[User]
Isabel had been in this crate for a few days now. Laying in the crate, she thought about how she'd gotten there, with a collar on her neck and only panties and a bra to cover her. She was stupid to go to school in New Your, but she didn't know how much it was going to cost her mother. She also didn't know her mother was dealing with her own financial problems. She'd been lied to. So now here she was, laying in a crate.

It only seemed like a few days ago that she'd been forced into this situation. Her parents pissed someone off and that someone threatened the entire family if they didn't get their money. Of course, they didn't have any. One look at Isabel and he seemed to be pleased with his next option. As a ''down payment'', Isabel had been taken away. She was going to be sold into human trafficking. Whatever price she was paid for would pay off their debt. It hadn't been a few days ago. It had been a month. A month of being humiliated, abused, mouth raped again and again. And now, she had been sold, for god only knows how much. She was scared about who it was going to be. Probably some old man with lost of money who just liked to fuck young women and beat them. She wasn't looking forward to a life of that.

She wasn't sure how many times she'd fallen asleep, or even when but when her crate was aggressively dropped she woke up and pressed herself to the back of the crate. Her collar had already been fastened by a leash that was clipped on the outside so when the door finally opened and the leash was tugged on, Isabel had no choice but to crawl out. She moved slowly, very timidly, until finally her head poked out. What she saw... froze her in her tracks. It wasn't an old man at all. It was a young woman. And not just any woman this lady was in her group of friends. Isabel felt her heart sink a bit. This girl had bullied her all throughout high school and then had the nerve to go to the same college as her and then she ended being in her group of friends. She was always getting Isabel to do things she didn't want to do and she knew the girl enjoyed doing it too. Isabel quickly retreated back into her crate and covered her face.

[Assistant]
Elizabeth was doing her best to contain her excitement as the crate was dropped off that contained her new pet. She had been waiting for about a month for this to arrive and now the day was finally here. Of course, a lot of people, if they knew, would be wondering why it was that a girl from one of the top 100 richest families in the world would be basically ordering what amounted to her own personal slave from an underground network that dealt in those things. Or how she had even learned about this entire thing in the first place. The second question was easy enough to answer since her father had had one for years, ever since he and her mother split up. It was easier than finding a new wife, he had said, and cheaper too.

The first question was also easy, but at the same time more complicated. Elizabeth had been a closet lesbian since her early teens, something that she had known would not go over well with her ultra conservative father. So instead of risking being cut out of the family fortune, she had been careful to hide her orientation until she had graduated college. Once that had happened, she had bought a home in Upstate New York, far away from the Texas estate that her father resided in, claiming that she wanted to be someplace that had an actual winter. He had just shrugged his shoulders and let her go, no longer concerned with what she was doing as long as she was doing her job in the family business, which she could easily do from New York.

Still, dating was something that she dare not risk. Rumors could spread and get back to her father and that would be a disaster that she wasn't yet able to handle. So instead, she snuck into her father's office one day, found the contact information for the people that sold the pets, and ordered one for herself. She had no concern that it would get back to her father. Discretion was the only way a business like that could survive. So she set up the delivery and then went about her business of setting up her new home and getting settled. But every day she woke up, she would mark off another day on the calendar towards this very day. Still, she made sure not to look overly excited as the men dropped the crate off and left without a word.

Looking at the crate, she would grab the leash that started to lead her new pet out of the crate and into the open. But the moment the girl's head popped out, she saw the girl's eyes widen in shock and then she retreated back inside. And Elizabeth understood the shock because she was shocked at well. "Isabel?" she said, the shock in her voice, "Isabel, is that seriously you?" She bent down at the knees and looked into the crate to confirm that it was, in fact, Isabel, a girl that she had known since they were in school. Elizabeth had always been a bit of a bully towards Isabel, but she had always liked the girl. And now, as Elizabeth realized what was happening, a smile crossed her face. "Come on, Isabel," she said, tugging on the leash, "Come on out."

[User]
"I think you got the wrong crate!" Isabel said as she didn't move. She knew that wasn't how it worked but she wanted to pretend for just one second. She felt the tugging and resisted it for a few seconds and then felt a second set of tugs that were a little more firm. Isabel whimpered and crawled back out. When she was far enough, she stood up, unable to look at Elizabeth. "Okay, so before you start laughing at me... I didn't have a choice... i got taken to pay off my moms debts..." she didn't think she could handle being laughed at.

Isabel tried her best to use her arms to cover her stomach, suddenly feeling all to exposed. Elizabeth was smiling that smile of hers. She knew it well. It was the one where Elizabeth decided she was going to have some fun. Normally, she'd seen it when she was hitting on guys, though Isabel knew Elizabeth never went home with them, but she was a tease. Then it dawned on her. "Wait, why did you order a female?!"

[Assistant]
Elizabeth knew that she hadn't gotten the wrong crate. She had gotten exactly what she order. Young, Latina, and intelligent enough to carry on a conversation with her if she wanted one. And she would since she hadn't gotten a pet just as something to play with in bed, but also to have a companion to talk to and play with and just relax around. The fact that she had gotten someone that she knew was something that she couldn't have ever expected, but in a way, it pleased her. She knew Isabel and all her ticks and how she functioned. So she was actually very happy with what she'd gotten and wouldn't let her new pet stay in the crate, pulling her leash until the girl finally would come out. And once she did, Isabel stood and immediately started to explain herself, starting off with noting that Elizabeth was probably going to laugh, which she almost did.

But when she found out why Isabel had ended up in this position, she didn't laugh. It was actually a little sad to know that a girl who, by all rights, should've had a bright future, had been sold off to cover her mother's debts. However, that didn't change the fact that she had that smile on her face. It was a smile that Isabel knew well and knew that she had it when she was all set to have a bit of fun. But then Isabel asked the question that actually caused Elizabeth to pause for a moment when Isabel asked why she had ordered a female. It was a reasonable question for the girl, who had seen Elizabeth hitting on guys back in college, but never actually going home with any of them. It was just playing the part so that no one got suspicious. In her mind, it had been better to have the reputation of being a tease than to have people asking too many questions.

"Well that should be pretty obvious, I would think," Elizabeth said, "I'm a lesbian and have been since I was a teen. I just couldn't let anyone know about it because if it got back to my father, it would've been a disaster." Isabel knew Elizabeth's father and would know what a bigoted man he was. Even Isabel had been a victim of it once when he had made a snide comment about her being a Latina. It had been the first and last time that Isabel had come anywhere near him and that was by Elizabeth's doing to protect the girl. But the years had changed things and now he wasn't a factor, allowing Elizabeth to more or less be who she really was. And now she had a pet that was also a friend from childhood. That was going to be interesting.

"Come on, let's go into the living room and talk." She started walking, tugging on the leash to ensure that Isabel followed. They would go into a lavish, but comfortable, living room where Elizabeth would sit in a comfortable looking chair. And next to that chair was what looked to be a large doggy bed. And it was clear that it was meant for Isabel to sit or lay in. "That's for you," Elizabeth said, "We may be friends, but you're still my pet and will act like one. So get comfortable." She would wait for Isabel to do as she was told before speaking again. "So be honest with me," she asked, "Is this going to be an issue? Or can you be my good pet?"

[User]
Isabel flushed a bit. A lesbian? She understood why she had to keep it a secret, her father was an ass. The one time she'd ever met him, he'd made a comment about how ''those beaners all just need to get deported, except for the 'pretty ones' like her''. Even thinking about it made her shiver in disgust. It was racist, and sexist; one of the best combos ever.

When Elizabeth pulled her around the house, Isabel was forced to follow, the leash not being detachable for runaways. When she saw the dog bed, Isabel looked at Elizabeth. "I'm not fucking sitting on a dog bed." she said. There was a look in Elizabeth's eyes, another look she knew well. She'd only gotten that look herself once, and that was because Isabel threatened to talk to a professor when she'd caught her cheating off of a test. She didn't, and wasn't actually going to, but she also didn't want to seem like she was letting her cheat either. She just wanted to go to her classes and do her work. Isabel groaned for a second and finally took a step to the dog bed and kneeled on it and then slid to one side. She felt awkward and cold. "Can... can I please borrow one of your shirts at least?" she asked, blushing a bit at her... friend.

[Assistant]
It took Isabel a minute to actually take her place in the dog bed. If she hadn't done what she was supposed to do then Elizabeth would've had to yank on the leash and force the issue. And it would've happened because the collar and leash were designed to ensure that an owner could force the obedience of their new pet. But Isabel didn't make her do it, so Elizabeth was happy and as her new pet got settled, she thought about all of the things that she had thought about doing to Isabel when they were in college, but had never dared to do for fear of it getting around. But now Isabel was hers to do those things with if she wanted and she certainly couldn't wait to start playing with her new pet or old friend depending on how she looked at it.

Then came the request for a shirt and Elizabeth looked at her. She actually liked the look of Isabel with nothing but bra and panties on, but she had to admit that it was a bit chilly and she didn't actually want to cause her any discomfort, at least on that front. "I suppose that I could let you borrow a shirt," Elizabeth mused for a moment, "But that would be a privilege, my lovely new pet." She paused for a moment. Yes, Elizabeth and Isabel were friends, but Isabel was now her pet as well and that meant that Isabel would be expected to submit to her desires. "A privilege that you can earn if you like," she continued, "But you need to do something for me first. What's that shirt worth to you? Hmmmm?"

[User]
Isabel looked at Elizabeth with a little shock. Why was she doing this to her? Ugh, this woman lived to make Isabel's life hard and now that she owned her, she was milking it for all she was worth. "Pet? Elizabeth, come on, this isn't funny." she said. She was really REALLY hoping that this was all some big joke and that it was a hoax her friends were playing on her. Isabel stood up and stepped off the dog bed. "Come on, I humored the stupid dog bed, please don't make this any worse for me than it already is," she begged a little pathetically.

