Vinna

He watched her approach. The sultry look in her eyes was fixed on him, while the white negligee she wore hugged every curve, as she stood before him. She reached out a hand and ran it down the side of his shadowed jaw. Her eyes flashed an iridescent red behind the golden brown stare, her lips a sensuous ruby color.

"You know Neculai if you don't go with me, I will have to find another to escort me to the ceremony." She complained. All the while her hand slid down to the front of his bare chest and lingered there.

"Vinna, you know I hate those events. All the posturing and pretending to care about what The Order has to say." He couldn't help grimacing as he leaned his head back against the wall Vinna pinned him to. He reached out a hand and lifted a glass containing an amber liquid inside from the nightstand beside where they stood.

He drained the glass in one swallow before replacing the glass and wrapping a strong arm around Vinna's waist and lifting her off her feet while walking her back towards the bed. He laid her down on the bed as he came down on top of her, his arms spread on either side of her head. He stared down into her hypnotizing gaze with his own. The pout had left her lips and instead, concern replaced her look.

"Neculai, even we vampires must use discretion sometimes, and yes, even we must take caution seriously. You know, it doesn't hurt to try caring a little about someone else besides yourself. There is no rule saying a vampire can not have a heart." She reminded him.

A small hand crept up to the side of his face and rubbed his ruff day-old stubbled jaw, the feeling made him realize he was grinding his teeth. He released the tension in his jaw as he reached up and removed her hand from his cheek.

"Vinna, I know you are hoping for more, but I explained to you already. I'm not the one for you if you are looking for something more permanent." He reminded, wanting to be very clear and make sure there were no misunderstandings on her part. He knew Vinna well, and that she hoped to have him as her partner. Yet that is not what he saw for himself.

Not yet, maybe not ever. Her gentle look and caressing small fingers jerked out of his hand and slapped him hard across the face, and at the same time, she shoved him hard enough to have him flying backward off the bed to land hard against the wall in a sitting v position.

"I didn't ask you for anything Neculai, that you were not offering, so don't insult me." Her ancient accent stood out when she got upset. She sat up. Her negligee strap and silk robe slipped down off her right shoulder. Her face had a scowl as she stared down at where he set. His eyebrow arched and a cocky smile flashed up at her in return.

"Ouch Vinna." He added a little sulky. He loved that she was fierce when she was angry. All sultry femininity. Her long legs slid off the bed as she stood. She moved towards him, long black hair cascading down to her waist, swinging to and fro as she approached. The white lace nightgown and long silk white robe tied loosely at the waist did little to hide the curves underneath her attire.

"Don't forget Neculai, not many in The Order like you. Some want you dead." She forewarned, the scowl finally leaving her face. Neculai grimaced as he stood up and closed the distance between them.

"Yes, I know, for instance, your brother. As I recall hearing he is the one leading the charge against me. For what crime I don't know." Neculai watched the pain in her eyes before she could quickly conceal the look.

"He is my brother, he will always look out for me. You know that Neculai. Andrei and I come from a very ancient and traditional lineage. What may go for others will never be acceptable for me." She reached up again and this time softly gripped his jaw.

"This is why I asked you to go to the ceremony tonight. It would be good for The Order to see you and my brother together. You can make nice with Andrei in front of everyone. He won't dare slight you there. Also, maybe then I could at least speak to you in front of everyone. No more hiding." She pleaded.

Neculai looked at her earnest expression and realized she was hurting over her brother and his interaction or lack thereof as it stood. At that moment he knew he would have to end it with Vinna, not tonight, however.

He wanted her to enjoy her night, but tomorrow he would speak to her and end it. She was too caught up in making them into something they were not and no amount of warning would make her see it.

"What is this ceremony for anyway?" he asked as he turned and walked over to the small bar he had set up in his hotel room. He poured two fingers of the vintage Bourbon he kept stocked at his bar and looked back at Vinna to check if she wanted any. She shook her head in denial.

"Oh, how did you forget? The council is celebrating a new council member. That is why you must be there. Not only will all twelve council members be present for the first time in over a century, but a new council member will become official tonight." She said in excitement.

"Yeah, you don't say." He said half listening.

"Yes and practically everyone who is anyone will be present. They say the council also has a special surprise for us all tonight. I know for one I can't miss it and neither should you. Besides, they will know if you miss it. All the vampires in town are known to the one called Safari.

She has a gift of knowing every vampire new or old in a city and town. That is why she leads the hunts anytime they need to track down a rogue vampire." Vinna explained. Wonder and admiration slipped off her tongue as she spoke. Neculai could only sigh. He would have no peace unless he attended this darn event.

He could care less about the whole process. He never did have much to do with any of the council members and also, he knew they found him strange, so he chose to isolate himself from whatever events The Order usually planned.

However, he met Safari before and she was unrelenting when she wanted something, and he didn't need her chasing him down. Sure he probably could take her on if need be, but why put up all the fuss when attending this event would be the easier of the two options and he would be back on his merry solitary way in a few short hours.

"Fine, I will be there. Won't your brother be thrilled to see me show up." he couldn't help grinding out between his teeth, a pained look upon his face. Vinna laughed as she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.

"I'll see you there," she said and was gone...