The two of them set off to find the exit relatively quickly and made it back outside. Upon their exit, the sun momentarily blinded them coming out of the darker atmosphere within the building. The sidewalks weren't terribly busy but had a few passerbys walking along them.
Even with Nemia being covered in dried blood and Milli still trickling blood from the back of her head, not a soul took notice that walked past. Everyone knew what building this was, as well as the other C.J.L.S. buildings scattered around the city. So if they were human, they turned a blind eye to whatever came and went from within. Sticking to their human ways of knowing the otherworldly exists and dwells with them, but choosing to ignore their presence if they can help it.
Though not everyone in the vicinity turned a blind eye. Sebastian was hoping out of the drivers seat, attempting to rush around but Dorian had beat him to opening the door already. Bolting out of the backseat of the car and rushing up the stairs to meet them.
"Nemia, what the hell happened in there?" The worry sticking to every word as he looked her over, his hands immediately resting on either side of her shoulders. This close Nemia could see more than just worry, but also a rage consuming him in the depths of his eyes.
"There was a small... Hiccup... It's settled now. Julianos is on his way by now to pick up the oaf that decided it wise to test my abilities." She replied earnestly, knowing the answer was all too vague. But she was still unsure about what she'd uncovered thanks to Bryson.
It wasn't enough for Dorian, which she had a feeling was going to be the case. "A small hiccup? You're covered in blood Nemia. Seriously, what in the hell happened in there and who is fucking responsible for this?!" He roared and started to move past Nemia, trying to barge his way inside. Obviously seething in his own anger now, and wanted to put his hands on the person who was to blame for her current state.
Nemia caught his arm and Milli squeaked, taking a step or two down. "No Dorian, I want him alive. His name is Bryson... Grosu I think he said. Either way, I need him alive." Dorian met Nemia's eyes with a glare that was anything but satisfied. "He knows about Malcolm. About Kyth.... About... Me.. the prophecy." Narrowing her eyes. "The one you have yet to mention to me..."
Dorian averted his gaze from hers for a moment, a shamefulness creeping into his eyes. "I'm-"
"He stays alive at Vârcolaci Vault until I say otherwise. If he truly is loyal to the mark, then he can prove useful. Maybe even use him as a way to find Malcolm later on."
Snapping his gaze back to hers, he seemed to search for a moment. Seemingly looking for a give and turning up empty handed. His face scrunched with irritation. "Fine. He lives. For now." He bit, throwing an arm around Nemia's shoulder possessively. Effectively turning them to face towards the cobbled street. "The next person to hurt you though is worse than dead." He growled low in warning. Some passerbys jumping and sprinting on down the street at the sound.
Nemia laughed softly and leaned into his side. "Okay, calm down. Big boy." She teased, patting his chest with her right hand before pulling away. Time for formal introductions.
"This, is Millacent Doghaill. Or Milli for short." She motioned her hand to Milli who was two steps down from them, wiggling her fingers in a wave and giving a cheerful smile. Though there was still a hint of caution in her eyes bleeding from everything she'd seen and gone through in just the past few minutes.
Nemia smiled down at Milli with reassurance. "Milli, this is King Dorian Volkov." Nemia motioned to Dorian then, turning her eyes back onto him. In which he smiled in a way that made Nemia's heart flutter as he made a small bow to Milli in greeting.
Clearing her throat to work out the butterflies, she started. "Now that y'all two are formally introduced. Milli has chosen to come along now, rather than later. No family, no ties. Except...." Nemia paused, an apologetic smile teasing her lips now.
"Except what, Nemia?" Dorian pressed, exasperation lacing his tone as he turned his head slightly back and to the side. Looking at her with a sideways stare.
"Well... She has a dog and.." Nemia attempted to finish but was again interrupted.
"Nemia...." Dorian started, his face shifted back to look more directly at her again. His chin jutting out a bit more though, sliding his gaze down his nose.
"And I figured there's so much open space in the yard." Changing coarse with her rudimentary logic.
"God's..." Dorian muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"So I told her we would keep him until she was ready." She cheesed up at him.
Sighing, he ran his fingers through his hair. "So not only a newborn, but a dog too?" He stared up at the sky for a moment and when he looked back down at Nemia, she stuck her bottom lip out and looked up at him through her lashes. Attempting the puppy dog look.
"You are impossible to say no to." He mumbled softly, his shoulders sagging in his defeat. Turning her eyes on Milli, she could see the pleading look in her eyes as well as a quiet look of hurt from the newborn comment.
Though Dorian seemed to turn his attention on Milli as well and sighed. "Let Sebastian know where the location is. We'll go get your dog."