Isabel's hands were rubbing at her arms as she stared down at the woman sitting and holding her leash. "What do you want? Like, for me to do house chores or something? Sure, I can do that. It's not a problem. Need a maid? I'm Mexican, we're good at cleaning and cooking. What do you want from me?"

[Assistant]
Elizabeth looked at Isabel and it was clear that the girl thought that she was going to get treated differently because they were friends. And to a degree, she probably would be, but right now Elizabeth knew that she needed to establish that Isabel was, in fact, her pet and that she would do whatever Elizabeth wanted her to do. "Of course it's not funny," she admitted, "But you are my pet and you will do what you're told. Or do you think that someone else would've humored you being difficult after what was paid for you?" She yanked the leash hard, forcing Isabel back down to her knees onto the, fortunately for Isabel, soft carpet. She had to admit she liked how the girl liked when she was on her knees and planned to keep her there for a bit as she held the leash firmly to ensure that she couldn't get up without ripping the leash out of Elizabeth's hand.

Then came the topic of what Elizabeth wanted from Isabel and she had to giggle a little bit as she seemed to think that just because they were friends or both women that Elizabeth had wanted her just to do the cleaning of the chores. "Chores? Cleaning? Isabel, if I wanted someone to clean my house, I would've just hired a maid. Much less expensive." she giggled as she reached down with her free hand to stroke Isabel's cheek. "No, sweetie, I bought you because I want someone to take care of my sexual needs," she said, putting it a bit bluntly, "So if you want to be afforded any sort of privileges, then you're going to have to perform sexually. So if you want a shirt, then I think that you're going to have to make me cum." She smiled wickedly as she looked at Isabel, curious as to what she would do.

[User]
When Elizabeth pulled Isabel down she was surprised at the girls force. However, the way she looked at her make Isabel feel a little scared. Her fear was rightful when she said what she required of her. Isabel paled a bit. "Elizabeth that's not funny. It's not exactly like I signed up for this! i was taken, Elizabeth. come on, can we please work something out. I'm not going to make you cum or even get near you like that. I don't even like you like that." She said as she sat on her feet, trying to reason with her. "Please, I'll work it off, however much you paid. Don't... don't make me do that..."

Even when they had her for a month, they'd taught her to suck dick... not eat a woman out. Isabel blushed at the thought and looked away. She'd never been with a woman before. Sure she thought about it once or twice in college, but that when was she was drunk and didn't really care. "Elizabeth, please? I wouldn't exactly be down for doing this for an old rich man either. i didn't want to do this..."

[Assistant]
Elizabeth sighed in annoyance as Isabel made it clear that she didn't want to do this. And Elizabeth knew that she hadn't asked for this, but the fact was she was here and Elizabeth now owned her and wanted to use her for what she had been bought for. The fact that Isabel was being difficult only annoyed Elizabeth and made her want to smack the girl. "You are going to do what you're told," the tone in Elizabeth's voice was hard, cold, and very insistent, "You are mine now, Isabel. I paid for you and you're going to do whatever it is I want you to do. And right now, I want you to eat my pussy and make me cum like a good pet would do. And if you're not going to, then I'm sure I can find a much worse task for you. Perhaps send you to the old folks home to suck off all the old men."

She let that threat rest for a moment. She wasn't a cruel woman, but she was used to getting what she wanted. So after a moment, she would spread her legs so that her skirt would ride up and reveal that she wasn't wearing any panties, exposing her naked pussy to Isabel. "Now you will get over here and you will make your new Master cum. And afterwards we can talk about shirts and everything else. Is that clear?"

[User] Isabel was shocked at how Elizabeth was being so firm about this. And so blunt. And cruel. Take her to the old folks home? She had to be joking. Unable to look at her, she stared in the corner at something with a very frustrated look on her face. The moment she lifted her skirt, Is could see everything. Embarrassed, she closed her eyes and gulped a bit. "Elizabeth... i don't... I don't know how to do that..." her hands waved over the area of Elizabeth's crotch. "I'm not arguing... i just... I..." she blushed a bit, her body starting to quake with a bit of fear. She was submitting, but the last thing she needed was for Crazy Elizabeth to be mad because no one taught her how to eat out a woman.

[Assistant]
Elizabeth knew that she was going to get what she wanted. Even before today Isabel had never really been able to tell Elizabeth no when she insisted on something. It had honestly taken everything Elizabeth had in terms of self control not to try and take Isabel to bed with her a number of times in college. She knew that Isabel would've done it if Elizabeth had really wanted it, but she had held back. Such things would've been a disaster if they had gotten back to her father, even if she was able to spin it as a drunken mistake. He would've started watching her closely and any freedom that Elizabeth had enjoyed would have been gone for possibly years to come.

As Isabel finally submitted verbally, she pointed out how she had no idea what to do. This made Elizabeth giggle. "Of course you don't," she teased lightly, "Those brutes probably made you practice sucking cock but never thought you might have a Mistress instead of a Master. Typical." She tutted slightly as she used the leash to slowly draw Isabel closer to her, her thighs spread wide to allow the girl between them. "Tell you how we're gonna do this," she said, "You're gonna do what you think you should be doing with that pretty tongue and I'll correct you as we go. And don't worry, I won't punish you for not being good at it yet. We have plenty of time to correct that."

[User]
Isabel nodded at Elizabeth. She stared down at Elizabeth's perfect vagina and gulped a bit. Her jaw clenched a few times and finally she took a deep breath and started to lean her head in. When she was close enough she could smell Elizabeth's scent. Isabel pulled back as a reaction and took a deep breath again and tilted her head to go back between her new mistress' thighs.

Isabel nose pressed against her pelvic area and her tongue went out, slipping between her lips to find her clit. Her lips were furrowed a bit as she struggled to understand what she was doing. Isabel closed her eyes and actually imagined kissing Elizabeth. A full on French kiss. Her tongue grazed across liz' clit a few times before Isabel pulled back and blushed. "Uh..." she said, avoiding eye contact. "I feel stupid..." she admitted.

[Assistant]
Elizabeth watched as Isabel slowly moved closer to her pussy and she felt herself holding her breath, almost too eager to have it finally happen. How many times had she envisioned Isabel between her thighs? How many times had she played with herself and moaned the girl's name when she reached her climax? It had to have been dozens of times and now she was getting exactly what she had wanted. Only it was clear that Isabel had never even considered doing this before and it took her a bit to finally get started. And when she did, then it was clear that she was painfully inexperienced. But she had known that this was going to happen and didn't get angry, but rather knew that she was going to have to find a way to teach her delicious little pet just what it was that was expected of her. So when she finally pulled back, Elizabeth looked down at her and stroked her hair softly.

"Don't feel stupid, Isabel," she cooed gently, "You've never done this before, so it's only natural that you're a little lost and confused. Now, I assume that you've play with yourself before, yes? You know how to find your clit, don't you?" She smiled as she used her fingers to spread her pussy lips apart a bit so that Isabel would be able to get a better view. "Find my clit and then use that tongue of yours to play with it. Suck on it with your lips. And once you figure that out, then you'll be able to start figuring out what I really like and what doesn't do much for me. Now get back down there, pet. Make your Mistress happy."

[User]
Isabel blushes a bit at Elizabeth. There were times Elizabeth could be understanding and sweet. Apparently this was one of those time. As Elizabeth spread her own lips to exposed herself Isabel blushed a bit more. This girl had no shame what so ever while Isabel hasn't all the shame in the world. Isabel chewed on the inside of her lip and then leaned her head back in. Her lips wrapped around the small mount of Elizabeth's clit and her tongue started to play with it a bit. Isabel looked up a few times to see Elizabeth's reactions. She would look for signs like Elizabeth biting her lip, or closing her eyes.

For support the pet rested her hands between her knees which had make her chest push together. Isabel didn't give up though. Her lip would pull and wiggle at the girls clit, her tongue flicked and licked over and over again.

[Assistant] As Isabel moved forward once more and started to suck and tease her clit, Elizabeth let out a soft moan of pleasure. Yes, this was better. It would take a long time for Isabel to really get good at this, but for now, at least, the pleasure that Elizabeth was getting as a promising start. As the girl started to find a rhythm to her actions, Elizabeth's eyes would close slowly and her hands would slip under her shirt to her breast where she would begin to squeeze and tease her nipples. Soft moans could be heard every so often from her as her new pet slowly started to learn the art of pleasing her Mistress.

[User]
Isabel continued to listen to the girls sounds and felt the way she would wiggle when Is did the right thing. She know Elizabeth wouldn't let her go. Elizabeth enjoyed making her do things too much; and now that she owned her? Well, Isabel would just have to learn to be made Elizabeth's joke for the rest of her life. She hoped that if she did a good job, MAYBE Elizabeth would let her off easy.

She watched as Elizabeth started to play with herself, groping at her breasts. Isabel blushed a bit and sucked on Elizabeth's clit and pulling it back a little.

[Assistant]
Elizabeth was not thinking about what she would do now that she had Isabel as a pet from now on. At the moment, all she was thinking about was how good it felt to have the girl's lips and tongue playing with her clit, causing her heart to beat faster and a strong warmth to begin to pool in the pit of her stomach. She had intentionally not touched herself for a couple of days knowing that her pet would be arriving and wanted to ensure that she properly enjoyed the girl when she first arrived. And she was certainly doing just that, her moans filling the room around them as her legs fell from their place on the arms of the chair and landed on the shoulders of Isabel, her feet caressing the girls bare back. It was clear that she was very much enjoying Isabel's efforts to please her and that they were pushing her closer to her edge.

"Oh yes, that's it! That's it, my little gattino," she moaned softly, "Keep going. Momma is getting so close." As she said that, one of her hands reached down and took Isabel by the hair, pulling her back when the girl pulled away, even if it was just to test the waters even more. She was almost there and she wanted to ensure that Isabel got the full force of her orgasm so that the girl would understand how good she was making Elizabeth feel and how the girl would learn to make her feel over and over again.

