The everyday monsters in our lives

He didn't answer. What had happened with that crazy vampyre? What was going on and why was he so clearly a daemon now? He shook himself loose, and the fenix stood for a while before she drew out her blade. "I can't let you leave," she just said, readying herself. She knew she wouldn't be a big match to a daemon, but as long as she could keep this up until some reinforcements came along, then she could do it. If he tried to move she would throw a knife through the air, hopefully piecing his hand to a dumpster nearby. Walking closer she grit her teeth, "I can't make exceptions .. I'm sorry," she knew he had saved her life, but she couldn't compromise with her beliefs. The only good daemon was a dead daemon, she reminded herself.

The fenix was not truly prepared, jumping out of the way a little too late. The lid scraped against her arm, blood running down to her fingers as she staggered for a bit. However it wasn't going to stop her. "You've let yourself become corrupted .. I would've let someone kill me if I was changed like that," though that was perhaps rich coming from a fenix who couldn't be changed. She grasped around her knife as she stalked along the alley wall. Her eyes trained on the daemon as she moved within range, striking down on his arm, but the blade ended up getting stuck in his bone and she tried desperately to remove it. It was her last weapon, she wouldn't survive without it.

"Yes you are, you are just not aware of it!" She insisted, some of her hair getting pulled out by the brute force he was yanking her back with. Gritting her teeth, blood started to drip down from her temples. "You exchanged your life for mine, that much is true, but in this state you are in now I would've rather been dead," she hissed at him, struggling before he released her. Gasping she was struggling to even stand up, her knees wobbly and the blood loss already too much for her body to handle. "You should've stayed out of that vampyre den .. he has clearly corrupted you, that vile vampyre! I should've killed him right away, then none of this would've happened to you," struggling still she remained on her feet. Both hands clutched into fists she was crying now. "You are the vermin of this world and so is that vile vampyre. I bet you probably call him master. Or perhaps you allowed yourself to trick yourself into caring for him?" She was lashing out, delirious from her wounds as she moved forwards, still wanting to fight.

He grabbed her hard around her neck and as she struggled to breathe he went on and on. Eventually he ingested parts of her soul, the rest of her left in the alley to decay. Without a full soul, she wouldn't be able to do anything. From now on, she would merely be a husk. Oh if that had only been so easy. But a prey left in an alley was easy food for those seeking it out. Another daemon opted to finish her off, beating her face in so she wouldn't be easy to recognize.

Martin was out for a walk, dealing with his own struggles before he caught the eyes of Joe. He frowned, unsure of how to face that family again. Sadie had used him, even if it hadn't been intentional, he felt used, and he wasn't sure he was willing to forgive her just yet. "Hi," he said before frowning, seeing the distressed look on his face, "are you alright?" He asked. Even if Joe was Sadie's brother, he was still someone that Cesare cared for. And in turn it was in Martin's nature to try and be accepting of it.

"No, it's alright," he just said, nodding as he wouldn't mind taking some burdens off of him. It was strange, wasn't it? That even after what Sadie had done he still cared for her and her brother. "I'm doing better, yeah, thank you," he said nodding as he wasn't quite sure what there was to talk about. Except for maybe one thing. "So .. how's Sadie holding up?" He asked carefully. He knew he hadn't exactly talked nice to her last time they spoke, but he was still rather angry with her in that sense. "Listen, I know I'm not innocent in all of this; I did string her along for too long, but I was planning on committing when Cesare had found my replacement," he admitted with a soft sigh, moving over to sit on a bench. Surely the former human didn't want to hear that excuse. "How are you dealing with the change?" He asked, mostly to change subjects but also because he was curious. He had a lot of admiration for what he had done for his sire, keeping him alive and restoring him. "If there's anything you need .. advice on how to deal with suddenly being immortal, that kinda stuff .. then I'm here," he nodded to himself, "I helped Sadie a lot when she changed .. I know you're different, but most struggles are familiar."

