SL update 4/22/12

** Just for the sake of better consistency folks... am changing this blog to third person perspective. ** 

@AppiusOcellaSVM . emerges again with another bit of input for @Alexei_Romanov1, this one in the nature of a mandate. Alexei's absence has weakened their bond and he demands that that weakness be done away with. He commands Alexei to allow himself be bitten and also to take his blood so that once again he would be under Ocella's full control and within the sphere of his awareness.   Later... perhaps just to demonstrate that nothing has tempered Ocella's cruelty in his absence... he drains a young female before him and orders Alexei to dispose of her and lie to the staff that it was an unfortunate... accident. 


Cassie, meanwhile, encounters another problem.  Her recall of @MirandaLaney, which forced her to draw her own blood with a dagger, an athame special to Miranda - who may not know the extent of her own power has had an unexpected effect.  That dash of Fae in Cassie's blood - enough to recall Miranda if needed, liked what it felt - and drew it in, enriched itself with it and left her with a bit of a mystery. Waking next to Alexei, she kissed him and headed for the shower, dressing, she grabbed up the athame and thought the radio had been left on or a monitor - and then slowly came on that realization that what she was hearing were the voices of those around her.  Assuming they were trying to reach Miranda because it was her dagger, Cassie recalls Miranda again and is told... to her shock, that the reason she is hearing voices is because she can now hear the thoughts of those around her.  


Shocked that that tiny bit of Fae could ever do more than spice her blood for vampires, she is given a decision  - whether she wants to enhance that new power.  Realizing what an advantage that could be in her work in relation to humans, she agrees and Miranda takes her through a few exercises to show her how to keep building on her new gift.  For the first time in her life... Cassie finds herself with a supernatural power of her own and comes to terms with it quicky but deeply, riding out from the palace on a huge copper gelding she carefully chose... because she saw that he was large, powerful, and a challenge to tame... just like her new gift. 


Filled with concerns, deep ones about the state of some affairs in the Romanov Kingdom, @Natasha_Cdr  goes to @Irina_IGRM to talk at length.  (See Natasha's Tales here: http://tashastales.tumblr.com/post/20352130597/about-me ).  


Natashas' concern is Cassie and that she lacks the basic understanding of how the palace protocols work and her lack of respect failing to bow to @OlgaNikolaevna_ , one of the most revered royal council members.  


Irina  calms her and explains to her that they are obliged to deal with her American quirks, that Alexei is different than royals in the past in choosing her, that not only is Cassie not going anywhere for the forseeable future but that she will certainly not be given the job to kill her...  Natasha continues to vent, needing her frustrations heard to the friend and colleague she has known for centuries, complaining to Irina of Cassie's boldness, sarcasm, and bragging and what she perceives as her lack of respect. Irina explains that in America... they have no monarchy and that it will take time for her to adjust and to consider that Cassie feels somewhat overwhelmed in the face of all those around her who have done the job she is taking on, in small part, for centuries.  She tell Natasha, if she were able to assign her "homework" - to greet Cassie with a smile and give her some time. She also informs her that she will have a word with Cassie. Agreeing but still unhappy, Natasha is happier to move onto a more enjoyable pursuit, sparring the Irina so that they might hone the hands-on protective skills that have served them for so very long. 


Still dealing with adjusting to telepathic powers, Cassie finds herself not only dining with Irina but of having the privilege of having the dinner prepared by Princess Katia herself, who is desperate to just be Katia.  Over a meal of roast chicken and vegetables and white wine - Cassie and @Katia_Andreev begin a language lesson focusing on simple social interactions, something Cassie has left undone yet in the face of learning military commands. Dining with the first human she's had one on one contact with for any amount of time finds Cassie struggling to conceal her new talent, especially as images of Katia's murdered family pass through the young woman's mind. Katis is struggling still to accept their loss and the loss of her freedom despite the gain of rank and privileges that becoming a royal has provided to her. The two women find a point of contact, of closeness and of laughter when absent gestures by both result in servants leaping to fill Cassie's wine glass and a bevy of kitchen staff surrounding Katia to see what the sudden snap of her own fingers meant she wanted or needed. 




Finally alone,  with much to discuss, Cassie goes to Alexei in his office and as they talk she sees the bite marks on his neck. Slow to heal as they are from his maker, she undoes his collar and asks that they are. Alexei confirms to her that Ocella has compelled him to reinforce their bond against Alexei's will. Cassie reassures him that she understands and Alexei reassures her that their are ways of "negotiating" around the bond, that they are difficult to master and he will have to reacquaint himself with them to be able to connect with her as he once did...to protect her from Ocella's wrath.  Knowing what a challenge that will be and how dangerous for him, Cassie asks if he would really risk that for her, tears streaming down her face, and Alexei reassures her he would.   As the only person in the palace who knows of Ocella's secret brutality to Alexei, Cassie struggles with the news but work demands both of their attentions.  She promises Alexei that later on, back in their chambers, when he is preparing to die for the day that she'll have something positive they can share. 


As dawn approaches and he joins her in the suite, Cassie tells Alexei they have something to celebrate and that her contact with Miranda's power has initiated a change for her... that she can now read minds. Alexei is happy for her but concerned that the change is overwhelming, especially in the light of everything else she's absorbing.  She reassures him that she'll deal with  it somehow, that in the end she knows it will be a huge advantage.   Reaching out for Alexei after they speak of being each other's refuge, Cassie is surprised when he doesn't respond then realizes that he is afraid of Ocella and what the consequences could be since he is still working on mastering how to work his way around the bond. Alexei quells his fear for a moment and takes her in his arms and asks that she speak to no one of what he's told her, to treat Ocella as the others do.  Ocella is loved and revered, that he is barbaric in private to the prince must be their secret... just as Cassie's newly emerged telepathy will be.  Cassie volunteers to simply act as a trinket he has brought back from America - a souvenir of sorts and regretting it mightily, Alexei agrees that would be best.   Feeling the pull of dawn... he lays down to die for the day, trying to relax as Cassie has advised, as she kisses his forehead and lays down to rest with her head upon his chest. 

