Channel Valley [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

“Welcome to Channel Valley Station.”


The chipper female voice spoke above the rush of people in the train station. One woman looked up at the ceiling as it spoke, standing in the middle of the tiled floor with one bag in her hand, and a bookbag strapped to her back. ‘Channel Valley.’ She repeated the name mentally. It had been a split second decision hours ago, a large city that people like her ought to gravitate towards.


Then again, all of that information was coming from a vampire who she wouldn’t call the most trustworthy source. He hadn’t mentioned this city by name, but even when she was human, Channel Valley was known as a big city, akin to New York City or Hollywood.


‘Where do I begin?’


Old instructions flooded her mind as she started to walk, following signs that would lead her out of the station, and into the city of lights.


Adria Windsor had to blink her dark eyes several times once she stumbled out into what should have been night. Of course, it was night, but the lights suggested otherwise. ‘A place for the day, get a place for the day first.’ She reached for her cell phone, fumbling with the technology that was still strange to her, and illuminated the time. It was just a little past midnight. ‘Thank god for Winter!’ It kept things dark for a longer period of time.


Adria descended down the steps, heels clicking against the cement as she walked to where the many taxis were lined up to get passengers. “Excuse me,” she called to one of them, and when the driver turned to her, she brushed a bit of blonde hair behind her shoulder, “I…,” she realized belatedly she had no idea what hotel would be able to accommodate her needs.


‘Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.’


Adria sought a lie, “I need to get to the Ritz.” It was a hotel name she knew that was, for lack of a better word, ritzy. With enough money thrown at them, they’d cater to any need. ‘Please have a Ritz in this town, please—’


“Oh, right this way, ma’am,” he didn’t question it at all, but then, the woman standing there looked like money in her dark blue evening gown and perfectly wavy hair. He took her bag and loaded it into the back of the taxi, before allowing her in to the backseat of the cab.


Adria settled in, and smiled to herself. ‘Thank you, Marcus.’ Good thing the scientist was rich, or this would be hard to pull off.


~***~


At the Ritz sat one black-haired man who did not at all look impressed with the emptying room before him. He eyed the backs of many men and women in suits, a few who were visibly shaken. The board meeting had not gone well, to say the least. Profits had taken a fall that quarter, and Tristan Lange had intended to get to the bottom of it.


He came to understand that the issue was that shoddy products were being sold, and someone had decided that out-servicing their call center to India was a fantastic idea.


That person was still there, lying on the floor, a quivering mess. That person had also decided to buy many things pre-made in China to put into their products. Considering Lange industries was currently competing with another giant in the field of tablets, computers, and all things tech, that just couldn’t happen.


The Lange heir moved so he could put his feet up over the arm of his chair, and lounge, looking idly at the mess on the floor. “Oh, Bill,” he sighed out the name, “We lost profits from your attempts to be cheap. Whatever shall I do with you?”


Bill still wasn’t even sure what had happened. One minute, he was in a yelling match with Tristan Lange, and the next he saw the manifestation of all his fears flash before his eyes. No one else had understood why he started screaming and why he collapsed to the floor, but they’d all happily ignored him when Tristan started to issue orders to clean up this mess, and when he insisted someone be hired to control the social media output of Lange industries. “Should I replace you?”


Bill just shivered.


Tristan sighed and then pushed himself out of the chair and walked to where Bill was. He grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and pulled him up so that they had eye contact once again. No nightmares came, but Bill let out a shriek and tried to pull away when he saw those inhumanely silver eyes.


Tristan canted his head, and a smirk pulled at his lips, “Yes, I think so. You’re in no shape. You’re going to leave of your own free will, aren’t you?”


Bill nodded furiously, and Tristan released him, straightened up and brushed his hands down his black blazer.

 

[Echoes]

Walking through the beautiful lobby of the Ritz, Tatianna thought back to how she had gotten here. Journalism had always been a passion of hers, She started off by giving out small pieces of work to tiny companies and after a year, She had landed a job at the biggest company in the city. The only thing she had ever imagined to be writing about was small businesses and cute feel good articles...But somehow she had landed the biggest job of them all. The Lange's business had taken a bit of a fall according to rumors and her boss had tried to give the job to many different people over the space of a week. No one wanted the job so Tatianna took it up without a second thought.


"Hello, I am so terribly sorry but I am late to a meeting. Lange's? Could you tell me where I need to go? My boss will be terribly upset if I am any later,"Tatianna explained.


It was all a lie obviously. This was her idea, A surprise attack on one of his meetings. Catch him off guard so she would get decent information and not a pile of rubbish he had sat and thought about.


Her high heels slapped against the floor as she rushed towards the meeting. Her heart beat began to increase rapidly, Why was she so nervous? This was her job...She knew deep down that the Lange's had a reputation and they probably weren't good to go up against.


