Bell stopped immediately when Cade spoke his name, turning to look at the other and frowning deeply as he saw Gwen there. Red stood quietly beside Bell, only whinning softly in protest when Cade told them to take the human along. Bell's lips were parting to refuse, then they snapped closed suddenly. He was glaring, mostly at Gwen. "You're a real asshole sometimes Cade." Bell wouldn't argue with Cade though, at least not over something as trivial as this, even if it did annoy him to no end.

The vampire ran a hand through his hair and rolled his eyes. "C'mon, human. If Red decides to eat you, don't expect me to stop him." Bell met Cade's wink with a glare and a slight growl. "You jerk!" He shouted the words very loudly, to make sure Cade heard them before he turned around. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure Gwen was following them. Red whimpered softly, and Bell patted the vargulf's shoulder reassuringly. "Hurry up human." He growled at her as he glanced over his shoulder at her again.

Bell blinked when his eyes met Shiki's and then he shrugged slightly. "Everyone's in the kitchen. You ought to go in there and introduce yourself or something." Bell didn't really care, he and Red moved on past as they made their way towards the front door.

Everything was warm now, the incessant heat of pain reduced to a dull and not unpleasant warmth in his body. He took the time to clear his head, head leaning back and eyes closing, turning his face into the soft brush of fingers on his face.

His eyes opened when it was gone, red at the very edges.

He moved his vision to Regan, blinking slowly and experimentally before he sniffed and moved to sit up. He hissed and jerked when he moved to put weight on his bad arm, the limb still tender and mottled with yellowing bruises. It was entirely possible that...whatever that healing light had been (because that's what it was he understood that now) hadn't gotten every single crack.

He wasn't going to complain though. Not now anyway.

He turned to eye the two of them, licking his lips before letting out a short sigh and lifting his arm to cradle against his still bare chest.

"Come here to unwind," he hissed, voice still ragged despite the fact his tongue was intact again. "I have fun here."

He gave them both an almost sarcastic (and strained and pained) smile, showing off blood and grime speckled teeth.

"What about you, Jackass?" he mumbled, leaning in close. "There a reason why you stopped off at this corner of Hell?"

Cade moved casually back into the kitchen. "Katerina," he said in that monotone voice, "It's time you learned to cook my dear." He glanced at Usagi. "I believe the two of you have met already," he observed. "Good. The two of you will be living together for quite some time," he said dismissively, leaving the pair to take what they wanted of that.

Katerina had finished the dishes when the other spoke to her. She turned around, blinking at the man owlishly. How did he know her name? Well someone told him probably. She glanced at Usagi when the red eyed man said they would be living together for quite some time. He must have been confused. "Oh no, I don't live here," she corrected, "I'm just a guest for a little while."

Cade's eyes danced with amusement. "Pardon me for not introducing myself earlier," he said in that quiet voice. "I am Cade," he gave a slight bow. "This is my home. I was the one who called on you to take care of it. That means you will be living here. It only makes sense," he said, already turning to see what was in the works in the kitchen.

Katerina was drying her hands on a towel as she approached him by the stove. "I'm really sorry," she said, "But I think there was some kind of misunderstanding. I can't stay here, I-," Cade cut her off then. "You what?" he asked, turning those red eyes on her. "You have another place to live? A family that misses you? This is a part of your job isn't it? You did come here to study us all, is that correct? It seems to me that living here would be the best thing that could ever fall into your lap."

"Yes but, when I have the information I need-," she was cut off again. Cade was beginning to become annoyed. "Then you'll leave this place and publish a nice little picture book about us with my address and phone number?" Katerina's eyebrows drew together, "No, that's not what I-." Cade held Katerina's gaze and cut her off for the last time. "I'm afraid that you can't have your cake and eat it, too, my dear Katerina."

"You may stay and learn of us 'supernaturals', but you may never leave. The information you learn here is not for the world to know. We live in secrecy for a reason. If you do not wish to stay, then go, now." He watched her silently for a long moment while she was clearly contemplating his words. Would she leave? Or would she chose to stay and learn, even if it meant having to keep the secrets?

Finally, Katerina nodded. "I, understand," she said, not really intending to stay once she had what she wanted. "I'll stay." Cade gave her a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Very well then," he said. "Let us teach you to cook then shall we?" His tone and demeanor had returned to passive and he glanced at Usagi before scanning the kitchen. "You really made a mess of this place," he said.

Cade stood there for a long moment, silently. "Do you two like take-out?" he asked. Cade typically drank blood, but he enjoyed human foods. It had become a habit at one point or another.

Kiera looked around grabbing some pieces of furniture and tearing strips from some of the bed spread. She gently grabbed Nate's arm and started to replace the splint. "It's not good to fully heal severe injuries the way I do. The body starts to forget how to heal itself, so here. I'll brace your arm and try to take it easy. After I get my things from where I left them in the woods, I'll have an ointment that is good for bruises and something for the pain." She ties the brace in place and starts making a sling from the some sheets. She laughs at his abrasive attitude. "I think I should stay here if it'll be allowed. The mix of beings here is bound to become volatile at some point, and injuries are likely." She helped Nate sit up after placing his arm in the sling and securing it. "My name's Heffernan, by the way, Kiera Heffernan."

