Le Feu Noir, The Black Fire, was a swankly little cocktail lounge, hidden from the main streets in a small alcove. No large signs pointing it out, no flashing lights. Just a simple logo on the door which most people would pass on by looking for the hot spots to spend their time and money. To Lilya it was a small haven, a place where the quieter, more secretive people relaxed and shared drinks and the odd private discussion. She'd been coming here occasionally, though not too often since her small inheritance from her mother was keeping her going for the moment until she would be able to land herself either a solid job, or regular gigs.

Nonetheless, tonight she would be making a little pocket cash, rather than spending it. The owner had overheard her one night whilst she was in one of her more zoned-out moods, singing softly to the music, and had asked her if she wanted to do so tonight. Of course, Lilya was hardly going to turn this opportunity down. It was just what she needed to get her mind off the people she'd found herself bumping into a few nights earlier. She spared a thought for Mia, hoping the girl was being looked after. Then her wanderings drifted to the vampire, Gerard, and what he'd mentioned about the tigers. It shouldn't have bothered her, in fact she knew she should have left town that same night, but despite her past, her conscience still hadn't been beat out of her.

No matter, she would sing tonight, and then decide what to do later. Tonight she wore a slim black evening dress, strapless, and with a slit that ran up the skirt almost to her hip, and a black rosette choker. Her hair was pulled up, few ringlets falling about her face, framing it delcately so her darkened eyes stood out to capture her small audience. The darkness of her outfit contrasted beautifully with her porcelain complexion and white-blonde hair, defining the only touch of colour she wore, crimson painted lips moved sensually to her voice as she sang beautifully. She finished her second last song, "Fever", then smiled at the room, "My final song for the evening, you've all been wonderful..."

The music started up, and she closed her eyes to start on her final song for the evening:

"Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
Mama's dancin' with baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for

Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

Up in Memphis the music's like a heatwave
White lightening, bound to drive you wild
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl
"Love me tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for

Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?


Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

If you please, if you please, if you please"


As she finished off, she bowed her head to the light applause, and stepped of the stage, ready to have a drink as her tiger began to pace inside of her to something near.

Following the aura of the latest Tigress to have caught her Master's eye, Nivain found herself standing outside of a well concealed little club; the lack of flashing lights indicating that it was most likely in the style of her much-enjoyed 30's clubs that contained a soft haze of blue smoke and small rooms and a single singer on stage beside a piano. Ahh for the days of jazz lounges. The thought of being in a club designed similarly to those she had discovered in her travels with her Master bought a private inner smile to Nivain's black painted lips though to outter appearances she was perfectly neutral as she gazed upon the name of the club. Le Feu Noir, another point to make her chuckle inwardly at the similarities it had to her Master's nickname for her. Ma Feu Sauvage, whispered in her Master's voice, ghosted through her mind and this time the smile did not form at her lips but in her eyes, a soft twinkling of those vivd green orbs surrounded by black eyeliner and green mascara.

Nivain had taken even greater care with her appearance today, her Master having expressed long ago the fact that whilst in the Manor she represented him but in the outside world this was made true thrice over, and so was clad in an outfit that had drawn gasps from others in the household as she had left that evening. An incredibly tightly-fitted corset of black with a single jade green dragon embroidered in flight around it so that it's tail started at her navel and it's head rested upon her breast with its fangs bared to encircle her nipple in a brief flash of erotic imagery to those of that mind encased her torso; pants of the same black material of her corset encased her legs in a wide fit so that when standing it looked as though she was wearing a skirt, only movement revealing they were trousers ; and the spike stilleto heels of matching green to the dragon on her corset beneath them constituted her outfit. In way of accessories, Nivain had a pair of jade earrings fashioned into flames of an unnusual shape, from some angles looking as though the flames were in the shape of a dragon but from others looking just as normal flames, dangling from her ears as solid twin weights, and a matching bracelet around her right wrist, fashioned into an exact twin of the dragon on her corset in pure jade so that it snaked around her wrist to create a wide bangle. Around her throat was her ever-present Dragon fang though rather than a leather thong tonight she had a chain of mysterious metal that her Master had had custom made for her so that it was black, and at a word set off a charm that would resonate with the color of the evening; creating an undertone of that color so that in certain lights the chain would look like green jade tonight. Her red waist-length curls were in an intricate design that left half of her hair curling down her back and the rest in a loose bun at the back of her head, whisps of it artfully pinned around the bun to give it a wild appearance and all held in place with exquistely carved jade pins to give the outfit the smack of the orient. With her milk-pale skin Nivain near gleamed; the darkness meshed with the green at her eyes coupled with the black lipstick made this even more noticeable.

