Lost

[Soran Nightblade]

Caleb gritted his teeth as he realized Celeste's sister and this well-meaning stranger were going to rip each other apart. He didn't really understand why this newcomer was putting himself at stake in this, but his ego wasn't big enough to think it was about defending him. There was something deep and angry about the stranger's movements. Something personal.

He couldn't do anything about personal. But Yoruhana's wrath was different. More carnal.

He knew how to handle carnal.

Clenching his oozing hand into a fist, he told his legs to move and came up quickly toward the feuding pair. Yoruhana was busy lashing out at the man whose name he didn't know yet. It was easy enough to come up behind her.

Navigating around her strong wings, he wrapped one arm firmly around her stomach from behind and cupped his bleeding hand over her mouth, pulling her backward against his chest. He had to hope the scent of his blood would calm her anger....Even if it made her hunger worse... and give him time to tone down the situation.

"Drop your attack!" he snarled at Stephan, pulling Yoruhana back so that he was between his blade and her. Wondering if he wasn't just going to get himself killed, holding blood to a demon's mouth. "Back off," he warned the other man tensely, his hand throbbing.

[Celeste]

Yoruhana froze a growl rumbled deep within her chest, it was show. She didn't struggle. She didn't bite. she just froze. Her instincts were to rip Caleb apart, but the smell of blood called him prey. She shuddered, and tried to look over her shoulder at Stephan, the dangerous one.

[Emora Deen]

Stephan blinked in shock. "Are you mad?" he asked quickly, taking a step froward. "That thing is a killer!" Stephan was fuming. Rage boiling over until he felt he'd explode. He wanted to explode.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yeah, probably," Caleb grunted, holding fast to Yoruhana. "Just...take a few steps back, alright?" he warned the stranger, understanding that he must sound insane.

"Listen," he said next to her ear, "if there's no way around it, then feed, just try to keep me in one piece. Whatever it takes to calm down. Kill this man, and there will be an even greater price on your head. Your sister needs you." Could she even understand him as she was right now?

[Celeste]

Yoruhana relaxed and tried to move away from Caleb, saying something muffled by his hand. She closed her eyes and shivered.

[Soran Nightblade]

Caleb moved his hand slightly away from the demon's mouth, fairly sure it had done its job and moving it now would not have much affect on the consequences, whatever those were going to be. He hadn't expected the demon to become so still. It almost made it even harder to predict how she would react. He moved his hand to her shoulder and clasped it without too much force, his other arm still firm around her waist, hugging her back against him.

He looked over at the man she'd been fighting with. "Are you under control?" he asked seriously, not directing the question to either of them specifically. Under the circumstances, it was probably appropriate to both.

[Emora Deen]

Stephan was unaware that he appeared out of control. He felt in control... and then again he knew he wasn't. Xheira's death was more than he could tolerate. Not just her death, but the way she had died, and the people she had died for. Killed by her own government, though she would rather have died than to have claimed them.

Stephan slowly sheathed the two short swords in the crossed sheath. He readdusted the veil across the front of his face, his yellow eyes watching them. "That thing's already tried to kill me once," he mutterd. "I wouldn't place such faith in her ability for control."

[Celeste]

Yoruhana scoffed, and twisted to glare at Stephan "and you Lied to me . . ." her voice was extremely cold and soft. She'd tensed up again.

***

Celeste heard Yoruhana's voice and paused around the corner, listening.

[Soran Nightblade]

Caleb loosened his vice grip on the demon slightly. "How do you know him?" he asked in a level tone, studying Stephan one more time more carefully now that there was less impending danger. He'd never seen someone that looked like the man in front of them. It didn't even look human. Another demon? His gut tensed at the thought that these two might both be out for blood. Having a strong pair of arms and a quick wit wouldn't make him much match for supernatural savagery. His best bet was to try to keep it leashed.

[Celeste]

"in a way yes" Yoruhana hissed "He's from the way north. . .Aren't you Raith?" her voice was still icy cold, and sharp.

***

Celeste peeked around the corner and started to creep into the ally.

[Emora Deen]

Stephan looked at her. "She tried to kill me in the forest on my way here," he muttered, glaring at the woman as she boldy spoke of where he came from. North... only so many people would understand what she meant. "So you can see why I think it would be best if you just let me kill her."

[Celeste]

Yoruhana growled "you lied to me, Raith, you claimed to have killed Celeste . . ." she glared at Stephan, not caring if Caleb restrained her again or not.


***

Celeste crept closer, within sight of Caleb, hoping he would see her before Yoruhana did.

[Soran Nightblade]

Caleb grimaced as he realized Celeste's sister and this unfamiliar man were about to start ripping flesh unless something intervened. He was unlikely to get away with interfering a second time without getting himself attacked, so he tried to defuse the situation. "Why would you claim you killed her sister?" he asked Stephan evenly, wondering if this person was a threat after all. Yoruhana had named him as a wraith, and as he recalled, wraiths were not famous for their good treatment of women.

He scanned the area for options if he needed to defend himself. That was when he caught sight of a slender figure peeking out from around a wall nearby. Celeste? he recognized her uneasily. This didn't seem like a safe situation to let her walk into in her condition, but there was little he could do to stop her at this point. He thought about calling to her, but stopped the breath in his throat. If she remained hidden, she would be safer. He wasn't going to be the one to call her out.

[Emora Deen]

"I lied," he said, shrugging his shoulders. His yellow eyes burned into them. "I have no quarrel with your sister. I do however have a problem with demons at the moment." People in general, he thought darkly.

His eyes looked to Caleb... "If you think you have her under control I'll leave you to it, then?" Stephan asked, swallowing his need to kill.

[Celeste]

Yoruhana held her teeth clenched tight, her eyes narrowed slightly. She was sizing Him up, she still felt he was a threat. She turned her back to Caleb, an stared hard at Stephan.

Celeste snuck closer to Yoruhana. She took careful slow steps. When she saw Yoruhana get ready to ponce she drew out a piece of fabric and held it tight in one hand, it was vaguely moist. she watched Yoruhana a moment longer.