The world has fallen into its regular screams of the night. The light flickers slightly as it seems the faulty wiring has opened its way into some of the majority of the lights that breathe out their golden hue onto the roads. Allowing for the glimst of what was once, or what isn’t now. The sounds of the cars and jive that is exploding across NYC were muffled out by the lines of the apartments that have made their own way to buffer the endless debacle of the insane endless waves from one of the many cities that don’t know the word of rest, not sleep for these cities as every moment is set up to be a twisted form of what is life, and what is the darkness that yearns to show itself even against the golden streaks of charity. In a world devoid of such realities it’s often seen as the next step in the day.

  Street’s as lightly reflecting off the light though, as the moonlight reflects off of the asphalt and water. The pools seem to gleam with an eccentric joy that can only be seen by those who wish to perceive such realities as a truth, or in some cases, they are greeted by the jaws themselves that is lifes end.

  The diner seems to have a sort of beaming value to it. The bright white lights a glowing contrast to the more soft golden-like breath that spews out from the endless lamp posts that spot the other regions. The diner stands out as the region has been mostly re-imagined into a more projects area. The apartments stretch around with a few smaller houses nearby to add into this endless feel that something is evolving and changing with the political landscape that has taken over this very place. The wind brushes through the trees with a sort of calm howl, and the light of the back furthest window shows a woman sitting down with her drink.

  She’s dressed in a cropped hoodie. The hood rests down blending into her black to blue ombre hair. The hood's black coloration seems to be this darkness absorbing her into it if not for those tints and changes in her hair tone. Her Icy-blue eyes look down to what seems to be a leather-bound book. Closed as it rests on the blueish table, her back is pressed into the soft-looking seats themselves. Her defined abs show as the shirt pulls up with her gentle almost romanticized-like motion pulls at her hoody. Her chest probably moving with the sweat as her muscles flex under her pale white skin, there seems to be a sort of defined feel to her. Her long, black-to-deep-blue ombre hair continues to cascade over her shoulders in sleek waves, framing a sculpted face touched by her mixed heritage French refinement, Scandinavian angles, and the soulful warmth of Lebanese and Persian features.

  Her legs are hidden behind what seems to be torn jeans, fitting to her hourglass athletic-like frame. The curves held on almost most of her but yet exuded this endless calmness that seemed to say she just enjoyed this relaxing moment. Silver jewelry glints subtly against her dusky skin, a delicate choker, small hoops, and multiple piercings up each ear six in total, all of them silver. Around her neck, barely visible beneath her hoodie, lies a silver chain with a small hidden cross. So hidden, that you could barely notice if you are even paying attention to this gorgeous beauty resting in the booth.

  Her phone seems to gleam on and off as it gets messages, though it seems to be a dated model. Its structure is something that is different than most normal phones and for the most part, seems to have been made to resist potentially more than normal phones would be. Her model-like hands move to touch it occasionally as she goes and grabs a cigarette and rests it against her cupid bow somewhat plump-like lips that are coated in what seems to be a darker tint of lipstick, a shade that seems to blend to her nicely as her lips curl around the cigarette and give it a puff, a sort of breath coming out as she looks towards the phone.

  As she shifts you can occasionally see something else that is under her actual shirt. Each part is just a slight show of what can only be seen as the strange markings of tattoos with potentially a sort of experimental ink that residues a bit of light when she shifts the right way, or when she stretches back and more of it gets exposed as she stretches her delicate yet strong arms upwards.

  There is seemingly a moment of pause as she seems to pull the phone up and look at it. Sending a text, her fingers dancing over it a bit as she brushes her hair back and sighs. The captivation and dominance of the moment add to the haunting reality that is her. It seems almost as though the very shadows around her seem to edge. Something that even if you keep yourself as observant as possible you may end up not noticing it at first. The subtle shifts as if something was passing by, or maybe moving across it like a flame in the wind light breeze over it.

  ****

  Another tap, as she seemed to move with a methodical motion to tap out the cigarette, the slow motion moving down to the ashtray and then the light tap with her index finger. The ashes falling into the ashtray add to the growing pile of the burned and lost. Her eyes glanced around the area as she pulled the cigarette back to her mouth and she took another slow drag. The waitress had brought her a cup of cherry coke. Something she enjoyed when she was alive, though always was more interested in the idea of the less sugary ones. She could have sworn she found one back in the day that was mostly just flavor, not just 7 teaspoons of sugar. The constant reminder that it could be a moment of lost sense. The ice clicked, echoing in the diner for a moment, and she once more tapped her ashes into the ashtray and rested the cigarette with practiced ease.

