After a rather quite night at the office, a few of the guys talked Adriana into a night out. Reluctantly, Adriana agreed with a smile knowing she needed a couple drinks after the previous days. She waved at the guys as they headed straight to the bar, men are lucky like that, Adriana had to go home and get ready. Yes they were co workers, but you never know who you may run into, she didn't want to look like she stepped out of the office.

After changing into a nice little black dress and fixing her hair in a half updo and dawning a little more jewlery than she usually wore, she was ready. As she glanced at her watch she grinned "Ten minutes, record time for me" she spoke to her empty bedroom. Not feeling as if she would want to have someone drive her home if she got out of hand, Adriana decided to take a cab. While riding, she called one of the guys, he said they were right outside Noaptea Românã, but had been walking around. Adriana told him she would be there in 15 minutes and they better not make her search for them.

As the taxi pulled up, she dug for the cash she had on hand and told the cab driver, who didnt quite hide the eyeing of her legs as she climbed out, to keep the change. As Adriana glanced around searching for her co workers. As she got her bearings around the street she headed toward Noaptea Românã, hoping she was walking in the correct direction.

Gerard was there, he had learned from his contacts at the agency that Adrianna had worked at that they were taking a night on the town. It had been his suggestion to bring her to this place though the little animators had not realized such. When the woman arrived he was there in his traditional white coat leaning up against one of the pillars. He could taste the hint of her power in the air like how one would smell the perfume of the one they expected. Gerard was patient and though he knew she was close he had made no move to bring about notice. She would feel him and he was sure her power would seek him out like it had done before. It was inquisitive and he let it be. If he could his own power would be coaxing it to the surface. Letting her loose that control she had on something that had been with her at birth. If he was not so controlled himself he would have smiled.

Adriana was smiling trying to get to where her coworkers were, she was glancing around making sure she hadn't gotten turned around. Her pace suddenly slowed and her smile faltered. She felt the cold of the grave tug on her, she concentrated as much as she could to not let her power seek it out. As little of it she had felt, she knew who it belonged to: Gerard.

She finally stopped and looked around trying to spot the vampire. Adriana had kept her shields up, but in her course of searching for the club, they must have faltered just a bit to where her power found something familiar.

Adriana spotted him leaning against the wall looking- well, she hated to say it, but rather handsome in his white coat. Making sure not to look him in the eyes, she couldn't decide what she should do. Adriana could continue on pretending she never felt him or go up to the man and see what he wanted, after all he never truly threatened her, no it was just a standing law to kill any necromancer on sight for vampires. Quietly she cursed herself and strode toward the man, if she never faced him, she would always fear him.

What makes me think he wont scare me after I meet him With that final thought she moved out of the middle of the busy street and toward the man who had scared the shit out of her the last time they met. Not saying a word she came just close enough to hear any words spoken, but far away enough she could make a scene if he tried anything. Dear God in Heaven please give me the strength to face my fear here and now Her cross was out, but not intentionally, her dress was a v-neck and it had no other place to go. I have this as a last resort at least thinking of her cross.

"Gerard, I seem to run into you anytime I am out sir. Would you like to continue our conversation previously or is this just a chance meeting?"

Gerard looked up and offered a slight bow of his head to the Necromancer, “Yes I have noticed that, if I would to hazard a guess it would appear as though you seem to keep seeking me out. I would advise you to keep such power in check though Adriana Raggio it is quite easy to fall upon those of my kind that do not take kindly of their privacy to be invaded by such.” He stood up from leaning up against the pillar and started to walk over to her. He noticed that she had brought her cross out now and wanted to tsk softly. It would not stop him if he truly wanted to take her now.

“Though fret not, you do not need to worry with the Lion's as well as myself watching for such.”

