The Stag.
Lael Mercia.

"Are you ready, Rod just texted." Sal muttered as he sat in Lael's bedroom, rather on the plush rug which was at the center of his small bedroom lounge, the vampire sighed in content as he ate his chocolate. "I'm almost done, and while you're busy eating my comfort food, don't stain anything, I know each time I let you in here, you get handsy." Lael warned Sal who glared at him, but it was true, Lael always reprimanded the vampire for acting like a child whenever he was in his bedroom. "Fine, I won't touch anything, but when did you get the new drapes, they really tie the room together with the black print." Sal commented and Lael just chuckled, ofcourse Sal would notice.

He'd gotten the drapes recently after Rod tore the other ones. "Recently, I needed the change." Lael replied leaving out the fact that Rod liked sleeping in his room more than anything lately and at that in his shifted form, something about Lael's scent being calming during his ruts. Lael was finally done when he walked out of his spacious closet in a dusty pink sweater, black loose fitting pants and ankle boots. "You look nice, the natural make up always accentuates those cheek bones." Sal mumbled smiling at Lael who knew the vampire was jealous. "How very mature of you Sal, I thought you wanted this sweater, given up already." Lael teased and his son glared at him again. "Okay fine, can't you just give it to me, I promise I'll give it back." He whined earning a laugh from Lael. "Fine, you can take it tomorrow, but spill anything on it, I'll have Rod starve you for a week." He threatened and Sal had his eyes widened in shock.

"A week, why!" He protested as they walked out of Lael's bedroom into the open space turned lounge of the penthouse then to the stairs that led down to the kitchen. "It's a fitting punishment really." Lael mumbled as suddenly he felt someone at the door by the bar. "I don't remember having an appointment today." He muttered as Sal finally felt it. The stag wasn't just a building, in a way it was alive, connected to its residents, they felt what it felt, and sometimes even before the doorbell rang, the house would inform them of their guests. "You don't, I'll go check it out, in the meantime you can just pack everything, Dan left it in the warmer, I already have the kid's clothes by the hallway table." Sal informed Lael, he nodded toward his son and happy at his efficiency, so when he left, he did just that, got all the food Dan prepared for Kolby, then walked into the hallway and grabbed the bag with his clothes, once he did a double check that everything was there, he walked down to the sixth floor then out after locking the main door that opened to the sixth floor and the rest of the house.

"You don't have an appointment." Lael heard Sal tell someone but he didn't know who it was since he was still by the second floor which was the lounge by extension, so he got down to the bar and found Sal looking at Dorren Haze, the current and only mob boss of Orris city, with big mafias in the city, Lael wondered why Dorren and his mob hadn't been absorbed into one of them, the man was surely resistant and persistent honestly, most of the mobs had been dismantled and absorbed into the mafia, it's a wonder he was still alive. "Hello Dorren, what an unpleasant surprise, what do you want?" Lael cut right to the chase as Sal slyly smiled and moved to stand behind Lael after taking his bags.

"I needed to have a talk with you Lael, it's about the new don, I was hoping we could come to an agreement." Dorren replied in a heavy Scottish accent, if it wasn't for Dorren's disheveled state, he would've found it attractive. "I think Sal has already told you Dorren, you don't have an appointment." Lael replied not wanting to entertain the half demon who sighed heavily and moved a step closer but stopped Sal moved forward his eyes burning with a threatening glow. "The fucker Kybern has been moving into my territory, I know it's not big but it's profitable, the other Dons dont seem bothered by it but Lael I've got mouths to feed and boys to raise, if he absorbs my territory, nothing will stop him from coming into your territory." Dorren had laid it all on the ground, and Lael wasn't impressed by Dorren, nor by Kybern himself, the north was a big enough territory why would he move west, Dorren had carved out a little piece of the unclaimed north and part of WestEnd as his own, Lael had been okay with that aslong as nothing happened west, now it seems things were about to change.

