The Aftermath of Love and Betrayal

Romeo chuckled softly at her compliment, "thank you miss Acton, you look dashing in and out of work wear - But I presume it's a talent besides your work," he said quite genuinely. Yeah, she was really beautiful, but she was still a woman. He didn't know why, but since Eden, he hadn't really been able to look at women with desire as much. Perhaps because they felt so beneath what he desired. Or maybe it was really because he was a fool in love. Hearing she had been invited here by Eden made him look a little surprised, "that is quite the gesture, I must say," he said, smiling at her though underneath it all he was hurting a bit. He could never be her. He could never be someone Eden invited to go out in public like this. Because he knew what would happen. Not only the judgement from both races, but his uncle's disappointment.  His mother's disapproval. Right now it was too much to handle for a guy that according to the law was still a kid in many ways.
"Well if this is an evening purely for entertainment's sake, then I would gladly introduce you to some people here?" He suggested. Keep your friends close, but enemies closer. That was what they said, right? Maybe this was just Eden's way of dealing with grief. Perhaps this vampyress would soon be long gone and they could go back to normal. Romeo held out his arm to her, smiling rather gallantly, "my lady," he said in a charming voice.

Romeo was well raised, and though he couldn't feel her skin, he didn't need to to feel her eyes glancing at him. As they had made their way around the room he stopped for a brief moment. "Would you like to go around for a bit on your own? Or perhaps join me for a brief break?" He asked, hinting at the need of a cigarette. She had herself been smoking when he met her, but perhaps she needed to go around herself.

Romeo smiled, "having a beautiful woman on one's arm is never too much trouble," he chuckled, looking at her with kind eyes. She was quite interesting, though perhaps he more so wanted to distract himself for a bit. "Mr. Parish might be busy greeting his guests ... Wouldn't want to just stand around," he chuckled, walking with her out to the designated smoking area. It was at least not just some back alley, but the rooftop above the club.
He let go of her as he dug his hand in to his blazer pocket, taking out his packet and lighter. Offering her one of his own favorite brand he placed one himself between his teeth. Lighting her cigarette first he went to light his own, inhaling slowly to get the small ember going. Blowing out the smoke he looked out at the city, hearing the taxis in the distance as well as the music blasting from the bars and clubs down the street. "The city can be so noisy," he sighed, turning to look at Kareema. "It is filled with life and yet it can make you feel so alone," he smiled.

Immortality. A gift and a curse. He knew lycans had a long lifetime, but he was too young to understand just how long eternity was. She spoke rather wisely, but it wasn't something he was surprised by. Humming as she finished herself up, focusing on his cigarette, feeling the nicotine calm him down. Her question made him sigh, looking up at the stars above. If he closed his eyes he could feel Eden's arms around him, feeling him up and whispering sweet nothings in his ear. "I miss home," he sighed, a small lie that seemed to keep growing. "I have my uncle here of course, so family isn't far away ... Though there are some things that family can't help soothe," he smiled, turning to look at her, his eyes kind and a little alluring. "How about you, miss Acton?" - "Or do you prefer I call you Kareema?" His voice smooth as butter as he reached out, adjusting a small lose hair from one of her neat braids.

"Yes, a year to soak up all the information and experience I can," he said. He had always loved his home country. The nature, the cities, the food. Even the people seemed more up his alley. He appreciated the gesture, but he probably would only refer to her in first name when they were alone. It had a very beautiful ring to it, her name that was. At her blunt question he couldn't help but chuckle, but she hadn't replied to his question about her state of loneliness. However he could endulge this little play just to stay out of his anger for Eden. Maybe he could show him just how shitty it felt to be him right now. "I suppose you must find it weird," he apologised, smiling and looking down. He didn't mean to cause any offense. "You keep recalling to me when I was a child, and the prefix of young maybe is a hint I shouldn't," he said, lifting his hand to take another drag from his cigarette, holding the smoke in as he looked up at the sky once more. It wasn't the same. It was dull and only so few stars that he wished he was back out qt that hotel with Eden. "But I have a feeling you like my young naivety; why else have you been looking at me all night?" He chuckled.

No a child he hadn't been for a long time. At least not in his mind. Not with the baggage he had to carry. Her admitting that he was somehow one that intrigued her didn't surprise him much. How many times had he not heard that? That there was this thing about him that made people gravitate towards him. "You make it sound like a bad thing," he smiled, looking out at the scenery as well. He just stood beside her, just letting his eyes rest at the dark horizon. Summer had gone. Autumn was here to reign and he found it harder and harder. "Can I ask you something completely inappropriate?" He asked, turning his head to look at her hands. He didn't think that long nails were that useful, unless it was to use in a fight or anything like it. If she let him proceed he reached over, touching her hand a little curiously. Maybe feeling her skin would remind him of Eden and make this more bearable. "In all of your years and with your experience ... How can one best push away loneliness?" He asked rather genuinely.

By having fun without a care. If only it was so easy. His hand lingered, the fabric feeling weird to the touch, wondering if it was even comfortable to wear. Then he heard a voice that made his hand slide down to rest on the railing. "Mr. Parish," he greeted back. Why didn't he call him by his first name like he did Kareema? Was it because he was trying to swoon her as he had been swooned? "A drink would be nice, thank you, miss Acton," he said, smiling at her until she left. His eyes moved back out on the city, feeling his anger brew within him. Eden was right there. And yet he felt so far away. He finished up his cigarette, just dumping it in the ashtray, his hand shaking a little from the fury within.

