#face: ileana

[maiteo]

[thebluespacecow]

having to look at refrences for your own oc is wildddd

Like what do you mean i forgot what that guys face looked like, i made it

[vivifriend]

WIP Wednesday

Tagged this week by the lovely @hircines-hunter, @changelingsandothernonsense, and right as I was deciding who to tag, @thequeenofthewinter 💕💕💕

I shall tag @rainpebble3, @bostoniangirl21 and @fangsandsoftgrass

Zero pressure, and if you see this and aren't directly tagged but wrote something, I'd love to read it. 💖

I have had serious Brynjolf/Karic brainrot this week month. So, have a snippet from a fic that won't be published until Snowflake's Chance is like 8-10 chapters further from now. 😂 (Karic is Lewin's uncle)

>>>>

He was stewing. He knew he was stewing. But the information Brynjolf had shared sat on his chest like a crushing weight. Has he faced what he went through before? Shared it with anyone? Or did it all unstopper with his coming here?

"Tell me again how you met this man," Sorais said, a tiny smirk on his face.

Flicking his gaze to his, he shook his head. "Not in the mood, Sorais," he said shortly.

"I'm almost surprised Ileana agreed to his accompanying us," he responded, glancing where their sister was directing a few servants, indicating which coach each box belonged to.

"She knows we need as much information as possible."

"You really trust him?"

He nodded. "I have no reason not to."

"Karic. You met him at a Thieves Guild front," he responded, amusement threaded in his scent. "You have plenty of reason not to trust him."

"How is Emilie doing?" he asked, glancing where his sister-in-law was speaking quietly to the driver of the carriage she and Sorais would share.

"Tired. You know she's not a morning person."

"And travel takes a lot out of her," he said. "I know. That's why I'm asking."

He nodded. "Fair enough. Got a letter from the triplets. They're nervous about leading the caravan but Corwin said the instructions you left were more detailed than they expected." He frowned. "I didn't realize you had left them instructions."

"Of course I did," he responded. "Your children have good instincts. But they can be a bit nervous about listening to them. So, I gave them information about everything they were most likely to run into."

"Corwin said that Zyll and Kaye were excited about it after reading them. Said it stopped Myn from harping on them."

"Then I did my work well." If this trip goes well for them then I won't be needed anymore. A sobering thought. Pensively, he folded his arms, leaning back against the inn wall, staring at the cobble.

"What did your new 'friend' tell you that has you so withdrawn today?"

"Sobering warnings about the woman leading the Vaerminan cult," he responded honestly. He blames himself even though he knows the luck was soured. I could smell it. But I can't blame him.

"Troubling," he said. "You'll share when we get to Cheydinhal?"

He nodded, looking up fast when he caught a familiar scent.

Sorais clicked his tongue. "Don't tell me you're catching feelings for a thief, Karic."

Ignoring him, he moved toward Brynjolf. "You made good time," he said, stepping in close to him, noting by the scent that he'd touched up the dye in his hair. I'd like to see his natural color. But I understand he worries that one of the cultists will recognize him.

"I've managed to learn the city in between other activities," he said genially, smirking down at him when he flushed slightly. "Not ashamed of me, are you lad?" he asked gently, his tone and scent probing.

"Not at all," he promised. "Come on. You'll ride with Ileana, Dra'ri and I."

[avvail-whumps]

Royal Bought: Pretty Girls #6

previous · masterlist

content warnings: vampire whump, non-human whumper, defiant whumpee, captivity, human auctions, non-sexual nudity, lady whumper, multiple lady whumpees, conditioned whumpees

Luke tried not to focus on the hand digging into his forearm, being pulled along the corridors to their new destination. He wondered if this was going to be a recurring thing; dragged off somewhere new to suffer another long winded conversation about how frivolous it was to escape. 

How ridiculous. 

Luke wished none of this was happening. He let his mind wander, falling into the crashing waves of his thoughts, barely even recognising where they were going. He was sure they’d climbed up another floor, and wondered just how hugely vast this place was. 

Eventually, they stopped on what seemed to be a much more quiet floor. Silas didn’t speak a word to him the entire way up, and for that, Luke was actually quite grateful. It was filled with quite a few doors, spaced out amongst each other, but Silas eventually stopped in front of one, and he pushed the door open. 

“Ileana,” he called out, making sure to give Luke a hard tug so he came inside. “This one’s for you.” 

Luke’s eyes adjusted to the new room for a brief moment. It was much bigger than Silvan’s, it seemed, filled with a desk and more personal decorations like paintings and mirrors on the walls. On the couch, Luke found himself staring at a beautiful vampire, having turned her head aside to glance at Silas he wandered inside. 

She seemed tall, even when seated, one slender leg thrown over the other, and long, silky silver hair that trailed down her back. Her eyes were narrowed and pointed, giving Luke a very obvious once over when Silas gave him a firm shake. Beside her, there seemed to be a blonde girl - human. She had been giggling softly when the door opened, almost leaning into Ileana’s side, but at the sight of them, she quickly shot to her feet and scurried off. 

Ileana removed her arm from the back of the couch, twisting her body straight so she was facing them, and a thin smile spreading across those pink lips. Luke watched the blonde join what seemed to be two other girls at the wall, standing obediently. She sneaked a glance at Luke, her expression slightly embarrassed. 

He almost felt like he’d walked in on something he shouldn’t have. 

“Silas,” Ileana purred, her voice like dripping honey. It was enough for Luke’s gaze to snap over to her again. She even seemed to sit with an air of grace and poise, stiffening when her eyes briefly flickered over to him. “I thought the girls weren’t due for another half an hour.” 

Silas gave a disgruntled huff. “No. But as you can see, this is no girl. He’s yours. The one they picked up outside our territory.” 

He gave him a harsh shove from his shoulder blades, and humiliation burned at his cheeks, gritting his teeth together sharply. Ileana’s fox-like eyes almost seemed to gleam in curiosity at the words, humming softly to herself. He felt like he was being stripped down under her gaze. 

“Goodness,” she sighed, the sound like something was melting on her tongue, and Luke shifted uncomfortably. “It’s been so long since I’ve had a male with such high quality blood. If I’d known, I would have made sure to remind my girls to behave. Isn’t that right, Lillia?” 

Ileana’s gaze pounced on the blonde girl, who, when Luke hesitantly followed, noticed that she had been sneaking glances at him from under her light blonde eyelashes. Her eyes widened, tearing them away from Luke and towards the vampire, lifting her head up jerkily. 

“Yes, my Lady,” she stammered, clenching her hands together in front of her tightly. She bowed her head, and this time, her eyes refused to wander anywhere but the spotless carpet she was now fixated on. Ileana’s lip curved into an amused smile, turning back to Silas. 

“You can leave now,” she spoke, her voice a little firmer. “I will take it from here.” 

The vampire didn’t bother to respond, just nodded his head an inch, and Luke was greeted by the sound of the door clicking shut from behind him. He suddenly felt very out of place, but before he could fix his gaze on the vampire once more, she had moved from her casual position on the couch within seconds, standing far too close to him. 

Luke bit back a surprised curse, having to crane his neck up to look at her face. She was incredibly tall, almost dwarfing him in size. It made her much more intimidating as she circled him, her fingers tugging on his clothes as she went. 

“You’re filthy,” she tutted, giving a hard yank on the sleeve of Luke’s jacket. When he went to jerk it away, she meticulously manouvered and pinched his ear, getting a look at his hair. “And your clothes, goodness. This won’t do at all.” 

Luke grit his teeth as she gave his arm another pinch, judging the heap of clothes on his body. He wrenched his arm away from her, face twisted into a snarl. “Get off.” 

Ileana’s eyes shimmered. “Oh, and a temper, too. I suppose that’s to be expected, though.” 

Her long, silver hair swished along her back as she turned, moving like silk in water. It was almost as if the air around her was filled with grace, her chin always jutted high to display her presence. Her eyelashes fluttered as she spoke. 

“Girls,” she cooed, her voice taking on a different tone than what she’d been talking to Luke with. It almost melted with a soft sultriness, and their heads lifted up eagerly. “Please bathe him, and prepare some spare clothes.” 

There was a chorus of ‘yes, my Lady’’s from them, and Luke almost stuttered on a retort. “Bathe?” 

Ileana gave a fang-like smile. “You’re under my jurisdiction, and I won’t have you wearing those rags. Would you rather I force you, dear? Because you know I can, and that will only be more humiliating for you.” 

Luke’s cheeks went pink, grinding his teeth together. There wasn’t anything wrong with his rags; just because he didn’t wear such pretentious, high quality outfits didn’t mean they weren’t doing the same job. He begrudgingly glanced towards the girls, the blonde one, Lillia, having come towards him while the other two stepped through a door, leading into what Luke could only assume was a lucious, en-suite bathroom. 

“This way, please,” Lillian quietly spoke, keeping her eyes down and her hands clasped in front of her. After having been called out by Ileana, she didn’t seem to want to risk getting called out a second time. Luke felt sorry for them, forced to bend to the will of this vampire like slaves. 

He gave the silver haired vampire one last glance, before relenting. At least this way, he might be able to have some privacy. He hated the way Ileana’s bright red eyes seemed to glow in smug amusement, watching him intently as Lillia led him towards the open door, held open by the black haired girl. The other was preparing the bath, a huge ceramic tub with golden linings at the bottom. 

When the door clicked shut, Luke was left in awkward silence. 

Lillia was looking at him now, her shoulders seeming less tense. The black haired girl swept up beside her, whispering something in her ear that Luke couldn’t hear. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Lillia blush, and the other giggled softly. Taking a moment to get a better look at them, he gazed at the third by the tub, running her hand gently through the water to test the temperature. 

Awkwardly, he stepped a little closer to her. “Hey.” 

She glanced up, her eyes filling with a look of surprise for a moment. She straightened up, seemingly inching away from him. Luke wondered if she was shy or simply scared of him. He didn’t want to imagine what Ileana was doing to them. 

They were dressed, well, not provocatively, but Luke had never seen such a simple yet luxurious looking dress before. All of them were wearing it, a dress that was a smooth shade of blue, with frilly shoulders and a frilly cut out along the bottom, in the middle of their thighs. The white apron, small and rounded, fit snugly around their waist. A smooth collar decorated with a miniature ribbon was wrapped around each of their necks. 

They were like servants, obedient and yet clearly frightened of whatever approached them. 

Luke loathed the idea of becoming like this himself. 

The black haired girl suddenly appeared, gently taking her shoulders and pulling her back from Luke. He was momentarily confused, wondering if he’d done something wrong, before Lillia cleared her throat. He glanced at her. 

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her blonde eyelashes fluttering as she gazed up at him. “She’s new, and we’re not supposed to talk to other humans. Our Lady says so.” 

Luke cringed. “Your Lady?” 

Lillia nodded her head, smiling softly. Her skin almost glowed, her cheeks rosy and her eyes a unique shade of green, light and delicate as she gazed at him politely. He wearily glanced at the other two girls, the nervous one having retreated to fetch some clothes for him while the black haired girl took over on preparing the bathtub. 

The sound of rushing water filled the room. 

“You’re talking to me,” he pointed out slowly. Lillia tucked some of her hair behind her ear. It was a light shade of blonde, veering more towards an undertone of white than yellow. She was pretty. In fact, Luke found that they were all very pretty. He was a little overwhelmed, wondering if it was because of the heat from the filling tub. 

“Yes, well,” she paused, shifting on her feet. “I have been here a lot longer. Please don’t mind her. She’s just trying to get used to everything.” 

“Used to everything,” Luke scoffed, his brows pinching. “You’re Ileana’s slaves.” 

Lillia’s eyes widened. “Slaves?” She squeaked. “No, not at all. I like serving our Lady.” 

“I don’t believe that for a second,” he deadpanned. Lillia tilted her head, hands collapsing the front of her dress. She looked as though she was about to argue for a second, before indifference passed over her eyes. She gave Luke a shy once over, swallowing. He didn’t need her to say anything to understand what she was thinking. Apparently where he’d grown up was causing a lot of people to draw some unwarranted conclusions about him. 

“My name is Lillia,” she finally seemed to whisper, eyes flickering over to the other two girls. The black haired one stood by the tub, not shy about staring directly at Luke. Still, she smiled. 

“Brooke,” she introduced. She had a sprinkle of light freckles across her cheeks, framed by wavy black hair that splayed out just below her shoulders. Dark blue eyes captured his own, and Luke nodded his head. The other girl, the last one, had seemed reluctant to say anything at first. But eventually, she opted to give her name, too. 

“Cali,” she whispered softly. A similar jet black, and her hair was shorter than the other two, but it was voluptuous in volume and swooped messily over her temples. Her face was round, though hidden away by most of her hair, her eyes thin and dark. She was looking elsewhere, clutching some clothes in her arms. Luke didn’t want to, but he forced a smile on his face. 

“Nice to meet you,” he rumbled. “I’m Luke.” 

Lillia beamed. “Nice to meet you too.” 