SL update 4/1/12

At their last meeting Irina tells Alexei that I have something to share with him. When I see him again, I am still under the influence of the spell Kallisto has cast on the palace, barely sleeping and when I do plagued with nightmares. Worn down by its influence, worried about his reaction, I share with him the news that Nikita Steel and I have brought back the body of Rasputin for safe-keeping and that it is enscorcled, showing no sign of decay from the time he was buried.  


Alexei asks to be taken to the body and and to my relief is grateful that we have taken it there and deprived the witches of the power it still contains to this day. He then tells me of the history he shared with Rasputin, of being healed when no other could save him, of their bond that still lives for him to this day. He asks for a time alone with the man he used to call Father Grigory and I depart for our chambers, understanding his need. 


Feeling overcome by all the new responsibilities and attentions and even the benefits of her new status, Katia finds a way to escape them, even if she knows it's brief. I meet her in a palace corridor, looking flustered and  tense. I offer he a chance to keep working on learning self-defense and take her to her first weapon, a bow-staff.  After showing her a few stances with it, I want her to understand the full power one can have when striking with a weapon that increases ones' reach and puts physics in the favor of a more skilled hand. 


My first full force blow knock her on her backside and we laugh but she asks for some ice. I go ot ask the guards for it and when I  leave her alone in the gym, she bolts for the secret garage and her car and flees the restrictions and safety of Alexander Palace. 


The search begins and it is intense but in the midst of it, when all is being done that can be, Irina and Alexei take a few moments to reacquaint back in familiar territory.  They reminisce and reconnect, Alexei reminding her that home and alone they can be as they once were, at ease with each other and simply friends. Still damp from an accompanying snowball fight, they return to the palace in good spirits relative to all that is going on around them. 


Alexei's relief is short-lived. His next reacquaitance is not so pleasant. His maker, @AppiusOcellaSVM  has returned from a task settling disputes in a distant province. He is aware of me already and thinks me unworthy, that Alexei should be involved with someone who can advance him if not politically, at least financially. Alexei defends our involvement, explaining that I am not like other humans and that he believes I am best for him.  Ocella moves on and sets about on his primary goal, forcing Alexei to renew their bond that has been weakened and faded considerably. Given no choice, Alexei finds himself once again bound to a maker who used him cruelly and allowed others to do so as well. 


Not done with us... Kallisto and a weaker witch she is using for back up attack the palace. Her goal is to take back Rasputin's body. She levitates many of the guards into the air, killing and injuring many of them as they hurtle back to the grounds.  She blasts open the gates and the main doors, protected by a magical shield that protects her from the dozens - hundred- of bullets fired in her direction. Seeing her progress, I send most of the sqaudron of guards under my command to join the forces already around Alexei and my chambers, with two sent to secure the entrance to the nearest escape route. I then speak to the captain of the guard and work with him to draw Kallisto into a trap, baiting her to finally open the doors to the secured morgue with magic. 


The instant she does, she is blasted backwards and thrown across the hallway by the powerful wards that Miranda has cast over the room. To recover she begins taking the power of the other witch, enabling me to land several blows that bring her down. However, to enable her escape, Kallisto binds the weaker witch, disabling her completely and allowing me to arrest her and turn her over to the guards. 


Natasha, continuing the search for Katia, finds tire-tracks on a dirt road that match Katia's car and sends her forces to follow them on horseback. 


Walking through the infirmary, speaking with and offering what comfort I can to the troops who were injured in the witch attack, I decide that it's time to recall Mirancda. Going over her instructions one more time in my head, I prick myself with it, over my heart, and then drip the blood on Bon Temps on a map. The blood forms a thread back to the knife and I stretch it back toward me, back into the wound... and wait. 


Miranda arrives while I'm tied up with several things and helps us more than I imagined.  She uses her power to reinforce the drained wards surrounding the morgue that holds Rasputin's body and the family that we now know was not only Katia's but Alexei's. She also undoes the spell that has been giving humans nightmares and depriving them of sleep and then  uses the egg containing Romanov blood, that we now know to also be Katia's, to scry for Katia. 


Katia, having headed all the way to Moscow to access the huge library there, has meanwhile been hacking it to find property records. She locates a record of of ownership for Morgana far back in the records, the witch whose symbols appear on the outside of the Romanov-design egg that had held the blood.  The property is located in an area called Dubna. She feels happy and vindicated in her escape, in that it has proven that she can contribute to the safety of the Alexei and the monarchy but trouble soon follows. Another riot occurs, this one outside the library that causes its shut down while Katia is in the bathroom and no one is aware. She attempts to kick her way out the door but ends up injuring her ankle. 


With the spell to locate her successful, Natasha reports to Irina that they now have the ability to retrieve her.  Irina arranges for a small caravan to retrieve her from the library.  Finding her injured, Irina even allows her to drink from her to repair the injury.  Traveling back in the limo, Katia expresses her regret at the trouble but share with Irina that she has located a possible stronghold Morgana might still be using.  Irian receives the information with great interest and a solid appreciation for Katia's skills. Katia also reveals that she has left a chip in the Moscow computers so that they can access it at anytime without being traced. 

OOC: A Word about our form of RP

So great to have you all following and just a word about some of the dialog exchanges you might see. Our plot is very complex and we aim for our characters to be. For that reason, outside of the plot, you may see us engage in "in character" out of plot discussions/debates as a tool to help both followers and ourselves become more entrenched in the personas we've effected and provide those of you who are following us a better product. So if you see us having a heated discussion and don't see a where or an exact context, we invite you to just go along for the ride and learn a bit more about the participants!

Moving up in... another world...

PLEASE FOLLOW EVERYONE MENTIONED HERE!


Part of it was political in the aftermath of the situation with @FyodorGlazunov , part of it was to take advantage of my relationship with @Alexei_Romanov1 , but the AVL doesn't do things without thinking they can be executed properly. The upshot of which... I was still flattered by the next events that touched my personal and professional lives, which are now unmistably intertwined.


