Carpe Noctum

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

AnnaBell took a large gulp of the bottle she was holding as she came staggering along the lake. It was her birthday tomorrow or rather it would soon be today and no one to celebrate it with, she was drunk, which was quite amazing even for a wolf, but then again she had been drinking since noon, so no wonder. Sure she could have called Holden, but she didn't want to sound too pathetic.....Hi, want to come over and have some cake....it's my birthday tomorrow by the way.....No way and she couldn't call her sister either, as if AnnaBell wanted to get a whooping on her birthday.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she took another big gulp from the bottle, it was nice by the lake, quiet....AnnaBell came to a halt when she heard a human howl, she blinked a couple of times as if she was trying to focus, sniffing the air a little, but she was drunk and she didn't really know what believe at this moment, she looked around a little until she noticed a fire in the distance. "Maybe they want to celebrate my birthday with me," she thought to herself and started to stagger off in the direction of the fire.

A loud thud sounded when suddenly AnnaBell fell to the ground. She hadn't spotted the large branch on the ground. She swore loudly, the bottle she had been holding was rolling away from her while its contents ran out on the ground. "Bullsh*t. I HATE YOU!!!" she screamed, not at anyone particular, maybe it was at herself or the world or everyone. She tried and get back on her feet, but she was so wasted that she didn't even know how to move her body any longer, landing on the ground with another thud and a loud groan.

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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Marcello listened to his bellow echo over the flat surface of the lake. It was cut by a short, muffled sound, like a mallet, and proceeded by a rather loud yell of frustration. He frowned slightly. Dinner guests had not been on the R.S.V.P. Unless... He jammed his nose into the air, pulling in a new breath into his lungs. This guest was certainly werewolf.

"Sh*t." Marcello turned and sorted through a small bag that had been cradled against a tree trunk. His hands felt the metal object easily, wrapping around the instrument as if it were made of glass. He placed it into the sand. Marcello stepped back, looking over the fire into the fog of darkness. "Already, dog. Let's see if I can't find you first!" The man got a bit of a running start before jumping into the air, landing on paws as slick as oil. Sand chafed his tongue when he bent to retrieve the open pocket knife. The metal tasted sharp against his lips.

It hadn't taken as long as he thought it would to find her. He started to run a brief perimeter around the lake, but the girl wasn't very far at all. The sound of his singing must have masked her approach. Marcello phased back as he walked up to the figure slumped in the sand, a bottle ringing off his foot. He reached down and smelled the opening- alcohol assaulted his nose. It smell good, whatever it was. Bringing it to his lips he took a sip of whatever still remained. The burn made him laugh.

"Damn, it looks like you were having a party of your own over here, weren't you?" Marcello grinned his signature toothy smile. Removing the knife from his teeth, he flicked it closed and put it in his pocket. Maybe he was reckless for thinking she wasn't going to cause any harm. A better excuse was that he was so high on life right now that it would take him awhile to come back to Earth. Either way, here this pretty little woman was, and for a moment he didn't give two shakes of a tail if she was Diego's or not. Marcello kneeled so that his painted face was nearly level with hers. "Tell me, do you like the dance?" A cackle of laughter. "Hell, look at you! Of course you do. Come on, I've got a lively fire going on. Enough food for two. You can trust me." A hand extended toward her. "I won't bite if you don't. Unless you ask me to."


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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

AnnaBell didn't really react at first, but slowly she lifted her head and looked first at the hand and then further up to the guy who was reaching it to her. She had a dazed expression on her face as if she was trying to fully comprehend what the guy said. She opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was strange mumbling. She grabbed the hand, but clearly needed help to get, of course she almost fell over, leading her free hand up to her hand, looking at the guy again, she narrowed her eyes a little as if she was trying to focus on him. "You're.....cuuuuute," she said and giggled, leaning into him as if he was her new best friend. "I am DRUNK!" she said, the last word practically roaring out as if the biggest new ever, her arms flying around her, which only lead to her falling into the guy. Grabbing for him so she wouldn't end up on the floor again. Looking up at him still with that dreaming expression on her face. "Why do people hate me?" she asked him and looked at him with a slight pout.

