Behind The Veil

[Alexys Temple]

Photographers were always trying to push the envelope. You didn’t have to watch an episode of America’s Next Top Model to see that. Models were put in positions where they were wearing less and doing more, one practically had to be an acrobat or adventurer for all the tasks needed to be accomplished just for a few perfect photos.

The multi level warehouse was large and almost ominous even with all the lights. Everywhere cement walls and floors and enormous pillars assaulted the eye. The crew had put up a few walls and brought in furniture, vanities for the models to get made up at, a large white back drop, lights and cameras. A chain link fence.

Even with all the technicians, assistants, hair stylists, make up artists, photographers and models the first level of the warehouse was still enormous, large enough for several echoes to be heard. What was chaotic when the numbers were large became downright eerie when they began to dissipate, the echo effect making it hard to pinpoint exactly where someone was coming from.

Bright and early she had been on the set, along with Jeanette. It was the first shoot she’d invited the brunette to attend. Jean was her assistant now and that meant she needed her by her side at all times, though Lex was no where near as bossy or demanding as some of her fellow models who had their assistants running around like chickens with their heads cut off to fetch this thing or that. In all honesty, she was much too busy to ask Jean to do much other than bring her some water and food. And she wanted her first experience to be a pleasant one.


And it surely must have. This shoot featured only female models and they were everywhere. Gorgeous, tall, they were like giraffes in a zoo and acted as oblivious and unaffected as they pranced around in various states of undress, getting their make up and hair done, laughing and giggling. It was lesbian paradise.


The shoot ran from morning until early evening, though by then most of the horde had already left. By five o’clock only a few stragglers were left behind, including Lex and Jeanette. And Elina. Though they’d known each other for years in the industry and had ‘dated’ off and on, concluding in a fling in Spain, Lex was really starting to be weirded out by Elina. Actually, she was worried she might have had a stalker on her hands. Between the sneaky looks and obvious stares, the possessiveness, Elina was really starting to get on her nerves.


“Ugh. I can’t wait to get home and just… lie down. And eat. What are you making tonight?” Lex asked Jeanette as she at one of the vanities, taking off all the shit they put on her face.


“You’re not leaving now, are you?” Elina asked, approaching them. Lex caught her eyes in the mirror. “I told you I have something to give to you after the shoot. It’s on the second level.”

“No one’s allowed up there. And I’m tired.” Lex yawned. “We both are. Right, Jean?”

Elina laughed. “Who’s here to stop us? Come on, both of you… I swear you’ll love it. I guarantee you’ve never seen anything like it.”

[Jeanette Fisher]

This was equal parts exciting, terrifying and the other kind of exciting. Her first visit to a photo shoot set and she felt like Alice taking her first steps into wonderland. She was dressed somewhat professionally; a long black skirt with a light button-up and some comfortable black shoes. That was close to what Lex suggested and it seemed to make her blend in with everyone else here. Nobody seemed to question her presence and she did enough of personal assisting to earn a pay check. If this was how easy it was going to be she thought she could get used to it.

And the models! Lex really knew how to treat her well. Various attractive ladies in various states of undress walking around, talking, giggling, and just generally oozing sexy all over the place. This really was Lesbian paradise. And she was here all day, waiting on Lex while secretly ogling various models. Although she wasn’t so enthralled she didn’t notice that one model and her looks towards the Fianna kin. Something about it made her skin crawl, but she could never quite pin it down.

Finally the shooting wrapped up and they were some of the last people on set. It was a long, tiring day but soon they’d be back in Lex’s home and relaxing for the rest of the night. Sitting behind the model and watching her take off her makeup, she just smiled the second the topic of food was brought up. ”Well tonight I’m cooking beef wellington with mashed potatoes, broccoli and green beans with some fried ice cream for dessert. How does that sound?”

Of course their moment was ruined by the creeper coming over and throwing her two cents in. Her skin started to crawl, but she didn’t want to get on anyone toes by vocalising it. Especially not someone who looked like they would make her life hell over the slightest perceived insult. ”It has been a long day…” Hopefully the other model would take the hint and leave them alone, but of course it was never that simple.