Tatianna knocked on the door gently before letting herself in, She could feel the tension in the room. It was thick in the air.


"Mr Lange, I'm a journalist. I'm here to write an article on your company. My boss sent me. I'm writing the article about how your company is the biggest in the area. I hope you do not mind."She smiled.


Playing the good guy while secretly stabbing someone in the back was definitely not in her nature but she needed the bonus and her name on something huge.


Idris Lange sat at his desk trying to come down from the pure rage he was feeling. Idris couldn't believe that the business had taken a bit of a drop, They were so successful and some idiot had come along and ruined it. The business meeting was something he had to avoid because he knew he'd end up seriously hurting or even killing someone which would be even worse for business. Once he was red, There was no coming back from it. He flicked through all the documents again just to make sure no one had made an error but it was accurate, They had to do something drastic to get themselves back up in money.


Idris buzzed his secretary in. The young lady walked in, Her beautiful stance and elegant smile worked on the customers but she wasn't the best at the job. He took deep breathes before speaking because he felt like he was going to blow up.


"Why hasn't there been a meeting set up with our stock holders like I asked you to do yesterday? You are replaceable Miss Jones and trust me, I will replace you if you keep making these STUPID mistakes."He spat angrily.


The girl began to shake slightly which bought a grin to Idris, Nothing like fear to make a person work.

 

[Lucyfer]

Bill ran for the door as soon as he was released, allowing Tristan to walk back to his section of the table. He intended to gather his things and leave, but Bill’s yelp at the door caused him to look up. Walking in and right by Bill was a woman in heels. She wasn’t familiar to Tristan, but he knew what she was.


He always knew, and a smirk played across his face. ‘Which family is it now?’ He wondered idly as he gave her a once-over. Then, calmly, he picked up his briefcase and started to put papers away. ‘One of them was behind this from the start, no doubt. Now they want to continue to destroy us.’


“I’m sorry, Miss,” he emphasized the word, hoping she understood she had insulted him by not giving up her name, or the company she worked for to begin with. “All my interviews are scheduled through my agent, and I was not informed of having one with whoever you are,” his tone was purposefully dismissive as he shut the briefcase with a hard snap.


More emphasis.


He lifted it up and offered her a clearly fake smile, “You ought to try out school in this time, dear. They’d teach you these things.” Then again, she might be that young. He never was good at guessing the age of other vampires. Those who acted pompous and confident, he simply assumed were old. He also assumed that a journalist who was just going to walk into an office to get a story couldn’t possibly be from this time.


That might have worked back in the early 1900s, but not anymore.


~***~


The city passed before Adria’s eyes as she leaned back in the taxi and watched it all. A calm started to settle, though she knew it was foolish to be calm. She wouldn’t have that luxury for a while. Vampires were patient, after all. They had a lifetime.


It might be weeks, it might be years, but someone was going to come looking for her. Someone was going to want to know what happened to Flavius. ‘And will you tell them that you killed him? You’ll have to say that much. Will you tell them that you took his soul and twisted your own monstrous nature into something even more disgust—’


“We’re here, ma’am.”


Adria let out a breath and unclenched the fist that had clenched in her lap. Getting used to her conscious was going to be irritating, too. “Thank you,” she smiled pleasantly and paid the man well, with a tip, before leaving the taxi and walking up the marble steps and into the gilded lobby through the glass doors. It was a truly beautiful place, and Adria tried not to stare too long at the chandeliers, nor wonder too much at the sound of music off to the side. She could see a bar.


‘And aren’t we thirsty?’


Adria approached the counter, “I need a room.”


“For how long?”


“Let’s…let’s say a week right now. I might need it longer,” if she needed it for less, she wouldn’t say. She’d just leave and make sure all was paid up. “I need one with strong shutters for the blinds. I work nights.”


The man behind the counter arched an eyebrow, and when she didn’t blink under the gaze, he gave her a knowing smile, “Very well.” He’d make a note that a new one was in town, though he didn’t think the powers-that-were would care all that much. “Your room will be set up shortly.” He told her the cost, and again she simply handed over a card and had it all paid for. “Would you like someone to take your bags to your room for you?”


“Yes, please,” and the man soon had someone called for that. She kept her purse, but handed over her bookbag and one bag of luggage to the man, “Just set them on the bed, please.” She offered as instructions. She’d put her own things away when the time came.


The man took the instruction and left with her things, leaving her to wonder into the bar where a gorgeous woman in black was playing a piano. Adria took a seat at the bar to listen, and to consider how to go about hunting in this new town.

 

[Echoes]

Tatianna kept the neutral expression on her face, She didn't want to show him any form of emotion or weakness but inside, Inside she was mad. Why did he think he could talk to her in such a smug way? It was difficult being a journalist and it almost made her miss being a nurse...almost. Regardless of how she was feeling, She needed this bonus more than she needed anything and his tone of voice fueled her need to get the dirt on him.


