Running out of luck

LOCATION | The Elysian Casino
DATE | 25th of February 2022
TIME | Evening
ATTIRE | Kailani | Orion
TOPIC FOR | @Levi xx
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It was another successful evening, like any other. But like everything else with River he always had stuff to do besides the cover on this beautiful grand casino, which was why her and Orion was keeping it running while River and Lucille, were out and about. She had heard a little bird signing that it perhaps had something to do with Archibald Barnes, but yet, they had yet to reencounter him again. Maybe it was an Anthony situation again? River had chosen the worst possible place if he didn't wish for a little bit of competition. And the night was going just as fine as it usually did, she had worked under River for years, it wasn't like she didn't know how to keep an eye up and be aware. Besides, Orion did know how to manage this as well, and they knew if trouble should arise they could call for some back up, if they couldn't manage it themselves.

At least that was what she had thought in the beginning. But as the hours past she noticed someone in the crowd, not that she believed he had seen her, but the sight was enough to puzzle her, making her take a step back. Kailani never got spooked like that, it took a lot to catch her off guard in such way, "Kai, are you alright?" Orion asked walking closer to her and the siren blinked a little looking up at Orion. "Yeah, I just - I just thought I saw something. Can you manage without me for a second, I need some air," she mumbled a little bit. Orion nodded a little confused, "you want me to call Lucille and Bast back?" Kailani shook her head a little bit, "no - not yet at least. Just give me a few minutes okay?" She then snuck out from the bar and out a door to the left, a little outdoor area, which was possibly too cold to be standing without a jacket or anything, but if she could by any chance escape Levi noticing her, then she would be in luck. But just how much luck did she have left when she had used it to avoid him for a thousand years by now?

Levi had ventured outside of the comfort of Mrs. Maverick's nifty little townhouse and away from the ongoing long game and his friendly alter ego of Michael Maeverick. He had yet to deal with Archibald Barnes, but the prioritisation of the human Maeve Poe had been evidently more important; Banshees lived a lot longer after all, whereas business with humans was to be dealt with at earliest convenience. And in-convenience. All this, however, didn’t mean he had forgotten the soul-manipulating bastard, and he still actively kept eyes and ears open for any information that could prove useful. That also meant keeping an eye out for any enemies he could potentially learn from. River Dalton was not a very prominent enemy but apparently a grand cause of frustration and Levi adored casinos, so the conclusion had been to mix pleasure and work and pay a visit to The Elysian Casino. He could only appreciate the blasphemous name and had already taken a liking to this vampire even before meeting him.

The casino was grand enough for a city such as Aston. Emotions hung thickly in the air and he had immediately spotted a beautiful woman, who shimmered so heavily of jealousy that he simply had to introduce himself. Keeping his alter ego name of Michael just in case anyone who happened to associate themselves with Maeve Poe would be present and was still wearing casual attire instead of his preferred three-piece suits – expensive casual attire though, and so nobody had commented on it when he had entered. His attitude differed though, quite drastically from that of how he had acted for nearly two months. All smiles still, but the warmth had disappeared, and the powerful aura and confidence had started shining through the pretence as soon as he started feeding on all of the envy in the room. What better place to find jealousy and envy than in a grand casino? It had been a good while since he’d felt his usual, powerful self and happily indulged in it until he caught onto a – what was that? Something familiar.
He was stood at a round poker table, a gentle hand on the shoulder of a woman in a tight red dress who was miserably losing the game, but his eyes finally diverted from the cards, excited by the sensation, letting his eyes wander around the room. Blonde hair reflected the dim light as a young female in a laced dress spun around and headed for the door and the corners of Levi’s mouth instantly raised in a faint smile. It couldn’t possibly be … And there, next to her, a Demidov. Mh! What a beautiful gathering.

Having lost interest in the game, he spun around on his heel and headed straight for the demon. He loved blood demons. So much more fun than soul demons and a whole lot less condescending. The siren had left through the back door and it would evidently be too obvious of him to simply follow her, so instead his face lit up with a bright smile. “Goodness me,” he stated blazingly, heavy on the posh British accent. “You look just like your beautiful mother.”

