The everyday monsters in our lives

Sadie was keeping something secret, but she also didn't want this man to find out about it - even if he already knew. He sighed, looking down as the raven started to jump closer to Sadie, its beady little eyes staring at them both. Getting up from his seat he walked to the raven, kneeling down beside it as a warning. "Last chance," he said, looking to Sadie, but the vampyress shook her head violently. She would not admit to any faults. He got up once more, nodding as he sighed, "I might not come when you need me then," he warned her. But he could not force the pendant from her. It was not in its nature. He bid them good evening before heading out of the apartment door, the raven jumping after him, turning in the doorway to caw loudly at them before following its master.
Sadie dried her eyes, shaking a little bit. She looked down, fishing out the pendant from around her neck. It had the same seafoam green color as that of Cesare's. "Don't get mad," she pleaded with her brother. "But I couldn't give it back to him."

Joe could tell that something was up, but he chose not to say anything. If Sadie wanted to lie to this stranger, then he wouldnt snitch on her. He did heed the warning even if she didnt and it wasnt even about him. They were left and Joe slowly let go of her as he was thinking of what to say. Did she really? He didnt even get to finish that thought before she pulled out the pendant. He recognized it in a heartbeat. "Wait.... Why do you have that?" he asked, blinking a few times as he kind of did ignore her plea but his eyes didnt move from the necklace. "Sadie, why do you have it?" he repeated, looking at her in disbelief.

Sadie clearly felt guilty, but what could she truly do in all of this? He asked her not once but twice and she felt her throat so dry. Looking down she frowned, "I know Cesare had this before .. and I'm not an idiot, this is the color of his eyes," she said, holding the pendant up so he could inspect it. Gritting her teeth she shook her head. "I don't know what it does .. but I have a bad feeling about the fact that he took it from him," she said, nodding towards the door where the man and the raven had exited. "I don't know what it does .. and yet I think it's something about Cesare or control of him," had she kept this for far too long at this point? Yes. But she also felt like she hadn't gotten what she had sought out to get, and her sire was still not budging at all. "I'm going to keep it for now .. maybe I'll end up throwing it away or .. breaking it, I don't know," she muttered almost to herself.

She seemed quite aware of who had owned the pendant and yet it sat around her throat. Joe looked very worried as she spoke of it, because he sort of knew. Or he knew from what Cesare had told him. "Have you ever... said something... to then-..." he spoke a little quiet like he wasnt sure he should be asking, pausing as he was staring at the necklace. ".. I dont think it's good that you have it Sadie." he then just said, looking up into her eyes with a serious look in his eyes. No, it was far too powerful and if she didnt even know that, then who was to know if she had misused it? "How did you get it?"

"Said something what?" She frowned clearly not having understood what he meant. She thought this pendant was something else entirely. Then he said it wasn't good for her and her eyes turned dark, moving out of his embrace to stand on the floor. "You can't take it from me," she just said, gritting her teeth as she clearly was paranoid, "is it because you want it?" She shook her head no. She didn't want to part with it. The question made her scoff. "I took it from that strange man's pocket when he was heading out of the hotel," she said. She had known there was something up with that pendant, but she hadn't yet realized how it was slowly corrupting her mind. It wasn't meant for her. It didn't fit her eye color. "I want to keep it .. it brings me luck .. like Martin; before this he barely wanted to commit, and now?" Looking down to her engagement ring she smiled.

She got up and so did he. He looked at her with an odd expression as she began to claim that he couldnt take it from her. Had he given her the impression that he wanted it? He didnt! He knew better than to have something like that at hand. She had just taken it from the man? It seemed suspicious. He shook his head. When she disclosed that it had helped her get engaged to Martin, his eyes widened a little. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, or rather sort of demanded. "How did he suddenly want to commit?" he elaborated, needing a clear answer. This was insane. It wasnt good for her. "Sadie, that thing certainly doesnt bring you any luck. Dont just blindly trust it." he shook his head.

"Because I asked him to commit to me! I asked him and he did .. It really does bring luck, alright," she said, her head shaking as she stepped away from him. Perhaps this could explain all of her angry outbursts. And to Benjamin it would perhaps explain why Cesare had struggled so much. "I asked him to stop toying around with me and tell me that he loved me .. and he did .. so I asked him to marry me, and he said yes," from her perspective she couldn't see she had done anything wrong. All she had demanded was to be treated fairly and with love. And she had gotten that.
"I don't know why you think it's not good for me; it has brought me so close to the goals I have in life .. gods .. I wish you were more supportive of me!" And without knowing it, she had stated her want for it to happen.

