A Decision

[Akkarin]

"Yeah, I know, tell me"
Akkarin returned his uncle's cool stare.
"To know could be painful, you are aware of this?"
"Why do you ask? you can read my mind anyway can't you? tell me what you know."
Akkarin's uncle, Teroth, gives a barely perceptible nod
"They share the same feelings for each other, it seems likely she is lost to you now. I cannot tell you how to act, but I sense anger is not wise in this situation."
Akkarin sank to the floor, holding his head in his hands. For a few minutes he remained in the same posistion, unmoving. Eventualy he stood, fully composed and showing little emotion.
"I expected as much.... they will be happier with each other now, that much I can see." said Akkarin, his voice calm and steady.
"I see, you will support them both then, leaving your own feelings to suffer. Such selflessness is a dangerous thing, it will only cause you more pain. You should also know it is not likely they will allow you to do this easily."
"I have my oath uncle, my own desires are meaningless to me now. If they insist on keeping themselves from happiness for my sake? I suppose I'll have to leave."

A long silence followed, the vampires simply standing, watching one another as they had so many times before. There was understanding in those moments, as if the two of tthem knew each other better than they knew themselves.
Teroth broke the silence, he always did "You should not leave, all of them care for you deeply, and.... I sense you will all need each other soon. There is one thing I must ask of you, we have word of a dangerous group of vampires in Berlin, your cousin leads them, you will kill all of them. Use the pain in you now to give you strength."
Akkarin simply nodded and turned away, returning to the daylight.

[Akkarin]

Akkarin made the last stitch and analysed his work. Pretty poor he had to admit, but he was no doctor, The wounds still hadn't healed and this was the best he could manage for now. The most likely reason was poison on the blades, he'd heard his cousin was particularly fond of torture and this must have been one of her "methods." He took a couple of painkillers and headed out to find his target.

What a night it had been. After the fight in Berlin he had been brought back to Paragon and headed out for a while. It was hard, keeping his feelings in check when he talked to Jane, harder than he had expected. Of course he kept himself under control, as far as they knew he was fine, no problem, he can handle these things. Fact is he probably could, doesn't mean it didn't hurt like hell.

Luckily there was one place he could always relax, that quiet little lake in a magical forest. There he had pulled off the ripped clothes and washed off most of the blood, eventualy laying under the water and drifting off to sleep. Thats when the dream came, as dreams tend to do. He couldn't remember much of it, just the sense of danger. In typical fashion he rushed to check on Kat and Jane, fortuantely remebering to get dressed first. Finding them talking happily didn't help much so he went to deal with some lowlifes to take his mind off it.

Must have been then his brother went to them. Arketh, in some twisted sense of loyalty, had threatened to kill Kat and Jane if the ever caused his brother pain again. There were quite a few things wrong with this: Akkarin hadn't been able to sense him, he knew where and when to turn up, the very fact that he knew his brother was suffering and not least the fact that he actually cared. After talking with Kat on the comm Akkarin had rushed over, again, to find Jane shaking in fear. Filled with anger he had decided it was time to settle things with his brother, once and for all, telling Kat and Jane that if he wasn't back in the next few days, he wouldn't be back.

Arriving at the place his friend had directed him too, he tensed.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, dear brother? You don't look so well, been playing with one of our friends again?"
Arketh, sitting there with that smug grin, he knew exactly why Akkarin was here. It was all going to plan, even that uncle of his had gotten wrapped up in this one. Now, for the fun part.
"Don't be an ignorant prick, you think you can treat my friends like that? It's got nothing to do with you."
Akkarin shakes with a barley concealed rage, this was never going to end well.
"I simply don't like to see one of such nobel blood treated like dirt, you should kill those petty mortals, you know that would enjoy it. Of course you wont, but I'm more than happy to help with that"
Theres that grin, he enjoyed this more than he should. Akkarin doesn't reply, there's no point. With cold determination he produced the shadowy energy from his hands, easily forming in into his sword. Arketh, still grinning, drew out a pistol and aimed carefully.

.............

One walked out of the building, just one. Pulling on his jacket and picking up the sword, he made for the city. He looked forward to getting back there, there were some very important people to see.

[Akkarin]

Arketh was angry, very very angry. Such a complete failure, losing his cover, his nerve and his brother in one night hadn't been pleasant. He rose from the sofa and closed the door the bedroom where the last owner, a girl in her twenties he had met in one of the higher class clubs, lay lifeless. Moving out to the balcony he started planning what to do next. Needless to say Akkarin would come for him, probably bring those other with him this time. The others, that was interesting, perhaps they could be used. It would be easy enough to arrange a situation that would allow him to escape, but then what? The Rogues were the safest bet, he knew people there, he could easily start rebuilding.

Suddenly a thought struck him, maybe the failure wasn't so complete. A smug grin spread across his face when he realised just how much he had learned over the last few days. Doubts had been spread, trust broken, suffering had taken hold. They had caught him out this time but he knew them now, he would be smarter about it, more damage could be done yet. Finishing the beer he lept over the side and headed to small house just out of town to make preperations.