected target in question. With the influence having cycled down, Victoria now had to get used to not only her former, reformed mentality, but feeling as if she had been drained of a very real boost in both power and abilities.

It was an irony, really. A vampire feeling drained, but that, nevertheless, was how things were.

"Nnng," Vicky replied, slurred. "Yeah, sure thing..."

The room was in darkness, making it hard to make out much in the way of details, even through the transparent glass doors Leah would have to open. Victoria had been like this for a while, although her alertness had steadily been improving.

Looking up, Victoria seemed as drowsy as she felt and affected a partial smile, as best as she could.

"Hi, honey," she welcomed. "Sorry about the... Threatening-to-kill-you thing."

( yeah...about that... )

8:31pm: Hookers and Cleaning Ladies
After her conversation with Braden, Leah had enjoyed a few more drinks and then gone out on the dance floor in search of something handsome to eat. She'd found a hunky tourist who wasn't all opposed to having some fun with the drunken hybrid, unfortunately for him it was the last bit of fun in his life.

Leah used his hotel room to doze for a few hours and take a shower, then left the hotel, still somewhat intoxicated from her numerous drinks and lack of sleep. She knew she was in no shape to drive yet, even though she dearly wanted to go home and sleep some more before trying to get in touch with Darian.

Instead, she walked a few blocks away from the Strip to a 24 hour diner that she'd eaten at before. Some breakfast sounded good, something to absorb some of the booze that she'd imbibed and hopefully reduce the hangover she was bound to suffer from once the drunk wore off.

Mallory had only stopped at the small diner because she'd skipped breakfast that morning and her stomach was complaining about it. She could smell frying bacon and coffee, and her feet kicked lightly at the wooden counter from where she sat in her chair. She'd eat something and then drop by Fang Noir to surprise Victoria. They hadn't seen each other since she'd felt it was necessary to go back to Searchlight and check on the trailer and the dog, so she was looking forward to seeing the brunette again.

She ordered scrambled eggs with cheese, sipping at her coffee as she waited for the food to arrive. Maybe she'd stop off and pick up a single rose before she went over to the club, just as a token. She didn't have Vicky's wealth, but she wasn't worried about spending what she could afford to give her girlfriend a present. After a few more minutes, the waitress put a full plate down in front of the redhead, and she dug in.

Food first, then onto more fun things. Life was good.

( Hey Lady, are you a Hooker? )

Damn. Leah stared after the departing redhead in dismay. The fool was going to get herself killed or worse. That meant she'd need to move up her schedule.

If anything happened to Vicky's pet human, well...Leah didn't want to think about it.

As soon as she made it back to the townhouse and had a chance to get a change of clothes, she'd have to find a way to get in touch with Darian.

She could sleep after Vicky was back to normal.

8:10pm: Two Ends of the Spectrum
It was a slow night at Fang Noir, the crowd was barely half of what it normally was. Leah wondered if the recent trouble further down on the strip was scaring away business. It made sense, considering they'd actually closed down part of the strip and were having to ID bodies from dental records.

She'd just finished her first performance of the night and was dressed up like some ancient Sumerian priestess, well, like Hollywood's version of some ancient Sumerian priestess. From what she understood they'd gone around topless and that wouldn't have worked in Fang Noir if they wanted to keep their liquor license.

It was a shame Vicky wasn't in tonight, she wanted to talk to her friend about her recent behavior. The changes in Vicky were starting to worry the hybrid and she was tempted to sneak into her bosses office to steal back that stone. The only thing stopping her was Elfleda...the Corrputress probably wouldn't like that very much and Leah didn't think getting on her bad side was such a good idea. But if the changes in her friend kept coming, well....Leah might have to chance it.

Given her reclusive behaviour, Bethany had fallen out of touch with her nearest and dearest. Victoria being one of those. Deciding to rectify that, she'd stepped away from her own club and made her way to Fang Noir.

She had taken to wearing silk in public again, maintaining the public image of Bethany Richards alive. Everything that happened behind closed doors wasn't for anyone else's eyes except Bethany's and those she let close enough to see.