She began explaining and it was exactly as Joe had worried it would be. She had used the powers of the pendant without even knowing it. He didnt know what it could do and frankly he didnt want to know. There was probably a reason for Cesare to only use it sparingly. He looked at her with saddened eyes, because he wanted to tell her. But if she knew, would that change anything at this point? Or would she just use it to really get what she wanted? He frowned as she spoke of her goals, but then she wished for his support. He frowned a little as he felt it like a force in the back of his head, moving through his mind, changing his train of thought. But he didnt want that, he didnt want to change at all. A sharp pain spread from where the change had spread and he began gritting his teeth as it hurt so much, needing to hold his own head as it felt so heavy all of a sudden. "No... please! I dont... I-... I..." he begged in pain, trying to fight it but he really couldnt. He did try which only caused him so much pain. He didnt even realize he had given in, but the pain suddenly subsided and he leaned back to stand upright again. "Okay, fine. I support you. The necklace suits you." he then smiled.

Sadie was surprised to hear his support all of a sudden, but her faced softened up as she went to him, cupping his face as she looked happy now. "Thank you," she said softly, barely realizing what was going on around her. The pendant had really messed her up, and she was far from done. "I need to go find Martin .. he can't be far," she said, leaning in to kiss Benjamin's forehead before she headed out. Leaving him would make him realize that he had been manipulated, and perhaps make it easier for him to fight it, as her words hadn't been a direct order.

In the meantime Martin had reached Cesare, spilling everything and the sire became furious. He had unwillingly handed it back to the man of dreams, but hearing that Sadie had stolen from him was a bad sign. He didn't even hesitate, heading to the apartment she shared with Benjamin. Ringing the bell he wanted to be let in. "It's Cesare, can you let me in?" He said over the door phone, unsure if anybody was home at all.

He could barely hear the mutter through the bad speakers, but the door was buzzed open and he practically flew up the stairs until he reached the apartment. If the door was still unlocked he would step in, finding yhe human on the floor he went and picked him up gently. "Benjamin," he pleaded, helping him onto the couch. He leaned down, listening to his heart, trying to figue out what to do, but he knew there was more or less only one thing he could do. He had to find Sadie. And he had to get her to hand over the pendant. Then just maybe he could fix this. "It's alright, my otter, it's alright, I'm right here," he whispered to his human, leaning down to connect their foreheads. Everything made so much sense now. And yet he feared it was only the beginning.
Martin had sought to hide from Sadie, his mind in shambles after everything, but he knew she would come looking for him sooner or later. He preferred the latter option and had been hidden away, though he was soon made known that Sadie was on the hunt for him.
Back at the apartment, Cesare was considering his options. Could he really just leave the human here?

He grabbed onto his arm, making him rather surprised, but the mention of an itch made him take his hands in his own. "Focus on me, my love," he pleaded. He had seen first hand what careless usage had of consequences. Leaning down he connected their foreheads, "I need you to listen to me, and I promise it will make the itch go away." He took a deep breath that shuddered a bit, but he knew the human so well at this point, so he hoped it would aid in bringing him back to him without any side-effects. "Think of the night under the stars," he whispered tenderly. It was about bringing forth something in his memory that would remind him of his true self. And nothing had been more true and authentic than that night - at least to Cesare.
"Do you remember when we read the stars together? When you spoke of your life and what you dreamt of?" He was basically guiding him through the whole scenario, even letting Benjamin speak part of the story if he so wished it. He spoke of the dreams he had had for Benjamin, told him how he wanted to keep him happy and healthy. "And afterwards you were so excited that you accidentally broke a glass," he whispered, a soft smile on his lips. Not because he liked the fact that the human had gotten hurt, but he more so thought of what happened later that night. "We made love under the stars, didn't we, my little otter?"

Focus? Joe felt like he couldnt even do that right now. But he felt the cold forehead against his and he closed his eyes, trying to listen to the voice of the vampyre as he rather desperate clung onto him. The mention of their night made him draw his thoughts back on that. His face showed pain as he struggled to control his own thoughts, so Cesare's voice was a great guide. He could just listen and the thoughts would appear in his mind. He didnt really add to the story but rather just focused on listening. His shoulders were trembling but it was helping. He could feel the control slowly return and as Cesare asked about the intimacy they had shared that night, Joe leaned in to connect their lips in a slow but tender kiss. His hands released their grip on the vampyre's arms, to move up and press his palms lightly onto his shoulders instead. "I remember.. Thank you." he muttered onto his lips, grasping softly at his shirt. "What did she do to me?" he didnt understand. Or he just didnt want to think that she had did what Cesare had told him about so long ago.