Yet, today wasn't a workday so he couldn't crack his head about this today. "Dorren you don't have an appointment, but I understand the problem, meet me tomorrow, ten—." Lael paused when Sal tapped his shoulder. "Eleven." The vampire supplied. "Eleven and I will hear your proposition, but as for right now I'll send Monica to see if she can get them to stop since she's the closest one to your territory." Lael replied as Dorren nodded gratefully, Lael may not have liked Dorren but something told him that he needed to help the local mob, and his instincts were never wrong. "Thank you mistress, I'll see you tomorrow." Dorren replied as he and his right hand, left. "It seems we have trouble with this Kybern." Sal mumbled and Lael nodded, he knew well enough he'd have to have a talk with this Kybern.

"For now we need to make sure Kolby is properly taken care of, come now love, let's go get him, I'll text Monica from the car." Lael told Sal as they locked the main doors of the bar and left out the back, the bar had been fixed to outstanding standard, Cagli had indeed kept his word and bought him everything on the subsidiary list. "Is Simon still coming over for dinner tonight?" Lael questioned after texting Monica of her task with Dorren and his mob for the day. "Yes, I just got a message from him, he says Ron and the kids are coming too." Sal replied as he drove past the traffic light when it turned green. "Good, I've missed hin and the girls, what do you think about our little wolf blood, will he accept the contract?" Lael questioned again as Sal was finally on route to the hospital where Kolby had been for the past week.

"Hard to say, kid's been through a lot, it's understandable that he's skittish, but I'm sure with a little coaxing he'll accept, after all what has he got to lose, and also for now it's waiting tables until he's old enough for the night shift." Sal exclaimed as he pulled up into the hospital parking lot. "I do hope he agrees, he's got a lot of potential, I'd hate to see it wasted." Lael replied and indeed he felt Kolby just needed grooming, a little therapy and he'd be the best version of himself that he could be, the kid had a bright future if he accepted the contract, otherwise the city would swallow him like all the orphans who chose to wander into the shadows and hoped to live. When Lael and Sal got into the crowded hallways of the hospital everyone either did a double take, gulped down hard or drooled over the two of them, it was amusing how people could easily be thrown off balance by lust and allure.

"Here we are." Sal stated as they got to Kolby's room. "Hey daddy." Sal called out as Rodriguez was by the chair next to Kolby reading an obviously thriller book, the giant man didn't reply just pecked Sal on the cheek, Lael didn't want to know the details of their weird relationship but he was okay with it since he knew it was contained to Sal treating Rod as if he were his sugar daddy. "Hello love, how are you?" Lael greeted Kolby who looked much healthier now, healthy enough to be discharged. "Hello mum, I'm feeling better." He replied as he went to hug Lael in his sitting position. "Have you eaten, I brought grilled chicken, mac and cheese, Sal even saved you a piece of his favourite red velvet cake." Lael offered and he could see the shine in Kolby's eyes as he offered him the food, before he took it Rod rumbled and Kobly flushed in embarrassment. "Thank you for the food, La— mum." Kolby exclaimed making Lael chuckle then nod.

"Go ahead and eat, when you're done, Sal will help you change, then we'll be off, I need to talk to Rodriguez for a bit and get your discharge papers, Sal will also explain the contract along with the other papers he found, —alright?" Lael explained to the eager boy who nodded before going back to shoving the mac n cheese down his throat. "Slow down poppy, you'll choke." Lael heard Sal reprimand as he left the room with Rodriguez. "Kybern is causing trouble for Dorren, it seems he's still scheming, I don't know what his aim is but I have a feeling it's not good, we need to be ready, so I was thinking we need to cancel Cagli's suspension from the stag, he'll be more of use if he's in my good graces, I haven't heard from Dunkan Blanc lately, I have a feeling something isn't right, he never misses an opportunity to annoy Cagli but this time he never took the opportunity, which is something off, we need to get information on him, see what he's up to." Lael explained as Rod leaned on the wall next to him listening carefully.

"Cagli will be of use, I'll send him the cancellation letter later,  Monica hasn't reported yet but I'm sure she'll handle herself, Dunkan worries me as well, its unlike him to just go off, I'll have someone find out, as for the kid, he's willing to sign the contract but I think you need to give the 101, he needs to know what he's getting into." Rod replied verbally and Lael took his word as seriously as his own was. "Alright."

