Cleave the Night (Anastasia/Nikolai)

The cooling night air brought a chill of excitement in downtown with the enlivened circulation and more challenging weather fueling the fever of the hunt, rather than subduing the desires. The Friday streets night were packed with the usual animals, but even moreso. Max wasn't a believer, but he had his own sixth sense anyway, and this was a raucous and disturbed night, full of disruptive and deceitful spirits haunting hungry masses. Perhaps it was the unconscious vibration that everyone was feeling, that the city had shifted towards evil, and that something big was on the horizon. People weren't as dumb as they acted or seemed, and so the sharks would come with the blood, be it pimps, drug dealers, gangbangers, purse-snatchers and pickpockets, etc. Even worse, it seemed some middle class to upper class sheep were coming out as well, like moths to a flame. Max was going to try and take advantage of the chaos and do what had to be done, even though he felt that it was getting so 'hot' that the task would be more difficult than he was expecting.

  The view began to unfold before his eyes under his mask.

"Look at these idiots," he muttered as he approached the widening main street adorned with clubs, gogo bars, and food on both sides, all bragging larger than usual lines of people and passerby.  The expected boom of hip-hop resounded through the streets in a cacophony, everyone blasting their own preference of thug life.

Dressed in a pinstripe party suit, a flamboyant gold tie, and white dress shirt, Max approached and then side stepped around the line of "Beat" nightclub, and looked at the bouncer. The bouncer eyed him suspiciously, but then nodded and let him in through a delivery side door. The scum was inside. Jack Winslow, one of the most notorious defense attorneys in the city.  

For some God forsaken reason, people didn't get angry at him defending some of the worst sexual offenders, pedophiles, rapists, you name it, but he seemed to have clear connections to a greater agenda of letting loose the worst criminals. Max  and the Lords had decided that he had had enough. On a devil's night, he would make an example.

 These types always stayed paranoid getting to their cars after long nights in the office doing God knows what, but they always didn't care when it was time to party. Well, too bad for poor Jack that he wouldn't be partying so happily for some time.

It was going to be quick. Max began to push and sometimes dance through the dancing mob heading towards the bar where Jack sat. His fingers began to crackle with electric  purple and blue energy, matching the rave lights above. A good sudden shock to paralyze and disorient Jack, then a paid bouncer would quickly 'help him up' and escort him to an unmarked van to an undisclosed location.

Max didn't want to just scare the guy, he wanted answers...

The young lady sat at the bar occasionally glancing at her target as a whimsical yet menacing glint dances in her eyes. She wasn't one for parties or clubs but alcohol makes poison go down quicker. She played with one of her honey gold colored hair and she smirked at one of the men protecting the VIP section. She innocently walks over to them. She's thankful for the ability to wear a black feathery mask and a black dress, granted on any occasion she would take her normal outfit however that would be too noticeable in this scenery. She winks at one of the men and they allow her through.

"Easier than stealing from a blind man," she slowly walks to the corrupt corporate cog named Jack and gently sits on his lap. "My my, such a powerful man shouldn't be so lonely in a place like this." She internally gagged because he smelled like cigars and booze. She silently cursed her employer as she kept her composure. Her Blue eyes study the area and the man who was inevitably going to die at her hand. One full Vial could get rid of him easily.

She Grabs one of his hands that had been exploring a little bit too far down her back. God did she hat predators like him. Her eyes and expression stayed soft hiding the murderous intent bubbling just below the surface. She mentally smirked at the deeply horrible ways of killing this man that danced through her mind. She gives a soft melodic giggle "Leave getting handsy for a little bit when we are more alone, Love." she gives a small wink. She quickly slipped a deep purple liquid into his red wine already.

What was this? A sudden blonde bombshell came out of left field and sat on Jack's lap all of a sudden? Did chicks dig creeps like him or was this a party favor from the powers at be? Max paused, letting a few ravers dance around him, as he donned his party mask. His ego decided to choose the latter theory as the higher possibility, as the former just exuded horrible expectations about a considerable death in women's taste and thus the taste of civilization and humanity itself. What was surprising was that she was a petite adult, something Max didn't expect given the kinds of people he defended... unless the height mean-

Max shook his head to rid it of unnecessary depraved possibilities and walked forward. She was slipping something in his drink. Okay? This made things much more interesting. Getting closer, something about her seemed hyper-normal... she was fitting in too well and striking too many chords to the point where it seemed intentional. Max knew the type, scam girls, escorts, and trophy wives had that rehearsed beauty and grace about them, a total shame and waste of course, but now that she slipped something in the wine, this meant this was another form of predator.  And she was a very immediate problem.

