Mixed feelings

[Cale Stark]

Stark's first thought after meeting the candy cane juvenille in the forest was to nab Xiomara and take her back to the Southern Ice Caps, but now, after entering the home of the vampires she spoke so highly about and seeing the large list of those lost in the war she'd told him about... he couldn't make up his mind.

Surely this coven could function well enough without her having to be present. But the number of fatalities and those missing was staggering. Even by their accounts they had not lost quite as many to the darkness as these beings had suffered.

Defeated for the moment Stark dropped his bag and sat with his back to the wall, rubbing his hair with the palm of his hand while he tried to come up with a plausible reason to take Xiomara back. He knew what she'd say the moment he brought it up, and with clear frustration he slammed his head back against the wall. The clear cut crystal of his eyes staring at the names on that black and ominous wall. "Blimey..."

[Sauri Matashina]

"It's shocking isn't it...How so many strong beings could be taken in the blink of an eye.." Said a silvery voice that lingered in the room. Dark eyes came to look at the male that stood against the wall. She came from the veil, passing through like a cool breath of air. A stunning creature with stark raven hair down to her waist. Demure fingers laced in front of her she stood looking at the stranger with a soft expression. "Welcome to our home. I am Sauri Matashina. And you are?" she asked curiously. Her attention turned to the wall that he was looking at, an ever present reminder of those that were lost in the war. A subtle frown and she looked back at him then.

[Cale Stark]

Stark rose to his feet in one quick jump at the sound of a woman's voice. He immediately howed and clenched a fist over his heart as she spoke. When straightened his eyes absorbed the stunning beauty that could only be the Mistress he had heard so much about. "Aye ma'am. It is the spoils of war fer the underworld king. We lose kin, his wealth expands. Such is the pact borne for victory."

His eyes moved towards the memorial and once again he was left with a predicament regarding a certain individual. Bowing once more he presented himself as was asked. "Cale Stark of the Southern Ice Caps, guard to Miss Xiomara. Please pardon the intrusion and I extend my sorrow for your losses here."

[Cerverous]

A strong smell began to drift into the main room from the second floor. IT was the unmistakable metallic smell of blood, and it preceded Cerverous for some distance as he made his way ever so slowly down the steps. In his current usual attire of no more than a pair of black jeans his clawed feet, as always, landed without the slightest of sounds. A drop of blood fell from his fingers to soak invisibly into the red carpet, but not another drop followed it. Instead, they joined one of the thin crimson streams that circled him. The black door was his destination, and as he approached, much to his joy, he sensed the blood of two within before he heard one speak. Enough concentration was out of the question, but what he did hear quite intrigued him. Cale Stark you say? And Xio's guard.

When his hand reached up to tap claws on the door, the blood that covered it retreated back up his arm. It slithered all the way to his shoulder and returned to its place through the open gash there. The floating ribbons did the same with the other arm and not a drop was left out by the time he'd found the handle. With midnight black hair just touching the floor at his feet, and bangs thick and long enough to hide his eyes completely, he stepped into the room. He was frowning, a fang hanging out over his bottom lip, making him seem as if in deep, intense thought. His gaze did not land anywhere in particular as he addressed the new male, "not doing a very good job of it so far are you?"

[Sauri Matashina]

A soft subtle smile and she returned the gesture to Cale, just as she had done to Xiomara. That girl perplexed Sauri, but she was a friend and a damned good warrior. Sauri admired that in her. "It is a pleasure to meet you Cale." She said, and then her attention was drawn to the wall. Lai's name rested among the dead and she frowned. That girl had been more innocent then most, and she fought with her life for a home she barely knew. When she turned back to Cale she nodded softly. "This is true." She said, and then looked to Cerverous. Gruff in his ways as always she sighed softly. "Cerverous it is unkind to treat new guests as such. Show some respect, you know as well as I do the free spirit that Xiomara is." she said with a fondness for the female that normally she wouldn't show. "Can I get you anything Cale? Should you be staying a while, a room is ready for you." she said, and fell quiet again.

[Cale Stark]

Movement beside Sauri brought his attention to tear away from her and towards the assumed male. Studying in silence while the woman spoke, his teeth clenching together as he was clearly reminded of being given the slip. The blood in particular was intriguing and the answer came from Sauri's own lips. "Well I reckon' yer right. Little minx gave me the slip af'er sendin' me on a very important err'nd."

He laughed at himself for falling for the trick, he should have known better considering how many times he'd had to literally sit on the tiger to keep her scrawny little ass put. "Don' think oi'l be needin' anythin' but Xiomara 'erself. Oi've come to take 'er back." This had been the part of the conversation he had been dreading ever since Taz had warned him about taking Xiomara back. "Yer hospitality is a blessin' but I must declines, Miss Sauri."