Regan rolled his eyes and tried to conceal his smile. It was hard not to, hearing the derisive nickname and knowing that it didn't quite mean what it seemed. "Boredom, basically. I've seen so many places, I wanted to find someplace different. Somewhere I could rest." He'd wanted to find someplace he could call home. He refused to say it.

Instead he turned his gaze to looking at the woman, trying to replace the binding he'd already put on the other man's broken arm. He quirked his head to the side, and pointed at the wood supported splint.

Gwen squeaked. She glanced at Cade and wondered what to do. He was steering her straight for the man who'd tried to kill her. Then Cade was gone, leaving her with Red and Bell. She jerked forward when the vampire urged her on, walking past the the man from the forest, the one who'd saved her with his appearance. She ended up bumping into Bell, for all her staring.

Gwen stepped away, backing towards Red and stared at the floor. "I'm sorry! so sorry." She quivered and quacked, wrung her hands and shifted from foot to foot nervously.

Bell growled and turned to glare at Gwen when she bumped into him. "Watch it, human." His lips had drawn back, exposing his fangs at her in a threatening manner. Bell's gaze swept over Gwen, then Red, and finally the man that had more or less saved Gwen. A hand went up and Bell rubbed at the side of his neck slightly, the vampire looked as if he might want to say something but instead he just turned and continued heading towards the door.

When Gwen backed towards him, Red reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Is fine. Bell won't hurt you again." At least not now, not while it might make Cade angry, but Red didn't say that. He offered no explanation for why Bell might not hurt Gwen again. He steered her forward for a moment and then removed his hands. "We just hunt deer today." Nothing to big, nothing dangerous, nothing human. At least tonight. Tonight wasn't a full moon, so there was no danger or fear of Red wolfing out and killing everyone nearby.

The warmth of hands against her shoulders comforted her, and chased the shadows of fear away more then any words could. Perhaps that was why she stepped forward, nearer to Bell and further from Red. Her earlier thoughts returned. She did want to get to know the purple haired vampire, if only for her friend's sake. He was Red's pack.

"Uhm, Bell ..." How was she even supposed to start talking with him? They passed the castle's threshold, and only had the vaulted sky as their roof with stars peeking down at them. Gwen shook her head and looked at the two men. "How am I going to keep up with the both of you when you hunt?" They weren't human. They were stronger and faster then she could ever be.

Usagi looked at Cade as he glanced at him, and seemed pleased that the two of them had met. It meant they did not have to waste time with formalities. He nodded, remaining silent for the moment. They would be living together for quite some time? He glanced at Katerina for a moment, as she finished up what she was doing. She seemed to oppose him, stating that she did not live here, but was only a guest. Cade introduced himself officially to her, then told her that she was indeed living here. The little exchange seemed to go back and forth, her opposing, him insisting.

He said that he would not allow her to leave, once she had learned everything. A precaution to those who were here. He could understand that, but it was little more than a prison sentance as well. He glanced at the female, she seemed to give in for now, agreeing to stay for now indeed. However, she did not seem the type to simply give in to remaining once she was done. Cade spoke about teaching her to cook, then said she made a mess of the place. He glanced around. Indeed, it did seem more like a mess. When Cade metioned take out, Usagi looked to him. He had not been expecting that, a slight amused smile threatening to tug at his lips. He then glanced at the door, catching another form.

Shiki leaned against the door, slightly watching the three. His eyes for a moment scanned the kitchen, and he raised an eyebrow. What had happened here? He did not say a word though, as his eyes landed on the one he had been looking for. Easy enough. However, he then glanced over, eyes meeting with Usagi's. Usagi reguarded him for a moment with a curious look, saying nothing himself as their eyes met and held a gaze for a moment. Shiki had not met him, nor the other girl who was within the room as well. Then again, he had not officially met anyone other than Bell.

Isabella jaunted down the stairs until she smelt the air. Her face scrunched up in detestation.

"Is this coming from the kitchen?"

Once the blonde finished descending down the stairs, she made her way to the kitchen. As she made her way there, the smell was stronger and stronger. Isabella began smelling herself. She was not trying to be self-loving by saying she smells better than the smell. It was just that with her being a fairy, she smells like vanilla. She would rather smell vanilla than the smell coming from the kitchen. When she reached the kitchen door, she saw Usagi, Cade, and the human girl, but then she felt another presence. She looked to her right and left and saw the being that was once fighting Bell. She was a bit startled because of his presence and because of that, her wing began to flutter erratically, because the one that was half-ripped just flutter lightly.

"When did he get there?"

The blonde shook her head and peeked her head slightly in the entrance. Her face began to transform into a sheepish smile due to not knowing everyone in the house and because she is curious about the human girl. She will make that into one of her later goals, but now she will like to assist around the house. She does not believe in free-loading.

"Can I help out in the kitchen? I do have experience with French dishes since I did live in France most of my life." Isabella sheepishly said.

Nate let out a grumbled out a "I'm Nate..." when the woman (Keira or something like that) introduced herself and suspended his already splinted arm in a sling, the mottled limb cradled against his chest limply. He grumbled something under his breath as he inspected it, wiggling his fingers before sniffing and looking away.

