Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder (Open)

[Simi James]

Loud music blared from a set of tall, expensive speakers as a stunningly beautiful blond made her way in the back doors of the Wolf Den. Just off the French Quarter, the building was an upscale gentlemans club catering to the more influential men of New Orleans. Men literally waited for months to get a coveted private membership to the place and Sibeal Montgomery had been working there for the last few years. The owner, Derek Devoux, had found her on a downward slide and she had found some measure of peace and safety in the walls of his dwelling.

Owing her loyalty to the man, the young woman had hesitated to take him up on his job offer but it soon became apparent that he was right on cue about her looks drawing in the business. For a year, the blond danced for the men that came looking for beauty and had found that more than one merely ended up wanting a friendly ear attached to a pretty face. Her first fears of what the men might or might not want were quickly put aside when it also became apparent that Derek ran a tight ship and all his ladies were treated like queens. Relaxing, she had gradually began to make herself valueable to her new boss and discovered that she had a head for business and her gift cut off many a problem before it started. It had been a lucrative decision for both of them and Sibeal now did all the hiring and firing of the exotic dancers that passed through the doors.

Nodding to the bouncer that haunted the back door, Sibeal made her way towards the dressing rooms. Several other women were already there and she greeted them with a smile. Chatter passed several more moments as the pretty blond checked the dance schedule and realized she would have to take two sets since one of her regular girls had called in sick. Although she was the "co-manager" of the club next to Derek, she still did her own sets and felt it was a good example for the others.

As the talk surrounded her, Sibeal got ready for her dance and was prepared when the big black bouncer, Charlie, tapped on the door and told her she was up. Giving Lacy, one of the brunette dancers, a wink, she heard the first beats of her music ring out and she stepped out on stage. The cut off jean shorts, black leather chemise and black boots accented her long limbs and her long hair was held up delicately by silver pins. When she began to move to ACDC's ROCK AND ROLL TRAIN, she smiled at the audience and gave a flirtious grin.

[julian]

The place was a bit more upscale than Julian was used to, the kind of place that had bigshots throwing money at hot women, nothing wrong with that. If some corporate geeks wanted to throw their money around to admire a beautiful woman curves, though he knew the money could get them just as far as a wink or a smile. Now charm wasn’t something they could buy and that’s one thing he had to spare, there was a little black book back at the gym with a long list of women that would agree to that.

Sporting his usual bad boyish style with a tshirt, faded jeans, black boots and his trusty leather jacket, he scanned the place with his blue eyes as he entered and as usual heads turned to follow him as he moved with an imposing stance.

Today he was up for relaxing and having a good time, the gym was barely paying for itself, courtesy of a bunch of hunters that had been training in there lately and at least now his bank account wasn’t in the red. Besides he had a little money he had won fair and square in a game of cards…well, maybe not very fair, but that was just a minor detail.

Giving a quick wink to a waitress as he ordered a beer, he smirked as he saw her flush a bit and smile at him.

As ACDC’s Rock and Roll train started to play, his eyes moved up to the stage and what he saw there made him froze for a second. A hot blonde with a killer body, you don’t see a beauty like that every night, that was for sure. A sly smirk crept on his lips as he watched her dance, she was beyond sexy. The kind of woman that could make a guy sell his soul to the devil for just one night with her.

Moving to take a seat, he kept his eyes on her until a guy waving a couple of hundred bills got in his line of sight. Letting out a little chuckle before turning quickly to the waitress to get his beer and then back to the main attraction on the stage he sat with a laid back attitude. Julian watched the dancer’s reaction and then coolly raised his bottle to her in a salute, shooting a smug smirk before taking a swig of the beer in his hands.

[Trey Coulter]

Trey

Trey walked into the club his gait was smooth and easy. He had never been here before be he had been to plenty of places like it. He was dressed casually in a black button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and tucked into his jeans. He was wearing a black leather belt with a silver buckle and black combat style boots.

The club was dark and the music was loud. The sounds of AC/DC's Rock and Roll Train were already blasting from the speakers positioned all around the club. He stopped at the bar and order a shot of whiskey and a Budweiser in the bottle. When the bartender brought him his drinks he placed enough cash for the drinks and a decent tip on the bar. He picked up the shot and drank it down, setting the empty glass back on the bar. Then he grabbed his beer and started moving wanting to get closer to the stage.