[Cerverous]

A smile, subtle, but warm and sincere, touched his lips briefly before it shifted to an amused grin. "Apologies Sauri, old habits and all that. Good to see you by the way." a hand came up and brushed through his bangs revealing the strangest of things. Before they fell back into place, one of his normally hidden eyes peaked out. It was a deep ruby crimson with two rings of black around the iris. through the center was carved a white cross shape, covering the entire pupil and stretching from edge to edge of the eye itself. he saw neither of them nor the wall behind them before it was hidden again. "Xio is a very free spirit indeed, and clever. I'm glad to see that her guard, at the very least, isn't soft skinned." The smile frowned again before he continued "though... 'take her back' you said. I hope that's just a slip on words, and her opinion will be considered. Will it?"

[Cale Stark]

Smirking, shoulders rose and fell in a shrug and arms crossed over his chest as he leaned back against the wall. "S'ppose I don't take her opinion into consideration, I reckon you won't let me take 'er with me?" His eyes were fixed solely on the man, he looked different from what Xiomara had said but the name confirmed it. Here was the source of her star's dark side.

"Should I assume you mean to take better care of 'er than I possibly could if I do take 'er back? Can ye do it without gettin' 'er killed?" Stark had no right whatsoever to question Xiomara's dealings or friendships. He knew that. But he couldn't leave her here to play martyr to the recklessness of a God or the creatures involved with him. "I've heard 'lot 'bout ye, Cerv'rous." The man's eye was observed up until the hair covered it again. Stark got the distinct feeling that this Cerverous was looking right through them all.

[Darcassan]

An elven made blade now rested against the man's throat from behind as he stepped out of the very wall of name's itself, he would not allow anyone to disrespect any member of the coven in such a way this man was doing, more so in front of the mistress herself, this man would do well to remember who's home he stood in more so his choice of words

"You should always take into consideration how she would feel you pulling her away from those she has been close to before you came around good sir, this is the home of family and friends alike, you will take that into consideration before I remove this blade with or without your head along with it" He had been watching and listening, he was with Cerverous on this matter, no one would be taken against their will if there were ones to step in the way, usually he would be seen rather then heard but in this matter he would speak his opinion.

He had always be keeping guard of the woman and her brother, he held the most respect for the leaders and even extended toward Cerverous on many times, the man was a warrior and he held that above most since they had both been there to help when the coven had fallen, fought and killed for the sake of the coven. Extending a hand to run it along the names, one of the names that caught his hand to still was Alora's name, how he missed the woman more then anyone would know. Turning to look at the man now.

"I only ask you to consider while the caps maybe her home so is this place if you can not do that then it would be best you keep things civil, this place has lost enough and I will not tolerate the lost of another through one's selfish needs" He remained with the blade still to the man's throat after his hand dropped from the names on the wall. He held no care for anyone who would take one from here when so many had already lost their lives defending their home.

[Xiomara]

Something had gotten Xio's attention, the noise downstairs was getting louder and louder. Sliding out of her bed she padded down the spiral stairs leading to her attic room and onto the second landing before finally reaching the stairs that led down to the black wall and the main hall. She frowned, seeing a congregation and catching the last bit of what sounded like a threat. Her eyes widened when she saw Cale there, and Cerverous was only a few feet away; while Sauri was in front of the wall and Darcassan had a blade to Cale's throat.

She jumped over the railing and landed in a soft crouch, and pulling a dagger from her boot right before picking herself up and moving towards Cale with graceful speed; her body used to the way it ran when in her other form, stretching out and closing the distance. She slid the tip of her knife under Darcassan's blade with the blunt side to Cale's throat and moved it away. "That's enough Darcassan, please do not treat my clansmen like a common thief. He's of no threat to anyone, I can vouch for him and his behavior." Apparently Xiomara hadn't gotten the full story, or the reason for the tension between them, but she would not stand for someone threatening Cale.

[Sauri Matashina]

A slight frown came to her lips and a gentle shake of her head. A small growl rose in her chest from irritation at the escalation of the situation. "Cassan, there is no need for such strong behavior. He has done nothing wrong and will no he treated in such a way in this house." She said stern enough to let him know she meant business, but gently enough that she did not want to excersise her warning. When Xio showed up she felt a margin of relief. "This man has shown great respect. Xio I trust your vouching of him and know that no harm will come to anyone." She said and then turned to Cale. "All of us here are very fond of her as you can see. Though I will not stand in your way, I encourage you to leave the doorways open so that she can return as she likes. She is a member of this coven as much as she is your clan." She said, her gaze never wavered as she spoke and she held a certain pride for all the members who called this house their home.

