* NEGOTIATING // JEZZ

[ember mackenzie flare]

Pursing her lips, Ember turned to face the wind. It smelled rather faintly of salt, a hint of the ocean that lay not to far from where she stood amidst spiraling metal skeletons. She had to wonder, for a moment, if any of these slumbering beasts still ran. Or had the humans, in their blindness, used up every drop of gasoline to run the machines nonstop, for their own pleasure. Humans were a greedy species -- constantly seeking something to make their lives easier, and then complaining of how boring sitting around and vegging out all day truly was. It was a vicious cycle, and one Ember was glad to be free of. She no longer had to wonder about where the next source of entertainment might appear; it was all around her -- the fear in the eyes of those whom she controlled. And, contrary to the belief of the vampire who had so cordially invited her to this little rendezvous, she wasn't keen on giving that up.

Her gaze traveled up the rusting ruin beside her. Ember held respect for it. It had become wise in its age, bearing the gratified secrets of those who lived in its golden age. It knew everything - saw everything, yet remained silent, concealing the truth better than any living being ever could. If this skeleton could speak, imaging the stories it could tell. Ember caressed the metal lovingly, stopping a moment to press her cheek to the slumbering beast. If anyone were to ask what she was doing, she would swear to the fact that the roller coaster was whispering to her. Ember closed her eyes, reveling in the moment. Her fingertip traced a heart spray painted on the metal - the only portion of the relic that wasn't too rusted to be legible. It was these nostalgic moments - these times when she was connected to her past life as a human being - that brought tears to Ember's eyes. She could say she hated the human race with every fiber of being, but it wasn't true. Not entirely. There was always the need for her to be something greater... something more... but she missed the world where everything was something new, each day an adventure. Now, here she was, her body not a day over sixteen.. yet nothing could surprise her.

Blinking the tears from her eyes, Ember ran her finger underneath them to ensure that her eyeliner wouldn't smudge. One always wanted to appear presentable, especially in the company of the leeches. Ember straightened, smoothed the ruffles in her dress, snapped her chin up, and stepped daintily forth. She had no idea where the leech intended to meet her -- only that it would be somewhere in this park.

[jessibelle marie kenzington]

Jezz could feel the wind tickling her cheeks, but it brought nothing. No warmth, no cold.. just a tickle, barely registering in the back of her mind. Jezz was tense, anticipating a fight. Ember Mackenzie Flare had a history for being one of quick temper. She lit up like a match in a dark cave the second you mentioned anything on her ever-growing list of taboos. The "leader of the shifters," they called her. As far as Jezz knew, no one had stepped forward to argue this fact. It was just an accepted truth. Frankly, Jezz doubted there was anyone who could take Ember's place, from the stories she'd heard of the other girl. Jezz herself might have been suited for the job, if she were a shifter. But no.. she was something a bit more civilized than a mere dog. She doubted her own species knew of her brilliance -- my, she's a conceited one, isn't she?

But it was true. If she wished, Jezz had the potential to lead the vampires to greater things. The problem was, she hadn't the drive. She'd rather devote her time to tormenting children. So she had her privileges revoked. Technically, she wasn't supposed to be outside of the colony at this very moment. Technically, she wasn't supposed to have any contact with the shifters (that was reserved for the what's-her-face redhead Jezz'd never given half a damn about). Yet here she was -- proof of how effective words were.

The strawberry lollipop ground against her teeth. Jezz shook herself from her mental tangent, suddenly becoming aware of the fact that she was perched on top of an ancient roller coaster. She teetered awkwardly on one foot, the other one striking the air in front of her as gravity worked to drag her backward. Jezz clenched her jaw and fought its pull. Even from this height, a fall wouldn't kill her (one of the perks of already being dead), but it would hurt like hell in the morning. That, and it'd be pretty embarrassing to fall at that particular moment. Why, you may ask? Because there was someone there. Jezz couldn't believe it at first. She blinked a couple times, just to make sure she was seeing what she was seeing. Moonlight did have a habit of throwing off people's vision.

Beneath Jezz, walking like she was the most fragile, important person in the world, was a brunette girl who couldn't have been more than sixteen. Her skin looked smooth as porcelain, her features delicate, yet the slant of her chin and the fire in her eyes suggested she was one who ought not be messed with. It was difficult not to laugh at the girl's odd appearance. She was, after all, trying to pull off looking dangerous while wearing a frilly dress. Surely this girl couldn't be Ember. She was neither old enough, nor frightening enough. But then, who was she? And for what purpose was she present at an abandoned amusement park? She couldn't be human... no fugitive could dress like that. Yet she was too young to be a monster from the colonies. Or was she? Jezz was forgetting about Annabeth and Cintia. The Porter twins had both been turned on their sixteenth birthday.

"Oi! You there!" Jezz called down to the brunette. She then stepped off the edge of the roller coaster, spreading her arms to catch some air as she fell. The air resistance slowed her descent, but only barely. Jezz still winced when she landed in her crouch, safely on the ground. Reaching up to adjust her beret, she fixed her gaze on the younger girl. "You that Flare girl? Misses 'Queen of the Shifters'?"

[ember mackenzie flare]

No start from Ember, not even when someone called out to her from the oddest place - above her head. She merely looked up and blinked, waiting. This female - as could be determined by the sound of her voice - was obviously not an enemy. If she were, she would have used Ember's moment of blindness to attack. This must be the vampire coming under a white flag, here to negotiate. She landed in front of Ember moments later, wincing in pain. There was a lollipop stick hanging out of her mouth. Good thing she's not human, Ember thought dryly. She could've choked to death on that. In truth, worse things would've happened to her if she were human. One being dying from her recent fall, the other... well, Ember was present. Unfortunately, the treaty set in place kept her from offing this creature. That, and the fact that this beast was still a monster, despite the sunlight filtering through the clouds. While she was strong and hard-headed, Ember was full aware of her limitations. That fact had saved her life on countless occasions. That didn't mean she couldn't talk tough.

Disbelief filled the vampire's tone, like it was hard for the older girl to wrap her brain around someone as youthful as Ember could be a shifter, let alone the "queen". Ember preferred the term "leader" - "queen" sounded too posh and delicate. Rather than agree with the statement, she inclined her head. "As a matter of fact, I am," she replied, her tone guarded and icy. She had to approve of the other woman's fashion choice, but that didn't make her a friend. "Hard to believe, I know. I'm a little young. But... age is just a number." There was an evil twinkle in her eye as she spoke the last part. She might be young, but her innocence had been stripped from her far before her turning. "Have you called me here to stare at all day? I was under the impression we were negotiating." Though I can't imagine what, she added in her mind. If the other woman had any sense, she would tell Ember, rather than continue wasting Ember's time.