[Alexys Temple]

Curiosity killed the cat. And Alexys was far more curious than any cat or little monkey named George, without the nine lives to cushion any fall she might take. She could never refuse a dare and very rarely could she resist the urge to act impulsively. Elina, of course, knew it and exploited it to her advantage.

“Hmm… I don’t know. It is getting dark.” She said, already wondering exactly what was on the second level. Her thoughts quickly turned to food, though—not surprisingly—she didn’t exactly know what beef wellington was but it sure sounded good and Jeanette hadn’t made any missteps so far in the food department. “How the hell do you fry ice cream?” Now that sounded like something she wanted to see.

“Yeah, Jean is right, Lina. Plus I wanted to stop by Kathleen’s before heading home.” She said, pulling out her cell phone. Elina cast Jeanette a venomous glare.

Busy? Me and Jean might stop by

“Give me a break, Lexy. You know you’re curious.” Elina said, smiling at Lex in the mirror. “Besides, it was really only for you. I didn’t even know you had an assistant before today. Maybe she can wait in the car. It’ll only take a moment. You know I was never able to keep you for long.”

Lex sighed. “Fine. Just really quick though and it better be worth it.” She said standing, stuffing her phone into the pocket of her denim shorts. “Jean, why don’t you go start the car. I’ll be out in a minute. Promise.”

[Jeanette Fisher]

She knew that Lex was having a hard time saying no to the other model, not with all this talk of surprises. That said, she did not like Elina at all. Something about her rubbed the (now Shadow Lord) kin the wrong way, and she didn’t want to spend any longer with her than usual. ”With great skill. Don’t worry, you’ll love it, I promise.” If there was anyway to get into the Fianna’s good graces it was through her stomach, that was for sure.

Of course, things could never be simple. The promise of a surprise won out over Jeanette’s cooking, and with a sigh of her own she nodded at the supermodel. ”Alright, but if you’re late I’ll have to call in the national guard to come find you.” She was only half-joking, but still she would hold the kin to her word. Making her way to the car she unlocked it and waited in the driver’s seat, putting the key in the ignition but not starting it yet. She didn’t want to waste the fuel, and there was no point starting it if she had to go back in after her friend. Instead she just fiddled with the radio and tried to find a song she liked.

[Alexys Temple]

Fried ice cream was sounding really good. Really really good. So good she thought of brushing Elina off again in favor of driving it straight home and getting it started. How the fuck do you fry ice cream? Her mind turned the conundrum over and over again as she walked Jean halfway to the exit. “Jean, I’m right here. I’ll be down in a second. Don’t move the car seat.” She lightly warned. She had taken to driving a rental since the incidence with the dead animals in Ebony, leaving the Aston Martin in the garage at home more than ever.

“Come on. Your surprise awaits you.” Elina smiled, grabbing her hand as she led the way to the staircase. The lighting was unsurprisingly bad. She focused on Elina’s form in front of her as they ascended the staircase to the second level. It was pitch black.

“What the hell Elina?” Lex froze, taking back her hand as the other model disappeared into the darkness.

“About your surprise…” she said from within. “It isn’t exactly a something as much as it is a someone.”

“Okay. This is the part where I leave.” Lex shook her head, refusing to go forward.

“Wait.” That was not Elina’s voice. The lights came on. And there she stood.

“Kathleen?” Lex tilted her head, waking into the open space. “Wh… how… how did you get here? When did you get here? What… what’s going on?” Despite her confusion a smile was beginning to dawn on her face as she approached the woman.

“I drove. I got here while you were shooting, I had to hide. Elina… we met. She told me to stay up here until the shoot was over.” She said, smiling imperceptibly.

“Elina… where is she?” Lex asked, looking around.

“I had to see you.” Kathleen said, drawing her attention again.

“Why?” Lex stepped closer.

“Because I missed you.”

She stopped. “Kathleen. I thought…”

“Don’t think. Just kiss me.” The Silver Fang closed the distance between them and rose to kiss her. Lex responded by holding her hips. Suddenly Lex jerked away, wiping her mouth. Her breath. Her kiss. It was all off. She stared at Kathleen, then suddenly reached up and pulled on her hair. “Not a wig.” She exclaimed softly.

Not Kathleen.