"That is very kind of you to worry about me, and let me assure you that I am not seeking you out Gerard. Now, I must meet some friends of mine at Noaptea Românã so I must be going now." Through out her conversation, she made sure to keep her eyes downcast. She nodded her head as she walked back in the direction she was headed before she was interrupted. Adriana made a mental note to somehow practice control to make sure her power did not seek out any others than what she would choose. Finally making it to the club, Adriana walked straight up to the bar and ordered a shot of whiskey, yeah vampires scared the hell out of her, and she needed something to calm her nerves. Hopefully the boys would help her chill out, if she could find them.

Gerard smiled as the Necromancer retreated quickly from his presence before she was completely out of ear shot he spoke once more. “Be wary Necromancer, you are the flame. Be wary of the moths.” He stayed there leaning against the pillar for a time longer before decided that the she was gone. Gerard turned and started to walk along the path. He was on the prowl for something that would go well with the new snake skin dress that his Isabel would be wearing tomorrow. Something velvet he decided would work wonders with her skin.

Gabriel sat on the edge of a stool at the corner of a bar located in a small jazz club wearing a pissed off expression on his face. He had been due to meet a prospective client tonight to discuss the arrangements of a multiple rising which was to have been carried out at rather short notice. With a quick glance towards the door and another at the Tag on his wrist, Gabriel finally decided that he had had enough of waiting.

“God damn criminals just don’t respect my busy schedule.” Growled Gabe as he pulled a couple of crisp notes from his wallet and threw them down on the bar. If the client ever bothered to call back to reschedule the meeting, he fully intended to show him his displeasure by doubling the already excessive fee he had intended on charging for his services.

Reaching up to his collar he undid the top button then loosened the tie around his neck before tucking it into his jacket pocket. Making his way out of the bar, Gabriel stood in the doorway and breathed the cool night air down into his lungs. A small group of loud and excited couples walked right past where he stood in the entrance on their way to a fun filled night out on the town without a care in the world.

Exhaling a long deep breath he felt the tension in his shoulders subside, deciding in that moment to follow the example of the people around him by heading in the direction of Noaptea Românã.

With Gerard's last words ringing in her ear she motion to the bartender to make it a double. As he brought the shot to her, Adriana turned around in the stool scanning the room for her lost coworkers. As she was scanning her gaze fell on a familiar face coming through the door. Well, if they want to disappear without me I may have to find my own fun

She tossed back the shot as she turned back toward the bar, her head spinning from both Gerard's and Fransisco's words. Adriana threw a few bucks on the counter for her liquor and waked toward Gabriel to hopefully catch him before he disappeared into the dance floor and she would be left alone yet again.

Coming up behind him, Adriana tapped his shoulder and said "No dog tonight?" With a smile on her face.

Gabriel was strolling through the club getting continually more annoyed at the thumping music and constant jostling of bodies. He was just contemplating leaving, filing the evening away as one of his not so successful ideas when someone tapped his shoulder.

He turned sharply, his hand reaching beneath his jacket for a gun that he hadn’t worn tonight. Upon seeing the pretty animator from his last visit to the graveyard, Gabriel lowered his hand and silently cursed himself for over reacting.

“Hello Adrianna,” He said returning her smile with his most disarming grin. “I must say this is an unexpected pleasure. Although I’m sad to say Casper won’t be joining us tonight.”

Feeling all the people around her bumping into both her and Gabriel, she nodded her head towrd the bar so they could at least have a conversation with out yelling over everyone. As Adriana sat down again she turned toward Gabriel, "I hope I wasn't interrupting you, it seems my coworkers up and disappeared on me and seeing a friendly face after..." she stopped not wanting to bring up Gerard, "a hard day at work." she added quickly hoping he didnt notice the lapse in her sentence.

"Would you like anything to drink? My treat" she laughed. "You don't take Casper with you everywhere? I thought he would be yipping at your heals no matter where you went. I hope I didn't delay your appointment in the cemetery, it was just nice to see a human face."

With her elbow on the bar, she reached up to a strand of hair and began to twirl it as she listened to Gabriel thinking to herself Why can't any of the guys in my office look this good? Adriana made herself concentrate on what the man was saying on not on his lips...