He looked out to inspect the room he had so angrily demolished, running his eyes along the bed ripped and covered with downy white feathers) and the nearby shattered glass coffee table. He really did do a number on this place. No wonder he had been so roughly punished.

He chuckled at the thought, letting his eyes slip closed as he ran it over in his head. A noise caused him to turn his head and open his eyes, watching the far wall. He blinked at what he saw, watching as...something ran down the wall in sticky little rivulets, sinking into the wall and darkening only slightly. Like tar or blood. Something moved just out of his vision, darting out the doorway with a rustle.

He sniffed loudly before shuffling, moving to stand. It was hard going, movement impeded by his injured arm, but he finally managed to get himself upright. He stretched slightly, rolling his shoulder out and stretching his legs one at a time. He glanced back at the door into the hallway, eyeing the spot where the dark stain had manifested itself.

It was still there.

"Well...who here wants to blow this shit hole?" he asked, voice shaking slightly. "I'm starting to go stir crazy I don't want to stay here. Maybe get fresh air or food....or something. Fuck I don't know..."

It was obvious he was unnerved, fingers twitching and his weight shifting from one foot to the other. He wanted out of the room and it was only general politeness that kept him from bailing on the people who had taken time to make sure he wouldn't die.

Kiera smiles, "I really don't have anything better to do for now. If you want to go for a walk, I'll go with you. My stuff is at the edge of the woods out back by the greenhouse. I was going to go back in a bit anyway to get my stuff and tell my friends this place is okay." Kiera stands keeping herself covered. "If you want to go for a walk, meet me out back. If you don't I'll see you in a bit after I get my stuff and come to this house like a normal person. Who owns this place anyway?"

Bell rolled his eyes, and glared at her when she spoke to him. For a moment it seemed like he might say something nasty, but he just rolled his eyes again and clicked his tongue at her. Making that "Tch" sound he so often did. "I'm not hunting. Red is hunting, there's nothing in the woods for me to eat.." The look he gave her though made it seem like he was considering her for a meal. Still the tone he used was one that clearly indicated he thought she was stupid for asking such a stupid question. He shoved his hands in his pockets and gave a slight grunt of annoyance.

He led them around the castle once they were out of it, towards the trees in the back, but angling a bit so that the path he led them on took them slightly further from the village. Cade said no hunting in the village, and it wouldn't be a good idea to hunt to closely to the village either. Even if they were just going after deer. "Red, try not to get too close to the village, and since Cade wants her to watch you hunt, try to chase your prey close to us." There was almost a bit of excitement in Bell's eyes. A hunt was always exciting, no matter what the prey was. It was always more about the chase than anything really. Bell was almost itching to run, but not in the same manner that Red was itching to run.

Red frowned deeply. Gwen didn't need to see first hand how brutal and vicious he could be, he wanted to be friends with her, not frighten her away. This would surely make her afraid of him. He didn't object though, it wouldn't have mattered if he had, Bell would've ignored the objections and Cade had told them to take her anyway, and Red knew Bell wouldn't openly refuse Cade like that. It was almost the same for him. Bell was his Alpha, but Cade was clearly the vampire's alpha. Red ran a hand through his hair and sighed softly.

"Will be messy and violent." He spoke the words gently, as if such a soft warning could prepare Gwen for what she might see during the hunt. Though he supposed maybe it wouldn't be too bad since he was only hunting deer, it would probably be far more traumatic for her if he were hunting people. Red was itching to run and chase things though, and he sniffed at the air a bit here and there as they moved deeper into the cover of the trees. Looking for that lovely deer scent.

Fresh clean air. Gwen took a deep breath and looked up at the starry sky. It was so different from anything she'd known back home. There were no too bright city lights to dim the glow. She even started smiling, until Bell snuffed the bubbling feeling right out. She'd almost forgotten he was there for a second. "I don't know what you hunt, except for people. I didn't want to assume that you didn't eat anything else."

Gwen glanced at the ground once they were in the trees, wary of tripping over hidden roots. She looked up at Red when he spoke to her."Probably." She ha no idea how she'd react. Gwen didn't want to say anything she might regret latter.

"My name is Regan." Once he wasn't being used as an impromptu back rest, the vampire slid smoothly to his feet. He eyed the other man for a while, looking for any signs of impending weakness. All he saw was nervous energy, trying to find some way out of a broken body.

"We could always explore the castle. There are bound to be interesting places." The redhead turned his sapphire eyes to Kiera. "And the owner is the man who gave Nate here such a hard time. I think his name is... Well I don't think I actually know."

Katerina glanced around the kitchen at Cade's words. She really had made a huge mess. She was surprised when Cade mentioned take-out. Thank the heavens! She glanced towards the door when Isabella popped in, seeing someone standing there she didn't know; Shiki. Cade responded, "The kitchen appears to be out of commission," he said in that unreadable monotone voice, motioning to the mess around it.

"Katerina and Usagi were just about to go into the village and fetch dinner, weren't you?" he asked, turning that red gaze on the pair. He then reached into his pocket and produced a folded envelope. "Rose left these things behind," he said, handing the envelope to Usagi. "They are for you and Katerina now," he said, before turning his gaze back to Isabella.

