Blood Rose (Trenton)

[Marina Anne Sinclaire]

Making her way to Trenton's house Mari rang the doorbell. The sweet smell of orange blossoms filled the Los Angeles night air and her pink dress swayed lightly as she stood there. Trent had just gotten back into town after having to leave for a bit after her birthday. Looking about her quietly she wondered what Trent wanted to talk to her about. They were so sporadic with their meetings it was hard for her to really figure out where any of it stood. Given Cruises announcement of wanting to kick his ass and Philip's arrival in town it just further complicated her life.

Still, she was here and was going to make the best of it. At very least he needed to know what was going on. Not that she knew much herself but it helped to keep him in the know. If Cruise knew she was here he would fuss at her. If Diana did she'd be happy and conflicted. She had no clue how her dad felt.

[Trenton Dante Moore]

Trenton could hardly wait for Marina to arrive. He had not been able to see her much as he had been trying to square things away as a new elder of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, one of his duties had required him to leave the city. Now that he was back, he could possibly spend some time with her.

Then he heard her footsteps outside his apartment and went to open the door, standing aside so that she could cross the threshold.
"Welcome, Bella. I apologize for my absence as of late," he greeted.

[Marina Anne Sinclaire]

Smiling when the door opened, Marina stepped through and looked at Trent as she relaxed a bit more, turning so she could talk to him easier. She could pick up on his excitement and it made her smile just a little wider. In spite of all the confusion the relationship brought her she did like seeing him happy. Sometimes she felt his conflict and she was uncertain what to do, but the fact that there was a conflict against his nature gave her hope that all was not lost for him. When he closed the door she walked over and hugged him, resting her head on his chest lightly as she closed her eyes a moment before she looked up at him, his mark showing against her neck and a contented look in her eyes as she waved her hand gently.

"Its good to see you, Trenton. You've been busy. I understand that. You're back now and that is what is important." she murmured as relaxed there with him. "Lets go sit down and catch up." she said casually as she looked at him and if he didn't protest she tugged him to the couch to relax, "Lots of things have happened since you left." she said ruefully. She curled up next to him so it was clear that nothing bad regarding him had happened. Resting her head in the crook of his arms and sighing softly. Her dark hair spilling into his lap as she relaxed next to him. If it was one thing she liked about Trent above all others it was his ability to live in the moment and not be constantly emoting all the time. She cared for Rodney but that man worried so much it was a wonder he didn't have an aneurism. He spent so much time trying to plan for the future it was like he'd completely forgotten to live in the now. It sometimes gave her headaches.

"I had an elder brother show up from hell and I got tasked with making sure he didn't become a demon and potentially destroy the world. So, I created a team to help track him and make sure he didn't do too much damage. Evidently he wants to take over the fifth level of hell and thinks that by killing my dad he can accomplish this." she shrugged softly. "I don't want to see my dad dead or see my brother lose his soul even if they are both...sadistic people." she said as she searched for the right word. Her brown eyes looked at his own and she smiled softly, rubbing his arm for comfort.

"Then, it turns out that the ex boyfriend Philip that was a werewolf turned up from the dead. He just breezed right in and wanted to pick up where we had left off as if nothing had happened. He kept spouting promises about how he was different and bickering about how I was surrounded by vampires while trying to get me to make out with him. I finally got him to leave me alone long enough to leave but I may have to quit school and I'm really upset about all of it. I don't want him dictating to me. He's creepy and he's always got his wolf just under the surface and it freaks me out. He's mad my dad set you and I up. I told him I didn't care what he thought and you'd always been nice to me." She pressed closer to him for reassurance, Philip had scared her. The pain of what he had done still echoed in her mind and the collar bone he'd broke still ached when it was damp.

"After that, my cousin, Cruise came to town and he thinks both you and Philip are dangerous and wants to get rid of both of you." she frowned, "And while I can see where getting rid of Philip makes sense cause he hurt me you've never hurt me ever." she hugged him tighter closing her eyes and just resting. "You've always been there for me when you could and I appreciate it. People see the mark on my neck and they think its like a property mark or something stupid. They don't understand."