Walking into the club to the last notes of Black Velvet coming from the Tigress, Nivain took in the appearance of the woman at will due to the fact that her eyes were closed as she sang, and those green eyes never left the singing Tigress as the Dragon stalked her graceful way through the club to a seat near the stage, totally ignoring the open staring from men and women alike. The men she would pay little heed to; her Master being the only male she was allowed to bed, but the women were allowed her attention and so as she waited for the woman of her actual purpose to finish her jaunt on stage scanned those women with a secretive and mildly dark smile, getting some back and others averting their gaze with a blush. The ones who averted their eyes immediately became nothing to her; background objects.

Nivain was smirking over at a woman clad in a skin fitting crimson dress that left little to the imagination and being given slow licks of the lips in return coupled with an increase of heat between the woman's legs that her flame sensed with relish when she heard the last notes die into silence and immediately turned to face the Tigress, all thoughts of the woman forgotten. She could all but feel the daggers the woman was mentally throwing her way at being ignored for the pretty young singer, but that was of little consequence to her.

As the Tigress walked to get her drink, Nivain raised her hands and with that same smile, though lightened to something less dark and more appealingly friendly, applauded slowly as she watched the woman.

"You have an exquisite voice miss, truly a credit to this club."

Though she'd had her eyes closed while she'd been singing, Lilya had felt the mulitple gazes on her, some stronger than others. Though she'd felt there was a specific gaze locked on her for the briefest of moments near the end of the song, but it didn't change her demeanor. She focussed on the song and singing it to her fullest potential. She was, after all, hoping to be asked back to sing regularly, it would mean that she would have somem oney coming in at last after having spent so much inheritance the past few years on escaping her old life. There were still lingering doubt that she would ever fully be free of her family's grasp, but at least now she knew she could damage them if she had to.

The heat in the room has risen slightly as well, she'd noticed, but paid it no mind. Stepping off stage, she was preparing to make a beeline for the bar when she was stopped by a woman's voice as she applauded her performance. Feeling a strange energy source, something that even almost seemed like another beast, but not quite, Lilya's gaze moved toward the stunning woman in the form-fitting back dress, a beautiful dragon design embroidered in it, and who was simply dripping in sexuality. Her friendly smile prompted one in return from Lilya, if only out of politeness. "Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. If all goes well, I may be singing here regularly."

Though as she spoke to the woman, her tiger picked up something familiar from her, apart from the obvious power she seemed to carry, and paced inside as she realised this person carried Gerard's scent on her. There was little someone could hide from a lycan's senses, and Lilya made sure to memorize everyone she came across in case she wanted to avoid them or find them. In this case it was more the former. She nodded politely "If you'll excuse me, I'm in need of a drink." She then turned gracefully and moved fluidly as she walked toward the bar, her tiger slightly on edge at the scent she'd picked up. She had no proof to say that this woman was here on Gerard's behalf... yet. But she couldn't trust that it was a happy coincidence either.

Sliding up to the bar, Lilya smiled politely to the tender, "A glass of cabernet sauvignon and some water please."

Keeping her eyes on the Tigress, her green eyes fixed upon the blue of the lycanthrope, Nivain cooly noted that the blue of Miss Dharnen's eyes would be an exquisite pairing with those of her Master's. Though they were, to Nivain, not nearly so beautiful as her Master's eyes, the Tigress held eyes of a crystaline blue worthy of accompanying his and felt they would look excellent side by side. Miss Dharnen's skin was almost paler than her own, though the Tigress' complexion was due to her albino beast whereas Nivain's was due to over a century away from regular sunlight, and Nivain found herself imagining her in an outfit of deepest blue to accompany her Master if he so wished and found the image more than satisfactory. She all the more could not fail in her task now; not only did her Master wish to acquire the Tigress but now Nivain too felt she would be a pleasing addition to the Anlui Tiger Clan.

"It would be their loss if they did not hire you, I assure you."

Watching with a slightly amused expression as she saw and felt Miss Dharnen's Tiger notice her scent and become agitated, Nivain's green eyes followed the woman as she made her way over to the bar; the rest of her body perfectly still within the chair so that only her eyes moved.

"Put the lady's drink on Master Anlui's tab please, he would be most upset if I neglected to take care of an acquaintance of his. I will have an ice water."

Looking over at Miss Dharnen, Nivain smiled and gestured to the seat opposite her, crossing her legs and placing a hand over one of her knees; showing she was in trousers and making her the image of relaxation. That and to make it harder for her to 'jump' the Tigress in a visible gesture that she knew would be obvious.

"Would you like to join me, miss?"

Lilya felt herself being assessed by this woman who carried the scent of Gerard. Her beast's tail flicking dangerously at the possiblities of what she was being assessed for. However, her own gaze defiantly continued to remain fixed on the green of the other's woman's until she felt that the assessment was about complete. Eventually, she placed a look in her eyes that practically growled, 'take a picture, it lasts longer', before she'd turned her attention to the bar for her refreshments.