Inside the envelope were two master keys. The keys would unlock every door in the castle, except the door to Cade's room at the very top of the tower. There were instructions on how to properly take care of a number of things, as Cade liked it, probably for Katerina, and two credit cards with random names of forged identities. Cade expected the pair to leave now.

"Isabella," he said to her, maybe surprising her in knowing her name. "I would be delighted if you graced us with your French cooking skills. Perhaps you may be happy in preparing dessert for the castle? I am quite fond of French desserts," he said. "You are welcome to use anything you need in the kitchen, pantry or cellar. You will be pleased Just push the mess aside and Katerina will clean it when she returns. or the other. Just push the mess aside and Katerina will clean it when she returns." He said the last part dismissively, expecting her to begin, as his red gaze then fell on Shiki.

"I have things to discuss with Shiki," he said, exiting the kitchen and expecting the other to follow. Once they were out in the hall, Cade began walking towards the study on the other side of the castle. The room was decorated in rich reds and golds, and the curtains had all been pulled closed, the way Cade liked them. The room was dimly lit with a couple of lamps.

On the way, Cade's red eyes fell on Shiki. "What is it you would like to talk about, Shiki?" he asked, having easily been able to sense that the man had wished to talk with him.

Meanwhile, Katerina had glanced at Usagi with a sigh. "Well this just gets...," she was searching for a word, "harder... all the time." She shook her head. "I don't even know my way around this village," she mumbled in that light Romanian accent. She was already headed for the front door. "I'll drive," she said, having parked her car in the front.

Usagi looked to Cade, then over to Isabella. She had said she wished to help with dinner, but instead was tasked with something else. Before this however, Cade directed him and Katarina to head into the village to get take out for the castle. He was hand an envelope, nodding to the other, before slipping out without a word. Katarina was already heading out as well, her words reaching his ears. She did not seem to fond or happy of all of this. He gave a light chuckle, "reduced to errands?" He glanced at her sidelong for a moment, honestly, he was not to fond of being given such simple tasks either. Though it was possibly better than other things that Cade could have him do.

He took a breath, nodding to her responce that she would drive. He moved to the door, opening it for the female. He did not know where her car was, or how her driving skills were. He hoped that she was not bad at it, for he did not wish for something to happen. He doubted she was bad however. She mentioned not knowing her way around the village, and he nodded to her. "Allow me then, all you need to is drive" he smiled, as he would follow her out after she stepped through. In honesty, they had no idea about if anyone had allergies, or preferences. He did not know what even was in the village at all. He looked to the envelope, opening it up.

He handed one of the keys over to her, guessing he was to hold onto the second. Seemed he would be taking a bit of the responsibilities of a butler of sorts...oh joy. He sighed a bit, before slipping the key into his pocket. He then looked at the cards, raising an eyebrow at the names on them. Fake, it was amazing they had not gotten caught by now. He had the funds personally to take care of it, as well as the funds from the company to back him up if need be. Cade would know this, but he had chosen this means instead. If that was what he preffered, he would do as he desired.

_______________________

Shiki watched in silence. The female inside glanced at him, but she said nothing. Soon enough, her and the other man with the redish brown hair were passing him. He watched them go for a moment, not really listening to the words that were being exchanged within the room at the moment. He sighed, then glanced over as that man spoke his name. So, he knew he wanted to talk eh? He watched as he walked over, then began heading down the hall. Shiki followed slightly, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans as he did so. The man glanced at him, as they walked, making their way across to a study that was within the castle.

He glanced around for a moment as they moved inside said study, having remained silent for now. He then looked to him as he asked what he wanted to talk about. He took a slight breath, speaking slowly."You know what I am" he says, getting right to the point. He was not one to beat around the bush, and he did not think the other was to much either. There was no use for formalities. "What does that mean then?" he glanced at him, "there are people after me...vampires, which would threaten your little...peace...here.." He paused on the word peace, it was a term that he used loosely for the moment.

"If you prefer that I leave, just say it and I'll go" he frowned once more, "I have no use of sticking around in a place where I am not wanted...or that will cause harm because of simply what I am now." He fell silent then, his eyes moving to a globe, as he gently lifted a hand to it. Fingertips brushed over it lightly, not enough to make it spin really though. He waited for his words, wondering what his responce would be.

"I only feed on human blood." He stopped walking, deciding they had come far enough. He had picked up a slight hint of deer scent and figured this would be a good enough spot for Red to begin his hunting. Bell turned to the vargulf and approached him, raising a hand to place on the back of Red's head and pull the vargulf's head down a bit. Bell leaned towards him, their foreheads touching. "My pet, my brother, my friend. You're a good boy and a good hunter, remember don't go towards the village and bring it down where we can watch. We'll be waiting here for you." Bell let go of Red and took a step back, glaring darkly at Gwen, as if daring her to comment on that display.

Red stopped when Bell had stopped, he was sniffing the air, looking for scents of deer. There had been a few wisps of a scent here and there, and Red didn't disapprove of Bell deciding this is where they should start. When the vampire approached him, Red seemed to relax greatly. When Bell touched him he was already moving his head down a bit. As the vampire spoke, he nodded slightly and when Bell released him, he took a slight step back. Red stretched, raising his arms high above his head for a moment, stretching both his arms and his back. He lowered his arms and moved to Gwen. "Stay close to Bell, this not take long." Well it wouldn't take too long depending on how fast he found his prey.