Cesare knew it was hard, but at least the human seemed to calm down more and more, however the kiss surprised him a bit. He did reciprocate it, leaning into how tender it truly was. He had missed his lips so dearly but it felt bitter that this was how they were reunited. "Good," he muttered softly in return, just letting him hold onto his shirt all he wanted. The question made him sigh, "she used the pendant," he said, frowning as he shook his head a little, leaning away he looked at the man he held so dear. "I don't understand .. he took it while I was in my slumber .. I suppose to safekeep it, and yet she ended up with it?" He couldn't really wrap his mind around it. Frankly he wasn't sure what to think. "You remember what I did .. back in your hometown," he said, not sure if now was a good time, but it was how it was going to be. "My voice had a power over your father; it is not a power I use often, in fact it has been more of a curse than a blessing," he admitted. "That's why I made a deal with the Lord of Dreams .. He could contain my ability within the pendant .. however doing so the pendant also took part of my soul." Was he telling the man he loved that his life sorta depended on getting that pendant back? Yes. But it was also important to be honest here.
"Your sister might not be aware that she's using it .. it's corrupting her in a sense, like you felt an itch in your mind, she probably feels empowered and react negatively if somebody goes against her." It was a lot to take in. He kissed him once more, "are you alright to walk? I need to find her, but I fear you might be the only one who can get through to her .. if this goes on any longer he might come to claim it back, and I wouldn't know what that would entail for me."

So she did use the pendant! He didnt like the thought of that. It hadnt been a good feeling either, the way he had just been controlled and then become aware of it once she was gone. He did remember seeing the stranger take the pendant from the vampyre back before he had helped bring Cesare back. "She said she stole it from him." he said, but did that even make sense? The stranger seemed to know everything, so surely something as important as a pendant that could bend wills wouldnt just be stolen.
Cesare went into detail and Joe hummed with a nod as he hadnt forgotten what had happened to his father, nor Cesare explaining it afterwards. The human slowly let go to of the vampyre and sat up normally, though he frowned as he thought it through. "You made a deal to contain it?" he asked. Had Cesare been able to just use it freely before? The mention of his soul made Joe frown before he seemingly realized. So this was really bad, not just for Sadie but Cesare too.
"She isnt aware. She calls it her lucky charm." He confirmed, though he didnt feel quite as optimistic about this whole thing. Sadie seemed too far gone. He returned the kiss, looking down at the question. "I dont think I'll get through to her. She wouldnt listen to me." he muttered, shaking his head. He didnt trust his own ability in this to break through to her. It had failed miserably the first time. "You just need to get it back right? Like as soon as it's in your hand, she wont be able to use it?" he asked, looking back at Cesare.

He nodded about the containment part. He had struggled for a while back then, but it was many years ago he had made that deal. Benjamin shed some new light on the situation making Cesare hum as he thought it through, "I still think you might be the best bet .. if she still believes you're supporting her, then she might let you get closer to her - maybe close enough to distract her," he pondered out loud. He really did need the human in this. Perhaps because in the back of his mind he was also preparing for the worst case scenario, and he wanted to be selfish and let Benjamin be the last thing he saw. However dwelling on such things or even saying it out loud would make it sound like he had given up. Which he hadn't. He was quite determined on getting this to work out.
The question regarding the usage made him nod, "as soon as I have it in my hand, she won't be able to use it .. but she might suffer for the consequences of using it," he said. He wasn't going to sugar coat this. "If she isn't strong enough .. she might die or in the least lose something of herself," he wanted that to be very clear, mostly because he knew how protective of her that Benjamin was. "But it'll be worse if we don't take it from her."

The best bet? He wasnt convinced but it was seemingly the only chance and option they really had in this. He rubbed his face a little, drawing in a deep breath. He needed to think it all through but his mind was pretty much a bit in shambles after he had tried to fight the control Sadie had had on him all by himself at first. It was good that she couldnt use it if she didnt have it in her possession. So it was rather simple. As the vampyre made it clear that there were consequences for her, Joe shrugged. "She cant keep it either, so what is there to do except just doing it?" he sighed. But maybe it was good to know that something would happen once the pendant was taken from her. "And what about you?" he asked, reaching out to press his fingers onto where the vampyre's heart would have been. He looked at him with saddened eyes. "I'm not dumb. What could happen to you in all this when your soul is connected to that thing?"

