Young and wild

She nodded, agreeing with the fact that it was the most important part of it all. They said that if you loved someone you needed to let them go, and if it was right, they would return to you. Maddie was a believer in that, but she was also herself terrified of letting go of Tyler, so she could understand where Tessa was coming from with all of this. Moving out on the dance floor seemed to be the best option, chuckling at the notion. It was true that the music didn't feel as wild as it had that summer, but it was still not too bad at least. As long as it wasn't just beeping noises on repeat, you could dance to it.
The mention of Connor having found a girl in some capacity made Maddie show quite a surprised expression. She knew her brother quite well, they had even flirted briefly, but it had never really gotten to be anything else than that. "Well I guess there's someone for everyone," she chuckled, still finding it a bit hard to imagine the bookworm being in love with anyone besides his textbooks. "And kinda creepy with the whole Saoirse deal, but maybe he just finds something recognizable appealing," she said, shrugging it off as it wasn't really something she thought she had all the knowledge to have any know-how about.
Maddie kept dancing with Tessa, and as the song changed to a more upbeat one she wooed along jumping a bit on the spot. However just as last time, she felt eyes on her. It was like a big deja vu, and it made her feel a cold shiver run down her back. She looked around, but she couldn't really pinpoint where that feeling was coming from.

Maddie had met Saoirse only a handful of times, so she couldn't say much on the matter, but it didn't sound weird in her mind. Besides, she had seen how she had been with Amos, so she was kind of rooting for them, even if she knew nothing of their real relation.
Of course the valkyrie noticed, but Maddie had perhaps grown more paranoid as the months had gone on. The question made her shake her head, clearly not willing to speak about it this openly on the dancefloor, however saying that out loud didn't seem to be something she could do right now. She followed her friend, holding her hand as they moved through the crowd, and as they were in the bathroom she took a deep breath, looking at herself in the mirror. "I don't know, it just started out small, like I felt sometimes someone was watching me; It's not really uncommon, a lot of people stare at me for one reason or another," she said. She was aware of how provocative she could dress as well as the advantages of her vampyric genes. "But now it seems like every time I'm out and about, I feel like someone is watching me - like a stalker or something," she said, adjusting her hair, as she tried to look as normal as she could. Turning to look at Tessa she reached forward to take her hands in her own. "I think it's my family monitoring who I'm being around; They've never taken an interest in that before after I came clean about Tyler," she said in a more serious voice as she looked down. Did she sound delusional at this point? Was she looking as paranoid as she felt she was? "I just think they want me to feel watched, which isn't too much of a scary thing, but it feels like I'm being watched wherever I am," she explained.

It was a little worrisome to see how Maddie wasnt comfortable when that was what the whole night was supposed to be about. Out in the bathroom, Tessa could at least be sure that she wouldnt feel watched, going as far as to check under the stalls to make sure they were alone. She listened and nodded, crossing her arm as she leaned onto the prolonged sink. "A stalker?" she asked, scrunching her face in confusion. "Like all the time around the clock creepy actual stalking?" she asked just to clarify.
It didnt seem unlikely that it was her own family but Tessa disliked the fact a lot. She knew her own family took measures to protect her and Maddie's was probably the same. But they werent just kids anymore and for Tessa that meant that they had to make their own decisions regardless of how it may be percieved. She didnt know how the family dynamic was for them, so she wasnt going to play smart or anything. "How about we find out if it's for real? Like they do in the movies, I dress up as you and we'll see if whoever it is follows me. Then you can follow them and then we'll find out what's really going on?" she suggested though it did seem a little far-fetched to do. They were the same height sure, but Tessa wasnt a vampyre and was there even a way to fake it?