A few days after I had agreed to be courted by Alexei Romanov, there was a small reception at the Waldorf Astoria, designed to thank @MirandaLaney and @NanVFlanaganx for their help in taking Fyodor Glazunov down. We also intended to ask Miranda for her continued assistance since anyone else researching how to remove the curse of seeing his past victims from Alexei would be starting from scratch. She agrees much to our relief and then came my shock. Nan Flanagan arrives with a large file and a request that was as much an order - that I sign a contract with the AVL to become an International Security Liaison.


To say that humans being asked into positions of authority in terms of vampire security is rare ranks up there with the sky being blue and seaweed being wet. The AVL wanted to firm up its relationships internationally and who better to show human/vampire integration than myself after the Glazunov business. Aside from the flattered moment, however, I was thinking clearly enough on my own turn that I knew Alexei's thrown possibly being under threat made me want every available resource at our disposal. With so many vamps in the room, there was plenty of oxygen to spare and I took a deep breath and signed the required time of my life over to the AVL.


We arrived in St. Petersburg a few days later, to all the pomp and circumstance one might expect, saw that the jewels that had been taken were re-secured and I began to learn the lay of my new land. Of course... the palace itself was enough to learn.


Click to see the amazing St. Alexander Palace in St. Petersburg Russia here.


It was immense and laden with passageways and as much gloom as grandeur. Servants scurried about, guards everywhere but everywhere to the point where they became just background. There on the tarmac in the cold moonlight we are introduced to @OlgaNikolaevna_ , another royal who I can tell is barely tolerating me. She doesn't even exit the limo until Alexei emerges from the plane.


The next shock came just as hard as the cold of a that Russian winter, a call from @FyodorGlazunov , one that found him released. The bastard had retained enough friends on the AVL council and had so much of the blame for what I knew to be his actions on the dead Sheriff of Texas Area 8 that he had managed to free himself and return to New York basically unencumbered but still under some suspicion.  The one remaining question is what to do with @Nikita_Steel who is still in holding in one of the suites in the palace, ordering tray after tray of American Twinkies. I'm starting to think that the only reason she has a tooth left in her head is that being a shifter she must get a new set every time she changes.


... that question of @Nikita_Steel gets answered a few days later... days that were apparently busy for Fyodor Glazunov who has also pulled the strings to get Nikita Steel free as well. However there's a part two to that shock when he orders her, in a bout of suspicious altruism to remain at the palace and help us however we need. Something in the message, some phrase or gesture tells her that the order is real and to my utter astonishment, informs me that she'll be, as ever, obeying his command.


I am placed in the position of informing @OlgaNikolaevna_  that we've been joined, without our consent, by the shifter who spent the past few months attempting to kill @Alexei_Romanov . She responds with a comment about my competence that I counter would be better asked of Alexei and perhaps outside the door of the secured room where the royal Romanov jewels, including the ones that had held so much power, had been returned with my help.


In the midst of helping me settle in, and have some kind of normality in terms of a bit of culture shock and the in the wake of the Magisters' being freed and the shifter being assigned to help, I have the chance to become closer to @Katia_Andreev . Our growing friendship led me to be closer to the next tragedy than I'd imagined. Having fallen out of touch with them for longer than was usual, I was with Katia and @Irina_IGRM when we choppered out to her house to check on them.  There we found a  horrific scene, her immediate family slaughtered. Her father and brother had been burned and shocked, magical energies slammed thought their bodies, her mother pinned to the wooden kitchen door with knives, and her sister, who resembled her closely, brutally beaten to death, her body covered in traumatic impact wounds. On each of the bodies, there are carvings in the flesh of runic symbols as well.


The worse part of being around Vice work sometimes is that it overlaps Homicide. We secured the scene and began an investigation run by the palace and not the police given Katia's position. The bodies were moved to the morgue there until we can determine what kind of force was at play and why.


Help for that comes in the form I never would have expected days before: @Nikita_Steel . Her analysis of the scene done through photographs coincides with my own and provides some insights from the point of view of someone accustomed to having supernatural powers to commit murder.


@Nikita_Steel 's presence proves helpful once again a few days later when the sounds of a riot around the front gates of the palace, just after @Irina_IGRM are discussing the return of her weapons. We take on the rioting attempt from the upper floors of the palace, adding our skills to aid the palace guards. I sniper the attackers coming over the top of the wall and Irina gives in and tosses a gun to Nikita. She takes a few well-placed shots and then turns to aid Irina as a blast of supernatural energy erupts through the window and strikes her. Nikita drags her to safety and then leaps out of the window and joins the fray on the ground. The guards have fought back much of the attack and Nikita sets out as a wolf hunting for the witch behind it.


She comes back not long after, dragging the body up the stairs of the palace. I intercept her and we take it down to the morgue also. Nikita has also retrieved an important clue, a jewel-encrusted egg that is magically sealed. We call in @MirandaLaney and she manages to open it and suspend the contents inside, contents that Nikita identifies by its smell as human blood.  @Miranda Laney also recognizes the inlaid jewel pattern on the outside of the egg as having its origin with the Morganian witches that sought to control the Russian aristocracy centuries ago.  Katia had spoken to me of how Alexei's human father had banished them from Russian soil as we'd toured the portrait room and she taught me about his human family that had been murdered.


Going back out, Nikita picks up the scent of another more powerful witch the one we suspect is behind the riot. This time I accompany her as she tracks the scent to... of all places, a graveyard and to a specific grave.  Not just any grave however, the grave of Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin - the infamous Russian mystic and the man Alexei called "Father Grigori" who had often healed his hemophilia bout when he was a human child. The taint of magic is strong about the grave and against my will but having no choice, we remove the stones and liberate the casket.


Opening it with her usual impulsiveness, we find to our amazement that the body inside has been tampered with twice. There is a large section of hair missing from the beard and the body shows no sign of decay from the time Rasputin was killed, apparently almost repeatedly.


Learn more about Rasputin here!