Gabriel couldn’t help but laugh at the image Adrianna had described, and if he was truly being honest with himself he had to admit that he had enjoyed the company the dog had offered if only for a short amount of time.

“I must make a confession to you I’m afraid,” His face a picture of seriousness. “Casper is not my dog, I simply use him in a ploy to chat with pretty ladies in cemeteries.” The expression disappeared behind a teasing smile as he picked up the drink Adrianna had bought him, downing it with a quick tilt.

“After we parted company I returned him to his owner.” He said matter-of-factily as he pushed the shot glass back across the bar. It had not been a lie, Gabriel had merely neglected to mention that dog and owner had both been dead when he had left.

“And as for delaying my appointment, let me assure you that I would take your company over a zombies any day of the week.”

Adriana began sipping her drink, opting to not get wasted and go with a simple beer as opposed to another shot. As Gabriel began speaking of Casper, his face grew serious and she was praying she didn't say anything wrong. Her concerned look quickly turned into a blush as he spoke of pretty ladies. "Oh so this is a regular thing for you? Picking up women in cemeteries and then finding them in a club? I thought I was going to feel special."

Laughing, Adriana just took another sip of her beer, usually she would have opted for something mixed, but she just wanted to get Gerard out of her head. "Well, I must say your friend has a great dog, I am thinking of getting one myself, but hopefully it wont bark as much."

"Ah, well that is something we have in common then Gabriel, I would much rather spend time with you than a zombie too." Noticing she was still playing with her hair, she put her hand down. "So Gabriel, how did you come to this fair city or are you a native?"

If he smiled anymore Gabriel feared he might do serious damage to his jaw, but he just couldn’t help it. To his utter surprise he found himself genuinely enjoying Adrianna’s company. Usually a man that enjoyed a solitary life, he was at a loss to explain why he would suddenly crave a little companionship. Maybe he was just tired he thought cynically.

He quickly gained the attention of the barman and ordered a couple more drinks. Adrianna had chosen a beer so he matched her order. Her next question caught him a little by surprise causing him to raise a questioning eyebrow.

“I’m stunned you even have to ask,” The grin somehow becoming wider as he let his accent slip back to how it had originally been when he had been growing up. “Because I already know where you’re from by your accent.”

"Ah a transplant from the big apple! It is a small world after all." Adriana couldn't help but smile yet again at the man in front of her. He probably thought she had one permanently etched on her face. Grabbing another beer that Gabriel had ordered for her she raised it toward him "To the dead, for without them we wouldn't have a job."

Adriana started glancing around the room again looking for anyone from the office, but decided to just give up, they probably found a woman to keep them occupied. All of a sudden she could feel the power from Gabriel, not being used, but just there. Her shields were lacking, probably due to the alcohol intake, she didn't drink often and the shot plus a beer and a half was taking its toll already.

You are the flame. Be weary of the moths. Adriana closed her eyes trying not to think of everything going through her head about vampires. Adriana knew then that the man in front of her was not merely an animator, but a necromancer as well, his power told her of that. It impressed her even more.

"Well, now I know you and I are from the same city, what else is is there to know about Gabriel the mysterious man from the cemetery?"

“Hmmm, what is there to know about Gabriel Fischer.” He said with a smile as he sipped at his beer. “Well you know I’m an animator by profession, necromancer from birth and if you have the warrant I carry out the occasional execution. Then again I’m guessing you perform very much the same service for the company you work for, so none of this is of any particular interest.”

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Gabriel decided to give Adrianna the quick run down on his life. Of course by leaving out all of his less savory misdemeanors he didn’t expect it to take too long. “Ok, my life in a nutshell. Single, never married, one sister also in the business, mother lives in Miami, father resides in the Lady of Mercy.”

Gabriel paused to take a quit breath and another sip of beer. “I work on a contract basis which gives me plenty of time to myself. Vampires are obnoxious, especially those in New Orleans where I tried living for a couple of months a while back before giving up. I tell ya, Anne Rice has a lot to answer for. Oh and I like to paint.”

