V. To entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements.

Amon Perceval

"Fuck!" I ripped open the door to the locker room where Remy was changing.  He jumped when he saw me storm in.  His eye was swollen shut on the right from Callum's wicked southpaw.  "You fucked up Remy!  You fucked up!" I screamed in his face.

He stood up and found the chair he had been seated in behind him.  "Fuck you." He seethed.  "It's just a fucking game.  That's all everything is.  We're taking care of it anyways." His tone quieted down and I relented some.

"I don't care. You were on television, you were in front of an audience, you had everyone watching you fail.  And to top it off, it was against that piece of shit drunk." I spit at his feet.  I could feel him growing tense.  Remy's dirty blonde hair was matted down in sweat and blood.  Most of his injuries had been cleaned up, but he still looked like hell.  "He's making them laugh at you, at us!"

Remy blew out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.  "You don't need to fucking tell me. I know.  I couldn't beat him." He sounded more confused that disappointed.

"What do you mean you couldn't beat him?  We both know that's a crock of shit.  We can break anybody we wanted to at anytime.  I've seen you kill a man with your mind on what was for breakfast the next day." I narrowed my eyes at him.

Remy looked up, bewildered, "I know, and I'm telling you I couldn't beat him.  I tried, he was...strong.  Not stronger I don't think, but he was strong enough to throw me off."

My brows knit together at his words.  "That's impossible." I laughed at his ludicrous ramblings.

Remy grabbed my shoulders and squeezed.  "It's not!  Callum...he...I don't know.  But I know what happened, I know that I tried.  He's-"

"You don't think he's like us do you?" I prompted.

He shook his head.  "No, no, not like us.  MacBrady is something else." He stared at me, waiting for a reaction.

I growled and pushed him away from me.  My mind was on other things now.  If he was different, did he know he was?  Or was he just as clueless as us?  It made no matter, I had my eyes set on a prize that he was trying to steal and I didn't do well with sharing.

"Where are you going?" Remy shouted when I reached the door.

"Out for a drink." I shoved it open and strode out in a hurry, bumping into the two security guards stationed there.

I kept my head down and left the building.  I knew I had to be back for the charity event for Luna, but it seemed in everyone's best interest that I blew off some steam first.

As fate would have it, there was a club right across the street.  I made my way inside and found exactly what I was looking for; a petite young brunette seated at the bar with a bored look on her face.  She was stirring a drink with a pink straw and chipped blue fingernail polish.  I slid into the seat next to her and ordered a glass of whiskey.  "I hope you don't mind, the spot was open." I nodded at my seat.

The woman shrugged and took a sip, "Help yourself." She looked up and noticeably shifted her mood.  "I'm Eve." She smiled sideways.

This was going to be too easy.  "Amon." I put my hand out to shake hers.  Her palm fit loosely in mine as she gave a small squeeze.  "You have the most beautiful eyes." I lied and gazed into her dull blue orbs.  I thought of Luna's and how the gold in her brown would often catch the light just right to mimic the sun's rays.  Eve's eyes weren't ugly per say, but compared to Luna's it looked like dirty water.

Eve blushed and sucked down the rest of her drink.  Her sight landed back on me and I took my opening.  I didn't have a lot of time for false pleasantries.  "Come with me out back." I commanded.  I watched her pupils dilate as she absorbed my order.  Without a word she pushed her empty glass away and stood.  I grinned and threw an arm around her shoulder as we walked past the people and into the back alley.

Eve pressed her body against me and found my lips with her own.  I laughed at her eagerness, the poor creature.  "Turn around." I whispered in her ear and earned a breathy giggle in response.  I could tell she saw this going in a different direction.  I almost felt bad for the bar whore.  Almost.

She turned around and placed her hands on the brick wall and lifted her ass up for me.  I lifted her hair over her neck and inhaled her scent.  She smelled like mangoes and schnapps, but she would have to do for now.  Wasting no time, I clamped down on her jugular with my teeth.  Her screams never had a chance once the blood flowed into her throat and turned all her sounds into a deep gurgle. Normally I would savor the flavor of a young female, but tonight I had places to be and no time to spare. Rather than letting the blood drip down my throat, I grabbed her around her ribcage and squeezed to crush her.  Her body twitched and convulsed while I drained her life in record time. 