The power of Rasputin as a myth and perhaps as a mystic is being used  by the witch to influence the Russian people once again, this time even with him being dead. The properties around him are surviving and being utilized with force enough that Nikita, with me as a regretful partner, haul the casket onto the roof of my SUV and cover it. We take it back for safekeeping to the palace while I dread telling Alexei what we've been forced to do. I know that he had revered the man as a child and having to displace him from his grave was going to be an upsetting matter but less dangerous than leaving him as a resource for the witch.


The witch @KallistoWitch , an agent of @TheWitchMorgana has also, yet unbeknownst to us as yet, has cast a spell on the palace humans that  interferes with their sleep. When they do find rest, they are plagued with nightmares. I have found myself affected but we've yet to discover the cause. 


Alexei returns from handling a situation in a far province, a matter of massive taxes that had apparently been levied while he was absent searching for the jewels. He had found it necessary to even return homes to people that had been taken. Figuring he's been through enough, I spare Alexei the photos of the scene of Katia's family murdered - a choice that proves to be auspicious.


He insists on the details verbally at least and briefing him on events I show him photos of the egg the witch was carrying.  He recognizes a trademark Romanov pattern as a pattern interwoven with but subservient to the Morganic pattern that dominates most of the design.


I listen worried and then the computer in my new communications office alerts us to a message. The DNA I had submitted to the Russian police through Irina's contacts and to the medical databases available has come back with a match. It is the police records that have provided a match to the blood in egg - to our astonishment that blood with in it matches the blood of Katia's mother found at the murder scene... and one more record, older but even more astonishing - the crime scene of the Romanov family murders found in 1991. The tests have been checked and double-checked, the sources are one @Irina_IGRM truss and she has protected the Royal families of Russian for 1500 years. We suddenly have proof in our hands that @Alexei_Romanov1 is no longer the only survivor the the Romanov family massacre, that Katia is of their bloodline, too.  Alexei retires for the evening, before I can tell him that Rasputin's body is now in residence back in his palace.

Katia and Irina go to the computer room where Katia reveals a talent to her, that she is an excellent computer hacker who is eager to use her skills to protect the interests of the Romanov throne. 

Alexei calls Katia into his presence and gently informs her that she is his kin, that she will be elevated to that rank and take up residence in the appropriate rooms in the palace. Alone no longer, she with her recent pain, and Alexei with the pain he has born over a century, they embrace and begin their connection.


With the attack on the palace in mind and the addition of another royal to her protection plans. I approach @Irina_IGRM with a request, the ability to give orders to and make requests of the the daytime detail of guards that protects @Alexei_Romanov1 . She is aware that I can be trusted to protect the prince with my own life and tells me what that would entail to make sure I am aware of the responsibilities and the added knowledge base that it would require. I agree to take on the responsibilities, curbing my worry that I would have to rely solely on others to protect Alexei when at his daytime rest.


Having arrived home from supressing more of the rebellions inspired by Sergei Romanov's vicious and incompetent decisions, the captain of the palace guard @Natasha_Cdr , arrives back in St. Petersburg. She is unhappy with my presence there and @Irina_IGRM finds herself in the position of mediating our positions in terms of protecting Alexei Romanov and his thrown. 


 TBC

SL Update Feb 12 2012

A covert drive across the desert Southwest and Texas returns @MirandaLaney and I to Texas, there to meet up with @NanvFlanaganx to pass on the video evidence of @Irina_297 being taken. Nan returns to Area 8 with the evidence for safekeeping. I wanted at least one in vampire hands as soon as possible given the assumed gravity of the evidence to the AVL. Exhausted, I return to my Dallas apartment with Miranda and after setting up the guest room, return to my own. There I'm overwhelmed with memories of having slept with @AlexeiRomanov1 in my arms and leave the room to collapse on the couch, letting Godric know I've returned.

Nan arrives a day later to escort me to @SheriffArea_9's estate. There @Ari_RP greets us and Godric arrives but the solution he offers is not the one I expected. Based on his prior relationship with the Magister his solution is for me to turn myself over to him in exchange for Alexei's release. I agree after a moment, assuming that I can do what I've always done, somehow outsmart the vampire I might have been up against. There is one trick I have left I've shared with no one... a little tool I've seen used by prostitutes who fed and serviced vampires in the event they started to become a problem.

Waiting for the trade off to take place as Godric has arranged, I am surprised when Nan Flanagan comes to my door. The evidence I've brought and the AVL's own doubts about @FyodorGlazunov have inspired them to use me as bait. He's old, he's powerful and without distraction he could order his forces to a much more substantial defense if  he were in a position to order them. The AVL wants to move on his compound for more evidence but if I can "keep him busy" they can move at an appropriate time.

I agree immediately, not simply to take Fyodor down, but because the AVL's primary motive, to prevent an sweeping international incident, is to free @Alexei_Romanov1 and @Irina_297. Before we leave, Nan implants me with an electronic tracker to prevent me being spirited off and we do a quick, shallow blood exchange, enough that my senses are heightened and Nan is aware of my presence and my feelings when the are extreme.

I grab a dress and the device I'd seen the prostitute use and head to the rendevous point where I am to turn myself over to Nikita Steel to be brought to the magister. I board the plane to be taken to the Magister with the knowledge that Nan is following behind us... and with her is Alexei's personal guard, intercepted by Nan based on her authority with the AVL. @MirandaLaney is there also, waiting to go with Nan Flanagan in a jet that will follow the one the Magister has sent to retrieve me.  Miranda uses her powers to hide its presence as it comes along behind.

On the jet, Nikita and I trade verbal barbs and I am shown the head of Herbert Montcrief - he is the one who has been in league with Fyodor all along according to Nikita, who brags of killing him as he'd been a threat to Glazunov. I stare for a moment, caught up in a bitter blend of emotions. I've succeeded, at least, in my original mission - finding Montcrief and had allowed the entire time for the fact that he might well have been in on the entire affair.  Sinking back in the seat of the luxury jet I reflect that his case ended me up in places I never would have imagined.

