Ebony watched over the festivities below with a sad expression. It was times like this, alone and in silence, that she felt the hollow space beside her. Even after three years, she still longed to see him. At this point, she was sure she’d be happy he was there even if he was arguing with her. She didn’t need him to hold her, or apologise for leaving. She just…needed him to be here.

Ebony seemed to cycle through her feelings on the topic the longer Aegin was away. At first, she’d been worried. Worried that he was on his own. That he had to find out everything she’d learned from Rassa on his own. Worried that he was sealed and vulnerable. Worried that…worried that he wasn’t coming back because he didn’t want to see her. But that thought just made her angry.

What had she done to deserve his spite? Why did he even deserve her worry if he was just going to stay gone like this? How dare he leave without saying a thing to her? If he came back now, she was liable to chain him in Anthrite and throw him into the depths of Shigeni Mountain just the keep him there.

Then she was just…sad.

Worry, then anger, then sadness. Repeat.

It was no wonder she spent most of her time trying to find something to keep her mind off of things. But now…the hunt proposed by Rassa had been like opening the box. At the suggestion of seduction, she’d been initially opposed. But her coven members had seemed unsurprised, eager even, and it had occurred to her that those months Aegin had spent with the Priestess on the Ship…sharing a room…he’d been away three years now. Surely if he wasn’t coming back, he had to be looking elsewhere. He wasn’t going to wait for her, so why should she wait for him? The thought had made her determined. If he’d moved on, she could too.

Now though, now she stood on the rooftop of one of the buildings and beside the main square of Port Leis, looking down at all the festivities below as the sunrise grew ever closer, and she could feel the hollowness beside her like nothing else.

The door behind her opened and she turned in surprise. A young man was struggling to drag and easel and a bucket of supplies through the door. He was tall and lanky, with large glasses, but still dressed relatively nicely. She watched him struggle, frowning at it. He dropped his canvas and swore quietly in the night.

“Crackers and Ham!”

Ebony couldn’t help the short giggle that escaped her lips. What kind of profanity was that?

He looked up in surprise to realise he was not alone. Ebony covered her lips for a moment as she composed herself, “My apologies, do you need help?”

Ebony raised an eyebrow in question. He continued to stare at her, dumbstruck. Ebony frowned, “Sir?”

Still nothing. Ebony could have sworn she accidently allured him if it weren’t for the fact that his eyes told her that his mind was moving a thousand times faster and his body had yet to catch up.

“Sir?”

She asked a little louder this time, and he flinched, then opened his mouth, “Oh, ah, sorry to disturb you. I didn’t realise somebody was already up here. I can go somewhere else”.

“No, please, I wasn’t doing anything of consequence. I could do with the company really,” said Ebony.

She was being entirely honest. It had nothing to do with the hunt. Though the hunger inside her reminded her that that was what she was supposed to be doing. That the man before her was the perfect prey.

“Oh, I…are you sure?”

Ebony got the impression that he wasn’t very good with people.

“Did you come to paint?” asked Ebony, pointing at his equipment.

He immediately perked up, picking up his things and making his way over to where she stood at the edge of the building as he spoke, “Yes, I couldn’t sleep with all the festivities, and when I looked out the window and saw what was happening in the square I just couldn’t resist”.

They both gazed down at the lines and circles of dancers, the band in the centre never seeming to tire.

“It is beautiful,” said Ebony with a smile, “So much joy”.

Ebony sensed him turn to look at her, “It is…I…I hope this isn’t rude but…would you mind if you were in the painting too?”

Ebony turned to him in surprise, “Sorry?”

“I don’t mean to offend – or seem forward – but…you look stunning with the lights of the lamps in the background,” he said.

Ebony found herself legitimately tongue-tied. She’d been called beautiful before, but not in this way.

“I…”

“Sorry, a lady such as yourself must have someone waiting for you. It was rude of me to ask for something like this,” he said.

But she didn’t. She had no one waiting for her. The hunger’s thrill of the hunt pushed her voice forward.

“Well, no, I don’t have anyone waiting for me, but I’ll admit to needing to be somewhere, and I can use some help,” said Ebony, “I’ll tell you what. If you agree to help me out, I agree to stand for a portrait for you”.

He seemed legitimately surprised, “Really?”

Ebony nodded.

He then seemed concerned, “What is it you need help with?”

“Would you walk me home?” asked Ebony.

For a moment, he looked to be trying to determine whether or not she was kidding, then he gave a small smile, “Very well, it’d be an honour, Miss?”

He put down his things, then held a hand out to her in greeting. She took it delicately.

“Ebony,” she said.

“A pleasure, Miss Ebony,” he smiled as he shook her hand, “My name is Nolan”.

“The pleasure is mine, Mr Nolan,” she replied, “Shall we? I’d hate to keep you from this view for too long”.

He swept his arm to the side to guide her, his movements not that of an ordinary man. He was bred to nobility. It seemed she was not the only one keeping her name quiet. Not that it mattered.

