The smell of incense, mixed with sweat and the stale-sweetness of alcohol, rushed out of the darkened entryway to meet an old friend. Callused hands attempted to solve the maze of thick black hair and quickly gave up the vain battle. The sounds of sufficiently numbed humans filled the air and the intertwined strains of a violin and an electric guitar danced around the booming background of a dead cow's hide. Leny drew in a deep breath of the relatively untainted night air and dove into the masses. Stopping in the entryway to allow his eyes to adjust to the almost pitch blackness he admired the way the black lights attempted to fulfill a role contrary to their nature.
        The polished oak floor stubbornly withstood the battery of a thousand feet though it made its soft complaint known to its master when Leny stepped down with his steel toed boot. With annoyance mixed with amusement Leny attempted to blaze a trail through these worshippers of rhythm that would take him to the relative serenity of his office. A barely perceived roar let Leny know that an old acquaintance was offering his greetings. Leny turned and waved at his bartender who had already turned his attention to the worship of oblivion's saints.
        A small chuckle escaped cracked lips. So many of these participants in distraction were dressed in mourners black desperately seeking death so as to make life that much more worth living. "Empty headed fools." Brown eyes scanned the room for the source of all these clones and tossed off a half hearted wave to Mairvei a man who, like Leny, had long ago looked life straight in the eye and defiantly yelled "fuck you!"
        "Yes he would do nicely" Linette thought to herself as her eyes fell upon the god who had just entered the room. At six and half feet in height the object of her scrutiny towered above the crowd he waded through. Linette cast a disdainful look at the other contestants,, Skinny morbid whelps just off their mothers teet whose shemales often had to remind them when to wipe their asses, She quickly decided that he was her best bet for a good fuck.
        Annoyance flashed across the cold marble that made up the contours of Linnet's delicately carved face. Two bodies so intertwined you couldn't separate them with anything less than the jaws of life paused in their impassioned gyrations directly in the path of her prey. His hawk like eyes penetrated their souls  but love, or other more primal instincts blinded them. What patience existed in the heart of this tribute to masculinity was soon exhausted. Uncaringly the man sweeped the couple out of his way with the back of his hand.
        As their bodies hit the floor the gyrations did not cease or even slow and if not for the quick intervention of a bouncer these Holy soldiers in the war against extinction would have won the final battle.
        Annoyance was quickly replaced by a thin smile. Thin fingers felt for the thick scars left by the last male to fall to her will. She had bound him tightly taunting and teasing him for hours. A malevolent laugh filled the air as she remembered the look of horror on his face when she had drawn her delicate stiletto from its sheath and began to carve intricate patterns on the more sensitive parts of his anatomy. His strains were then in earnest and his iron like muscles had snapped the leather cords that bound him. The fire of anticipation pulsed through her veins and through her thighs as she looked again at her prey. Where that man had been iron this man was steel. He ought to give many more hours of entertainment before she would kill him. A cold smile eased its way across her frozen features, the last one had been so shocked when she penetrated his rib cage and tickled his heart.
        The mouse had resumed his journey. Linette shifted her posture revealing more of her pale white breasts barely concealed by the intricate black lace that passed as a dress. She ran a nervous hand through the silky black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and formed a calm pool on the barstool, modestly covering her smooth bottom.
        Stepping over the amorous couple the unwary adventurer stepped closer to the dragon's lair.
        Something bit Linnet's nose. "That Smell!?" Her hand unconsciously flew to an ancient oriental fan resting in her lap. With fury that could have sailed ships Linnete desperately fought for untainted air.
        "Hmph might want to shower soon." Leny grunted as he noticed the shemales reaction to him. A dry chuckle echoed inside his mind as he threw a wink at her.
        My god that smell!?! All thoughts of anything sexual fled from Linnet's mind. Ive got to get out of here!
        The tiny frame that tried to pass itself off as female darted for the door tipping a wine glass over in her hurried escape. It seemed that she wasn't the only one attempting to escape Leny's unsavory aroma. The crowd seemed to part before him and meld behind him. "Well god damn you to. Stuck up assholes, who are you to judge me? Live as long as I have before you wine about my hygiene!"
        Sharp pain warmed his right cheek quickly drawing his head back Leny gazed with disbelief at a delicately carved oak leaf newly adorned with a single drop of Leny's blood. The tiny leaf bowed its head apologetically and attempted to fade back into its brethren. Taking a cautious step back Leny paused to admire his handiwork. He had spent long hours on this door and the result was a very lively oak tree that seemed to carry a giggle through its leaves. Thoughts of his handiwork vanished as his annoyance reminded him of its existence.
        "Move." he growled. With uncharacteristic annoyance Leny's heavy leather boot adjusted the uncomplying doors attitude. Not bothering to illuminate his darkened office, Leny followed the well worn path to his liquor cabinet. Deft fingers quickly opened the intricate lock he had created. Not caring as to what, he grabbed a bottle of pain killer. He found himself needing something to dull the quiet ache he always carried. The sweet smelling liquid burned all the way down. A grin trespassed upon Leny's stoic features as he finished the bottle.