He had to agree with the human. They didn't have a choice. Looking down at the fingers over his still heart made him sigh, taking it in his own, lifting it to kiss it gently. "If I don't get it back it could turn out really bad for me; and if it breaks then .." Closing his eyes he didn't dare think of what could happen. He just leaned in, wrapping his arms around him, "I have to get it back .. even if there's risks, we'll just have to be careful," he muttered into his shoulder, just needing that bit of comfort. Pulling away slightly he kissed Benjamin's forehead lovingly, "we can't delay much longer." Breathing him in before he got to his feet.
Once Benjamin was stable on his legs they would head out, Martin there waiting for them with a grave look on his face. He clearly wasn't doing too well, clear marks of where he had been scratching himself as well. "She's at the hotel," he just said, looking down but Cesare just nodded, "there's no need for you to fight anymore, so go rest and hide until I've figured this out." Martin nodded, looking to his sire with great respect before he ran off. He had obligations and he knew it, in the case that Cesare might not make it back. "I suppose we're going to the hotel," he said with a soft nod.

He nodded, but as the vampyre paused rather than saying it, Joe just frowned. "Just say it. I need to know what's at stake here. Might as well say it." he said, wrapping his arms around the vampyre in return, leaning his head onto his shoulder. Joe knew it was a complicated situation, but this was both about his sister and the man he loved; It had to be done. He looked at him as he leaned away, though Joe didnt feel ready to leave just yet. Would he ever? He felt almost nauseous and that would probably only pass once it was all over.
He got up and needed a moment to feel his own legs before he could walk. Seeing Martin outside, he noticed the scratches and it was a scary look. Even more because Joe could imagine that he would have looked the same if Cesare hadnt helped. The vampyre spoke of heading to the hotel but if he began going, Joe would reach out, a little panicked, though he kept it controlled in his expression. "Wait. Please. If I'm going to lose you, then I just dont want to go there and lose you." he said, pulling the vampyre in to connect their lips, kissing him rather needy, but it was only for a small moment. He released him and frowned. "I love you. I'm going to be selfish and say this. But do whatever you have to to get it back. For her too. I know she doesnt want to be this way." he said before he could let him go, his hand trembling a little. But wasnt it fair that he was scared? He let Cesare lead as he followed him to the hotel.

Cesare was stopped, confused as he turned to look at the man he loved so much. He was pulled into a kiss, gasping softly as this was perhaps as public as Benjamin had ever been with him. Was he being selfish or were they just scared both of them? He didn't know, but he moved his hand down to touch his, hoping that despite them being out here he would let him. "I love you too." He spoke rather seriously as the human made his demands. It was quite a thing to ask, in fact he wasn't sure how to feel about it. He knew what he meant, and yet it hurt a little to realize that he was basically putting all of his trust in him. "I'll try to do what I can .. I'm too selfish to give up on us," he admitted. He knew he had obligations to his sire, but if she was too far gone, would he even be able to salvage what would be left of her?
He pulled him close for one last time, breathing him in, feeling all of him in the moment. He needed it for strength, to know that this was how things were going to be, and that they could come out the other end. Right? Afterwards they headed towards the hotel. Inside it felt almost normal, though a few people were walking around with scratches and clearly looked disoriented. Cesare grit his teeth as he headed for the elevator. Taking it up to the penthouse, what met them he couldn't ever had been prepared for. Sadie was sitting on the bed, clutching on to the pendant, mumbling to herself as a dark aura spread around her. Cesare put a hand out to stop Benjamin from venturing too far in.
"My sire has come to reclaim my lucky charm," she hissed, but it almost sounded nothing like her. Dark streaks almost like blackened blood vessels visible around her throat and cheeks. "Well he can't have it!" She got up, showing her fangs as Cesare carefully stepped closer. "I'm so sorry, my flower, I should've protected you more," he said, but she shook her head, hissing violently.

Joe barely thought of their current position when he pulled at the vampyre. But even if he had, this could be a last kiss and that was enough to make him not even care. His trembling hand grasped hard around the vampyre's, humming at the confession. It soothed him a little. He didnt mind as the vampyre pulled him in, closing his eyes, relishing in it for the time it lasted.
The sight at the hotel was just as bad as expected. Everyone looked like they were fighting whatever Sadie had told them beforehand. He was feeling that sinking feeling in his chest. Seeing Sadie on the bed he did feel that urge to step towards her, being stopped by Cesare. Her hiss didnt sound like her at all. She didnt look herself either and he frowned as it occurred to him that she was already so far gone. She had to be in pain! He felt all urges to just go and hold her. Somehow hope that it could bring her back. "It's alright Sadie. We're not here to take your lucky charm. We wouldnt do that when it's doing so much good for you." Joe said, smiling as he looked at her and yet he couldnt hide the sadness from his eyes. "We found Martin. He's waiting for you, so you can finally get married, remember?" he reminded her, carefully walking closer. "Cesare will give you the blessing you've wanted all this time. Right?" he looked back at the vampyre, needing him to play along on this.

