The Festival

[Alavda Noir]

Alavda looked back and forth between her friend and Thomas. She grasped his hand when he took hers, taking comfort from his touch, "This is a lot of information to process." It was a little surreal. Now that she had seen the truth, she couldn't believe the other story at all. Now when she thought of it, it had a dreamlike quality to it...but that could be because it happened a long time ago. No matter. Her lover had not betrayed her, and he had looked for her all this time. Her heart squeezed. He didn't give up on her.

Then it occurred to her that Lynn had known about this all along. She turned to her friend, unwilling to let go of Thomas's hand, "Lynn..." she furrowed her brow, "You knew the whole time?" she knew that she should be angry, but could only manage to be a little upset, "How long have you known? Why didn't you tell me?"

[Lynn Von Arx]

Lynn was happy they seemed a bit happier now, that was until Alavda looked at her and asked her how long she knew. She sighed. "Not long actually, just a few days, I wanted to tell you, but I knew if I did, you would run and I just found you again myself." She hung her head as she started to give her answer.

"I was selfish and didn't want you to leave, I also knew Thomas was telling the truth when he told me, I could tell by the look his face, and I just wanted you two to be happy again, just like how it use to be." She admitted as she looked back up at Alavda, her shame, clear as day, on her face. "I'm sorry for hiding that fact from you, I should have never done that, I can understand if you want me to leave town."

[Jaylene Bennet]

Jaylene was so happy that Eve was dancing with Max. Max looked so nervous...why didn't she have a camera to immortalize the moment? He was always teasing her, it was nice to finally have some ammunition to fire back. When the song was over, she also saw the singer freeze on stage, "I wonder what that was about," she said to Eve.

She frowned at Eve, "Not all men are that way. I've never seen Trent do anything nasty to a woman. Max will tease and flirt, but I've never seen him hurt someone for the fun of it..." she suddenly spotted Matthias at the edge of the crowd. Oh no! guilt wracked her. She HAD just up and left him...and after she had convinced him to come to an event he didn't want to go to in the first place. She thought she ought to head back to him.

"Eve, it was really fun dancing with you two, but I really should get back to the boyfriend."

[Alavda Noir]

"I can't believe you were able to keep this a secret that long..." she wanted to deny what Lynn said, that she would not run. But given that she was just planning to leave the island at the sight of Thomas made her hold her tongue.

"I know I should be angry with you," Alavda began, "But I'm not. I understand why you did it. I can't say that I'm not upset over being deceived, but there's no need for you to leave the island." She did let go of Thomas's hand this time so that she could hug Lynn, "Thank you for wanting the best for me. I hope you can find happiness too." She stepped back and looked back at Thomas. She thought that he looked faintly envious (or something similar). He was covering it very well, she thought, but not well enough for her to not see it. She took his hand in hers again and gave him a small smile, "And thank you for looking for me for all of these years...for never giving up on me." She didn't resist when he pulled her closer to embrace her. She was surprised at how alright she was with it. Just moments before she wasn't sure if she was ready for it, but now that she was in his arms, she felt safe. She wrapped her arms around him so that she was holding him too. After all this time, they were both in need of comfort.

[Adrian Belrose]

Adrian had a hard time hiding his shock on Miss Noir's choice of song. He highly expected, and somewhat hoped, for an opera number from Carmen or Faust. He really should not have been shocked at her choice, and honestly, it was the better choice. Opera was not appreciated by the masses any longer. Such a shame...

He saw her freeze at the sight of Thomas. His interest was piqued. He was told that what happened between them was an understanding. He assumed that they had had a lovers quarrel over something very serious. But no quarrel would make her freeze in place...well, there were some things that would, but he could not imagine Steele or Miss Noir being unfaithful. He opened his mouth to ask Thomas what had happened. After all, if he had actually harmed Miss Noir, he would have to protect her since she was his guest and therefore under his protection. Before he could say anything, Thomas had already ran off, shoving people aside as he went. Sighing, Adrian followed at a much slower pace, helping people up and apologizing to the felled guests as he went, "I apologize for my colleague. I swear, sometimes I wonder if he's going crazy!" to others he would say, "I'm surprised that great wind didn't blow the stage down!" then he'd laugh jovially and continue on.