With the exception of Cali, he noted how, although he hadn’t believed them, they seemed completely at ease with this life. Luke didn’t understand how - they didn’t seem to be compelled into doing this, just unnervingly complacent. How could they “serve” a woman, no, some creature of the night, so eagerly? 

Luke’s spiralling thoughts were cut off when he suddenly felt Lillia’s fingers on his jacket, gently prying it from his shoulders. His spine stiffened, and he knocked her hands away before he could stop himself. 

“What are you doing?” He hissed. Lillia blinked, tilting her head. 

“Undressing you,” she answered softly. “For the bath.” 

Luke stuttered on a breath, his eyes darting from one girl’s face to the other. They were all staring at him expectantly, and he couldn’t help but grip onto his jacket tightly like it was a lifeline. He struggled to find the right words. 

“While…you’re all in the room?” He stammered, feeling a twinge of embarrassment pinch his chest. “Can’t I have a little privacy?” 

From the tub, Brooke leaned forward, fingers bracketed against the edge of the bath. Her hair fell past her shoulders. “We’re unable to leave you alone.”

She almost looked like she was holding back a small laugh, as if there was some joke that Luke wasn’t privy to. “Besides, we’re not interested in you. Don’t flatter yourself.” 

“I never…” He cut himself off, swallowing the prickly pride in his throat. He doubted he could make a break for it with Ileana in the next room over. He highly doubted the girls would allow him a chance to escape before hollering for their mistress. Easing the death grip on his jacket, Luke felt humiliation burn unpleasantly at his cheeks. 

He made quick work of stripping his clothes off, not wanting to dwardle any longer. His clothes were taken by Lillia, who promptly left to discard them, no doubt never to be seen again. He felt a little bitter about that. When he settled in the tub, Brooke made quick work of lathering some thick liquid in her hands, reaching for his hair. 

He jerked away, the warm water sloshing slightly. She raised a brow. 

“It’s for your hair,” she explained, slightly amused by his confusion. “Tilt your head back a little, please.” 

Luke hesitantly did so, feeling soft fingers start to lather up the soapy shampoo on his head. The feeling was quite therapeutic, actually, and Luke swallowed, trying to let himself grow accustomed to being groomed like a dog. When Lillia returned, she leaned against the tub, and Luke felt a tug on his necklace. He slapped a hand over it, causing Brooke to lean back. He shot the blonde a sharp glare. 

“Not this,” he spoke, his voice firm. “I’m keeping this.” 

Lillia pressed her lips into a thin line, her eyes filling with sympathy. “I’m sorry. I have to discard everything.” 

The necklace pressed against his palm tightly, digging into the skin. The pressure went unnoticed, going straight to the worried stab in his heart. He couldn’t get rid of this - this was his everything, the only memory of his mother. Lillia looked almost taken aback. 

“Please,” he pressed. His voice was shaking slightly. “Not this.” 

She opened her mouth to speak, the words dying in her throat. Her eyes flickered over to Cali, who shyly glanced at her, squeezing the clothes a little tighter. It was almost as if they were communicating something with their eyes, silently. The blonde finally let out a soft sigh, her voice dropping down to an ever so quiet whisper. 

“Alright. But please remember to tuck it under your new clothes.” 

Relief washed through him. “Yeah. I will.” He relaxed slightly. “Thank you, Lillia.” 

She smiled sweetly, nodding her head slightly. She seemed a little more relaxed at Luke’s gratitude, as if she was assured she had done the right thing. The moment was broken when Brooke resumed washing his hair, and another wave of uncomfortabless washed over him. The girls seemed nice enough, but there was no way Luke couldn’t feel embarrased when he was sitting in a warm tub and being washed from head to toe. 

The bathroom filled with scents of tea tree and lavender, almost stinging his nose, the water starting to turn cloudy as time passed. Brooke was thorough with his hair, forcing him to sit there with a stubborn frown on his face. Lillia scrubbed his back and his body with a scratchy flannel, and he wondered if she was trying to take his skin apart in the process. 

There were some places they instructed him to do himself. He was okay with that. 

The tub was drained, and Luke was wrapped in a fluffy dressing gown when he emerged from the water. He was led to a small table, dried off until there was no trace of water left, and instructed to sit down. He caught a glimpse of himself in a huge mirror, and almost blanched. 

It wasn’t as though he had never caught glimpses of himself in reflections back at the camp, but it was the first time he was seeing himself properly. He couldn’t help but stare in confusion, as if he was looking back at a stranger. His locks were still damp, black and twirly, sticking to his forehead slightly. Forest green eyes shimmered slightly under the bright lights. Even though his skin had been scrubbed clean, right down to the bone, it still retained its light almond colour.

He resisted the urge to touch his face, his bottom lip still retaining a sore, red split down the middle from when Silas had backhanded him across the face. It wasn’t bleeding anymore. 

Brooke came in with a hair dryer, blowing pleasant, hot air against his hair. Her fingers genty ran through the locks, and Luke let himself shut off for a moment. It wasn’t easy to forget there were vampires in the next room over, swarming this entire building, but it was a little easier to swallow when he was surrounded by his own kind, and only them. 

Brooke then gently combed his hair, her eyes flickering up curiously. “Did you have anything like this?” 

Luke blinked, momentarily pulled out of his daze. “Huh?” 

“I mean,” she paused, tilting her head. “This is probably a big cultural shock for you.” 

It had been in the back of his mind, all of these strange contraptions and customs and things he would never know existed when living in the middle of nowhere. He had been far more focused on avoiding an unpleasant fate, but Brooke was right. He was more concerned about Ten; whether he was thinking the same things, being alone in such a scary, unfamiliar place. His heart ached. 

“Yeah,” he sighed, picking at the sleeves of the dressing gown. Definitely a big culutural shock. Cali helped dress him, simple clothes that were still silky and soft against his clean skin. He smelled strongly of tea tree too, a scent that was supposedly going to cling to him. 

Lillia tucked his necklace under the clothes.

Tag List – @whumpatize-me-captain @whump-me-all-night-long @softvampirewhump @d-cs @obsessednerd505 @suspicious-whumping-egg @sapphirechao @sparrowsage @excessive-vampires

[duchesssoflennox]

"The 88th Anniversary of The Heartbreaking Death of Princess Victoria Melita: A Royal Outcast Who Never Found Happiness" 🤍🖤💔

She was born with a silver spoon but died with a wooden one. She married for love but lost everything. She had a royal bloodline, but no country to call her own. She faced wars, revolutions, and exiles with bravery but succumbed to a broken heart. She was Princess Victoria Melita, and this is her story...🌟

Princess Victoria Melita (nicknamed Ducky) came to Paris on 19 December 1936. She was far from well at the time, but she had planned to go to Germany the next day to see her elder daughter Marie, Princess of Leiningen, who was expecting a child.🥹

Shortly after her arrival in Wurzburg, Ducky contracted a chill but she would not hear of postponing her visit to her daughter. The birth of her granddaughter, Matilda, was not attended by any complications, and in the middle of January they all returned to Schloss Amorbach.

By now she was steadily getting weaker, and the doctors were anxious But by an immense effort of will, she attended the christening ceremony of her new grandchild.

It taxed her strength considerably, and her condition continued to deteriorate.

She suffered a stroke, one side of her body was paralyzed, and she was unable to speak coherently. 🖤

In February, Ducky's youngest daughter Kira was summoned to Amorbach, and Cyril and Vladimir were warned that she had taken a turn for the worse. They left at once to go to her bedside.

Ducky's niece, Missy’s daughter Ileana came to join the unhappy vigil.

By the time they reached Ducky, she could only mutter occasional words which were barely intelligible. There was nothing more the doctors could do.

On the evening of 1 March they noticed a rapid weakening of the pulse.

Ducky's three sisters, Missy (Marie), Sandra (Alexandra) and Baby Bee (Beatrice) all joined the bedside vigil, praying for her to go quickly and instead being tormented at the sight of her lingering. 💔

At fifteen minutes past midnight on 2 March, she passed away...💔

No more moving account of her last days and death can be given than the description in Missy’s letter to Lady Astor (4 March):💔💔💔

The whole thing was tragic beyond imagination, a tragic end to a tragic life. She carried tragedy within her – she had tragic eyes – always – even as a little girl – But we loved her enormously, there was something mighty about her – she was our Conscience. But when he betrayed her, she did not know how to forgive, so she allowed him to murder her soul. From then onwards, her strength became her weakness, her undoing – she was too absolute, she could not overcome herself. And now she had to die, unforgiving! Her lips were sealed because of the stroke which had felled her to the ground – but although she knew we were there and the first day she found a murmur of recognition for each of us in turn, she shuddered away from his touch – Whilst we sat, in turns holding her hand, he stood like an outcast on the threshold of her door not daring to enter her room – It took 11 long days before she was released. The last five she lay in a sort of coma – and the end came Sunday morning exactly at 12¼ – suddenly it was all over, as she lay there grey, gaunt, the mask of grief . . . it was torture – but I am calm, I know it is better thus – she could not have lived as a cripple – but with their egoism, those she loved killed her. They left her too lonely, and she cried continually for three long years & nothing brought her comfort nor resignation, except occasionally her garden or her painting. She would not let us help her. Her faith in humanity was dead. I know how much both you & Waldorf tried to help her – she was deeply grateful, I know she was, only her dreadful habit of never answering made her case hopeless – In spite of our tremendous love for each other, because of her silence, I was never able to keep in touch with her, nor to really help her – There is an unbearable tragedy in it all . . .

The Edinburgh sisters wrapped Ducky's body in a long white robe, and in the coffin, Missy placed white lilacs around her head and shoulders. On 5 March, the coffin was brought to Coburg and placed in the family vault of the Dukes of Saxe-Coburg. The funeral took place the next day, with rain and snow flurries, adding to the gloom of an icy winter scene, as she was laid to rest beside her parents and brother...🌃

Ducky had left a wish that there should be no pomp and ceremony.

Afterward, Missy found it hard to leave the grave of the sister who ‘always hated being alone’...

As Meriel Buchanan would later write, the Grand Duchess Cyril died ‘a bitter, disappointed woman, whose brilliant personality had been warped by failure and frustration’. Now she was alone; but at last, the ‘passionate, often misunderstood child’, who had grown up into a bitter, disappointed woman, was at peace...

On the occasion of the 88th anniversary of the tragic death of Princess Victoria Melita, Grand Duchess Cyril💔💔💔

And the world moved on, oblivious to the tragedy that once graced its courts. 🌟

[lisisdead]

⭐ SPIDER-OC INTRO ⭐

⭐ Ileana Ruiz ⭐

(my spider-sonas younger sister)

Here's her lore:

Ileana Ruiz is a 4 year old Mexican-Tunisian girl and the half sister of Lysander Ponomarenko.

5 days after her birth she got bitten by a radioactive spider from her fathers laboratory, that escaped. When Ileana was 2 her mother (Siliana Aayari) got murder while she was going back from work. Luckily for Ileana, a masked guy sneaked inside her room, and it turns out to be the new vigilante named Spider-Man. He picked Ileana up and started cradling her and the guy looked around the room, realising that Ileana is his half sister, the guy introduced himself as Lysander and that he's her half brother, Ileana was happy and started giggling but then sirens was heard, Lysander grabbed some important stuff from Ileanas room and ran away with her.

Getting to know eachother better.

4 months living with Lysander was awesome for Ileana, yes they lived in a basement, but Lysander was doing his best to make her happy, he would swing around New York with Ileana. Hell, he even made her own Spidey suit. Ileana would also come along with Lysander to fight some villains and stop some crime. Lysander would always stay by her side when she can't sleep, she got attached to him.

A year later

Ileana was now known as the "New anti-heroes sister" yada yada yada.

On the day when Lysander tested out the watch, she was excited to visit different universes and for Lysanders plan to destroy alchemax in different dimensions. She jumped with Lysander into the portal and got into a different dimension. Lysander landed first on the floor, then Ileana got out from the portal, as she was falling, Lysander catched her in time and got her in his arms. As they wanted to explore the alleyway a dude attacked Lysander, Lysander was stronger than that guy and pinned him down on the wall, the guy gave up and Introduced himself as Max, and that he's the cities Spider-jester. Ileana immediately liked him and started jumping on the boy for a hug.

Lysander told Max about his plan, and Max agreed and joined Lysander.

A few dimensions later they managed to destroy 5 Alchemax facilities in different universes.

As they 3 got into a different dimension they met another spider person, she swinged to them and asked who they are, Lysander introduced himself, Ileana and Max, the girl was polite and she introduced herself as Agata Rutkowska. The 4 got along and Lysander told Agata his plan and she agreed to the plan. Lysander teleported to a different universe and landed in an alleyway.

Lysander was not paying any attention to Max, Agata and Ileana while they were eating their Bagels that they stole from a previous dimension, but then someone teleported behind Ileana, Agata and Max then grabbed them three from behind, dragging them into the portal.

As Ileana got teleported in the Spider HQ, she sees a dark laboratory and feels someone picking her up by a woman who seems to be an another Spider-person. Ileana starts yelling and crying as she watches Max and Agatha get inside a cage.