She looked around when they stopped, taking in the forest scene. When Bell and Red stepped closer together, her mind went blank with shock. Not because they were so close, but because Bell was being so nice! She'd never seen him act that way, not full of anger and dislike. It made her think just a bit better of him.

Gwen smiled when Red walked up to her. "I will." To prove it, she walked away from the vargulf and took up a spot right by the vampire. She didn't get too close though.

She waited until Red had gone to hunt before speaking again. "So ... you can be nice sometimes. I can kind of see why Red thinks so highly of you now." Before it had been nearly impossible to understand.

Nate sniffed again, nodding his approval of the idea of exploring. Anything really. He wanted out of the room and he was willing to leave them behind to do it. He could feel his fingers twitching.

He turned to watch the woman and Regan, trying to concentrate as they talked. Their voices sounded like they were getting farther and farther away, slipping into water and out of his reach.

Regan mentioned the owner before his voice was lost to a rippling haze.

He inhaled sharply before turning, making his way over the rubble. The room was closing in around him and the hazy sounds of Regan's voice was twisting into a myriad of brutal and almost accusing whispers. The window was leaking a sickly red light in and casting everything in splotchy light.

Shadows danced and swum on the wall, way too many figures for what was standing in the room.

He was out in the hallway within moments, leaning his forehead against the far wall and sucking in air in ragged gulps, eyes closed. After a few moments he removed his head and turned, pressing his back against the wall and opening his eyes.

The red light and dancing shadows were gone, but it did not stop slight waver in his vision or the sickly whispers in his ears, quieter than before. He leaned his head back and let out a groan.

"Thanks, Usagi," Katerina had said politely at his opening of the door. He'd been such a gentleman, in every encounter they'd had together thus far. She took the key from him and turned it over in her hand as they walked, and with a sigh, she slipped it onto her key ring. Her car was parked just down the steps near the front door; an old black town car from some time in the 60's. It was pretty well taken care of, but it wasn't anyone's project. Just something passed down to Katerina when she totaled her last vehicle. It happens.

Katerina hopped in the car and waited for Usagi to get in before twisting the key into the ignition. The engine turned over with a sound that probably wasn't normal, and Katerina grinned at Usagi. "Don't worry," she said in that light Romanian accent as she put the car in gear and chugged down the driveway. Only a couple of minutes had gone by before they were pulling onto a main street in the village. The castle loomed over the village from where they were, and Katerina noted that there didn't seem to be many people around this area.

The further into the village they drove, the more lively it got. If anyone could actually call it lively. At least there were more people on the streets and more lights on in the windows. A few thin streams of billowing smoke trailed up into the gloomy evening sky. "I'll take a guess and say we're in the right area for food," Katerina said at the sight. She pulled the old car over and parked at a curb outside of an old pub. Another 'lively' place in the village. Katerina glanced over at Usagi, "Well, do your thing," she said, referring to when he said all she had to do was drive.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Cade had moved to sit in the chair behind the desk, almost lazily. Shiki didn't beat around the bush, and the old vampire liked that. When the other was finished, Cade merely watched him for a long moment. Perhaps he was pondering the question, or merely pausing to see if Shiki would become uncomfortable. Finally, he waved a hand dismissively. "If you think you are the only being to come through here causing trouble, you will be mistaken," he said. "I simply ask that we in a household, keep the peace while we are living together. That does not always mean that everyone arriving here comes in peace."