He scoffed softly, "I guess I'm just making up excuses for being a coward," he admitted with a soft sigh. Yeah, he really liked Sadie. But he was so unsure in if he was right for her. She deserved the best and he wasn't really anyone special. "I'm in love with Sadie .. but I sorta always felt less than, you know?" He hummed as he thought out loud. Maybe it was a bad thing to do around her brother, but this was how it was going to be. "But she's your sister, so you know how special she is." He could at least comfort himself with that. Not that anyone had ever judged Sadie within the clan, but she still spent much of her time with that.
Joe started opening up about everything. How it was too much and the hurting of others and those he loved. Martin nodded, "I was much like that after my transformation too," he admitted, looking out at the grass field, just taking a deep breath. "It does get easier, but for me it took a long while just getting used to it all .. I kept slamming into walls when I tried to move; my ears kept ringing from all of the noise," just to list a few. He supposed the daemon was much the same but then he spoke about going away. Martin shrugged. He knew it wasn't his place to decide. "If you leave and you don't get that clicking sensation .. then what?" He asked a rather fair question. Folding his hands he hummed again, "back when I had just changed I refused to let anyone near me .. I did things I'm not proud of because those that cared for me wasn't there to guide me." It was clear he had regrets about what he had done, but there wasn't really much he could do about it now. "If you leave, that is your choice, but what about those you leave behind?"

"I do want to be with her," Martin flat out said, and he was very serious about it too, "I just want to make sure I have that stability ready for her, you know?" Wasn't that fair enough? He wasn't quite sure, but nothing really made sense as of late. The notion about feeding made him hum. "I think all turned people struggle with that part if I'm being honest .. Sadie still struggles with hers .. but she likes it when there's someone there for her; and I don't want to assume you're the same," he nodded to himself. The daemon spoke about having a choice to make and Martin nodded, "if you go away you might have a chance to find yourself again, but don't fool yourself into thinking that you aren't hurting your loved ones by actually going away." He had seen Cesare when him and Benjamin had been separated. He feared what this might do to him. "Cesare just got his life back .. but I don't think he could survive his heart breaking if you went away," he got up from the bench. He had made up his mind. He was going to go see Sadie. He bid him goodnight before he headed towards where the apartment was.

Safe to say Cesare was worried out of his mind. He had even gone so far as to take contact with Sadie who then in turn disclosed that the former human had in fact been at the apartment for a bit, but that he hadn't come back since. He got a call on his phone from the receptionist, the description clearly familiar. He gave her the green light, and she got up from her seat behind the desk. Walking over to him she folded her hands in front of her hips, "good morning, sir; would you like to be helped to your room?" She asked him with a soft and helpful smile.
Cesare was of course impatient. As soon as he had gotten the call he had waited but two seconds before heading down. "I can take care of this," he said, the sweet woman turning her head to see her boss before nodding, and heading back to her post. Cesare looked like he usually did, but on the inside he felt like complete garbage. He just stood there for a while before he sighed. "Do you want a room for yourself?" He asked, because he wasn't sure what to think anymore. "Or do you want to come with me out on some errands after you've had a shower?" He wasn't going to bring him along when he clearly smelled like he had spent the night around alcohol and cigarettes. Even if he couldn't smell it on his breath, it wasn't a good impression.

Cesare moved over, sitting down next to him if he would even let him. Reaching down he carefully took his hand, just wanting to show he was there for him. He wasn't judging him, because he knew that Benjamin was already judging himself enough. "If you feel like you need to go away for a while, then I will support it," he said softly, holding back how much it would hurt to have him leave now, but he knew that this wasn't about him. He gave his hand a squeeze, leaning over to rest his head on his shoulder, taking a few deep breaths. "Just promise me you'll keep in contact .. I am the master of worrying, you know," he tried being funny, but he perhaps sounded very depressed. Benjamin meant everything to him, but he would also not stand in the way of something like this. The former human had to figure out who he was now, and Cesare hated that he couldn't just give him an answer or any advice. "And take some vials too .. I know you don't want me mentioning that stuff, but I'm always going to." He closed his eyes, just sitting here hoping that he could have a bit of comfort in knowing that he would be alright. But he didn't know that. And it was scaring him a lot. "You can always come back here .. there's always going to be room for you."