There were quite a few people at the club tonight and as he walked he scanned the room out of habit. Looking for anyone or anything that might pose a threat. This place was rumored to cater to some supernatural clientele so he wanted to get a lay of the land. He spied an empty table fairly close to the stage next to a table where a dark haired man sat.

Heading toward the table he took a seat and started sipping on his beer. Finally looking up at the stage and the dancer that was entertaining the crowd. The woman was a looker that was for sure. He started looking from the bottom up at her legs that went on forever it seemed. Cut-off shorts, black top, and long blond hair that was in a pulled up into a loose bundle at the back of her head. At the moment she was facing the other way so he couldn't see her face, but looking at her finally shaped ass wasn't going to get any complaints out of him.

He took another long pull of his beer and watched the show. Listening to the music and keeping his eye on the lovely dancer on stage. When she finally maneuvered herself around so that he could see her face he blinked rapidly a few times. Making sure he wasn't seeing things he closed his eyes and shook his head. When he opened them again there was no doubt. He definitely knew that girl up there.

[Simi James]

As the lyrics of the song started in, Sibeal stepped the pole and began her routine. Closing her eyes, she ignored the eyes of the crowd that was no doubt watching her moves and simply moved to the music. While she wasn't real thrilled about taking off her clothing for a living, it paid the bills well and its served her other purposes too. There was nothing like liquor and a pretty face to loosen a man's lips. She had found more information out here than any other place in New Orleans.

One heart angel
One cool devil
Your mind on the fantasy
Livin on the ecstasy
Give it all, give it,
Give it what you got
Come on give it all a lot
Pick it up move it
Give it to the spot
Your mind on fantasy
Livin on ecstasy

Runaway Train
Running right off the track
Runaway Train
Running right off the track
Runaway Train
Running right off the track
Yeah the Runaway Train
Running right off the track"

Seeing several faces in the shadows, the pretty blond turned and presented her back as she pulled the pins from her hair and let her long golden locks tumble down her spine. Giving a flirtaous smile over her shoulder, she eased off her shirt and let it drift down her arms and off on to the side of the stage. Giving the men a nice view of her hind end, she made a show of wiggling the jean shorts down her long, slim legs as the song played on. Article by article, she lost the rest of her covering except for a black lace thong.

"One hot ringin' bell
Old school rebel
A ten for the revelry
Diamond of the agency
Shake it, Shake it
Take it to the spot
You know she make it really hot
Get it on, get it up
Come on give it all you got
Your mind on fantasy
Livin on the ecstasy

Runaway Train
Running right off the track
Yeah the Runaway Train yeah
Running right off the track
On the Runaway Train
Running right off the track
Runaway Train
Running right off the track"

By the time the final notes of the song rang out, Sibeal knew she had the mens attention and she noticed a tall, broad shouldered gentleman approaching the stage. His eyes fairly glowed and she forced herself to meet his gaze head on.

Pasting on a smile, she moved as close as she dared but not before making sure a bouncer was nearby. Although she danced to make a living, the pretty blond hid a huge, shattering secret that effected how she reacted to men. Her job, in fact, was a challenge to herself to prove that she was still capable of handling herself even when faced with her deepest fears. Sibeal was, quite simply, unable to live with herself if she couldn't come to terms with the very devil that tormented her.

"Hello." said the stranger

Leaning down to pluck the money he was waving at her from his fingertips, Sibeal gave him a beaming smile and a wink.

"Thanks, handsome! Glad to see I improved your night a bit!" she said, tilting her head a bit as she reached for her shirt and slide into it. "I'll be back in a bit. Maybe you can buy me a drink."

Giving him a smile to show her appreciation, Sibeal caught sight of another figure watching her and immediately sent her senses out to try to get a feel for his thoughts. His face was half hid in the shadows of the club and she could barely make out any of his face. He was dark and dangerous and definitely the type of man that heated her blood... If her blood heated, that was. Which, she NEVER let that happen!

Turning her observations inward, the blond rose to her feet and started to pick up the rest of her clothing. Her movements where graceful and lent a certain innocence to her as thoughts flashed rapidly through her sharp mind. The man who had given her money was definitely some sort of Supernatural and she could tell that from the mass of swarming thoughts and emotions in his brain. The other man... The other man gave her .. NOTHING!