Sadie barely looked to her brother. She had truly given into the corruption of the pendant, making her mind feel all itchy and weird, and yet so euphoric as well. Anything she wanted, she could have. She just had to say it. That was how it worked, right? Cesare held his breath as Benjamin started to speak, and Sadie turned her head with a snap towards her brother. She got off the bed, drawing nearer to him as she inspected him. It was clear from her eyes that she was trying to figure out who he was, and yet there were some bells ringing in her head that she couldn't access right now. "Is Martin really waiting for me?" She asked, looking back at her sire who just nodded, going along even if he hated lying to her. Sadie was within grasp. He just needed a chance to grab the pendant. "I've arranged it all .. honeymoon included .. you'll get your own house .. everything will be as you've asked for." Cesare was lying out of his own ass, but she was seemingly buying into it.
However then the aura faded slowly, her eyes turning sad as she started to cry, shaking her head as she returned to the bed. "I can't .. I can't .. I'm unclean," she cried, and Benjamin would perhaps recognize that word. It was something their father had called her. She began rocking back and forth. "Sadie was daddy's good girl .. daddy's quiet girl," she winced in pain. Never had she spoken about this, unless perhaps to Cesare who stepped forward. However as he did she clutched harder around the pendant. "Sadie, that wasn't your fault .. you know it wasn't and you know it doesn't make you less than," he said, trying to soothe her.

It was quite scary that she just got up and moved closer. It set off Joe's senses and he felt it like ice cold water pouring down his back. But he remained in control of himself, just smiling and nodding at her question, relieved to hear Cesare go along with the plan. The aura began to fade but for Joe it was like she just seemed to snap back. As a human it was hard to see and read auras as it was.
She returned to the bed and he frowned at her words, not understanding what she was on about now. Why was she mentioning their father? Her follow up however made him feel a rush of disgust and anger, shaking his head. He clenched his jaw and fists hard, feeling the urge to just break something though it wouldnt help them now. It made sense why she wanted to marry as fast as possible, why waiting only seemed so tedious, because all this time she was feeling this way. "The real unclean was the piece of shit father who would do that to his daughter." he said, needing to swallow the saliva that was pooling from the nausea that he felt. "Oh gods..." he muttered, covering his mouth. He couldnt soothe her now! It wasnt even her that disgusted him, it was their father. He took a moment to collect himself before he moved closer to the bed, reaching out to touch her shoulder. "Sadie, I know his voice is in your head but he's not here. He cant hurt you anymore." he said, though speaking felt so hard. He didnt know what was the most straining, fighting the urge to throw up or the sheer anger and discontent that had flared up for their father. "We can kill him if that will make it go away?" he suggested, touching her shoulder. It was his anger speaking but he would do anything for her. Anything to strangle the voice that was filling her head with all this darkness. "Anything you want"

Cesare had known this hadn't been his story to tell, and the reaction from Benjamin was as valid as ever, but he was frightened seeing the man move so close to the maddening vampyress. However saying that might ruin everything, so he just kept a watchful eye on them both. For a second Sadie just leaned towards Benjamin, crying as if she was back to herself again. Resting her head on his shoulder she clutched the pendant as if it could help her change the past. "He's hurting me right now," she cried. It was her memories that were paining her. No matter the amount of work she had done to help herself, it was as if it would never be as it had been before that man had laid his hands on her. She had tried so many things to make the thoughts go away. Make the feelings go away. But nothing had worked. Even throwing herself at other men only dulled the pain while they seemingly loved her, but they all left her crying and broken. Martin had been the first to show interest in her. The first to just hold her hand or even simply smile at her. But now that was ruined too, wasn't it?
"Sadie .. do you want me to make the hurting stop?" Cesare asked her gently, walking closer, but she gripped harder around the pendant making it crack. Cesare screamed out in pain, falling on his knees as he almost felt like he was being torn asunder. "S..Sa..d..ie.." he pleaded with her, shaking from the pain, his seafoam green eyes almost loosing their color.