In the Aftermath (open)

[lelia Madison Lovelace]

There was blood all over her dress, most likely from the victim from the other night. Ever since she had gotten back it happened almost every night, someone would be lured into the woods, someone would die. She couldn't help herself, she had no idea how to control the rage, the insanity that drove her. There was nothing but pain in her mind, her body, her heart. People she loved either died or left her. Ever since the first transformation she felt broken, her mind fragmented by the pain of the shift to the point where she could literally be classified as insane now. She fought everyday with the urge to hurt people, even while she was in her human form everyone around her smelled like one thing; dinner.

Staggering through the street in the early morning, she appeared to be nothing but a drunk from the distance. But when you got close it was easy to see that something was wrong, lucky for her it was so early almost no one was out and about just yet. Her car was parked just up the street, all she had to do was make it there and she would be alright. However things never seemed to go her way, she wouldn't be surprised if at the last moment someone decided to play the role of concerned citizen trying to help the woman who looked like she was bleeding out all over her dress. Unfortunately if someone saw her she would have to hurt them too, that was just the way things worked now.

On top of all of that, she couldn't even go see her family now, what would they want with a killer? They would try to help her again, pity her and that was the last thing she wanted. She was doing so good before all of this happened too, before she decided to let herself fall for Zach. This was his fault she decided, he may not have ruined her life, but his curse dragged her through the mud with it and the worst part she wasn't even mad at him. It felt like living in one of those movies, heartbroken girl accidentally inflicted with a curse from a now wayward "boyfriend" who seemingly had forgotten about her now.

Taking the last few blocks to her car, she stopped dead in her tracks feeling like someone was watching her. Turning slowly from side to side, she inspected the area, but as far as she could see there was no one. She couldn't hear them either, but whatever it was smelled nice. Definitely didn't smell like the blood staining her clothes.

[gabriel Hart]

Gabriel had been in a house that had been throwing a rather large party. Gabriel was actually invited to this one not that it mattered. The owner a fairly wealthy woman whose husband was away on a business trip on the other side of the country and had been throwing what was gonna be a small get together but turned into a nice party thanks to Gabe. Gabriel had slept with her a month or so ago but in his defense he didn't know she was married at the time and she had taken a troublesome attachment to Gabriel. Though this usually didn't make much difference to him things were allot stranger than usual lately in terms of his behavior. None the less Gabriel went to the party which had finished about an hour ago. He had spent awhile looking for his cloths. He gave up and walked out missing his jacket and tie, watch, and keys to the car he had 'rented' or more like persuaded into borrowing. He unbuttoned the top of his slightly now wrinkled shirt made sure his hair wasn't completely a mess though it was hard to tell as Gabriels usual style was a messy spiky kinda look. He was slightly scruffy not shaved though Gabriel particularly enjoyed the look as long as it wasn't out of control or made him look homeless. He grabbed some shades and threw them on to cover his semi blood shot eyes and headed out. There were a couple people up, one couple was partaking in some morning love making and Gabriel could feel the desires, attraction, and lust of those lingering few as well. Gabriel surged with power still as for a few hours ago the house was a invigorating source of ecstasy which empowered him and made for an even better time.

Gabriel looked around for a moment and spotted something peculiar outside. He could of swore he saw a woman go by that had appeared to of came straight out of hell. Gabriel waited for a moment then not feeling any reason to stay just walked outside to sate his curiosity. Gabriel walked out and saw the woman standing their apparently looking for someone? Gabriel smiled charmingly as he always did and in a soft dulcet voice spoke "Miss? Are you alright? You arn't hurt are you?" Gabriel walked towards the woman and paused a good twelve feet away keeping a reasonable distance not wanting to frighten the woman or make her feel like she didn't have her own personal space. "My names Gabriel Hart. I don't mean to intrude on your business I am just concerned thats all. Don't worry, you don't have to tell me your name if you don't want to, it is alright. It looks like you have been through allot though. I can see the breathtaking beauty underneath that blood and don't want to imagine what you have gone through but please understand that I can help if you allow me to." Gabriel added in his soothing mellifluous voice. He placed his hands in his pocket to make himself even less threatening not having his hands out and staying out of arms length. Gabriels first thought was that the woman may have been raped. He wasn't sure what happened after that but something told Gabriel there was allot more here than he realized. Gabriel held a genuine concerned look on his face. He took off his glasses and let them hang from his right pocket where his hand clung to now. Gabriels beautiful ocean blue eyes glimmered in the morning light at the woman now. There felicitous nature adding to his natural alluring aura creating both a tranquil like force as well as a attractiveness. Gabriel didn't want to pry, why ask what had happened, it was no doubt something she wanted to just forget and move past. Gabriel could understand that and didn't bring it up. Gabriel looked around, there wasn't really anyone else out. It was still pretty early. Gabriel always lost track of time. He looked back to the woman wondering where she was heading to in such a state.