Maddie clearly didn't know how to handle this situation. The presumed stalker hadn't approached her or even hurt her, but the fact that she was being watched was enough on its own. If there was anything the vampyre valued, it was her freedom, but she could feel her family's watchful eyes on her, watching her every step. "I don't know if it's around the clock, but it feels like it - the only place I don't feel watched is at home, but you know I hate being stuck in one place," she said with a small sigh, shaking her head a bit as she didn't quite know what to do.
If the situation hadn't been this serious, Maddie might've agreed to the plan that Tessa was proposing, but alas their scent would give them away. Besides, what kind of friend would she be if she suggested the valkyrie going in her stead? No, they had to be smarter about this. "I like what you're thinking, but perhaps I need to just lure them myself - If they really are following me, I might be able to lure them out in to the alley behind the club," she said in a more thoughtful voice, clearly contemplating their actions. Looking at her friend she felt a little pained, but she would have to trust that they would be safe. "I want you to call Gerard, stall for time and go to the backdoor - just chat with him like everything is normal, and I'll see if I can get the creep to follow me," she said, looking rather seriously at Tessa. "Once I'm outside I want you to come join me; You're probably a lot stronger than me if it's a daemon following me around," she explained, feeling her nerves getting to her a bit.

Maddie felt grateful that her friend wanted to help, but it also made her a bit anxious to go out by herself. She was usually surrounded by others, or she was with friends, but now she was all on her own. She walked around for a bit, letting whomever stalked her see her before she did anything else.

Gerard had decided to spend his night pretty productively, mostly because he felt like he could always work more. He loved what he did, it was a dream come true to do this to pay his rent, but it was also rather tedious at times. He saw his phone buzzing, only keeping it turned on in case Tessa wanted to be picked up, but he hadn't expected her to call already. Was something wrong? He felt his palms a little sweaty as he removed his headphones, lifting the phone to his ear, only to be greeted by the sweetest voice he had ever known. He breathed out in a sigh of relief, but she also sounded a bit drunk, so perhaps she had just wanted to drunk dial him. "Bonsoir ma chérie," he greeted her with a faint smile on his lips. It was rather cute that she called like this, but wasn't she supposed to have a girls night only? "I'm good, just getting some work hours in; How about you? Everything alright?" he asked. They had promised each other that they would say if something off was happening, mostly because they still hadn't heard or seen anything from Eden, so better be on the safe side.

Maddie had walked around for a bit, even dancing and chatting with some random people, just acting as normal as she could. She proclaimed loudly to one of those she was chatting with that she was going out for a quick breather outside, but the people in their drunkenness cared little about her endeavors. She walked towards the backdoor, and she felt the eyes on her once more, however she couldn't see anyone really following her without making it seem too obvious. She just had to trust that the creep was following her.

Gerard frowned a little because he could hear that she wasn't acting like herself, but he of course gave her the time she asked for. It didn't take long before his phone buzzed against his ear, pulling it away from his face to read the message that popped up, frowning even more, before placing the phone back to his ear. "I see," he just said, but he didn't like the sound of that. Was he supposed to notify Tyler or maybe the police? He wasn't sure, but she clearly wanted to be calm. "I'm just working on some landscapes for a client, boring stuff really, but I've been planning our weekend together," he said with a small chuckle. It would maybe ease her mind a little. "Now don't get too excited, it's nothing major, just a whole weekend where Xal will be out of the house," he said, though he did feel rather excited for it. It was going to be the first real time they had together since well ... Getting together again. He smiled a bit at the thought.

Maddie moved silently through the crowd, but it was clear she was being noticed by those around her. She nodded at Tessa as she passed her, gesturing to her that she was going outside, keeping it casual, before exiting. She felt her nerves in her stomach, but soon enough a figure followed her out in to the alley.

"It's not a secret, more of a surprise," he chuckled more lightheartedly, but he wasn't forgetting what she had told him. He knew where they were, but would it really be needed for him to go out there? Maddie was strong, and so was Tessa, but he still worried. "Yeah, I've been looking forward to it as well; Although being treated like a teenager is somewhat refreshing," he said, only lightly teasing before she bid her goodbye. He told her that he loved her, to take care and call if she needed anything. Hanging up he felt a pit in his stomach.