Kailani turned her head facing him again, taking a deeper breath in by his bright smile. Her heart skipped a beat ahead, she hadn't seen him since she had swum closer to the surface and gotten captured. How unlucky to be pulled from the ocean one would say, or perhaps she had been in luck, because it had been the beginning of avoiding being his little good luck charm. The price her mother had paid with to make sure the Kingdom would survive the curse Rebekah Sinclair had put on the land to make it sink. It was what two-thoussand-years she had been of good use to whenever he needed a little spark of luck, till she had had enough. "Is that so, I don't believe I've changed that much since you saw me last," she replied back to him, taking a deeper breath in, still feeling slightly uneasy in his company. Then, who wouldn't when you knew just who you had tried to run away from? And Kailani had lived long, even gotten to a place in her mind where she had forgotten to look out, how could she be that foolish and not keep track. It meant she had to possibly tell Bast, Lucille and River about Levi - depending on how this night was going to go, she had yet to find out. "But it's been awhile, I didn't expect to see you here," she confessed, at least trying to keep herself collected in the situation she was facing. "What brings you here?"

The playful comment had been made before the door closed behind them, knowing that whoever would have listened hopefully would have thought it entirely innocent. At least not as hostile as it surely was, reminding her of her mother. Levi would have loved to see some of their arguments regarding the beautiful arrangement he had made with her during the war. In all fairness, it had not been an easy job to secure Leah Abyss and make sure the humans could co-exist down there, but he had managed quite well, and had happily used the payment fully. Her luck had come in very handy for very long, and though he had never actively hunted her down, he had been very displeased with her clearly using her powers to avoid him. Alas, no more!
“I would be awfully disappointed if you had not,” he told her, inhaling excitedly at her deep breath and little uncomfortable shuffle. Mmh. It was really all worth it when people reacted like that. All those emotions.

What brings you here?
It was an obvious reply served to him on a silver platter. Tauntingly perfect and jeering enough to let his eyes light up in a malicious gleam at the notion of mocking her efforts; for what made her so utterly special, seemed to have worn off for a second, and her luck had turned to the complete opposite. The odds of them ending up in the same casino in Aston of all places were minuscule and yet here they were. Her uncomfortable little shuffle made his smile widen hungrily. “Would you believe me, darling Kailani, if I said sheer luck?” He replied to her question, raising an eyebrow; paying close attention to every delightful micro-expression that would run over her face by the comment. “Lucky me!” He gushed, a little low chuckle finding its way through him. “And just when I have the need for you.”

Now, Kailani was not a person who held a lot of fears, she hadn't needed to be afraid of many things. People like River when they got out of control, sure she was aware and knew she needed to take a step back or put him in his place. Then people like Levi, it was like a game of the cat chasing the mouse - and you best sure know you were the mouse not him. Hadn't she been playing these lovely games with him before she couldn't even tell if she would have been more or less afraid, at least she knew somewhat to expect. For people like him sure a thousand years couldn't make him change that much. Would you believe me, darling Kailani, if I said sheer luck? She clicked her tongue a little and rolled her eyes slightly, knowing just what he meant by his choice of words. Then darted her eyes back towards his when he gushed he was lucky, making her take a deeper breath in again. Yet, she collected herself, raising her brow when he mentioned that he needed her. "You need me?" Kailani licked her full lips a little, folding them for a second before narrowing her eyes just by an inch.

"What do you need me for this time?" She then asked rather than starting refusing him. One would be stupid to even think there was a way of getting out of this, and as long as her mother hadn't kept her sisters in this and only her, then she could live with having to do a few bittings. The faster she could get on with this, the faster she could get back to staying away from him again - at least that was her end goal. You didn't make deals with the devil unless you were willing to gamble with your soul, and as lucky Kailani was, she didn't even dare putting her soul up for play more than her mother seemed to already have done. But she knew how to cut corners now, he had after all taught her a grant deal of things, so had her family here. "And do I dare ask what I get out of it?"