Frowning, Sibeal shot a glance at the hidden man but was incredulous when she couldn't even get a faint tap on his thoughts. It shook her to her core and made her extremely nervous. This had NEVER happened to her before! He was like a blank slate! So shook by this, the young woman missed the other man who was staring at her in shock and hurried back into the dressing room to slip into a robe.

With trembling limbs, Sibeal quickly pulled on a satin chemise and shorts before heading back out into the main part of the bar. The other girls congrads and good jobs were virtually ignored and fell silent as they took in their managers expression. Deciding something had happened, they all hushed as they watched her walk out.

Searching out the stranger, she started towards him only to pull up short as her gaze fell upon another face. For a long moment, she simply stared and then all color left her face. A man who she had long thought dead sat before her and she thought she was seeing a ghost.

"TREY!" she gasped before fainting for the first time in her life. As the darkness rushed in, she felt herself slumping towards the floor and her last thought was . "OH HELL... THIS IS GOING TO BE SOME NIGHT!"

[Trey Coulter]

Trey

Trey sat staring at the woman on the stage with his mouth hanging open. Finally getting past the initial shock of seeing her again after all this time he took another drink of his beer. Then a smirk spread across his face as he thought for a minute. Sibeal. Strange to see her here. He wondered if she would remember him. What her reaction would be. He had been gone so long, he knew that his family was told he was dead but he wondered if Sibeal had heard the same thing.

The music ended and Trey watched as she took some money from an admirer and then exited to the backstage dressing rooms. He watched the space where she had disappeared into, wondering if she was going to come back out front or not. After a few minutes he spotted her. Dressed in a slinky skimpy tank top type shirt and shorts. She came out with a dazed kind of look on her face. At first Trey thought it was because of him. Then he realized that she had set her eyes upon the dark haired man sitting next to him.

As she started to walk in their direction Trey took a brief look at the man then turned to look at Sibeal again. He watched as she continued moving toward them and saw her eyes shift. His eyes met her gaze and she suddenly stopped walking. Her expression changed drastically, a look of shock falling across it. Then suddenly she was on the floor.

"Shit."

Trey mutter. Seems that she HAD been told he was dead. Trey had an affect on women sometimes but he knew this wasn't from his boyish charm. She had recognized him and fainted dead away.

Quickly Trey got up from his seat and moved over toward her. He knelt down on the ground next to her. He scanned the area and spoke out.

"Would someone get some water or something!"

Turning his attention back to Sibeal he took the palm of his hand and softly patted her face. With his other hand he gently shook her shoulder.

"Come on Sib. You with me here girl? Wake up... Come on."

He had checked that she was still breathing and had a pulse. Sure that she had just fainted from the shock of seeing him alive and well. He was still worried. Keeping his eyes focused on hers to watch for any signs she was coming back around.

[julian]

His eyes followed appreciatively the curves of the dancer on the stage, now that was what Julian would call hot, scratch that, that woman was beyond hot. With legs that looked like they went on forever and everything else that seemed crafted to drive a man insane, a sexy devil that could only mean trouble. Someone like that had to have some big and jealous boyfriend somewhere, luckily JB wasn’t the jealous sort.

Raising the beer bottle once more to his lips, he took a long swig of the golden liquid. The dancer in the stage was looking straight at him as if in deep though, off course he was one to catch a woman’s attention, but the way she looked at him…there was something slightly off about it. And then she bolted out of the stage, what brought a frown to his forehead. Did she know him from somewhere? No, he doubted he would forget a woman like her. Ok…that was weird.

What could make her act like that…? Ah hell, he hoped she wasn’t one of those supernatural evil freaks and recognized him as a hunter. It would be a shame to have to remove that beautiful head of hers from that amazing body.

Glancing momentarily to his left, he was surprised by the sight of a familiar face. Trey something…yeah, he had seen the guy back at the gym before. They didn’t talk much and barely knew each other. But then the dancer that had just been on the stage came his way and Julian could see her going pale before fainting. They knew each other? What the hell was going on there? And mostly important…why should he get involved when Trey seemed to have everything under control? …Well, because the blondie was any guy’s fantasy? Yeah, that was an excuse he could use. If people was to know that it was because he was worried about seeing her faint like that, people might think he was nice…and he could as well kiss his bad boy reputation goodbye.