A few hours later Ileana sees a man holding Lysander, who was injured and unconscious. The man retracted his mask and put Lysander carefully and with care inside the electric field cage. The man noticed Ileana with a soft expression on his face, filled with guilt and tiredness. Ileana jumped from fear and started glaring and backing up, grabbing a near by metal pipe from the floor and started aggressively swinging it at the man. The man snatched the pipe from Ileanas hand and picked her up. Ileana started kicking him, but the man ignored it and started cradling her. Ileana calmed down and fell asleep in his arms.

Later Ileana woke up to the woman aka Jessica drew calling her name, Ileana followed her to the lab, the moment she saw that Lysander woke up and immediately rushed to his cage and hugged it, Lysander calmed down a bit, but was Glaring at the man. The man introduced himself to Ileana as Miguel O'hara and told them both that they weren't allowed to leave the HQ since they are a potential danger to the multiverse, Lysander laughed at that and Ileana was Glaring at Miguel. Lysander asked Miguel if he could talk to Max and Agata, Miguel sighed and agreed. Miguel brought Lysander to the go home machine. As they left, Ileana got bored and started drawing, then some time Later Lysander came back to the lab and Miguel started lecturing him about the Multiverse, Ileana was in the room but she didn't pay any attention because she was busy with drawing.

Later Lysander was put into a corner of the labs room and Ileana was put down to sit on the couch. It was late and Lysander fell asleep, Ileana couldn't sleep and was Glaring at Miguel all the time while he was doing his job. Miguel finally looked at Ileana, who was still glaring at him. Miguel couldn't help but see Gabriella in Ileana (Miguels deceased daughter). Miguel approached Ileana but she ran away, Miguel sighed in annoyance and started running after her telling her to come back, Ileana didn't listen and started giggling and making a mess everywhere in the HQ, Miguel caught her and firmly held her. Miguel then started singing a lullaby in Spanish to Ileana and cradled her, she later fell asleep and was brought back to the Lab.

2 months later when Lysander tried to escape the previous month, he managed to break out again, this time he picked Ileana up and started running out from the lab, he was running around the HQ as other Spider-Men and women were chasing them. As Lysander reached the Training room, his foot turned and cracked making Lysander trip on the floor, Lysander broke his foot. As he tried hopping on one leg while holding Ileana, Miguel already caught them. Miguel started scolding Lysander and they were in a yelling match, Ileana slipped out from Lysanders arms and left the room, going back to the lab.

Whilst living in the HQ, Ileana was learning Spanish from Miguel, and started seeing him as a father she never had or met. One day Ileana called Miguel "Papá" and Miguel was stunned but didn't mind it. Miguel and Ileana grew close and were also spending some time together, playing, drawing, baking. Ileana is also still on Lysanders side, playing with him despite he's inside the cage.

Present time.

Now Ileana is now 4 years old (Lysander is now 15). She is also apart of the Spider society now. She can sometimes if Miguel or Lysander allow to help in some Missions and she can also finally come back to her dimension whenever she wants or her Brother

Ileana likes being in the HQ.. she met different spider people, and is always happy to talk with them. She is also learning how to fight. Ileana also reunited with Max and Agata.

Lysander Upgraded his suit and he wanted to make Ileana happy, so he upgraded Ileanas suit as well and she LOVED it!!

Ileana is living a happy life.

Ileana is 4

Her birthday is on 02/08/****

Ileana is Half Mexican half Tunisian

She is inspired of my younger sister😭❤️

Ileana was bitten by a radioactive spider when she was a baby.

Ileana has Claws and Fangs just like Lysander, but she luckily doesn't have to drink blood to gain venom.

She also has emerald coloured venom.

Same as Lysander, her pupils dilate too whenever she feels strong emotions.

Ileana is very enthusiastic and optimistic.

Ileana loves strawberries.

Ileana is obsessed with Fnaf.

Her favourite character is Mangle, and she owns a mangle plush.

Ileana loves her brother so much that she dresses almost the same as him.

When Ileana can't sleep Lysander is always here to comfort her and helps her to sleep

Ileana calls Miguel "Papá" unlike Lysander, he is still afraid of calling him that.

Ileana loves playing with Lysander, she would always put make-up on Lysander and call him Bonita.

Ileana speaks English and Spanish, she sadly doesn't know any Arabic.

Ileana loves the colour red.

Ileana likes to listen to stories

She is very playful and likes to run around.

If Gabriella (Miguels deceased daughter) would be alive, Ileana would see her as a sister.

[ofintrusions]

Oh, is that DENALI DE LA CRUZ? I heard the TWENTY FIVE year old is CLEVER. But don’t let that pretty face fool you, they are also SARCASTIC. Makes sense seeing how they are a Black Hat Hacker in the SYNDICATE gang.

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐒 ;

Name: Denali De La Cruz

Nicknames: Nali, Dee

Age: 25

DOB: December 30th, 1999

Zodiac: Capricorn

Gender: Nonbinary

Pronouns: They/She

Sexuality: queer (wlw leaning)

Tattoos: Too many to count (canon to Lizeth's)

Piercings: Multiple on the ears & septum

Pets: Pitbull named Kitana, Xoloitzcuintli named Luna

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 ;

Theme Song: Headlock by Imogen Heap

Traits: Clever, independent, sarcastic, blunt

Moral Alignment: True Neutral

Deadly Sin: Pride

Pinterest

𝐁𝐈𝐎 ;

Trigger warnings: mentions of kidnapping

Born into the De La Cruz family, and the youngest at that, Denali didn't feel the automatic pressure to follow directly into the Serpents path. Their parents were far more concerned with the firstborn(s) of the family upholding their expectations.

Truth be told, at that time, Denali was unaware of the family business or the fact that De La Cruz's were even a founding family for a good chunk of her childhood. For all she knew, all these people that were in their lives were considered 'family' or family friends, and Andres' favorite child was Gabe seeing as he lived in their father's shadow absorbing and learning, these were just the facts Denali accepted as a kid.

They grew up loved and privileged and her siblings would probably say Denali got the easier end of things, maybe even babied more than they were. Though, a lot of that is thanks to Rosalia looking out for Denali and shielding her from things she'd seen. Every once in a while Nali would notice strange things, always ushered away whenever they'd been lurking or 'playing' near a door she most definitely shouldn't have been eavesdropping in..

Life would turn upside down for them at the age of thirteen when Rosa went missing. Devastated at the loss of her sister and confidant, the person she looked up to most, it was the first time they'd ever felt fear and the first she'd truly see her parents and family for who and what they were. Andres and Ileana pulled Denali out of school for fear of the family being targeted once more, especially as she'd been the youngest and the easiest target next; didn't matter how much money or guards and soldiers they had in their corner, they wanted Denali at home where they could keep all eyes on her.

There was a lot of resentment that grew being under her parents strict rules, feeling trapped at home and in Rosa's shadow.. Even if Denali knew why they were being over-protective. With all the extra time on their hands once she was done with her homeschooling, Denali would start to get into things their parents most definitely didn't want them getting into. At first, it was simply getting into a laptop or two, seeing and reading things Nali had no business learning just yet, which eventually led to her seeking more information and then stumbling onto the dark web in search of signs of Rosa or anything, really.

Although trying to find signs of their older sister was a bust, Denali had become aware of everything else. Looking at their options for what the future would look like, there was no way Denali wanted to become a soldier in the Serpents, or a capo having to look after those in the ranks beneath them, much to their parents dismay and pressure for her to follow the path and legacy they'd built with the other founding families. This really birthed a whole shit ton of arguments between Denali and Andres, mostly, and screaming matches between the teen and her parents, deeming her as the problem child.. Though, things became even more clear when on his deathbed, their dad named Lucky as the head of their family.

If she'd joined the Serpents, Denali would just be working as a dog for years without seeing much reward or satisfaction, so they set out to live for themself instead. Going to college granted them much more freedom, continuing their education in tech as it'd been something they'd already picked up years ago from hardware taking things apart and putting them back together, to software coding and ethical hacking that quickly became highly unethical.. Becoming part of the Syndicate's wasn't part of Nali's plan but something they'd stumbled upon. Maybe Denali accepted a job or two from them, the pay was good, really good. And well, the rest is history.

𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ;

Okay so right now this is what I can come up with on the spot but I'm down to brainstorm with people

Ex Childhood friends, besties, whatever. Esp from other founding families since they'd know each other? Maybe no longer friends due to being in different gangs

Ex partner / situationship -- I'm thinking someone in the serpents that was tasked/urged to get into a relationship with Nali to get them to stay and become loyal to the Serpents. Something her dad would've set up before he died, it was a messy breakup too, we can plot whether your character did like Denali or not. Idk we can have fun figuring it out

Hookups, friends, enemies

[deepdisireslonging]

Sunrise Guarded by Night Chapter 5: A Better Morning

When Ileana wakes up, her rescuer is still there to make sure she’s okay. Something about him seems familiar.

Pairing: Dick Grayson x Ileana Dimitriov (OC)

Warnings/Promises: SMUT, penetration, fluff, food mention

Word Count: 1220

Note: Thank you all for reading! This is the last installment of this commission. Thank you to my patron once again for requesting this work. I enjoyed writing it. As always, comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated!

Chapter 1: Every Morning || Chapter 2: New Landlord || Chapter 3: Midnight Sleuthing || Chapter 4: Rent Due

The warm glow of Ileana’s bedside lamp was the first thing to welcome her back to consciousness. The second was Nightwing’s worried face. The glow of his blue eyes was comforting. Then she suddenly remembered that this was a vigilante. A strange man. In her bedroom. With a gasp, she fumbled to create some space. 

“It’s alright.” Nightwing stood away from her bed, his hands outstretched. “How do you feel?” Her vision was clear, and nothing hurt. Surprisingly. Though there was an ache in her limbs. Nightwing nodded. “Probably the muscle tension from earlier.” He ran through a few more check-ins and small talk. But he could see the questions burning behind her eyes. 

“Will-” Ileana struggled to control her breathing, “will they come back?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps.” He sighed. “I was listening to the police radio. Domino and her helpers got away. It may be months before they try something else. Or they may start recollecting tomorrow.” 

Ileana’s already short breath quickened. Hot fearful tears pricked at her eyes. As they started to fall, Nightwing sat by her side. He removed his gloves so his warm hands could lightly brush away the drops. He murmured reassuring words while she cried. He had already called Tajra and let her know everything was fine. And Wayne Enterprises would send someone to repair the shoppe while it was closed. No matter what happened with Domino or Jack or John, he promised to keep an eye on the Cuppa Sunrise. 

After her hiccupping receded, Nightwing stilled. Reaching up, he caught an eyelash on her cheek. “Allow me.” Ileana caught herself holding her breath. “Make a wish.”

Familiarity rushed in. She couldn’t say his name. But what if- 

“Dark roast with a blueberry croissant?”

His eyes widened and he sucked in a breath. No. He had to maintain a poker face. Nightwing coughed. “Uh, pardon?”

“It is you.” Her hands fisted the sheets. “Here I was worrying about you in the daytime. Now I’m going to worry about you at night too.”

“You worry about me?”

“Of course.”

His mask covered the top of his warming cheeks. While Dick suddenly found himself warm under the collar, Ileana shivered. She needed to hold him. She needed to be held. It wasn’t until she was in his arms that Ileana realized she’d reached for him. 

Each word stuttered in their tumble out of her lips. “Please. I’m- I’m going to fly apart. I need- I don’t know what I need.” Her nails clawed at the back of his uniform. 

“I’ve got you.”

He held her tight. The thrumming singing in her bones shifted from fear to comfort to… arousal. And – wow – his day uniform hid his muscles really well. She gripped his bicep, trying to pull him closer. Then snatched her hand away. “Your arm-”

“I’ll be fine.” He talked and shed his gear till only his pants and undershirt remained. “After our last encounter, I revamped the Kevlar. I’ll bruise for a week or two. Or three. But I’ll be alright-” his words stuttered out. Ileana’s lips pressed at the growing purple spot. He swallowed. Hard. 

“Does anywhere else hurt?”

Holding his breath, Dick noted another bruise on his other arm. “Here.” She kissed where he pointed. “Here.” The bump on his knee where he tripped. “And, here,” he breathed. Ileana leaned up to kiss the underside of his jaw, sore where Jack had held him. She reached into his hair, massaging away the pain of having it pulled earlier. Dick hesitated from kissing her back. “Is this okay? I don’t want you to think you need- I don’t need… payment or anything.”

Ileana leaned back, still massaging his head. “I know. Is it okay if I want this? Do you want this?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“I’m still charging you for coffee-”

He smiled against the corner of her mouth. “Deal.” 

While his mouth explored hers, they desperately fumbled to remove each other’s clothes. Ileana felt each ripple of muscle, each scar, and each rush of heat. Dick felt her body tremble against his. When there was nothing between them except air, he began to kiss every inch of her skin that his lips could find. She sighed when his teeth grazed over her nipples. And when his fingers dug into her hips. Ileana found herself arching into his touch, willing his fingerprints to forever imprint onto her skin. When his thumb first grazed at the hood of her clit, she jolted. 