With a grin, he leaned his back against the bar and turned his head to look at Adrianna. “So that’s me, what’s your story?”

Adriana listened intently as he gave a run down of his professional life. She nodded. Laughing as he spoke of life in a nut shell, she nodded as he spoke. Taking special not that he was single and never married,, always a good thing in a cute man having drinks with her in a club, her smile widened as he said that.

Laughing as he spoke of obnoxious vampires and mutters under her breath "Don't I know it."

"Ah well, now I am in the spot light." Putting down her finished beer, Adriana bit her lip "Ah, me. Well, much of the same: Animator, necromancer, but I don't have a badge and don''t carry out warrants." Smiling at him to make sure she didn't think ill of what he did.

"Also single, never married, I moved out here a few weeks ago, wanting a more tropical feel instead of New York and there was an opening down here with the company I am with, In the Moonlight, Animators LLC. I left my mom and dad in Brooklyn and I am an only child."

"Oh I forgot to add, I am also the spiritual leader of the local lion pride as of a day or so ago." She added. "Do you go club hopping often or is it just my lucky night?"

As Adrianna spoke of her life Gabriel nodded his head at each new fact and filed them away in his head for future reference. Even if they never spoke to each other again on personal terms, it was always good to know a little about the competition.

He returned her smile at the mention of not carrying out warrants. Who could blame a person for avoiding that messy and more than often gruesome work.

His smile became noticeably wider at Adrianna’s mention of being single. With a pretty face and talent for raising the dead, she was certainly winning plenty of brownie points in Gabriel’s book.

It was halfway through Adrianna’s last sentence and during a sip of his beer that he barely managed to stop himself with spitting froth from his mouth, choosing instead to damn near choke himself.

“Spiritual what!” Gabriel exclaimed with an amazed grin as he wiped beer from his face. “Pray tell, what in Gods name does that title entail?”

Adriana couldn't help but laugh as Gabriel almost spit his beer out, making a mess of things on his face. She grabbed a napkin and moved in close to him helping wipe his mouth a little bit. She moved back onto her stool out of his personal space, she didn't know how Gabriel took to people being really close to him.

"Well, it entails" thinking to herself So far just trouble but instead just said "I will help them understand the dead a little better, including vampires" watching Gabriels face as she brought up vampires "as well as help them with rituals and the such, but to be honest I am on a learning basis at the moment. The Rex is a very nice man, even complimented my raising skills."

Deciding she didn't feel like hiding anything from Gabriel, she went ahead and said aloud what she was thinking, "Well in a way, the lions have been very helpful in a way. One saved my life...twice." Holding up her still bandaged arm, it was a nude color bandage so it wouldn't necessarily catch anyone eye, which is what Adriana wanted. "And they have introduced another element to my life. I have never had the pleasure of meeting a vamp face to face until after I got involved with the lions. Lucky me huh?" She laughed hoping to break the somber tone she created in their conversation. "So I take it you haven't been approached by a lycan group before to be their spiritual leader, well now I feel lucky." Making light of the converstaion.

When Adrianna had leaned forward Gabriel had been taken by surprise at her sudden closeness. It had been such an unexpected gesture that he had completely failed to react. He just sat there wide eyed and allowed Adrianna to wipe the moisture from his face.

His brain was screaming out for him to knock her hand away, telling him to run, but his body had decided to mutiny against him and held fast. Gabriel had finally managed to regain a little composure as Adrianna returned to her seat. Sitting bolt upright perched on the edge of his stool he realised his brow was wrinkled in a frown and forced himself to relax. He pushed himself back onto the stool and allowed a smile to creep back to his mouth.

Gabriel listened with great interest while Adrianna began to explain what she believed her role as spiritual leader to the pride would involve. The mention of the pride wanting to understand vampires certainly piqued his curiosity. This sharing of information she talked about sounded like it could quite easily slip into vampire politics if his new acquaintance wasn’t careful enough, a most dangerous and potentially lethal hobby in his opinion.