He planned to make his way to the side of both of them, Jack with his completely intoxicated and pleasantly surprised look on his face.

  "Well... hello there. What brings you here tonight?"

His voice was soft, only loud enough for her to hear it, as he was an introverted kind of evil. He never became a sexual predator, because he didn't have to, but he had all of the creepiness of one, in his rather pale and thin facial demeanor, his skinny frame, and his own form of an evil man trying to seem as normal as possible, yet hiding great darkness within himself.  He lifted the glass off the bar in one hand to enjoy himself a sip, completely shocked at the sudden fortune he was having. Unfortunately she knocked away his curious hand. Rats. He always thought those pick up artist sigma male tips would work. Well, at least she was interested-

 "WOO!! YEAH! Uh Uh Uh Uh!!"

Max fell straight into the stool next to them. The VIP guards were too busy wondering how they had been suddenly electrocuted to stop him.

  "Hey man! What is going on tonight! There's way too many people in here!! woooo Haha, man you scored! Hello gorgeous!"

Plan B. Pretend to be a drunk idiot and knock out that troublesome wine glass. Plan C. No idea.

  Jack, nervous and annoyed, faked a smile.

"Yeah man, heh. I don't know. Guess everyone came to get the lead out."

Max wrapped his arm around Jack's shoulder and leaned heavily onto him, feigning a stupor and nearly knocking Anastasia off the lap.

"Well man, like my best friend always says, when the Titanic goes down you gotta get what's yours and grab the cinnamon bun- uh whoops!"

 In his shambling imbalance and exaggerated hand gesture, Max accidentally knocked the glass out of Jack's hand, shattering it into pieces a few feet away.

Typically Anastasia didn't mind drunken idiots. This one however has now personally messed with a 50 Grand USD check and bill money for the next few months however she didn't let it show she just plays with her antique amethyst necklace. "Oh what a shameful party foul, Maybe you should go Rest mister." she silently glared Daggers at the newer man with soft gentle eyes. "you wouldn't want to make a fool of your self to such a kind and wonderful man."  She had an escape plan, she also could use the poisoned wine as a fire starter and use the shadows to hold Jake in place if necessary. "I fear you might get hurt or something," she however was genuine her only target was Jake so she only wants to off him "You most certainly have a loving family around and with angering people here. It'd be a shame if they were left husband and fatherless."

She had to think and act now, She had a reachable dagger and she could stab this Bastard holding her and use the shadows to escape. She could set the drunks clothes on fire. The last option left her feeling slightly annoyed, Calling Nikolai the God forsaken demon. she studies the drunk and her eyes catches one of the guards outside the room. He'd definitely get both the idiots in this room dealt with and her out of room. maybe they could frame the drunk with murder and the kidnapping of  'a pretty little thing'.

she wanted a clean and silent kill though. That's when it hit her, she had a syringe full of potassium (enough to kill a man). She silently thanked lady luck for her fortune. It was time to hit the innocent young girl card.  She looks at the Drunken man with an innocent doe eyed look. "Mister please, I-I don't want them to hurt you too" A few tears fall from behind her mask and she hiccups. "I need the mo-money to pay my rent, but the men here aren't kind to me. I'd go somewhere else but no one wants a blonde 'Commie' like me around"

The plan seemed to be working so far, but this Russian lady definitely seemed annoyed in a much more subtle way than Jack's obvious nervousness and annoyance. Wait, she was Russian? What was he getting into here?  If he was actually drunk- REALLY drunk- he may have fallen for an ego trip rabbit hole, thinking he was stealing someone's girl, but she clearly had not picked up on the fact that he had noticed the poison.