Steadily, he worked her sex till she was a mess. One finger, then two, curling and scissoring in ways that stole her ability to think. With his cheek pressed against hers, Ileana grounded herself by running her fingers into his hair. His fingers quickened. Soon, she was crying out his name. No matter which way she writhed or pleaded, he was relentless. The only reprieve she received was when she stopped pulling his hair. 

“Go on,” Dick said, nosing at her jaw. “If my scalp’s gonna hurt in the morning, I’d rather it be because of you.” 

She held on for dear life. When she did tug, he groaned against her neck, thrusting against the sheets.

“I need-” she gasped, “Dick-”

“We’ll get there, sweetheart-”

“I’m about to-”

“I know. Let go. I’ve got you.” 

As her body seized, Ileana saw stars. Dick gingerly worked through her orgasm, easing her down till she could breathe again. 

But he was far from done. 

Nose to nose, Dick eagerly watched her reactions as he lined himself up, teasing the head of his cock through her juices. Gently around her sensitivity, he eased in, breathing heavily against her lips. He nuzzled into her kisses, flushing when she initiated the pace. If he had been hungry for her before, she was ravenous for him now. He met her thrust for thrust, breath for breath. 

They canted and flew together. When blips of what brought them here, the danger and the hurt, crept into Ileana’s mind, Dick groaning her name pushed them away. When Ileana’s grasp found Dicks’s bruises and aches, she replaced the pain with arousal. They were the recovery and reassurance each other needed. 

Light blossomed behind Ileana’s fluttering eyelids. She cried out his name again. As her release flooded her senses, her walls clamped down and brought Dick to his own end. He muffled his broken roar against her shoulder and collapsed to one side. 

They barely moved for the rest of the night, except to have round two. And three. When Saturday’s sunrise broke through her blinds, they managed to make breakfast with minimal kitchen shenanigans. But he had her across the counter before he left that afternoon. 

***

Sunday morning, Ileana welcomed Tajra with a bright smile. The store looked good as new, like nothing had happened, thanks to Wayne Enterprises. The envelope of money was safe, locked away in a drawer by the oven. Both women would go Monday to redeposit it. 

Officer Grayson breezed in and ordered his coffee and pastry at the usual time. And he left with only a slightly longer lingering of his hand under Ileana’s as she handed him his change. Which he immediately dropped into the tip jar. 

Tajra bumped her shoulder after he left. “So, now that this is over, you’re going to ask for his number, right?”

Ileana laughed. 

[corallapis]

things i am thinking about... the way turlough talks to ileana both out of Jealousy and, i fear, bc he actually believes that the doctor might leave someone (him) behind if they make the wrong choice. how long have they been travelling together in planet of fire when he sabotages the tardis to stop the trion ship signaling & then blatantly lies to the doctor’s face about it? because he still can’t say anything abt his past? boy he FORGAVE you for the black guardian thing. he keeps choosing you even though he knows you’re a coward & a liar & a sneak. what are you still so ashamed of?? why are you running??? AND THEN! when he is forced to tell the doctor a very limited (& possibly sanitized?) summary of his past, he leaves even though he doesn’t want to go. do you think he’s preempting the doctor???? leaving so the doctor won’t tell him to? god. i know i’m way extrapolating here but it would explain why it literally looks like he’s walking off to the gallows even though he says the words ‘my exile has been rescinded’

[sjsmith56]

The Sweet and the Bitter - Chapter 24, Lord Buchanan

Summary: On his way back home from the King’s palace, Buchanan discovers a treasure trove but his excitement is dampened by the news that unrest threatens their efforts to regain their lost technology. Ileana goes into early labour. The birth of their child is accompanied by a loss.

Length: 5.4 K

Characters: Lord and Lady Buchanan, Bruce Banner, Commander Rhodes, Mary, Buchanan’s father.

Warnings: If you find childbirth stories traumatic perhaps skip this chapter. There is also the brief but emotional description of the death of a loved one.

Author notes: Life is full of ups and downs, highs and lows. Sometimes it happens all at once.

<<Chapter 23

📚 👶🏻

The christening of Prince Joseph was a great event in the kingdom, attended by all the Lords and their Ladies with the exception of Lady Buchanan and Lady Falcon who were both too close to their delivery dates. As godmother to the Prince it was necessary for a proxy to represent Ileana at the ceremony. Lord Buchanan was surprised when he arrived just an hour prior to the ceremony to discover it would be Lady Isabella Pierce, who was still living in the palace with the King and Queen. Her investiture would be taking place the following day and like Baroness Romanoff she had determined she would also take her mother's name for her title, Baroness Blackstone.

"Lady Isabella," said Lord Buchanan, when he greeted her prior to the christening. "I am sorry I am unable to stay for your investiture but I assure you I support your ascension to the nobility. I promised Lady Buchanan I would return immediately after the christening."

"Lord Buchanan," she replied. "Of course, you must return to your Lady's side in case your child arrives early. Your support has never been in doubt. His Majesty has assured me that with your castle only an hour's ride away from mine I can count on your counsel when needed."

He bowed deeply and together they awaited the arrival of the royal party to begin the ceremony to name the young prince. As they waited the other Lords and their Ladies arrived and there was much talk with Buchanan about the damage done to his lands from what Bruce Banner and Queen Jane had described as a super bolide that exploded in the atmosphere to the east of Buchanan's lands. He thanked all of them again for their help in rebuilding the destroyed homes of his tenants. As he did so the royal party arrived and Buchanan got his first look at Prince Joseph. The King held his son, attired in a long white silk gown, proudly showing him to his foster brother.

"He looks like you," said Buchanan. "Fair in face and hair. He will be a bonny child."

"I was present at his birth," said King Steven. "Peg insisted I be there as apparently it is a common thing in modern worlds. Truly, women are the stronger sex. It was a moving experience to see his first breath and hear his first cry. Has Ileana requested you be there?"

"Aye, she has," said Buchanan. "I am not sure I want to see her in such pain. However, if you say it was worth it then I will strive to endure it for her sake."

"It was worth it, Buck," said the King earnestly. "It is truly something you will never forget. You return home after the ceremony, I assume."

"Aye, I promised," said Buchanan. "Ileana is quite uncomfortable. The baby presses upon a nerve and it causes her considerable discomfort. She needs assistance to rise most of the time."

"Natasha is also quite uncomfortable," said Lord Falcon, who had overheard their conversation and joined them. "Hasn't stopped her from some training. She still practices with her bow. I make sure I am elsewhere when she does for it seems that my attempts at humour don't always please her."

All three men laughed, having felt the sting of comments from their wives as their tempers were stressed in the final part of their pregnancies. The arrival of the Sorceress and the priest Erasmus signalled the assembled nobility to remove themselves to the abbey and be seated for the ceremony. The royal party, Lord Buchanan and Lady Isabella would follow the priests down the aisle to the altar where the baptismal font was uncovered awaiting the ceremony. As a fanfare proceeded them, King Steven held his son, with Queen Peg holding his arm, both walking down the aisle showing the Prince to all those assembled. Erasmus greeted everyone and began the ceremony, shortened like many other of the ancient ceremonies. He thanked God for the safe delivery of the child, the health of his mother, and the continuation of the line of rulers in the house of Rogers. Then he called forth the god parents who affirmed their commitment to the protection of the Prince. The holy water was spread over Joseph's forehead, the sign of the cross made and a prayer said for the hope the young baby would grow to be a good and strong man. As the choir stood to sing a hymn the royal party and godparents departed and retired to the King's reception hall where refreshments were ready. Lord Buchanan stayed for an hour then took his leave of his foster brother to begin the long journey back to his lands.

An hour into his journey he stopped briefly at Sir Archer Barton's farm, extending his greetings to his friend, and also to William and Lila Harley who were now living in a well built stone cottage at the corner of the farm. The young couple looked happy enough, admitting having the wedding ceremony in the cave was an experience they would never forget. After watering Magnus, Buchanan bade them farewell and began his journey to the ravine. It must have been the lengthening shadows that drew his attention to the cave opening that presented itself to him on his journey down as he had not noticed it on his trip to the palace going in the opposite direction. Dismounting Magnus and removing a small battery light from his saddle bag he carefully stepped over the pile of rocks gathered around the opening. Once he stepped inside he realized it wasn't a cave but a building. In fact it was a library but a greater library than he had ever seen. He himself owned about a thousand books but this space was much larger and held thousands of books. Many were scattered but even the limited reach of his light showed rows upon rows of shelves full with books. He kneeled down to pick up one that was on the floor. Titled The Martian he read the first few pages, realizing it described a group of men and women who had travelled across space to another planet. A tragedy resulted in one of them being stranded alone on its foreign sands. Although some of the language was strange it was also compelling and he found himself entranced by it. Another book on the floor caught his attention, The Case For Mars and he looked at others scattered on the floor all with variations including the word Mars in the titles. Gathering several of them he turned back to the entrance. This was a treasure house, of that he was certain. He packed them in his saddlebags, then looked sombrely at Magnus.

"Remember this spot," he said to his horse.

It was dark when he finally arrived back at his castle. He had used his battery light until the charge wore out to light the path after the sun set. Fortunately with the full moon now risen he and Magnus were able to keep to the safe path in the boggy areas near his castle. Rhodes was still up when Buchanan arrived. He lifted his saddle bags off Magnus before the groom took his horse, and brought them to his commander.

"You're later than we expected," said Rhodes. "I was about to form a search party for you."

"I was delayed," said Buchanan, "by the discovery of a cave in the ravine. There must have been a rockfall that dislodged the rocks that had concealed it before. Once I was inside I discovered it wasn't a cave but a library, buried beneath the mountain, which mustn't be a mountain but the remains of a much larger building. I pulled these out."

He removed the half dozen books from his saddle bags and showed them to Rhodes whose eyes grew wide at the sight of them. Handling them gingerly he opened them and read the first paragraphs of several.

"Our ancestors had travelled to Mars?" he said incredulously. "They put themselves in versions of the missiles in the silos and went across the distance to that small red speck in the sky to live there? Are they there still?"

Buchanan shrugged. "Who knows?" he replied. "But I must make people aware of this discovery. There are thousands of books in there, more perhaps. We need a new structure to house them for surely now that there is an opening into it they are at risk from the weather or creatures who will use the space as their lair. Can you imagine how much knowledge is in there? Knowledge that can help us transform our world back into a modern one."

Rhodes took a deep breath and leaned back into his chair. "Perhaps we should keep it secret for now," he said soberly. "A discovery of this magnitude will excite most people, as it has you, but there may be others who fear the change it might bring. They may wish to destroy it."

Buchanan looked puzzled and concerned at Rhodes. "Have there been people who have expressed discontent at the changes wrought so far?" he asked.

"Not many," said Rhodes. "They refuse to use the battery lanterns, calling them instruments of the devil. I have taken the liberty of posting guards at the missile silo as one of Farmer Patrick's sons caught one attempting to enter the structure with an ax. He wished to cause damage to the machines inside.  Young Alan was strong enough to subdue the man and they brought him to us immediately. At first I thought it was the actions of a singular troubled man but there have been others who have said troubling things. Some have said the meteor that exploded to the east was because we have angered God. I'm sorry I didn't bring it up before as the incidents have been few and far between. You had much on your plate with the rebuilding of tenant's homes. But this discovery ... I fear it may incite some to drastic action."

"Very well," said Buchanan. "I trust your assessment of this. It must still be secured against incursion. Take some trusted men and seal it up until I can get the cooperation of the other Lords to store the books elsewhere in a safe location. It was visible on the return trip through the ravine so you may have to go through and double back to see it. These volumes I will keep and show Bruce. He, at least, will see the value in them."

It was agreed and both men bade the other a good night. Buchanan took the books and his saddle bags into his suite, entering his dressing room via the servant's entrance so he wouldn't disturb Ileana in her sleep. He left them there and disrobed, washing his body quickly from the grime of travel. Then he pulled his nightshirt on and entered his bedroom quietly in the dark. Slipping under the covers he spooned behind his wife who stirred as he placed his arm on her belly.

"James, you're late," Ileana said, sleepily.

"Aye, I'm sorry to waken you," he said. "Go back to sleep. We can talk in the morning."

She pulled his arm closer over her and sighed in contentment as he held her. Breathing in her scent he shifted so he was comfortable and closed his eyes. He needed a night of sleep to consider how this latest discovery could be shared.

Ileana awakened before her husband, as the baby had started moving prior to sunrise. Without wakening her husband she successfully rose from the bed, then after relieving herself, climbed back in and laid on her side watching him sleep, knowing he had often done the same to her in the time they had been together. When his eyes finally opened he smiled at her and raised himself to kiss her tenderly.

"You arrived late in the night," she said. "Was there a problem on the return journey?"

"No," he replied. "In fact, I was delayed because I made a discovery, in the ravine and took the opportunity to explore it. An opening in the rocks that appeared to be a new cave was uncovered by a rock fall. When I went inside I found something very valuable. Wait on me for a moment while I retrieve what I found."