Earlier that night he’d noticed the bandage on Adrianna’s arm and had just assumed that the injuries were self inflicted as many of his scars had been as part of the work they took part in. He was a little surprised however to find himself feeling concerned for Adrianna’s well being when she told of how her life had been threatened on numerous occasions.

Thankfully Adrianna chose that moment to lighten the mood. It was hard not to snicker at her comments. “Me a spiritual leader,” Gabriel laughed enthusiastically. “I have a very good friend who would find that notion some what hysterical to say the least. So what happened to your arm, a vampire decide you looked good enough to eat?!”

Adriana noticed Gabriel's frown relax into a smile, thankfully, she thought being so close had upset him somehow. "I must meet this friend of yours, I am sure we would have a great laugh together." She couldn't help but love to listen to his laugh, it gave her butterflies that she caused it.

Looking down to her arm, Adriana frowned a bit, but gave a small laugh as Gabriel spoke of being good enough to eat. "Ah, no vampire scars on me. This was actually caused by a few crazed zombies that attacked my rookie partner almost a week ago, he didnt survive. When they went after him, I fired at them- Not so smart in hindsight- and they came after me. I was in these" Holding her foot out showing her sandaled heels she was wearing "and I fell. I put up my hand to keep them away from my neck and ended up being taken to the hospital by my hero." Laughing as the word hero left her lips.

"I have affectionately gotten the name Jinx from him. Quite a story huh?" Looking at the floor for a few seconds, Adriana looked up to gauge his reaction of spilling her story. Ever think you said to much there, like mentioning vampires and the lions! she thought to herself, but she was a little drunk and that loosened her tounge a bit. Well, thats part of the reason, she thought, the other part is you think he's cute and theres something you can share- the same profession and gift.

After a few moments of silence, she met his eyes, "So any heroic tales of your own?"

“I’m afraid there are no real heroics where I’m concerned. I much prefer the quiet life.” Gabe replied with an easy smile. “Besides, I think you may have seen more than enough action for the both of us.”

The truth was Gabriel never really put himself in the position to perform any heroics. True his work held an element of risk and danger but he had always planned his assignments carefully to avoid such complications. Up until now it had been so far so good.

“Jinx.” Gabriel said rolling the name around his mouth. “I like it, kinda suits the image I have of you as a beautiful daredevil necromancer.” He said laughing at the image in his mind of Adrianna running around a graveyard in a cape, followed by an army of zombies. “So while I’m paying you compliments I hope you don’t mind me asking a difficult question that’s been bothering me.”

Things appeared to be going well with Adrianna so the last thing he wanted to do was to offend her. But if they were to be working the same cemeteries it was best if he knew how capable she was. “The zombies that attacked you and your partner, were they because of a botched raising?”

Apparently, Adriana thought to herself, she was a magnet for trouble this week since the man in front of her who had the same job as herself, did not have any heroic deeds to his name. Smiling at his comment of a beautiful daredevil necromancer, she blushed a little at the compliment. "Please ask whatever is on your mind, you have done the same for my questions."

As Adriana listened to his question, she tried not to take it personally, it was curiosity not an attack at her skills. "Ah." Her look turned a little somber thinking of her rookie partner disappearing in a mass of zombies. "No, not my botched raising, in fact I am not sure what happened. He called me when I was on the way to guide him on his first true raising." Swallowing hard and looking away from Gabriel Adriana continued, "I told him to wait, and he said something was wrong. I wish I knew if he did something wrong or if they were there when he got there." Closing her eyes, she took a breath and looked back up to Gabriel. "So to answer your question, no, to my knowledge it was not a botched raising, at least from my end."

Adriana caught a glance at her watch and she gasped, "Is that really the time?" With a smile on her face, she glanced back at Gabriel, "I hate to leave on such a somber note, but I should really get home." Thrusting her hand toward him for a shake before she left, "I am very happy I ran into you tonight Gabriel. I hope we can do this again another time, it was fantastic hearing so much about you."

