Enveloping darkness

As he closed the distance Leroi called out “Hey there little lady you ain’t sposed to be round here. Lemme show you how to get outcha here.” He’d been one of the last to get a taste of the other one he wanted first dibs now. Eric would take a few inches of his pelt as this wasn’t an okayed hunt. And it was obvious that she wasn’t a lioness so proving the point that the new wannabe king couldn’t protect anyone would be wasted but a man had needs. Unlike the others he hadn’t shifted so he could just shift and eat the remains to hide what he was going to do. His smile which had begin to brighten at the thought fell from his face as he closed a few more steps before the wind shifted.

Damn. She was a vampire Gates would skin them all if he let her get away and would tax them if he made her disappear. He hadn’t done anything yet but it was too late to waste time. He launched an attack designed to take her head off. His fist was in motion before his foot struck pavement launching him at her. Her small size insured his success even as he knew that one shot would only daze her. He was already mapping out how to keep her on her heels as he sailed towards her.

The words came and went mostly background noise to the pain that coursed through him. That was until the words strung themselves together as something sharp and all too painful entered his body. Gates and knows shouldn’t have been together in any form yet Gates knows and Girl all managed to filter through the silver burned scars he would bear for as long as Eric chose to let him live. "The new Simba…" was the only plea he could manage before darkness fell. He jhad never been knocked out he had also never fractured his C5 and yet both things were something Leroi could say he’d experienced.

Edard and Rene weren’t the sharpest tools in the shed. They never had to be. The thinking was done by Eric as the Rex he was the only law and only thought that mattered. They’d learned that early on. This was something like the sixth or seventh rogue who came calling to take what Eric and the Docksiders had. Just like all the rest he would either be made their plaything or outright killed. Victory was something Eric did like others breathed. He was a hard man who made hard decisions but in the end their bellies were full they were feared respected and never had to want for either food or women.

Just was Rene was settling into the crossword he was trying to finish before their shift was over or Estelle’s boat came in he smelled it. Edard was the slower of the unswift men normally but he was attenuated to blood moreso than most of Eric’s other men. He’d started as Estelles personal groomer. She as a sign of power would have him use his tongue in ways and for things no one should ever have to. She said it was to make him strong. It had done that yet it had also twisted something inside him that made blood his go to Viagra.

He was up on his feet swatting Rene as he passed him. Like a drug addict presented with a one night pass to do their DOC with no consequence he was scenting the wind. The thought to get leroi was nowhere in his faculties as he all but bounded towards the scent. It was all he could do to not shift again. It would wipe him out but the chance to roll in the scent was almost too much.

Rene skidded to a stop as Edard was snatched low and away just ahead of a blur that disappeared back into shadow. Rene was not a smart man but one didn’t have to be to realize the worm had turned. Pulling his gun from his waistband he considered finding whatever the blur was but instead he fired two into the air the warning call that would have Eric and the rest of the Docksiders running with everything they had. It was a move that would have him ridiculed for as long as it took to take out whatever was out there in the dark but better a joke than dead. He could take it as in the end whatever was bumping back out there in the dark deserved whatever hell Eric would send it to.

Trembling hands, aim off, he began backing away from whatever shadow was out there. He’d shifted and yet his stress was high enough that he knew another was coming. Between the water and whatever was out there he would choose the water. He tried reaching for the phone at his belt Sadly or luckily he was too slow the first wave of his shift hit like a ton of bullets he cried in a voice more lion than man. Fighting the pain he tried holding the three minutes it would take for Eric to mobilize everyone.

Eric had fought his way to the level of comfort of being the King of the Docksiders brought him. It wasn’t an easy thing when god himself seemed to have a permanent anger on against New Orleans at times. Yet through thin and thick and even thinner he had fought and clawed for what was his. From the moment he was born fighting to live he kept right on fighting and would until his last breath. The reasons why could all be boiled down to what was his. No one would take it infringe on it or threaten it in any way without paying through the nose and then some.

This joker wanna come in and be big shot was no different than any of the others. From his abusive drunk of a sperm donor, to the Lafitte moneymakers, to the police to the last few would be Kings of New Orleans. He’d defeated them all and would keep right on defeating them all. While his tactics had changed the one truth was no one would beat him one would take what was his.