He returned a few minutes later with the books in hand and brought them to the bed. With an excited smile she picked them up and held them in her hands, examining them.

"Library books," she said. "Look, they still have their barcode on them, Brooklyn Public Library. With the RFID tags still inside as well. I read this one, The Martian. I wonder if it is the same book in this world as it is in mine."

"There were thousands of them," said Buchanan. "I just grabbed these as they were all about Mars."

"They probably had a display of Mars books," said Ileana. "They would do that. Romance books for Valentine's Day, Irish author's for St. Patrick's Day. James, we have to let people know about this. There is so much information in there. And computers...there will be computers as well that we can access and power up to do calculations for the missiles when we launch them."

He looked away and then back at her. "About that," he said reluctantly. "Rhodes informed me there have been signs of unrest among some people with the pace of changes being wrought through the kingdom. He feared they may attempt to destroy the Library if we don't secure it first."

"No," she said with disappointment. "I know that it seems to be going too fast but if we don't we may not survive the next impact."

"There are some that say what happened last month was us angering God," he replied. "I'm not one of them but Rhodes had to put a guard on the missile silo after a man was prevented from entering it with an ax."

"Oh, James," she said, feeling helpless. "How do we get them to see the light? Perhaps if you can find some religious texts in the Library that support science they can use them to make those who are anxious more comfortable with the changes. You see these numbers on the spine of the book? Those indicate how books are divided by subject. I believe religion is in the 200s."

He smiled at her. "You know the significance of the numbers?" he asked.

"I went to the Library a lot," she replied. "I could borrow 20 books for three weeks and as long as I returned them on time could borrow 20 more. It beat buying them. While I was attending university, I worked in the public library, shelving books as a part-time job. If you do start looking for books to help our situation you should look for those in the 500s and 600s, pure science and applied science. The latter, especially in the 620s, will tell you about building machines."

Buchanan leaned forward and kissed his wife. "You are full of surprises, my Lady," he said. "You went to university as well? Perhaps I should ask the King to make you the kingdom's librarian once you have had our child."

"I'll be too busy," she laughed.  "But I will write down the significance of the numbers so that whoever goes to retrieve them can focus on the more important ones first."

The doors to their dressing rooms opened signalling that Beth and Tom were ready to help them bathe and change into their clothes. They kissed then both went to perform their morning ablutions. After dressing they went down to the kitchen, with Buchanan offering his arm to Ileana as she stepped down the stone stairs. When she arrived Cook made a big fuss over her.

"M'Lady, you shouldn't be coming down those stairs in your condition," she fussed. "Please, let me take your meal up to the dining room."

"It doesn't smell as good as it does in here, Cook," replied Ileana, to the smiles of Buchanan. "I would keep you there and then who would supervise your apprentices as you tend to me?"

"Aye, that's true," agreed Cook, then she spoke in a low voice. "I would trust them to run the kitchen for a short time but don't you tell them! I don't want them to think they're quite ready for a Lord's kitchen just yet."

The couple ate their breakfast then went up the stairs slowly to see the elder James Barnes. He had been feeling poorly for several weeks and James made an effort to see him several times a day. He especially wanted to tell him about the christening of young Prince Joseph James Rogers. Today was not meant to be as he was quite out of sorts and even the presence of his son did not calm him. Buchanan gave permission for a calming draught to be administered then left as Mary and the nurses he had brought in attempted to get him to drink it. Stopping at his dressing room to get the library books Buchanan brought them into his own personal library where Bruce was working on some equations. He put them on the table in front of him and stepped back.

"I found a library," said Buchanan. "Brooklyn Public Library, not far from your hut, in fact. The mountain surrounding the ravine is actually a building and these were inside. Did you know about the unrest over the modern technology we are discovering?"

Bruce's excitement was tempered by the acknowledgement that he did know. "Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," he said. "Rhodes and I talked about it and we didn't want to add to your pressures with all the building that was happening, then your father's health, and the baby coming."

"I am the Lord of these lands," said Buchanan, angrily. "It is my responsibility to know. All the excitement and anticipation I felt when I discovered the library was dampened by the revelation there are people in my lands who would destroy it if given the chance."

He sat down heavily at the chair across from Banner and ran his hands through his hair. Ileana sat next to him, putting her hand on his.  Placing his other hand on hers he smiled then turned to Banner again.

"Forgive me, friend," said Buchanan. "I know you and Rhodes were trying to help but I need to know the temper of my tenants if I am to deal with them rationally. Rhodes is taking a contingent to secure the opening that led me into the library so that no one else finds it. These books were scattered on the floor so I gathered them to share my discovery. Ileana has suggested that when we return we get the computers so we can ... what did you call it?"

"Reprogram them to run calculations," she said. "There must be others with computer programming experience. There's probably enough resources in the library to teach programming if not."

"That's a good idea actually," admitted Bruce, gesturing to the papers in front of him. "It beats trying to do it by hand. You don't have any self taught mathematicians posing as farmers that can help me with this, do you?"

"Perhaps," said Buchanan, smiling slightly. "I only learned this morning my own wife went to university. Why she would marry me, a mostly self-educated man is beyond me."

"You have many qualities my Lord," said Ileana, affectionately. "A good mind is one of them. You seek out knowledge always. That you recognized the value of these books is proof of that."

"I've always respected your intellect, James," said Bruce. "You do seek knowledge. Even though I have several university degrees I've always judged a man by his character and you are a man whose character cannot be faulted."

"What exactly are your degrees in?" asked Ileana, curious.

"I'm an M.D., and also have PhDs in nuclear physics, biochemistry, radio physics, engineering, robotics, computer science, and mathematics," said Bruce, quietly. "I could deliver your baby if Dr. Madison or the midwife is indisposed. I could teach anyone who is interested computer programming but the problem with having that many degrees is that I'm just spread too thin. If I get frustrated then I run the risk of the big guy coming back in his worst form, and he doesn't care about the knowledge at all. He's just angry."

"Well, big guy or not, I'm glad you're living with us in the castle," said Ileana. "You've made a difference to many people. Once I have this baby ...."

Ileana made a face and shifted. "Are you alright?" asked Bruce.

"Just a weird feeling in my back," said Ileana. "Like an elastic band being stretched. I felt it earlier but said nothing then as I thought I had just overdid it. I guess I shouldn't have taken so many stairs already today."

"Could be Braxton-Hicks contractions," said Bruce. "You're what 37 weeks?"

"About that," she said, "give or take a week. You don't think the baby's coming, do you?"

"Probably not," said Bruce. "Would you let me examine you? It's been a long time but a doctor never forgets."

Ileana looked at Buchanan and he nodded so she agreed. Buchanan picked her up in his arms and carried her to their suite, laying her in the bed. Bruce directed that she be undressed to her chemise with no undergarments so he called in Beth. Bruce used Buchanan's dressing room to take his jacket and vest off then washed his hands. While Buchanan washed, Bruce allowed Tom to dry his hands with a clean drying cloth.

"I'm going to take an incredible liberty with your wife," said Bruce. "I need to examine her cervix which is in the birth canal. If she's in labour there will be visible signs that will confirm it. Do you have one of your battery torches handy? I will need you to shine it in there so I can see. If labour is started there won't be any way for me to stop it. Three weeks early isn't great but it is survivable even for your world."

Buchanan nodded nervously and the two men returned to the bedroom where Ileana laid in her chemise. She informed them she felt another weird feeling in her back, stronger than the first one. Bruce had her open her legs and with Buchanan shining the torch Bruce apologized for the liberty and began to examine her. A few minutes later he stepped back and looked at them both.

"You're in labour," he said. "You're already about 5 cm dilated. Like I told James, 3 weeks early isn't great but your baby is almost to term already. This final month is just basically to gain weight. Your labour pains are going to get stronger and more painful. When you get to 7 cm dilated then it will ramp up. Did you have a birth plan with Dr. Madison?"

"She was coming to see me this week," said Ileana. "We were going to discuss it then. The pain is the biggest thing, right? There's no such thing as epidurals and I don't want to be drugged to the point where I'm not aware. How painful is it?"

"Third world mothers do it all the time without pain medication," said Bruce. "It doesn't kill you but you'll probably wish you were dead at some point. James, I would send for the local midwife. I'll stay in case there are problems but a midwife will have much more available in her birthing kit to keep Ileana as comfortable as possible. She probably has natural herbs that can go a long way to relieving the stress. You're staying, right?"

Buchanan nodded and asked Beth to summon the midwife. Bruce asked Tom for a freshly washed short sleeve nightshirt for him and Buchanan to wear. He ordered hot water, heat packs and cold packs, plus a supply of drying cloths and extra bedding. While they were waiting Bruce told Ileana and Buchanan to walk around the room to stimulate labour. The midwife came while they were walking and she looked at Bruce, with some trepidation.

"You know midwifery?" she asked pointedly.

"I've delivered a few babies in my time," he said. "The last time I checked, her cervix was dilated half way about 5 cm. Her mucus plug is gone but her water hasn't broken yet. She was about 5 minutes between contractions. I've got heat and cold packs for pain but I'm hoping you have some herbs with you. I will insist that you wash your hands well, including your fingernails."

She smiled. "I have taken training with Dr. Madison," she said. "It is good that you know what you're doing. Will you and Lord Buchanan be staying?"

"We are," replied Bruce. "You're in charge. I'll assist, if that's alright."

She nodded and laid out several layers of bedding on the bed. Then she went to the bathing room with her bag, changed, put her hair up, and washed her hands for 5 minutes before returning. She called the couple over and examined Ileana again, confirming that she would soon be in hard labour.

"You can keep walking until it becomes unbearable or you can lie down," she said. "It is your choice. I have some lavender that you can smell as you walk, or in a tea. It will help somewhat with the pain. M'Lord, during a contraction you can rub M'Lady's back. Once it becomes unbearable we will put a hot pack under her back for the pain and one at the birth canal to soften the cervix. Don't worry, I have delivered several hundred children over the years and haven't lost one yet."

They kept walking for another half hour then Ileana had a particularly strong contraction that doubled her over. The midwife, Berta, directed that she should come to the bed and Buchanan carried her. Berta directed that he take his boots off and sit behind Ileana supporting her from behind. Mary came to check in then, as Beth had alerted her and she watched quietly as Berta talked Ileana through some breathing to deal with a contraction. With Bruce holding the torch, Berta examined her then called for the drying cloths, packing them under Ileana. Within minutes her water broke and the cloths soaked them up. Mary called for more and handed off the wet ones to Beth while helping pack the dry ones. Over the next few hours Ileana's labour progressed and they changed the heat packs, then put a cold washcloth on her forehead. Finally, she was fully dilated and the midwife spoke kindly to her.

"M'Lady Ileana," she said quietly. "You are now ready to bring your child into the world. I know you are tired but this is a woman's finest moment. You're going to summon all of your strength and love for your husband and your child while pushing down on your nether regions with all of your might. You will do it as many times as it takes to bring the head out. I can see already that it is a dark haired child. Once the head is out you will pant like a dog in the heat. Are you ready M'Lady? Push, push hard."

Four times she asked Ileana to push, which she did with great cries of exertion, until finally the head was out. Bruce handed Berta the suction device and she cleared the baby's nose and mouth. Then she summoned Ileana to push again as one arm was born then in a rush the rest of the baby came out and everyone cried out in joy. It was a little girl, smaller than normal but perfectly formed. Berta laid her upon Ileana's belly and gently rubbed the baby's chest. There was no sound at first, then a squawk like a bird followed by a good strong cry. Bruce nodded at Buchanan and the relief on his face was palpable. Berta waited for the umbilical cord to stop pulsing then tied it off. With a flame she burnt the edge of a knife and cut through the cord between the ties. She quickly did some tests which Bruce nodded his approval of, declaring the baby was sound, healthy and would soon gain the weight she needed. The little girl was wrapped well, given to Ileana to hold and once the afterbirth came out the others retreated to another part of the room to give the new parents time alone with their daughter.

"My Ileana," said Buchanan, lovingly. "She is as beautiful as you. Thank you for letting me be here. Women are truly the stronger sex for I know no man who could do what you just did."

"Nonsense," she said although she was flattered. "What will we name her?"

"What is your mother's name?" he asked.

"Livia," she replied. "Yours was Win?"

"Yes, short for Winter. We will honour our mothers and call her Livia Winter Barnes, agreed?" he asked.

"Agreed," she replied and they sealed it with a kiss.

Livia began to fuss and the midwife said Ileana could feed her. Baring a breast she fed her daughter who nursed hungrily. Buchanan touched her tiny hand, smiling when she grasped it as she suckled. He kissed his wife then his daughter, almost overwhelmed with the emotion of the moment. When Livia was satisfied, the midwife showed them how to wrap her up. Buchanan asked if he could take her to his father. Mary accompanied him, complimenting him and Lady Ileana on their daughter. They entered his father's room, finding him sitting by the chair, looking out the window.

