New York || Day 1

[imaginationswoes]

[Running is the current plan but it isn't going well. She's constantly getting lost and she's reminded again and again that she's never been out of her small town alone. She misses her family and her friends but more than that she is really missing a warm bed. Her feet continue forward, the tall buildings towering on either side of her. It's impressive, as far as cities go, but its to close together.

To much can go wrong.

She must of made a wrong turn because Airy finds herself walking along a very shady part of town. Winter is setting in but she thinks of warmth and she manages to keep herself heated. She has a backpack around her shoulders and it looks like she's wearing a uniform: white button down, green pleated skirt, black jacket and a matching tie. It's most definitely giving some of the people here the wrong idea.]

Shit.

[Airy whispers softly under her breath, a puff of white leaving her warm lips. When she spots two men pointing towards her she runs. Her feet fly across the street and she's about 75% sure they weren't following her. Mist descends on the area and Airy one again curses under her breath. She's only getting more lost at this rate and running around New York after midnight isn't on her to do list.]

Comments

[charitaslamia]

[Most nights would not find Antonio in such a section of town. He harbored no concern for his safety, he could outrun any criminal who would think to mug him and hear them long before they were in range. No. Simply put, this neighborhood smelled. Still, it being so far from Manhattan made it a perfect hunting ground. He'd already satiated his hunger for the evening, and the lethargy that accompanied a full belly would be blamed for his not noticing the girl running swiftly across the empty street until she'd nearly made it to the opposite alley.

The sudden mist was another distraction, but the intentions of her pursuers who appeared suddenly was even more plain that the sudden appearance of the mist. Most chivalry may be dead, but it was alive and kicking in Antonio, and he could move faster than human eyes could follow when he really wanted to.

He was between the alley entrance and the men two seconds later, moving just since the shadows of the place, his vampiric eyes shining like a cat's in the low light from the street beyond the alley. The men came up short, clearly startled. There was something there they couldn't see.

And then it, whatever it was, growled. They turned, deciding it seemed that the girl wasn't so easy a victim as they'd thought.

He turned his attention back to the alley, to the shadows, and listened for a heartbeat that was surely racing with all the running she was doing.]

[imaginationswoes]

[It takes seconds for the mist to evaporate and vanish as if it had never been there at all. Airy has her back pressed against a wall and she is trying really hard not to imagine what gross things might be on it because that would backfire horribly. Bright green eyes look over at the new stranger, her face framed by dark brown and her brows furrowed in a worried expression. She takes a small step forward, not trying to walk closer but to get away from the wall of the alley. Her exit further down is blocked by crates and after everything that has happened there is only one thought that skitters through her mind.

Damn hes hot. This is weird.

Airy fidgets awkwardly, her heart still pounding frantically in her chest. Her nerves won't settle down even with the handsome stranger standing at the end of the alley, maybe because he's blocking the way out.]

Umm... [The worst thing about being lost and nervous and in the dark is that Airy's imagination runs more wild than usual. Behind her she hears a growl in the darkness and bright yellow eyes matching Antonio's move forward. A black panther moves from the darkness behind the lost girl. At first he's a shadow but with each second he becomes real. Airy turns quickly and stumbles backwards towards the Antonio.]

Oh Crap! I'm sorry.

[She falls, her foot hooking on some stupid piece of trash. The ground is not soft but Airy tries to force the creature to go away. This night is just a world of sucking.]

[charitaslamia]

[First and foremost, Antonio is a man of reason. There is no logical explanation for a panther stalking the streets of a low-rent district of the Bronx, and yet he could smell the musk of its fur, its growl thundered in his ears.

He stepped forward to stand between this new adversary and the girl he'd recently saved from the human predators. His species were the true apex hunters of the world, if what he's mother had taught him were true, but staring down those yellow eyes, he didn't feel particularly apexy.

Nathaniel was right. He was a pretty lame vampire.]

Perhaps you should run.

[imaginationswoes]

[A heavy breath escapes Airy's lips as Antonio moves to stand in front of her. This is way more complicated than that. She glances at the panther which of course still has it's eyes on her.]