He stared off into the room, thinking. "You will not be the first supernatural fleeing from something to come here, and you certainly will not be the last," he said in that unreadable monotone. "I opened my home for this very reason," he informed Shiki. "For supernaturals to find refuge from whatever it is they seek refuge from." He turned that red gaze onto the man once more. "I can protect you Skiki," he said quietly. "All you have to do is ask." Was he implying something here?

~~~*~~~*~~~

Meanwhile, in the forest surrounding the castle, a group of men were closing in on Red, Bell and Gwen's location. How had they gone unnoticed? They brought with them a witch, and as they walked, the witch chanted. Her voice was only a whisper and she chanted in a language unfamiliar to anyone. She had bruises on her wrists and a cut over one eyebrow. She'd clearly been forced into being there. Her chanting concealed the scents and sounds of the group, and so long as they moved slowly as a unit, it would conceal their movements, too.

The leader of the group was a tall, muscular man with light brown hair, and his second in command was a man not too different in height and appearance from Katerina. His hair held the same shade, his skin tone the same, and his eyes a perfect match. He was a couple of inches taller than Katerina, and his build was more athletic. If his appearance alone wouldn't give him away, his accent that matched Katerina's would surely give away that he was in fact, her brother.

There were a handful of other men with them, each wielding weapons, carrying backpacks and dressed in camo colors to blend in with the forest. The group was made up of men who had served in this world's military, and a few who simply knew and studied the supernatural in which they hunted. They had all been trained well for this moment. As they slowly spread out in a circle around Bell, Red and Gwen, the leader gave his signal. Suddenly the witches chanting stopped and Bell and Red would surely hear the last whispers echoing eerily through the trees, just before one of the men snapped her neck.

When the men appeared, the three would find themselves surrounded, although Red had already moved some distance away from Gwen and Bell and was surrounded against the circle by three men. Guns and crossbows were raised and aimed at all three of them, and they didn't seem to know yet that Gwen wasn't a supernatural. "Prepare to take your last breaths, monsters" the leader said, barely loud enough for Gwen to hear. Katerina's brother spoke up then, in that Romanian accent. "That one is Bell," he said, "The purple haired vampire. And that one," he pointed to Red with his crossbow, "is Red. I believe through Katerina's descriptions that he's a werewolf." His eyes flicked to Gwen. "I don't know who or what she is," he said almost systematically.

One of the men surrounding Red raised his pistol to Red's heart, and the familiar clicking sound seemed to echo through the trees as he prepared the weapon to shoot. The leader would have been prepared for a fight from either of them, but especially from Bell, as he'd been described as a human hating hothead. If Bell tried to intervene, the leader would shoot him with wooden bullets and two other men would tie him down with vervain soaked ropes that would begin to burn spots into wherever they touched flesh. They would proceed to tie a piece of cloth soaked in garlic around his mouth. Simultaneously, they would also detain Gwen if she moved, though cautiously since they didn't know what she was yet.

Kiera frowns at the mention of the owner of the house injuring his guest, but ignored it at the abrupt departure of Nate. "Nate?" She follows him out into the hall clutching the bedspread around her. When he leans against the wall, she asks, "Are you going to be alright if I leave for a few while I go get my stuff?" She smiles sheepishly. "I think clothes are inn order." She walks over to a window, pulls aside the curtain, opens it, and shifts into a raven. She leaps through and flies down to the edge of the woods where she left her stuff. She lands next to the pile and shifts back into a human, quickly pulling on her clothes. "I've already met some interesting people." She laughs at the chittering of the raccoon seated on her pack. " there is food, but the human that was cooking it seemed to have no clue what she was doing. I think you might even think twice before eating what I smelled." She opens the top of her bag allowing the raccoon entrance before heaving it onto her shoulders. "I think we'll stay for now. Even if that means squatting in the woods nearby." With that she starts the trek around the property to the front door.

Raising an eyebrow, Usagi slipped into the car with her. The ride was silent, as he watched out the window for a moment. They got closer to the village, before the car was pulled over and they stopped. He glanced at her, nodding slightly. He opened the door, before stepping out. Reaching out, he stopped closing himself off to the shadows and darkness of the world around him. Immediately, information rushed in. Voices, sights, sounds, all of it swirrled around him.

A crack someplace far off rippling through the darkness, he got the quick jolt of death, which made him glance back at the catle's direction. Had he imagined that? His shadow shrunk back a bit around his feet, even in the darkness. He frowned lightly, before turning his attention back to the task at hand. "There are a few places around this portion indeed" he raised an eyebrow, "the bar here seems to be more traditional and old fashioned, while there are a variety of other selections it seems as well. "

"Depends on what you are in the mood for." His eyes turned back to her in the car, he watched her for a moment. For some reason, an odd feeling began to settle in his chest. He was getting an odd feeling from the darkness around them, from the shadows. He did not know what, but something felt...off. The noise from the shadows within the village made it harder to distinguish what exactly it was. Whatever it was, as long as it stayed at bay for now, he did not mind.

_________________

Shiki waited to hear his answer, not seeming bothered by the silence. The other began to speak, some things he knew at this point. He had kind of figured that he was not the only one who had come here for some reason like running from something, or all of that. He was not surprised with that at all. When the man said that he could protect him, all he needed to do was ask, Shiki turned to look at him a bit. "And what is it you get out of assisting me...assisting anyone here?" he moved to the desk, placing his hands upon the wood.