Arriving at Fyodor's stronghold on Long Island, an abandoned asylum called King's Park, I am taken to a luxurious room to await the Magister's arrival. Nikita Steel follows me into the room and with a vicious snarl asks if I want to see Alexei. I glare at her angrily, torn, knowing what I'm likely to see since he's been imprisoned by a vampire who is crazed and jealous, I still can't help but turn my eyes to the television screen mounted on the wall.

Nikita turns it on and leaves the room and I see what I fear, Alexei held in silver and bearing the marks of having been whipped. For my "benefit" two guards are there with him, beating him briefly before leaving him hanging in the silver again. Furious and powerless and griefstricken but not afraid of what I'll have to do to free him, I succumb to tears and sink to the floor, crying with exhaustion until I fall asleep on the floor, next to a luxurious bed.

After a few days of making me wait, @FyodorGlazunov shows up at my room. I've had time to recoup myself and I'm ready for him. After receiving reassurances I pretend to believe I settle back in a chair and begin to give in to the Magister's advances, to the point where I remove my clothing and slip into bed with him. Distracting him, I roll us so that he is beneath me and from my discarded dress, remove a set of artificial fangs made with pure silver and slip them into my mouth. As the magister brings his lips to my breasts... I kiss down his neck and then bring my head back and slam the silver fangs into his throat, taking three deep pulls of his ancient blood into my body. Viciously empowered, I throw him across the room, the pure silver fangs still embedded in his throat.

Fyodor's blood in my system, with a flash of magical help from Miranda, eliminates the thin bond I have with Nan and signals her to have the forces move in, that I had Fyodor Glazunov more than distracted. I flee the room, grabbing a set of fatigues from Nan and run outside, figuring out where Alexei and Irina have been taken.

Hidden from view until the last moment by another of Miranda's powerful spells, the AVL forces at Nan's command swarm the facility and Fyo, weakened and spouting rage at my entrapping him, is taken into custody.

Free at last, I run from the building and spot the concentration of troops and fighting around the former slaughterhouse/isolation facility and fight my way to it, powered by vampire blood from a descendant of Vlad Dracul himself.  I head toward it and to my surprise see Nikita_Steel but before I can reach  her see her shift into a bird and vanish.  Moving on with a vow to take her down later, I reach a chamber where I battle a vampire barehanded and find I have the strength to break his neck. My senses still enhanced, I hear a crash and turn, seeing Irina holding up Alexei. I can only assume she has has been left unguarded and freed herself in the confusion of the attack.  Seeing Alexei has apparently collapsed at seeing my breaking the neck of a vampire soldier I realize that my throat and chest are covered in the Magister's blood that escaped my drinking it.

I realize that on top of everything else, Alexei is now seeing a nightmare come true for him, that he thinks I have been turned to have the strength to save him. I rush to his side and reassure him, letting Irina sniff my hand and tell him that I am still human. Relieved to know that I am still human I learn yet one more thing that makes me want @Nikita_Steel's blood, that she forced Alexei to watch my seduction of Fyodor Glazunov and left him thinking I had had sex with him to gain Alexei's freedom. I reassure him that that isn't the case, that I might have taken him to bed, but for no longer than it took to fool him into being bitten with silver.

Having ended his ferars, I look at his unhealing wounds and his exhausted state and ease him down into a chair and have him feed from me, my blood still empowered by the Magister's. He fully heals very quickly and we prepare to leave as soon as he's able. In another part of the facility, @Nikita_Steel has been taken into custody by Alexei Romanov's personal guards to await interrogation.

Safe at last (for now... )Alexei and I retreat to the safety of his privately guarded suite at the Waldorf Astoria and fully indulge in the comfort of one another's company.  I ask Alexei to stay a few days more and to my surprise... in the brilliant glare of the lights of Times Square - I am given the honor of his asking to officially court me and knowing it might be the greatest adventure I've had yet... I agree.

SL UPDATE 1 / 22 / 2012

Just when we were thinking we were safe till we gathered our forces, the Magister, via his agent @Nikita_Steel issues us another surprise, blowing up the front gates of the Russian Embassy. Determined to protect @Alexei_Romanov and myself, @Irina_297 ushers us speedily up to a safehouse complete with a panic room and armory in the hills around Los Angeles.

We made two excursions out from it, the first to pass on a packet of evidence to @NanVFlanaganX who had gone into hiding to be of aid to me out of @FyodorGlazunov's observation. She has returned back to Dallas with the evidence packet in hand of everything we've gathered on the Vampire Magister so far. It should be enough for Godric to move on him and we're working on bringing more.

The second excursion was after my SUV, which @Viktor_Chenko had brought in from AZ had been returned to me, via trip to the police station. He was chased across their lot, shifted, went up onto the building and leapt on my SUV's roof, doing damage that would cost us later.

Seeking help to remove the curse of seeing ghosts of his former victims, Alexei and I go to a witch in Los Angeles to see if she can break the spell.  She tries hard but fails but does give us a clue... that the ring Alexei is wearing, his father's cannot be removed or given up unless it is his will. ... We now have an explation for why the second vampire killed at the Arizona safehouse was so determined to get it and we know that Fyo knows this, too.

Leaving however, we discover that Fyodor's psychopatic agent Nikita Steel knows where we are, too. She attacks us without reservation, and we engage in a terrible firefight on the streets of Los Angeles that requires extensive cover ups to conceal vampire business playing out so dramatically. The witch who we went to see captures my attention as she steps out into the midst of it to cast wards and protect the innocent.

We flee, dragging our firefight with us, but are joined by Irina and are able to escape.  What escapes me, however, is the damage to the tracking scrambler on the roof of my SUV. Nikita has attached a double rigged tracker to the bottom of it, one of which drops at the safe house.

A few nights later, as Alexei and I leave to greet his incoming forces and Irina goes to check our armory, Nikita slips in, poisoning the blood Irina and Alexei are to drink and setting a bomb on the car we have been forced to steal.  When we finish greeting the troops, however, Alexei, safe in their escort, and I part company, he to take care of business at the Embassy and I to visit family. Irina returns shortly before I do to the safehouse and the bomb goes of moments later. To protect me after I'm stunned when the gas tanks blows, Irina takes me into the panic room and locks me in... and injured, needing to recover quickly, partakes of the poisoned blood.