        "Same old Leny." A dim light struggled for life barely illuminating a desk straining under the labor of all the papers it was called upon to support. A face entered the tiny halo of light. Another bottle found its way to Leny's lips as he studied the man's well remembered features. Little had changed since Leny last saw him. His hair seemed to have gone into open rebellion however and his once thick mane of red hair now peaked on his forehead with thin strands barely reaching his shoulders. Eyes that had once glowed with a light of their own now hid from the world deep within their sockets. Lips that were once never seen without smile were now graced with tiny lines at each corner. A formerly immaculate goatee had been infiltrated by iron gray hairs. The screaming pain of dying alcohol didn't even register on Leny as he downed another bottle of unidentifiable liquid.
        The mutinous office door swung silently shut, and not to be outdone by its younger sibling the flourescent's pale fire burned from overhead and illuminated the cramped office. Leny spared a venomous glance towards the office door and his gaze fell upon Him. "He is exactly the same." thought Leny A good foot taller than Leny this man made everything small in comparison to him. A red handkerchief in the pocket of his neatly pressed gray business suit clashed with his syrupy black hair. Where once had been face there was now only a smooth wall betraying no sign of its former mortality. But Leny could tell he was grinning.
         A low groan came from the corner. Already knowing what they would find Leny's eyes turned their gaze onto a frail frame of a man. He looked almost unfinished as if some inexplicable thing had been left out when he was created. An impossibly skinny and emaciated hand snatched an ancient leather bound tome from its niche in the wall. With an audible crack jaws dislocated and the volume of irreplaceable knowledge vanished down the black hole that was this sad creatures mouth.
        They were all there. Loneliness, Greed, and sitting behind the desk, with his feet comfortably propped up on some papers Leny was sure were important, Death. "To what to do I owe the honor of your companionship?" These words were fired from Leny's lips and embedded themselves in the chest of the Bella Legosi look alike. "Leny" said the old man in his flawless paternal style as the object of his oration grabbed yet another bottle from his quickly vanishing alcohol reserve. Leny made a half hearted attempt at offering his unwelcomed companions a drink well knowing that they never drank anything but souls blood. "We came back to see if you had changed you mind." Halfway to his lips the bottle changed its direction.
        Sailing through the air with deadly intent the wine bottle wondered at this new turn in its reality. Flying was ok but he missed the comforting calmness of his spot on the shelf between Jack and Kahluah granted Jack got a little rowdy at times but other than that he was good neighbor.
        With a nonchalant flick of his wrist the man grounded the airborne bottle. Glass shattered and red whine cascaded down the black wall.
        "Well this just sucks!" thought the thousand fractured pieces that were once a content bottle on the shelf next to Jack and Kahluah.
        "Waste more good liquor that way." Grumbled Leny as he reached back into the cabinet.
        "You thought you could care again didn't you?" said a voice emanating somewhere from the faceless one. Unasked for images and thoughts of his new found companions leaped into Leny's mind . The annoying little speedster that showed so much potential yet didn't stop to think before jumping into ground zero. The shell within a shell that sought meaning in the edge of his adamantium ax. And the kindred spirit, he who had just found out the true meaning of eternity. To late Leny tried to shove these thoughts down. The faceless one laughed " You should have known better by now Leny. In the end I can always cause you pain It's so easy, A tweak here a twist there and suddenly your betrayed and destroyed by the very thing you thought you could protect. Eventually all will leave you Leny and then only I will remain." Leny extended his middle finger in the laughs direction and swallowed the other half of a bottle of Jack Daniels.
        "You know Leny you could always come back." The internal struggle of the old man was apparent as he uttered his next words. "We need you."
        "Fuck you and you morbid assholes! I left you behind for a reason and as far as I can see that reason hasn't changed." A barely perceptible sigh escaped centuries old lips. "As you wish it Leny." Fire kindled in the black orbs of the old man. "You know of course that one of these days I will have you." Leny quietly sipped the brandy he had retrieved and said in a voice that made the old man flinch. "That battle has yet to be fought."
        As if some silent command had been given the unwelcomed guests filed out the door and into the crowd. Screams of unimaginable pain erupted into the air. Leny looked on disgustedly as the odd entourage dragged eight tortured souls out of the bar behind them. A saddened chuckle escaped Leny's lips as the empty shells continued to dance they had no idea that they were now empty and meaningless it would take them years to come to this realization. The band kept on playing and the drinkers met oblivion as if the routine had not been altered in the slightest. "Good riddance." growled Leny as he slammed shut his office door.
        "Time to move on." Whenever they found him they made the lives around him miserable. "You think your own brothers would treat you better but NNnnooOOOoo. Damn I do need a shower." Leny crossed his office to the door of his private bath. As his hand grasped the ebony handle, his sensitive nose caught two familiar scents. Blood and Acrian red wine. A favorite vintage of his that he hadn't been able to find in centuries. Knowing what he would find Leny turned the handle and gently pushed the door open.
        Beautiful blank eyes stared at him from the corpse that had been propped up in his shower. Delicate intestines spilled out from once perfect flesh. He couldn't help but admire his eldest siblings handiwork. The stomach had been neatly sliced and this was where the smell of wine was emanating from. Leny crossed the few feet that separated him and the corpse. He recognized her as being the woman who had objected to his stench. He looked down at the now ruined blood stained lace patterns that still coyishly played at covering the cold chest that had once beat with life.