I pulled away once I had my fill and dropped her.  Such a mess.  All of the blood had been drained, but I was still left with her body to dispose of before the ball.  I groaned, irritated with myself and my lack of control.  I took a knife from my pocket and slit her throat from ear to ear to cover up the gaping hole I'd torn.  I sighed at her pretty face, what a waste she was to be killed so easily.  I was damn near numb to the feeling at this point.  My first few kills were such a rush, but now it was just something I did.  Something I had to do. Something I wanted to do.

I dug into her purse that was slung over her body and grabbed out her wallet and stripped her of any jewelery.  It was easier to make it look like a robbery, less questions got asked that way.  Once she was stripped of any valuables, I tossed her unceremoniously into the dumpster beside the door and went on my merry way back to the casino to rejoin my family.

I wiped my mouth with my handkerchief and wasn't surprised to see it come off clean.  I had gotten good over the years at keeping the blood off my clothes and face.  In the beginning it was a struggle of constantly dribbling all over myself.  The blood comes pulsing out in a such a rush I had to learn to find the perfect spot to drink from that wouldn't have it spraying out faster than I could drink.

Not a drop landed on my midnight blue suit.  I brushed through my hair with my fingers to make sure it was acceptable before going through the back entry of the building.  The crowds out front were too impenetrable for my taste.  With my hunger satiated I came in just in time for the show. 

"I'd like to thank our guests of honor tonight for being here." Luna spoke clearly into the microphone. Her red nails gripped the sides of the podium, I could tell she didn't like speeches.  I could hear her heart racing but her voice was so steady that no one else could notice her nerves.  "Remy Perceval and Callum MacBrady, your donations to the Finding Homes fund are beyond substantial and I think I speak for all of the children and staff at Saint Joseph's when I say, thank you." She lead an applause that spread like wildfire through the room.  I felt the weight of irony at the thought of supporting an orphanage when we had more than likely created them in the first place.

Remy was wearing his usual all black formal attire.  My father was sitting next to him with a forced smile that I knew was only for the public.  He was just as pissed as I was that we lost.  I took the time I had with all the attention on Luna and turned back to the security guards.  "Evening, gentlemen." I flicked my gaze between the two burly men.  "Lock all the doors.  No one comes in, no one gets out.  Follow her lead." I jutted my finger to a woman in the crowd and watched them walk over to the double doors and start the process.  Now I just had to wait for my little show to begin.  Remy knew his place, my father and his flavor of the week were already moving to their's at the back of stage. 

I scanned the crowd for our insider and spotted her.  The scrawny woman was standing in the front row of the crowd.  She had chose a simple navy blue pencil dress with a thin black belt around the waist.  She was staring fondly at Luna during her speech.  A sinister smile spread over my face when Callum took the podium.  "Here we go." I sang and weaved through the people to the front.

"Thank you!  Thank you!" Callum motioned for them all to settle.  "First of all, I-" Bang!

Callum dropped in a heap.  My ears filled with the melodical sound of screams and crying.  Luna was frozen in place, her fearful eyes fixed on the barrel of a gun.  My lips threatened to twitch into a smirk but I forced a worried expression in it's stead.

"No!" Luna screamed as the hammer was pulled back.  I zipped to the stage and knocked her over in time for the bullet to whiz passed her. 

"Come with me!" I shouted and helped her to her feet as more shots rang out. The security guards had began to open fire.  Perfect timing.

"Amon!" She cried out in relief when she saw who had tackled her.  For a split second she hesitated and gaped at Callum's crumpled body. 

"Luna!" I brought her back to me.  "Let's go!" She crawled closer when the shots drew nearer.

I pulled her to me and got up.  We ducked under chairs and ran through to the doors.  Bodies had already begun to pile up around us.  Most had been in front of the doors where the guards had started.  Luckily, for us, the doors next to the stage were mostly clear.  I could see one person trying the exit and banging his fists on it.  I knew it wouldn't open for him so I slowed our pace until he was out of the way. 

"Amon, what's happening?" Luna was crying.  I turned to face her.

"Don't cry, it's alright." I brought my thumb under her lower lashes and wiped away her tears.  She was visibly shaking, just as I'd hoped.  "I'm going to get us out of here." I gave her my best hero voice.

