The night is cool and it soothes his feverish skin. He focuses on the sounds of the vehicles driving by or cats meowing in an alley. It halts his inner turmoil and allows Cassius a small reprieve. He is so zoned out that a voice speaking up startles him and he fights the instinct to attack. An ancient being getting caught off guard by a simple sound, he really does need to get his shit together.

"You are going to walk straight into a pole spacing out like that son," the voice says and Cassius' eyes take in his surroundings, registering exactly where he ended up. In front of Lola's bakery, named after the owners' late wife.

"Just one of those kinds of nights Mr. Lin. You understand how it is" he replies lightly but the older man's sharp eyes know a troubled soul when they see one. He had arrived extra early at the bakery to prep a special order when he had spotted the coven head he has known for years.

"Indeed I do. Come on in. Indulge an old man by taste-testing my latest experiment. I've been trying to make a cookie that tastes like maple bacon" Huan motions him in and Cassius goes along. Mr. Huan Lin had been a friend of the coven for many years and Cass had been coming to the bakery since it had opened. There was something steady about the man like nothing ever threw him off. Cassius can admire that trait on a man so young compared to his own lengthy life. Huan isn't a vampire but had been Lola's Destined, who had been a part of their coven.

"You'll never see me turning down anything you make. I'm a fool, not stupid" he jokes and hops onto a stool in the back kitchen. Huan laughs and slides a plate with three cookies over. Cassius takes a bite then just dead stares at the man who has the fucking audacity to make things this good.

Huan just grins and pushes a glass of milk his way before sitting down himself. "Now, do you want to tell me what really has you all twisted up?" he asks, gently, kindly, the way he does everything. Cassius, for his part, had always found it hard to not be honest with Huan. Cassius and Ezra had often ended up in the bakery when they wanted a little time away from the coven.

Cassius sighs, knowing it is useless to pretend. "Just coven business. Something is stirring. We don't really know from where but it seems like our peace treaty with the hunters may be put to the test soon. The coven is my top priority, you know that. But...I need SOMETHING. I just have no fucking clue what is missing. I should not be focusing on that when danger might be on our doorstep. They come first, always."

Huan listens patiently. He does not reply right away. That is something Cassius had grown to appreciate about the man. He never spoke without carefully turning an issue over. That is why when Huan speaks, you consider his words.

"I feel it as well, the trouble that is coming. I have been a friend to the Moreau coven through good and bad so the signs are hard to miss. When turmoil arises, we all need an anchor. Perhaps, that is what you are missing.

"Feeling lost is a universal experience everyone goes through. Perhaps more so when you have lived through millenniums. I am certain you will come across the thing or person that will anchor you through it. You will know when you meet them. When that time comes, hold on with both hands. Rely on those you trust and, above all else, stay true to yourself."

There is a tinge of sadness and regret in the older man's words that make Cassius sure he is speaking from experience. They sit in silence, comfortable in each other's company. Cassius mulls over the advice while Huan gets started on his day's work. Mental exhaustion starts catching up with him and finally makes it impossible to keep overthinking.

Huan notices and, with an indulgent smile, leads Cassius to the couch in the office adjacent to the kitchen. Cassius barely stays awake long enough to thank the man, remove his boots, and flop onto the plush couch before knocking out for some much-needed rest.

He has no idea how long he is out, but when he wakes up it is to the sound of voices and the groggy disoriented feeling that comes with sleeping during the day. With a grunt, Cassius swings his legs off of the couch and stands up on unsteady legs. His jaw cracks as he yawns widely, scratching absentmindedly at a spot on his stomach.

Carefully, the vampire peeks into the kitchen. "Alright yéyé, I'm gonna let you go but I'm really glad we got to talk. I'll hopefully see you soon! Keep taking care of yourself" a sweet voice comes out of the phone Huan is holding up and it sends a shiver down his spine. His body relaxes and he feels calm for the first time in days. The girls' tone is velvety, soft, and slightly deep. Like a jazz singer lulling you to sleep. Cassius finds himself wanting to hear it again and unconsciously taking a step forward.