He leaned in closer, with the sluggish drunkard swagger and the complementary smug, friendly smile. She was beautiful up close and, like magic, she had assumed a new mask, a mask of the innocent debtor in deep with the sharks. With a hiccup Max consoled her,

"Well, sugar, you just met the right man for the job. I'm part of an organization that helps gal's like you. I have my own clout around here and connections, but we don't take advantage of people, we actually try to help. Unlike this greazball here, hahaha. Am I right, man?"

He slapped Jack's shoulder hard in a wild, slack-jawed laugh.

   Jack, who was already uncomfortable, with some dude inches from his face, was now really feeling sick to his stomach, as this Russian lady was now also getting too close... and then she flipped the desk by suddenly saying that she was a victim. Now, he was dirty, but he had never met this woman before.

"Huh? Wait... who the hell are you people? I've never met any of you befor-"

Max suddenly pinched his cheek hard.

"Yeeees, we're a sick little puppy aren't we, taking advantage of women in need and helping the poor wittle criminals aren't we Jack?"

Jack was now very quickly looking for all exits. He was also about to call the guards, but hesitated. Both of these people somehow got through. Were they an X factor to the council? Or some independent operator? He was supposed to be protected.

Sweating profusely he stammered, "L-look what do you guys want? How do you know who I am? What's going on?"

Very common nervous questions began spilling out of his lawyer mouth, sounding exactly like one who had never been caught would act in the face of something they couldn't bargain with.

She internally smirked but continued the act while carefully twiddling her thumbs 'nervously'. Like moth to a flame shadows slipped over a perfect injection site. Potassium was a funny poison, it mimicked the symptoms of a heart attack. Judging by Jacks emotions it would easily be mistaken as such. Oh lady luck fortunes the bold. She slowly shrinks her personality into the role of a nervous woman while hiding the injection with not only shadows but a few slight of hand tricks.

She just cries more channeling the pain she had once felt when her mother had passed. The trick of the performer a cunning and easily triggered idea for her. After fully injecting the potassium into the man she uses the shadows hiding the needle to teleport it into the nearby alley. "I'm so so scared Mister. this man has been the kindest to me but I don't wish to be beaten n-not again. I have nothing in this country, no family absolutely nothing." This was a sad true fact. Her mom was all she had left but she died a few years ago. She was timing the Poison at this point.

She slides off of Jacks lap and onto the floor. She curls into a fetal position and forces herself to sob, her hands hiding her eyes. The sobs were real and painful sounding. To most decent men this would be not only heart breaking but also bone chilling. Her dress hikes up a bit showing her scarred and bruised thighs, this is why she hated dresses but in this moment it worked in her favor. She just trembles "Please, please don't hurt me. I just want to live and make it through till I can go back home."

Perhaps she was a sociopath and this was the proper line of work for it. Perhaps the beatings she got from the more spontaneous clients she deserved. Who could blame her? Society viewed her as a villain for her nation of birth , Her mother died when she was 16 and authorities did nothing. The world and assholes like this Jack bastard will pay for making her suffer. That thought alone made her skin tingle with a childish excitement.

It had been an easy life for Jack, never too on top or at the bottom, a healthy balance to ride the wave of security, but all of the riding had an issue. He wasn't used to the full force of a wave crashing onto him at a moment's notice. The anxiety took on a whole new level: lights spinning now, people talking in sudden higher pitched voices, sweat now streaming out his pores as much as one with an extremely high fever or bad nausea... he didn't know why this lady was curling up, but it was clearly an act, life was an act all of it, his job, his family, his friends, all fake... a stageplay with its petty players... and he needed to get out of here. Doom was coming.

"Aaah... aaaah"

Max, on the other hand, was also feeling an increase in an ominous feeling, almost a vindication of how he felt about the whole night, and it seemed to revolve around this strange woman. A part of him wasn't buying it, but suddenly things seemed to add up in her favor, like a team making a sudden comeback after halftime. The bruises and her authentic cries painted a different picture. Was she seeking revenge, or killing to spare herself from something worse? Perhaps she wasn't a predator, but rather someone of desperation.

"Woahhhh lady calm down, haha. I can get you out of here, they won't bother ya. Who's giving ya trouble? This egghead here? And come on Jack, everyone knows who you are. You're a defense attorney, you really think some of your clients' victims wouldn't remember?"