Though she managed to glance back with a small confident smile, "If they don't, then I'll simply have to find somewhere else to sing." There was also the option of dancing, since she used to be a very talented ballerina, but she hadn't found any performance groups about, and wasn't so strapped for cash that she had to consider stripping yet.

At the bar, She cringed inwardly, though didn't betray her annoyance as the woman requested that her drinks be placed on 'Master Anlui's tab'. Though she'd only been given a first name by Gerard, but it didn't take long in this town to figure out who he was and that he had quite the reputation. The tender nodded vigorously at the request, and got it promptly, something which annoyed Lilya a little more again. Word would get back to the manager that she was an 'acquaintance' of Master Anlui, and she'd likely have the job regardless of whether her performance had been good or not. She didn't like that.

As Lilya heard the question from the woman, the tender nodded politely to her, "Go ahead Miss, I'll be right over with your drinks." She turned her gaze back to the woman who she could see now was wearing pants the gave the subtle illusion of a dress. She didn't really have much of a choice now, so she shifted fluidly from the bar and slinked back toward the table, sliding into the chair opposite someone who she could only assume was here on Gerard's behalf.

Her cool blue eyes met the burning green once again, "So what interest would someone of the Anlui house have in a simple singer then?" Her lips curled into a small smirk, though her eyes were clearly unamused. She wouldn't be taking a job here if it was offered now, it was a matter of pride.

Giving a soft chuckle inwardly at the glares she was receiving from Miss Dharnen, Nivain watched the Tigress' body as mention of her Master's tab sank in and her green eyes flickered faintly with her amusement at the sight of the Tigress so incensed by having a free drink. She was perfectly aware it was not the annoyance gained from the female desire for independence but rather the continued 'interference' Miss Dharnen perceived to be coming from her Master, but to outside observation it would seem rather odd for the singer to be so visibly irritated by a simple offer of a drink and a seat. Nivain did so enjoy working in public for just that reason; the ability to watch as that flicker of realisation crossed the eyes of her 'target' that they were being manipulated or in danger, and unable to save themselves due to the fact that Nivain looked so harmless and they were surrounded by people.

Watching the Tigress slink towards the table, that famous lycanthropic grace she had grown used to seeing in her years with her Master's household doing nothing to wow her save the appreciation of its superiority to human movement as always, Nivain gave a slight smile as Miss Dharnen took a seat opposite her and took note of the difference between the expression on her lips to the one in her eyes. Such a jaded, untrusting young woman. So unlike the other Tigresses belonging to her Master; so...refreshing. She could see, beside the power her beast held, the attraction to Miss Dharnen quite clearly though she never presumed to know all the details of her Master's reasonings. It would be foolish of her to attempt such and so she never tried. At least not any more, having learned better long ago.

"You must forgive my forwardness in offering you your drink, I come here often and so Gerard has insisted on creating a tab for me here incase I forget to bring money. He likes to ensure I enjoy myself."

Looking up at the bartender as he himself came to give them their drinks, Nivain gave him a nod of thanks as he placed her ice water in a tall, slender glass before her and then promptly ceased to register his existence, looking back at Miss Dharnen as though she was the only other being in the room. The woman she had been toying with earlier had left upon realising she was not going to recapture Nivain's attention and so there was only the pianist playing a Jazz tune on the stage to fill the interval between singers, the barkeep, a few people, and then herself and the Tigress. They were the only two supernatural beings in the room.

Watching Miss Dharnen as she picked up her ice water, the warmth of her hand causing a small bead of condensation to form on the outside of her glass to roll down the smooth outside to slip onto the back of her hand where it subsequently vanished in a puff of invisible evaporation, Nivain raised the glass to eye level in a salute to the Tigress then took a delicate sip. Placing the glass back on its coaster, perfectly centered on the dark ring of wood out of the habit long ago learned to seek perfection in all her actions, Nivain smiled faintly in a slow and delicate curving of her black painted lips and brushed a curl of her red hair back from her face where it had slid to when she had leaned forward oh so slightly to pick up her glass.

After a slight pause; not enough to give the semblance of deep thought to her answer that would make the Tigress wonder what lie she was concocting but rather a pause natural after swallowing and savouring the liquid; Nivain fixed Miss Dharnen with her gaze again and kept her eyes locked on the Tigress' though in a way that would not seem threatening.

"You seem more than a simple singer, to me your voice is beautiful. As I said you are a credit to this club and I would dearly hope they see fit to offer you a position here. The Anlui family comprises of many people Miss...I am so sorry I do not know your name, forgive me."

Holding out a hand to shake with another slight smile, Nivain continued without missing a beat, nodding as she was given a surname. Normally she would never have allowed herself to seem so human and prone to pauses in her conversation for such as the learning of a name, but she felt it may well make her seem more 'normal' and easier to talk to for Miss Dharnen.