Yeah... don't worry about it. [Her voice rings like a soft chime though there is no mistaking the nervousness in her tone that's slowly rising into fear.] It'll disappear soon.

[She hopes.

The creature roars, sharp teeth gleaming in the soft moonlight. Deciding to follow the cute strangers advice she turns and runs back down the way she came. Hopefully there isn't anyone out on the streets because she's really done with surprises.

As she runs away the panther jumps, only it passes right through Antonio's chest and vanish. Without the girl it's like it wasn't there at all.]

[charitaslamia]

[An illusion? But if so, quite a powerful one. It fools all the senses, not only one.

Still, she'd run, again, clearly not understanding this neighborhood could be dangerous at night. He turned in the direction in which she'd fled and called. His voice was quiet, but it carried down the rest of the corridor.]

Please, wait. This area's dangerous this time of night. [A brief pause.] And there's a seemingly good chance you could be attacked by a phantom panther.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy has no idea how she heard him but her feet came to a stop and she turns. She chews on her bottom lip trying to think of a way to explain but then realizes that she has no idea how to without sound absolutely insane. She closes her eyes for a second and takes a deep breath to steady her nerves and calm her heart.]

Ha, yeah, phantom... let's go with that but hey, if you aren't around me then you won't be attacked. [That's looking on the bright side, of course, Airy isn't 100% sure why she's talking to this stranger.

Yes, he's cute but that's a really stupid reason to talk to someone she doesn't know, after midnight, in the middle of a strange city.]

And why are you out here? [Being all creepy and cute all at once... well he isn't very creepy, the street is creepy but it's being in a creepy place that's creepy.]

[charitaslamia]

You were responsible for that panther? [A mage, then? He'd heard rumors that magic was increasing again, as it was in the older days, but that was all they were, rumors. At least...until now.]

...I could ask the same thing of you. You don't look like a working girl.

[imaginationswoes]

Sort of... which means: yes. [Airy has no idea what this new power is but she hasn't been able to control it since it's started. In some places she's found people who know about it but in big cities like this people just pretend it doesn't exist and that nothing is wrong.

She swallows a lump in her throat feeling her lips and throat dry from the effort.

At his last comment her lip curls under slightly and she stares in disbelief.]

I'm lost... and broke. [It isn't as if she hasn't entertained the idea of selling 'stuff' for money but with her current 'run away from everyone' plan that probably won't work out.]

[charitaslamia]

[He frowns at that, concern for her quickly winning out of his own better judgement. At least until something more disconcerting pops into his head.]

I see. Forgive me. My name is Antonio. And you?

[imaginationswoes]

Forgive you? [For some reason that confuses her though it might just be because it's late and she's hungry. She's used to traveling at night and then into the early hours of the morning since less people are out around those times but she still needs to eat and she's having trouble remembering her last meal.]

Oh, do you want my full name or... right. Airy or Ariana but please don't call me that. Just Airy is fine.

[She has no idea why she's still talking.]

[charitaslamia]

[He offers her a gentle nod of his head.] Yes. I didn't properly introduce myself. [And some manners die harder than others.]

[He inclines his head as he speaks.] It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Airy. [A very familiar sound catches his ear, though, and his concerned frown returns.] You're hungry.

[imaginationswoes]

Yeah, pleasures all mine... but you know people don't usually introduce themselves when they meet in a dark alley in the middle of the night. [Books have told her that those are usually creepy stuff or awkward staring. Now she's going to stare awkwardly.]

[The moment only lasts a second because his last comment makes Airy's bright green eyes widened.

How does he know that?

She doesn't remember her stomach grumbling or any other strange noises coming from her abdomen. Her palm lightly presses against her stomach and she cringed.]

It's that obvious?

[charitaslamia]

I chased off the muggers. Do you think I was only eliminating my competition?

[He smirks, just trying to breeze over his misstep.]

I know an all-night diner not far from here, though not a part of this neighborhood.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy's mouth opens and then promptly closes it. He could have wanted to eliminate the competition that way but she has nothing of value on her and she's spent the last few minutes talking with him.