Weakened despite her vast age, she is taken and I remain trapped.  Alexei returns with a small number of his guards to the bombed out car and signs of the battle Irina gave before being taken.  Hearing me call for help, he frees me from the panic room. I tell him what I have seen through the panic room monitors and try to calm him reassuring him that Irina will survive but be used as bait, not to let Fyodor into his head in this state.

However... in that regard, I am too late. Fyodor calls him, well aware of the situation at the safehouse because of the cameras that Nikita has left behind for his pleasure at our distress and when I am out prepping my SUV to leave, Fyodor calls and offers a deal... my life and my freedom from his fixations and Irina's life in exchange for the ring to control all the jewels. Hoping against hope, Alexei agrees, and calls Miranda to aske for a sleeping draught for me. Emerging he tells me he would like to go to her as he's called and she believes she has a means to help us. I share with him what I have found, that we were tracked  here but that I've removed the device that allowed Fyodor to do so.

We set off to Miranda's shop. Alexei asks me to go get him a blood from the store nearby and trusting Miranda, I leave. When I return, Alexei suggests that he drive and. still aching from my impact with the wall that stunned me, I agree and he slips into my coffee the sleeping potion Miranda has provided. I realize its effects before it can take me out completely, realizing what Alexei intends. As he explains he is doing this to return my life to me, I vow I'll find him and with a final kiss fall to rest in his arms.

He's taken me to my mother's home, where his guard is keeping a watchful eye. I wake to find myself home and listen coldly to the pleadings of the guard captain, speaking for Alexei, not to follow him. I ask if he's done, thank him for the attempt, and knowing Alexei would never let me be held against my will, leave,  going to Miranda to ask for her help.  Climbing in my SUV I see a blood stain and the blood is Alexei's which give Miranda a means to begin searching for him. We get a partial beaing northeast and recognizing her usefulness, I ask  her to joing me.  She agrees, understanding that she will be recompensed for her troubles and for closing her shop and we set off for Dallas, my new home, there to rejoin forces with Godric (@SheriffArea_9) and his wife (@Ari_RP) and Nan Flanagan (@NanVFlanaganX) and their powerful ties to the AVL.

TBC...

OOC Post: Thanks and on the subject of #FangtasicFollows

Greetings everyone,
Am enjoying one of those curse/blessing experiences and have sought out the advice of one of the more experienced RPers who has been a wonderful mentor to me here to figure out what to do.

It has been my blessing to have been gifted with a consistently growing number of followers to the current SL I am privileged to share. As a thank you to those who have joined us, I made a consistent effort to reccomend that each of my followers follow the other. Because I work kind of a crazy schedule, I took up calling them #FF or #FangtasticFollows since Friday is only an occasional option.

Given the substantial uptick in followers, I came to the realization that it would now take me well over 130 posts, at present, to maintain doing so and with a heavy heart realized it was no longer feasible. There are... #FangtasticFollows and there is spamming the list.  I would have to add to that that there is no way of knowing if some few of those accounts are still active, etc. or are simply the single-shot horoscope that is the extent of the existence of some folks.  I do edit my list so that Wal*Mart, rug cleaning companies, car rental agencies, airlines and etc who think a human detecive who works for vampires frequent them ARE deleted. LOL... The two REAL detective agencies and the P.I. legal services firm... I let them stay. I hope we're amusing the hell out of them!

In any case, I *WILL* continue to post #FF #FangtasticFollows to those you really ought to follow to have our SL make sense. Regarding the current one we have been planning a finale that will make the folks over at HBO sorry they don't have us on staff!

... and you will see them for the folks who have shared their talent and generosity by working with me storylining in the past to add to my ongoing learning experience here.

My thanks to the deliciously, maliciously malievolent @Nikita_Steel for late nights and DM giggles while we not only plan mayhem but keep it consistent. My thanks also to @Alexei_Romanov @FyodorGlazunov and @Irina_297 for doing the same of late as we turn Los Angeles into a vampire warzone.

We thank each and everyone one of you for following and look forward to sharing your stories and ours.

Best regards,
Cassie
@CassieCGibson  (follow my lighter side RP account @StellaMSutton )

MY Storyline as of Jan 4, 2012

... Hi all,
This post is, as they say, out of character. I had had the gift of a brilliant storyline assignment by my crafty and ancient boss and it went place I never expected and let me encounter some wonderful new characters who've just been an RPer's dream. I got SO involved that I was focused there and let here slip. Since dealing with the Fellowship of the Sun business, killing a human trafficker of my own accord, and hunting down to vampires who were the supplier of illegal  human immigrants as donor earned me some cred... my character ended up with the daunting to most other humans job of finding a missing Vampire Sheriff. Little did I know I'd get involved with something where the fate of country half a world away was at stake... hmmmm... let's say... at RISK.

My name is Cassandra Gibson, I work as a special investigator the @SheriffArea_9 – more personally known as Godric.

A few months ago, I was assigned the task of finding the missing Sheriff of Area 8, Herbert Montrcrief.

Looking at one of the only pieces of evidence, a photo of the sheriff and a human female companion, revealed that she was wearing actual royal jewels of great value. They turned out to be a massive ruby that is from the Jeweled Order of St. Alexander Nevsky and diamonds from the Diamond Diadem. They are the Romanov Family Jewels and I discover I am not the only one searching for them.

At @EricNorthmanSVM’s bar , @FangtasiaSVM , I arranged a meeting with the other person searching for the jewels: @AlexeiRomanov , the last tsar or prince of Russia, turned vampire to avenge the murders of his family. They are the last of the stolen jewels that he has tracked down around around the world. … but about these jewels there is something different, something that may have enable the Sheriff of Area 8 to have been taken - a curse that enables them to control all the vampires within a limited area.