Rushing over for to their side, he knelled next to the pair and looked between the two of them. “I guess you know each other?” he asked Trey, reaching out as the waitress came back with a glass of water and handled it for him. Placing his free hand underneath the blonde woman’s head, he lifted her slightly. “Are you with us?” he asked and waited to see if she would open her eyes before offering her the glass of water.

[Simi James]

As conciousness came back, Sibeal was aware of voices around her and someone talking to her. Her long lashes fluttered and then opened as she came too and the first face she saw was the darkly handsome stranger. Close second though, was the face that has scared the devil out of her. Gasping, the blond shot up, knocking the glass flying and screeched.

"YOUR DEAD!!! YOU SON OF A BITCH!! YOUR DEAD!! WHAT KIND OF GAME IS THIS?? SOMEONE GET ME SOME HOLY WATER!!" she shouted before launching herself at him and sending them both sprawling on the floor with her on top of him. As they hit, Sibeal thought frantically of what kind of being could take her friends form but was suddenly hit by a whirl of thoughts from the man underneath her.

"What the...... God Damn it.... Shes nuts...."

Dropping the hand she had been about to clobber him with, the blond stared down at Trey and her mouth dropped open.

"Trey??? Oh my god!!! Is that really you??"

Then, realizing how this probably appeared, she bolted upright and off him. Casting a look around, she hoped Derek wouldn't kill her for attacking one of his legit clients but then shrugged away the worry. Derek would understand her reaction more than anyone. New Orleans was a highly supersicious city and almost everyone believe in the supernatural. The fact her boss was a shapeshifter was all for the better.

Registering the other man, Sibeal brushed a lock of wet hair from her face and sent him a glance. Silence still. She couldn't read anything coming off him and that scared her again. Trembling a bit, she bit her lip and then turned back to Trey. Offering him her hand, she said.

"Oh God... I'm sorry, Trey... But... Last I heard.. you were dead.. I was afraid.... Well, you know what I mean....."

Glancing between the men, she continued.

"Please, let me make it up to you both... I'll buy you a drink at the bar...."

[Trey Coulter]

Trey

As Trey tried to get Sibeal to come around and wake up, the dark haired man he had been sitting next to had come over to see if he could help as well. Getting a closer look at the man he realized he looked familiar, Trey knew him from somewhere. He was still thinking about where he knew the guy from when the man asked Trey if he knew Sibeal.

"Yeah, I know here. We're old friends. Long story actually. You look familiar too. I know you don't I? Uh... Julian right? The gym? You're the owner or something right?"

Trey was asking the man questions while still trying to get Sibeal to come around. While they were talking the man, Julian, propped up Sibeal's head and grabbed the glass of water that a waitress had brought over.

Trey watched as Sibeal's eyes blinked open. He could see her trying to focus and get her wits about her when suddenly she sprang to life. The glass of water went flying, splattering all over Trey. He didn't have time to react before she started yelling about him being dead. The next thing he knew, she had tackled him to the ground. He cringed and prepared himself to take a pummeling from the feisty blond. Scrunching up his eyes and putting his arms up to protect his face.

Just as quickly as she had jumped on him she stopped and stood up. The shock was evident as she kept asking if it was him and started to apologize profusely.

"Yeah, yeah... It's me Sibeal. I'm sorry. It's a long story."

Trey spoke to her as he got up and dusted himself off. Sighing heavily after noticing that everyone in the club was looking in their direction. Sibeal offered to make it up by buying him a drink and he nodded in thanks.

"Sure, no problem. I can try to explain a little about what happened if you got time to catch up."

Trey looked over at Julian with a little smirk on his face. Giving a little shrug he started walking toward the bar.

[julian]

As the glass of water was knocked and shattered into the ground a few good inches away from him, Julian barely managed to avoid falling on his ass when the dancer jumped over the other man. She was really…something, sexy as hell and moved like a wildcat…even though she appeared to be somewhat crazy.