The realization hit like a ton of bricks. The phone in her pocket buzzed with vibration and Elina, sensing the change, chose that moment to attack; lunging for her throat. Lex jerked away and instead of sinking into her neck the Enticer’s barbed fangs drilled into her shoulder, sinking deep then tearing out a silver dollar sized chunk of flesh. The pain was so sudden and sharp that she could only gasp, falling to the floor beneath Elina as warm blood stained her white t-shirt crimson red.

“I should have done that a long time ago.” Elina sneered, her mouth and chin covered with Lex’s blood. She bent to bite the kinfolk again but Lex suddenly head-butted her. Hard.

“Fuck!” she felt like a faucet was running over her shoulder and her head ached like a bitch, but she quickly got to her feet. Swaying.

Elina was no where in sight.

“Fuck.” She panted, placing her hand over her wound to stop the bleeding. Suddenly the lights went out. “Fuck!” She couldn’t see a fucking thing, placing her other hand over her mouth so Elina couldn’t hear her breathing.

“You are going to die. I’m going to kill you. Then I’m going to go outside and kill that little bitch.” Elina taunted.

Lex couldn’t pinpoint her location, backing up slowly as she held her arms out in front of her. Her phone buzzed again. The phone! She immediately took it out of her pocket, the light giving her position away.

“Hi.” It was Kathleen. The real Kathleen. “I just wanted to kn—“

“Kathleen! I’m at a warehouse downtown Elina’s trying to fucking kill me I’m bleeding you have to help! I—“ she screamed as Elina bumrushed her, smacking the phone out of her hands. It skidded several feet away, still open. Lex screamed as she bit her arm. “Fucking bitch!” she caught a fistful of Elina’s hair and used it to swing her around, tossing her into the nearest wall. Whatever she was, she was still much smaller than Lex and didn’t seem to have any supernatural strength aside from those fucking teeth.

She hit the wall hard and fell to the floor. Instead of running Lex closed in; size eight sneakers coming down hard on her back and head, then driving into her stomach. Elina caught her foot on the last kick and tripped her up; she fell on her ass like a fucking beanstalk, the Enticer slithering up her body to take advantage. A snake. She was like a fucking snake. Lex screamed as her fangs pierced her inner thigh before she bucked, her knee connecting with Elina’s jaw.

She got on her feet quickly but nearly stumbled. She felt lightheaded and woozy. Weak. Everywhere she had been bitten blood poured from profusely. She turned with every intention of running away when Elina caught her by the hair and yanked her back. It was a tussle, with Lex running that bitch straight into the window. And right through it.

They fell two stories together, twenty feet to the ground below. Lex landed square on top of her, nonetheless they both were out cold.

Directly in front of the car.

[Jeanette Fisher]

”I won’t, I won’t. Don’t fret about it.” Inside she cursed the model, why’d she have to have such long legs? Maybe this was her way of making sure Jeanette didn’t drive off without her or something. Well, she just fidgeted in the seat as she tuned in to a Lady Gaga song. It would do as she waited for the model.

Of course things couldn’t be that simple, and the Shadow Lord kin found herself watching the exit intently for the Fianna to return. She waited one minute. Then two. Then she checked the time and sighed to herself. Where was she? She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel for a few moments before removing the keys from the ignition and getting out of the car.

She started stomping to the entrance, swearing to god she might start chewing out Elina for being such a bitch when she heard the glass breaking above her. Looking up just in time to see the two models fall to the ground just behind her. She screamed, running over to her unconscious friend. ”Lex!” She scanned her injuries, realising she had no idea what to do in a situation like this. Panicking, she pulled out her phone and hit the quick call for Kathleen, putting the phone on loudspeaker. ”Come on, pick up!”

[Alexys Temple]

With a gasp she came back to consciousness mere moments later, reaching up to grab the phone out of Jeanette’s hand. “Get. In. The. Fucking. Car. Jeanette.” She slowly rolled off of Elina—every inch of her ached as if she had just gotten slammed with a MACK truck—and got to her feet. She was tempted to stomp the unconscious model-thing to death but she could barely walk let alone pull that off. Instead she hobbled over to the driver’s side of the car and got in. “Where are the keys?”