Romeo had never felt like this before. And as Eden spoke it was hard to even focus. He was shaking. Trembling at the touch that he longed so much for but then he wasn't getting enough. Eden was like a drug to him at this point and trying to get out of him cold turkey hadn't been good. In fact he thought the worst wasn't over yet. He shrugged off his hand, taking a step back. Normally he would've rushed in to his embrace, let his touch if any linger. "How can I not be?" He muttered, "I'm sorry, Mr. Parish, I should get going." He wanted to stay, to yell and scream. But instead he took it out on himself. "I see you are in good health," he said, a faint smile on his lips, but it never reached his eyes as he started to head inside. Did he want to be stopped? Did he want the vampyre to take his hand? Call him by his first name and maybe apologise? Gods Romeo didn't know what he wanted he just wanted to feel less lonely.

Feeling the hand grip around his arm he stopped, closing his eyes as he heard his name being spoken by the only person that seemed to say it right. He was still shaking with anger, but somehow Eden could calm that beast. Or at least he hoped he could. "Then what should I do, Eden?" He whispered, turning around to look at him. "Wait for my next orders? Be a good little boy and stop pestering you with messages that won't be answered?" He looked in to the vampyre's blue green eyes, wanting to reach out, cup his face, pull him in for a kiss. But also at the same time punch him. "I have a lot of work and studying I should get ahead on ... I've been slacking and my uncle is noticing ... I can't be anything but perfect," he said, feeling so emotionless all of a sudden.

That accusation made Romeo look at Eden in disbelief. Oh, so Eden could do as he pleased, leaving him alone for weeks with no answers and Romeo couldn't even flirt with some business woman who was clearly up to something. Before he could even defend himself he was being pulled in, the embrace making his heart beat faster and yet he didn't want it to. He wanted to stop feeling. He wanted to not feel how Eden felt so happy to see him, he wanted to go away, dive in to his studies, do as he always had done. But things had changed so much after Eden had entered the picture. He could barely touch himself without feeling Eden's hands explore his body. "Please let go of me," he whispered, so close to tears and yet he was holding them back. He wasn't here to fight anyone, he was fucked up enough from having to think about Kurtis and his self-righteous crusade. "I came he on behalf of my uncle ... I-I can't do this here," he said, moving out of his embrace. He was hurt, and badly at that. He felt so used and alone in a place where nobody was there for him. He couldn't even talk to his uncle about this. He had no one. No friends, no family. And he didn't even have Eden. "So stop treating me as a child, because I'm not," he said, looking at the vampyre. "Excuse me," he said, before he headed inside. He was shaking a little, and that was when he bumped in to Kareema, "I am so sorry, miss Acton," he said. It was like his body went in to survival mode, his ability kicking it up q notch, making him almost irresistible to those around him. They all turned to look at him jealous at Kareema as he chuckled softly. "I guess I could do without that drink," he smiled gently, always putting on a mask so that others couldn't see him hurt. It was his party trick, wasn't it? Hide your feelings, show your good side, don't forget to smile, keep your back straight, treat those around you kindly, keep your feet straight.

Romeo wanted to stay with Eden, wanted him to hold him close and kiss him like he had wanted to for almost a month now. But he felt so stupid, so angry and so hurt. And he had to get away, not wanting to risk getting found out. What wouldn't everyone think and say? It would get back to his uncle and he would get shamed.
Bumping in to Kareema was bad enough now that he was hurt. She asked him about someone hurting him to which he could only scoff shaking his head no. "I just think I need to head home ... Work is a fickle thing and I think I let myself get carried away," he said a bit apologetic. Reaching up he took her hand off his shoulder with a small smile. He lifted it, kissing the back of the gloved hand before letting it go. "We will need to catch up some other time," he said his voice charming but now that his ability was acting up it sounded more like he was playing coy. "Excuse me, and have a nice night," he said before heading towards the exit.
Getting out on the street he took out his phone. He opened up the messages unanswered from Eden. Typing in a message he sent it right away before hurrying down the street. He could feel his anger making him shake, his features twisting slightly as he felt the need to shift.

[Romeo:] Meet me here
[Romeo sent a location]

Romeo had struggle. Fighting the unge to change until he got to the forest. The ring itself he picked up, holding it in his mouth as he ran, his muscles moving, his blood pumping. It felt good. Just four legs and four Paws digging deep in to the soft soil beneath him. He circled the spot he had told Eden to come, and as he heard the vampyre enter the clearing he showed himself. His lycan form in full display and fully healed. He was a giant beast, that was for sure. So far removed from the beautiful boy that Eden had come to known. He stood in front of the vampyre, looking down at him, his garnet eyes shining. It was sad eyes. Eyes that showed just how hurt the boy wonder was beneath all of this.

Romeo hated being in his lycan form, but being hurt it was easier to just be like this. It was easy because instinct just kicked in. He didn't have to think as much, he just had to exist. He let the vampyre touch him, every caress almost soft to the touch, and yet Romeo knew how much Eden might not like this part of him. Perhaps that was why he faced him like this. Maybe this would be enough for Eden to make up his mind, push him away and get it over with instead of being strung along. The question made him growl softly in a way that meant yes. Because wasn't it obvious? He had been there for Eden, and now he was alone once more. All he wanted was Eden and his mind couldn't focus. His face pushed forward, pressing his snout against the shoulder where he had left his mark. If Eden looked confused he would growl before pushing against his shoulder again. Mine. Eden was his. He was so hurt that he was pretending not to be. A push again: mine.