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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'Man, she's so far gone.' He thought, but he smiled when she threw her arms around him, holding one of her wrist to keep her steady. What wild things alcohol did. She must have had a hell of a lot to get so trashed, probably drank a whole keg by herself the way it permeated her breath. It made for wonderful company.

"Listen here, sweat heart. I don't know about the whole hating you business," Marcello said, taking a small step away, checking to make sure she could support herself. She could stand still; that was good enough, but he still held on to her as a precaution. "But how's about I relieve you of this bottle here, huh?" With his other hand, his free one, Marcello shook the bottle so that the few mouthfulls sloshed lazily. "And I'll carry you back to my dig, where we can party until the sun comes up. I'm sure you'll like that. And seeing how you're hardly fit to make decisions, I'll make the sober one." He took another swig. It cut him in the best of ways. "Alright, let's go!"

Draping one arm over her shoulders, Marcello helped guide her the short distance to the fire pit. They stumbled together through the sand to the sound of his laughter. He carefully disengaged himself from her to pull the string of back bones away from the post it had been hanging from, bringing it over to drape around her neck, smirking with satisfaction. "Now I'd hate to mess up that face with warpaint, but I'll leave it up to you. You hungry? I've got quite the meal- chef's special." Marcello threw out an arm in the general direction that the rest of the doe lie. It was obvious he had already gotten to it. The glassy eyes looked on at them from its position on the pike.

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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

AnnaBell couldn't really tell much of the trip over to the fireplace, she had trouble enough just to keep herself awake, but as she was sat down and shortly after got something around her neck, she looked down, blinking a couple of times before she grabbed a hold in her new necklace and stared at the bones for a moment, but her eyes were torn away when the guy mentioned food. She looked in the direction of where he pointed.

She looked a bit thoughtful, not quite sure if she could eat anything, but on the other hand it might be good for her to have some food in her stomach. But instead of saying yes she looked back at him, tilting her head a little and that was when she finally got a good look at him and realised he had red marks in his face. "Who are you?" she blurted out.

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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Without waiting for her answer Marcello had gone back toward the fire, poking it with a large stick that he had picked up from the sand. Sometimes it snap or hiss at him, like a living animal. Other times the disturbance of ash caused the blaze to lick its vibrant tongues into the dark sky. Marcello kicked the dead bird away so that it would not get caught up in the fire's hunger. As an afterthought, he walked over to it, turning the raven over in his hands.

"Who am I?" He repeated. No was no use lying about his species. Even a lush as drunk as she was could smell a werewolf from ten feet away- provided she already was one, something he could confirm past the reek of alcohol. His hand brushed over the iridescent feathers. "Well I guess you can say I am a brother of the night, as you are a sister, and we are family in a sentimental sort of way. Loup garou. But if you were going toward familiarities, I would say that my name is Marcos Senbien."

Marcello plucked two feathers as he pronounced the last two words. One he placed in his hair. The other he held up to the fire, to watch the colors dance off of it. When he had his fill of the art, Marcello tossed that into the fire, too, watching as the flame reared up and caught it in its fiery maw. He placed a bit of venison into it next, watching the meet sizzle on the end of a stick. This was just for consumption purposes this time.

"But if you're not very hungry, I would like to know your name. If you remember it in your state, that is." His grin stretched across his lips, crinkling the blood stains.



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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

AnnaBell followed the guy's every movement, it was clear he was new around here, well that's what she thought, but then again she had been gone for four years, so who knew when he had arrived. Her vision was still in a bit of a blur and she rubbed her eyes every now and again as if that would help. "You can call me Bells," she said. It was pretty much what everyone called her, not that she minded, after all it was short for AnnaBell.

Even though her brain activity was somewhat low then she looked a bit more concentrated at what he was doing, not to mention the red marks on his face. Tilting her head a little she looked curiously at him, although there was a certain blurred look she gave him. "What are you doing out here? You're not a warlock of something are you?" she asked curiously.

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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He examined her as they locked eyes, taking in the unfocused stare and curious countenance. She was either sobering up or entering into the sort of sad state of intoxication, where one grew more reserved than jubilant. At least she remembered her name. Vaguely he wondered where she belonged to, the question starting on his tongue. Marcello cut it off after he decided he probably didn't want to know. He chose to answer the warlock question instead.