  Her long lashes flickered as she looked around at the others around, the waitress was in her 40s but seemed to be well-rounded and kept up. She was around 5’7” and had been breathing life in this diner ever since Illuvia had become a regular here about 10 years ago. She didn’t ask much, her like Egyptian-like heritage seemed to shine through. Giving her a sort of exotic-like feel in most of her actions. Maybe she was an immigrant? It didn’t matter to Illuvia. Her light brown eyes and hair tied up in what seemed to be a long ponytail only added to her seemingly out-of-place form. She appreciated this interesting mix. Even if it meant she could become a problem for people. Like her boyfriend's gang. Speaking of that.

  Illuvia’s gaze, the iced haunting blue moved its way over to the little rascal and his members. They were trying to get their claim in this region. He was a strong man sure, but he didn’t seem to understand the deeper ropes here. Illuvia thought the map out to herself, as she analyzed and looked at them. She wasn’t per se the best in these things, but having been coming her enough times, she did pick up on their terms, their histories. The boyfriend had short hair and was covered in tats, his current objective was probably to deal with the encroaching cartels from the south. The unhindered levels of drop-offs from the past election led to different uprisings.

  Another pull to the cigarette then a drag, something that was useless and more for the show when it came down to a vampire like her. It was mostly the play, the part. Alisha let her smoke so long as she stayed near the back.

  The boyfriend moved as it seemed he got a call, and with a shift and nudge the marble of muscle and no brains moved with his posy as they walked out. The slight tap on Alisha’s ass on his way out to assert to the others that she was his. The sort of display that is both in a way a poetic-like notice that falls into the endless form that comes from both sides of the playing field in this day and age.

  There were 2 others in here, a construction worker she hadn’t really gotten to know, the man was well rounded, came to her at the same time every night. Right as the construction was fully closed. Even in this endless city, where life came in both the darkness through a kiss, and the light through an embrace they had their times of what and when. Their schedules. And the other, a woman who seemed to be a journalist, just starting and lost in her thoughts. It was, typical about it being here. It was a place nestled in, and the owner of this diner, Francis, was pretty well versed in doing his best to keep things on the down low.

  Illuvia looked at her phone once more as she heard someone step into her booth before the soft fabric gave way to their weight. She pushed the cigarette out. And looked up. Ahh yes, she thinks to herself as she sees the man before her. Her left eyebrow curved up in a really like fashion, its thin and almost perfect-like form seeming to match her lovely face.

  “Oh man Illuvia,” his voice hoarsed out of his mouth. He smelled of cocaine, his blood seeming to drip from his nose as he moved deeper into her seat and took her cherry coke like she had hoped someone would. It would play into this fa?ade that she was actually drinking it at least. “I tell you, babe, every time I see you…I know you could be a star.”

  Her icy gaze met his. His own lost to the echoes of reality, their brown color seemingly darker from the over-dilation of his very own pupils. He seemed to adjust, his dark skin almost majestically absorbing the light just enough, but his sweat was clear as it dripped down his brow. Was it hot in here? She thought to herself, letting him continue the same pitch he did once a month. All because he saw her one time in one of her more revealing cosplays.

  “Listen girl, I’m telling you. You could make bank on Onlyfans. Show some cleavage, some pussy I dunno whatever you are comfortable with. I’ll take just 30 and you keep the rest you know?” Ahh yes, she thought to herself. He gets more brazen with each one of these visits. Next, he’s going to ask to make sure the material is good so I’ll have to ride his ‘large cock’ and send images of it or something. These conversations sometimes lead to the most special of situations. She continued to think to herself as she waited for the sigh he was going to ask her without asking her if it was a yes or not, the moment came as he leaned in, his fish breath seeming to crawl out of his mouth as she watched his lips then back to his face.

  “Draven,” her words came out calm and structured. She gave a light smile and watched him, like always keeping to his reactions as she adjusted her weight in the seat. Crossing her leg once more in the other direction under the blue table. “I have said this before. Though I am constantly flattered by your invitations. I can’t do such things. I just have a thing about cameras.” She added in with a sort of light professional flare, her voice just enough subtle and sultry that it hinted at a kind undertone hiding the heavier implications of the offer itself. “But I can tell you this. If you tell me who you keep needing to come talk to me for. I can visit them.”