"Father, I bring you a granddaughter," said Buchanan. "We named her Livia Winter for both of our mothers."

The older man's face lit up and he looked at the baby with love, touching her hand with his large farmer's finger which Livia grasped tightly.

"For such a little one she is strong," said the elder Barnes. "Well done, Bucky boy, my dear son. I'm tired Mary, and would like to go to bed. Please help me."

Kindly, she took him by the arm and helped him out of the chair and into his bed. He smiled again at his son and granddaughter before Buchanan left. Returning to his wife who had been cleaned up by Beth and the midwife, Buchanan laid Livia in the cradle which had been brought out to the side of the bed. Just as he rose from doing so, Mary came in crying.

"My Lord, your father," she gasped. "He's gone. He breathes no more."

Buchanan ran out of the room to his father's side where he lay peacefully on his bed, his eyes open and a small smile on his face. With a sob he closed his father's eyes and kneeled at the bed holding the hand of the man who had raised him. He stayed there for some time before he stood up and kissed the forehead of his father. Mary waited just inside the door, her face a mask in grief.

"No tears, Mary," said Buchanan. "He lived long enough to see and touch his grand daughter. He died a happy man because today he sees my mother again. We will bury him where he can see his garden and feel the morning sun. Now, I'll return to my wife and celebrate the birth of my daughter for she came early to meet her grandfather before he left this world, almost as if she knew."

He returned to Ileana who awaited him having learned of his father's passing. He dismissed Tom and undressed himself, washing his body carefully then put his best silk nightshirt on and slipped under the covers with his wife. After kissing her tenderly for giving him a healthy daughter, he cried for his father while Ileana comforted him. Later that night when Livia cried to be fed he watched his wife and daughter in the dim illumination of the battery light, happy that grandfather and granddaughter had at least met. Life was both bitter and sweet as had been shown to him today of all days.

Chapter 25>>

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[conquerthenight]

44. With the de Winters!

TW: Suicide attempt

He had slipped out of the house hours before dawn, wandering the grounds aimlessly. The sun was just on the horizon when he caught sight of two silhouttes standing near the window of Rebeca’s bedroom. For a moment, Maxim wondered if sleep deprivation had caused him to begin hallucinating. No one ever went in there, no one except Mrs. Danvers. He had refused to set foot anywhere near the west wing since that night. It brought back far too many memories.

The way she used to taunt him, laughing in his face about the men she had had. He had never satisfied her and she made sure that he knew it. He had been content to ignore her, live separate lives once it was apparent that she would never love him. Rebecca had chosen a different course. If he thought about hard enough, he could feel her nails digging into his skin. He had never thought of himself as the type to lay his hands on a woman, and he had never retaliated.

Never, until he lost all control and throttled her. He had lost his temper plenty of times in a verbal sense. Ileana, Bea, and even Frank could attest to having heard him yell, curse, and sometimes even threaten. It was something Maxim was not at all proud of, especially last night’s outburst, but he vowed never to go as far as physical violence ever again. No one would know that he was a murderer if he had any luck.

No one except Rebecca herself.

Maybe he really was hallucinating, for the only explanation for someone else to be in Rebecca’s room with Mrs. Danvers was if Rebecca herself had had enough of tormenting his mind and rose from the grave to haunt him in the flesh.

Then the window opened, and the two figures stepped towards the edge. As expected, Mrs. Danvers was standing there, staring out at the sea in the distance. Her hand seemed to be placed on Ileana’s shoulder.

Ileana. Not Rebecca. What was Ileana doing there? She had stepped away from Mrs. Danvers and was looking downward, standing so close to the edge. Far too close for comfort.

Was she about to jump?

Immediately, Maxim made a mad dash toward the house only to stop dead in his tracks when he saw his young wife plummeting toward the ground. He knew he was too far away to catch her, but still he shouted her name and ran to her like he never had before.

“God damn it, Ileana, please be alive” He repeated the phrase with desperation as soon as he reached her. She had landed on her back, and there was blood coming in from what Maxim could only assume was a head wound. He scooped her up and ran her inside, shouting barely coherent pleas for someone to call a doctor, for his wife to be ok.

Ileana began to stir after a few minutes. Her eyes opened very slowly. “Maxim, what happened?” She asked groggily, groaning in pain.

Maxim immediately sat down by her side and squeezed her hand. “Thank god you’re alive! What the bloody hell were you thinking jumping out the window like that?” His voice betrayed a sense of worry that he had never allowed anyone to hear before.

In a way he already knew the answer. No one would jump out a window unless they intended to end their own life.

“I…wanted to die” There it was. Ileana had confirmed the worst. “You’d be better off”

Last night. The ball. The dress. The way he got up in her face and screamed. He hadn’t even apologized for it. Had he driven her to try and kill herself? He must have.

“Don’t say that, please,” Maxim begged her. “I’m so fucking sorry, for everything. You weren’t to know about the dress last night and I was a bloody arsehole. I love you. You know that”

It was a lie, she didn’t know he loved her. This was the first time he had said it, and he hadn’t shown it very well at all since their arrival at Manderley nearly 5 months ago.

He would remedy that and more, if only the powers that be would let her live.

Ileana stared at him with wide, exhausted eyes. It was painfully obvious that she hadn’t expected his declaration. However, the shock gave way to a smile as she closed her eyes once more. “I love you too”

She was about to drift out of consciousness again. Maxim couldn’t let that happen. “No. No, stay with me, darling. The doctor’s going to arrive any moment” He gently tapped her cheek in an attempt to keep her awake.

Ileana hummed. “I don’t know…how long I’ll last” She did not open her eyes, and there was an audible crack in her voice.

Maxim kissed her hand, then her forehead. He could not lose her. He would not lose her. Not here, not now. “You’re going to live, Ileana. I swear to god, you’ll live”

“You…really think so?” Ileana asked.

Maxim nodded, wanting to offer his poor wife some comfort, but finding himself struggling for words. “If you die I’m going to kill you” He blurted out impulsively after a short silence, realizing too late what he had said. For one thing it made no sense, and for another he had no intention of killing anyone, let alone Ileana.

He would never repeat what he had done to Rebecca.

“Wouldn’t that rather defeat the purpose, darling?” His wife had just repeated the exact same words he himself had used in response to that insipid Mrs. Van Hopper back in Monte Carlo. Maxim would have found it funny had those words come out of anyone else’s mouth, but Ileana said them with such sincerity that he couldn’t laugh.

He gave her a quick peck on the lips, stroking her cheek with his free hand.“Yes. Yes it would”

[avvail-whumps]

Royal Bought #7: Thorns and Roses

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content warnings: vampire whump, lady whumper, multiple lady whumpees, conditioned whumpees, defiant whumpee, hypnosis, manhandling,

Luke gently ran a hand over the front of his shirt, feeling the outline of the necklace there against his palm, completely hidden. Lillia gently buttoned up the last button, her eyes flitting up to his for a moment, before she stepped backwards.

He wanted to thank her again, his heart twisting slightly from the relief, but it went unspoken.

With Lillia leading the way, he was taken back to Ileana, who seemed to have seated herself at the wooden desk, her intense eyes pinning Luke to the spot as soon as he crossed the threshold.

“We’re finished, my Lady,” Lillia smiled sweetly, and Ileana rose to her feet, smoothly and gracefully, coming towards them. Luke steeled himself to the ground, watching as those pointy fingers gently carressed the bottom of Lillia’s chin, almost making her purr.

“Thank you, my darlings,” she cooed, giving Luke a slow once over. He was suddenly aware of how heavy his necklace was on his collarbone. The girls didn’t seem worried. Ileana’s lips spread into a sly smile, stepping up close to him and invading his space. She seemed to anticipate that he would take a step back, because her long, slender fingers suddenly snapped to his jaw, keeping him still. The sharp fingernails dug into his flesh, and he bit back a painful hiss.

“Much better,” she hummed, jerking his head to the side and inspecting him. The pointy nails were going to leave crescent shaped dents on his skin, he was sure. “You look far more appealing when you’re not caked in dirt, aren’t you?”

Luke huffed through gritted teeth, face twisted into a snarl. He tried to say something, demand she get her filthy hands off him, but her grasp just tightened, squishing his cheeks. It was like he was a child, and humiliation and resent stabbed at his chest.

“Ah, ah,” Ileana purred, her eyes narrowing. “I have plenty of other humans to take care of before the end of the day. Why don’t you be a good boy and get some rest? I’m sure it’ll be much easier to take everything in if you’re well rested.”

Luke gave another sharp grunt, twisting his fingers into her wrist in some attempt to get her hands off him. The pressure was making his jaw throb, like it might snap out of place, blinking back the automatic tears that stung his eyes. He could feel his neck being forced into place, twisted up at an awkward angle, and it was hard for him to look anywhere but her eyes. When he screwed his shut, Ileana gave him a hard tug. A gasp tore from his throat at the stinging pain, eyes flying open.

“I said,” the vampire murmured, and Luke was suddenly falling through tunnels of blinding red. “Why don’t you be a good boy, and get some rest?”

Luke’s breath was suddenly caught in his throat, and when Ileana’s fingers released him, he found he couldn’t quite look away. His head was going all fuzzy and heavy, his thoughts were battling for control, and his expression, wide eyed and tightened, was staring up at her. Ileana leaned forward, flashing her fangs as she smiled. He couldn’t even move back.

“That’s right,” she cooed, her voice dripping with honey. It felt like it was wrapping Luke up snugly, coiling him against her whim. “I am sure it’s been such an exhausting day for you. All you should focus on is getting some sleep. Anything of importance will be discussed later.”

This wasn’t anything like Justinian’s compulsion. This was all consuming, sinking into each limb and each shred of muscle, making them completely hers. He didn’t want to believe her, knew that she shouldn’t, but all he could think about right now was the comforting embrace of sleep. How heavy he felt. How exhausted his mind was.

Her silver hair fell past her shoulders as she brushed her hand through his own hair, the feeling tugging at something in his brain. Telling him to obey, telling him this was right. The hand slid to his cheek, and Luke didn’t even realise he was leaning into the touch. Ileana’s vibrant eyes flickered across his face for a moment, as if studying him, but she leaned back, satisfied.

Luke could only remain stood where he was, planting to the spot. He was surprised he wasn’t swaying with her snake-like movement.

“It’s refreshing to feel someone try and fight it,” Ileana hummed absentmindely, sweeping a hand under her chin as she glanced towards the three girls, all of them swiftly looking away, as if they hadn’t been intrigued by Luke’s reaction to the compulsion. Maybe they were expecting him to break out of it. He was trying, he really was.

“Lillia, Brooke.” The two girls lifted their heads obediently. “Could you take him to a room, please? Straight to bed.”

They both nodded their heads, and Ileana stepped back to her desk, letting her girls deal with the rest. The blonde stopped in front of Luke, his vision all fuzzy and his eyelids droopy. His mind could only just process the feeling of her gently taking his hand, and Brooke guiding him by the shoulder. His feet seemed to move smoothly, effortlessly, as if he wasn’t controlling them at all.

Well, he supposed he wasn’t.

His tongue felt too heavy to say anything, and everything was spinning instead.

Beside him, Brooke shifted. Lillia was still holding his hand, helping to guide him through the corridors. Her brows furrowed.

“Lillia…” She murmured, and the blonde girl looked at her, blinking her eyelashes. She tilted her head in curiosity, then glanced down to their hands. She unlinked them, pink lip twitching with a subtle smile.

“Sorry,” she breathlessly answered, her eyes switching to Luke. She slowed a little, making sure his pace was consistent. “He can still walk okay, right?”

Of course I can, Luke wanted to say. Nothing came out. Their conversation was a little fuzzy, and hard to follow when all he wanted to do was drop down on something soft and sleep all of this grogginess away. Brooke hummed, staring at him.

“Yes,” she finally said, shifting her hand from his shoulder. “I suppose he’s not used to a pureblood’s compulsion. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone fall under it so quickly. Not even you.”

Lillia blushed, her brows furrowing in embarrassment. “That’s different.”

They turned a corner.

“Well, regardless,” Brooke continued, but there was still a hint of amusement in her tone. They stopped by a door, and Lillia fished for a key of sorts, inserting it into the lock. She gave it a hard twist, and it creaked open. Luke felt like he was hit with vertigo when they finally stepped inside. “It must have been some life. Living out there, I mean.”

It was a bedroom, it seemed. Not too large, but extravagantly filled. If Luke had been in his right mind, he might have taken a moment to observe. Instead, he felt an overwhelming tug towards the bed, Ileana’s silky voice weaving between all of his thoughts again. There was a moment of silence, before Lillia spoke. Her voice, this time, was a breathless whisper.

“Oh, Brooke,” she murmured. “I feel sorry for him.”

“Lillia, come on,” Brooke sighed. “We’ve tended to so many other humans before this. Why are you so upset?”

Their words were fuzzy, going in and out. He could barely follow it.

“Because…” She paused, her mouth pressing into a thin line. “Out there, it was probably safe, right? He could have lived a life without having to deal with all of this. We got lucky and yet…the things that we went through. What you went through. Out of everyone, he could have been the closest to ever living a normal life out there. How often do you even think he saw a vampire?”