Maddie was out in the alley and as she didn't hear the door close when she walked away, she knew the person had followed. It was clear that she couldn't smell the person, they must've used something to blur out their scent, but she didn't even know what that was. In a quick move she turned around, facing a rather skinny dude, but it was clear he was surprised to see her notice him. "Why are you following me? And why can't I sense your smell?" she demanded to ask, the guy clearly refusing to answer, making Maddie angry. "What the hell, say something!" she yelled quite angrily.

Maddie felt frustrated, mostly because she had felt like this had been building up for far too long, but as she was about to open her mouth, the guy stepped closer, grabbing her by the wrist. He was strong, much stronger than her, and as she tried to yank her arm away she winced in pain. "Let go of me this instant!" she demanded, but there was clear panic in her voice. She looked at Tessa, not sure what to say, because she couldn't tell what this guy was. If he was a vampyre, she would risk getting hurt, and Maddie couldn't have that on her conscious. "Mama Lorraine has sent me," the guy finally replied, but it didn't answer much. "She's ready to see you in a weeks time, you and your human pet."
Maddie felt violated, trying to yank her arm free but it didn't help. "So what are you doing? Just watching me?" - "I am making sure you and that pest don't run away together," he interrupted her, his gaze cold and devoid of emotions. "Don't worry, I was not instructed to kill your little seraph friend, she can come closer," the guy said but Maddie shook her head. "Tessa you better get out of here," she protested.

"Valkyrie you would do best to stay out of things you know nothing about," the man warned her, Maddie yanking at her arm to get free, but this guy was much stronger than her. However whether he was daemon or vampyre was not something she could tell. He had something weird about him, like he was a vampyre but with the brute strength of a daemon. "Tessa, it's alright, my family won't hurt me," Maddie said, but she also knew her friend to not leave her behind. However the vampyress was not going to let her family hurt her friend and prove Leona right in her assumptions. "I won't hurt her, but we might need her to testify to what you and that human have been up to," the man said coldly. Maddie shook her head. "She has nothing to do with this, she's my friend, she's not involved in this," - "Ah, but she is a witness right now," the man said before a few other people showed up. Maddie swallowed, recognizing most of them as vampyres, some from her family, other's close friends of their family.

Maddie looked at her friend, Tessa could still run now and get away, but would the others let her? "Tessa has done nothing wrong, she knows nothing of my scheming," she then blurted out, which made the other vampyres turn their attention to Maddie. The vampyress felt a little nervous, hoping that Tessa would take a hint and run off now, maybe contact Tyler for her, keep him safe in some way. "She's innocent, in fact she knows nothing of my family," she said, which was kinda true. Maddie had never introduced Tessa to anyone in her family, she barely mentioned them unless it was to complain about something. The man holding Maddie in place hummed before looking the valkyrie up and down. "Alright, run along now seraph, we won't stop you," the man said, and Maddie looked at her friend with begging eyes. Begging that she would go now, not get involved further, because that could not end well for any of them.

Maddie knew this wasn't the best thing in the world, but she would blame herself if her best friend got tangled up in something she had started. This was a family matter, even if she hated calling it that, she just hoped that Tyler was alright.

Gerard had half fallen asleep over his desk, a few photos had been finished, so he had somehow drifted off for a bit before he felt his phone buzz. He awoke, frowning a little disoriented, but reading the text from Tessa he felt like he had little time to spare. Grabbing his coat and phone he yelled at Xalvador that he was heading out before practically running to her place. He knocked on her door before noticing it was unlocked, stepping in and removing his shoes. His coat he hung by the door, locking it after himself before entering her apartment fully. He felt his heart breaking as he saw her there, crying her heart out and he sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "What happened?" he asked, looking at her to see if she was harmed in any way, but it didn't look that way. "Where's Maddie?" he then asked, looking around but he couldn't sense her there at all. Had something bad happened to the vampyre?

