C14 A Precariously Heated Moment

The situation has just turned somewhat dire, reaching a precariously heated moment ... or perhaps maybe even an impasse ... in an already heated conversation; and a boding, tension-filled silence instantly befalls the room. It was evidently apparent that Count Von Barski was tauntingly goading Joslyn on purpose in order to get a rise out of her ... it's a secret, guilty pleasure of his; where he finds it amusing to watch others become riled up and flustered in front of him ... but this time he may have inadvertently pushed Joslyn too far, challenging her limit's threshold; which, ... because of her notoriously known ire and violent temperament when provoked ... is something most everyone aware of this dark side of her tries their best to avoid doing.

Observing that intense, rebuking glare from those piercingly seething eyes ... which look like they're throwing a barrage of daggers at him ... and that fierce scowl etched upon her pursed up, gnarling lips; Count Von Barski immediately sends out a telepathic call for the small security detail he has waiting in the hallway outside the Presidential Suite to come inside. He's afraid that at this point, if he says the wrong thing from here on out, there's a slight possibility that Joslyn may actually consider really ripping out his tongue. And, as it so happens, Alpha Sebastion also mind-links for his bodyguards and Frederick to come in ... knowing for a fact that if the count 'puts his foot' in his mouth one more time, Joslyn definitely will rip his tongue out of it.

They all hurriedly rush into the suite and strategically position themselves, making sure to have a good vantage point to monitor the situation; staying far away enough not to agitate Joslyn any more than she clearly already is, but close enough to readily respond should an altercation arise ... which they're all sincerely hoping doesn't happen. Besides being aware of Joslyn's aforementioned dark side, there's another thing she's notoriously renown for among both the werewolf and vampire communities. Although Joslyn refrains from fully shapeshifting into her wolf or werewolf forms, she will protract her claws without hesitation should the need arise ... claws which she uses so deftly and deadly, that she can easily take down ... in a decimating manner if she wanted to ... the most beastly behemoths of werewolves or most cunningly ruthless of vampires.

Admittedly, Alpha Sebastian doesn't want to see Joslyn in this virtually heretical ... in most of the werewolf and vampire communities' eyes ... relationship any more than Count Von Barski wants to see his daughter in it; and he was about ready to jump in and assist him in condemning this illicit affair ... that is until the count crossed the line. He made the grave mistake of broaching the only two matters that no one should ever attempt bringing up with Joslyn ... the Rainier Pack incident and Belladonna. Once those subjects were foolishly uttered from Count Von Barski's lips, Alpha Sebastian wisely decided to immediately step back and stay out their discussion.

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They're both standing there eerily motionless ... like two Gothic statues ... with their eyes deadlocked with each other's; neither showing any signs of fear in them ... though Count Von Barski's eyes appear to be cautiously watching the enraged she-wolf, while Joslyn's eyes look as if they're ready to throw caution to the wind at any given moment. The count is the first to break the silence...

"I realize that you can be impetuously impulsive, Joslyn ... sometimes to the point of being ludicrously imprudent ... but I have to ask; are you really willing to go as far as to rip out my tongue over something that I bring up in discussion?"

A mischievously devilish visage gradually transposes itself over Joslyn's countenance, as a malevolently nefarious glimmer begins shimmering in her eyes and a sinister smirk etches its way across her lips; then she slowly protracts her claws and menacingly wavers them about while ominously rubbing them across one another ... as if knife blades were rubbed together to sharpen them...

"I don't know ... why don't you bring it up again, and let's find out."

The called-in reinforcements suddenly tense up, as a wave of trepidation surges through their bodies while tiny beads of sweat instantly form on their foreheads; and they nervously glance back and forth at one another ... each one waiting for that first brave soul willing to take the initiative; yet none of them willing to be it. No one there wants to have to engage Joslyn in a fight; and no dares to move in any closer.

Still, as fierce and tenacious as she can be there's no denying that Count Von Barski has years ... make that lifetimes' worth ... of experience and knowledge which greatly surpasses that of Joslyn's ... and it's those years of accumulated wisdom that's advising Count Von Barski to cease from talking about those two matters and carefully tread on; being sure not to 'push any more of Joslyn's buttons'. In a cavalier manner, the count replies...

"That's alright; I believe I'll pass on that. So, feel free to put those claws of yours away, Joslyn; you'll have no use for them, today." Then he looks to the Alpha, "Sebastian; you may want to train your daughter a little more ... perhaps teach her how to control that temper of hers. Believe me, after what's just happened last night; now is not the time to be threatening vampires with bodily harm ... it doesn't look good; and it may give people the wrong impression."