Milli's eyes brightened and she bounced up onto her toes. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" She exclaimed happily, running up the couple stairs to swiftly hug them both before sprinting back down towarss Sebastian. Nemia could see the joy Milli was exuding as she spoke to him.
Then, Dorian turned on Nemia. His hand coming up to use his fingers, lifting her chin up to meet his gaze above herself. "No more stops after this. There is only so much daylight left and I really want to be home by nightfall." His voice had dropped low and Nemia's skin was swept across with chills.
She nodded her head slightly, staring into the icy blue depths of his eyes. 'Mine.' Adira brushed across her mind and Nemia swallowed hard. "No more stops." She whispered hoarsely.
"Good." He mumbled, quickly kissing her forehead before letting his hand drop from her chin. "Let's get going then, shall we?" Chuckling, he put his arm back around Nemia's shoulder and pulled her along with him down the stairs.
Nemia was flustered, but kept herself resolved on the surface for the time being. Loading up, Nemia and Dorian sat on the furthest back seat and Milli took place in the seat across from them.
They kept the ride relatively quiet, giving Nemia time to think more about what Bryson had uncovered for her own well of knowledge. She circled the parts of the prophecy she could remember that Bryson had told her.
None of it made sense to her. Hells, she didn't make sense to her anymore. Nemia felt as if she was slipping further and further away from the girl she had started as. Figuring out if that was a good thing or a bad thing however, that was the real question.
"We're here." Milli exclaimed, pulling Nemia out of her thoughts.
Nemia glanced out of the window to see a old styled cottage that was overgrown with ivy blanketing the outside of the house. Glancing around the other window showed the countryside fields with the forest line in the distant that crept up the flat topped mountain that held Bran Castle.
"I didn't realize you lived outside of the city." Nemia iterated aloud, looking back over to Milli.
"Well, you can't have a shepherd as big as my Grivei is in the city. Well, technically you can but it's just unfair to keep big dogs couped up in tiny apartments or yards." The answer Milli provided was rather reasonable and all the more clear as a large white dog with a few black patches slammed its paws against the window closest to Nemia. Barking loudly though was muted slightly from inside the closed off car.
Milli immediately opened the door, clambering out as she called Grivei. "Hey Grivei, hey. Yes I'm home. I'm back. I know it." She snuggled his face and continued talking. His large tail swishing back and forth, obviously happy his owner was back home.
Nemia climbed out of the car next, wanting to get an unobstructed view of the canine. Which apparently meant she became the new fixation for the pooch. Hopping over at her, his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
She reached out her hand cautiously, talking softly. "Well hello there, Grivei. Nice to meet you."
He stopped a foot away from her hand, sniffing at the air around her. His tail stopped wagging for a moment and the dog seemed to stare at her... soul? That's what it felt like at least, then he bent his head down as if he was bowing to her. 'Well that's weird.' She thought to herself, then the thought was no longer relevant as Grivei closed their distance and rose on his back legs. Putting his front legs onto Nemia's shoulders and started licking her across the face.
"Oof." She grunted. If she was an unsuspecting human, not prepared at all, she would have been on the ground from the dogs weight. Definitely large.
"Hey, no. No Grivei, down " Milli called, running over to pull her dog down. Which he listened almost instantly and was back down on all fours, his tail swishing side to side. Milli started to giggle then, watching as Nemia wiped the slober from her face. "Well, looks like you two will be fast friends. Let me run in and grab my go bag, give me two minutes."
"Alright, go on." Nemia smiled, leaning over to scratch the top of Grivei's head. "I think I got him under control." She laughed.
With that, Milli disappeared inside as Nemia got more acquainted with the dog. Dorian poked his head out, easing himself into the dogs presence. He didn't seem to mind though.
Each animal was different in how they would react with supernatural creatures. Most cats hated the wolf variants and dogs typically hated cat related species. Like Sebastian who was staying in the driver's seat and hadn't moved an inch. Other species altogether can cause a variety of reactions within the animals. But no one animal is the same as the next so it's always touch and go.
Exactly two minutes later, Milli was walking back out of her cottage carrying a duffle bag stuffed full of whatever it was she chose to bring along. She was also dragging fifty pounds bag of dogfood which Dorian quickly rushed over and grabbed.
"Thanks." Milli mumbled, out of breath.
"No problem." Dorian brushed off the thanks, throwing the bag over his shoulder with ease.
They loaded the food and duffle bag into the trunk and then loaded back into the car. All still in the same position, aside from the addition of Grivei who took up most of the room next to Milli. Laying his head in her lap with a tired sigh.
"We should make it home before dusk." Sebastian called out from the front before taking off back down the road they had come.