She glanced at the stage briefly before looking away. She hadn't come for a show after all, she'd come to find Victoria. She found her way through the crowd, catching sight of a dancer who had apparently finished her set.

Bethany parted the crowd milling around with one look and caught the dancer's eye, "Do you know where I can find Victoria?"

______________________

( Odd Contrast )

______________________

Bethany finished off her drink, passing a thoughtful look over her shoulder before reaching into the bag she was carrying with her. "On second thoughts, I'm going to head out. I have some business to attend to." She pulled out a small notepad and a pen to scribble a note for Victoria.

It read: "Vicky, I called by to see you but it would seem it was not meant to be. Call me soon? Love, B."

She folded the paper neatly and offered the slip to Leah. "Can you make sure she gets this?"

The paper was accepted and tucked into her outfit. "I certainly will," she assured Bethany. "Please come again, I'm sure next time she'll be here.:" The hybrid hid her disappointment, she wouldn't be able to use the woman for her own ends after all. A pity. Ah well, if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be.

"If you'll excuse me, I need to schmooze some of the other guests. Have a pleasant evening."

"Thank you, Leah." Bethany got to her feet slowly and took one last look around herself before she simply let herself out. Hopefully Victoria would get her note. For the time being Bethany lost herself in the crowds and shadows of the Las Vegas night.

8:45pm: Carrot and Stick
( non journal entry )

3:19pm: An Unusual Exchange
After downing a bottle of wine and spending enough time in the Jacuzzi that she had shriveled up like a prune, Leah had dug out a spare set of keys out of her locker and borrowed some clothes from Vicky for the ride home. Her car started right up when she turned the key, and Leah took a few minutes to re-familiarize herself with the now seemingly futuristic piece of hardware.

They'd only been gone a few weeks, but the hybrid was experiencing a case of reverse culture shock as she drove through the strip on the way home. The bright lights, plasma screen advertisements, different fashions, it all seemed somewhat alien to her now after her experiences in 1941. She wanted to shout at the people she saw walking along the strip, seemingly without a care in the world: "Don't you know there's a war on?" but the war was seventy years in the past.

Her conscious mind might have been having trouble readjusting, but there was nothing wrong with her subconscious as her mental automatic pilot took her right home without any problems. That was a good thing, her driver's license and cell phone were back in the hotel room she and Vicky had left in the past, and she was quite a nice buzz from the wine.

Being pulled over by the police would have not been a good thing.

The garage door opener still worked for her townhouse, and the hybrid pulled directly inside the garage and hit the button to close the door behind her. The last thing she wanted to do right now was be sociable to her neighbors, even if she was a little on the hungry side.

Tonight she'd get drunk and fall asleep naked in her own bed, then tomorrow she'd go hunting for some stud who didn't know how to take no for an answer. She opened the door from the garage into the townhouse and stepped inside.

"Welcome home, Leah..."

Erato's sudden appearance might have been startling, were it not for her presence and voice able to convey the very essence of something silkily smooth. The girl was already very relaxed, which would only make for a far more perfect atmosphere.

"It took me quite some time," the elder brunette spoke, sliding arm around the girl's shoulders, as easy as her tail glided over the floor, "but I am glad I was able to affect your retrieval, my young friend..."

( How can I thank you? )( An unusual exchange (mild sexuality) )

The hybrid fingered the amulet a moment and then hugged her friend briefly before stepping back out of reach. "That was...incredible, thank you." It definitely wasn't the same as sex, and she knew that this experience hadn't caused her to question her orientation any, in that regard. It was simply a combination of several factors that happened to come together at the same time, including curiosity most of all. But still...it had been a special experience that she would remember fondly.

"I think I'm going to go get some sleep Erato," she told the Lamia, yawning again, "will you lock the door on your way out? You're welcome to stay if you like, you'll always be welcome here." It wasn't a invitation to share her bed, merely an expression of friendship. She had very few true friends in this world, perhaps only two in the entire world at the moment if she included Vicky, and she was generous with her friends. Erato was free to come and go from her townhouse as she pleased, as far as Leah was concerned. The snake woman obviously had no troubles entering...