When he finally made it toward the stage, he was about to round it, but thought better of it. If he made himself known, he might not find out what is going on. He paused around the corner and just listened. He had made it just on time to hear Lynn state that Felix was evil. there was no refuting that. But what had Felix done? Just as he thought that, Thomas was already explaining about Felix's powers to Miss Noir.

When things got silent, he decided that now was the time to make his presence known. He silently rounded the corner and saw Thomas and Miss Noir embracing each other. It really was a sweet sight. He caught Lynn's eye and smiled, "I think your plan worked out. Would you agree, Miss Lynn?" Then he turned to the lovebirds, "I see that Felix has been up to his normal mischief. I'm sorry that it had to hurt Miss Noir." he looked up at the stars, "How YOU, Thomas, are related to that man, I would never know. You have such INTEGRITY about you...or at least you do now." Adrian remembered a time when the apple did not fall far from the tree. He was thankful that Thomas had found his own path. It would have been unfortunate to have two Felix's.

[Lynn Von Arx]

Lynn looked even more guilty when Alavda said she was surprised she could keep a secret that long. She was ready to be told to leave Alavda's life when she heard her say she was not mad at her. "R-really?" Her eyes were wide due to the shock. She was happy she was not angry at her but still had a frown on her face. "I don't feel like I deserve your kindness, but thank you."

That was when she saw Adrian come around the corner, she was happy to see him, even if her face didn't say it. "It did, but, it's not good by how it happened. I just want to find that man and take care of him myself...if only I had the power to do that anymore." Lynn huffed; sometimes it wasn't such a good thing that she left her political strength at the wayside.

[Evelyn Connor]

"Trent is an exception, he is like a tamed wolf, but even he is slightly out of control now, but that is because of that blasted woman, I told him she was no good. I bet you she ran." Eve hissed then looked at Max. "And I don't know him well enough to agree with you, Jay." She then saw Matthias as she followed Jay's eyes and grabbed Jay's wrist lightly.

"Jay, no, please, don't go, or if you do, please go with someone else, I don't want you to get hurt." She then looked at Max. "If she goes with him, please go with her?"

[Thomas Steele]

Despite the topic of conversation, a surge of joy filled Thomas's heart. At last! He had found her and she was in his arms. He whispered in her ear so that only she could hear, "Thanks are unnecessary. How could I give up on you? If you were missing for another six hundred years or a thousand years, I would still search for you."

Adrian's entrance had Thomas back in the present. He shifted his weight so he could see Adrian without releasing Alavda, "Do not bring up the behavior of my youth, Belrose. I try not to think of it." He turned his attention back to Lynn, "I wouldn't fret about it for long, Lynn. What is done is done. I did not have to go along with your plan." When he heard her wishing that she still had the power to take care of his Father, he snorted, "Not that that you're influence with the U.N. was substantial, Lynn, but a human government would have no power against my father. We would not be the first group that seeks to kill him. He is ancient and wily. He has his own contacts to keep him on top of what is going on and how to dance around it." he sighed, "I, his own son, have been looking for a way to end him since I was young and have had a difficult time going about it...but I concur. Something has to be done."

[Jaylene Bennet]

Jay gently pulled her wrist out of Eve's grasp and gave her a sad smile, "He won't hurt me...here. Besides, if I stay here any longer, I'm afraid he might get violent to the people around him."

Max protested immediately, "That's no reason to go back to him, Jay. Stay here. Don't go back to him. Ever." She could only smile at him. If they only knew how trapped she was...

"I have to go." she started to back away from them, "Don't follow me. I'll be fine."