"Sorry, How awfully rude of me Sir. My name is Tatianna, Do you not have time for a quick interview? I mean, my company will publish the story with or without your take on it. I thought i'd give you the opportunity to say your side."Tatianna said.


She took a seat and pulled out the paper work she had, She was trying to assert her own dominance in the situation. She was trying to show that she wasn't scared of him even though deep down..She was.


"I have tons of paper work suggesting your company is taking a dark turn, I was going to question the head but then, a little birdy told me you might be the guy to sort this out because your father has a...temper. Though judging by the way that guy just ran out of here, I'd say you have one too,"She smirked.


Tatianna knew she was playing with fire but if she backed down every time someone showed their teeth...She'd have never gotten anywhere in her life. This was the scoop of the century and she was prepared to take it to the end. She flicked through her paper work before looking up at him with a grin.


"Don't get cocky tat', You'll just rile the beast."She thought to herself.


---


Idris smirked at the girl before sitting on the edge of his desk. He knew if he scared her too much, She'd probably quit and he'd had so many secretaries over the years, He was sure he was going to run out of people eventually.


"You may leave, Get to work."He spat.


Idris sat back down on his chair before jotting down how many different people they actually had to establish work with. The company was beginning to look like a sinking ship and he wasn't prepared to let it go down. The phone began to ring, Idris frowned knowing it was probably from a stock holder who would be unimpressed with how everything had turned out .Regardless, he picked up the phone.


"Hello, Mr Lange. Who is this?"He said in his monotone voice.


The conversation was boring and he was sure, Endless. Going over the same explanation of why the company had taken a turn and listening to the eager people trying to give ridiculous ideas of how to make some money was driving Idris to the point of no return. He slammed the phone down after a good ten minutes of pretending to listen. He didn't care who he upset, he just wanted some results.

 

[Lucyfer]

As her name was given, Tristan took out his phone and typed it into a quick internet search, not really listening to the words that followed her introduction. He had to add her job. Fortunately, Tatianna wasn’t a terribly common name. He found her picture, with her place of work, and gave a nod to himself.


She was saying something about attitude. She took a seat, and said something about not needing his input anyway. “Hmm,” she was trying a tactic seen in too many movies.


Her name didn’t seem all that well-known, either. She as a legit journalist, but not someone he needed to worry about. He locked his phone and slipped it back into his pocket and looked her dead in the eye. He considered sending her running for the hills, but smiled instead. “I have an agent,” he repeated, and he took out his small wallet full of cards. He set his own on the table. It didn’t have his number, but it has his agent’s, “Do try to be professional about this, Miss Tatianna. I have other matters to tend to.”


Tristan knew better than to give into a pushy interviewer. Sure, it might end up in her story. His defense would be simple—she waltz in unannounced and expected he wasn’t busy.


That was simply stupid on her part. It wasn’t difficult to find the information to set up meetings with either himself or Idris. “Cheers, love,” he said as he headed towards the door to walk out and go to the elevator, to see himself out. The night had, after all, only just begun.


~***~


The pianist was a tribute to the human race. Adria found her sense of hunger fading as she listened, distracted. It wasn’t until the bartender drummed his fingers on the counter near her that she jumped, and realized he’d been trying to talk to her. An embarrassed smile came to her lips, and he returned a genuine one. “Can I get you anything, doll?”


She bristled at the term, it immediately bringing back the memory of the place she’d just left. “No, I’m—” and then she saw him widen his grin to show one single, obvious, fang. She wasn't so good at recognizing her own kind yet, it seemed. “Oh. Yes, then. Yes, please.”


The fang was hidden away under his lips, “Anything in particular?”


“I’m not sure what the options are.”


There were too many humans around for him to feel like explaining, so he just nodded, “I’ll get you my favorite. It’ll be about $7, though.”


“I can handle that,” and she slid the card to him, saying, “no tab.”


He returned the card to her once the drink was made, a maroon hue, and she slipped it back into her purse before taking the drink up to her lips. A sniff revealed other things were mixed in that weren’t blood. ‘Will this make me sick?’ She didn’t know.


She’d only really had blood and ‘blood wine’, as her sire had called it. Both of which were just blood, but one of them was somehow fermented. She never cared to learn how, since she never drank it except once, when she learned that vampires could, in fact, get drunk.


She sipped at this to test. There was a spiciness that made her think of a spicy Bloody Caesar she’d once had. The bar had called it the ‘Bloody Brutus’ because of the kick. They thought it was clever. ‘Not bad, anyway.’ The fact she actually liked the spice was what surprised her. She hadn’t liked the taste of anything but blood in a while. This bar knew what it was doing. ‘Owned by vampires….’


Adria could get used to this.