"I believe I have need to be elsewhere, but thank you for the offer, Leah," replied Erato, making a slight bow of the head. "I shall consider it."

With farewells being exchanged, Erato left the girl to the peace of a reclaimed home. That and some very unusual, if pleasant, dreams.

One of her many specialties.

10:34pm: Dirty Dancing?
( What would Patrick Swayze Do? )

7:01pm: Stuck in the dark ages
( Dear Diary, )

5:24pm: The Succubus and the Spellcaster
Well, at least it had stopped snowing.

Oliver was looking up into the gray sky with a faint scowl on his face, tugging his gloves on against the cold before adjusting his heavy overcoat on his shoulders. He'd been watching the weather reports with a sense of annoyed bafflement since the white flakes started falling from the sky, and none of the supposed experts could give an explanation that made sense. He'd only ventured out because the hotel had nothing he wanted for lunch, but now, looking out at the white expanse on the sidewalks, he wasn't sure he shouldn't go back to burrowing.

Hell with it. He started to walk, making his steps measured as he watched his breath escape from his mouth on little white clouds of air. It was like being in Seattle all over again, and he didn't care for it. What was this, some weird consequence of global warming?

After two days of being cooped up at her apartment complex waiting on the plows to clear the streets, Leah had decided to brave downtown Vegas. It hadn't been easy. Instead of the normal half hour it would normally take to get from her apartment to the parking lot of Fang Noir, it had taken almost an hour and a half, about half of which was just getting to the main thuroughfairs.

She wasn't scheduled to work, and there weren't many people, alive or undead, in the building. Vicky and Deanna were both out, so instead of maybe pulling an extra shift she simply left the car in the lot and started walking along the strip. Dressed in warm but fashionable winter wear, she started to explore the winter wonderland that the strip had been transformed into.

The cold made Oliver want a cigarette, but he wasn't sure his lungs could stand the arctic air and nicotine at the same time. He brushed hair away from his brow, still annoyed as he waited for a slow-moving cab to round the corner.

Maybe he should pick up half a dozen menus for delivery places while he was out, keep them by the phone. Fortunately there weren't many people out right now, the sidewalks sparsely populated, and he was able to keep to his thoughts as he walked.

Maybe it wasn't so terrible after all, this snow business.

Leah spotted a vendor cart taking advantage of the snowfall to do some business selling hot chocolate, and the hybrid decided to cut across the street to go and buy a large serving of the sugary beverage. The vendor had a small line of patrons shivering in the cold winter air, it seemed that anyone who passed by had to have a cup.

Oliver had, in fact, just paused to buy a huge cup of the stuff, and the styrofoam warmed his palms through his calfskin gloves as he watched it steam in the chilly air. He almost didn't see the girl as she crossed the street, narrowly avoiding spilling the beverage into the slushy mess on the sidewalk as he lifted the cup out of reach.

"Sorry," he said quietly, making a rudimentary attempt at an apology as he made a face at their sudden predicament. "This is some fucking weather, isn't it? I'm surprised some religious group hasn't gone out of their way to claim its a sign of the end of the world."

( Non-journal entry )

The magic user picked up his silverware again, finding his lunch better than he'd expected it to be. His life always went better when he had something to occupy his time, not just distractions but goals. It was almost enough to make him think about liking people.

Almost.

9:25pm: The School of Life
Erato would have been more at home moon-bathing by some Aztec ruins in South America, no doubt. As it was, the brunette did not seem too out of place in a fur coat and hat of white. It contrasted sharply against her tanned skin and dark hair, but seemed somehow complete.

She would probably have preferred to be somewhere dark and warm, but Erato appeared to have a thing for beauty and the way in which light glistened on the snowflakes, reflecting the Vegas neon glint, was a sight to be savored. For the time being, she was content to simply wander and take in the sheer expanse of that view.

She did admire nature, so.