Although he was still acting a drunkard with loose lips, he actually could get her out of here. In fact, now the plan was evolving to possibly get her involved too, another witness, and more leverage for his own goals.

"H-help?!"

Jack began to slump over and clutched his chest. Ok, this was getting out of hand. Was this a set up within a set up? Jack was now acting up too?

Keeping an eye on Anastasia, Max called out for help:

"Red Alert, hahaha, we got a lil therapy session getting out of hand here. Could use some help-- wwoooahhh"

Max 'tripped' and 'stumbled' over Jack. All three were now horizontal in their own personalized crisis. The plan was now to change optics. Change it to 3 people who had too much to drink, and get them all thrown out. Inside was too hectic. Bouncers were already taking notice, especially considering the fact that this behavior was rarely seen in the VIP lounge. Three burly shaved headed, well-dressed men, one African American, one Irish, and one British (of various forms of beards and moustaches) were already there.

"Okay lady and gentlemen, that's enough for tonight. Let's go!

Soon there would be strong hands grabbing for all three to pick them up and escort them out posthaste. The Irish man was noticing that Jack was having more than just a rough night and motioned for the bartender. It seemed ambulance would possibly be needed. Some people never grew out of their party drug-mixing twenties.

Anya looked at the bouncers with tear filled doe eyes. Their tear glazed eyes made her quite frail ballet built body look even more weak. she stood up quickly and she apologizes and Looks at Jake and the 'drunk' she's still trembling but she runs off trying to leave. She seems overwhelmed so this reaction to so many men around her seems natural. She is heading straight to the exit as she wipes the salty tears from her cheeks.

She just had to hold the act till she could get to the alleyway and use the shadows to change out of this ungodly outfit. She likes black glittery dresses on other women, rubies were also pretty on more suitable or blessed women. The only things that felt right were the mask made out of swan feathers dyed black and the family Heirloom around her neck. The extensions in her hair were making her head heavy and the makeup made her face itchy. and By gods did the red bottomed stillettos make escaping difficult.

She was reaching the the exit and she could feel laughter bubbling up from deep inside her. Granted shed feel a bit less joyful if that man was in someway decent. Alas scumbags breed scumbags. she would know the best she was continuing her mothers work after all. Granted she was a bit more picky of targets. She wouldn't kill those with daughters, doing decent jobs, helping the homeless, or the ones who were obviously acting as puppets for a higher benefiter unless they had done something completely and utterly atrocious.

She could taste the decent meal she'd buy with this targets paycheck. when was the last time she had solyanka?

The mask had come off, shifting Max's view back to her being some kind of malevolent unforeseen actress. A mourning woman apologizing to those she supposedly feared, running off while the object of her terror was dying, and also leaving him behind did not suggest helplessness. Plus, how did she even get into the VIP area in the first place? It was just a theory, but Jack had had it. That man was not going home in one piece, and there went the golden opportunity for so many leads against the crime networks that were truly in charge of the city.

 It was game time, and this bitch had to be stopped and questioned, moreso than even Jack. The possibility of her being an assassin to shut up Jack permanently meant there may have been even bigger players at hand who were taking the threat of  'the Lords' seriously. Of course, the bouncers were a bit softer on the lady and were letting her run off. So much for equality, but he supposed she wasn't the one who acted drunk.

"Heeeey man. I'm good I'm good. Ya just gotta dance it off ya know! Hoo! Heee Hoo!"

  He broke off the bouncer's hold for a few seconds before grabbed again, but in that time he had thrown up his hand in the air in a mock disco gesture. Within the channels of his body, an energy coursed. He had good aim; a few seconds was all he needed to lob a ball of plasma in an arc over the crowds of the people. It would have the same color as the party lights on the ceiling. Anastasia would see a flash and feel the current of something less powerful and painful than a tazer would betray her muscles into chaos, just enough to trip her up, allowing the bouncer pushing Max to catch up with her at the door, and also to make her seem a bit too tipsy herself.

The taser like shock just annoyed her. She sits up properly noticing the dancing shadows. "Sir I've done nothing wrong." her voice was a bit shaken. She had to get home. She had forgotten to clean it. She looked at the alcohol and then at Max's general vacinity. She had the eyes of someone who knew what they'd done but also the eyes of someone who had in fact been betrayed by society.