He leaned onto his hands a bit, his slender form relaxing a bit as he did so, in an almost casual manner. He was not afraid in the slightest, not of this man. His eyes on the other, as he watched him for a moment. "Why would you desire to help? To stick your neck out for others in such a manner so to speak..." he tilted his head, not smiling nor frowning. His expression calm, composed as well. His eyes a bit curious, but not in a way that made him seem to eager or overly interested. The man's reasoning was his own.

"Tch. You're such an idiot. Stupid little human. Don't go around making assumptions about me or Red. He's family, I'm always nice to family." Bell and Red weren't truly related, but Bell liked to think of the other as a brother. They'd been together long enough for that, they'd been through a lot of things together. Too much of it to just be friends, they were closer than friends. "He's my brother in a way a simple human could never understand." Bell was crossing his arms across his chest, and Red was moving away from them at a steady pace.

Both vampire and vargulf stopped instantly. Something definitely was not right, and then men came out of the shadows around them. Bell lowered his arms, his eyes darting this way and that, he didn't get angry until one of them raised a gun to point at Red's heart. Those eyes of his smoldered with anger and he snarled, he was still trying for figure out how these guys had snuck up on him and Red. Such a thing shouldn't have been possible and now they were surrounded. Bell's hands clenched into a tight fist, and he did move. "Red!" Bell moved towards the man that had the gun aimed at Red, or maybe he was moving towards Red to get him out of the way. Either way he was headed in that direction.

Gun shots, and Bell dropped to the ground like a rock with a deep low groan. Two bullets in the thigh. It burned, it ached, but he was getting back to his feet. Another gunshot, this bullet Bell took in the shoulder. Then another, this one in the chest below his heart. He grimaced, and then there were men on him. Grabbing him, jerking him about. Bell grunted and groaned as he felt the ropes on his bare wrists. Hands bound together behind his back, and then more rope wound around his bare arms holding his arms against his sides. Then came the gag, soaked in garlic.

He tried to recoil away from it but he couldn't get anywhere, he tried to struggle. Then that garlic soaked gag was against his lips, tied at the back of his head and he fell forward. Without even a sound. He tried, but he couldn't even move, at all. And that scent, Bell felt like he might be sick just from that over powering scent. The paralytic effect of the garlic was too strong though and Bell could only lay there, helpless and watch what was happening.

Red stood there as the men came out of hiding, confused, not quite understanding why he nor Bell had noticed them before now. They were hunters though, of that there was no doubt in the vargulf's mind. He growled, his body tensing, trying to think of what he could do. There was a gun pointed directly at him, and Bell didn't like that one bit. The vampire said his name and moved towards him, at that same moment, Red turned and moved towards Gwen. He knew he should be protecting himself or Bell and not the human, but she was innocent in all this. These people were hunters, they were here for him and Bell and probably the castle. Gwen had nothing to do with that.

The vargulf's intention was to get to Gwen before the men could, to try and get her away from them or shield her somehow. He wasn't sure what he could do, but he would do his best to protect her. Bell would be fine. Bell would have to be fine, Red glanced at the vampire and grimaced. They were tying him up, and the vargulf snarled. He altered his course almost immediately to charge at the men that were binding Bell. Maybe the hunters wouldn't hurt Gwen, she was human too after all, and Bell needed his help. Red almost wished it was a full moon, then he could change and kill them all so much easier, but the chances of him killing Bell and Gwen were just as high.

Bell's attitude made her want to be angry. She took a deep breath. The vampire probably had his reasons for hating humans. Sometimes she wanted to hate humanity too. But it wasn't right to judge people. She knew she'd been assuming things too much ... so he had a point about that.

Men bursting through the trees bearing guns snapped her eyes wide. For a few seconds their words went right over her head, until a gun was pointed at Red and Bell jumped in to save him. They were being more careful with her. Wary, because they didn't know anything about her.

She kept thinking about Katerina, how nice and helpful she'd been. Could these men really have been brought there by her?

Gwen shook her head hard, wishing that she was more then just an ordinary human. But maybe that could work to her advantage ...Red moving too, was a perfect opportunity. She knew she couldn't do anything to help fight the men, but with a feigned tumble and roll she was close enough to Bell to try and help him.

Gwen reached out quickly. She fumbled with the garlic soaked cloth covering his mouth, untangling the knots. Bell had only stopped moving when that went on him. Surely taking it off would help.

Cade's resolve never changed from that calm and collected, possibly bored one that it always was. He was watching Shiki, though while the other might have assumed it out of curiosity, Cade was watching and reading him. Finally he spoke. "It is none of your business why I do anything that I do, or why I want anything that I want, nor will it ever be any of your business, Shiki."

He frowned then. At that moment, the cracking of the witches neck outside reached his ears. He'd known something had seemed off. Why hadn't he looked further into that? He could sense them all now, the other beings. They seemed human. Cade stood then, and began to exit the room. "I have other things to take care of now Shiki," he spoke in that quiet tone barely above a whisper. "It would be very foolish of you to disrespect me, or to become too comfortable around me," he spoke.

The words held a hint of, something. Not necessarily a threat, at least not from Cade's part. "If you need my help Shiki, you merely have to ask." And in the next moment, Cade was gone. No trace of him remained, leaving Shiki in the study completely alone.