"I am Nivain. A pleasure to meet you Miss Dharnen. As I was saying, the Anlui family compromises of many people and when one of us happens to bump into an acquaintance of another it is not necesarily due to purposeful design. I just happen to be so lucky as to have bumped into one of the people the head of our family is so fond of. Gerard talked to me of the young lady he met on the beach that he was quite taken with and expressed his concern over her potentially unsafe position within this city, and you appear to be that woman and I see his reasonings. He will be pleased I happened to see you, I can go back and tell him that you are still safe at the moment."

This, of course, was false. Nivain was perfectly aware how far her Master's protection of the Tigers extended, having been invited by him to sit in on the meeting with the Tiger Lord not too long ago. Her Master had informed the Tiger Lord that Miami belonged to her Master and he alone when it involved the Tigers, and that was he to sense the presence of the Lord anywhere within the south eastern United States then the contract her Master had placed upon the Lord would be re-activated. This contract, worth $20 million, outlined that the money would be payed to whomsoever bought her Master the head of the Tiger Lord, and Nivain knew her Master was not one for idle threats. That contract was very real, and had been hanging over the head, pun intended, of the Tiger Lord as he left the city.

Not a movement escaped the well-travelled tigress. This woman was enjoying the discomfort that her presence, and the scent she carried, caused Lilya and it was plainly obvious to the other woman. But, of course everyone else in the place was unaware of the silent communication that passed between them as they watched one another, and played the game as much as Lilya detested it. As incenced as she was though, she was not going to be outwardly rude in public... yet. If she didn't like the direction things went, then there was no one and nothing stopping her from picking herself up and leaving anytime. As it stood, she seriously doubted she would want to spend an extended time in the presence of this woman, especially knowing the house she came from.

A polite smile formed on her features, a deception for the sake of those who were around them, as she sat with perfect posture, her head held high, an air of pride about her. Years of perfomance arts having taught her that one was always judged by how their stance, which reflected how they felt about themselves. She had held herself with a similar attitude when having met this woman's master. A headstrong woman due to her past, she would never allow those of an apparent 'higher status' than others to assume she was not as good as, if not better than, them.

"Not at all. I'm simply cautious when it comes to accepting anything offered from people I've not met before. It makes me uncomfortable." Her blue eyes flickered slightly. Lilya had wanted to specifically say especially if the tab was under the name of someone she felt uncomfortable with, but she didn't doubt that point was already obvious.

The piercing gaze of the other woman did nothing to move Lilya, and she turned her own eyes to the waiter, also nodding her thanks as he placed her glass of wine on the table, followed by pouring her glass of water as well. She picked up the wineglass and held it in a similar salute, having heard the water puff into evaporation on the skin of her current company, her suspicions that there was something not quite average about her confirmed. She then took a sip and closed her eyes, tuning into the soft jazz music that played, allowing it to soothe her beast slightly, despite its intention to remain high strung. She would remain wary, and would leave if she felt bothered, but it was a waste of energy for her tiger to remain completely tensed.

They sat in silence for some moments, as Lilya's question went unanswered as they'd both taken a sip of their drinks. Then with ears that were more sensitive than most lycanthropes due to her occasionally unreliable eyesight, she heard the preparation to speak from the other woman and opened her eyes to meet her gaze again. She listened as she complimented her singing again, and nodded in appreciation and when a pause had been made to offer a name, she simply said, "Dharnen." She didn't mention that she did not intend to take a job if it was offered now, that was really no one's business but her own, but she reached across gracefully and met Nivain's hand with a polite shake.

An eyebrow raised as Nivain continued, not being impolite by interrupting, but still not impressed by the apparent idea that Gerard would become fond of her after one meeting, but then how was she to know he hadn't been watching her for some time before approaching her. She had travelled for a few years now, been witness to the games that vampires would play. And after the way she'd seen him affect Mia, she seriously doubted she could trust his intentions. And now, although it seemed like an innocent chat, to Lilya it sounded like Nivain was throwing her a sales pitch. The tigress was a performer, but the greatest performers were those who lived it like it was nothing.

"The concern is noted, but unnecessary. I have learned well enough over the years how to protect myself." Still that polite smile remained, but didn't reach her eyes. She wondered just how foolish anyone thought she would have to be to believe someone she didn't know about someone she was more than just uncomfortable with. Gerard had felt a part of her power that night, would have realised that if nothing else, Lilya would do what it took to remain her own master and keep herself safe no matter what it was. "You can let him know that he need not worry, I will be just fine. I'm quite a capable woman." She continued to hold Nevain's gaze with her own as her tiger watched steadily, and placed the wine down, picking her water up to sip.