        Leny kneeled next to the corpse gently took the stomach in his strong hands and raised it to his lips. He stopped for an imperceptible instance and enjoyed the rich aroma and savouringly allowed the fluid past his lips. In one long and languorous swallow he finished the sweet beverage. Warmth flowed throughout Leny. A smile erased the worried look that had marred his handsome face sine he had entered his office. As if cradling a newborn baby Leny gathered the broken woman into his arms and gently placed her upon the Persian rug that graced the bathroom floor. For a few moments Leny was entranced by the flow of blood into the carpets ornate patterns.
        Blinking his eyes Leny remembered his original intent and stripped off the only article of clothing he owned. A pair of black leather pants soon found themselves in a crumpled pile in the corner. With two corpses as his audience Leny softly sang an old favorite of his as the warm water cascaded over his body. "Please allow me to introduce myself Im a man of wealth and taste. Ive been around for a long long time......" Steam rose in graceful tendrils and settled in spiral holding patterns on the tiled ceiling. A scarred hand grasped for the thick towel hanging just outside the shower. Quickly drying himself Leny picked up his worn and tattered pants. "I still need you old friend." Leny said dryly. Hands capable of shaping steel dusted and beat the pants until a small pile of grime littered the hard wooden floor. Leny raised the jeans to his nose for inspection and quickly decided that that had been a bad idea. Leny held the offensive apparel at arms length as a blue shimmering field for
   med around the former
        "Let me see." professionally scrutinizing his material the artist set about his work. A pale blue arc streamed from an extended finger as flesh grabbed flesh closing the imperfect incision in the organ of initial digestion. The complex puzzle of internal origami was soon completed. And a pale yellow glow suffused one palm as Leny closed the abdominal cavity. "Now for the challenge." Leny said softly to himself. The blood was easy. Human motor oil was always easy to remove. It was the intricate lace patterns that gave Leny qualms as he carefully and calmly rebuilt the beautiful dress.. The tattered edge of the silk dress stirred as if in a gentle breeze. It began to move with a life of its own. These slithering serpents of worms vomit sought out and swallowed its neighbors. Soon repairing all damage but a small hole that refused to comply with the rest of the damage. It had been intentionally left above and slightly to the left of the belly button. Like every true artist Leny would leave his signature.
        Empty eyes looked down upon an emptier shell.  He gazed for awhile on the now perfect features of the woman. Leny sat down behind the corpse and sat it in his lap as one would do a small child. Lips that had seen the dawn of death gently brushed the lips of a more recent victim. Blue light gently flowed over the stunningly beautiful body. Leny drew back and hid his smile behind millennia as the corpse took its first breath.
        Eyes flew open. Leny's powerful arms strained to restrain the wild woman's desperate attempts at escape. "You can stop anytime you'd like. Your perfectly safe now." Eyes showing no signs of realization looked down upon the body that owned them. Linnet's mind was in total chaos. She remembered running out of the door then terrible pain then nothing but a cold laugh that seemed older than time.
        Now she was being held by the very man she had tried to escape. "Who are you?" said a scared trembling voice that sounded nothing like her usually icy tone. "No one you need bother remember." It seemed as if stone talked. Expressionless eyes gazed down on her. "Can you stand?" said the statue. "Stand? Yes, escape!" acting on highly evolved self preservation instincts Linette resumed her struggles.
        "Humans!" The voice brought her back to reality. "Who are you?" she inquired urgently. "That again? You do know your repeating yourself?" Gentle hands helped her stand. Strong arms taught her feet to walk again.
        Leny opened the oak door that had caused him so much grief this evening and allowed the cacophony of human life to flood in and wash over the revived female. Reality seemed to return to reclaim its child. "What happened?" Said the stunned voice of the awe inspiring angel. "Nothing you need remember. Now go on over to the bar and ask for a special, tell them Leny sent you." Not knowing why she obeyed she nonetheless did. Upon telling the bartender Leny sent her to get a special she had the pleasure of seeing the bartenders eyes shoot up to hide in his hairline.
         Anxious eyes scanned the room until they saw the retreating figure of their employer. A nod and a wink were all the reassurance they needed. Reaching under the bar he pulled out a bottle of  liquid luminescent emeralds and poured the luminescent fluid into a crystal goblet.
        Leny escaped for the last time from the chaos of human emotion. Cool night air rushed through his recently washed hair sending a shiver down his spine. But this air met swift justice for its trespass as it was sucked into the artificial hell that Leny had called home for so long. Tired eyes glanced once again over a battered wooden sign. "Refuge" was all it said. Fitting no longer. Leny turned to face the street. Melodramatically extending his arms. "Come Matilda and carry you tired master away from it all." Absence became substance, nothing became something and before him idled a sleek black Harley-Davidson. Leather creaked against leather as Leny resumed his rightful place in the world. With a roar that drew a few glances from the near deaf patrons Matilda leaped into the air for destinations unknown.

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