Before, however, I can become fully invested in the search, I am summoned to New York City by the vampire magister, @FyodorGlazunov , purportedly because he is impressed with my work for Godric. I quickly discover that this wealthy, incredibly powerful vampire, who answers only to the AVL has an interest in me that has little to do with my work. Thinking I’ll be done with him if I let him feed and get the hell home, I allow him to do so and am relieved whe he passes out drunk from Fae blood and collapses back on the bed. Trapped by a staff that will only listen to him, I spend the night and bolt when the doors open again in the morning.

I return home and to my own surprise, shaken by being the prey instead of the predator for once, I call Alexei Romanov simply to have his company. To my further surprise, we are briefly intruded upon by my occasional partner, @Viktor_Chenko , a werewolf with a plethora of habits I would have arrested him for when I wore a badge and worked vice. The surprise is not his arrival but that he’s arrived only to check on me, even if he lies about the reason. So the were I often call “Roadkill” turns out to have a small, fuzzy heart.

Back home, Alexei Romanov and I begin working together to find the powerful Romanov Jewels, our work and joint determination to find them bringing us closer outside of professional lines. One evening, four vampires, arrived at the home of Alexei Romanov, one of them a vampire we’d seen before in photographs of the night the Sheriff of Area 8 vanished. Sensing they are are all older and a threat, Alexei, in a show of respect few vampires would offer a human woman, even with my track record, calls to report their presence. Arriving, I heard a scuffle inside, and killed the first vampire I saw. Working together, we captured two of the attackers and ended the other. On two taken prisoner we find a stylized tattoo of a bird of prey.

Following a lead, the only three illegal fences capable of having trafficked such large jewels into the country, we find the bird in the office of one of them again. Alexei - who it frequently escapes my mind is a prince, and I continue to travel west, stopping in El Paso. There, however, I am sent a package, a disposable cell phone and a warning from Godric that the magister is monitoring my communications in a way that has nothing to do with his job. I realize that something more is going on that Godric can’t tell me and there is a reason why he’s been demanding my reports in writing despite his almost impenetrable electronic security. The Magister may now be as much of a danger to me, to us, as our vampire-kidnapping and possibly vampire-controlling quarry.

Needing resources and safety, we head to AZ, to the estate of the Sheriff for whom I first worked. I send a message to @Viktor_Chenko to follow us as soon as he is able. Greeted as an old friend and a trusted new one, Alister Conrad, my Sheriff, gifts us with our selection of weapons— as much as we can take with us and refuge while we plan our next move. Viktor catches up with us and we are joined briefly by a former confidant of Alexei’s.

Our time of refuge is abruptly interrupted by two enemy vampires, one of whom kills Alexei’s long time confidant, briefly throwing him into a a tailspin but bringing us even closer.

Alexei takes on the second assassin, who opts to kill himself when under interrogation. He is foolishly carrying orders with him… that again have the seal of the bird of prey. Wondering who could have such power over vampires - I come to the realization that the person sending the attackers is Fyodor Glazunov. And since the last vampire, in the pitch of battle, attempted to take Alexei Romanov’s family ring, we now suspect Fyodor knows about the power of the jewels as well.

Godric also manages to get a message to me, that Fyodor’s fascination with me extends not only to a meal and sex but to becoming my maker.

Knowing we need to flee, we continue our journey west, our goal, California, to the Port of Long Beach where Alexei’s Royal Guard is due to arrive to reinforce us. Ahead of their arrival we have been joined while staying at the Russian Embassy in Los Angeles, my home town, by his trusted and able lieutenant @Irina_297 .

Fyodor’s intentions have followed us here already, however, even in the relative safety of the embassy where Alexei’s status as prince gives us resources and protection. Photos of long dead victims that still trouble Alexei Romanov have arrived by courier, disturbing him profoundly. Scouting out the Port of Long Beach I was attacked by the shifter agent of Fyodor Glazunov - @Nikita_Steel who I’m sure we’ve not seen for the last time.

One more complication has befallen us, however. I lost Alexei’s coat to the shifter and in the aftermath, he has beome afflicted with visions of those victims whose lives he so regretted taking and we suspect witchcraft is now one of the weapons we are facing.

THIS…. is our story so far and thanks for following…

Guess Who's Here... NOT

Originally published Sept 5, 2011

can only assume you knew nothing about all this but Bethanie showed up at my door the other day, let herself into it when I wasn’t here and I nearly blew her head off when I came home.

When I sent her a spare key I thought she’d have the sense to at least tell he when she was going to show up and not send some half-assed teasing text about thinking about it just because she had one.

I get shot at, occasionally bitten not of my choice, been drugged, almost raped, hit over the head and was recently attacked by a malicious grove of trees but you’re braver than I am… you’re raising kids. I have to track a few leads in New Orleans in a few days and I have no choice but take her with me, in the company possibly the were I bitched about down the page - though he recently opted not to let my ass blown to kingdom come - but we all know I’m going hell anyway.

If she didn’t tell you she got mixed up with some now pissed off were and called in a few favors from a couple of vampires to cover herself and now she’s been spotted with some shifter already. You know what the story will be, he’s different or she’ll fix him as far as weres and shifters go - if only there was a real spay and neuter program put into effect - vampires with rules, give me that any day.

As for the rest of life… let’s just say I had a bitch of a last few days but Tara proved she’s the kind of friend you don’t make a summer camp and never hear from again. We shared some crazy crap in those past few days. Mostly I wish she’d been with me though to hold up the exhaust system while I jury-rigged it with a measuring tape. Road repairs where I ended up the other night are not a big priority. I think it’s to keep the riff-raff… IN.

Later when it’s worthy. I’ll let you know how our little sister is doing and and try to teach her some taste about WHO she’s doing - sorry, but it is me. Vice Cop: No Filter.

Love to you all. Cassie

Dreaming a NOT so Little Dream...

Originally published Aug 29, 2011

DREAMING A NOT SO LITTLE DREAM…

Well, Sis, I’ve done this so long I can now post about not posting about my work in detail! LOL  Hope all of you are great.