Her hand slowly rubbed the amethyst necklace. She was heavily debating on summoning the damned demon or just burning the damn place to the ground. She had more important matters to attend to like Rent and schooling bills. She cursed the prices for ballet shoes and condo rent. She stared at the crowdf and sighed muttering the soft demonic words to summon her companion. She needed a man on her side that she knew could handle a super. There were to many innocents here to start a fire.

Her eyes close and mouths a simple Sorry. She took her necklace in both hands and bowed her head as if she praying to a lord above. In all honesty she's just hoping it would work. She Pulls he legs closer to herself.  She was ready to rely on her mothers friend and she knew it was a better option than possibly messing up her chance of getting home at all. She knew she was out numbered and it would look bad on a super for attacking a rather "powerless" woman.

The night's crescendo was already beginning, but bouncers were trained to have an eye for detail, especially in a higher end joint such as this. They clearly saw something quickly streaking out of Max's hand and flying over the crowd. This guy had to go. Something wasn't right, or at least something wasn't right with the whole setup between the three of these people they were helping out.

About twenty feet away, more bouncers received the word about the escort, and then noticed the petite lady fall over.  They could have sworn they saw a ball of lightning hit her or hit close to her. In a more normal universe, they would have been spooked and talking about it for days, but in a world with open mystical and superhuman entities running amok, this was just another form of trouble that they couldn't have in the building.

Why was she rubbing a necklace oddly in a fearful way. Did the drunk have powers? Did she have powers? Or was there a curse going on and she was doing something superstitious to protect her from it? Then you had the dying man in the background on its way. They surrounded her and began to help her up, meanwhile Jack was being seriously pushed forward in an almost jogging pace.

Word was getting out through earpieces and walkie talkies. The unknown elements had to be removed; it could be really bad for buisness, and this wasn't a slop slob 2 AM grindhouse like other places downtown, this was supposed to be a distinguished nightclub with a bit more class.  

 Jack would be pushed out, whereas Anastasia would be walked out.

"Alright alright man! Sorry! I dunno man, you sure your boys aren't drinking on the job? You know how ridiculous that sounds?"

With a hiccup, Max stumbled into the night air, with the blare of the ambulance approaching getting steadily louder. He bent over, texting something.

"Hey guys, something really wack is happening in this place. It's a bust, some dude had a heart attack, and couldn't get with (the lady). Eyes on me boys, and could use some (back up)"

This was code text to Max's own reinforcements (he knew the cops tracked any sort of implications towards vigilanteism if he was caught or suspected) .They weren't far and the Lords would also update the bouncer they paid off.  This new girl was now in the crosshairs.

Nikolai sat on his throne sipping the most refined wine found in the desire pits of the underworld. the fires burning did nothing but put a smile across his face.

"I always liked the quiet nights in this realm," Nik thought to himself as he swiveled his drink "at least Anya took the night off so I can just relax."

He took a swig of his quality drink as he felt the dark energy start to form around him, a sharp eye-roll could be felt as it echoed around the realm. He didn't even have time to react as he hit the ground. the vibrations causing his glass to shatter into a hundred tiny pieces. he quickly got to his feet as he saw the hoard start to charge in his direction.

"I really need to teach that girl to send me a warning before she summons me" Nik mumbled to himself as he dusted off his suit and tie. he looked around trying to see if he could spot her. when he couldn't see her in the crowd, he started flowing with the crowd.

arriving out front in a crowd of assholes, Nik was able to finally fight his way out. getting his bearings of being able to walk at his own pace once again, he started his search once more to no avail. the energy he was getting from the crowd was great and all but he wasn't sure if the drug-high after-taste was worth it when he has good wine waiting on him at home. Spotting a figure standing off to the side gave him some hope as he started to quickly walk up to them.

"excuse me sir" he yelled as he got close to them. "Have you seen a nice-looking young lady? about this height and gives off the strange vibe of daddy issues?"