[User]
Isabel could feel the girls body tending and relaxing over and over again. Teasing her for the first time, she could feel how wet Elizabeth was, how much Elizabeth's body responded to Isabel's tongue. She could hear nothing else besides the girls moans and she sound her mouth made as she would suckle or pull on her mistress' clit.

When Elizabeth's legs wrapped around Isabel's body she felt as the girl held her in place and when she tried to pull back, Elizabeth grabbed her hair. Isabel let out a grunt and then a whimper of pain and forced herself to continue. Hearing the girl's Italian and translating as best she could, Isabel's tongue flicked at the little button and then lapped at the juices she was starting to leak. She hadn't realized she was getting into the moment herself.

[Assistant]
Whimpers and moans filled the air as Elizabeth was starting to get so close that she could feel her entire body starting to shake with need. And finally, she couldn't hold back and she would feel her entire body erupt as an orgasm rocked her and her pussy gushed with fresh juices, coating her new pet Isabel's face with the results of her efforts. It was still a long time before she would finally release Isabel from her grip and let her legs collapse to the side, panting softly and smiling. "Not bad for your first time, Isabel," she said softly, "Did you enjoy pleasing me? I think that you did, didn't you?" Elizabeth smiled as she would lower her skirt and cover her bare pussy before standing up and stretching, her hand still holding the leash that connected to the collar on Isabel's neck.

"So I do think that I promised that you could have a shirt if you made me cum, didn't I?" she said softly, "And I am a woman of my word. Come on, baby, let's head upstairs and find you a shirt." Allowing Isabel to rise to her feet, she would start to lead the girl through the house, giving a glimpse of the subtle, but still visible, wealth that Elizabeth possessed. A short time later, they got to her bedroom and entered a walk in closet before moving to a row of long shirts hanging on hooks. "Pick one," she said, "And you can wear it when I don't want to see you in less than that."

[User]
Isabel was surprised at how much Elizabeth seemed to be enjoying her. It actually made her blush. Elizabeth's juices leaked onto her tongue, covering her lips and chin as Elizabeth kept Isabel in place making her continue to suck on the girls clit, never letting her stop.

When Elizabeth finally let Isabel stop, Is softly pulled back and wiped her lips and chin of the girls juices, her scent still lingering into her nose. Isabel didn't answer Elizabeth, she was too shocked at the truth. She did like it. She did like seeing how Elizabeth's face contorted because of what she was doing. The way the girls body reacted against her face... Isabel watched as the girl pulled her skirt down and settled herself so quickly that Isabel was almost sad she could walk. Almost.

Being pulled around the house, Isabel got to see just how much money Elizabeth had, well at least she knew she'd be taken care of... bow in her walk in closet, Isabel looked around a little bit, looking at each shirt, one by one. Their styles were very... different. Elizabeth was outgoing, sexy and dark. Isabel... well she was raised to be more conservative. But she wasn't with her family anymore... and there was on shirt in particular that Isabel had always loved.

Finally finding it, Isabel pulled the hanger off of it's pole and held the shirt up to herself, then looked at Elizabeth for an okay.


[User]
Sir Leo was a knight on a mission, the mountain pass he observed ahead of him towered imposingly the dark stone making it treacherous to pass as the light began to fade. This pass was a vital link to the city on the other side of the mountain range, with out this link travelers would have to go two weeks around the range.

The added distance would kill his town, he was sworn to protect, a dragon threatened the mountains making travel dangerous not only at night but also by day, he would track the beast and end it. As he climbed the path, his armor clanked, it would attract the dragon's attention so he was trying to move carefully, but the incline made it hard, after climbing for a few hours his muscles began to tire as his breathing became labored.

The sun had began to fall and in the increasing darkness, made it hard to see the trail worn into the mountainside, ahead the path began to diverge, a small trail leading further up the mountainside towards a cave. He knew the dragon came from the other side of the mountains, it would be the perfect location to rest his shield and sword. As he approached the mouth of the cave he thought of the riches he would acquire once he had dealt with the menacing threat of the dragon, he was still young and had only recently been knighted.

It would go a long way to proving his worth and get the attention of some the more attractive suitors, for a knight to do well they would have their own estate and a beautiful, welcoming wife to bear him multiple children. The thought of children was however was quite far off as he didn't want to be weighed down by such an expectation, he had monsters to slay, as he entered the cave.

He pulled off his helmet and brushed his hand through his short sweaty hair, he did wish for a spring where he could wash, but as he was on a mission, he couldn't take off his armor for such a liberty. He scanned the cave looking for any sign of animals having inhabited it, it seemed to move a very long way, he was too exhausted to do much exploring so he only moved a short distance into the cave. The heavy clank of his boots disturbing the cave's occupants unknown to him, as he put his shield and sword against the wall and sat down a groan sliding from him as the weight left his body.

[Assistant]
Deep inside the mountain cave, Ysora stirred from her slumber atop a glittering pile of gold. Fresh air blowing inward carried the scent of a human, a man if she had to guess. Slowly the great dragoness pushed herself up onto four scaly legs. _Humans,_ the irritated thought came unbidden. _Always when I manage to doze off, too._ With an unladylike yawn revealing a mouth filled with fearsome teeth, she set off through the winding passageways. The ancient caverns were familiar to her, and a deceptive number of corridors were wide enough for her to walk unhindered in the darkness.

Unlike her rambunctious younger brother, Ysora preferred to keep to herself, only emerging in recent years when she was hungry. It still meant she often had to deal with idiotic monster slayers who sought revenge on her instead of the true culprit. Not that it mattered to her. They were all quite tasty.

Aha! There he was, clanking away with every step. As it sound echoed through the caverns it become more like a marching army. Gods above, if she just let him be she'd have such a pounding headache! Clearing her throat, the dragon called out in a booming yet distinctly feminine voice. "Who trespasses in my lair?"

[User]
Leo looked down the darkness of the cave suddenly as a commanding feminine voice echoed. He scrambled for his sword and shield. Did these caves stretch the whole way through the mountain? No wonder the dragon was seemingly able to emerge at will, there had to be entrances everywhere, the startling thing however was that it was female, the dragon he was hunting was decidedly male. He doubted the dragon would be causing trouble if he had a mate, so this female had to be a different one.

Cautiously he stood with his shield and sword and moved deeper into the cavern, all traces of his exhaustion having been obliterated by the enormous surge of adrenaline now pounding through his veins. In his haste he forgot his helmet, leaving it laying on the ground, as the light from outside grew dimmer a different sort of light seemed to glow from within the tunnels. Curiously he stepped forward, aware that each step he took echoed through the caves, he really ought to take off his sabatons, but then his feet would be left unprotected.

Maybe this dragoness would be reasonable if he called out to her, otherwise he would have to deal with her, "I'm Sir Leo, Knight of Harlsbrad, I've come to track a male dragon terrorizing these mountains," his solid commanding voice echoed through the caves. If he made it known to her that he wasn't after her, maybe she would let him pass, otherwise he would have to think of something else, he didn't want to harm the dragon if she had nothing to do with the terrorizing.

[Assistant]
Ah, a knight! Not some mercenary or ignorant farmer-turned-monster slayer. He was being reasonable, and so Ysora would be as well. The dragoness turned back towards her modest hoard and curled up atop its golden glow. "Sir Leo of Harlsbrad, I may yet know who you seek. Follow my voice so that I may see you." Just to encourage his steps a bit, she snorted out a quick gout of flame through her nostrils to briefly illuminate the correct path in the caverns.

When he arrived he would be greeted by an impressive sight indeed. She was roughly three times the size of a house, covered head to tail in reddish scales that could easily be mistaken for steel. Those along her underbelly were a contrasting cream color. Her great leathery wings were folded over her back in relaxation. From the horns curved back over her head, all along her spine were short little dorsal spikes. Slitted green eyes narrowed down on the approaching knight, yet her long serpentine neck withdrew, granting her curled form a certain ladylike grace despite her size.

"Ah, there you are, brave knight. You may call me Ysora the Shield Devourer." The name spoke truth, for though she spoke peacefully---if with an arrogant tone---the entrance to her little part of the cavern was littered with the bones of those who had foolishly stood against her in the past, and from the looks of things they were well armed at the time.

[User]
Her voice rippled with command as a bright wave of golden light emitted from the left of the cavern, cautiously he followed the cavern path. Leo clenched his sword tighter and he secured his shield more firmly, he would need it to deflect her fire if it came to it, the cavern widened and grew ever taller as the odd light grew in strength.

Then he was standing in the mouth of another cavern, this one wide and open, the dragon sat on a large pile of gold and jewels. Then the collection of charred bones and rusted weapons and armor that laid scattered about the entrance of the chamber caught his eye. These must have been the fools that had charged in here, determined to stop the threat and get the rather large payout. This dragon however was clearly not the target, for one it was clearly female. Males didn't have such pale belly scales, and she was a lot bigger then the reports of the dragon that had been spotted terrorizing travelers.

The dragoness had a quite fitting name, and she was boastful as well, even though one well placed spear could put her down no matter how big she was. He readied himself for anything, his shield at the ready to block her fiery breath, with all his training he was much faster in the plate mail he wore then most of the other knights he had trained with.

They neglected to train fully armored which slowed them down, he had taken all the pain and weariness as he trained wearing all his armor, it made him fast both armored and unarmored, something he knew he would need, he stood tall and stared into her piercing emerald eyes, and as arrogantly as her he said, "Lady Ysora, I've come tracking a male dragon routinely attacking caravans and terrorizing travelers; he's a menace to the good folk of this place and I've come to put a stop to his wreckage, he's reportedly got dark bronze scales with golden belly scales, maybe you've seen him?"