Rave reviews on the first job with one lingering side-effect.  I’ve felt fabulous for days but for the dreams.  Quick tip from your older sister: NEVER feed from an ugly vampire - especially not one over a thousand years old  ( @EricNorthmanSVM ) and this one could make a 90 year old nun give up her vow of chastity on her deathbed.  

I mean, it was all business but you know me, total gift for saying the most inappropriate thing at the most inappropriate times.  He’s six-four, blond, looks that would get him on the front of a building in Times Square, and a body that would make Cover of the Decade for Men’s Health.  So… let’s just say, the blood has help.

Luckily this vampire has a sense of humor yet and thank goodness for that because he’s also engaged to a woman my friend Tara ( @Tara_T_SVM ) told me can read minds.  If he were the local horny fanger blood bank I ‘d not feel so bad, but he told me that I earned the privilege of being the first human he’d let have his blood for years.  I hope his bonded and now fiancee’   ( @SookieStack_SVM_ ) knows why he did it, that was working to protect the vampires threatened by the Fellowship in the my bosses’ ( @SheriffArea_9 and @Ari_RP ) territory.  I’m going to keep reminding myself of that the next time I see her, beats the hell out of “Hi, guess what your fianee’ and I did in my sleep”.  Of course, half the women in the bar he runs are probably actively hoping for it all around her.  The woman must be as secure as a bridge piling… wonder what that’s like?

Speaking of which, I had my mind read for the first time and found out it can work both ways.   Hell of a shock but I was working when it happened so I adapted fast.  It’s going to be a hell of an advantage at some point and I’ve seen enough Star Trek to assume that people who can do that don’t go running about doing it randomly.  They’d be bonkers in day. Gene Roddenberry was right about my 5G cell phone and the doors at Whole Foods so he’s probably right about this… and I like knowing that they know I won’t betray them.  It adds a level of protection for me.  Every other vamp I work for always had to be suspicious and when you’re 1000% vulnerable soon as the sun’s up… who can blame you?  I’m surprised the vampire who healed me doesn’t sleep at Fort Knox.  

Speaking of which… I’m drifting off myself.  I need to hunt for one more thing to finish of my security here at my new place (pics later, I promise) a very large, furred and clawed door guard who can’t be unplugged.  Going to rescue a Shepherd and train him myself. 

… and one last thing; you know how cousin Richard was doing that genealogy thing.  Tell him to send me whatever he has and if he’s not gotten 5 or 6 generations back to see if he can… just a little something that came up when I was… laying down.

Take care, tell Clint and the kids Aunt Cassie’s playing with vampires again,

Love Cassie 

WERE OH WERE

Originally published Aug 21, 2011
 

Discovered the true meaning of the sublime to the ridiculous, went from being recalled for early success to given a contact number for an associate who managed to have found the most offensive balance possible between eau de Jack Daniels and essence of roadkill. 

I have to assume he knows what he’s doing because my boss is very likely one of the ten cleverest strategist alive or undead on the planet.  Hell, he hired me so I should take that into consideration but when the new guy tells you money hires him not loyalty… I don’t see a red flag, I see May Day at the Kremlin.

About the only good thing I know so far is there’s no record of his doing V but record mistakes happen and there’s a first time for everything.  Unless he tries something, and he’s been warned, I’m trusting the boss and working with him but if it comes time to take him out… well, that’s part of keeping myself and the boss safe, too.

He’s already informed me he’s the old fashioned kind of were who would tear me to pieces and kill me - which makes him number 453 on the list of people I’ve worked with who I knew could do the same or who offered.  Just think I could find some nice accountant, settle down, and be the one to go downstairs when the burglar shows up… all of which would drive me to shoot my own self.

Anyway, he was suitably respectful after our first conversation, understood I had the upper hand to date and probably took a good lock at my ass when I left him.  My boss’s bonded has the same opinion of him as I do… but when you’re working for a vampire who might give Alexander the Great a run for his drachmas, you shut up and do as your told with whom you’re told, until self-preservation means more than a paycheck.

Originally published Aug. 19 2011... and oh what a great time I've had since!

Dear Sister Deprived of My Presence, 

Hope you didn’t find the encryption to hard to deal with.  If you ever do, track down Chelsea - she can  hack anything. Just be aware that if I don’t post up here to let you know what’s going on it’s because I’m undercover.  If it’s gone altogether at some point, I’ve instructed my new potential boss’s people to delete everything if certain circumstances occur, a wide variety of them, so don’t assume the worst.  If the worst happens, I’ve made arrangements for you to be told by better than Cassie’s blog being gone, I promise.

As for the new boss: 

Well, whoever expected this so fast. I feel like one of the jokes my roomie comedy team back in L.A. used to tell: An ex-cop in a low-cut dress walks into a vampire bar looking for a job…  Except the joke would be on Roy and Dennis - the ex-cop got one… and for a vampire that was around when the giant sequoias were seedlings… and interest from another one who, according to Tara, was around when Vikings weren’t just sports teams. Business only, I fed him and he fed me, and I found out what flash menopause feels like in Valhalla. It took two double shots of scotch to bring me down enough to drive home.  Tell Mom I apologized to her in the middle of it… or better yet … Don’t.

As for the business involved - I’ll have to see if I get on contract because of the job I just finished, giving the local Fellowship of the Dumb eventual reason to feel dumber.

Seriously, I think they learn what they know about vampires from cartoons, at least that’s what they teach. I sat through an afternoon of it and would have expected a laugh track except they were using this BS to draw in recruits. 

The photoshopped Powerpoint presentation was the most ridiculous part. Vampires are predators and I know they are dangerous but at least very few of them are flat out fucking stupid. I’ll take my chances with them any day.

I think as long as I’m around Vampires this area is interesting enough for a big city girl to keep her sanity and dangerous enough to keep me employed. Humans NOT addicted to V who will show a vampire the kind of loyalty their existence demands, with skills they find useful, have little to worry about in terms of finding work. We’re a rare commodity has been my experience.

Hope you and Clint are doing fine. Keep L.A. warm for me and for God’s sake send some dry air!

Cassie