Leah was of two minds about the recent snowfall. On the one hand, one of the appeals of Las Vegas was its warm climate. On the other, the snow was a welcome reminder that it was in fact winter.

Her childhood spent near the great lakes and enduring winter upon winter of lake effect snowstorms had prepared her well to ride out the current blizzard that had paralyzed so many people here. On her way home from Searchlight, Leah had stopped by the supermarket and purchased enough food to tide her over until the roads might be cleared. The temperature was below freezing, but it wasn't the bone chilling subzero arctic cold that could be found in upstate New York this time of year.

The long underwear and heavy winter clothes had come out of the storage boxes they'd been packed in, and she was warm and toasty even after being outside for over an hour. Her snowman was almost complete, all that remained was to detail the face.

Once she finished playing in the snow, Leah intended to retire back to her apartment and have a cup of instant hot cocoa laced with a little rum. Once she had that, it would be time to crack open Objects of Desire.

Erato had taken a path which had veered away from the main avenue of vehicle traffic. At first, it had been simple distraction. She had simply gone where instinct took her. But then came a sound suspiciously like that of a child's laughter and a different variety of motivation seemed to rise in priority.

Low temperatures, after all, could sometimes cause one's hunger to become more in need of satisfaction than it might otherwise be.

She was keying on scent and suspicion compelled her to track it. Onwards, the Lamia walked with a mind to investigate this source of potential prey. This smell of...

Catching another on the wind, that time somewhat more familiar, Erato halted, turning with a curious frown.

"Leah...?"

Leah wasn't the only person out playing in the snow, there were kids every couple dozen yards playing in what was probably the first significant snowfall they'd ever seen in their lives. A few adults were out shoveling their drives or joining their children in snowball fights, but for the most part they were unsupervised.

( Off the beaten path )

( I want to learn )

"I shall do this thing for you," she nodded and, with one last look around at her surroundings, made a mention of, "Quaint," before removing herself back to the hall again. Attire picked up once more and body configuration somehow transforming to its previous state.

"Thank you for the hospitality..."

Then out through the door she went, graceful as ever.

Perhaps those children would still be about?

9:29pm: Deja Vu All Over Again
( 2nd Time's a charm? )

8:12pm: Homeward Bound
The pair had arrived in the interior of what seemed to be some vast, monolithic temple. Erato had said little, other than to advise the girl to head into a small room and wait. It was no cell, but was certainly sparse, save for what appeared to be a miniature shrine of sorts. Quite whether it was dedicated to Erato's kind or not, who knew? There was, however, plenty in the way of arcane symbology carved into the black, stone walls of their surroundings.

And although not precisely dripping in evil, it did not seem to radiate an aura of love and kindness, either.

Of course, perhaps that was just as well, considering Leah's own familial heritage.

She was left there for several hours, the door having been shut with an assurance from Erato of her eventual return and then... Nothing. Just silence.

Silence and a subtle, primordial heat.

Perhaps she was expected to simply meditate there, but regardless of precisely how much time had passed, Erato stayed true to her word. A sound of lock unlatching itself and hinges swinging free.

"Leah..." But the identity was voiced with uncertainly. This version of Erato was not familiar with her. "This is your name, yes...?"

( Scared out of her wits )
( Lost and found )
( Go home )

8:26pm: Waking up in hell
"Ugh..." Leah moaned, registering a nasty headache as she slowly regained consciousness. It was as if she were underwater trying to swim her way up to the surface with a weight holding her down, it was a struggle to rise up from the depths of sleep into a state of wakefulness.

She couldn't quite remember what had knocked her out, she and Betty had been traveling down to Searchlight on a road trip...

Betty Wynedale was another dancer at Fang Noir and a practicing witch who was about Leah's age. The two girls had struck up a friendship the past few months, and had been hanging out together outside of work. Betty wanted to go to "Unseen Insight" down in Searchlight that day, and Leah went along on the road trip to be good company and to see if the place had any books on succubi. The girl wanted to learn more about her demonic half beyond what others had told her about it.