[Assistant]
He was eager to defend himself, and from the looks of things he actually knew what he was doing. No baby-faced squires out to impress a fat old king here! It was rather adorable, Ysora had to admit. The man's rugged looks and respectful tone held a certain appeal that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Perhaps it was a half century of loneliness taking its toll. She had her magic, and it wasn't unheard of for her to take human form and go among the villages every now and then, but that had bored her long ago.

Ysora was mercifully drawn from her wandering thoughts by the description of his quarry. Did he seriously just ask her if she knew the beast? She threw her head back in a shrieking laugh that rumbled through the den. "Of course I've seen him! That would be my idiotic older brother! He's always been a nuisance, I'm afraid."

[User]
Leo's pulse leapt and pounded a little faster as he considered what he would say next, her shrieking laughter still echoed through the cavern as he kept a careful grip on his shield and sword. If he tried to back away from the imperious dragoness then he might just become lunch, he had to stay on the defensive and press forward, if she attacked he would have to deal with it as his eyes flicked around the cave spotting a few items he could use other then his sword.

"I suppose then he's the one responsible for this," he said and pointed to scatter of charred bones, "They wouldn't have disturbed you if it wasn't for him, if he was removed or at least stopped from terrorizing these mountains, then no-one would have cause to come and disturb you," he said. His hand clenching on his sword as he braced his legs onto the floor, he was ready for anything her claws or a gout of dragon flame.

[Assistant]
"Indeed. Yet why should I care for a few dead heroes? They were no match for me, and I got a few easy meals out of the ordeal. A fair trade, I'd say." Ysora chuckled. It was a rich, melodic sound, too deep for a human woman but then again she was anything but human. "Give me a reason to get involved, and I'll consider it. Family is family, after all." She wasn't one to go swooping down onto a human village, but... sheep made for a good snack.

She rapped her heavy claws against the gold pile in thought while she watched him, a disturbingly human gesture for such a massive beast, intelligent or otherwise. Her thick scaly lips pulled back in a frighteningly toothy smile. "My, my, little morsel. Are you afraid of me?" Ysora mocked the knight with her tone, and as if on cue dark smoke began to rise from her nostrils as she looked to his sword. "You'd best put that toothpick down before you hurt yourself, little knight. A lady might take offense at having a weapon brandished at her in her own home."

[User]
In Leo's opinion they weren't heroes, they were fools. They either didn't have the proper training or were motivated by greed, he looked around at the sparkling treasures surrounding him, the gold was enough to pay an army for an entire campaign or to buy a full estate.

Leo wasn't motivated by such desires, he became a knight to protect and if need be he would have to consider putting her down as well, but he was not beneath negotiation, "He's a menace and he's going to keep attracting hunters to your door, one of them is eventually going to get you, dragons are not impervious," he said hoping to appeal to her sense of self-preservation it wasn't like she could leave, she had her hoard here.

A deep laugh rumbled out of him, his eyebrows raised, "Am I afraid? Of course not, I'm not afraid of you, and I'm not brandishing anything at you, I'm not foolish enough to let my guard down in front of a dragon larger then any I've heard of before," when smoke started to drift from her nostrils he readied his shield to block her fiery breath and to get close enough to her belly to strike, his sword was made from the toughest, sharpest metal that he knew of. But even then her scales looked deceptive, that may not be enough to pierce her scales. A halberd lay resting against the wall, while it had been here for awhile it would be a perfect weapon to use if his sword failed to work.

[Assistant]
Those dark clouds continued to billow from her nostrils, tainting the cavern's air with the acrid odor of brimstone. Such arrogance from a mere man, speaking to her sense of mortality! And yet... he did have a point, much as she hated to admit as much. Fending off treasure hunters and would-be dragon slayers grew tiresome after a while, and it would do very little favor to her reputation if a farmer killed her in her sleep.

Slowly, the smoke vanished from her snout and the dragon's face softened. "Very well, Sir Leo, I see your point. But if I'm to help you bring down my own flesh and blood, I expect something in return. A trade, if you will." Ysora laid down on her belly and clasped her claws together in a disturbingly human fashion while she waited to see what sort of offer the knight would make.

[User]
Leo relaxed slightly lowering his shield as the black clouds of smoke dissipated in front of him. What could she possibly want to trade with him? He didn't have anything of value he could offer the dragon, while his armor was clean and fresh it didn't have any gold or jewels on it and his shield and sword were unadorned with nothing shiny on them.

He knew he had to offer her something, but what could he possibly give to a dragon that could likely get anything she wanted, "What would you ask of me? I'm not a knight of fortune, I don't have any gold or jewels I could offer you," he asked gruffly. His grip tensing on the strap of his shield, he still had to be prepared for anything while facing such an imposing dragon.

[Assistant]
Ysora spared another look over the knight. If anything, her gaze felt more like a cat stalking a trapped mouse. True, he did not bear riches or finery, but deep down Ysora could feel that the man's intentions were genuine and noble. It was oddly endearing to her. She might have blamed it on years of never knowing a man's touch, but she found him charming in his own way. Perhaps he did have something he might offer her after all...

"Quite simple. You. Rather, your service in exchange for mine. Guard my hoard while I hunt, protect me while I sleep, and keep me company. In exchange, I will help you kill my brother and guard your precious little kingdom. I believe that is a fair trade, is it not?"

[User]
Leo considered her offer, while he wouldn't be able to do much here, it was the honorable thing to do, he had to repay her willingness to help him in some fashion. This was would be the only thing he could offer her, "I accept your terms Lady Ysora," knowing her hoard was protected would help her, and in return she would help his town. Having a dragon for support wasn't something he was counting on, but every advantage helped, dragons were lethal foes, it was mostly luck that aided you, but you also had to be highly skilled to even have a chance against them.

Everything started with trust, he could do that by relaxing his guard, his reflexes were sharp and if anything were to happen he would be back on guard. He relaxed his pose bringing his shield down to a resting pose as he relaxed his grip on his sword.

[Assistant]
Scaly lips pulled back in a toothy smile, which likely wasn't as reassuring as she intended it to be. "Excellent, brave knight. You may return to your people and let them know of our arrangement. I will expect you to return within three days, and be ready for battle. We will make our plans then." Seeing him relax in her presence brought a certain pride to her. Just as he was ready for a betrayal, she wasn't foolish enough to write him off as harmless.

Yet it was a show of respect and trust, and Ysora's own sense of honor obligated her to return his gesture. "As a token of my good will, you may take one item from my hoard to use as you see fit." There were many jewels, gems, weapons and finely crafted armors, yet that wasn't the point. The dragon was laying atop it, and if he wanted to claim his desire he would have to get within arm's reach of the fearsome beast. He would have to put his life in her hands.

[User]
"Well then, I will have some time to kill, my town is two days back down the mountain, it takes time to climb this peak," Leo relaxed as the dragon did.

He smirked as he looked around the cavern and looked around. The gold and jewels while they were beautiful, they didn't really catch his eye, what did catch his eye was longsword a gleaming steel core but what caught his eye was the dark gold coloring of its hilt, the dark gold spread up either side of the sword. It was one of the rare dark gold swords, said to have such razor sharp edges they could cut through anything, now that was a prize.

It however did require courage, to retrieve the sword from atop the pile of gold and shimmering gems, he would have to release control over his shield and sword. The sword emerged mid way along her body, to not take her offering would be insulting and as the sword had grabbed his attention, that is what he would take. He placed he sword against the wall of the cavern, and then pulled off his shield and laid it against the wall.

Carefully he began to climb the pile of gold as Ysora watched him, once he reached her mid section he gently pulled the sword free from the pile, the dark gold edges of the sword glinted as the sword moved effortlessly through the air. It was so light, he would need to adjust to the new balance, even though it was still a full sized sword, it seemed to have a lack of weight even though it was slightly larger then his other sword.

"Thank you for the gift, Ysora," he said and bowed slightly before he began to descend the pile, cautiously turning his back to her.


[User]
Scrubbing a hand over her tired face, Olivia let out a heavy sigh as she set down the last of the corked bottles she had been working on. Gathering up all the bottles together, she placed them in her padded basket to take into town tomorrow, labels neatly tied around the top with who the concoction was for written in her flowing script on the slip of paper. Since it was a bit of a trek into town in her little car, she preferred to have all of the medicine completed so that she could give it to her patients all at once, this way she wasn't constantly going back and forth between her cabin and the town. The weather was starting to grow colder as the seasons transitioned from Summer into Fall. Already the leaves were starting to change color and being this far north, it could grow quite cold. There was always a few folks in town that came down with a cold every year, so she always made sure to stock up on the right medicines she would need.

Glancing down, she checked through the list she had written out, making sure everything was all ready for tomorrow. "Time for some dinner." She said to herself, groaning as she stretched herself arms above her head. Leaving her greenhouse/office where she made all of her medicines, she padded barefoot across the wooden floor, flipping on the overhead light in her small kitchen. She still had some leftover stew from the big batch she had made earlier this week and she poured some into a pan to heat up on the stove, humming to herself as she grabbed her favorite mug and consulted the variety of teas she had.

As she was selecting a blend, a loud *thump* sounded from her front door. Frowning, she slowly set the tin back on the counter as she glanced over. It was dark out, which means that she shouldn't have any visitors. But maybe one of the towns people had an emergency. That thought had her speeding across her living room to throw open the door.

Her lilac eyes searched through the dark before a groan pulled her gaze downwards. Her eyes widened at the sight of a man collapsed on her doorstep. "Sir?! Can you hear me?" Falling to her knees beside him, her hands hovered above him as her eyes raked over his form, searching for injuries.

