Night was the favorite time of the day for the young man. It was the late hours when inhibitions were released, all the more so when the liquor flowed freely within the local taverns. That particular night there was a celebration being had that meant merriment combined with alcohol. The sun had disappeared completely from the sky to give way to the stars above. Little light from the moon above was allowed to make it through the tall buildings that shadowed the streets below. It was a cluttered section of town, which made all the more sense since it had fallen into a disarray years ago. This kind of town was run by the different pirate lords. Ethan found this city to be rather to his liking. It also had a lovely variety of vintages for him to drink.

Crimson gaze lifted to the sky as clouds began to roll in to cover up what light had been available to the lives below. He couldn’t help but smirk slightly at the luck he was afforded. The city was not one to take the time or money to light the streets when darkness fell. It was up to those that wished to travel at the time to handle themselves. Ethan pulled the new cloak he had recently liberated around his face to hide his features from sight. Over the last several days he had made himself become familiar with the twists and turns of the streets. It was then he came to a tavern that held one of the livelier celebrations and even from the outside the alcohol could be smelled.

Opening the door, Ethan slipped into the smoke filled room with a higher ceiling then most of his usual locations as of late. People were laughing and celebrating whatever raid they had recently pulled off. Talk of coin and women were constantly on their tongues with pints raised in the air. His gaze lifted to the bartender who did his best to not get splashed with his own product. It took a great deal of patience to deal with such a crowd, but then again there was money to be made.

He made his way through the crowd without the connection with another person. As he moved through the crowd to the back section of the tavern his eyes continued to shift over each individual. There was a selection to be made, and quite the options before him. Ethan was interested in certain kinds for his taste. He finally made it to the back and removed his cloak to hang over the chair at an empty table. A roaring fire crackled in the giant fireplace on the other side of the room. Thankfully, the table selected had been vacated in the shadows to allow him to watch from his new vantage point.

As he waited quietly, a young bar maid found herself at his table with a smile upon her face. Ethan was a young man that was fairly easy on the eyes. There were no marks of injury or disease upon his body that could be seen. Black hair was kept neatly trimmed and clean. This was the bar maid’s lucky night to have a clean and handsome customer to wait upon. ”An ale of your recommendation, if you please,” Ethan said with a soft purr to his voice. His voice was deep, and yet had a light tone to it that sounded melodic. She blushed with a light nod before moving off to get him a drink. Ethan leaned back in his chair with a lift of his brow. There is an option, he thought to himself. Yet, he did not want to be hasty. He had always been taught to take his time and savor every moment of the hunt.

This was exactly what had gotten her in trouble the first time. Yet, here she was, in a questionable port city, searching for a tavern. Thanks to that tease of a werewolf, that Krugle, Mirannda’s life was upside down, descending quicker than she can get back on top. The phoenix wouldn’t necessarily say that she had a terrible life, however, it seemed that anything that could go wrong now did.To top it off, she was now in servitude for the third time in her life, against her choice.

Granted, Celeste was actually pretty nice, but Mirannda was an apology gift. ‘I cheated on you, I was weak. Take this woman, the one who stole my loyalty, as my request for forgiveness.’ It was this thought alone that made her more sour than anything. Nemesis humiliated her, dragged her through the entire town completely nude, from the tavern to his mansion. Who was he to enslave her as he had? If it wasn’t for that stupid ribbon, Mirannda would probably have just left long ago.

She sighed, and took a moment to compose herself before entering the tavern. The usual sight greeted her. Rowdy men seemed to be overly excited about something. As she approached the bar, the phoenix pulled her purple hood off of her flaming red hair, pulled high in a single “pony-tail”. Pale blue eyes as the shadows of snow scanned the room as she dodged accidental touching of the inebriated customers. Disappointment began to settle in the pit of her stomach as the realization that tonight she would not get what she desired. No one here seemed up to what she had in mind in any sense.

Still, the night was still young, and could possibly be salvaged. ”Mulled wine, if you please.” Her voice was soft and demure. It was the chosen ruse for the night, to make them think she was sweet, an easy catch. Mirannda unclasped her cloak and carefully folding it up to reveal dark leggings tucked neatly in traveling boots, and a teal corset. Over that was a sheer, black lace top that was long sleeved and opened down the center, hanging to just about her knees. The attitude was docile, her attire screamed something else entirely. It was hard to pull these two things together, but she had a sense of style, and hated to change it merely for a last minute decision on her approach. Instead of her customary, obvious eyeing of the crowd, the phoenix leaned against the bar with her elbows, accentuating her ass to the room.