Gabriel frowned in disappointment to hear that Adriana wanted to leave, glancing quickly at his own watch. “Oh, I didn’t realise it had gotten so late.” He exclaimed in relief, confident that Adriana really did need to get home and wasn’t just trying to escape his company.

He was pleased to find out that the death had been in no way Adriana’s fault but was alarmed to hear that an animator had been killed by a group of zombies. As a newbie, it was unlikely that her partner could have raised that many zombies at once which meant that there was possibly a group of ghouls running around his work place. Usually ghouls posed little threat to humans, but every so often you heard of a random attack against a lone person wandering through the graveyards.

Reaching out Gabriel took Adriana’s cool hand in his and raised it to his lips to place a light kiss. “Let my assure you the pleasure was all mine. Until we meet again promise me something. Next time you’re visiting the cemetery…wear sensible shoes.” He laughed grinning playfully as he released Adriana’s hand. “Of course if that goes against your sense of fashion, you could always give me a call and I’ll back you up. It’s not like I’m not down there most nights so it wouldn’t be any hassle.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out one of his shiny black business cards and offered it to Adrianna. The lettering was raised black on black making the cards difficult to read if not held in the right light. Gabriel rarely handed his card to anyone that wasn’t a client or someone a client had recommended him to.

"You didn't think i was making an excuse to leave you?" Adriana smiled, "I wish we could keep doing this, but work and life, the usual things that need to be done on more than a few hours of sleep." As Gabriel lifted her hand to his lips another blush came to her cheeks. As Gabriel spoke of a promise to keep, she laughed. "I promise I will not wear heels anymore to the cemetery...unless I want you to be my back up." Taking the card that he handed to her, her fingers rubbed over the raised lettering. "Thank you Gabriel, I will see you around."

Waling out of the club, Adriana glanced over her shoulder once more catching sight of Gabriel. As she walked out onto the street, still busy, which surprised her that there were this many people so late at night. Standing on the street, she hailed a cab. Climbing in there were no thoughts of vampires or lions as she rode home, only one person was on her mind, Gabriel. As she rode home she kept running her fingers over the business card. As she fell into bed that night she had a smile on her face and not one thought of the other man who plagued her thoughts earlier- Gerard.

Gabriel watched as Adriana left the club, his mood becoming more sombre with each of her retreating steps. When she had turned to look back he began grinning like an idiot before he chastised himself for acting like a teenager.

Sitting alone by the bar Gabriel fidgeted with a shot glass as he tried to fathom out the reason why Adriana was having such a profound effect upon him. It wasn’t like he didn’t date regularly, although it had been some time since he’d been in any kind of long term relationship. The only reasoning he could find behind his sudden change of behaviour was that it may just have been the comfortable familiarity of being in the company of a fellow animator.

As Gabriel sat at the bar lost in contemplation a young woman walked up beside him, running her fingers softly over his shoulder. Gabriel turned to find himself looking at sweet face framed with dark auburn curls, shocking blue eyes and a demure smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.

“Hi,” She said in a low husky voice that sent shivers down the backs of every man in the vicinity. “My name’s Candy.”

Gabriel lowered himself from his stool pausing only to brush the creases from his suit jacket before looking directly into the woman’s eyes. “You have my most sincere condolences, but parents can be ever so cruel sometimes.” He drawled with mocking sympathy before turning his back on her to walk away.

Shocked by his response Candy could only stand there with her mouth agape as Gabriel left her floundering in his wake. “Fuck you prick!” She screamed at the top of her voice with vehemence hoping all the attention she gained would deeply embarrass the man how had affronted her. Gabriel didn’t turn to acknowledge her, merely giving Candy a dismissive wave over his shoulder. Walking out of the club Gabriel wore a smug grin on his face clearly pleased with himself as he finally began to feel much more like his good old nasty self.