[Assistant]
For Lance Maccon it seemed like an ordinary mission, accompany the pack alpha with his bodyguards and other warrior to face off against an enemy pack encroaching upon their territory, of course Lance was aware of the circumstances, despite not being in the pack for long compared to other members of the pack, he had seen their number dwindle over time due to the endless conflicts that the pack had experienced. He wondered if it was due to the aggressive stance that their alpha had taken, but then again he had been the alpha when he was first found in the streets so he wouldn't have known about it.

The fight was happening in a deserted town that had seen better years when the mining industries had seen the place booming. As the ores depleted the place became more and more barren, still werewolf packs were very territorial and this place was still importance as it was a hub to several other towns and cities.

The battle was quick and brutal, despite Lance's best efforts he realized that they were out numbered upon entering, still he didn't flee or voice anything as their alpha had commanded them to continue. He had managed to slay a few enemies but it didn't take long before even his alpha had been killed in combat. With that he finally decided to leave, everyone else on his side were dead in the area after all.

He fought his way out, in fact he didn't know how he managed to get out, getting sliced and clawed as he escaped the encircling enemies, he transformed into his wolf form and disappearing into the forest nearby. He didn't look back, simply running away further and further until he saw a faint light he rushed over to where it was, seeing that it was a cabin situated seemingly in the middle of nowhere. He didn't know how far he reached as he soon found himself blacking out.

Lance had transformed to his human form when Olivia had gotten to him, his body covered in blood and his clothes in tatters as he laid there. His heart beat had been faint but he was still alive breath but barely.

[User]
Frowning when she didn't receive an answer from the man, a soft grunt escaped her as she managed to roll him over onto his back, her breath catching as the light spilling from her open door revealed all the blood covering him. "What happened to you?" She whispered, gently hovering her hand over his mouth to check his breathing as her other hand pressed against the side of his neck. A sigh of relief exhaled from her lips when she discovered that he was still alive, though his heartbeat was fainter than she would have liked. Well she certainly couldn't treat him while he was slumped on her doorstep.

Hooking her hands underneath his shoulders, she strained backwards, dragging his large body through the entrance and across the short distance to her living room. Knowing that she would never be able to lift him up onto the couch by herself, she rested him next to her hearth, the fire crackling merrily. That should help warm him up while she treated him. She rested a pillow underneath his head for comfort before ripping his shirt open the rest of the way. The material was in tatters anyway, so it couldn't be salvaged even if she hadn't ripped it.

Frowning in thought down at him, she tried to work out what had happened to him. It looked like he had gotten mauled by something, if the claw marks scattered over his chest were any indication. Some of the wounds were superficial but there were some deeper wounds that would need stitches. Leaving him laying there, she raced to her greenhouse where she began mixing together a mixture to prevent infection, she also mixed together something for the pain in case he woke up. Grabbing her med-kit and other things she would need, she carried everything back over to the fire.

Wetting a cloth, she began to gently clean around the wound, wiping away blood and any dirt that may have stuck to him.

[Assistant]
Lance was still unconscious by the time she had tried to get him into her place. Despite his enhanced healing, the wounds he had sustained were too heavy to have him heal back in such a short amount of time and he was still bleeding.

His body wasn't easy to drag into the her living room but Lance even if he was unconscious did seem to make an effort to let her help him get settled in.

Gradually as she began to wipe away his blood and tend to him the body began to stir. Lance though, didn't have a drastic reaction despite the danger he was in, seemingly understanding that he was in a safe place as Olivia began to help tend to his wound.

His eye-lids moved a little as he gradually opened them, the blurred image of her appeared in front of him and despite the state he was in, his throat very dry and his voice faint. He did manage a single word. "Thanks." He said before just laying there, letting her continue to heal him as he gradually tried to regain his strength. He had barely escaped death before, it would be a while before he recover either way.

[User]
As she began to clean his wound, Olivia noticed that Lance was starting to stir from his unconsciousness. She tensed slightly, waiting for him to panic at being in a strange place but thankfully he seemed to recognize that she was there to help him. Laying the back of her hand against the skin of his forehead, she noticed that he felt slightly warmer than a normal human would and she resolved that she would get a cool cloth for his head after she was done bandaging his wounds.

"Just rest, after I'm done here I can get you some water." She said to him softly, unthinkingly sweeping the hair back from his face with her fingers. She then returned to wiping the blood away from his chest, before setting the soiled rag to the side and picking up the mixture she had made. Being as gentle as she could, she began applying the paste over the wounds, starting with the worst seeming ones first. The paste would sting a bit at the beginning application but it would eventually soak into the skin and help ease his pain.

After that, she set the bowl aside and applied bandages over the deep wounds, taping the edges down. Setting everything down, she then hovered her hands over the minor scratches and gashes that would be easy to heal with her magic. As she focused on the bundle of magic she could feel in her chest, her eyes began glowing a soft purple as a warm tingling feeling spread across his chest, the minor wounds slowly closing until smooth skin remained.

Once his chest was as healed as she could manage at the moment, she scooted down the length of his body, laying soft fingers on his knee. "I'll need to remove what's left of your pants so I can see the rest of your wounds, okay?" She told him softly.

[Assistant]
Lance gave her a brief nod. It was clear that he didn't have the strength to do much else as he laid there. At some point he had drifted back into unconsciousness, but he was slowly recovering now that his blood had been cleaned and she began to bandage up his numerous wounds. He didn't think much about her at this point other than gratitude and that she had saved him. he'd have to thank her later. Even the worries of what would happen if the rival pack found them here didn't seem to surface just yet.

Despite the pain he felt, he never so much let out any signs of it. He was used to pain after all, even if this was a level above what wounds he usually sustained. By the time she had came across to ask him about taking off his pants... or what was left of them anyway he nodded.

"Go ahead." He said, his voice seemingly a bit better and he even managed a smile at her though he couldn't help her pull them off even though he wanted to. He had more wounds on his legs, not as serious as the ones on his chest but still substantial. She'd be able to get a sight of his naked body once he was fully undressed though Lance seemed to not mind it one bit, well he wasn't in the position to either way.

"Thank you..." Lance found himself saying again as he watched her.

[User]
Pausing the treatment briefly to run and go grab some scissors, Olivia returned to Lance's side and carefully began cutting away the tattered remains of his pants; she decided these were unsalvageable as well and would only agitate the wounds further if she just tried slipping them down his legs. Whatever had attacked him had really done a number on his body and clothing and she found herself wondering what on earth he had run into. A slight blush rose to heat her cheeks at the sight of his nakedness but she cleared her throat softly and reminded herself to be professional; regardless of how handsome this man was, he was currently her patient that needed help.

Picking up the rag, she repeated the actions she had taken with his chest: cleaning the blood off, applying the paste, bandaging the deep wounds he had and then using her magic to heal the superficial wounds. She returned his smile with one of her own as she moved upwards again. "Do you think you would be okay if I rolled you on your side? I want to take a look at your back as well."

[Assistant]
His physique was impressive despite in the weakened state that he was. He could see the slight redness on her face though she was still very much concentrated on making sure that his wounds were properly tended to.

Lance drifted in and out of consciousness, though when he was awake he was studying her working on him. "Of course." He gave her another smile as he then tried to shift himself, though he only moved to the side once she had began to roll him. He was accommodating for what she wanted and Lance appreciated the care she had taken in helping to heal him.

There he laid until she had patched him all up. He took another long nap before waking up, looking around to see if she was near. Lance wanted to thank her once more and tell her that he'd do what he had to do to repay her before leaving, he knew that the other pack's hunters could still be onto him. He didn't want to drag her into the conflict. While he was far away from actually being able to be his old self, he wasn't on the verge of death anymore.

[User]
With his help, Olivia managed to roll his body to the side, frowning down at the gashes across the skin of his back. She got to work on patching and healing them and by the time she was finished she noticed that he had fallen asleep again. She gently rolled him back onto his back as softly as she could to avoid waking him and then grabbing a blanket from the couch, she gently tucked the blanket over him then rose to put all her supplies away.

Sighing as she washed her hands, she jolted when she remembered the stew she had been heating on the stove. She quickly turned off the heat and checked the food, thankful to find it had not burned. She left some stew in the pot to heat up for her guest later if he was hungry and then settled down to her own meal.

An hour later found her curled up on the couch with a book, though she wasn't able to focus on the words as she kept glancing at the male laid out across her floor to make sure he was still breathing. When she saw that he was stirring, she gently slipped off the couch to kneel next to him. "How do you feel? I have some stew I can heat up for you if you're hungry."

[Assistant]
Despite the many wounds, Lance was feeling quite good by the end of it. They were all bandaged up and he was sure that'd recover fully eventually, even if his regeneration is very slow right now due to just how many he had, and of course the fact that he lacked the energy after that fight and then the escape he made from his surrounding enemies.

"That would be great." He said. "Sorry that I've been such a burden on you." He attempted to sit up, though he had only managed to do so after a few tries.

"When you found me... did you see anyone... or anything else?" He asked, worried that he may be followed, but given the time elapsed, if his enemies were to attack him they'd done so by now.

"Where I am?" Lance asked, now gaining the strength to talk a little bit more, knowing that eventually though... she'd start to ask him questions.

[User]
Settling a hand on his shoulder, Olivia helped him sit up when he looked like he was struggling to do so. Once she was reassured he wasn't going to fall back down, she rose and padded into her kitchen to heat his stew up. "You haven't been a burden." She called out to him as she poured some water into a glass. Once the stew was heated up, she carried both items back over to him and settled back down by his side, handing over the food and water.

"It was pretty dark out, but I don't think there was anyone out there except you. You're in my cabin, located a little bit away from the nearest town, so not a lot people come out here." She wanted to ask him what the hell had attacked him, but the poor man had just woken back up, so she would give him some peace before she started asking questions.

