The Next Night (Cassiel & Elizabeth & Open) - Darius and Crew

He shook his head.

"I disagree. Keeping you sane while finding your fiancé is very important."

She nodded.

"You need to be calm. Can you keep calm once you know who put him there?"

She thought for a moment... But she knew how she was... "I cannot trust myself to stay calm," she confessed with a frown.

She nodded.

"Then let Darius do the poking around. He is not emotionally attached, and will do nothing foolish."

He smiled.

"Elizabeth has a point, dear."

"I must not seem helpful at all."

She pet the Toreador lightly.

"No, you are. You are just also in pain. Creatures in pain are reactionary. But Darius would not know your enemies if you did not tell him."

"Straight up enemies? I... I know I frustrate people, but I didn't think, outside of my sire, I had enemies."

He smiled at that.

"Anyone who might be upset with you at all, actually."

"Well, they will be..." She felt as if a knot was growing in her stomach. Her mind telling her to just stop all this now, before it went any further.

"Look, I don't... I don't know if any of this is a good idea. I don't want to make this worse than it is. I don't want him back just to see him or myself in trouble again or on the receiving end of ire."

She touched the Toreador's face.

"You won't. We'll just get him back. No one needs to know how."

He nodded.

"I understand that. And it's always a possibility. But do you want him back, Cassiel? Or do you want to leave him to rot there in that place?"

"No, I don't want him to rot there!" Now she cried.

Bethy pet her and stroked her face, not liking the tears.

"We'll get him back. We need to know who put him there so we know the dangers."

They knew he wasn't being cruel. He was laying it out for her in a way that would get it through the stubborn Toreador's head that he was trying to help.

"Then let me help you. Please."

"Please, stay off people's properties. Don't add insult to injury, okay? Everyone she feel safe at home."

He reached over and took her hand.

"I won't go to anyone's home unless I am invited, Cassiel. You have my promise."

"Okay... Okay..."

He reached over and took her hand.

"Has anyone in your life ever said that they would help you -- and then actually help you?"

"Jamie and his family," she said. "But I'm not used to it."

"So he crossed the Harpy and the Sheriff?" she asked softly.

She nodded. "But it was taken care of politically. Why take care of it politically and then turn around and do this makes no sense to me."

She growled.

"Some are not satisfied with politics."

"Which did he cross not politically?" she said coolly.

She sighed and shook her head. "I guess everyone," she answered carefully. "Not many are fans of his. Or his friend."