The night continued on with more patrons making their way into the tavern to drown their sorrows. It was the smell of human bodies that gave Ethan a rather mischievous smirk upon his lips. The evening was proving rather fortuitous as his hunting pool continued to grow. Ethan, for all of his hunger, was a selective sort. He was not a desperate hunter. The fire crackled comfortably nearby to warm those that had recently entered the location to get them in the mood to purchase from the staff. One large man was coaxed to the stairs that led upstairs for another sort of purchase that he had elected to take part in. The woman was handsome enough, but Ethan never paid for something that he could get for free; food or anything else in that manner. That woman was going to earn her pay that night. The vampire hybrid chuckled as he readjusted in his chair to look at the rest of the room.

His bar maid returned with his drink, a blush still heating her cheeks. He was sure that he offered a different variety of patron to her day. ”Thank you for your diligence,” he said before taking a sip of his drink. The flavor was quite enjoyable and this brought him to smile up at her. ”An excellent choice. If you are free later, why not join me at my table?” Before she could answer someone had called her name for more provisions. It did him well to see her hesitate leaving before finally her work ethic kicked in to pull her away. ”Most assuredly an option,” he mused aloud.

Ethan leaned back in his chair once again though this time with his drink. It was a nice full bodied ale. The tavern’s door opened to allow entrance to a new patron, but it was when the woman pulled down her cloak hood that Ethan’s interest was piqued. Her hair was of a flaming red color that was rare for his eyes. Ethan titled his head to the side slightly as he watched her move around the already inebriated. His hearing was quite honed, so catching the voice of the woman was easy for him. Again, Ethan became more interested. As he watched her lean on the bar and pop her hip to accentuate her assets the vampire chuckled to himself. It appeared that he was not the only one hunting in the room for something.

Pushing his chair way from the table, he grabbed his drink and cloak thrown over his arm. Carefully he moved through the room to find an open spot next to the red-head with a charming smile upon his face. ”Good evening,” he said. Drink was placed on the bar as his own left elbow was placed to lean on the bar while looking down at his new attraction. ”I hope I am not intruding, but you seem to be the only one in here worth having a conversation with. I got here a little late for any hopes there would be someone without a higher alcohol content then water.” He laughed slightly with a gentle bow of his head. ”I am Ethan Blackbird. And what would a lovely lady’s name be in such a locale?”

There was a difference between sure confidence and drunken stumbled staggers. Coming from behind on her left, a potential candidate approached. Her hopes soared, a quick prayer sent to the goddess of desire, whoever that may be. Was the person good looking, got a bad boy complex going for them? Were they even targeting her? As the man sat down beside her, the wine was delivered.

Most would have been cautious at their first sip of the warm drink, to ensure it would not burn their sensitive tongue and lose half of their taste buds for a week. Mirannda was not as careful as she took that first sip, making a face at how chilled it truly was to her preference. "Good evening." She wrapped her slender fingers around the glass, and began channeling enough heat into it to keep the wine just before boiling temperatures, gentle steam soon to rise from the crimson liquid. As Ethan spoke, the phoenix peered up at him from beneath her lashes, a faint smile played at her lips while a light blush rose to her cheeks at the compliments.

"Mirannda Sinopa." Ethan was a hunk with chiseled features, lean body, and dark hair. She had no doubt he would fit her bill. There was just one problem. Were those red eyes? The phoenix only ever saw red eyes on vampires, a race she has come to loathe. "Tell me, Mr. Blackbird, what would a fine, upstanding gentleman such as yourself be loitering in a hovel such as this for? Surely there are better establishments with far better company than thieves and brigands?" She had always been a decent liar, which assisted her tonight in her acting. Mirannda was already attempting to plan how to get what she wanted, and prevent him from feeding on her until her death… Again.

Ethan’s posture was kept straight as he knew to make sure his manners were on point. There had yet to be any alcohol intake by the woman. Her barriers would still be up, but this also meant that the man had an opportunity to see who she really was. That night he was not searching for an easy meal. A snatch and grab had no elegance to it. Enjoying the hunt was the best part right before the feed. On such nights there would be a sort of dance that Ethan liked to enter in. As he took his seat alongside the woman, she appeared to be game for that moment.

Brow lifted slightly as he noticed the warmth radiating off of her wine. It was not a normal way to serve the drink, but it was even more surprising was that there was no hesitation to consumption even with the heat. He couldn’t see a flinch from the extreme temperature; this was a telling thing since there was little chance she was a normal woman. Another smile twitched at his lips as he looked down at her. His evening trip into this tavern had definitely been worth it. Confidence rose as she responded with her own greeting and then her name. These were all good signs for certain.