She sat in the street amongst the shadows watching a purple feather flame dance in her hand. Her eyes looked tired, she hated men and she hated cold nights. she wanted to be in bed but the soreness of muscle spasms, her job, and the heels finally sets in. She doesn't want to move so she just curls around the purple flame, She already used the shadows to change into a common outfit and she's using her hair to hide her face. She was cold but movement hurt.

She's shivering, her blonde hair is mid-back instead of longer like the assassins. She groans slightly in pain. She was hungry but she couldn't get the money till tomorrow. Perhaps her thin leggings and tee-shirt for Ballet practice weren't the best thing to change into but its all she could. the thin cotton didn't defend her from the nights chill.

She hated these streets, she finally got off them a year and a half ago. She hummed a soft lullaby to calm herself one her mother used to hum to her so shed fall asleep easier after nightmares. The nightmares of drugs, abuse, and starvation didn't go away this time however. They never did. Society put her in this disgusting place and assholes like the man she killed tonight made these streets tragic and dangerous. She prayed Nikolai would find her soon so he could take her home.

Max was itching for his full gear; he had no idea what he was in for. He estimated that a killer sent to kill a third rung individual like a Judas of justice lawyer like Jack won't necessarily be that dangerous, but there was no real way to tell. She at least had some sleight-of-hand trick to poison him without him even seeing it... or he was already poisoned and she was waiting for the effects to kick in.

He shuffled on past a line of hollering loud women, the music booming in the background. He had a visual on Anastasia with a quick peripheral glance, and once he knew he was ahead of her, he kept moving on. Gates, one of his most reliable underlings, texted that he already had a visual. The man clearly wanted a raise.

"Heh, good old Gates."

He think he saw him in the line, a skinny, six foot black man in a suit and bowtie, wearing glasses. Not intimidating physically at all, but he was great with his dual berettas if need be.

Suddenly, there was a hoot and a holler, some bigshot pretty boy seemed to be approaching, gathering much female attention as he meandered towards him. He looked odd and out of place in the way he carried himself, and yet somehow pulled it off so naturally that he seemed to be just another well-known partygoer. The suit was also for real.

Max raised an eyebrow. "Daddy issues"... wait... a sinking feeling settled in. This could be the pick-up, or the cover assassin. Some jobs had another person hired to take out the first job. The man looked distinctly European.. and the Slavic accent...

Suddenly, everything fell into place. The bad vibe of the whole night. The chaotic ebb and flow of the crowd, the girl, that feeling like everything was in a carefully planned invisible spider web way above his paygrade. Russians. The most feared and professional mafia in the whole world.

Max straightened up with his drawling stupor... "Yeah man... shit was wild. One dude I was joking around with slumps on over. Then she just starts breaking down in tears something fierce lawl. We just had to get out of there man- er I mean the bouncers got us out. Well whatever you know, there's still plenty of the night left. I think she was still back there closer to the door. She doesn't look too good man."

Max was ready to boogie. If it wasn't for the poison, he would assume this guy was a pimp... and he supposed an escort could seek revenge against creepy employers, but this reeked of intrigue. He continued the act. Hopefully the fellow would continue onwards, help her out, and then the boys could get a bead on both of them, and totally surround the area.

Nik stared at the guy before him, something about him confused him to his demon soul. He wasn't quite sure if it was his posture, his speech patterns, or really his use of the phrase "Slumps." either way he could only smile as he tried to figure it out.

"oh darn, so sorry to hear we're not of much help to each other." Nik slipped out as he glanced up and down the street he stood on. "you know I have a weirdly good feeling about you."

as he continued to butter up his new friend, a quick glace behind him allowed him to have eyes on his target. in only matters of seconds, an idea came to dear old Nikolai.

"hey, I think I have someone you should meet. you two would be a good match" Nik quickly said as he threw his arm over the shoulder of his new ally. "maybe if things turn out well, maybe she won't need me anymore"

With a Wink and a smile, Nik moved to start dragging Max down the street. though he wasn't sure if Max was actually coming along or now, it didn't matter to Nik. all that mattered to him was he was finally able to figure out why he has found himself back into the land of the horny mortals once again. almost on cue, he was able to snap out of his thought just in time to bellow out a "HELLO MY DEAR, LOOKING FOR ME?" as he made his way throughs an old friend.