While he promised to come back it wouldn't be real before he held him once more. "I know," he just confirming that he knew that this change wasn't made just to leave what they had behind. Cesare would just have to believe this would help. Feeling those warm lips pressed against his hand made him sigh, knowing it would be a while before he felt those lips again. "It should be scary, right?" He pondered out loud, "it's about finding yourself again, finding who you are now; that is scary." He knew that might not be comforting in that sense, but he then at least knew that it wasn't an odd feeling to feel. Cesare leaned his head away from his shoulder, looking at him with a sad smile on his lips, his eyes a little fluid. He wasn't good at goodbyes, and even worse when he only had a promise that he would come back.
"I have something for you," he said, call it a parting gift or whatever it might be, he knew it was perhaps a little too late for that. He got up, pulling the daemon with him to the elevator, heading up to his floor. "I know you want to go, and I'm not going to stop you," he spoke calmly in the elevator, turning to look at him before he leaned in for a kiss. He knew that usually they waited until they were behind closed doors for this, but Cesare had it on good authority that no-one would interrupt them. The elevator dinged, and he broke the kiss, still holding his hand as he pulled him with him to the room. "Just .. stay there," he said with a slight smile, letting go of his hand. He was a bit nervous, but he wanted to give this now more than ever. He came over with a box neatly wrapped and within were two cubes, much like the ones that Nika had given Cesare back then.
"We'll need to add each of our blood to one .. you'll have mine and I'll have yours .. I don't know, is this stupid?" He smiled, tears falling down his cheek as he wasn't sure if this would just make it worse. "I just thought .. even the nights we won't be together, we'll still have a piece," swallowing he looked down, making a small cut in his finger, dripping down on one of the cubes, however it wasn't displaying emotions. Rather it was blinking a little as if it was searching for the other half. If Benjamin put some blood on his cube the two would pair up. He took Benjamin's out, holding it close to him and the other cube lit up in the color of emotions he was feeling; sadness; love; courage. "If you miss me you could just let me know by giving it a small squeeze, and I could squeeze it back to let you know I'm there."

"Of course you can," he said, pulling up in a sad smile. He was pulled in, and he wrapped his arms around the human in return. He cared so deeply about him, and this was a simple gift that meant a lot that the daemon accepted. "I love you too .. so much," he whispered against his dark hair, breathing him in as if to store up some of it. "And you'll do great .. you're strong .. your stubborn .. and you will be very missed," he said, kissing his scalp gently a few places so soothe him gently. He knew he couldn't prolong this for much longer, knowing Benjamin he was certainly wanting to start this as soon as possible.
Pulling away for a little he cupped his face gently, "when you get back I'll demand a third date," he said before leaning in, kissing his lips tenderly and lovingly. He just wanted him to feel how loved he was. "Besides .. you'll have to come back for your sister's wedding, right?" He teased him gently. He had finally figured out what he was going to do about it. But now it was up to the bride and groom to decide whether they wanted each other or not.

"Of course not," he played along to the tease rolling his eyes before he softly chuckled. He really made him happy. But he also knew they couldn't be truly happy before Benjamin had some more insight on himself. Maybe this would just end up making them stronger. Their noses were nuzzled and foreheads connected and the vampyre gladly closed his eyes to take in the moment. Just a second. A tiny moment before he had to go. He of course felt the frown, pulling away a little surprised at the request. It was clear some confliction was going on inside of Cesare's head, at least from the way he was staring in disbelief. "Is this what you want or because you're insecure in us?" Because that would sway his answer significantly. Claiming someone wasn't something Cesare just went around doing. He had maybe done it a handful of times during his lifetime, and each one had been special in its own right. Tilting his head he looked into his eyes, his seafoam green softening up, "if you are genuinely sure .. then I will do it .. but if you don't do this willingly, it won't work."

He saw that look of disbelief and it made him look a little uncertain as he couldnt quite deduct what the vampyre's expression meant. Was it a dumb request? The question made the daemon shake his head. "It's not like that." he replied, because it wasnt insecurity that made him ask. He returned the look, before he sighed at his words. "I'm selfish. I just want to look at it on those bad days. Because I know I'll have them." he said. Was that weird? He scoffed and shook his head. He reached down to grab the vampyre's hands, though he thought he had gotten used to his senses, were there still that innocent exploration to his fingertips running over the soft skin. "I guess it's not mark-worthy." he chuckled, but he didnt know what was or wasnt mark worthy really.