Monica Deveroe Mercia.

Time to get to work. Those were the words that echoed in Monica's mind when she received the text from her father, Lael was everything to her, much like Sal, Dan and Rod were, they were her family, she had been discarded by her people, a banshee unable to use her abilities, a voice that wasn't soothing not a cause of death like other sirens, it was a disgrace, her parents abandoned her, her family forgot her, then she thought of coming to the city, she'd try find a job, work her way up but that was a fool's dream, she was taken in by the darkside, used, toyed with and thrown away, much like all of Lael's children but she could relate with her current family much more than the others she'd met because they shared a similar story, much like Kolby, he was so sweet, so innocent, she hoped he would accept Lael's offer, then she could help him, he'd have a life worth living, she could only hope.

Driving out north of the city wasn't much of a surprise to her, she often had gigs in the suburban side, but where she was going particularly wasn't exactly a welcoming part of the city, the people were secretive and most of them if not all carried some sort of weapon, it was the bazaar, always expect to be mugged. Monica drove up into a not so familiar road but she knew she was headed the right way when she arrived at a guarded gate, this was where Dorren Haze lived, also one of his bases, it wasn't a flashy manor but it was well kept, the scottish mob boss may have been scruffy at times but she could appreciate his need to keep up appearances on the outside.

She expected someone esle would meet her but it seemed Dorren himself had waited at the entrance himself, he looked worse for wear. Monica parked her cooper by one of the open spots, she had actually taken one of her father's cars since he would obviously be budy today, no driving on his own. "Boss what's a little readhead going to do to help us, we've been fighting these men, tried negotiating but nothing seems to be—." Monica heard Dorren's right hand complain whilst she walked up the staircase to where they were. "Madame Mercia." Dorren exclaimed ignoring his right hand, at least he had sense enough not to question her vitality to their predicament. "Dorren, you look horrible, my father informed me you needed help but he didn't mention you need this much help." Monica replied as the man chuckled and led her inside.

"It is true, I've seen better days, this Kybern is rather a thorn in my side, I understand your father sent you to squash the rather slippery underboss whose been invading our territory." Dorren exclaimed and Monica nodded whilst she found herself by the lounge where four other men were, one currently sitting on the comfortable couch, a wolf to be exact, in hand a gun. "Hhmm, this is your mediator, a young whore." The wolf asserted as Monica was surprised by his lack of respect. "Leave it to wolves to disrespect guests in other people's homes, I understand you're the idiot trying to take this territory." Monica replied, her voice hardening, her demeanour had changed completely, something she learned from Lael, in a room full of scary men, be the scariest being in there and they will fear you.

"How quaint, she speaks, listen young one, the only time I'd entertain a woman is when she's under me in bed, as I ram my cock into her." The wolf stated and Monica wasn't surprised he was patriarchal cunt. "I believe we're getting off track." Dorren's right hand spoke up but Dorren himself raised his hand to shut him up, he really needed to calm down. "Leave." Monica told the man and he was about to protest when Dorren nodded for him to leave. "What's your name?" Monica asked the wolf who shifted to an amused smile. "Axel Granger cupcake." He replied and Monica nodded walking toward a wooden chair by the small table, dragging it over and sitting in front of Axel. "Okay then Axel, tell your three men to leave before I kill them, I want us three to have a chat." She ordered but she could see the clearly amused smile then laugh that came from Axel.

"You sure are entertaining girlie, this is —." Before he could finish the first man standing guard for Axel dropped dead blood dripping from his eyes and nose. "Are you taking me seriously now?" Monica asked as the second man dropped to his knees. "Boss —." He choked out before dropping dead. "Sound at the right frequency can be very deadly to any creature on this planet but sound to shifters, can be lethal, you see I specialize in silent death, and what you're witnessing is a fraction of what I can do with sound, I told you to tell your men to leave but you refused, now watch them die." Monica stated as the third wolf fell and died instantly. "Now that it's just us three, I'm going to tell you exactly what you're going to do, you're going to leave this territory, tell Kybern you failed in taking it over but because its part of the west you can't take it therefore you'll leave it alone, that's my deal, we could've had such a lucrative deal but frankly you're an asshole who thinks women aren't capable of anything but sex, which is a poor way of thinking." She finished as Axel raised his gun to shoot Monica, before Dorren could cover her three bullets were shot at Monica, one in the head, two in her chest.