[Trent Landon]

As Jay backed up, she ran into Trent who put his hands on her shoulders and caught her before she fell over. "Hey, you ok? I heard my loud brother from the other side of the beach." He smiled down at her. "You guys look like you are having fun, mind if I join?" He said letting go of Jaylene and putting a hand out to her. "Been awhile since we danced together, what, 11 years maybe?"

[Lynn Von Arx]

"Regardless Thomas, I want to be able to help the two of you, you guys are both my friends after all, well at least Ala is, it has been too long Thomas, I need time to get to know you again." Lynn admitted and walked over to Alavda. "But we do not need to do that today, right now, let's enjoy the time we have with one another and reconnect from lost time." She then looked at Adrian and smiled. "You can join us if you like." Lynn wanted to make sure to extend the invite to him, she really had grown to enjoy his presence around her, hopefully he would take it.

[Jaylene Bennet]

Jaylene felt herself bump into someone. Startled, she shifted her weight forward, but was caught by strong hands. She turned, an apology on her lips, "I'm so so- Trent?" she grinned, "I'm fine. Where've you been?" she habitually started to greet him with a hug, but stopped herself as soon as she started to go for it.

When Trent asked her if she wanted to dance, she hesitated, "I was just about to head back to Matthias, but..." she searched the crowd. He wasn't in sight. It surprised her that he wasn't already stomping over to her and growling at everyone she was too close to. Was he even still at the festival? Since he WASN'T here then...

"It HAS been an awfully long time." she conceded, taking his hand, "I'd love to dance." She ignored Max's triumphant whoop.

[Alavda Noir]

When Adrian suddenly made an appearance, Alavda jumped a little and tried to pull away from Thomas so she could turn around and look at the man. Thomas's arms held fast though, so she submitted to her fate without a fight, "Lynn," she said to Thomas's chest since she couldn't turn around, "You are probably the most loyal friend that I've ever had. You don't need to put yourself at risk for our sake."

"Yes, we really do need to rekindle our friendship." She lightly swatted at Thomas's arm so that he would at least let her turn around. As soon as she was facing everyone else, he wrapped his arms around her from behind, "That's better," she said. It really did feel RUDE to address Thomas's chest when she was trying to speak to everyone else! "Yes, Adrian, you must join us. You've been very good to me and I'm sure that Lynn would- I mean, Lynn, Thomas and I would love to get to know you more."

She looked up at Thomas, "Is Bladen here, too? I remember that you two were as thick as thieves."

[Adrian Belrose]

"I make no promises, Thomas. You, after all, ran absolutely wild when you were young. I reserve the right to remind you whenever it amuses me." When Thomas raised an eyebrow at him, he raised his own eyebrow right back at him, "Are you going to keep her in your arms forever Thomas?" he said, amused. Lovebirds were both fun to watch, and nauseating to watch. He had a feeling Alavda and Thomas at full force would be the latter category.

Adrian took note of Alavda's verbal blunder and suppressed a laugh so that Lynn wouldn't feel embarrassed...although it would be so fun to tease her a little. But she didn't know him well enough to know that he was teasing her and not making fun of her. Instead he gave a friendly smile as if he didn't notice and said, "I would love to get to know you, too" he glanced at Lynn as he said this, a conspiratorial grin pulled at his mouth, "We should start here at the festival. There are many activities to choose from," Still looking at Lynn, he asked, "What would you like to do?"

[Lynn Von Arx]

"Honestly, I want to make sure you guys are ok, it's all good, if it gets too bad, I'll just throw a whore at him, he still likes those, right?" Lynn smiled at Thomas then looked at Alavda and smirked. "I caught that! Thanks for the call out!" Her face flushed a bit then looked over at Adrian in a bit of shock. "Oh, really? I thought you would want to keep your eye on the crowd, but honestly, there are so many things, I have no idea what to choose..hm..." She looked around until she heard Alavda ask about Bladen and her face paled, more so than a vampires already would and she went quiet.