[Assistant]
Lance gave her a smile. It was pleasant just staying next to her, even if he knew next to nothing about her. Well she knew nothing about him but decided to help you anyway. He gave her a nod, if she didn't want to talk about him being a burden then he wouldn't bring it up anymore. He reached for the water first, downing it near instantly. "Ahhh... I feel a lot better now." He said, he had sounded very dry before, well he needed some water to refresh himself after all that.

For now he didn't touch the stew. "Good... I wouldn't want to drag you into it, especially since they'd surely target you if you helped me." He said.

"I just ran without knowing where I was going, and seeing the light of your cabin decided to go there." He said. "I'm sure you must wonder why I got hurt like that." Lance said, since she had saved him, he wouldn't hold back on telling her the truth. With that he finally began to consume the stew, occasionally looking over at her. "Go ahead and ask them if you want. I'll answer to the best of my abilities." He smiled.

[User]
Olivia watched him carefully to make sure he could hold the glass by himself before she leaned back against the couch, crossing her legs underneath her as she allowed him to drink and eat, mind cycling through the questions she wanted to ask him while she waited for him to finish. She gave him a small smile when he gave her the go ahead to ask him questions, humming thoughtfully.

"You mentioned ''they''. Did someone do this to you?" She asked, eyes raking down his bandaged form. The wounds were definitely from claw marks and if he was initiating that an animal didn't do this to him, that would mean he had run into something or someone of supernatural origins.

[Assistant]
While Lance was going to answer all her questions, he wasn't quite sure she would be ready to just tell her he's a werewolf, after all he had not seen any signs of her knowing anything supernatural just yet, so it may be better to ease her into it. "Yes... I was in a fight..." he said, thinking how to explain things.

She must have seen the marks on him and wondered what they were. "A fight with another pack." He said, not wanting to actually lie to her about anything, though the way he describe "another" clearly implied that he was part of a pack.

He then focused on sipping at the stew, his eyes occasionally looking up to see her reaction.

[User] "Another pack?" Olivia echoed, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought as she stared at him. "Do you mean a pack of werewolves?" She asked, eyes trailing down to his bandages. The claw marks would make sense if it was indeed a pack of werewolves that had hurt him. And he had mentioned ''another pack'', so was he hinting that he was also part of a werewolf pack? If the answer was yes, this made things a bit harder. Unlike most witches of her kind, she didn't harbor the same animosity towards werewolves but plenty of others did. And while she didn't get many visits, her mother liked to pop in unexpectedly at times; which was something she did not need with an injured werewolf sprawled out on her floor.

[Assistant]
Olivia seemed quick to connect the dots but then again he had made it quite obvious to her. "Yes... that's what I mean." He confirmed to her, though he looked closely at her, his eyes locking with hers for a moment as he tried to see if she already knew about werewolves before hand, she didn't seem as surprised as someone who never heard of them would be.

He noticed something in her. "Is something wrong?" He asked, her attitude didn't change but he was quite quick to pick up small changes, even if it was a brief pause.

Lance wolfed down the remaining of the stew before setting the bowl down. "Mhmmm... that was quite nice." He said. "It shouldn't take me too long to heal back. Then I'll be off again... after I repay you for your help of course." He gave her a smile.

[User]
Giving him a reassuring smile, Olivia reached forward to collect his empty bowl. "Everything's fine." She promised. Her mother hadn't visited in a while anyway and if he healed as fast as he seemed to hinting at, then he most likely wouldn't be staying long enough for anyone to really know that he was here in the first place. Swiftly washing the dishes, she set them out to dry in the rack before she flipped off the kitchen light and headed back into her living room.

"I'm afraid I don't have any extra clothes that will fit you, but I'm headed into town tomorrow so I can pick something up for you, that way you don't have to wear my blanket for the time that you are here." She said as she settled back onto the floor next to him. "I also only have one bed, so I don't mind taking the couch while you're here; the floor doesn't seem like a comfortable place to sleep and I doubt my small couch would be very comfortable for someone as tall as you."

[Assistant]
Everything was fine. That was what she said, though Lance wondered just what she had meant by that. She was not really all that fazed for who he was, nor the conflict that he had not too long ago. "I take it you know about us then." He said, he wasn't aware of her identity though, and it would shock him to find out, but he didn't even think about that for the current moment.

As she mentioned about clothes and bed he lingered for a moment. "Clothes... I can make do with whatever, though I appreciate your effort in helping to get me some new ones. You'd have to leave your comfortable home though." He told her.

"I'll make do on the couch. No reason you shouldn't sleep on your own bed." He said, the floor was honestly comfortable enough for him, though he was aware that he had to heal himself.

"Unless..." Lance paused. "I think we could both fit on the bed... if you don't mind." He told her, his face having a slight tint of red as he said those things.

[User]
"I am, I generally like to be kept up to date with any supernaturals visiting the area. Some have even stopped by for herbs and medicine in the past." Olivia waved a hand at his concern over her leaving her home. "I have medicine to deliver in town anyway, and supplies to pick up. So finding you some clothes wouldn't inconvenience me in the slightest."

At his suggestion about the both of them sharing the bed, a light pink tinted her cheeks at the thought. Since he seemed unmoving on the idea of her sleeping in her bed instead of the couch she considered the options. The both of them sharing the bed was logical; he needed to heal somewhere comfortable and he seemed set on her not sleeping on the couch.

"Well, it is a big enough bed, and I don't take up much room anyway, so I think we can make it work." Olivia said, clearing her throat softly as she stood. "Um... the bathroom is over there if you want to wash up before bed." She said, gesturing to an open door near the beginning of the hallway leading to her bedroom. With that, she headed towards her room to pull down a few more blankets, since it was generally colder at night and she didn't have a fireplace in her room.

[Assistant]
Her answer was surprising, for he didn't exactly see her as anyone beyond human, but then again he hadn't known if she had any spell casting abilities at all, which if she did, she'd certainly know of the super natural world. "Oh, thank you." Lance gave her a smile, she was certainly doing a lot to help him, even after she had saved his life.

He moved a little, his wounds were certainly healing, even if rather slowly. "Alright then." He said, she was certainly quite pleasant, even agreeing to share the bed with him despite just having met him a few hours ago.

Lance waited until she had returned with more blankets and waited until she was on the bed before he himself shifted over to the empty side, slowly laying down. "Thank you so much." He said to her, showing his gratitude once more before he closed his eyes and soon fell asleep. He didn't move much as he slept, well aware that Olivia was next to him.

[User]
Once Olivia saw that he had made comfortable on the bed, she excused herself to the bathroom to change into her pajamas, which consisted of a pair of leggings and a long-sleeved shirt. She brushed her teeth, washed her face and so on, carrying out her normal nighttime routine as she would if she were alone. Once she was done, she exited the bathroom and flipped the lights off, padding with sure footing towards her bed.

She climbed up onto the empty side of the bed, sliding under the blankets as she relaxed against her pillow. Though he kept well to his side of the bed, she could still sense that he was laying there and it wasn't as awkward as she had feared it might. "It's no trouble, good night." She said softly, curling up onto her side as she sighed softly.

It didn't take her long to fall asleep and she slept peacefully through the night, hardly moving from her side of the bed.

[Assistant]
Lance was already half unconscious by the time she had returned. Despite what she had done to help patch him up, he was still quite heavily wounded and needed rest to recover.

Lance managed to hear what she had said to him though. "Night." He said softly before falling asleep. Normally he didn't need to sleep for long, but tonight he slept well into the next day, not waking up until it was past noon. Luckily though his wounds were starting to heal.

He woke, sitting up straight and feeling his body had recovered a lot. He looked around the room, wondering where Olivia was, judging by the angle of the sunlight shooting into the room, it was already the middle of the day, she was probably up and about now. He now tried to move off the bed, finding more success than the previous night.

[User]
Olivia had risen with the sun, as she did most mornings. She took care to crept quietly from the bed to avoid waking up her guest and padded to the bathroom to get dressed for the day. She made a small breakfast and double-checked that she had made all the medicine she would need to deliver today while she was in town. She checked on Lance a couple of times over the hours to make sure he was doing okay and each time he seemed fast asleep. Rest was a good thing for him and so she didn't disturb him as she went about her morning of organizing ingredients and taking note of what she needed to re-stock in her stores.

It was a little after mid-day and she was just about to go check on her guest when she heard him stir. Filling a glass of water in case he was thirsty, she padded into the bedroom and gave him a smile. "Good afternoon, how do you feel?" She asked as she extended the glass of water towards him.

[Assistant]
Lance had slept very well, even if he had fallen asleep while still in pain, when he finally did wake up, it felt a lot better... until he began to move again. He noticed that the sun was already high up and while he looked around he didn't see Olivia in his sight initially. That was until she came in with a glass of water.

"Did I sleep that much?" He asked her, the bandages were still on him, but his wounds had healed substantially. He gave her a smile as he accepted the glass of water, at least his arms were able to move unlike the previous evening.

"Thank you." He said, taking a gulp at the water before looking back at her. "How is your day?" He asked, he slowly stood up, testing how much he could move.


[User]
Persephone was content. She came to work every day in this little floral shop she ran. Day in and day out she spent her time coaxing plants to grow and arranging flowers in bouquets pretty enough to stop someone on the street. For as long as she could remember she'd had an affinity for anything that grew in the ground, and it seemed like those things liked her too. It sounded silly, but she thought it was because she talked to the plants. Her thoughts, her schedule for the day, the new drama playing out between her friends, it was all stuff she shared with the plants she grew. Such a little thing, but the plants responded to her in a way they didn't for anyone else. She couldn't seem to explain it.