[Trenton Dante Moore]

Trenton smiled as Marina curled up next to him but frowned as he listened to everything that had happened. I go away for a while and Hell decides to land in her lap. Lovely, he thought to himself. Having an older brother that was literally hell-spawn had to be nerve-wracking.
"If you like, I can try and see if I can reason with your brother," he offered. As far as he was concerned, Reginald was a lost cause and as soon as he figured out how, he was going to kill him.

He had to keep from growling at the mention of her ex. From what she was saying, the boy had hurt Marina and as far as he was concerned, had no right to approach her at all. However, a growl did escape when Marina confessed that he had scared her.
"I can tear him limb from limb if you desire," he told her.

Seeing that she had more to say, he once again, fell quiet. When she mentioned a cousin that wanted to get rid of both of them, he felt himself feeling sorry for her as he could read the distress on her face.
"I would assume that this cousin of yours only wants to keep you safe, which I can certainly understand. We will just have to prove to him that I am not a threat to your well-being," he told her, as he reached out a hand to stroke her hair soothingly.

When she mentioned people misunderstanding the nature of her bite mark, Trenton let out an unnecessary sigh.
"Unfortunately, I do not think I will be able to change that way of thinking, as many vampires have used the claim as just that. I am sorry for it though," he apologized.

[Marina Anne Sinclaire]

"If you want to try you can. I know you can take care of yourself." she smiled up at him then rested her head on his shoulder for comfort, it was nice not having to censor herself and just be able to say what was really bothering her. She missed it and him. "I'm glad you're back. Sometimes it feels like you're the only one I can talk to." she felt herself relaxing the longer he was there. Not necessarily a good thing with a vampire but fate was cruel sometimes. "Samael is dangerous and easily angered so keep it in mind when dealing with him."

Feeling him growl Marina hugged him tighter, "I just don't want him confusing me with the past. He's wanting to pick things up from the way they were before and I don't want that." she didn't know what she wanted but she was sure it wasn't Philip. She wanted to be happy and have a solid relationship. Maybe have children some day. Granted Her options were limited but maybe she could adopt some day. It all depended on how things settled out. She just knew, sitting here with Trent made her relaxed enough to think about the things she pushed out of her mind as completely impossible.

She relaxed as he stroked her hair and a happy purr came from the contact, "I hope so. I just want to have as stress free a life as I can manage." she admitted softly. She felt his irritation at the situations she was under and she looked into his eyes, "What are you thinking, Trenton? So many emotions swirling around you but what are you really thinking in there?" she asked him as she put her forehead against his own and tried to make sense of it all smiling at him as she did so.

Shaking her head she snuggled into his embrace, "You have nothing to be sorry about. I just wanted you to know what people thought so you wouldn't be caught unaware or think I was hiding things from you. I know better than anyone you can handle yourself and anything that comes up. I don't regret you marking me I just wish others could understand." she admitted, "I mean I know you're not nice to everyone and you have to do evil things at times and your nature is more...predatory. I can feel it. I always could, but then so is my mom and dad. Its something I grew up with and I know why it is that way. I mean I wish it didn't have to be because it makes it hard on you but I understand it." She relaxed against him and relished his hand stroking her hair. "I'm glad you're home. Everything seems to fall apart when you're gone. Heck, I seem to fall apart when your gone. Life just seems so much more complicated when I can't talk to you."

[Merry Grace Lovelace]

Trenton and Mari continue to talk quietly together as she brings him up to speed on what has happened in her life since he was gone. Relaxing gently against him she enjoys the moment not needing him to do anything but be a shoulder for her. Eventually, like most nights, she drifts off to sleep and he brings her home to fall asleep in her own bed before heading off to feed for the day.

His thoughts still troubled as he tries to reconcile what he is with what Marina needs him to be. His inner struggle causing his kills to become more violent as a result as he takes his frustrations out on his victims more than he normally would leading to a rise in deaths in L.A. Swinging by a floral shoppe he kills the girl on duty and takes a single red rose from the store before returning to Diana's home and leaving it next to Marina on her pillow. She wakes and smiles at him closing her eyes and smelling it sleepily as a drop of his victims blood falls from the flower onto his hand. Sitting up and hugging him happily with her eyes closed, Mari thanks him. Covering the drop of blood with a flourish he smiles, hugs her and bids her goodnight once more before leaving.