Luke’s chest stabbed once, then twice. The realisation of this conversation was going to barrel into him in the morning. Whenever that was - Luke didn’t even know what time it was right now.

“Should I feel guilty?” Lillia continued, her voice breathless. “Do I even have that right when we’ve done this to so many other humans?”

Brooke suddenly cut in. “Don’t let Ileana hear you saying things like that.”

“She’s been too distracted with Cali,” the blonde murmured softly under her breath, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. Brooke’s eyes didn’t falter from hers, until suddenly, she was smiling slightly.

“Our Lady has her attention elsewhere, and so you move your interests towards the first guy you see?” She teases, her smile suddenly becoming coy. “And you say I’m the jealous one.”

Lillia’s cheeks went bright red. “It’s not like that. I just want to know more about what’s out there. About him. That’s all.”

Luke felt a faint touch on his arm, and just like that, everything was a blur again. His thoughts didn’t even register it this time, lost in the fuzzy sensations that were engulfing him. He felt something comforting beneath him, making him sink further under. He wanted to open his mouth, wanted to say something, but nothing was working. There must have been a slurred murmur on his tongue, because Lillia suddenly paused, grasping the bedsheets.

She glanced at Brooke. “He’s fighting it.”

“It won’t matter,” the other girl simply responded, tugging the bed sheets up instead. “He’ll just have a headache in the morning. Let’s hurry back.”

Luke’s curls splayed out on the pillow, his eyelids fluttering. Lillia and Brooke were simply two blobs in his vision now, fading into a black void as his mind slipped away, drifting off into a peaceful, undisturbed slumber. He didn’t even hear the door close.

. . .

Luke did have something of a headache when he woke up.

He didn’t know how long it had been, but ironically, it was almost as though he’d slept like the dead. Tingles reverberated in his skull as his eyes fluttered open, almost on command. He was lay flat on his back, seemingly just how he’d been left, the soft sheets cool and comfortable over his body.

Luke’s hand flew up to his temple, giving it a tense massage.

Regardless of the tingling sensation through his skull, Luke hated to admit how refreshed he felt. It was almost like the perfect sleep, and it irked him to know he’d been sleeping away so easily while Ten was somewhere out there all alone.

As if on a schedule, there was a click from the door.

The lock, Luke realised, lifting his head to watch as it swung open, and Lillia stepped inside. She was balancing a tray on her hand, a sweet smile spread across her face. Her hair was styled today, curling slightly at the bottom, half up and half down. Luke must have had a scowl on his face when she approached, because her smile faltered a little bit.

“Did you sleep alright?” She asked, placing the tray down on the bedside table with a small clatter. There was a plate of food, something foreign to Luke, and a glass of water. He eyed it wearily, sitting up. “You may have a headache.”

“I’m fine,” he grumbled, feeling the pleasant stretch in his back as he straightened up. No pain. It was as if the sleep had completely rejuvenated him. Lillia was watching curiously, and also knowingly, eager to get her two cents in.

“I love sleeping under compulsion,” she giggled, as if she could read his mind. Luke sent her a hard look. “I feel amazing when I wake up. I don’t get nightmares like Brooke, but I still ask my Lady. She’s always happy to oblige.”

Luke’s mouth was dry. “Right. Your Lady.”

Ileana - if the silver haired vampire was going to compel him into behaving, then Luke needed to get out of here as swiftly as possible. At least with Silas, there was some petty arrogance in being able to deal with any physical beating he threw his way. He’d hated the feeling of losing all of that power, so much more consuming and powerful that Justinian’s had been.

He recalled something one of the girls had said - a pureblood. Luke was out of his depth when it came to the intricacies of vampires. He didn’t even know a pureblood was a thing, or what it meant. Though, he could guess turning wasn’t the only way to create a vampire.

“Can I have some water?” He asked, pointing to the glass. Lillia winced, nodding her head as she collected herself. She’d been staring at him again.

“Of course,” she smiled, handing him the glass. She went back to the tray again. “I have some medicine for your headache, too.”

Luke took a sip. It was cool and refreshing on his dry tongue. “I’m not taking medicine.”

“But it’ll help.”

“I’m not taking it,” he firmly repeated, and Lillia flinched back. A silence spread through the room as he drank his fill, eyes flickering over to the food. The blonde looked a little fidgety now, and Luke suddenly regretted snapping the way he had done. A quiet sigh slipped past his lips.

“What’s that?”

Motioning to the food, he watched as Lillia followed it, her eyes brightening back up again.

“That’s right,” she beamed, giggling softly. “You have probably never seen something like this, have you?”

She carefully plucked the tray up, placing it on his lap. It was warm through the duvet, almost pleasant would it not be for his current situation. He had been ready to protest, but begrudgingly clamped his mouth shut after feeling a sting of regret for snapping at her when none of this was her fault. He made a disgruntled noise, but didn’t protest. Lillia looked almost pleased to tell him all about the food, which Luke stared at with hard eyes. It was circular shaped, steam rising from the surface. Something golden and thick was smothered all over it, glistening over the spongy substance.

Luke frowned hard.

“They’re pancakes,” Lillia giggled, observing his expression with glee. “Just try them.”

Luke didn’t protest when the fork was pushed into his hand, the knife in the other. After a moment of, as Lillia claimed, etiquette, since apparently it would be messy to eat with his hands, he was cutting into a small bit along the edge, soft and easy to glide along the blade of the knife. The girl suggested scooping up some syrup, she called it, and so he did.

He eased it into his mouth. Luke wasn’t exactly worried about poison; if they wanted him dead, he would be dead already. No, he was here for something far worse.

The first thing he noticed was the taste. His jaw instantly stilled, nose wrinkling slightly. It was an overpowering taste, and he promptly stared at Lillia, who looked like she was struggling to hold in a laugh behind her hand. She snorted, her eyes crinkling with a laugh as he continued to slowly chew. It was like paste, a little soggy with the syrup, and so sweet.

“It has a lot of sugar,” Lillia giggled, trying to get herself together. A part of him might be able to forget he’d been kidnapped by vampires if Lillia was by his side. “The syrup is a little sickly. You’re just not used to it.”

Luke prodded the sponge. It wasn’t bad - just not what he was used to.

“You need to eat, though,” she continued, having calmed herself down a little bit now. She tucked some hair behind her ear. “My Lady wants you to be as healthy as possible.”

“It’s…” He took another bite. “What is this?”

“Pancakes,” Lillia smiled. “They’re very nice. You can have them with all sorts of toppings. Maybe I shouldn’t have started with syrup.”

Luke grunted. He tried scraping as much of the syrup off as possible, before continuing to eat. Even if it didn’t taste amazing, his body was clawing at any chance to get some food into his stomach. He wondered just how much food the kingdom had access to when his people had been starving out in barren lands. Absentmindedly, his eyes trailed to the window.

“Can you do me a favour?” He began, glancing at Lillia as he ate. The girl’s spine straightened, beaming from head to toe.

“Happy to help.”

He motioned to the window. “The window.”

Lillia followed his gaze, rubbing her hands together. “You would like some fresh air?”

Her voice was a little tight, her throat bobbing. She looked back towards Luke, her blue eyes softening with that same look of sympathy again. A part of him recalled the conversation she and Brooke had had when he was under Ileana’s compulsion. Lillia and the others served their “Lady” like obedient pets, helping to prepare their own kind to be sold off to the same creatures that enslaved them too. Luke doubted she didn’t have a choice, but she seemed rather complacent in her role.

“Yes,” he answered. He paused, adding a small: “Please?”

The girl rubbed her neck. It seemed like the windows were meant to be kept locked shut, otherwise she wouldn't be hesitating as much as she was. After a few quiet moments, she seemed to relent. Judging by the fact she had let him keep his necklace, Luke had been expecting it.

“Alright,” she nodded. “Though, we must make a leave when you’re finished eating. My Lady is feeding, but she expects us to be on time.”

Luke dismissively nodded her head. Finished with his plate, Lillia leaned forward to take it, placing it on the bedside table once more. She watched him as he slipped out of bed, feeling a little fuzzy headed as he rose to his feet. His socked feet hit the floor, taking a moment to steady himself. Once Lillia deemed him okay to stand, she began moving over to the window, one that she opened with a key attached to a necklace around her neck. She eased it back under her clothes once done, as Luke silently picked up one of the silk napkins (was it a handkerchief? Luke didn’t care to know), cradling it in his palm.

Lillia unlatched the window, huffing as she pushed it upwards. Luke’s eyes darted to the door, murmuring a silent apology under his breath as he pressed the cloth over her mouth and nose, pulling her back against him. Lillia’s squeal was swallowed by his hand, her scared flails pinned by Luke’s other arm as he kept her close, preventing her from making too much noise.

He wanted to tell her he was sorry for knocking her out like this, but he didn’t want to say anything that the vampires, especially Ileana, might overhear. He was probably pushing his luck thinking he could do this without being caught. Lillia went under more swiftly than he had expected, her body going limp within a few minutes. He ever so gently set her down on the floor, her face relaxed and eyes closed. He made sure she was still breathing properly, setting her down modestly on her back.

Luke felt bad, but his survival was paramount. He had an eleven year old kid to look for. Stepping up towards the window, he leaned out, taking in the ground below him. It was clear, as far as he could see. He felt confidence spark in his chest as he swung his legs over, determined to make a swift getaway.

Everything Tag List: @whumpatize-me-captain @whump-me-all-night-long @softvampirewhump @d-cs @suspicious-whumping-egg @sapphirechao @sparrowsage @excessive-vampires @thecyrulik

[byneddiedingo]

Robert De Niro in Cape Fear (Martin Scorsese, 1991)

Cast: Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, Juliette Lewis, Joe Don Baker, Robert Mitchum, Gregory Peck, Martin Balsam, Ileana Douglas, Fred Thompson. Screenplay: Wesley Strick, based on a novel by John D. MacDonald and a screenplay by James R. Webb. Cinematography: Freddie Francis. Production design: Henry Bumstead. Film editing: Thelma Schoonmaker. Music Elmer Bernstein.

Steven Spielberg originally planned to film this remake of J. Lee Thompson's 1962 Cape Fear, but when he decided it wasn't exactly his thing, he traded with Scorsese for the rights to make Schindler's List (1993). (Which in turn makes me wonder what Scorsese's version of List would have been like: Would Robert De Niro have played Oskar Schindler or Amon Goeth?) I'm not sure why anyone wanted to remake this specific material (James R. Webb's screenplay based on a novel by John D. MacDonald, revised here by Wesley Strick) since the premise of the film, an ex-con takes revenge on the man he blames for sending him to prison, is such a staple of melodrama. The only real twist to the premise is that the object of revenge is not the prosecuting attorney or the judge who sentenced Max Cady (De Niro), but his own defense attorney, Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte). Cady, while studying law in prison, learned that Bowden had suppressed evidence that he might have used at least to get a lighter sentence for Cady. (Bowden had been revolted by his client's rape and battery of a young woman.) Scorsese's version of the story is certainly watchable -- Scorsese has yet to make a film that isn't -- but it's just a melodrama ratcheted up to the heights. Scorsese has Freddie Francis film some dialogue scenes in closeups, with the camera slowly pulling in even closer on faces as the characters talk. But the one time Scorsese decides not to do this is actually the best scene in the film: when Cady talks with Bowden's daughter, Danielle (Juliette Lewis) on the stage of her high school's theater. Here the distance the camera keeps from them at first allows for a tension that grows in intensity, until finally the camera draws nearer. De Niro pulls out all the stops in a performance that earned him an Oscar nomination, but at times verges on self-parody, especially the Southern (?) accent that he adopts (and occasionally drops). Nolte and Jessica Lange (as Leigh, Bowden's wife) are fine, as one expects them to be, but the best performance is given by Lewis, who was 18 and makes Danielle a credible 15-year-old, her rebellious streak reinforcing her attraction to Cady at the same time that she knows to be wary of him. It earned her an Oscar nomination and launched her career. Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, the Cady and Bowden of the first film, appear in cameo roles -- a gimmick, and not an especially effective one.

[longroadhcme]

SELF PARA : Ileana Whitlock

FEATURING : Evelyn Whitlock, Orion Kugler (mention), Sev O’Connell (mention) & Miscellaneous NPC’s.

LOCATION : Ileana & Orion’s Apartment

Life in McKinley had been going relatively smoothly thus far, which was more than she was ever expecting. A pleasant surprise, of the highest order. But, with that, meant, there was one thing always present on her mind. When was the other shoe going to drop? Sure, things were still relatively complicated, particularly where Orion was concerned. The curse, keeping them from being together, was ever present on each of their minds, as of their conversation earlier that day. It wasn’t six hours earlier, where she sat in a coffee shop with the man with whom she loved, telling him that she wanted to really focus on getting this curse removed. To finally be able to indulge in one another in every intimate way that was ripped from them. Emotional intimacy was great and all, but even if she could just place one kiss against beckoning lips, maybe she would feel a lot better about their standing.