She nodded, tears streaming down her face.  I resisted the urge to lick them away and pulled her up.  Bang! The man at the door fell, blood splatters decorated the drab beige exit.  Perfect.  "Now!" I tugged her with me and sprinted to the exit. 

"Wait!" She cried out a few feet from the door.  "Amon, please!" She dug her nails into my hand.  "Look!" She pointed frantically at a little boy hiding under a table.  Fuck.  That wasn't part of the plan.  It was only supposed to be getting her out and letting the others get slaughtered.  I wasn't even aware there would be kids at the event. 

He was sobbing and holding onto a pregnant woman that lay motionless in his lap.  "Amon we can't leave him, please." She got closer to me and I could smell the mixture of fear and adrenaline radiating off of her golden skin.  "I'm not leaving without him."

Fuck!  I nodded curtly and looked around.   I knew they wouldn't shoot me, but I couldn't let it be obvious to anyone else.  "Stay here and don't move." I placed her behind one of the speakers so she was out of sight.  "I'll be right back."

"Amon!" She screamed and I followed her gaze.  The woman in the navy dress was walking up behind the boy with her gun raised.

I jumped up and ran as fast as I could without seeming inhuman.  The woman looked up, confusion written in her eyes.  She didn't want to kill anyone, but she didn't have a choice.  Others were crawling around trying to duck for cover while bullets flew through the room.  I used her confusion to my advantage and knocked the gun from her hand.  She let go without a fight and stood trembling in front of me.  I didn't give her a chance to speak.  In one swift movement I twisted her neck around and let her fall. I grabbed up the gun she dropped and stuffed it into my back pocket.

"Come on kid." I turned back to the frightened boy.  He sniffled pathetically.  "Now!" I grabbed him up in my arms and let the woman's head slide onto the floor.

"No!" He hit my back.  "My mommy!" He cried out to the body he had been clutching.  "I want to go back!  My mom!  My mom!" His screams turned to sobs and cries of anguish the further we went.

Luna was quivering behind the speakers still.  "We need to leave now!" I told her and grabbed her with my free hand.  She didn't object this time and stood on shaky legs.

I let her hand go when I saw the two security guards coming up to them.  I whipped out the gun and put a bullet in each of their heads.  I was grateful that I'd had a snack before  coming to the event or it would have been difficult for me to restrain myself.

I could see Remy giving me a nod of approval as I broke the handles inconspicuously and wrenched the doors open.  Now it was his turn to have a snack once all the witnesses were gone.

I slammed the door shut behind me and set down the kid that ran into Luna's open arms.  How touching.  "Are you okay?" I asked her and she broke down into hysterics. 

"What...what happened?  Why would she do this?  They killed...they killed them!" She sobbed.

"I want my mommy." The little tagalong wailed.

"It's okay sweetie, you're safe." She comforted him the best she could.

"I'm sure the police are on their way." I stood up to scope out the packed parking lot.  People were running to their cars and barreling inside.  I had saved a kid and rescued Luna all in one night.  It couldn't have gone better if I'd tried.

"Thank you!" She cried and threw her arms around my neck.  I savored her smell.  Strawberries.  "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there." She buried her face in my chest.

My arms wound around her small frame and hugged her back.  "You're safe now." I cooed in her ear.

"She shot Callum.  Drew!  Where's Drew!" She pushed off of me and looked wildly about.

The boy was crying into his knees on the pavement as the police sirens grew louder.  "He went to the bathroom." He cried uncontrollably.  I watched the ambulances and cop cars peel into the parking lot.

"The bathrooms!  They aren't in the same area, he'd have to have gone around.  We need to see if he's okay!" She made to run but I grabbed her arm.

"Luna stop!" I commanded.  "The police are here now, let them do the rescuing.  He'll just be grateful you're safe." I tried to reason with her and saw her tense up.

She looked to the child, who I assumed was the son of this Drew person, and pouted.  Her eyes found their way back to my own.  "I don't know what to do." She murmured with such helplessness it made me want to tear into her.

I sighed and brought her back to my chest.  My hands roamed her back.  I could feel her skin beneath the sheer lace cutouts.  I'd wanted to devour her the moment I saw her wearing that dress.  The way it hugged every curve and exposed all of her tantalizing flesh made my mouth water.

"Everything is going to be okay.  I'm here.  I won't let anything happen to you." I whispered soothingly and let her break down in my embrace.