Pushing himself up, he instinctively took a few steps back and watched in amazement as she pinned Trey down on the floor. Tilting his head, he watched the scene for a moment trying to figure out what was going on. The fact she screamed he was dead and asked for holy water…if Julian hadn’t been exposed to the supernatural world some time ago he would believe she was utterly insane, but now…he had no idea. Trey certainly wasn’t a ghost, as far as he knew you can’t pin a ghost to the floor. He heard about skinwalkers though, was the guy one of them?

But just as suddenly as she had lunged at the guy, she moved away and apologized. Julian’s brow furrowed, it was hard to make any sense of what was going on. Certainly there was some important part of the puzzle he was missing.

And then when she offered a drink he perked up slightly. So alright, a little insanity wasn’t enough to drive him away from a beauty like her it seemed. He simply nodded before sending her a smile and waited until she turned to head for the bar.

When she took a step towards the bar, he rubbed his jaw and turned his gaze to Trey. Speaking in a whisper, he allowed a sly smirk to show on his features. “Dude, you just got your ass kicked by a girl!”

[Simi James]

With her mind in a whirl, Sibeal tried to digest the fact the Trey was still alive and that there was now another weakness in her defenses with the other gentleman. Her first instinct was to flee from the one and to hug the other. So many confusing emotions caused her head to ache and her hard wrought defenses to tremble.

Deciding that a drink would indeed be good, she spun on her heel. Walking with an unconcious, beckoning sway to her hips that came naturally when she was at work, the slender blond made her way towards the bar and struggled to come to terms with things. Trey's appearance was a happy thing, right? After all, he was one of her best friends twin and she had cried when she had heard he'd been killed. The fact that he was alive and kicking should be a blessing.. As soon as he explained why he'd been missing for damned near 3 years. No, most of her unrest was from the other man accompanying them.

The tall, dark and sinfully good looking gentleman that had DANGER spelled out in capital letters ALL over him. Those things were actually a chalk AGAINST him in Sibeals book. Never before had she reacted so physically to a man and it scared the living hell out of her.. The fact that she couldn't read him at all was another killer. It meant she'd always have to be on her toes with him and she'd never know if danger was heading her way from him.

Shuddering a bit at that thought, the blonde sent a look around for her boss and spotted him surveying the club. Relaxing a bit, she then turned to the gentleman and waved to the bartender.

"Kyrian... Please give these gentleman whatever they like.. This rounds on me." she sang out above the racket of the club.

Leaning back against the cool wooden counter, Sibeal lounged with graceful ease and waited for the drinks to be sat in front of them. She could hear the outrage in Trey's mind at the dark haired man's comment and hide a smirk. Kyrian slid her a whiskey on the rocks and she sipped it as she studied her two companions. She has half suprised the dark haired one was still hanging about. Trey would know and understand her reaction but surely she had seemed a bit of a loose cannon to the other. Most people around here thought she was a bit touched in the head and gave her a wide berth when it came to things like the scene out there. The fact that he had followed them to the bar made her highly suspitious and her contrary nature kicked in. Pasting on a seductive smile, she leaned forward and batted her long, lush lashes at the two handsome gentleman.

"So... boys..... Why don't you both tell me what brought you in here tonight?" she said, turning on the husky, sultry note that had become her first line of defense.

[Trey Coulter]

Trey

As Trey made his way to the bar he heard Julian whisper to him.

“Dude, you just got your ass kicked by a girl!”

Trey turned to look at him. Shaking his head and smirking.

"I did not, she's a friend. I couldn't hit her man. Besides, she didn't even hit me."

Turning forward again he kept moving toward the bar. Leaning up against it when he go there.

After a minute he pulled himself up onto a bar stool next to Sibeal. She had asked the bartender to give them anything they wanted so he ordered a Jack Daniels on the rocks in a tall glass. A very tall glass. Taking a very long pull on his whiskey he drained almost half the glass before he turned and faced Sibeal.

"So, Sib... How are you? What have you been up to for the last three years?"

Trey grinned stupidly as he looked at her. Not sure how to start. It's not like he hadn't had to explain this before, but he never did quite know where to start. What do you say to people who have thought you've been dead for three years?