  Illuvia leans back a bit into her side of the booth. She needed to feed at some point, and maybe this time, Draven’s boss whoever it is, would be a good way for her to get some grub. Her hunger did need to get fed. So what better way than to help a man who was married get himself onto the right path…or something. Her thoughts were always thinking over these things, but honestly, when it came down to actions it was clear she was almost always more interested in herself and her friends than it was in anything more altruistic that some people would assume these things may be.

  She bit her lower lip lightly as she waited in the pained silence. The contrast between a man who was dressed in a worn suit to his disheveled cocaine-like rant, to her was probably so visible you could spot it from a distance. Let alone the fact that she gave off an oozing disposition that I am only letting you be here because I let you bet here. And not the normal approach-like feeling that you would feel from most who are just enjoying or relaxing as it seemed she was before.

  He shifts, and the phone rings in his pocket. He goes to pick it up with an apologetic look to him. As Alisha moves to come closer Illuvia just shows her that it’s that guy again with a quick hand and facial show. She nods and goes to work on other tables, cleaning them or otherwise. The call though pulled some interesting merit.

  “I’m sorry sir, yes.. I’ll get to it. Yes, I’ll be sure to get them on board. Yes they are right here…ok.” And Draven moved to give her the phone. She sighed if things held up. His phone probably only has about 15 minutes in her hands to live before it just stops functioning. There was a reason most of her stuff was specialized, there was a whole aspect of it. But she took the phone and held the wrist of Draven in the process. He won't run off if this goes sour.

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  “Hello~” Illuvia starts with a curt tone to it, a sort of playful flirt, but a test to see the reaction of the person behind the phone.

  “You’re probably going to want to get with us Miss Illuvia. We have many photos that I’m sure you don’t want out, and if you play nice we could even add them to the collection. Giving you 40% of the profits and you go through with this, I think that’s a good deal.”

  The chewing noise, echoed in the phone as Illuvia showed disinterest on her line a sort of like really this is boring type thing. But she was planning out a way to get this man to give her what she wanted. “I mean I think it’s better to meet up or to talk terms. I mean, this isn’t how this normally goes you know? If you want me as an OF I at least would like to know what I’ll be doing.”

  Silence is good it means he is thinking. She didn’t really care for this as she had time before the phone burned. Though she’d probably need to get Draven’s number now to get a move to meet this person on the other line. Then, after a fun negotiation she can get some nice blood secured. Her last one was killed in a shootout, and the one before that was taken by ICE. She didn’t care, just made it a new flavor.

  “I’ll have Draven bring you over tomorrow night. You can get this sorted out, but you basically need to understand. We don’t fuck around miss Illuvia I’ll-“ Ahh, the burn-out noise. As the phone seemed to malfunction in her hand as she placed it with a sort of raw aggression into the hand of the sweaty Draven.

  He looked at her, either having a trip or he was actually considering what had just happened but Illuvia’s lips curled into a smile. “oh boy draven, if you weren’t married and had children it would probably be so happy for this right now.” She says and looks over the door as it chimed. Her friend had just stepped in. “Well first you may need a new phone, I’ll get you one like later or something. But be sure to pick me up at this address.” Illuvia states as she takes a pen and writes it down in his hand. He tries to resist but he can’t seem to fight her off. “Then we’ll meet your boss tomorrow. Isn’t this fun?” She puts and seems to try to shoo him out of the booth. As he does he runs lightly into her friend though.

  His beige trench coat moved on the light impact. His face was that of a British man who had seen stuff, a light gruff beard that was matched by his short blonde hair that was styled for the more modern-day-like play. It suited his over all visage though and gave him that like private eye look. He was toned and fit but at the same time could be anything he wanted to be. However, the one thing that he had was his sort of predatory-like nature. That seemed to drip off him like a wave crashing against the beach. Each moment seemed to be longer than not as he seemed to wait for Draven to move past him. And he eventually did, stumbling out as he past Alisha and the others and the door chimed once more.

  Her friend Jayce sat down. Well as close as you could get to friends in this world. He moved his phone out but placed it on the window sill away from her. It was something he did as he did need to use it for his own work and it would be more of a pain if her own seemingly bane decided that his phone needed to be the next victim of its seemingly high dislike for technology. His blue eyes match her gaze with a light smile and a laid-back attitude from his initial entrance for those who normally fall into the list of the kine. The kindred not so much, well her not so much as she has been around him for some time now. A sort of private eye that specialized in tracking and finding dirt and more on people. Kindred or Kine, he was good at finding people who had gone missing. Out of their own desire, or because they were kidnapped or otherwise. But today was more of a meet-up for the two of them.

