|
Post by Princess Katie on Aug 12, 2008 1:49:05 GMT -5
The hair on the back of Nellie’s neck stood up on end, suddenly and without warning. See, that was what she expected all Nightmares to be like. At first, she was going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt, but even she could notice the change in the party’s atmosphere. Her ‘Who’s ‘at?’ died before she could voice it, and she instead scooted as close to Alexander as the arm of the chair would allow.
Gray crept in as the most populous color in Finola’s hair, and her hand immediately went to the chip in her cheek. She glanced at her mother, who had grabbed Simon’s hand nearly immediately. She didn’t know what was going on, either. Pia was stopped, mid-sip, and Genevieve had instinctively grabbed Mary’s hand in surprise.
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Aug 12, 2008 1:58:30 GMT -5
Zizzy's skin immediately broke out into scampering little bolts and she stood up. It was a natural response for her, when she felt fear like this, to try and go in the opposite direction of it. She didn't like being scared, although with Iker, she couldn't quite help it.
"What the hell are you doing here? Remember what you promised." She would feel directly to blame if anyone here got hurt. She was the one who had given him his own body.
Hugh immediately shifted to Grey and slipped from his seat as quiet as a field mouse, hiding behind his father's chair, trying not to whimper.
Mary took Genn's hand for comfort and looked at Vince. Even if she couldn't hear, she could, after so long, tell when he was talking with the others. Did they know who he was? Why he was here? Why the twins and Zizzy were acting so hostile towards him?
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Aug 12, 2008 2:15:19 GMT -5
"A promise made is a promise kept, my love," he said smoothly, and a snarl ripped from Armand at the added endearment. "But perhaps you've overlooked the fact that..." He paused, and his blonde hair grew long and curled into ringlets, his body getting smaller and rosier until a dark looking Nellie stood before them, hands on her hips, "Everyone innit fam'ly."
Alexander shot to his feet, blazing with fury, and Nellie shifted back to Iker, mid-laugh. "Relax, Alexander. Before you light something on fire."
Alexander shook with the strength it took not to do exactly that. "Get out," Armand said, joining Zizzy and Alexander's standing positions. His face could have been carved from stone.
Iker's "smile" remained in place, his black gaze sweeping over the table, resting over Hugh and Illie, Gennevieve and Nellie, the ones he knew would fear him, if only he could give them a taste of his power.
"I would never harm them," he told Armand. "Your family is my family, I cannot discard your feelings from me so easily, as much as I'd like to."
|
|
|
Post by Princess Katie on Aug 14, 2008 23:57:16 GMT -5
Nellie’s heart jumped into her throat. She had literally never been so scared in her heavily-shielded life. If this was one of their relatives, she would rather like to not show up at The Castle ever again. She stared without blinking at her terrifying double. Nellie felt sicker than when she had gotten off of the motorcycle.
She broke her stare only long enough to glance at Alexander, hoping for some sort of explanation to be apparent. The only thing she could see, however, was his obvious rage.
Pia set her glass down on the table, her brows furrowed, and her teeth bore in a scowl. “What the fuck?”
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Aug 15, 2008 0:09:21 GMT -5
Mary figured by now that the guy wasn't the best of men. "Hey look, buddy. No one wants you here and I imagine you like your skin, so I suggest you leave." She held up a hand and wiggled her fingers at him almost playfully, a nasty grin on her face. Was he stupid? Did he think he could just walk in here and do anything untowards with the room filled with the kind of people it was?
Zizzy pushed her chair aside and stalked towards him, sending a relatively minor bolt straight at his chest, using it more as a pushing force then anything. "Leave, now. Don't come back. You have no reason to be here."
Hugh, who had seen Iker's glare tarry over him, his mom, his sister, wrapped his arms around his father, clinging like a koala to a tree. "Dad?" He whispered.
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Aug 15, 2008 20:51:00 GMT -5
Iker smirked at Mary, stretching a slim, white hand out to her. "Please," he suggested, even dared.
Simon but his arm around Hugh, resting his hand against his son's head. "It's alright..." he murmured, and hoped it was true. Jack? he questioned.
Jack nodded discreetly, standing to his feet. "You're clearly not welcome," he told Iker. "Leave of your own will, or we'll be forced to remove you."
Several flashing glares pinpointed on Iker, as if to solidify Jack's statement.
Iker's cool confidence didn't waver and he held up a submitting hand. "No need to be hostile," he purred, "I thought it only appropriate that I introduce myself."
Armand gripped the edge of his chair so hard it cracked beneath his hand.
|
|
|
Post by Princess Katie on Aug 15, 2008 22:28:44 GMT -5
Finola stared boredly at Iker, “This isn’t hostility. If you want to see hostile, you should show up when Genna has a boy over.” This obviously wasn’t the time to crack jokes, but really. Everyone had been surprisingly calm up to this point. Genevieve couldn’t help but nod in agreement, before flicking her icy blue eyes back to the newcomer.
Pia looked unimpressed. She was terribly good at hiding confusion and apprehension, “So, can you make it snappy, we still have cake to get to.”
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Aug 15, 2008 22:41:23 GMT -5
(Somewhere in Dreamland, a man's card house was ruined by a particularly strong shudder that he could not explain.)