She gave Jeanette back her phone in exchange for the keys, starting the ignition. “I’m going to run this fucking bitch over until her head pops off.” It was all tunnel vision now. She could not let Elina walk away alive. She knew too much about her. She knew where Haven lived. And how to contact her parents; it would be too easy to lure them back to the city. So mercy was really not an option. She had to die.

Just as her foot hit the gas Elina popped up with a shriek like something out of a horror movie. Lex pressed her foot down hard and ran directly into her, smiling with grim satisfaction as she disappeared under the car. But there was no bump. She stopped the car, pressing the button to lock all the doors. “She’s underneath the car. Fucking bitch.” She pulled the car in reverse, looking back as Elina climbed up on the trunk and jumped on top of the hood. Lex pulled out of reverse and slammed on the gas then immediately hit the brakes, but instead of flying off of the hood Elina merely slid to the front of the car, peering at them through the windshield.

“You’re both going to die!”

“You first, bitch.” Lex hit the gas, the speedometer rising as she drove away from the warehouse. “Seatbelt, Jean.” She warned, one-handedly strapping herself in as she made a sharp turn and began driving straight towards another building, pushing the car to its limit as it got closer and closer before she hit the brakes. The car jerked violently to a stop and Elina was thrown a few feet from the car into the brick wall, falling motionlessly to the ground. “That hurt. Fuck!” Lex twisted her neck to make sure it wasn’t broken, unstrapping the seatbelt which had cut into her skin. She peered over the steering wheel at Elina’s crumpled form. “There’s no way she could have survived that.”

She sighed. “I have to be sure. She knows my family. I need to make sure that she’s really dead.” She unlocked the doors and got out of the car but her feet could only take her so far before she collapsed. She might have already been dead had she been human but her body was just beginning to shut down. She felt weak and what parts of her didn’t ache were numb. But the sight of Elina lying there in a growing pool of blood was comforting. “I think I just need to lie down.” So she did, right beside the car. She wished she was in the forest surrounded by trees but stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky and that wasn’t so bad.

That wasn’t so bad at all.

[Kathleen Allan]

Stalking the streets did nothing to prod her ancestor into action, but duty called. It was nice to get out of the meditation room and hunt, to work and develop her skills. She'd developed her routes carefully, keeping in mind not only the Wyrm's influences but pruning the Weaver and promoting the Wyld's growth along the way. It was not quick work. She could see some improvement, only because of her regular visits to her paths.

Today she strongly resembled every stereotype about her orientation that she'd resisted for so long-her short-cropped hair was silver-white shot through with some remnants of gold, the cut of it unflattering to her face. For protection she wore a leather jacket over a white t-shirt and jeans that were both comfortable and thick. If she had been in West Hollywood, she would have had trouble getting from one end of the street to the other without attracting flirtatious attention-amid the workers and customers of the warehouse district she earned sharp looks and quick retreats from those around her.

As always she carried her bag, delving a hand into it to retrieve her cell phone when it buzzed with a text message. She smiled a little, hitting the button she thought would reply. Instead it backed out of the message program. "Oh damn," she murmured, thumbing through menus, ending up in 'settings' before giving up, closing the phone and reopening it. Contacts were easier to locate than text messages for the technologically impaired theurge, and Alexys was the first one she found.

Thumbing the button, she held the phone to her ear, already planning out a menu she could throw together quickly for the kinswoman if she was hungry. Then again, as she understood it, Jeanette was cooking for both of them at Lex's house. There was a roll of frozen cookies in the fridge, that would probably be plenty for her guests. She turned a corner as the kinswoman finally picked up, taking a breath. "Hi. I just wanted to kn-"

Lex's answer was not exactly heartening. The theurge's eyes widened as her kin shouted all the information she could in the short span of time she was able. By the first scream she'd turned one corner, by the second another, finally skidding to a stop in the street. She had to think, which meant hanging up the phone. Slipping it into her pocket, she pressed her back into a chain link fence that surrounded a storage compound, forcing herself to quell her Rage and slow her breathing for a moment.