Leah'd been catching a catnap while Betty was driving, and heard the other woman curse before the car swerved violently. She could dimly recall Betty screaming before everything went black...

( Waking up in Hell )

11:27pm: Curriculum Vitae
There were three levels to Fang Noir. The owner's office was on the third; a spacious, even luxuriously futuristic mixture of metal and dark glass, sitting in direct contrast to the lower, historically-themed areas below it.

The actual space it occupied was quite large. To each side, there were sealed, sliding doors, built right into the wall and unnoticed by most who went in there. One was Victoria's own private chambers, allowing her to literally stay for as many evenings as she wished to, complete with en suite bathroom. The other was a virtual replica, but meant for important guests and, more often than not, was reserved for the brunette's vampiric maker.

If there was one thing Victoria had an eye for, it was attention to aesthetic detail. As relatively easy-going and modest as she was, the vampiress liked to make a good impression and, even if the room could easily hold a small party inside it, there was a definite, reassuring feel of being in control. It was an atmosphere which she had cultivated at the venue's previous incarnation and had managed to copy here.

Giger-esque furniture was situated at the far end, most especially in the shape of Victoria's own chair and slightly smaller versions for provided for potential guests. Being seated upon her own, Victoria looked up, smiling as her appointment wandered through the glass door.

"Hi..." The vampiress smiled, pleasant and graceful as always, standing to extend a hand in greeting, once they were near. "You must be Leah, right? About the vacancy?"

Leah smiled back and took the offered hand, shaking it firmly "That's right, the ad looked interesting. I thought it sounded like a good place to work."

The rent was paid and with the rest of her belongings on their way to Las Vegas, Leah had turned her attention to job hunting. This was her fourth interview of the day, and she congratulated herself for remembering to grab her suit when she'd frantically packed a bag of clothes that day she and Simon had left Springville. It would have looked bad if she'd only been able to interview in Jeans and a T-shirt. The suit was something Marie had helped her pick out a few months back, professional in style but tailored to fit like a glove and display her assets nicely.

The ad had looked very interesting, it was something out of the ordinary and she was tired of dancing at the same old clubs. Not that she had danced at any of the clubs in Vegas yet. She might still do some of that on the side if she could find a place she liked that would let her work, you never knew what might come through the doors of a strip club.

The other woman's skin was cool to the touch, which struck her as a little odd, but otherwise she seemed normal enough. She wasn't much older than Leah herself, maybe in her late twenties, and pretty cute too.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me."

( interview and audition )

10:14pm: Kindred Spirits
Leah swayed to the beat of the music, dancing so close to her partner that they almost touched, but not quite. It took skill to move in tandem, and she always enjoyed it when a dance partner was up to the challenge of going right up to the line.

There was a small circle of men around her as she danced with abandon. She was wearing a sparkly dress she’d bought the day before, and it hugged every curve while leaving enough to the imagination to make the viewer want to see what was underneath. The hem was high enough that she had no problems dancing up a storm, and she was beginning to work up a sweat.

The techno beat went on for several minutes before finally pausing to allow the DJ to take requests and the dancers to catch their breaths. Leah started towards the bar to get a drink, smiling at her cluster of male admirers.

A scent...

A most curious scent and one which seemed to mix with its owner's spiritual aura remarkably well.

Eyes, ancient in age, yet framed in youthful features, were covertly tracking the girl. Seated customer having been content, up until now, to wait and investigate from afar.

Not quite human, but not quite fully something else, either... Erato was wise enough to know the difference, though outwardly she would not have looked it. She was looking past the gaggle of male hopefuls, subtly interrogating, feeling for precisely what the younger female's true nature might be.

Someone with talents not too far removed from her own, evidently.

Affecting a warm and friendly smile, the more experienced of the two brunettes leaned forth, continuing her appraisal. This time, however, choosing to speak, just as Leah neared her.

"You are... Proving to be quite the attraction," she spoke, accent foreign, but no less fluent in English for it. A foreign, softened tone of voice, quite unique, no matter where in the world one might hear it. "Perhaps knowing why... Perhaps not..."