Tucking a strand of burnished copper hair behind a delicate ear, her hand covered in a dusting of dirt, she was in her own little world. Sometimes customers would have to call for her a few times in a row before she realized they were in the store. It was only Persephone, after all, she didn't have any employees to help her out. Occasionally if she was getting a big shipment in she would throw one of the neighborhood kids a couple of bucks to show up and move stuff around, but it was mostly just her. It was lonely. Maybe that was why she talked to the plants, because she didn't really have anyone else. She had friends that she saw, but since most of her time was spent running the store her days were usually spent by herself. Persephone found herself anxious around other people, too. She felt different, but she really couldn't explain why. There were a few odd things that made her feel like she might stand out if she got too close. Beyond the past few years, she couldn't really remember much. Where she had come from, her family, her childhood, these were all questions she didn't have answers to. She had been to the local parks in spring and watched how the flowers seemed to lean in her direction. The same thing didn't happen to other people as they walked around, and she didn't know why she was so special. The way things grew beneath her hands, like she could feel the movement.

There was a slightly scarier side to whatever was going on with her as well. With a thought she could make any plant wither, curling in on itself and blackening as if scorched. Much like many other things in her life it didn't make a lot of sense. Persephone had realized that one day when her anger had gotten the best of her, and a glance had ruined a bouquet she had just finished. At first she had chalked it up to something in the water, but it was too much of a coincidence when it happened multiple times. She tried to keep her thoughts under control, that wasn't something she wanted pointed in the wrong direction.

Humming, Persephone finished what she was doing and washed her hands at the sink. Reaching behind her slender waist she untied the apron she was wearing to try to protect her clothes that somehow always got dirty anyways. Today she wore a green blouse that brought out her eyes, orbs the color of moss after a fresh rain. Men always picked her eyes or her hair to compliment her on, as they stood out against her pale, porcelain skin. She made sure everything was set up for the next day before closing up shop. Tonight she had decided to treat herself and take a different way home so she could stop for dinner. There was this new Thai place she was dying to try and had heard great things about. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, Persephone wandered in the direction of the restaurant. It was easy to take her time and enjoy a spring evening like this.

[Assistant]
For Hades, life was as good as it could be. He wanted for nothing, his business was thriving, bringing in new talent and customers alike on a monthly basis. It wasn't the talk of the city, no, this establishment was brought up in quiet conversation. It wouldn't look like much from the exterior, but that was the point. Not exactly the luxury quality one would expect from a man as well-dressed as Hades, but he had appearances to maintain and keeping the authorities off his back was worth it. He knew far better than most, it wasn't what was on the surface that counted for much, but what you found deep down that meant something.

That particular evening was filled with unlimited potential. He didn't often screw around where he did business, but there were a few patrons who wouldn't take no for an answer, and there was only so far one could push Hades before he was ready to give in. Call it weak-willed? He preferred opportunistic. The burlesque club was the perfect environment, he felt more at home around his staff and regular patrons than he did in his own apartment. His place of residence was only a few blocks away, and he enjoyed the fresh air, so you would often see him walking to and from work. If he needed to get around the city, he would call for a rideshare service. He carried himself as though he never needed to drive himself anywhere.

The evening was quickly giving way to night, Hades looked like he was ready to step onto the red carpet at a big premiere, suits made him feel far better than dressing down. A hand was pressed comfortably inside of his trouser pockets while the other held a phone, screen dimly lit as to not keep him too distracted from the sidewalk path ahead of him. The various smells of nearby shops and businesses were mixing in with the late evening air. Maybe he would have one of the staff order him something to eat? It would be another long, but successful night, and as much as he valued his own time, Hades never missed a night at his own club.

Glancing up from his phone, he nearly collided with someone walking the opposite direction. Instinctively his hand clutched his phone, but the other quickly pulled from his pocket and reached to take hold of the stranger. Upon physical contact he felt a wave of something he'd never experienced wash over him instantly. Almost as though he were seeing colors far more vibrantly than ever before. A beautiful warmth filled him from within, touching every nerve ending. As quickly as it had started, it vanished almost instantaneously when he released his gentle grasp over the young woman's arm.

"Forgive me, I should have been paying attention." His brow furrowed, even through the growing darkness around them he could see the hue in her eyes, a perfect color if he'd ever been able to find such a thing.

"Are you... are you hurt?" A sincere question posed. Hades wasn't exactly rail thin, and the moment had startled him too much for the man to assess whether or not he'd caused her any real harm. Quietly clearing his throat, he smoothed a flat hand across the chest pocket of his tailored suit.

[User]
She should have been paying better attention. Persephone had grabbed her Thai food and was so excited to try something new. Peering into the bag, she was making sure that she had been given everything she had ordered. Honestly, usually she hung outside of the store she had ordered from to make sure but today for some reason she was on the move. It meant, of course, that she was not aware of her surroundings.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her moments before she collided with someone else. Fingers wrapped around her arm and it was like the world had brightened. Like a warm breeze had enveloped her in a caress, spreading goosebumps over every inch of her pale skin. It honestly took her breath away. As soon as the hand released her, the incredible feelings faded. The world returned to normal as she knew it, but Persephone had an inkling she'd be chasing that feeling for the rest of her life. It felt like her world had shifted, and nothing would ever be the same again.

She had to take a breath to clear her head. When she finally looked up, she saw a fairly large man with genuine concern on his face. Had he felt the same thing she had? He was handsome to put it lightly, and impeccably well dressed. Compared to her casual blouse and jeans, she almost felt a little silly.

"No, that was my fault. I'm sorry. I wasn't even looking." She reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous habit she wasn't even aware of. Persephone was flustered; how had one small event had such an impact on her? Hades seemed so sincere when he asked if she was hurt and she couldn't help but smile. It made her radiant in the growing dimness of the night.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking. I didn't spill anything on you, did I?" Persephone gestured to the bag of food she was holding, but his suit appeared intact. She said a small prayer of thanks, his clothes looked more expensive than anything in her apartment.

"This is insane, but do I know you? Have we met?" It was crazy, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they had met before. Persephone would have remembered such a striking individual, right? How could anyone forget him? Tall, easy on the eyes, and from what she could see under his suit rippled with muscle. He didn't seem like someone who would slip anyone's mind.

[Assistant]
"Nonsense, I assure you, you did nothing wrong," Hades responded with a pleasant smile. Sidewalk collisions weren't entirely uncommon. He was certainly guilty of being caught up his own little universe, distracted from the world moving around him. It was kind of her to take blame, though Hades wouldn't allow her to put the fault on her shoulders when he could claim responsibility for the minor incident. Not exactly known for being graceful, he was relieved that no harm had come to her as a result of his inability to keep an awareness of his surroundings.

"Not a single drop." He countered with a quick wink, though it likely went unnoticed with the darkness continuing to settle in around them. Soon night would take over, and the streets would feel far colder than they did in that moment. Wherever the stranger was headed, Hades hoped she would find her way quickly without further interruption. It would be a shame for such a beautiful woman to be caught out in dreadful weather.

"Met? I... I don't believe so." His brow dipped, eyes narrowing to get a better look at the woman. Her hair was radiant red, as beautiful as any sunset he'd ever witnessed. Alluring eyes that held his attention far better than any potential partner had in years, and a disposition that could quiet the flames of hell itself.

"I'm..." He paused, a thought passing through quickly. It wouldn't do him any good to provide this woman his real name. Who walked the earth with a name like Hades? No. He went by a different name, one that kept suspicion at a minimum. "I'm Henry, and who do I have the deepest honor of speaking with this evening?" Hades asked holding out a hand for her to take, if she so desired to.

It was well known, Hades could be quite the charmer when he wanted. Most of the time that smile was reserved for situations when he desired something from someone. Most people, he found, could be easily manipulated. It wasn't their fault, he did have a certain way about him that made Hades nearly irresistible to those in his company. He did carry himself with sophistication, importance, and a charisma that was unmatched.

"Your food smells delicious, I'll have to see about getting something from the restaurant you ordered from." He smiled warmly, checking out the bag her food was stored away in. He wasn't particular when it came to food. His tastes changed with the seasons.

[User]
He introduced himself as Henry and held out his hand, the picture of a perfect gentleman. Persephone flushed prettily, a lovely blush rising like a sunrise on her cheeks. She shifted her food bag to her left hand, making room to take the hand he offered her.

"Henry." She repeated, placing a very feminine hand in his much larger one. There wasn't time to give him her name before she felt that feeling again, warmth surrounding her and colors becoming overwhelmingly bright. Even in the ensuing darkness things seemed more vibrant. His touch felt comforting and real, although that was a silly way to describe it. How could he be more real than their surroundings? The world, the people passing by, the traffic on the street next to them, all real. Despite that, he felt different.

Suddenly she let go of his hand, a little overwhelmed by what she was feeling. Did Henry feel it too? She tried to see if she could figure out the look on his face, if he was going through the same thing she was.

"Persephone." She gasped. It hadn't escaped her that her name was different, but she had never cared. Some celebrity had named her child ''Apple'', Persephone wasn't any more weird than that. In truth she liked her name, and enjoyed the struggle of strangers trying to pronounce it. She thought the origin was Greek, but she wasn't really sure. With no family around she had never really considered where she had gotten the name from. She wasn't really the type of person who was worried about what other people thought of her.

The stranger in front of her, Henry, seemed the same. He seemed very self assured and comfortable in his own skin. Why wouldn't he be? A head full of luxurious dark hair, a muscular figure, and gorgeous, soulful eyes. The gaze he turned to her was wise, someone who was intelligent and confident. She found herself wanting to get to know him better, and not just because of the way she felt when they touched. It was a strange feeling to have about someone she had literally bumped into on the street.

When he mentioned the food in her bag she smiled. "I'm excited to try it! I've been eyeing them up since they opened and finally had a chance to run up here." Persephone glanced around them, realizing that the sun had retreated and it was almost fully dark. "I'd better be getting home if I want to eat it hot. I'm sorry again for being so clumsy, but you've been very charming." He probably swept women off their feet on a daily basis, and the thought that she was almost literally one of them made her grin even wider and a little mischievous.