[Cale Stark]

Not one to start an open brawl in someine's home, he kept his place and remained immobile. To be met with such open hostility was not new; the darkening of his eyes from crystal blue to black was noticeable. He was a creature of instinct and it would be hard to keep his animal under control if this man with the knife didn't move it right away. The trembling of his mucles was due to the shift trying to take hold and give way to fury. Thankfully, Xiomara made her presence known and he deferred to her; grabbing at her wrist with bone crushing strength. It would leave a bruise on her for sure, but he needed the small island of calm she provided him with. The smell of the ice caps clung to her and he focused on that.

As the blade was removed from his neck by her doing his dark eyes flickered towards Sauri. He couldn't speak without revealing his sharp teeth and instead gave a tight nod. The ache of his skin only helped him focus further on keeping himself restrained. It took a coward to sneak up on a man, but he didn't voice it. This was not the time to forget his place or purpose here. He'd wait to see how it played out and not let go of Xiomara in the meantime.

[Cerverous]

I like this guy. Cerverous thought to silently. If not for the fact that he knows me and still isn't scared, then for the fact that he at least tries to take control of these types of conversations. He was prepared to say something, the words were on his lips, when everything blew up. Darcassan came through the wall and put a blade, rather unnecessarily to Stark's throat. S'no big deal, though. He's just establishing the mood. Makin sure his point hits home. If he hadn't done it then, I probly would've done it later. Then what would Xio have done? He was actually disappointed. He needed to trade words with this guy. He'd been trying his best to not jump immediately to killing everything that stood before him, with mixed results, but Xio's lack of extreme foresight had put Cerverous at a disadvantage already. heard 'lot 'bout me, he says. And all I know is his name and why he's here, if that really is why he's here.

A clawed hand rose, and gave the side of his hand a scratch before flicking his bangs to reveal his sightless eyes again. "Oh, good. He's been vouched for. That means, what? we don't actually have a reason to kill him. But. I can't help but notice that the whole point of this conversation is Xio, and you, saying fuck her opinion, fuck what she wants, fuck her choice. 'she has a duty,' I can hear the words now. Politics, all of it. There's a million people out there that are better at politics than someone who leaves just to get away from them. -" More was well on its way, a lot more, but a thought stopped him dead with a flying back hand to the face. Rein it in motherfucker, don't let go back to where you were. Take steps forward. His right hand, every inch wrapped in tape closed into a fist, underneath, one of his fingernails was beginning to turn black. If I threaten to kill him then Xio will probably submit to go just to make sure that I don't.

[Darcassan]

The blade now resting in it's sheath as he stood down at the command of Sauri and only her, Held respect for Xiomara but no tin the same way he held for the coven mistress. Stepping back to once more reside as Sauri's guard when Caine was not around, he noticed Cerverous slight change in demenor but the man could handle himself, this he knew well. "As you wish Mistress Sarui" He did not like outsiders coming to this room with the intent of taking another, He had not been able to save the names and it fell on his head harder then he let on since he had meant to be their healer, once more under control of his feeling he would just stand to attention and watch for now. His hands in plain sight by his sides at all times to show he was not hiding anything, had Sauri not asked him to stand down there would have been little to no chance of him removing the blade.

He fully agreed with Cerverous on this matter as he looked between the three but having said his piece on the matter would keep him silent, he enjoyed Xiomara's company like most of the coven did and for a man to seek her without thinking of anyone here had gotten under his skin more then he let it show.

[Xiomara]

It didn't matter to her why Darcassan backed off, as long as he did for she was determined to fight him if he hadn't and it would not have been pretty. Her back however, stiffened significantly when Cale gripped her wrist rather painfully; mouth turning into a straight line when she heard what it was that Cerverous had to say. Xio had to fight to suppress the groan that wanted to escape from her lips, but her body twisted forward to face the rest of them, her wrist still captive within Cale's hold. Deep blue eyes settled on Cerverous, she knew he was the one that she really had to keep an eye out for. Sauri wouldn't attack Cale, and Darcassan had been reigned in for the moment. Cerverous was the real threat here, especially because of what had recently transpired between them. "That means don't lay a hand on him, Cerverous. It also means that if Cale doesn't do as I say, I'll gladly hand him over to you to bounce around. Now back off."

It was hard to keep the growl from her voice, especially because not only was she angry that they'd pulled a knife on someone after the Coven opened so recently; she was damn well angry at Cale for coming in and making such a mess of things. Slowly she turned towards Cale, meeting his gaze she pulled her wrist; telling him to let her go before fixing her attention back on Sauri. "Sauri, please allow Cale to stay with me for the time being. He and I have plenty we have to discuss and I would like to have him be able to move about without Darcassan or Cerverous striking out in their misconception that he will be able to drag me home against my will. Besides, it's too early for such violence, the doors have just reopened we don't need more names on that wall." She pointed to the wall behind Sauri, looking at Darcassan and then at Cale before finally snatching her wrist free.