"Lady, give me insight," she murmured, lacing her fingers through the fence, using the feel of the concrete underfoot and the wire at her back to center her in place. "I need to find them," she said, concentrating. What should she specifically look for? Kin? Women? A photo shoot. Feeling the press of time she didn't have, she let her consciousness expand outwards, spreading through the warehouses and storage spaces all around her. Breathing through her nose, she waited, hoping it wasn't too far for her to run, until suddenly, abruptly, there it was. Taking just enough information to orient herself, she started moving before she was entirely back in her own head, stumbling until her body and mind caught up with one another.

She sprinted, pushing herself as fast as she could. The phone in her pocket went ignored as she gambled on traffic and crossed streets with abandon. She had to get there in time. Had to. Grabbing a fencepost to throw herself down the last alley even faster, she saw the blonde's hair toss in the wind as she fell. Making no sound, she dragged herself around the end of Lex's car, hitting her knees in a hard skid next to the younger woman. Unslinging her bag onto the ground, she delved her hand into it, grabbing the ever-present poultice and pressing it onto the bleeding wound on the kinswoman's neck.

"Cher, no. Come back NOW, Alexys Cameron Temple," she hissed, bent over the Fianna, applying pressure to the wound. She felt her Gnosis connect with the spirit within the healing talen, felt it moisten and warm under her fingers. She hoped the sensation wasn't blood seeping through. "You do not have permission to die," she continued, touching the younger woman's cheek to see that she was still alive.

[Jeanette Fisher]

She blinked as the phone was snatched out of her hands, but was in no position to really argue as the blond barked orders at her. Scrambling around the car, she forked over the keys when asked and pocketed her phone. Her mind was still racing, struggling to connect the pieces as Lex started to rev the car. By the time she processed that the model was going to run the other one over, it was already in process.

The thing that was once the Elina let out that shriek that could put the fear of god into anyone before getting hit by the car, but as they came to a stop she realised (at the same time Lex said it) that the beast managed to grab onto the bottom of the car. She scanned around wildly, wondering where the bitch would pop out next when she made her move, drawing her attention and bringing out a scream that came from the depths of her very soul.

She quickly followed Lex’s instructions, putting the seatbelt on just as the hit the first turn. She couldn’t take her eyes of the wyrm-tainted beast in front of them, at least until she noticed the wall that they were quickly approaching. ”Lex!!!!” She felt the pain as her body was forcibly restrained from the sudden stop by the belt, barely missing the dashboard as her head was jerked into a sudden stop, before it was slammed back into the chair behind her.

She only vaguely heard Lex as she said she had to be sure, not responding as she undid the belt restraining her and got out of the car, falling to her knees and taking in deep breaths as she crawled away. She was only dimly aware that Kathleen had arrived, spotting her from the corner of her eye as she crawled around the car, her mind too scattered to think things through.

[Alexys Temple]

Suddenly Kathleen was there. Again. Understandably, her reaction was to flinch away until she noticed that Elina was still where she had fallen, still unmoving. “It’s really you. She…” she looked up at the woman with her shorn hair. Real this time. She smiled. “She… looked like you but when she kissed me… I knew it wasn’t you. It was an illusion. After all this time I still remember, it was… I thought I had forgotten what your kiss was like. But she was you and not Chloe or… I was really stupid. For the first time ever denying myself what I really wanted and for what… for it to end this way. I shouldn’t have given up on you or… let myself believe that I had.”

She shook her head, feeling her skin tingle where she had placed the healing talen. Why was this scene so familiar? She laughed—surprised that she was able to—reaching to place her hand over Kathleen’s on her cheek. “That’s such a Silver Fang thing to say. Don’t be a Silver Fang right now, just be Kathleen. Just be mine… my kin. My Kat.” She sighed. “I fucked up this time. She bit me. A lot. What if… what if I turn into some type of monster? I would rather die. I don’t want to live like that. You have to let me go if that happens.”

She closed her eyes. “If this is dying it’s not that bad. I just feel… so tired. Like I could just sleep it off. Wouldn’t that be nice?” She smiled and her hand fell away as she began drifting into a deep sleep. She was helpless against it, her mind and body exhausted beyond comparison. “The worst thing is that… I haven’t eaten anything. I can’t die on an empty stomach.”