{"id":19115,"date":"2021-12-19T08:00:45","date_gmt":"2021-12-19T16:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/?p=19115"},"modified":"2021-12-06T19:01:50","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T03:01:50","slug":"sylum-advent-2021-december-19th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/sylum-advent-2021-december-19th\/","title":{"rendered":"Sylum Advent 2021: December 19th"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Title:<\/strong> Light the Way Through The Shadows Pt. 3<\/span><\/p>\n

Author:<\/strong> ladyjax<\/span><\/p>\n

Characters:<\/strong> Joss Carter \/ Zoe Morgan<\/span><\/p>\n

Clan:<\/strong> Tallikut<\/span><\/p>\n

Part One<\/a> &<\/span> Part Two<\/a><\/p>\n

The table was strewn with the remains of a charcuterie board assembled from Zoe\u2019s purchases from the farmer\u2019s market along with an open bottle of wine. Joss ran her fingers over the outer part of her wine glass before she took a sip. Zoe sat to her right, her eyes trained on her mate.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Joss put her glass down, Zoe reached out slowly and ran her fingers along the other woman’s jawline. Rather than pull away, Joss leaned into the touch, her eyes closing as she sighed gently.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Thanks,” she said. Joss’ eyes fluttered back open and she rubbed her cheek against Zoe’s fingers. “I needed that.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I didn’t do anything,” Zoe replied.<\/span><\/p>\n

“You’ve been very patient about me, both with the mate thing and me trying to avoid what I need to ask you.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I’ve always found it to be much more useful to sometimes wait to see how everything unfolds.” Zoe sat back in her chair, the lingering tingle from touching Joss’ cheek was something she wanted to savor. “You said this was about other business. I take it you mean vampire business.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Yes,” Joss replied. “I could just be spitting into the wind.”<\/span><\/p>\n

“I know that normally you wouldn\u2019t give me details on your case,\u201d Zoe said. \u201cLay it out for me.”<\/span><\/p>\n

There was the scrape of the chair along the floor as Joss got up, took off her jacket and hung it on the back. “There were three additional murders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoe frowned. “Three more?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. All took place around subway stops. Except for one victim who was an intern at a publishing house in Midtown, everyone else wouldn\u2019t rate extra notice because they just weren\u2019t important enough.\u201d Joss started to pace as she talked. “Only reason why we can even attempt to tie any of these to the latest case is that the conditions bear a resemblance to each other. Blitz attacks, late night or early morning between shift changes. \u201cThey\u2019ve been spaced out over months. We didn\u2019t see it until we widened our search to the boroughs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoe sat with the information, letting it turn over in her mind. \u201cYou think it\u2019s one of us,\u201d she said flatly.<\/span><\/p>\n