Huan looks over at him and smiles then shifts his eyes back to the screen. "Same to you Sofie. Someone needs to take over this place" he says teasingly and Cassius smirks when he hears the girl – Sofie- whine and protest. The two say their goodbyes and Mr. Lin puts his phone down.

"Sorry about that, I didn't mean to interrupt" Cassius apologizes but Huan isn't bothered. Cassius wants to ask about the call. He distantly remembers Sofia Lin, Huan's granddaughter, from her younger years. The older sister barely visited but Sofia spent entire summers with her grandfather. It has been too long since he had seen the brunette though.

"Just a little check-in is all. The girls might be popping around soon" Huan explains while going to make some tea. The drink isn't exactly to Cassius's taste but Huan Lin makes a damn fine cup of tea. A fact he would never admit to any of his men. Those cretins are always waiting to use anything as roasting fodder.

"Looking to give the place up and ditch us, old man?" he jokes and takes the offered cup. Huan cuffs him on the shoulder good-naturedly.

"Like I could ever leave you, troublemakers. No, this place is my home and I do not plan to leave it. I would like to train Sofia so she can take over. She has the talent and brains for it. The bakery deserves to stay in the family and this town needs to keep people that are trustworthy around. I'm an old dog Cassius, gotta rest my bones" he pats Cassius' shoulder and goes out to the front where customers are filing in for the afternoon rush.

Staring into the cup of tea, Cassius has the painful realization that most of the humans that Huan was close to are now either dead or retired, with an exception or two. Mr. Lin had been such a steady friend, aiding in the harmony between the coven and the town that thinking of the man as elderly and tired is a blow. Vampires don't age, they are essentially immortal, but Huan is human.

He downs the now lukewarm drink in one go and rinses the cup, setting it down in the drying rack beside the sink. "Thank you for the tea! I will show myself out" he announces and leaves through the back door. He distractedly nods at familiar faces who greet him in passing once he is on the main road. A car he doesn't recognize rolls by but he pays it no mind. Must be someone passing through.

Instead of continuing to dwell and think, Cassius takes the route back to the club. He could flash home and order someone to retrieve his car but he would rather not have anyone else driving his baby. Someone, probably his childe, will be giving him hell for disappearing without a word with a possible threat on the horizon. Actually, he hasn't even checked his phone this entire time.

When he finally gets home and walks into their nest, a loud whistle sounds off from somewhere and Cassius instinctively tells the man to fuck off, recognizing Gunners' high-pitched whistle anywhere. It's like the man perfected the precise frequency to cause maximum annoyance for anyone in the immediate vicinity.

The large ginger just laughs and Cassius shakes his head, cleaning up before changing and heading to his office and looking over the latest intel gathered by Diesel. His sensitive ears pick up the sound of someone letting themselves in after a while. The scent is so familiar that he doesn't bother looking up.

"Got your head back on right, My Lord?" asks Javier, leaning against the wall beside the door. The coven's combat trainer is probably the calmest and most well-adjusted vampire they currently have. He had been bosom buddies with Cassius' father and made it a point to subtly look out for all of the men. God knows they did a shit job of looking out for themselves sometimes.

Cassius meets the man's earthy hazel eyes and nods. Javier places a plate of food on the desk and stops for a moment. "We are always behind you. Never doubt that. Whatever shit comes, we are in it together. To the end" he says his piece then leaves the coven head to his task.

The Primordial leans back in his chair and feels something settle inside of him. He has never been one to doubt or falter. This spiral is not like him. He is Lord Cassius Moreau, head of the Moreau coven, and he has his men at his back. They will protect what is theirs and may the gods help anyone that gets in their way. Whatever is coming and whatever he is missing, will be dealt with when the time is right. A sense of peace comes with the thought and Cassius, once again centered, dives into his tasks for the day.