[julian]

Still smirking from the look on Trey’s face at his comment and reply, Julian rolled his eyes. “Sure dude, if you say so…” Off course he didn’t sound convinced at all, and wasn’t able to hide that smirk on his features. It was too amusing not to. However his gaze drifted towards the blonde and the hypnotizing sway of her hips. Everything about that woman seemed designed to make a man lose his mind, not that it would happen with Julian though, but the way she moved was really something that captured his undivided attention.

Once they had reached the bar, he waited for the bartended to approach him and ordered a shot of straight up whiskey. It would be rude to refuse a free drink after all.

Looking at the pair, Jules was hardly able to hide his curiosity. He knew Trey was a hunter, but had no idea about the blondie…how did he call her again? Sib?

“Alright, just so that I don’t feel completely lost, you guys mind explaining this story of returning from the dead?” he asked them before taking a swig of his drink.

[Simi James]

Seeing that her seduction evidently had no effect on these two men at all, Sibeal frowned and gave them both a look. A small pout played around her lips as she gazed at them and then turned wide blue eyes upon Trey.

"Oh... this and that. You know me.... Nana died about 3 years ago and I've been working here since I turned 21. It pays the bills and allows me a bit of breathing room. Things going on around here are pretty much the same night after night, if you get my drift. I tried working out in the public but it was so.... overwelming that when Derek offered me this job.... I took it."

Giving a slight shrug of her shoulders that was meant to hide the very real pain that surfaced briefly in her eyes, the young dancer continued.

"There really wasn't anything left for me at home.... with Galen dead and then Nana......Just to many memories there. Not to mention the fact that the neighborhood all thinks I shot Galen myself. "

Raising her tumbler to her lips, she tossed back the rest of the whiskey and tried to look indifferent to the pain. The past was the past and there wasn't any changing it so why dwell on it?

"and like the gentleman here says....I think you have a more interesting story. How is it that you aren't dead? I haven't talked to Jess in months although she is due by any time. I got a phone message a week or two ago that said she had something to tell me."

[Trey Coulter]

Trey

Trey sat and sipped on his beer while he listened to the other two talk. Mostly Sibeal talked about losing her brother, which Trey already knew about and then losing her grandmother, which Trey had not known about. That's how she had ended up were here at the club. When she finished the focus turned back to Trey. Both Julian and Sibeal curious about his mysterious rising from the dead.

"Uh... Well about that.I never was actually dead. I ended up in a car accident and had amnesia for nearly three years. I couldn't remember anything. Finally thing started coming back slowly, but I still couldn't remember my family or anything. Then a few months back everything fell back into place. I started looking for Jess then. Found her. She freaked out so I left for awhile to give her some space and time to sort it out. I haven't heard from her lately. That's about it."

Trey took another drink of his whiskey. Not sure what else he wanted to say. Giving them the Reader's Digest version seemed the best way to go. Especially here and now. He didn't want to go through everything else that had happened to lead up to it. Trey had just met Julian recently and as far as Sibeal was concerned, he wasn't sure what she already knew. Obviously she had been told he was dead so she knew something. He'd have to talk to her later about that.

[julian]

Julian listened to Sib speak. From what he could gather, it appeared her grandmother had died as someone named Galen, which he had no idea who that one was. Off course it had to be making a lot more sense to Trey since he already knew the blonde. His instincts developed from hunting still made him believe that might be something off to the woman, or maybe she was just a little bit out of her rocker? The way she acted earlier when she stared at him on the stage had nothing to do with Trey. Figures, someone sinfully hot like her had to have some issue, not that it made her seem even a bit less attractive however.

And then it was apparently Trey’s turn to speak. A car accident and amnesia, pretty heavy stuff and Julian had no idea how it should be to some day wake up and have all his memories wiped out. Be forced to restart everything from scratch, that ought to be quite a shock.

Taking another swig of the drink on his hands, looking between the pair and considering what he heard from them. So alright, mainly his eyes focused on the dancer, but that was unfair to expect something different. And then he noticed the pair was looking at him, expecting him to say something.

“Oh, me?” he placed his glass down on the counter, “I just came here to watch the show.”

Trey definitely knew Julian was a hunter, it was a hard thing to keep under wraps when his gym was a training ground for hunters, but he didn’t knew the girl, so he decided to keep this little detail to himself for now. After all, it wasn’t particularly something you advertise.