“I don’t know. Is it possible?”<\/span><\/p>\n

“Anything is possible, Joss. And in answer to your question, yes, it’s possible.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This made Joss frown. \u201cExplain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The other woman drummed her fingers lightly on the table top, her expression thoughtful. \u201cOne of the things about my job is that I make contact with different people. One of those people was my Sire, Eric Brooks. On the street he was called Blade.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBlade\u2019s real? I\u2019ve bought several of the comic collections for Taylor. I had no idea they were based on a real person.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The memory of Eric\u2019s grumpiness over his comic counterpart\u2019s fame in fannish circles nearly overwhelmed Zoe. Damn fool crap, if you ask me. <\/i>She teased him mercilessly and treasured the rare smile that would occasionally appear when the subject came up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joss took her chair again and covered Zoe\u2019s hand on the table with her own. \u201cHey,\u201d she said softly. \u201cWhat\u2019s up? Talk to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoe grabbed a napkin and dabbed delicately at the tears that threatened to fall. She gave Joss a watery smile as she flipped the hand beneath Joss\u2019 and laced their fingers together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d She took a breath and continued. \u201cWe lost him a few years ago during a clan war. I felt it, the moment he died. But he died in the service of a greater cause.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEric was a Hunter. Their job is to protect the clan as well as hunt down Rogues.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joss leaned in. \u201cAnd Rogues are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the surface? They live outside the clan system, not swearing allegiance to any Clan Leader or the rules that we all live under. Some stay under the radar, others revel in causing as much misery for humans as possible. They\u2019ll turn people without consent, seek power in a variety of arenas that do not benefit society only themselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd murder?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoe nodded. \u201cYes. Definitely within the realm of possibility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHuh.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joss shrugged. \u201cHere I thought that it was all sparkle and vampire hotness and it turns out that a perp is a perp even if they have fangs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joss\u2019s dry delivery made Zoe snicker.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, rogues are bad guys. Got it. At the moment, the task force is leaning into this being a serial killer, especially since the other murder turned up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt still could be. They could even be mortal. You could also have a Rogue taking advantage of people being out and about since the weather\u2019s nice and hot.\u201d Zoe observed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joss lifted Zoe\u2019s hand and kissed the back of it before placing it back on the table. \u201cThis is complicated,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is. I know I\u2019d said that I\u2019d never interfere with your job but I\u2019m going to give the hunters in the area a heads up.\u201d She held up her hand to forestall Joss\u2019 objection. \u201cYou\u2019re a part of my world now. We need to get this on the clan\u2019s radar so the Hunters are on the lookout.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That seemed to mollify Joss for a moment. \u201cThe only thing I can do is keep working the case and hope we get a lead. Is there any chance that I could talk to a Hunter about it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can ask.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you. I appreciate it.\u201d Joss bit her lip. \u201cI don\u2019t want this to always be like this between us. I\u2019m supposed to be getting to know you!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoe regarded the other woman. Joss\u2019s hair had been pulled into a ponytail, leaving her neck enticingly bare. She licked her lips, her senses taking in Joss\u2019 light perfume that overlaid her own natural scent. \u201cCould I entice you to stay a little longer to make up for it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The slow, shy smile from her mate was the only answer Zoe needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

Across town, a body unfolded itself from its makeshift shelter and walked out towards the edge of the building roof where they\u2019d been squatting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Harlem River glowed from the lights of both Manhattan and The Bronx. After a stretch and a yawn, he stood at the edge and felt the hunger arise in his gut. Below, brownstones mixed with brand new buildings, and people walked the streets on their way to places that he didn\u2019t particularly care about.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fodder<\/i>, his maker had said before spiriting out of his life. Mortals are of no real consequence, not to you. Not any more.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

He\u2019d had a family once, friends. Those had been squandered like so many other things in his life. Lingering regret about that state of affairs had been burned away by a promise of blood and a long life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNight\u2019s young,\u201d he whispered to the unsuspecting people on the street. \u201cSee you soon.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Title: Light the Way Through The Shadows Pt. 3 Author: ladyjax Characters: Joss Carter \/ Zoe Morgan Clan: Tallikut Part One & Part Two<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1003,137],"tags":[930,1004,439],"class_list":["post-19115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sylum-advent-2021","category-sylum-events","tag-story-light-the-way-through-shadows","tag-sylum-advent-2021","tag-writer-ladyjax"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Da1M-4Yj","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19121,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/sylum-advent-2021-december-20th\/","url_meta":{"origin":19115,"position":0},"title":"Sylum Advent 2021: December 20th","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"December 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Aesthetic: Addison Forbes Montgomery Artist: ladyjax","rel":"","context":"In "Sylum Advent: 2021"","block_context":{"text":"Sylum Advent: 2021","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/sylum-events\/sylum-advent-2021\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/bar-banner_advent2021.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9569,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/sylum-advent-2017-december-13th\/","url_meta":{"origin":19115,"position":1},"title":"Sylum Advent 2017: December 13th","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"December 13, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"*** Title: On Call Author: Ladyjax Rating: PG Summary: A new beginning Artist: Taibhrigh Fic Archived","rel":"","context":"In "Sylum Advent: 2017"","block_context":{"text":"Sylum Advent: 2017","link":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/category\/sylum-events\/sylum-advent-2017\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/bar-banner_advent2017.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12632,"url":"https:\/\/www.sylumclan.com\/sylumblog\/sylum-advent-2018-december-16th\/","url_meta":{"origin":19115,"position":2},"title":"Sylum Advent 2018: December 16th","author":"Nicolaus Meridius","date":"December 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Summary: John Creasy walks back into the world. 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