"A warlock? Maybe. Would that bother you?" Pulling the stick out of the fire, he reached with one hand to pull off the piece of venison. Marcello moved toward AnnaBell, fire dancing against the whiteness of his teeth. His other hand, the one holding the stick, traced geometric patterns into the sand around her. Circles swooped amidst jagged triangles, loops connecting an outer ring to the rest of the piece. Twelve lines extended toward AnnaBell like the spokes of a wheel. She was the focus of the intricate piece, the drunk, wonderful little jewel. Marcello kicked a hind leg of the deer away to complete the outline, moving in closer behind her. "I could very well be a bad, bad voodoo man. Would that explain this? The decorations? The fire? Or, I can just be an ordinary werewolf who happens to like the art of tradition." He laughed, placing a palm on her shoulder. It wasn't an aggressive motion. The touch was just a gentle reassurance. "I'm only joking with you. I promise I'm the latter."

Marcello rose the venison to his lips and tore off a bite, chewing happily. "I'm out here for the same reason you are. We all like to go out and have a little fun every now and again."


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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

There was something about this guy, maybe it was the mystery about him that made him so intriguing. "Hey I've been with warlocks, especially the dark ones," she said, turning her head and looked at him, a slight smirk spreading on her face. "And I can just say, they were superb," she said, giving the guy a mischievous smirk. Even though her head was still spinning, then it was no secret that she was always looking for a good time, so when his hand landed on her shoulder, she didn't look down at it, but instead there was a slight hungry look in her eyes, almost as if she had seen her next prey. "So when you talk about fun, what exactly does that imply?" she asked curiously, her eyes had grown a little darker, as she started to look him up and down, biting her lower lip a little. What could she say, she was a man eater, the question was, would he be the next one?

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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Two hundred years hadn't softened his mind into naivete. Marcello recognized that look, the one that looked so painfully like his Master on this strangers face, and it rose a flickering smolder of mixed emotions in him. On hand, he got that gut feeling that this one was trouble. Misdirected hate stirred the beast in his bosom, pressing against his ribs, his mind, baring its teeth in warning. On the other hand, Marcello was still half man, and it would have been a lie to say that he didn't enjoy being looked at in that way. The wolf hummed under his skin. He'd need to be careful.

"The fun is getting to live another night," The werewolf purred. "But it's also enjoying it. My religion is carpe diem." Marcello pulled back then, keeping his eyes trained on Bells. He stretched his arms forward and felt the sinew stretch, joints popping softly. "I don't suppose you fight, do you? I don't mean to the death. Being what we are, we've had more than enough of that. But I was wondering if you might be up for a spar, to release a little of the tension from life. It's been a long time since I had a partner."

It was reckless, putting himself in that sort of situation, and she probably wouldn't be able to stand straight. But he was restless, waiting for... waiting for something, and his muscles ached to move.


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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

AnnaBell looked a bit disappointed when he suggested her to spar with him. "Not exactly what I have in mind when I think of having fun," she said with a slight pout. Looking to the fire, she let out a slight sigh. Maybe he wasn't as much fun as she had hoped he would be. "If you want someone to wrestle then I suggest you look elsewhere. I only fight if I have to, not for fun or practise," she said quietly. Not to mention last time she fought anyone it was her sister, her hand slightly moved over her abdomen without really realising it.

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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"Forgive me. I took you as a fighter, for some reason. My mistake" Marcello apologized, a bit of a sour note leaking into his tone. Fine. She didn't want to get down and dirty, that was her deal. He'd just have to brush it off. After all, he couldn't lie to himself, not completely, and he knew the yearning for wrestling was rooted in his desire to hunt. Insatiable as it had been lately, the urge still nagged him.

Marcello hummed as he paced around the bonfire, looking at Annabell with a mix of interest and puzzlement. His mind buzzed. "So, you don't dance, you're not hungry, and you don't fight," Old dogs were more amusing. He took a leaf of mint and placed it on his tongue, twirling the herb against his teeth, wondering. There had to be some reason she out this late, drunk as all Hell in the outdoors. Good little girls didn't wander in such a state. Good old gentlemen didn't, either, but he never really counted himself in that sort of category. Not with his record. "Then what do you do for fun? Why are you out here?"

