Oh! Heavenly Father

Sister of Stone · Soeur de Pierre

Oh! Heavenly Father

MastersCall · Sensual Master Vampire

(This is an exit for Marcus, Shakti, Aurora, Frost, Jessie, Milo, Barbie, Knox, and Karma. If anyone else would be leaving with them who I have forgotten feel free to add to this post. Thanks.)

:::The night winds swept around him like a lovers kiss as he made his way through the moonlit grounds of the house and towards the private jet waiting to take them away. A small family brought together once again by the tug of tragedy. His shields were firmly in place, holding him tightly bound from reaching out to the one piece of his life which was being left behind. Marcus had sworn to keep himself and Evangeline as disconnected from Ash as possible until this was over, in the hopes that if his wolf was dragged down into hell that the two of them might live. A hand touched the rail of the stairs leading up to the door of the plane and as tanned fingers coiled around the bar he looked back once at the paradise he was leaving. He knew better than most how a beautiful exterior could hide a twisted and deranged soul. Too many of his own kind bore such traits deep within them.:::

::Music on the air was heard as he listened to the sounds of those inside the plane. It was that which made him move once again. Moving towards the warmth of those who were to accompany him on his journey across the sea. In his mind he saw the woman he would be seeing. Though it had only been a few weeks her image shown in his head like the grail legend must have for those long ago knights. To be in her prescence again would be a delight even the undead could not classify or understand. As he entered the plane his smoldering amber eyes passed across the faces of those he loved and touched upon each in a moment of understanding so pure and pristine that it could only be described as spiritual.:::

::Shakti, his chylde, and the apple of his eye. Her bubbling laugh something that swept away all despair in its wake and made his lips turn up in a boyishly charming grin. Jessie, the boy wonder, rolling a toothpick between his lips and against his fangs. Milo and Barbie, both boisterous in their own way, seated with Knox and Karma. The rats somehow turned a dangerous departure into a party. Frost, the quiet beauty who Ash and Caine had sent with him. And Aurora, Evangeline's protector. She alone bore a face that cast the seriousness of the occasion into perspective. Moving forward he took the seat beside her and without a word placed his warm hand atop hers where they were fiddling with the pleat of her skirt. That tuch stilled her hands beneath his, but he didn't speak. Merely sat back and basked in the glow of his family. Though even in such a glow there would always be the sting of pain that came with remembrances of those left behind. Of Jessica and of Loke.:::

:::There was only one gift that he left behind in Hawaii, and that gift was for Lokelani. It was a rosary, a beautiful sculpted white gold piece that was hand crafted by a local artisan. It was placed in a black velvet box with only a small card attached. A card which read : "For each time we are parted we miraculously meet again, and each time I do my faith is renewed. Be well my love, and may your steps be guided by that which knows us better than we know ourselves." His signature was not there, though he hoped that she would know who it was from. He understood her, had always understood her. It was sometimes an understanding that pained him, but it could not be any other way. Without asking he knew she would stay with the pack, ,just as she must know that his place was with his own people.:::

::The captains voice over the speaker sounded and his eyes drifted off to look out the window as they began their roll down the runway. Time was funny, how it swept people apart and brought them back together. The twining of joy and tragedy, and the knowledge that all things happened for some greater purpose. Like the waves of the ocean, an endless ride of destiny to be fulfilled. And that all things moved to that sea eventually, to become a part of all that is and was and could be. That all creatures were eternal, and that you could never truly be parted from those you loved. For you carried them with you forever. And as long as they were remembered they would never be lost.:::

Evie North · Telemetric Trickster

(Hey, guys! This is an opportunity for everyone who went with Marcus to London to go ahead and go to Rome so you can play when the SL starts. I'm sorry to cause the complication due to my being in London -- sans Marcus, damnit! -- and I'd hate for anyone to not be able to play. Marcus and Evie shall join you all in Rome shortly after the new SL opens. I get home on December 12, but will be with family and friends off and on -- holidays, of course. I can't wait to see and play with you guys again. <333! )

She had felt the pull from across the ocean. The seriousness of the situation had awoken her in the early hours of the morning, her heart racing with adrenaline pumping in veins thousands of miles away. Something was wrong. Terribly, horribly, batshit-crazy wrong.

She couldn’t feel Ash. When she pushed her mind down the thread that connected them, she found only an iron wall. She could feel herself beating unseen fists upon it, but it wouldn’t budge. The shield felt of Marcus, which made for an even worse sign. Was he hurt? Dying? Or – no. She couldn’t think like this. She’d drive herself insane.