The vampire hybrid took a sip of his own drink as he then bowed his head to Mirannda. Crimson gaze glanced over her form once more. She had a slender frame, but it appeared to be honed for capable combat. The muscles that he could see were honed. This woman was not incapable of handling her own, which would explain the silent confidence that she carried. Ethan moved to sit more comfortably in the chair available to him at the bar, though kept himself in close proximity to the woman. ”Flattering words, I must say. It does well for my fragile male ego,” he joked with a smile.

”This tavern allows me to get drink and food without spending a small fortune. Besides, I found rather attractive company right here. I say that my selection of the night has been rather fortuitous. The goddess of luck must be smiling down upon me.” Ethan took another drink and smiled again. He was rather interested in this hunt, and possibly more. There was a heat that he was sensing off of her that gave him indication that she was interested in him as well. The sound of her blood pumping slightly faster gave him another reason to smirk proudly. ”And if I may be allowed to ask the same question in return: what brings you to this establishment?”

A small smile of amusement graced her features with his joke. ’Fragile ego, my ass’ Predators did not usually have fragile anything. Still, she’d play along, testing her chances of her own manipulations. Ethan brought up a valid point of cost, and Mirannda wondered how much he actually saved by feeding on living prey. Even so, she could not help the slight blush that heated her cheeks, though the shifting her gaze to her wine glass with a demure smile was staged.

Was Lady Luck smiling on him, or was she glaring misfortune down upon the phoenix? There were far too many vampires in her life as of late to be mere coincidence. She couldn’t deny his attractiveness, the allure that predators of his nature typically held. Mirannda studied his face for a moment, debating her answer. ”Same as yourself, looking for a meal before merely passing through.” Deciding she would take the leap, the phoenix turned toward him slightly.

She had to remember that not all vampires were cut from the same cloth. There was a chance that, if he does feed upon her, that it would not be till death. It was a small chance, and the benefits of the night far outweigh one more dance with Death. Mirannda took another sip of her wine, openly eyeing him in earnest now. ”Seems that the night might be fortuitous for many. But you’re here for what comes after the food and drink, aren’t you?”

Elbow rested comfortably on the bar top. The woman before him was quite interesting, and Ethan knew that the decision to make his way into that bar had been the correct decision. One brow arched with intrigue as he gazed down at her. This Mirannda Sinopa was a different sort of breed. A half smile was upon his lips as they continued their small banter. Heat entered her cheeks that was not beyond his notice. It only encouraged him to lean in further to investigate how his presence made her react. The shifting of her gaze to the wine glass. He made no other moves as he did not want to frighten her off. Ethan knew that he had allure, but there was a limit to what it could bring him. Besides, she had a certain appeal that he had not seen in quite some time.

There was a bit of deliberation going on within the mind of his new companion. Ethan took a drink from his own glass while awaking to see what Mirannda would decide. She had the option to leave, or to stay. The vampire was genuinely hopeful that she would stay. Not only did she smell phenomenal, but she had a spark. ”I guess it is my sheer luck from the goddess that you mad the same stop as I,” he mused in return. It was then that her body language changed to move towards him.

Crimson eyes focused on the woman in front of him with even further interest. She was taking the challenge of an unknown entity. She was a brave woman. Ethan could not help but chuckle a little at her words with a short nod. ”I like for drink and the after thoughts to roll all together. I have found it is always enjoyable.” His index finger tapped the bar top to indicate he wanted more to drink. The bartender was quick to bring over a fine bottle of wine and a spare glass for the pair. ”Would you care to share this with me? Maybe somewhere a little quieter?” Ethan traced the outline of her hand lightly.

’I have found it is always enjoyable’ She could not deny it. To allow drink and pleasure to mix was an intoxicating arousal. However, she did note the lack of mention of the food. Another string of vampiric stereotypical thoughts ran through her head, somehow feeling more mute than usual. The bartender was ignored as she realized her attention was completely focused on the predator, and the feel of his finger gently sliding across her skin.

Mirannda’s heart beat just a bit faster, yet she managed to keep her breathing under control. It was his smoothe voice, chiseled features, and his charm that was slowly chipping away at her defenses against his kind. She slipped off the stool and leaned into Ethan, her lips not quite touching his ear. ”The quieter it is, the louder I’ll scream,” the phoenix breathed into his ear. Before standing up, she lightly trailed her nose along the edge of his ear, taking in his scent.

Yes, he would do for the night. And if things go favorably, he would do for many nights in the future. Mirannda sent a quick prayer to any god that might listen. ’Let this one not kill me tonight.’ Now that she was straightened, she gazed steadily into the hunter’s eyes. ”Lead the way, Mr. Blackbird.” With that, Mirannda lifted her glass to her lips, taking a long sip as she silently dared him to take full advantage of the night.