They walked together with pleasant company. Remarking on the festivities every now and then. She enquired about his painting. He enquired about why she was on a rooftop rather than down with the party-goers.

“There is someone I cannot help missing,” she’d replied, “In truth your arrival was a welcome distraction”.

He’d nodded, “I can understand that. There are those that I miss at times as well”.

Neither elaborated. When they finally made it to the apartment building, Ebony gave a short excuse to do with a creepy neighbour to have him pass through the foyer and up the stairs, then she paused before her door.

“It’s quite the building,” he remarked, “Owned by Moonshadow, is it not?”

Ebony nodded, “Yes. It is”.

He nodded, admiring the architecture, “I should like to meet the one who designed it. It is exquisite. From what I have seen, all things made by Moonshadow are. It is no wonder that they hold the Bronze Token just seven years after their inception”.

Ebony nodded, “It is astounding. You should see the designs inside the apartments”.

He smiled awkwardly, “Oh, I really don’t think that’s-”

“I insist,” Ebony said, “If nothing else it could serve as inspiration for a painting”.

Ebony unlocked the door behind her and led her way inside her apartment, “Come on”.

She waved to him as he hesitated in the doorway, then took his hand and pulled him inside, closing the door behind her. She pointed at the frescos and columns. The wall papers, the flooring, and the rooves. He seemed to forget propriety as she showed him around, then she paused at the balcony.

“The view’s not bad from here either,” said Ebony.

He nodded as he came to stand beside her, “I can see why many are so intent on getting an apartment such as this. The view incredible”.

He paused, then turned to look down at her. She looked up at him.

He leaned forward and touched his lips to hers. Ebony paused, momentarily stunned. She had not attempted to avoid it. That earlier thought of moving on still in the back of her mind. But his eyes…they were the colour of chocolate, not lavender.

Sensing that she was less enthusiastic, Nolan pulled away, “I-sorry, that was inappropriate, I-I-I should go-”

Ebony caught his hand, “Nolan, it’s not you. You’re a kind and honest man. And I would like you as a friend if possible, I’ll even still sit for that portrait I promised you, but…I just can’t”.

He gave her a small smile, one that seemed to tell her that he understood, “Still, I am sorry”.

Ebony shook her head, “Don’t be. I should be sorry, not that you’ll remember this”.

Nolan frowned, “Remember wha-?”

Ebony pulled him down to her level as she extended her fangs and sunk them deep into his neck. She pulled what she needed from him, the taste rich as she pushed calming emotions back to him. After a moment, she pulled away, licking over the wound, she began to release him, only to feel him dropping under his own weight at the loss of her. She caught him and lowered him.

“Nolan?” she asked, “You’re okay, I can make it better”.

Only when her gaze landed on his face, she realised with surprise that perhaps she’d pushed a bit too much calm towards him.

He was asleep.

Ebony sighed. She’d have to jolt him awake now, and that didn’t sound all that appealing to her. She looked at him, then her couch, then she sighed, “This is why I prefer hunting criminals”.

***

Rassa gave another warm smile to a passing lady who hid her alluring smile behind her fan. Still she walked on, as all the others had.

Rassa did not lose his smile as he spoke, “Sel, I know you entered this hunt at a disadvantage, but that is no reason to lurk at my back like a spider setting a web”.

“Master?” asked Sel innocently.

“You are ruining my prospects, Sel, beat it”.

Sel gave the slightest smile, “But Master, should I leave, you shall be unprotected?”

“Do you plan to watch me all night, because I’m not much for exhibitionism, especially with a statue such as yourself,” said Rassa.

“Not all night, Master,” said Sel.

“Well, we are running out of night, Sel,” said Rassa, “Are you planning on hunting at all?”

“I hunted earlier, Master,” Sel replied, “I find myself not in need of sustenance and so shall dishonour your offer by serving at your side”.

Rassa sighed, turning to look at the Eunuch and the small smile on his usually stiff lips, “If you think I don’t know you’re doing this on purpose, you’re mistaken”.

“I know not what you speak of, Master”.

Rassa tsked, “It’s an hour before dawn, Sel, everyone will be back by now”.

Sel nodded, “It is highly likely, Master”.

“So, can you give me a few minutes to breathe so that I might collect my prospects, then you can happily remain by my side as we return to the Apartments,” Rassa said.

Sel bowed his head, “As you wish, Master”.

Sel then stepped away. Rassa rolled his eyes. Within five minutes, a young woman approached him with a sensuous smile, “Mr Moonshadow, you are celebrating awfully late, I suppose that it is well-deserved though, congratulations are in order”.

“Thank you, Miss Dayvon, perhaps I had not noticed the time in light of tonight’s success,” said Rassa, “Could I interest you in a celebratory drink?”

She smiled, reading between the lines like all bold women could. She looped her arm through his, “I thought you’d never ask”.