So, following her time with him earlier that day, she’d decided to swing back to the apartment they shared, for he was likely off to a shift at work, and she was busy job-hunting herself. It wasn’t a comforting feeling, knowing Orion was quickly getting his life together, whilst she was struggling a little more to find her footing in McKinley, but she was mostly chalking a lot of that up to the fact that her mother was the one doing this. That there was a large amount of guilt washing over her. If it wasn’t for her, Orion wouldn’t be in this position. If he’d only fallen for another woman of their coven, and maybe they could’ve stayed in the place they once called home, in Salem. Though, there was more than one reason as to why they should’ve gotten out, and that was surrounding their distrust of magic, and all that came with it. It’s why each of them were branded, scarred, and generally traumatised by those that ran the coven. Orion gave into his magic on more than one occasion, encouraging Ileana to do the same, ultimately causing them to fall in love, bonding over their passion for witchcraft and all that it entailed. Not a relationship that Ileana’s mother encourage, by any stretch of the imagination.

Tapping away at her laptop, the red headed witch was busy looking at potential job listings, but there just didn’t seem much that got her excited. Though at this point, it was more for the money than anything she’d seemingly enjoy. So, that barista job at a local cafe was beginning to look really nice right about now. Before deciding anything, she shot Orion a quick text to check if it was something she should take up, even just temporarily.

[ TEXT : 5:24pm ] : Found a barista job, part time, but it’s better than nothing, right?

She didn’t know it at the time, but that timestamp on her phone was going to become very important. In fact, it would be the last text she sent, before her phone would become damaged beyond repair, and left behind in an empty and very questionable apartment. Items thrown around, and obvious signs of a struggle.

For, following that text, there was a large bang at the door, and before she was even able to answer it, the door flew off it’s hinges. Magic. Whoever it was, was very much like her. However, the last person she expected to see walk through said doors, was an all too familiar face. A face with whom she’d run all the way from Salem, to hide from. Her mother. Evelyn Whitlock. “Daughter.” She called out, almost aggressively. Why was she using magic? Was she that desperate to get Ileana back? Or was all of their rules nothing but a ruse? Was she practicing magic this entire time, and thus becoming stronger, whilst the remainder of her cult remained malleable and weak in comparison? Nobody to truly challenge her? Whatever it was, the younger witch did not have time to figure it out. She stood there, looking at the woman who raised her, whilst a few others entered behind her, all of whom she recognised from back home. And, all she could think right now was, ‘thank God Orion isn’t here’, for she knew this was going to go one way, and one way only. She was out-manned, especially given her lack of know how with regards to magic, she was still learning.

“Where is Mr. Kugler? His mother is missing him dearly.” Evelyn commented, but of course, Ileana remained tight-lipped on the matter. Well, initially, before her response seconds later. “We seperated. Figured it would be harder for you to track us. But, clearly that wasn’t the case. ‘Cause here you are, mother.” Of course, not true in the slightest. But, the less her mother knew of Orion’s location, the better. Let alone the fact that his mother was the reason why they had managed to escape. Or, was her comment about his mother, a dig? Was she aware of her involvement? It was safer not to dig. Right now, anyway. Not until she knew further details, about what her mother knew and what she didn’t. “I suppose you’re here to try and bring me back?” A nod immediately following on her mother’s part, looking as smug as ever, as those behind her, looked like they were ready for just about anything Ileana threw their way. And whilst she wasn’t going to go down without a fight, she had a feeling it was a needless venture. She knew this wasn’t going to end in her favour. In the meantime, she just needed to make it obvious that something had gone awry, so when Ri inevitably returned, he would be aware this wasn’t just her picking up and leaving. For, she would never. Not without him.

And with that, before much more could be said, Ileana let rip. Immediately throwing the first metaphorical punch, as she tried to use the little magic she was familiar with at this point, but it was unfortunately not enough. Not with the number of them surrounding her. “You’ll have to kill me, before I go back there.” And unfortunately, it sounded like it wasn’t too dissimilar to what they had in mind for her betrayal. It was too much. The power. She was too weak. Her nose beginning to trickle with crimson, as she ultimately began to fall to the ground, the apartment in disarray as each of the items were damaged in one sense or another. But, right before she ultimately succumbed to the exhaustion, she did manage to call one person. Someone she knew could track her. Who could find her. “Sev!” It was repeated on a few occasions, each time, her tone decreasing in strength, until it became nothing but a whisper, her head falling to the floor, eyes closing, as she knew for when she eventually would awaken, this is not where she would be. However, had she just unexpectedly dragged an unwilling victim into this situation, luring him to danger, by calling to her whitelighter? Despite it being his job? Only time would tell.

[children-of-epiales]

Entry 01

     With the surfacing of the SpecGru and KorTac private military companies, the first and foremost goal right now is making sure neither company pick up on anything about Nightmare; while I have Manat keeping track of every mission the companies complete, wherever they go there may be someone waiting to open their mouth about my crew, no matter the exchange for their own life or freedom, simply for the purpose of making sure Nightmare gets disbanded. That’s why Ōkami and I agreed that at least three members of Nightmare would be sent out to join the respective companies. The only one of us with experience going undercover are J and Augustin, fortunately for us this job will be hiding in plain sight. Also, this is exactly the reason why I decided three members will be going instead of one or two, they will be able to prevent each other from doing or saying something they shouldn’t. 

   Below there is a list of the operators who are currently undercover in SpecGru and KorTac; of course we didn’t send them all out at the same time, and we did provide them with cover stories to provide in case any of the other contractors tried to pick their brains (//courtesy of J and his “brilliant” mind):

SpecGru

Augustin “Soleil” Chaillou Jr. 

Sorina-Ileana “Frică” Huerta 

Hayat “Manat” Barakat

KorTac

Rouen “Reaper” Blake

Joshua “Ōkami” Sakurai

Joseph “Coyote” Chastain

     I know it’s not a great idea to have our tech genius getting mixed up in the mess, but I know Soleil and Frică being with her will prevent any “coincidences” from happening. On that note, I recently realized that Manat is our only tech genius, which I didn’t mean to let slip past my attention. H. Kravets and I will be searching for another tech who can better help Manat, considering the amount of surveillance I’ve trusted her with. In the meantime, I will take it upon myself to keep files of whatever the undercover operators have to report. Fury commented that I have to be careful or the entire plan might blow up in my face (//or Nightmares face) and our secret will be exposed regardless, I know she’s right but this is all I have right now and it’s working. Another update will be provided in about a month. 

     Signed: E. “Nemesis” Soriano-Fuentes

[deepdisireslonging]

Sunrise Guarded by Night Chapter 2: New Landlord

Two early morning visitors inform Ileana that her building is under new management, and that her rent has changed.

Pairing: (none this chapter)

Warnings/Promises: cw blood, mild threatening, food mention

Word Count: 1240

Note: Happy reading! Comments and reblogs are always welcome. This is part 2 of a commission I did. Part 1 can be read here: Every Morning

As warm and inviting as the mornings were, Ileana’s favourite part of the day actually happened at night. All those delectable pastries her patrons loved took time to mix, roll, and rise. If she was honest with herself, she took an extra minute with one pastry out of each batch. Just because Officer Dick came in for the same coffee every day didn’t mean that he paired it with the same sweet. As such, the pastry that received the most care, and looked the best out of the oven, reserved the honoured spot immediately behind the glass. It drew people in. Tajra knew who it was for. 

Covered in flour, Ileana slid the tray of blueberry croissants into their position. She was mentally planning the placement of the other trays when there was a banging on the door. Two men were outside, dressed in dark clothes. Ileana assumed they were looking for trouble. 

“We’re closed,” she shouted.

“We want some coffee,” the shorter one shouted back.

Ileana shook her head. “You’ll have to wait until five AM. It’ll be fresh then- hey!”

With horror, Ileana watched as the larger one shoved his fist through the glass and unlocked the door from the inside. Even though his hand came back bloody, he didn’t seem to notice or care.

The shorter one strutted up to the counter like an eight AM patron. “Mornin’. I’m John, this is Jack.” He rubbed his squashed nose. “Cute shoppe. While some coffee would be nice, we also have a notice for you.”

“A notice?” Ileana swallowed dryly as the larger one, Jack, rounded the counter corner to survey the bar back. His face, long and warped like a nightmare, made her heart thunder. His presence blocked her exit to the kitchen. ��What kind of notice?”

“You’ve got a new, uh, landlord.” John bent at the waist to look at the mostly empty display case. “Don’t worry. Your rent is the same. Give or take a few new, shall we say, charges to cover pest control.”

Ileana inched to one side as Jack stepped close with a sneering smile. 

“It’s for your own good. If you have any trouble from your previous landlord or anyone interested in adding your business to their holdings, give us a call. All you need for an extra five hundred a month.”

“Five hundred!” Ileana would have thrown herself over the counter to claw at his face, but Jack caught her by the wrists. A minute later, she was sat down in a seat while John raided the croissants. “What- what if I can’t pay? I’m barely covering expenses as it is.”

He licked his fingers. “We’ll send business your way. Can’t have such a lucrative rent-payer going under.”

“What if,” Ileana breathed deep, “what if I don’t want to pay for your so-called protection?” 

The air in the shoppe shifted, hovering like dust in the early morning sunlight. 

Ileana shifted as Jack leaned down to murmur in her ear, “then you’ll need protection from us as well.” As he traced his finger over the shell of her ear, Ileana failed to cover the shiver that overtook her. 

Suddenly, the clang of the display tray hitting the floor rang out. Ileana was the only one who flinched. John handed his tall partner the last of the pastries. He squeezed it till it broke down into flaky crumbs and drippy jam. 

“You don’t have to decide now.” The short annoyance wiped his mouth with a napkin, then dropped it on the floor. “We’ll be back at the end of the month for your rent and your answer. Until then-” he nodded at the door, “we’ll send someone out to fix your glass. No charge.”

It only took seconds for them to leave. 

But it took almost half an hour for Ileana to move from the chair. 

***

The “help” arrived to replace the glass shortly before Tajra did. When asked about it, Ileana was surprised that she didn’t break down and cry all over again. The details spilt out in whispers. Short John and tall Jack’s casual break-in like it was something normal. The “notice.” The threat. The handyman left without a word as the two women looked on in fear. 

Ileana rejected the idea to go to the police. 

“We’re not the only ones this is happening to.” Tajra nibbled on her thumbnail. “We can’t be. Telling someone would probably help more businesses.”

She shook her head. “We might as well stamp ‘informant’ on our foreheads.”

They opened the shoppe in silence. Thankfully, it was a dreary day and people were slow to start their mornings. 

Between customers, Tajra shouldered up to Ileana. “You know who we could tell?”

“No.” 

“We can tell him not to make it anything official. It would be-”

Ileana placed both hands on Tajra’s shoulders. “We can’t. Remember when he was in a sling for most of last year? I don’t want to put him into that sort of danger again. Even if he is a cop.” Her hands slowly lost their grip, sliding down to Tajra’s hands. Her mind drifted. The memory of Jack’s touch over her ear made her eyes glaze over. Such big hands. Uncaring of the slivers of glass in them. He would crush Officer Grayson like he was nothing more than a twig. “No. We can’t tell him. We can’t tell anyone.” Even if I want to. 

When Dick swept in a few minutes later, he immediately knew something was wrong. Ileana’s usually sure hands shook holding anything heavier than a packet of sugar. Tajra kept looking at the door even when no one was there. He realized she was looking at the glass itself. Too clear to be freshly cleaned. New. And the pastries in the case were lopsided. Like their baker was thinking about other things when she made them. 

“No blueberry croissants today?” He carefully watched their reactions. 

Ileana’s shoulders stiffened. “No, I’m sorry. There was an accident.” She ignored Tajra’s pointed look. “I dropped the tray this morning and they went everywhere.”

Dick took a sip from his coffee. Bitter. It was never bitter, even when they had first opened. “That’s unfortunate. But the strawberry ones are just as amazing.” He hid his detecting behind a brilliant smile. “May I have two strawberry croissants, please? My partner keeps making eyes at my breakfast when I come into work. Figure I should go ahead and bring him his own before mine disappears off my desk.” As he passed along his money, not even the hint of a smile tugged at Ileana’s lips. Softly he asked, “I hope I wasn’t too forward yesterday-”

“Oh, no!” There was that smile. Though a bit sad. “It’s just been a rough morning.” She handed him his change, which he dropped into the tip jar. “I hope your workday starts off better than mine.” 

He lifted his breakfast in a toast. “I’m sure it will. I hope the rest of your day is better.”

“Thank you.” Ileana looked down while wiping off the counter instead of looking at him. Meanwhile, Tajra couldn’t keep her eyes off his. 

Unconvinced, he maintained his clueless smile until he was well on his way to the office. Mallory tried to turn down the sweet. “Just eat it.” He walked over to the string board and mentally expanded the string box to include the Cuppa Sunrise. 

It encompassed an alarming amount of Blüdhaven.

***

Chapter 3: Midnight Sleuthing

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