The Warmbloods of Eclipse

The team was finally off from a long training mission and heading to the club Eclipsed sun run by a Vampire by the name of Eclipse. A pure blood from the days of the Norsemen, his club catered to Vampires yes but only a select of his staff was actually human or Warmblood. They all came from different parts of the world and had different 'cursed gifts', talents that made them too odd to be among the normal human population. Humans used to call most of them Freak show oddities.

Entering the club and taking a seat Eclipse himself greeted Nyssa. Looking to the team, he was almost seven foot tall, built with very long platinum blonde hair but his gold eyes had edges of red to them. Like the beginnings of an eclipse.

"Ah, I see you still have your silent swordsman," he smiled a bit as Snowman looked at him. "I think you'll like your server tonight, she comes from China though, kept on the Emperor's black market even though she's his great grandsire from a concubine. Her name is Sulwen Yen."

He signaled the barman for him to serve the drinks, "What is her curse?" Nyssa asked curiously.

He looked at her, "You'll just have to see for yourself."

A young woman was signaled by Eclipse after separating from the other girls. She was only part Chinese, she had the pale and exotic sharpness of the east but she was almost pure west. Lips soft red, make up light if she wore any, long hair a deep auburn it had red highlights in the light but would be black nearly when wet. Bangs lightly streaked, she was wearing long boots that stopped before the knee, leather and mesh pants with a mesh tunic with a leather one over it, one that corseted to her form. Long hair pulled back the sides reaching her waist where she had a red sash; leather was woven in her hair with the gold pins.

She had on bracers like an archer. "Sulwen this is the Blood pack. Tell me who is who." He held up a hand stopping Asad.

She finally lifted her eyes looking at them and they were beyond Jade with flecks of Sky sapphire. Studying each one to start at the left and end of the table.

"Verlaine, Lighthammer, Priest, Chupa, Snowman, Asad and Nyssa, Reinhardt is behind us talking to the blond." Sulwen was soft spoken with a hint of accent.

"Good, now tell me…which one of them is cursed." He said hands on her shoulders smirking at Nyssa.

Sulwen let her eyes half close and her head tilted a little before suddenly looking at Snowman, "Snowman…he's mute."

The team startled a bit, Asad took her hands she looked at him. Eclipse grinned and left her alone at the table she was their server tonight after all.

"How did you know our names, how did you know about Snow?" He asked honestly.

"I can hear you in whispers but I can hear him clearest." She answered and he frowned then got a look.

"You can hear thoughts?" She nodded, that was her curse, and she was actually telepathic!

'She can hear me the clearest…what does she mean?' Snow frowned a bit, eyes on her like a hawk.

She looked at Snowman than and he stilled, eyes on each other.

"Your mind is very sharp, disciplined, you think before you project and sign. Even though you do not speak you are very expressive, especially in the eyes. Eyes that are a fraction of pale gold as if brushed by dawn, an Albino's eyes, you were born mute, but even thoughts have a voice. You have a very beautiful one with strength behind it. One that is clear." She said softly.

Snowman sat straighter eyeing her and tilted his head hand going up to make a motion toward himself. She let go of Asad and came closer, he took her hands in one of his and watched her.

'Even pure blood and noble I'm cursed and now a cursed one is touching you rather you are cursed or not.' He thought with an edge of icy malice.

She kept his gaze and pulled her hands out of his he got a slight glare but then blinked to find her hands on his cheeks tracing. Openly.

"Curses are not everything. I meant what I said; flattery is a waste of time." She smiled at Snowman.

He moved and she was pinned to the pillar so fast they tensed. His eyes bore down into hers. Asad had stood and was ready to snatch Snow from her, people had stopped to watch.

'And if a cursed one took you for their own, made you bear cursed children what then? Would it still not matter?' he thought heatedly.

Sulwen didn't look away instead hands went to his chest pushing gently so she didn't have to be pressed so hard to the pillar. Her hand went out in a gesture to stop Eclipse. He stopped and she reached up and the tips of her fingers brushed his cheeks.

"There is never a promise or guarantee in this life even for a mortal like me that a curse will not pass. Yet I am what I am, I do not fear it or let others shame me with it instead I feel pity for them. Pity because they will never know me. As I pity those who look down on you, they will never know the warrior you are and burdens you carry for them. But I will always remember the voice of the silent swordsman of the Snow clan, cursed or not for honor is not in a curse or a weapon, it's in the man. If I am lucky enough to find a mate to 'see' me then I will bear any curse and teach my own to overcome it." She said stepping into Snowman.

Snowman startled and moved so fast he was gone like magic and was back away from her. Gripping his swords with a look that was shaken, Sulwen though bowed to him and the table and went to go get their drinks. Eclipse followed her curiously glancing back. Asad gave Snowman a minute.

"Snow? What's wrong?" Chupa asked frowning.

Snowman shivered and closed his eyes and opened them to relax his body slowly. Signing to Asad personally and leaving to take a walk.

"Let him go," Asad said as Chupa and Priest had made to get up and go after him.

"What did she do to him?" Priest asked looking at the bar.

"She told him the truth. A truth he wasn't ready for, she's not afraid of him or his curse, she accepted it the moment they met. Snowman's used to being rejected at every turn in his personal life; his curse makes him undesirable by many. She touched him more than once, showed him an affection born of honest kindness, acceptance." Asad explained.

Nyssa sat back, "She cracked his icy revere."

The team understood now and she came back with their drinks. Chupa actually respected her as did the rest of the team, to show Snowman that kind of acceptance. When she left Priest took off his shades which meant serious business.

"Can we buy her from Eclipse?" He said watching her.

Asad looked at him, "for what?"

"To take her with us, turn her, maybe she would be good for Snow." He said tracing his glass.

"His Warmbloods aren't for sale ever, he lets the leave when he decides he will let them, you honestly think Snowman will want anything to do with her?" Nyssa asked.

Priest smirked, "If I didn't think that I wouldn't have thought it, but if I didn't know it I wouldn't have asked."

She frowned he gestured, Snow was sitting on the rafter arms around the rail, chin resting on his arms and he was watching Sulwen as she worked. His expression was not so cold as he watched her but it wasn't warm either, neutral.