***

Rassa stepped out of his bedroom an hour after the sun had set, his clothes that of somebody not intending to leave the house as he crossed to his lounge where the rest of his coven waited. There was a lull in conversation at his arrival, and Rassa took in Layton and Talo’s amusement, as well as the aura of pride around Sel.

Rassa sighed, “Yes, yes, I clearly came in last for those of us who participated in the hunt last night. You may all bestow your gratitude upon Sel for extending his own handicap toc become mine as well. I am, however, more interested in who came first”.

Rassa held his hand out and Ebony deposited the note from Rida, the lobby manager, into his hand.

Rassa dropped onto the couch beside her, crossing his legs as he opened the note, the others waiting in anticipation.

“Last to arrive, Mr Moonshadow…blah, blah, blah, yadda yadda,” Rassa uttered. His coven members chuckled, “Second last”. They quietened in anticipation, “Miss Ebony, accompanied by a pleasant and kind looking young man who did not depart until…after noon?” Rassa frowned and turned to Ebony, “Did you…”

Ebony sighed as everyone looked at her with wide eyes, “Not that it’s a big deal, but no, I did not. Frankly I’m with Iah. I take little pleasure in hunts such as this. He was quite pleasant on the walk home so the fact that I did not wish to cause pain combined with my…well, in short I pushed too much calmness upon him…he fell asleep”.

Layton and Talo burst into laughter, Talo regaining enough composure to ask, “While you fed on him?”

Ebony frowned, “From what I hear, you were with some swindler”.

Rassa nodded, “That is what it says here, ‘Mr Lovisson arrived fourth accompanied by a lady of questionable reputation that was arrested when she attempted to scrape the gold-leaf from the walls of the lobby upon her exit just after dawn’”.

They all turned to Talo, who just shrugged, “I won against her and her partner in cards. She tried to distract me with her cleavage. I guarantee that it wasn’t much of a distraction at the time, it was when I was sliding my cock down that valley an hour later”.

Iah and Ebony both scrunched their noses in disgust at his vulgarity, as did Mathius, though it was less noticeable.

“Third place?” asked Layton eagerly.

Rassa turned back to the note, “Third place, ‘Mr Wolfsbane accompanied by a young woman who left just before dawn’”.

Layton pouted, “You mean I did worse than Mathius? Than Iah?”

“Don’t be a sore loser,” Talo stated. Layton’s protests were cut off as Rassa continued.

“In second place, ‘Mr Silvermoon accompanied by a humble woman’. Which means in first place we have Iah who…you’re kidding”.

Talo frowned, “What?”

Rassa raised an eyebrow, asking for an explanation as he spoke, “‘Miss Iah arrived just ten minutes after Mr Moonshadow left instructions, accompanied by a young woman in humble attire who left minutes after arriving’”.

They all turned to Iah. It was Layton who spoke first, “You’re into women?”

Sel smacked him in the back of the head.

Iah scoffed at his question, “Not that it is your business, but Rassa did state that seduction was only one method. Seeing as that had no appeal to me, I used another”.

“What other?” asked Talo.

Iah sighed, picking up the purse on her lap and shaking it.

“You paid someone to come with you?” asked Talo.

They all turned to look at Rassa, as if asking if it was cheating. Rassa shrugged, “I only said that you could not allure them into coming. Not that you can’t pay them”.

“I figured that was implied,” Talo grumbled.

“Iah won, fairly,” said Rassa, “Your wish Iah, what do you want?”

Iah looked around at the others before she turned to Rassa, “Can I think about it?”

Rassa nodded, “Sure. Have the week off everyone. I think we’ve all earned it”.

“You’ll have the week off,” Ebony sighed, “The rest of us have things to do to keep your business running”.

Rassa sighed, “What good is it being the boss if I can’t tell you to take a day off?”

“You asked for a week, not a day,” said Ebony.

“We just earned the Bronze Token, I figured a week of holiday is a good idea”.

“Unannounced? The public would skin us,” said Ebony.

“Just do it, Ebony,” said Rassa.

Iah sighed, “He’s right, Ebony, we need a break. Just a week. Will you show me around Eldovia? I haven’t gotten the chance to go north yet”.

Ebony turned to Iah, then to Rassa, then back to Iah, “Invite Neva too”.

Iah nodded, “Of course, I’ll inform everyone of the announcements”.

“Announcements?” asked Rassa.

Iah nodded as she stood, “Ebony says you promised bonuses. A holiday and bonuses at once seems doubly benevolent of you, Mr Moonshadow. Thank you for your impeccable leadership”.

Then she vanished. Rassa sighed, “Alright, I’ll be back in a week”.

“We’ll pack up and be ready in a half hour,” said Layton.

Rassa paused, “Huh?”

Mathius, Talo, Layton, Ebony and Sel all looked at him expectantly. He sighed, “Fine, we’re stopping at Moonshadow first though”.