( Knowledge is Power )

The need could be more felt than seen by her conversational partner. Erato could tell what was going on. Leah had not yet learnt how to refine her nature, let alone shield it from another's spiritual probing. The road ahead of this one was long.

But perhaps, with the right guidance, it could be made smoother.

Having taken the details, Erato smiled pleasantly and rose steadily to feet. "You shall know of me again..." She spoke by way of a temporary farewell.

However, deciding on the affecting of a small, personal favor, the more experienced seductress moved away, choosing a path which would take her directly past the young man's position. There was a subtle shifting of the dynamic as Erato paused, whispering a few words in his ear, gesturing over to her earlier companion with eyes. This time, something was allowed to weave itself over a target's aura, unseen but no less powerful for it, yet done so in order to redirect his attention to another.

Now quite hopelessly enamored with the girl, Erato reflexed fingers in a visual goodbye, over at the befriended hybrid still in her seat. Then, melting her way back into the crowd, the woman was gone.

And quite a first impression she had made, too.

Leah smiled as Kevin made his way over to her. She didn’t know for sure what Erato had done but she could guess. “Hey babe” she cooed to the blond haired man “What do you say we get out of here?”

As she’d suspected, he didn’t need persuading.

8:57pm: Night Moves
Cops saw leather and they saw the hair and the attitude and they automatically thought he was up to no good which maybe he was but where was it written that they had to force him into a metal fence with both arms yanked back behind his back?

"So tell us, what have you been up to tonight?" The taller one of the four snarled into Joel's pierced ear, his lips curling into a disdainful smile.

Before he had a chance to reply he was turned and slammed back into the fence. Hands bound by metal bracelets that the cops had been kind enough to slap onto him. How thoughtful of them.

Sniffing slightly and inclining his chin Joel looked right into their eyes, he didn't care for the glares radiating from them. No cop had ever been able to put him in his place and these idiots would be the ones to do it.

Joel brought up a serene smile which he knew would grate on thin nerves, "I don't think that's any of your business officer, I haven't done anything wrong."

The short dark haired one got right in Joel's face, saliva spat outwards as he snapped. "Don't get smart with us, boy!"

Now it was Joel's turn to look indignant, "Boy?" Oh hell no, without thinking and with the adrenaline of impulse pumping through his veins, his forehead had driven forward and smashed into the cop's nose.

He was now guilty of assaulting a police officer but frankly he just didn't care, they had him outnumbered and he would surely come off worse and they had started this. If they didn't finish it then Joel would.

A boot to his side forced him over and a sharp jab to his back brought him to his knees and then the world exploded in different colours as a boot connected with the side of his head. Blood splattered across tarmac and then a grunt was heard as Joel swung a leg out and brought one of the officers down.

He was still bound by metal and yet he appeared to be putting up a good fight, one cop was down and wasn't getting up but he was still outnumbered.

"Thanks," Leah smiled at the male checkout clerk as she pushed her cart away from the aisle and out the door. There weren't a lot of groceries, but that bag of charcoal took up a lot of space and she wasn't the strongest person in the world. It could just stay on that cart until she made it to her car.

Once outside her attention was grabbed by the sound of boots meeting flesh. Two squadcars were parked on the side of the road, the lights on the top of the vehicles flashing red and blue. Three cops were surrounding a struggling figure on the ground, one cop was crumpled off to the side clutching his knee.
The others were busy beating senseless the man they'd cuffed. Ordinarily, Leah would have let the cops do their thing: the man must have deserved it.

But she caught a glimpse of the face attached to the prone body and her eyes narrowed. So, the cops wanted to beat up one of her friends did they? Well Leah would just see about that!

( beauty vs. the beastly cops )

( strip! )
( breakfast for dinner )
( so what did you do? )

*Adult Content: Sexuality*
( Coffee, Tea, or Me? )
*end adult content*
( Have I ever told you how much I hate cops? )

( You're not going to think we're an item now are you? )

6:04pm: Journal Entry
( Dear Diary )