"Bitch." Axel grolwed as he stood up with unsteady eyes, then refocused on Dorren who held a gun trained for his head. You see the thing about being a child of Lael meant there were perks to it, one of those was the ability to avoid death, as long as your blood signed his given contract, so even if your body was dismembered, you would reattach by his will and power, to live. That's why the bullet that went for Monica's head fell out and like the others clanked on the ground whilst she healed. "You are really an idiot, you should've known better." Monica told the wolf as she nodded to Dorren who shot the wolf's legs effectively bringing him to his knees. Monica proceeded to placing her hands on the wolf's head, first she took his sight, then his sense of smell, taste and touch leaving only his hearing and his ability to speak.

"This is what happens to people who shoot me, and this is what I'll be doing to the rest of your men if they don't this territory alone." Monica warned the wolf as she released him and he slumped to the ground, trying to find hid way, grasping at air and the floor. "What did you do to me, what did you do!" The wolf yelled as Monica patted Dorren's back and tuned to leave the lounge. "Mercia!" Dorren called out as Monica was by her car. "Thank you, and thank Lael for me aswell, what you've done will definitely help us keep them out, but I fear Kybern wont be deterred." Dorren stated and indeed Monica knew that this new don was determined but he didn't know this city and its history. "That maybe so Dorren, but he doesn't know the city, and the roots watered by blood, meet my father tomorrow, find a way, I was only here to help you with your current problem but I do believe a more permanent solution can be found." Monica explained as she nodded to Dorren before turning to unlock her car. "Oh and Mercia." Dorren called out again as she turned around and his lips were on hers, she didn't pull back, she did have a thing for rugged boys.

"Fancy me that much huh Dorren." She teased and he scoffed. "Personally I like a strong woman, it turns me on, how you take charge, I'll see you again Mercia." Dorren stated as Monica smirked and leaned up to kiss the six foot something half demon. "It's Monica." She whispered as she left him with a smile and drove off toward the main gates. "What a woman." His right hand muttered earning a laugh from Dorren, to think he was the one who doubted her. "I know." Dorren replied as he walked back to his home, he looked forward to seeing Monica Mercia once again.

The Stag.

"You'll be protect from death, even if you were to bleed out, have your head cut off, it will be put back and live, when the contract expires you'll be given a choice, leave or stay, like Sal, he decided to stay meaning he's a full time employee, but now he lives his own life, has his office at the stag where he puts his education to good use, I'm so proud, he's even bought me a country home, Dan over there is working on his masters in law, he thinks he needs to be big to play with the big boys." Lael joked as Dan made a face. "Of course I do, do you think I could stand next to Rod or Sal, never mind you, if I didn't have some sort of remarkable achievement, hell no." Dan sassily replied as Lael rolled his eyes.

"Ignore him, what I'm saying is, you can work but learn aswell, of course you won't be paying for school, I will be paying for you myself so the money you earn working here, you can just save, or use to buy whatever you want, my daughter Evelyn decided to go to med school but made me promise not to pay because I'd done so without question and she wanted to feel like she did something for herself, I agreed only because I knew she could handle it, for you I'm not so lenient, not yet, as for working at the stag, there are times you'll need an excuse, you can use my name to get out of any situation, but only three times, and when you do, tell me right after so I know how exactly to alibi for you." Lael explained and a nod shook itself from Kolby.

