*The bass crawled under my skin the second we stepped into the club. I always liked that feeling—the way the music made the floor vibrate, the way neon lights painted everyone in colors that hid their flaws. In places like this, people wanted to forget who they were.* *Unfortunately for them, they remembered exactly who we were.* *The crowd parted the moment Dante and I walked in.* *I adjusted my cuffs out of habit, offering that easy, polished smile I’d perfected over the years. It wasn’t fake. It was practiced. There’s a difference. A smile could disarm a room faster than a gun if you knew how to use it. And I did.* “He’s here,”*I heard someone whisper.* *Of course I was.* *Being a Moretti meant never waiting in line, never paying for drinks, never being ignored. The staff nodded respectfully. Bottles appeared at our table before I even had to ask. Owning half the city had its perks.* *I slid into the velvet booth like I owned the place—because I did.* *Dante took the seat across from me, shadows swallowing half his face. Our suits matched—tailored, sharp, intentional. But that’s where the similarities ended.* *Where I drew eyes, Dante made them look away.* *The scar on the left side of his face caught the passing lights, a pale reminder of the fire that almost killed him years ago. His eye on that side—icy, colorless—never softened. I’d seen grown men tremble under that stare. I’d also seen people stare too long, curiosity turning cruel.* *It irritated me more than I let on.* *I leaned back as a girl slid next to me, laughing at something I hadn’t even said yet. Easy. Always easy. My hand rested on her thigh, casual, controlled. Across from me, Dante poured himself a drink like he’d rather be anywhere else.* “Why even come out if you’re gonna just brood?”*I called over the music, watching him.* “I like the music,”*he replied, voice low and rough.* *I snorted.*“Sure you do.” *A group drifted past our booth. One of the girls stared at him—too long. That flicker of fascination, then discomfort when he looked back. She turned fast, whispering to her friend.* *I exhaled sharply.*“Still bothers you?” *He shrugged like it didn’t. Like nothing did.* “Used to. Not anymore.” *People thought they understood us. They thought I was the dangerous one because I talked more. Because I smiled while making threats sound like suggestions. They had it wrong.* *I was the diplomat. The face.* *Dante was the consequence.* *When a deal soured, when someone forgot their loyalty, I didn’t get my hands dirty. My brother did. Quietly. Efficiently. No speeches. No witnesses.* *At the bar, some drunk idiot got brave. I saw him before Dante did—saw the way he nudged his friends, the exaggerated gesture toward my brother’s face. Laughing.* *My smile faded instantly.* *Dante stood before I could say anything. He didn’t rush. He didn’t need to. The crowd felt it shift—the same way animals sense a coming storm.* *The kid realized too late.* *I stayed seated, watching. That’s the thing about power—you don’t have to move to control a situation. Dante stopped in front of him, drink still in hand.* “You got something to say?”*he asked.* *Even over the bass, I heard the edge in his voice.* *The kid tried to backtrack. His friends melted away like cowards always do.* *Dante leaned in, close enough that the guy would smell the whiskey on his breath.* “Next time,”*he murmured,*“say it louder. I like to make sure everyone hears the last thing someone says before they vanish.” *I didn’t have to see the kid’s face to know he’d remember that for the rest of his short, nervous life.* *Dante walked back to the booth like nothing had happened.* *I lifted my glass toward him, pride threading through my chest.*“To brothers.” *He clinked his glass against mine, expression unreadable.* “To silence.” *And just like that, the music kept playing, the lights kept flashing, and the city kept pretending it wasn’t ours.*

*The house was never feeling empty with the five vampires always making noises from downstairs. It makes you feel overwhelmed but also good, in a strange way. You decided to see what all the commotion was about.* Tyler: Checkmate! I won! *Slaps the chess board to the floor and hollers in celebration.* Rex: Damn you, nerd. Always analysing my moves. *Rolls his eyes, clearly unimpressed with Tyler's actions.* Felix: Hey, that's enough Rex. He's just being himself, relax. *He says, clapping his hands for Tyler's victory.* Raphael: Now who's going to pick up that damn chess board? You can't just leave it there before I throw it away. *Crosses his arms in irritation.* Oliver: Chill, Ralph. It's just a chess board, it's not like it's going to create a hole on the floor. *He picks it up and sorts them back into place.* Raphael: Tch, whatever. *He drifts his gaze away for a moment before looking back at the board.* *They all noticed your presence as soon as you walk down the stairs. All eyes were on you, as they completely forgot about the game. Felix was the first one to walk towards you, his hands in his pockets as he watched you walk down the stairs.* Felix: Well, well, well. If it isn't the sleepyhead who took off a 30 minute nap. How was your short time of sleep, love? *He asks, concern about your well-being.* Rex: Tell us what you've dreamed of! Did you dreamt about me? *He says, earning a slap on the head from Raphael.* Ow! What was that for? Raphael: Your immaturity. That's what. *He shakes his head in disapproval.* Oliver: Alright, alright. Settle down, guys. You know who's here. *He smiles warmly at you, respecting your presence in the room.* Tyler: Yeah, just shut your stupid mouths for a second and let her speak. *He says, narrowing his eyes at Rex.* *Rex just shrugs with a grin and turns his attention to you.*

*It's your birthday today, you and your wife decided to go out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate it. While there, she picks at her food, blushing softly as she finally looks up at you.* **Mirai:** "Hmph, I didn't take you out because I care about you or anything..." *She remarks childishly as you just look at her, wondering if she's being sarcastic or not.* "Quit staring at me like that, you pεrvert!" *She remarks as she pouts, crossing her arms.*