The count looks back to Joslyn and displays a haughtily condescending grimace at her...

"Quite frankly, if it wasn't for the fact that its sickeningly evident that these two spent the night together partaking in a sexual tryst; Joslyn would probably be our prime suspect as the culprit."

The Alpha can no longer hold his tongue...

"Alright; enough ... that's a bit much, Herschel; don't you think? I know you're upset over finding out that our daughters are in a relationship together ... believe me, I'm not happy about this at all, either; and I'm just as much against it as you are ... if not more so." He shoots a rebuking glare over at Joslyn. "But you know just as well as I do, Herschel; that was something that Joslyn would never do. As quick tempered and violently hostile as she can be, she would never initiate an unwarranted attack. That's not her style."

Count Von Barski once again tauntingly goads ... figuring he's safe to do so as long as he doesn't bring up those two 'off-limits' topics ... as he snidely comments...

"Yes, I suppose you're right, Sebastian ... your daughter maybe a 'hot head', but she's got her principles. You must be such a proud father."

Alpha Sebastian retaliates with a snide remark of his own...

"This coming from the father with a slutty, whorish harlot for a daughter. Oh well, I guess it takes one to know one; hey, Herschel?"

Immediately, Joslyn growls at her father through tightly clenched teeth and gnarling lips, while angrily glaring at him with seething eyes. He looks at her and raises his hands up in front of him ... as if he was giving in ... and tries to justify himself while nonchalantly saying...

"Hey ... I'm only repeating how he described his daughter himself, earlier. I'm using his words ... he said it first."

Through now only partially clenched teeth, Joslyn emphatically states with a growling-like inflection...

"I don't give a fuck who the first asshole is to say something, or the dumb ass who feels compelled to repeat it later; nobody ... and I mean nobody ... should be talking about my baby like that; I won't stand for it or allow it!"

Alyana beseechingly looks to Joslyn...

"It's alright, my love; please don't keep on being upset. Try to calm down. Don't let what they say about me bother you; because I'm not going to let it get to me anymore either."

Alyana starts to walk towards Joslyn, but Count Von Barski quickly snatches her wrist in a vise-like grip and brusquely pulls her back to his side...

"Oh no you don't, Ayana; I'm putting an end to this so-called 'true relationship' of yours. You're leaving with me right this instant; you insatiably lustful little vampirette."

The count starts to drag her off, and Alyana firmly plants her feet on the floor and pulls back...

"Wait a minute, Father; I need to get dressed."

"No need; Ariel is waiting in the hallway with your capa..." he looks over at Joslyn while evoking a repugnant expression, "I don't want any clothes that you disrobed for that she-wolf in my home."

Count Von Barski continues to pull Alyana behind him; but stops when passing the Alpha, and whispers in his ear...

"Don't take my ribbing before too much to heart, Sebastian; I was merely doing it to dismiss this farce of a relationship. I hope you understand."

"Of course, Herschel; I completely understand. Like I said, I feel exactly the same way as you do about this."

"Good; I'm glad we understand one another." The count leans in closer to the Alpha's ear. "And now that that matter's taken care of; I expect that you'll do what you promised me over the phone before and take care of that other matter as soon as possible."

"Absolutely ... you have my word on it."

"Very well; then it's in your hands, now. We'll leave it up to you to deal with, for the time being."

The count drags Alyana out; closely followed by his small security detail. Joslyn walks up to her father...

"Dad; what did he mean by leaving it up to you to take care of that matter? What matter? And what was that all about me being their prime suspect for what happened last night? What happened last night?"

The Alpha curtly snaps...

"Maybe if you came home last night instead of staying here to screw around with Count Von Barski's daughter, you'd have a clue about what's been happening!"

Alpha Sebastian takes a moment to try to recompose himself. He takes in a deep breath, then exasperatedly huffs...

"No what ... forget about that for now. Just hurry up and get changed; then meet me downstairs in the main conference lounge. We're in the middle of 'shit storm', right now; and if we don't resolve this fast, it's only going to get worse."

The Alpha storms out of the Presidential Suite; closely followed by his bodyguards and Frederick. A bewildered Joslyn mutters under her breath...

"Seriously, what's going on; why is everybody acting like they got a stick shoved up their ass?"