Gerard knew that Maddie came from a well off family - that was usually how it went with pureblooded vampyres, but frankly he thought that the family seemed more open minded - He had seen her dating Tyler and hanging around Tessa, that had to count as progressive in some way. They took her. A sentence that he couldn't really understand, but he frowned as she looked away, turning her face back to him, carefully dabbing her make up away from her cheeks with his sleeve. Hadn't she realized yet that he didn't care what she looked like? Perhaps it was just her young age.
She finished her explanation and he took a deep breath, looking in to the room as he thought for a bit. "There's not really much we can do," he said in a more defeated voice, but it was sadly the truth. Involving themselves in family matter like that could be dangerous, and frankly Gerard had had enough of vampyre drama for a good while. He knew that Maddie meant a lot to Tessa, and he couldn't deny that he was happy that she had such good friends, but he also couldn't justify letting her act a hero in this. "But do you really think her family is cruel enough to hurt her?" he asked, because he couldn't genuinely think of a solution to this, besides waiting and be supportive once it was all over.

It had maybe been a vague hope that he would have some sort of idea to what they could do, but she could also understand to a degree if he wasnt that willing to jump into matters that didnt really concern them. Maybe it was just Tessa's naive nature telling her that she couldnt just sit by and do nothing. She shrugged at his question and had stopped crying at this point, just a few sniffles here and there from the lingering emotions. She still felt sad because the night that had supposed to be perfect was ruined and she didnt know what would happen to Maddie. "They wouldnt have to do anything to her. It would just be enough if they did something to Tyler," she mumbled with a deep sigh and looked down for a bit. "I need to wash my face," she said as she got up, not wanting to feel the smeared makeup sticking to her face like a oily mass anymore. "Please stay over tonight," she said before she went to the bathroom to clean her face, but it felt like she was just clearing the canvas so she could cry once more. It would probably be like that for some time until she fully calmed down or either realized that crying wouldnt solve anything.

Tyler had seen Tessa's message but he felt a little confused by the notion that something bad was going to happen. Either way he didnt think that Tessa was the type to joke about this kind of stuff so he had gathered his jacket and gotten on his shoes before he had left the apartment. Only to realize that right outside, a car was waiting with some quite unfriendly faces that seemed to fixtate on him. A simple "Get in," was all he needed to know that not complying would end up pretty bad for him. He got in the car and felt a little confused as to what was happening, but his gut did tell him that it couldnt be anything good. "Can I at the least smoke?" he asked, but a firm no made him roll his eyes and look out the window.

Gerard frowned at the notion of Tyler getting hurt. Him and the human had actually been getting along quite well, even though he was the quiet and rebellious type. However despite all of it he agreed to staying over, not wanting to leave Tessa when she was this distraught. He had luckily saved his work before heading out, but he would still have to finish it by the end of the week. Once she returned he would've turned on some music, pulling her down in his lap as he just held her close, knowing nothing but just being there for her.

//Gerard out//

Maddie didn't like this one bit, but entering her grandmother's mansion, she felt a chill run down her spine. The many vampyres gathered were her family, many of them there just to hear a ruling, others there hoping that the youngest Vincent would get put in her place. Maddie had long been given a lot of freedom, freedom that very few in her family had gotten during these years, and she feared this was the point where it would all be over.
Standing for a bit she felt her nerves grow before she saw a few brutes step in with Tyler, and she felt her heart sink. He didn't look like he had been forced here, but she had a bit of a crazed look as she looked around, however she was still being detained by the stalker creep. "Tyler," she pleaded, clearly sorry that he was here, but also feeling a lot of regret. Regret that she hadn't ended this sooner, spared him this crazy ordeal, even if she loved him as much as she did, she felt it unfair to see him here. "Don't speak unless you're spoken to," the stalker said in a cold voice, but the vampyress could not do anything but look at the human.