  She watched his eyes move towards the cigarette and his look back up to her. “You know, it’s a bad habit.” He smirked with a slight joking tone. As he shifted again and watched her, his lips pursed into his usually chill-like smile, a kind gaze, and generally not an aggressive behavior. Of course, this was all from just the normal standpoint of a person who wasn’t currently trying to hide, or better yet being hunted by him. She just rolled her eyes.

  “I’m aware,” Illuvia paused with a slight feint of annoyance. “But you know habits and all that. Mostly though because of other influences but it’s fine.”

  “Aww, is it cause you want to be the beacon of light among the ashes or something? You know there is a comic character who did try to do that. I could pull them up, and give you some dress concepts huh huh?”

  “Jayce,” Illuvia smirked, “I have no issues adding it to the list of things I’ll be cosplaying as but we both know that you didn’t just come here just for this one moment. What is it you are here for. And don’t tell me it’s becau-“

  “You’re just so a glowing ball of daylight I had to come in!”

  “Seriously Jayce…” Illuvia laughs lightly at it, though it’s a melodic-like pitch that matches their shared mood. Once it silences out. He looks her over.

  “So,” he starts and places a portfolio down. “I have to look more into this but there is some strange comings hitting up in certain parts. One of them, may be related to a few other locations out of town. I basically can’t fully go into heavy details. But I was hired to check out something happening in Miami.”

  Illuvia takes the portfolio before she pulls out another cigarette from the carton and lights it, the dim light illuminating her face for a moment as she looks over the file. It details a few of the people in the region, and then some things that are being moved to the south. It was mostly a file she asked him to put together so that she could look more into what the hell happened in her last hunt. Something she did her best to keep out. But her friend was important to her, and they had asked her to try to look into it. Even if they weren’t in the same area anymore it was better for her to actually look into it. Of course, she had her own form of contact. She brushed over the papers as he continued to speak.

  “People are being moved around in…interesting situations. And of course my boss’ wants me to check it out. See what’s happening and such. But with you up here potentially it’s something good. But I’m just saying, from what I can put together…you probably are going to be called down to Miami too. You aren’t high enough you know on that ladder.” Jayce adds in with a wave to Alisha who brings him a water and her thanks her with a nod and his smile. Not that it took off the edge to his predator-like feeling, the endless waves of you are all my prey.

  A sudden moment of silence that is only held for a small amount of time before the light above them flickers as if the void itself seems to be telling them to continue. Illuvia lets her lips uncurl as she leans back into her booth once more, looking up as she drops the portfolio down. “Fuck,” She adds in as the cigarette just balances on the plush lips, “So what you are saying is you are going to leave for a bit, and you gave me this as a sort of I'm sorry huh? Being a cunt.”

  “Now, that’s not way to say thank you to a friend, Sunshine.” He smirks and pulls out his lighter to light her gone out of light cigarette and lights it. “It wont be for long, and we can get back into figuring out what the hell happened that night you are researching into. Plus keep in mind we got time and many things others don’t have. Each moment is something that should fall nicely in our lap when we get the right numbers. Plus, you aren’t paying me.”

  “You literally wont let me.”

  “Well yah, what kind of comic book fan would I be if had you pay me. You already do with your cosplays in a way.”

  “Lord, the fandom stench is spewing out.”

  “Pfft it’s not that bad.” He adds in the end with his usual smirk and nod to her. She watched him carefully, he was playing it off. It was a heavy request obviously from the ministry or someone within it. He much like she, couldn’t ignore such a call even if they wanted to.

  He moves the cup as it’s spun lightly between his hardened fingers and he looks over the slosh of the water in it. “Plus, I’ll be in another region checking out some details. If anything it will be more of a spillover than not. And I get to see Miami, haven’t been around there in a while.” He adds with a normal quip and looks towards her.

  “Yah, well the south is always a hot mess. In both literal and figurative terms. You aren’t careful enough I’ll have to come down there, being summoned or not to make sure to drag your ass out of whatever mess they put you into.” Illuvia says and leans back towards him and puts her cigarette out in the ashtray again. “Let alone, if I get called down there it means it’s bad enough they want to send me to check it out. I may not be high on that totem pool but I hit like a truck. So if I’m brought down there as a rep it can be a pain.”