Mischief entered his eyes. Marcello waited for her answer while he sucked on the last bit of venison bone, before breaking it with his teeth to get to the marrow. The crunch filled his own bones with delight.


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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

AnnaBell glanced at the guy from time to time, but tried to focus on the flames instead. "Oh I do dance, I just prefer to do it in a more crowded place with loud music," she said and sent him a small smile, but asked what she did for fun, she looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes. "Oh I'm not sure you want to hear about that, besides for all I care you could be some kind of undercover cop and I'm not interested in getting behind bars any time soon," she said and a dark smirk spread on her lips. "Don't worry I'm not an escaped convict, but let me put it this way, I'm not exactly an angel," she said. "As for me being out here....well the guy I usually hook up with when I'm bored has hooked up with some other chick and well there is this other guy who's following me around where ever I go, but I'm really not in the mood for his behaviour. Not to mention it's my birthday tomorrow and my ex' wedding day, and my sister doesn't speak to me and my dad well don't really know him that well, so....here I am, trying to forget," she said and started to roam after something in her pocket and took out a joint and a lighter and it wasn't long before she had lit it and took a deep wheeze. She reached it to him as if asking if he wanted to try. "Or are you one of those who are against these things?" she asked and looked at him with a slight raised eyebrow.

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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Marcello considered the joint that was held out to him. 'Ah, Hell, one hit wouldn't hurt...' "Sure, sure." He reached out and took it, letting the smoke settle in his lungs. Handing it back he knew that she wasn't all too concerned about him being a cop, not if she was so free with her substances. It made him smirk. There was trust enough for that. Many friendships blossomed on the end of a pipe.

"Sounds like your sh!t hit the fan. Happy early Birthday, Sweetheart." Marcello pitied her, he really did, but he was happy, too, mostly because the promise of her bad streak gave him a little thrill. And who was he, Marcello Mendes, to deny a young woman help when she needed it? She wanted to forget. He wanted to live a little. There was a compromise waiting to be struck right there, but he wasn't one for pushing temperamental young she-wolves too far. Their bite was worse than their bark.

"So what if the drugs and booze don't make you forget enough?" He asked, kicking the now-empty bottle around in the sand. "There's a whole world of distractions out there for people like yourself. Robbery, murder, vandalism, men. It sounds like you don't have a loving mommy and daddy to come looking for you when curfew is up. The town is ours. We wolves own this sh!t." Wouldn't it be lovely to shed their human skins for a night and cause some real chaos? Absolutely fantastic.


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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

AnnaBell chuckled a little as she listened to the guy. "Well I can't really make myself show myself public.....at least not yet. I've promised to keep a low profile, more or less," she said and took another wheeze of the joint and slowly blew out the smoke. "But if you want, we can always do something....," she said and looked at him, before she got up, briefly trying to make the dizziness go away before she moved closer to him. Leaning into him a little with a mischievous smile. "Unless you're into guys instead, cause then I can't help you out," she said as she let a hand moved over his chest a little.

Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο Ο

You came in and bumped your head
If not for me then you'd be dead
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Trying to keep a low profile. He could understand that one, although he seldom wanted to. Keeping your tail down was sometimes more work than it was worth. But when she pressed against him his mind swam away from thoughts of Diego, drifting off into a hotter, darker realm.

'Control yourself,' Some part of him chided. Women were trouble. But this time he didn't run away from the offer like before, he didn't want to, not when her fingers traced fire itself over the skin of his chest and his body was so delightfully drunk. Marcello took up one of her hands. "Guys just don't hold the same attraction for me," He growled in response, the glow in his eyes revealing the mirth. He didn't know her. Heck, he wasn't even sure if he liked her, but here were two strangers trying to escape a little bit. Marcello lifted the wrist to his mouth and traced his teeth along the delicate inner skin. "Give me one more hit, and maybe I can help you out instead."

It felt too good to finally give in. Like a hunt after a hiatus.


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I picked you up and put you back on solid ground!