So this guy wanted bring it then it would be brought. He wanted the badness gone. He wanted things his way. He wanted to protect the weak instead of make them own their own backbones fine. Eric knew where all the weak were and while he’d allowed them to suck air because he had no reason to kick their teeth in now he did. He would kick and bash his way across all the single and grouped up weak lions that hadn’t come to him. He would make this pretender tire himself out running elbows to knees all across town tending the battered the bruised the damaged proving to them and himself that he was not ready. Then just then when reason dawned Eric would draw him to the docks and beat him right up to the line where he began praying for death.

The others he’d beat but this joker deserved the works. So busy had he been doing he forgot the number one rule always protect home. As the shots rang out he gathered the few ablebodied lions who hadn’t been too taxed or had too much fun and made his way to his men. What he saw was enough to make him consider putting Gates and his stupid little Kiss on notice. If not for the shipments coming in he would. But that could wait. Plus if he was being honest the blood excited him. He liked the cries of pain. He liked watching as the three knuckle heads who were supposed to be his go to guys cried like scraped kneed little bitches.

So he stood longer than he should have. He watched instead of acted which made the ass-wounded Rene scream louder. The pain was driving him crazy as his left haunch was all but useless. AS he began lashing out Eric finally stepped in. He feinted dodged and rode his back wrapping his arm around the lions throat applying enough pressure to cause the big beasts carotid to back up like the Causeway Bridge during rush hour. Seconds later the beast was out and Eric set about finding a way to drive the cordite stinking fletchette out of him. It took several pushes and probes before he decided to just use some needle nosed pliers and tear it out.

He would definitely walk with a limp for a while but at least it worked. Tossing the ninja star to one of his other lions who like an idiot caught it with his bare hands Eric went back to the office where he was planning a move on the other would be Regina who was hoarding a few lionesses he had not had a chance to play with yet. But he would oh would he ever. All the blood and pain refreshed him in a way no Viagra ecstacy combo could ever hope to.

Gates sat awaiting Chidera at his desk his mind miles away. He examined the city and the growing issues from several vantage points deciding may things and how best to make the many one. As Chidera entered her hair windswept and her blood high he listened impassionedly allowing her to give full vent to what was troubling her thoughts as we all as heart. Once she had come to the close of her feelings and statements he chose then to speak.



“La mia notte più luminosa e l'agente più ardente della nostra volontà ; Quello che dici è vero risparmio non permetterò la vostra fiamma di grondaia. Non permetterò che questo passaggio . La mia volontà è risoluta si è più sicuro che siete mai stati o potrebbe essere . In vista il tuo leone deve stare per quello che verrà, deve sconfiggere questa sfida per timore che , alla fine, non sarebbe stato un match degno al fuoco in voi . Si tratta di una volta in cui chiusura è troppo per contato come tutt'altro che un fallimento . Riposare la mente come il tempo accelera in modo che corrisponda alle azioni frenetici del pensiero Rivedremo questo nuovo domani ancora una volta i giocatori sono stati rimossi dalla scheda o aggiunti in quanto le esigenze di gioco .” Gates said rising to cross the distance between them. He knew CHidera was loath to allow things to pass as it seemed they were. As in truth so too was he yet there was a strength in standing resolute that he did not wish to deprive her lion of. If they moved for him he would never be the leader they needed him to be amongst the lycanthropes.



The aid they would provide would just enough and never seen by any who would seek reason to take this moment from him. One he was victorious he would have the opportunity to set the nature of his reign. That would be the telling truth to which they would dedicate themselves. Taking Chidera into his hands then his arms he held her allowing what he knew to seep through to her. Eric while a rascal of a fighter if pushed would not be the equal of Terrence. Physically he would pose a threat even mentally to a certain end yet so long as Terrence did not descend to that level of existence he would not only survive but rise above. He would be so much more for staying true the central core of his character than anyone could ever understand. Gates knew this on a level that many were still unable to see including Terrence but see it he must embrace it he would.