~~~*~~~*~~~

The leader was standing over Bell with his large dirty boot in the center of the vampire's back. As Red moved in their direction, he stepped forward, no longer concerned about Bell. He was incapacitated now after all. Three other men moved around Red with their weapons drawn, hoping to stop him in his tracks. The leader stepped forward blocking his path, with a smirk.

"Hey," the rookie had said as Gwen got away from him, but the leader, and the others were too busy with Red. The leader stepped forward again. "Tell me monster," he spat, "How many supernaturals are in there, exactly?" He scoffed. "You won't tell me?" he said with another smirk. The man retraced his steps until he was beside Bell again. The vampire's mouth had been uncovered, and the man knocked Gwen aside easily. It didn't matter. The vervain soaked ropes wouldn't let the vampire do much anyway.

He reached down and yanked Bell upwards by his hair, though he left him laying on the ground. "Will you tell us then, vampire?" When it was obvious that no one would tell, the leader became angry. "No matter," he said in obvious annoyance. "We'll kill them all anyway." At those words, the man gave a signal. "Kill the wolf," he said. And before anyone could so much as take another breath, a gunshot so loud and violent tore through the air that it was impossible to believe it was a normal legal weapon.

The one behind Red had been the one to pull the trigger. The heavy silver bullet would have easily torn through the vargulf's flesh, piercing Red's heart instantaneously. For good measure, the man pulled the trigger again, and again. Three times a silver bullet lodged into Red's heart from his back. The leader turned his own weapon on Bell. "Exterminating the monsters of the planet, one at a time," he said with a twisted smile, and he pulled the trigger.

Blood splattered over Bell, but it wasn't his. It was the leader of the hunters'. As he'd pulled the trigger of that gun aimed at Bell, Cade had arrived, knocking the gun to the side where the bullet would narrowly miss Gwen as it pinged off the ground beside her. Simultaneously, Cade ripped the man's throat out. Chaos broke out then. The hunters were in a scramble, unsure how they'd been sneaked up on. There had been other hunters closing in on the castle that should have let them know! But Cade had killed them already, too.

Hopefully Gwen would untie Bell now, if she hadn't already or if he hadn't somehow freed himself, because Cade was busy. But if not, he'd just do it when he was done slaughtering those who had dared come to his home and threaten the lives of his family. He ignored Red's body for the time being, only one thing on his mind. More hunters emerged from the forest. There had been a small army it would seem. And this little group had been the infiltration team, apparently. No matter. These humans were but pesky flies, and Cade was angry. He could easily have used his power to stop all of their hearts individually, at once. But he preferred to let each of them bleed out slowly after what they'd done.

Everything had happened in mere minutes, quickly, with time only seeming to pass so slowly, in slow motion perhaps. Cade tore the men down, one after another. There were even some women, but he didn't seem to care. Bullets and arrows missed him as he dodged them without effort. He didn't seem to need a helping hand in the least. He didn't seem bothered, aside from the anger that gleamed in his eyes from time to time, and he certainly didn't seem to grow tired or wary. If one looked long enough, they might assume that, given another situation, he would have been enjoying this.

When he was done, standing in a mass of bloodied and broken bodies, few still alive though not for long... he turned those red eyes on Bell and Gwen. He was covered in blood not his own. It ran down his neck and stained his clothes, hands and shoes. In the blink of an eye he was at Bell's side, though he didn't say a word. There wasn't anything that could be said now. Cade had let his guard down and had been too late, and now Red was gone. Cade's eyes, normally unreadable, flashed sorrow, sympathy, and regret, before returning to normal.

~~~*~~~*~~~

Katerina had glanced into the pub, slowing as they neared the door. The door stood open and something inside had caught her eye. There, sitting on the bar, was an extraordinary weapon, a bow of sorts. "Look at that," she mumbled to herself, but intending for Usagi to hear. "I've seen those in books," she said. "They're hunter bows, like for hunting supernaturals. They can take down a huge array of different species of supernaturals," she explained, in case he didn't know.

Could it be a coincidence that the castle was here, and that weapon, too? Katerina couldn't hear the conversation inside, but if Usagi could, he'd hear talk of an attack on the castle tonight. A man too drunk to have realized he'd actually missed the beginnings of the attack, rambling on about how the townspeople would be safer soon, that they had nothing to worry about, what with their source on the inside of the castle and all.

Bell could do nothing at the moment, even when the gag was off of him. Those ropes, and the bullets still in his flesh made it extremely difficult, not to mention the guy that was practically standing on him. Red had stopped when he was surrounded, and had only growled viciously when asked about the others. Bell had snarled, showing off his fangs when the interrogation turned to him. His eyes widened when the man ordered Red's death, and a scream, inhuman and full of rage and sorrow ripped from Bell's throat as the first bullet pierced Red. Then other bullets followed even before Red's body had hit the ground. The wolf was dead, there was no way anyone would survive that, Red hadn't even made a sound, it had been so sudden.

The next bullet was meant for him, and Bell was no longer screaming. He was quiet, almost accepting of the death that was about fall upon him. There was a gunshot, but he was still alive. Cade was there. Cade who should've been there seconds earlier. Though with Cade came complete chaos, and at some point in that chaos, either Gwen or Cade had untied him. Bell was on his feet as soon as he was freed of those ropes, and he staggered over to Red's body. Almost oblivious to everything else. There was blood on Bell from the hunter that had been about to shoot him, but there was more running down his face. Tears of blood.

Bell collapsed next to Red, pulling the vargulf half into his lap and gently he closed Red's still open eyes. Bell clung to that body, even when all the hunters were dead and Cade came to stand next to him. "This is that woman's fault, Katerina. These are her people." There was no emotion in Bell's voice, and though perhaps it was somewhat Cade's fault as well for being a few moments too late, for allowing Katerina to stay in their castle, but Bell wouldn't say that. Honestly, Bell didn't put the blame at all on Cade. "It's my fault too...I'm too comfortable here, I didn't even think to scout out the area or anything. Just a walk in the woods, like we always do." He was babbling some, his body ached, but he didn't care.

He looked up at Cade. "He was my best friend, like a brother to me." Bell's expression turned to anger rather quickly, and after laying Red's body down gently, he was on his feet again. Turning towards Gwen with rage and anger and hatred. "You and your kind. It's all your fault, all you ever do is take everything from us." He advanced towards her, a bit slowly, thanks to the bullets in his body, but still with malicious intent.