She lets out a slow breath noticeably relaxing at his offer.]

I really want to. [As if to confirm this her stomach rumbles.] I just... um.. can't be around people. I might hurt them or scare them.

Sorry... maybe if you can give me a map and circle the do not go here area's?

[charitaslamia]

[His frown of concern only deepens.]

Take-out, then. You need to eat, and I have nothing to fear from phantom panthers.

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy really wants to laugh at the phantom panthers bit but she figures that she might need to explain a little bit more since he's being nice and offering to feed her.]

That sounds like a good plan... if you pick it up and... well...

[She really needs to stop pausing between each word.]

It isn't just panthers. [Airy rises her hand up and as if by magic there is suddenly sparkling little pieces of light in her palm. She can't control it except for small things like this. The dim spots of light gather on her palm and then create a constellation of a butterfly which flutters towards Antonio before vanishing.

Before he can comment she holds up her hands.] Don't ask me how I do that cuz I don't know.

[charitaslamia]

[His dark eyes follow the constellation with keen interest before it disappears, and he smiles as he looks back to her.]

Magic, I would guess. A very rare gift, these days. Known truly to very few, even the gypsies.

[He shakes his head.] But I can tell you more once you've eaten. Come.

[He turns toward a different street. He has a ride, but not one he'd leave in this neighborhood. They had some walking to do.]

[imaginationswoes]

[For a half second Airy hesitated. Should she follow a complete stranger? Sure! Why not? It's not like anything worse could happen than what he prevented... right?

She follows behind trying to keep her mind from wandering. At one point they pass a painting on one of the building walls and Airy knows after seeing it that it was somehow her fault. It smells like fresh paint and it looks like a scene from a dream with winding stair cases and endless falls.]

Where? or how far are we going? [Because she's been walking all night.]

[charitaslamia]

[The scent of wet paint was sudden, and just as suddenly gone. This girl, Airy her name was, was truly a wonder.]

Not too far. Six blocks. No one parks their car in this neighborhood if they hope for it to stay whole.

[He decides, then, that a distraction from the walk may be in order.]

May I ask you a question?

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy's really doesn't know if she's up for that long of a walk but she doesn't see a way around that so... at least for now... she'll keep her complaints to herself. Her head falls forward and she goes back to trying to think of nothing, which, is really hard.]

Mmm? Yeah. What's up?

[She jogs a little to walk next to him instead of behind him. Her fingers are wrapped around the straps of her backpack. It helps her focus on keeping her backpack in place which manages to distract her for a measurable length of time.]

[charitaslamia]

[Antonio wasn't sure if the girl would be willing to share, but her abilities has piqued his interest beyond a deep concern for her comfort. Once he fixated on something, it was often difficult to divert his attention.]

Is this an ability you inherited, or a spontaneous manifestation?

[imaginationswoes]

[She doesn't really mind answering questions. She's always been open when it comes to things like that but when he finally asks his question she pauses. Airy has absolutely no idea what the answer to that question is.

She pauses and looks up at Antonio with a blank stare.]

I am not really sure. I thought it was spontaneous... not that it's happened to a lot of people but it has to a few in my town and... well... bad stuff happened to most of them. I was able to keep mine hidden for a while but since bad stuff was happening I left. [Hoping it'd protect her family and friends.]

It might be something about my town though or some great great great great relative. I haven't really thought about it.

[It's a little sad to dwell on and Airy isn't used to loss.]

[charitaslamia]

[Curiouser and curiouser. His steps slowed, though he didn't come to a stop.]

You say this power has been manifesting in others from your hometown? The same power?

[imaginationswoes]

[Airy shrugs.]

I don't know. Like I said... strange happenings and then people disappear... [The truth is most were killed but she really doesn't know that for sure. It's the rumors that were going around the town and a lot of people openly suggested to hunt those who were like Airy.]

I knew of 3 besides me and when you live in a town with like a thousand people in it... that's a lot.

[charitaslamia]

[He's had his experiences with small towns and the dangers they pose to people who are different.]

I understand. [There was a weight to his voice that suggested he understood even more than he was saying.]

And where are you from?