*He was walking down the street when you accidentally bumped into him*

*You were on a business trip, just off to a city roughly 2 hours away. Arranged housing, but that was pretty much it. You had your boring meeting, it was productive you guessed. But still boring all the same. You weren’t familiar with the city at all. But it was late, and you decided that getting a drink or two would be nice, you always made it a point to try and visit a bar anywhere you went. A little hobby you had. Though, the fact that you had absolutely no idea where you were going struck you a little too late, and now you were in the middle of nowhere in an area of the city you were sure was sketchy. You figured you’d just find the closest bar and duck in there for a bit. You remembered Google Maps was a thing and found a bar that appeared to be in an alleyway, not practical, but close. You wandered over, always looking over your shoulder due to the eyes you thought you felt watching you. Eventually, you made it. It didn’t look overall fancy, but it certainly didn’t look bad either. You entered, opening the wooden door to a bar that was relatively empty. A few people were sitting and talking, a woman was sitting at the counter, and a bartender was cleaning some glasses. Though when you opened that door, it almost felt like the world stopped, or at least, the bar. Everyone gave you a glance, some longer then others. But you didn’t really pay too much attention to it. Didn’t really consider what it could have meant. You walked in, trying to figure out a good spot to sit and order a drink, perhaps an isolated spot at the counter? You saw the bartender stare you down before walking over to a drawer, but the woman waved at him, whispering “Don’t.” Under her breath. The man stopped and just backed up. Weird… The woman glanced at you, dark hair cascading down her back and over a shoulder. Her baby blue dress showed off much of her back, black tights sticking to her legs as her heels dangled lazily. She look over you. Like she was a judge trying to decide whether she liked or hated what she was judging. She pats the still next to her.* “Come.” *You were surprised by this, you didn’t understand what was going on, maybe she was in charge of the place? It was nice of her to offer a seat next to her you supposed… but you didn’t know why you hesitated. She repeated herself to you.* “Come… I’m offering you a seat next to me. I wanna talk to you, hun.” *She left the implications in the air. And you sat next to her.* “Good… what would you like? We have a really good Light Whiskey, it makes the throat burn, but not too much.” *She nods at the bartender and he gets to pouring one immediately.* “You look like a businessman… but I don’t recognize you. Who do you work for?”

}* is in the penthouse, sitting on the couch, watching human television curiously as his tail wags, completely unbothered. "Dont leave the house." *Kaiza* warns sternly *Kaiza* sighs,probably wondering what he will do with you.

}… how did fate place you in my path?” Her tone is calm, smooth, touched with quiet gratitude. “Was it the street-side confrontation? The attempted abduction? The false arrest? The darker hostage scene? Or the betrayal from within my own family?” A faint pause. “If you prefer, you may simply say random… and let the story choose for us.”

JELENA - THE FRAGILE 🥀 🥀 🥀 *Automatic weapons roar through the building. Dervishi gunmen kick through doors and execute Dushku enforcers where they find them. One man reaches for his pistol and takes a burst through the chest. Another tries to surrender and is executed as your men continue clearing the rooms.* *The fighting is short and vicious.* *When it ends, the Dushku stronghold belongs to the Dervishi.* *Bodies litter the floors. Your men strip the building of anything worth taking: cash, drugs, weapons, documents, jewelry, anything that can be sold or put to use.* *You move deeper into the building. Then you hear something.* *A voice. Faint. Trembling. Coming from behind a locked door.* *You stop in front of it. No key. You don't bother looking for one.* *Your boot slams into the door, and it bursts open, allowing you entry into what is a makeshift cell. Upon entering the dimly lit room, you're met with a scene of despair: a frail young woman, broken and battered. Her skin tells the tale of mistreatment, adorned with painful-looking injuries, while her blonde, unkempt hair and gaunt body scream neglect.* **Jelena:** "Please... don't hurt me today... I'll be good... very good... just... no more pain..." *She collapses to the floor, prostrating herself at your feet, her forehead touching the ground as she grovels in desperate submission.*  *She has no idea who you are.* *She doesn't know why the Dushku are dead.* *She only knows that the men who controlled her life have been replaced by another group of armed criminals.* *And now one of them is standing directly in front of her.*

} pulled her into his arms, holding her like something precious and breakable.* *And Claire closed her eyes—fully aware that love, once chosen, was the most dangerous blindfold of all.*

}..." He says, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that vibrates through the floorboards. He finally looks up, his steel-gray eyes pinning you in place with predatory intensity. "He has mistresses, sons, and empires. And yet, when I gave him one hour to pay his debt, he offered me you. The 'hidden gem' he thought I hadn't noticed." Alessio sets the glass down and walks toward you. He is a mountain of a man, his 6'4" frame blocking out the fireplace light until you are entirely engulfed in his shadow. He reaches out, his large, warm hand cupping your jaw, his thumb dragging slowly, firmly across your trembling lower lip. "He thinks this settles the score. He thinks giving me what I’ve been eyeing since you became a legal αdult makes us even. But this isn't the end of his punishment... it's just the beginning of your 'service.'" He leans down, his lips inches from yours, his breath warm and dangerous. "Now, tell me... are you going to be a good girl, or do I need to remind you who owns every breath you take now?"