  “Well I mean, part of it is Cam controlled. So there is that recent enough development. The Tremere prince seems to have his own line of people. Though, from my rough put together…they aren’t the most balanced in loyalty.”

  “When it comes to politics when are they?” Illuvia replies back with her own half sigh, “If he does his role the tower will be all happy about him and he will be in the right. If he doesn’t he gets shafted by some sort of bomb and they replace him with someone else. It’s how this shit goes.”

  “Sure, it’s a true factor.” He responds and pushes the glass towards her book. “But it’s not everyday that such a power play holds. I dunno, seems like it could be fun. Plus the conventions there can be pretty solid I hear.”

  “When it’s not covered or being hit by storms?”

  “When you are there it’ll be just illuminated what are you talking about? No storms no nothing. Just perfect weather.”

  “You are assuming again I’ll be going, and plus wouldn’t it be like a frozen nightmare, like I’m a northern person. I love the frost and eternal winter. So like you know, I don’t think the squish down there will love it.”

  “Nah, clearly a sunray.” He pushes to get up and grabs his phone. It beeps a few times and his face sighs.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I have to go. You keep yourself safe Sunshine, I’ll see yah soon.”

  She waved at him and leaned back into the soft seat. Watched his dress shoes and walk as he walked out. His presence commanded people to look away as he took the call. His face was serious and solemn, it was a business call, and he just didn’t want to bother her with the details. Not out of his hatred for her, not out of malice but respect. Her eyes looked down at the paper again. Work, just so much more work. Her cold gaze turned to the book as it slid un-naturally to her. The shadows seemed to have warped and changed around her. She looks the book’s cover over and slowly opens it with a gaze as she looks over its context.

  Hunts, how to kill certain creatures, and more as she watches it carefully. Ranging from mages to werewolves and more. Things she was to keep track of, things that were connected to laws and rules, to deal with gods, and more. She just closes the book as she brushes her hair back, leaning into her hands again. She wasn’t going to be having such an easy go-over like normal. She cracks her back lightly and her face looks over to the outside.

  ****

  The window caved into the darkness that was only held back by the lights that occasionally flickered in the back booth area. The woman, her lovely face seemed to reflect this unknown look into it. There was an odd feeling of justified power mixed with the endless suaves of domination. Her gaze seemed to peer out into the endless streams of the night. The moving planes and the stagnant stars seemed to caress the open blanket of darkness that hugged onto the warped reality that was holding to them up in this overall form. The streets seemed to gleam and shift with each motion of the vehicles and their silver to soft glowing lights pushing back the seeds of darkness that are holding off the area itself.

  The parking lot held onto what seems to be an array of cars from various years, though most of them seemed to hush in the 90s themselves. There is a vehicle in the parking lot that seems to absorb the very light itself. It’s black color, seeming to call for the night to try to touch it only to add the darkness itself into it’s own form. The vehicle seemingly to stand out as much as it blended it. It’s 1971 Challenger R/T with a matte black color and the 426 written on the side in the standard show, showing off the what is in this vehicle feel. A cross, silver hangs off the rearview. A charm it seems to be resting. The leather interior seems to be polished and maintained as the inside is in perfect form. But at the same time seems to give off this feeling that if you come in here, you have two ways of getting out, and if you weren’t allowed in, there was only one way. There rested a leather jacket in the back seat. Almost uncharisterically there as it seems to be one of a different size, empty to the world but seems so well cared for. The front has what looks like a modern blue tooth lineup, but most of the parts of the care still seem to fall into old analog. The wheels are the stock build at first look like the window but with a closer look, you can see something off on them. Even the body may be different just slightly. Heavier, as it seems to prowl, waiting for its owner to come to it.

  The soft crushing of the asphalt between boots as Illuvia seems to walk her way towards the vehicle, her key in hand as she pulls on the door after her key turns the lock and tosses the book and portfolio into the passenger side before she looks for a moment to the jacket for just a slight linger and she closes the door. The engine begins to grumble a dark tone to life. Like a monster was just awoken as it cuts through the silence that is placated in this region from the endless backdrop of buildings. And with a flash of the lights the soft golden eyes open up from the challenger, as if a black hole had just begun its consumption of another star and the vehicle growls its twisted smile across the parking lot before it devours its way down the road into the night ahead.