[Daryl Matthew Carter]

Having two extra Alphas helping around and his own daughter that even though she was a hybrid and part witch, was already at the age that they should start preparing her to share in the Alpha duties at least eventually too, it was a lot easier for Daryl to focus on his work at the LAPD while at the same time still keeping an eye out on their packs around the city, the community they had created. A big number of those werewolves lived at his mansion, there were totally enough room and since they had expanded the catacombs and made the walls and chains stronger for those that still needed them, while the rest of them were living on their own in other parts of the city.

In this free time Daryl had got wind pretty quickly through the police station too of a victim that Daryl had instantly understood was a werewolf victim, and it had been a fresh one too. Now their werewolves didn't partake in these things, and it wasn't that damn disloyal to everyone but himself Philip that had come back to town or the couple of werewolves that were of the same opinion like him, there was nothing more unpredictable than freelancing werewolves that didn't care of who they hurt or not, but they at least knew how to clean up after themselves, that was the problem in nailing them. This had been more sloppy, more uncontrolled.

It had taken Daryl some time to track the source and person that was responsible, but while it was still early, he could smell and feel that he was getting close. Eventually he was close enough to see a girl in the distance, smelling the blood on her clothes, but having enough self control after that long to not be affected by it, just knowing that he was definitely on the right track. He had decided to keep his distance for now, not really recognizing her yet, but the smell... The scent was definitely familiar.

After watching for a moment and following her, he saw a guy coming up and talking to her, but that scent was really a lot less pleasant for starters, which mostly pointed to demons in his experience. So he decided to move in, walking toward them and when he was close enough looking at the girl and looking a bit surprised when he did recognize her, even if he hadn't really ever met her in person before. 'Lelia? He asked softly in surprise, because especially since he worked pretty often with Sienna, he couldn't help but recognize her, and now that he got that connection, he figured the scent was a part of her probably having been turned by Zach, who after all still came from his line. His eyes then went to the guy and narrowed his eyes a little, but not too hostile just yet. 'I'll help her, but this is a werewolf concern.' He told him before looking back at Lelia and carefully walking closer to her. 'I can help you, controlling yourself and everything, if you let me?' He asked, his voice and british accent sounding carefully, certainly not wanting to push her. 'My name is Daryl, if you take a good whiff and concentrate, you'll notice I'm almost just like you.' He continued on as carefully with a pretty slight smile.

[lelia Madison Lovelace]

Somehow in her concern for getting home, she managed to block out the rest of the world. With that being said, Gabriel had managed to sneak up on her, which usually never happened given her situation. Inhaling sharply, her eyes flashed for a moment dangerously, blinking between the wolf and then back to human in an instant. Placing a hand over her heart, she steadied her breath as she took the man before her in, every inch of his features. Needless to say, she normally would have been interested in a man like him, the feral instincts controlling most of her actions. However right now she was frightened, though she would never show it voluntarily. How could she explain any of the blood to this man without giving everything away?

It seemed she wouldn't have to explain anything, however, as another man approached out of nowhere. What was this? Whenever you committed a terrible crime people seemed to be everywhere, but when you needed someone they were nowhere to be found. This man knew her name, however, he knew her name! Taking a step back, she was now heavily on the defensive where she might have actually relaxed a bit with Gabriel. How could he know her? Who was this man? Why did he want to help her?! "Who the hell are you? How the hell do you know my name?" she asked, the fear in her rising. Like a cornered animal she was looking for an escape, even if it meant she had to go through someone to make it.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." she said, feigning ignorance. She knew, however, she could "feel" it. His presence made her uncomfortable however, like her skin was crawling. She wanted to break free of this, it was a feeling she knew all too well. The feeling of someone with some sort of authority, someone she disliked. She hated being controlled, told what to do, what to feel. There was an irrational fear building that he would try to make her do as he said, that he would exert some sort of power, whatever it was, over her. Either that or he knew more than she wished for him to know, and would use that to blackmail her into submission.

"What if I don't want to control myself? What if I like it? What then? What would you do? What would you be forced to do?" she replied, holding herself with arms crossed over her chest. She glanced to Gabriel once, as if looking for some sort of confirmation that she had a right to be suspicious and afraid. It was absurd, she didn't know this man at all yet he seemed to be genuinely concerned. The other man offered control, something her family had always told her she needed, and that invoked the feeling that she was being judged. That was all she ever felt and she was one to rebel, she never stood still long enough to deal with those who thought they understood.

"You don't understand, you just don't get it. Neither of you can.."