"If you find a guy or girl, bear or otter you decide to roll in the sheets with on the regular that's your business, making it our business, to protect you we need to know what you're up to, not the deep stuff but the important stuff, also no guests allowed upstairs unless they've been checked and even so Rodriguez is very and by very I'm putting it midly, territorial so its just better you take it elsewhere, we've had incidents before, we don't need more. As for your working schedule you're part wolf so you thrive in the night but because you aren't old enough you're on the day shift, every tuesday we're closed that's your off day too, but you're going to school so you have mondays off too, Kolby most mystics are bisexual, this may be embarrassing but I need you to understand, whether you're straight, queer, non binary, that's who you are, that's your business, patrons don't need to know that, the many men and women who come here are looking for a good time, they will be teasing you but they know the stag is strict they never go beyond a tease, kiss on the cheek maybe, never past that, if you feel uncomfortable, just walk away and tell the closest person you can find, Rod is always on the lookout so it'll be fine." Lael added as Kolby sighed as he sat on his new bed, it was so comfortable, the sheets smelt nice too.

"You still with me?" Lael asked. "Yes mum." He replied. "Good, this is the most important, you must know, you're going to be called all kinds of slurs, slut, bitch, whore, house wrecker,some will even go for retarded, dog shit, oriental bitch, cock sucker, you name it, your job is to look past it and not let it get to you, you're here to survive, toughen up, learn and  earn your way to the life you want, Ignore everything else except us, the people you'll realize are now your family, and you'll realize that living here will heal you." Lael finished as he smiled and nodded to him. "Think on it, I'll call you for dinner later." He added as he left.

The memory had kept repeating itself in Kolby's mind, it kept echoing and reminding him of the choice he had to make as the contract sat next to him by the bed stand, his room was beautiful, decorated in a light pink wallpaper, a white ceiling with fitted lights that made it glow, a huge flat screen tv above the small electric fireplace, he had a great view of the city from his huge windows and his closet was the best part, he'd never owned his own closet space, he couldn't wait to fill it up with everything he wanted, Lael had already given him papers to list all the things he needed if he decided to stay, nothing was too small, his desk was bare but he could already see himself there writing a stupid paper on colonial history. "Day dreaming about the possibilities." Monica called out as she stood by the door with a smile.

"Monica!" Kolby cheered as the two sped walk to each other and hugged each other. "Sorry I wasn't there to pick you up from the hospital but I did buy you a room warming gift." She apologized as Monica offered the gift, Kolby had never received gifts and getting ones like these from not only Monica, but Sal, Dan, Rod and mostly mum Lael, it was something special to him, when he open the box he gasped, it was a paper weight shaped like the eiffel tower. "It's so nice, thank you." He was indeed grateful as he placed it on his desk. "I love it." Monica happily mumbled as she sat on the small couch in the room which faced his entertainment station. "So have you signed?" Monica asked and Kobly replied with a shake of his head, a no indeed. "Don't do it until you're sure, at first I was terrified of that thing, but the first time I got my paycheck and bought my first dress with the money I had earned myself, there was something special about it, it was the most beautiful feeling, knowing you don't have to depend on handouts or people who hate you to take care of you." Monica explained as Kolby thought of it, he wanted that too.

"Lael is a great person, an even greater dad, I wouldn't have my children, my husband, if it weren't for that contract, that my husband signed, it changed him and later I got to know him and love him." A man, 6'5 asserted as he stood by the door. "Ron." Monica excitedly greeted the witch. "Hello Monica, I heard you were here, decided to see you before dinner and meet the new addition." The man Ron explained as Kolby was left in surprise and awe. "Hello, I'm Ron Carter, Lael you could say is my father in law, I married Simon." He introduced and Kolby gulped down his fear and shook hands with the man when Monica encouraged him."I'm Kolby." He offered. "Nice to meet you Kolby, Monica, —Simon has something for you." Ron muttered and the girl immediately brightened. "Yay Simon presents, Kolby you're in good hands don't worry, Ron look after him for a moment I'll send Sal." Monica offered but the man waved it off. "No need I'll stay with him, besides, I think we need a chat." He replied. "Great." Monica winked at Kolby before strutting out.

"Signing doubts." Ron muttered and Kolby nodded. "I get that, but don't worry,  by the end of our chat, you'll have signed." Ron promised as he snapped his fingers as he and Kolby were taken very far in the past.

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Saint Jay.