Mary hesitated. If someone welcomed her touch so easily, surely it was a good sign she should hold back. Although she didn't let it show. She just grinned at him. He probably didn't know what he was asking for. "Just go. No one gives a shit who you are."
The grey tainting Hugh's color eased at his father's words, but he still looked as though a loud noise would push him over the edge. In a rare moment, he was in awe of his sister, who was able to joke, look calm (like always) and act like there was nothing wrong. That he was just like Alexander, someone they teased. He'd probably be nice to her for the rest of the day because of it.
Probably.
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Aug 15, 2008 22:56:19 GMT -5
Iker shook his head. "If you knew, you'd be less inclined to behave so civilly."
He did a mental version of cracking his knuckles. Time to ruin a birthday party.
"Then again," he continued, "I've interacted with nearly all of you intimately over the years. Your gracious son," he told Pia, "as my body and prison." His voice broke into an ugly hiss at the last word.
Shock was the first reaction. How could a Night Terror have a body of his own? And why was a creature predisposed to mass killing not spilling any of their blood?
Jack spoke first, unwittingly, "How...?"
"A series of negotiations, your majesty," Iker said, "delegated, of course, by your charming sister."
Four voices hit Jack's head at once, blunting cutting off his reaction. Easy, Jack. Don't do anything stupid. Breathe, please. Jack.
"Direct your anger at your sons, Jack," Iker said. "They sought her help."
Alexander's eyes sank closed and a muttered oath slipped from his lips. They were so busted. Armand looked ready to die.
"And so," Iker said, ready to ruffle a few feathers, "Who should I kill first?"
|
|
|
Post by Princess Katie on Aug 15, 2008 23:12:07 GMT -5
Pia was a little slower on the uptake than Jack, but she got it soon after. Her eyes flashed a glowing yellow and she joined the several others in the defensive standing position, preparing to take off her earrings, just in case.
Nellie wore that distant look of someone about to faint, her lashes fluttering wildly. Illie reached over and squeezed her hand. She’d need to be conscious if they had to make a getaway.
Genevieve glanced swiftly at Finola, who was joking no longer. Why, why, why couldn’t they ever have a normal party?
|
|
|
Post by Jules on Aug 15, 2008 23:18:52 GMT -5
Oh geeze. They were going to hate her. So much for getting along in this family. She looked at the desolate face of Alexander, then Armand and sighed. "It wasn't them, it was me. All of it." She'd been the one to bargain with Iker, to convince Alex to help her, to find Hina, to give Iker his own body. She hadn't been able to do it on her own, of course, but she was still responsible. "I'm the one who did this."
She focused back on Iker and glared. "No one." The electricity had actually faded off her skin, but there was that sense about her like the calm before the storm. "You promised, but they did not. If you even touch the air Nellie breathes you'll be ripped to pieces."
Mary was on her feet with the rest of them, desperately trying to figure out what was going on. It would've been useful, in times like these, to share the tattoo abilities with them, but at the very least she'd figured out who he was (probably around the same time as Pia).
|
|
|
Post by Miss Jack on Aug 15, 2008 23:42:42 GMT -5
"No, it wasn't." Armand shot a look at Zizzy.
Alexander's lip curled in a protective snarl, backing up Zizzy's threat if he touched Nellie. He glanced down at the shepherdess and bent at her side. She looked only half-conscious. "Don't worry, Nells," he said, rubbing her cheek with warmth, much like how he'd done after their motorcycle ride. "Everything's going to be fine." He turned over his shoulder, fixing Armand with a severe look. "Armand..."
Armand took a step forward and grabbed Zizzy's arm, pulling her back. He moved past her and stood in front of Iker, eye-to-eye, nose to nose.
"You and I both know you're bound to the continual lives of all but one in this room, and the only thing you're proving with your little show is how centered your life is on me, even now, with your supposed separation."
Iker hissed angrily, but Armand continued, "I have no doubt you could inflict some damage, but then, so could we." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Let your threat linger. Leave on your own terms."
"Do not presume to give me advice, Armand."
"Perhaps you'd prefer the threat."
Iker sneered, but he couldn't deny the cold fury in the nearly silver blue of Armand's dark gaze. "Without me, you are weak. Your threats are empty. However." His face broke into that sadistic smile. "Your humiliation is forthcoming, and deserves a larger audience. For now, I'll let you deal with the exposure of your deception."
He stepped back and flourished both hands in a deep, elegant bow. "Another time, then, Ira family." He winked at Finola, for her earlier attempt at humor, and crashed through a nearby window in a bolt of lightning.
|
|
|
Post by Princess Katie on Aug 16, 2008 0:13:54 GMT -5
Pia stared in awe at the confrontation, suddenly glad that she would probably never have to fight either of her sons. Truthfully, she had just gotten a little frightened. But not frightened enough not to be angry.
“Boys,” She started, sitting back down and rubbing her temples before pouring herself another glass of sherry, “your father and I would like a talk with you. Later.” Things might get loud. She’d wait until the company was gone.
Illie bit her lip. Uncomfortable silence. “So, would anyone like cake?”
|
|