Her mind raced towards Marcus, but stopped. Something was wrong; she could distract him. God forbid there was a fight, but if there was, the last thing he needed was the girl he was connected to screaming like a banshee in his brain.

Aurora.

She reached down the thread that held them together, an ungloved hand touching the stone around her neck as if it were a life vest. Her fingers weren’t used to touching things regularly, but it was nice. The cool stone as a strange comfort.

“Aurora … what’s happening. Please tell me no one’s –- I – what the fuck is going on?” Strangely enough, the question came out less jumbled and agitated than she’d thought it would. It was the gargoyle’s effect on her, really. She was made of stone, after all: something easy to grab onto for dear life.

It didn’t take long to learn that they were coming. A lot of theys. Marcus, Aurora, and an entire caravan of others. Fleeing for their lives. Some shit had gone down: she’d learn more when they got there.

“As long as everyone’s okay.” Hesitation made her wince; she could tell there was a lot of stuff she needed to be caught up on.

And now, she had half a day to get ready for a huge arrival.

“ALEX.”

This was going to be just grand. She could already imagine telling him the news. “Surprise, fogey: we’ve got to make room for the troops. The lycanthropes need an entire deli of meats, the vampires need black-out curtains. And I need to borrow the master bedroom so I can make-out with my boyfriend. Thanks!”

This was going to be a disaster.

Hours had passed. The moon looked down with silent anticipation. Evie shivered on the tarmac of the private airport, bundled tightly in a coat that Alex had insisted she buy. Stupid cold London. Stupid empty London. But not for long: Jolly Ol’ England was about to get a little cramped.

The plane had landed, and already her hands were shaking. She could feel him, closer than he had been in months. It was almost enough to make her cry. Or laugh. No, no – probably cry.

Slowly, the extending stairs on the private plane lowered. She was already running, not stopping until she’d made it up half of the stairs. It was there she intercepted her beloved, flinging her arms about him with wild abandon. It was like coming home. Well, partly. The absence of others was enough to cast a small shadow over this reunion.

She said hello to everyone in turn, hugging Aurora, Shakti, and Milo and Barbie. The others were less well-known, but Alex’s badgering presence over the past several weeks had forced a few manners into her character. She gave handshakes to Frost, Karma, Jessie, and Knox knowing that only those closest to her would notice the tiny breath she took before each one. Touching had become easier, but she wasn’t cured. She wasn’t normal. It took some effort, but she did the best with what she could.

“Welcome to London.” The walk to the cars that were carrying them all was spent with her gloved hand in Marcus’, squeezing for dear life. It had been too long.

The house was quiet. Only Marcus and Aurora slept at Alex’s home tonight: money hadn’t been a problem, so booking hotel rooms for the rest had been simple. The sunrise was less than an hour away. Still, she stayed with Marcus, lying next him in her queen-sized bed. They were both clothed, although she had taken the liberty of removing his shirt to shower small kisses on his marbled skin. Aurora slept – or whatever it was she did – in a room close by. Always within earshot: Evie had a tendency to scream for Aurora when terrified. And Aurora had a tendency to fly in, ready for action. Tonight, however, had been spent with the core of her heart, the man for whom each beat belonged. They were still very chaste, bless his ancient heart. But it had been a long time. Not even her sheer terror of the physical realm could have kept her from touching him.

“Promise we’ll stay like this forever.” Plus a few others, naturally … her mind was already on Ash, the missing link, and even Tino. He was along for the ride, whether he liked it or not.

Looking up the line of his chest, Evie met his eyes. “Stay here with me. Stay until we know … until everything is worked out. Until the dust settles.” Marcus and Aurora had filled her in on some things, but she was certain of one thing: she wasn’t strong enough. Even with the work she’d done while in London with Alex. She needed Marcus there with her, needed to be with Alex. She couldn’t put him and everyone else they loved at risk any more. Weakness where she could be strong was unacceptable.

“Send the others on. We need … time. I can’t almost be the end of us, not again.” It was a wasted wish; she would always be human, and therefore the weak link. But if she could train herself, make herself stronger … “Please. I can’t go, not yet. But I can’t say goodbye again. I need you here … please, Marcus.”

Who could say no to a desperate woman? Certainly not the vampire who ruled her heart.