[Assistant]
The moment the tips of her fingers graced his palm, Hades was struck with a powerful, undeniably pleasurable feeling. It was the same as before, when they collided. The colors all around them seemed to pop and glow with vibrancy he'd never experienced before. All around her figure, a soft radiance that gave her the appearance of a Goddess, more beautiful than any woman he'd ever laid eyes upon. Almost as soon as the feeling had returned, it was stripped away when she pulled back her hand. He gave almost no indication of what he experienced save for a quiet exhale, an almost sadness of sorts settling in.

She revealed her name, and it couldn't have been more beautiful if the Gods themselves had spoken it directly to him. A genuine smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Persephone, what a lovely name." In truth it was, yet Hades withheld his reaction once again in favor of presenting an outwardly calm and collected appearance.

"It sounds like you are in for a real treat," He mused in response, watching as she glanced around before speaking again. In truth, Hades didn't want to leave her presence. She was stunning and equally intriguing, and he desperately wished to touch her again, to be touched by her. He wouldn't admit it now, but there was no doubt she would be the center of his thoughts throughout the entire night, no matter who he wound up spending time with. Brow dipping slightly, Hades nodded and pushed another smile to his lips.

"Enjoy your meal, and your evening Persephone. I do hope we cross paths again." Was there much else to say? He didn't want to overstep his position, and despite the new feeling dwelling within, he did have responsibilities to take care of and a business to run. The city wasn't very large in terms of the amount of distance it covered, but it was densely populated. What were the chances they would cross paths again?

He could try the restaurant she ordered her meal from and hope that they would see each other again? Call it a chance run-in if they did meet for a second time. Giving her his number seemed far too forward. She could have been seeing someone, or not interested in seeing anyone at all. He didn't want to presume she would have any inkling of wanting to spend additional time with him. Better to leave it up to fate to decide.

Nodding once last time, he politely excused himself, moving down the sidewalk, while taking a glance over his broad shoulders to see her figure shift to more of a silhouette as the darkness filled space between them. He started to realize how uncomfortable he felt within his suit, a drink or two would fix the problem.

[User]
It must just be her. Henry seemed so calm and unfazed, but Persephone felt like something monumental had happened. Surely if he was feeling the same thing she was when they touched he would have said something or made some kind of movement to indicate the strange feelings. She was loathe to part with this intriguing new stranger but they couldn't keep making small talk in the middle of the sidewalk and he looked like he had somewhere important to be. A rosy red flush rose to her cheeks when he said he hoped they would meet again. She wanted that too and was going to try to figure out how to make it happen.

"I hope so too, Henry. Be well." Flashing a lovely smile, Persephone nodded towards him and then continued on her way. She glanced back once and could have sworn she was his handsome face doing the same thing, twisting over his shoulder to get one last look. It warmed her, knowing that he seemed as hesitant to separate as she was.

The rest of her night was uneventful by comparison. She couldn't get the handsome stranger out of her head, nor could she shake the feeling that they were connected in some way. Persephone enjoyed the food she had picked up but the world seemed much blander after what had happened. She had to find him again. There was no question that there was something to be uncovered, something that the two of them were missing. Henry remained in her thoughts for a long time after their meeting, and that night she tossed and turned which was unusual for her.

Returning to work the next day, Persephone was a little absentminded. Should she retrace her steps to try and force them into another sidewalk meeting? Should she order takeout from the same Thai place every night until they met? That all seemed kind of desperate, and she was torn between leaving it to the fates and taking initiative. He had her real name and it was certainly unique; maybe he would make an attempt to look her up? It was hard to focus on what she was supposed to be doing. Usually she could pull herself back together when her mind started to wander, but not this time. She couldn't get him out of her head.

After a few days she didn't want to wait anymore. As her shop closed for the day she called in an order to the same Thai place again and tried to ignore her racing heart. It wasn't a crime to order from the same restaurant again, and she couldn't control if he would be in the same spot. All she could do was wander the same path and hope that fate would appreciate her trying to make something happen. Even though he had been immaculately dressed, she didn't think it genuine to suddenly appear to work in her floral shop in a ballgown. Not that she owned one if she had made that decision, anyways. She was dressed in a tight cotton t-shirt, jeans, and her vibrant hair was pulled back in a ponytail through a ball cap on her head. The hat had the name of her shop, ''Field & Vase'' and was clearly well-loved. The t-shirt showed off her curves without being too obvious, and even allowed a small flash of skin on her flat stomach when she moved.

She picked up her food without issue and started retracing her steps. Persephone couldn't remember exactly where they had met before, and she was trying so hard to be casual. Her heart was racing, and she had to consciously stop herself from scanning ahead for the one man in the whole city she was eager to see. There was nothing else she could do from this point but just keep walking and try to remain calm.

[Assistant]
The remainder of his night was spent indulging patrons, handling business in his office, and flirting with a few women. Ultimately, Hades chose to return to his luxury apartment alone. Any other night, he wouldn't have had issue with bringing one or two women home with him, stripping them down and seducing his way into their minds and hearts with the intention of giving them unimaginable pleasure. Yet, he couldn't get his mind off Persephone and the way he felt when they touched. He wanted desperately to have that feeling again, hoping that maybe he could find it in someone else, but he had no such luck throughout his time at the upscale burlesque club. So he retreated back to his apartment, alone.

It took standing beneath a hot shower, stroking himself with the thought of the beautiful Persephone tracing her fingers over his chest, filling him with untold pleasure, before he was able to find even a fraction of the release he wanted. It wasn't enough, but it took the edge off and allowed Hades to crawl into bed and find a comfortable spot to drift off to sleep. Even in his dreams, he couldn't escape her, visions of her vibrant red hair and unforgettable smile filling every corner of his dreams.

The next day was more of the same, endless thoughts of Persephone while Hades went about various business meetings and errands that took him all over the city. Others around him could see he was distracted, though he was quick to dismiss their concerns with a lazy wave of his hand and a made up excuse. He was Hades, he could handle anything, weather any storm, and pull himself out of any funk no matter the depths of his thoughts. He had a full evening ahead of him, but the immediate need for nourishment brought him back to the side of the city where he originally crossed paths with the stunning redhead.

He could recall everything vividly from the night before, the smell of the food she was carrying home to eat, the way she looked at him, the sound of her voice. There was only one Thai restaurant within five square miles in that part of metropolitan area. He may or may not have had an assistant track down the address for it, which led him to stepping out from a company vehicle, dressed down from the prior night's appearance. He ditched the suit in favor of a pair of fitted slacks and a white long sleeve button-down, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The restaurant was a stone's throw away, and while hunger plagued him, he couldn't help but wonder, was she thinking of him as well?

The venture into the restaurant solved one minor problem, but brought with it soft disappointment as he was hoping for another casual run-in with Persephone. When it didn't happen, he resigned to the fact that maybe it was the only meeting they would have and ordered his meal. Little did Hades know, he'd missed her by about five minutes, and upon stepping out of the restaurant, his plan was to take his dinner to the club, eat in his office, and start the evening with a distraction or three, all who were willing and ready to take his mind off the young woman who haunted him unknowingly. Instead his feet carried him in the opposite direction, maybe he would take the long path to get to the building? Go in through the back entrance, less questions that way. Hades pushed his hand into his pocket, retrieving his phone to answer a text when he noticed bright red hair several paces in front of him.

Narrowing his dark eyes, a smile drifted to his lips when he realized it was her. Quickening his pace almost unnoticeably, Hades was four paces behind her when he spoke up. "I can't stop thinking about you, it appears we had the same idea." He noticed the bag in her hand, the same familiar markings on it from the Thai restaurant.

[User]
Her heart sank like a stone in her chest. Persephone didn't see him anywhere. He stood taller than most people on the street so it would have been hard to miss him, but she didn't see her handsome stranger anywhere. She felt a bit foolish, coming all the way to this side of the city just for a chance at bumping into him again. In a rare moment of temper, she almost didn't want the Thai food anymore. Sure, it was delicious, but the whole point was to hopefully see Henry again.

Oh well. She continued walking, taking the long way back to her apartment. Just because her plan didn't work out didn't mean Persephone couldn't enjoy the evening. Plus, it might clear her head. She couldn't keep buying Thai food in an attempt to run into Henry. It would probably be best to try and forget about him, and let the fates decide if they were going to see each other again. That was probably what she should have done in the first place.

As she was making up her mind, a deep voice spoke up loudly from behind her. Persephone gasped and whirled around, a smile already parting her lovely lips. It was him! She couldn't help but laugh out loud, the relief like a weight off of her shoulders.

"Henry! I was hoping we would bump into each other again." Gods, what was he wearing? Slacks and a button down that was rolled up showing off his thick forearms. He had to know how much women loved that look, and Persephone was no exception. He was magnetic, there was something that drew her to him and she took a few steps to close the distance between them. Her heart started racing and her breath hitched in her throat; what was it about him that had this effect on her? She wanted to reach up and wrap her arms around him, pulling him down for a kiss. She wanted to be in a tangle of limbs, both of them shining with a sheen of exertion. This was crazy, she just didn't have these thoughts about men who were essentially perfect strangers!

Persephone remembered what had happened when they had touched last time, and considered seeing if it would happen again. She reached forward and placed a delicate hand on his forearm, and was immediately struck once more. Henry seemed surrounded in a halo of darkness, but it wasn't something that scared her. It took her breath away, the way the world seemed to stop around them. The evening air seemed to swirl around them, enveloping them in a vibrant, fragrant, world of their own. She pulled her arm away, gasping, this time unable to hide her shock at the sensations she felt when they touched. It took a minute to compose herself.

"Do you want to eat together?" She said, gesturing at the matching bags that each of them held. Persephone wanted to know more about him, wanted to talk about what she felt when they touched. Did he feel it too? The sidewalk on a busy city street wasn't the place to have such a conversation. She almost held her breath, waiting for his answer.