North

Within the Northern vicinity of the city, the wealthy gather behind meticulously trimmed hedges and high-class architecture. The pristine streets are paved with stone and the storefronts are brightly lit and inviting - for the right clientele. In the North, every establishment is eager to cater to the rich and the wealthy. Many such places are used to the sometimes peculiar requests of the otherworldly but here there is little that money cannot buy - whether it happens to be illegal or merely involves looking the other way. Vampires and Dark Hunters are often found upon these Northern streets, their long lives often contributing to their sizable wealth which allows them the luxuries that the North provides.

What You'll Find Here

Eternity
The VooDoo Room
The Witchery

Eternity

The newly opened Eternity is an expensive fine dining restaurant nestled high upon the hills of the North - providing it a breathtaking view of the city below. The award-winning chefs at Eternity collaborate directly with local farmers and producers to source the freshest ingredients for its ever-changing menu. The staff at Eternity pride themselves on serving each customer's unique dietary needs - from the vampiric to the mortal races. Reservations are strongly encouraged as Eternity is frequently booked to capacity.

The VooDoo Room

Located in the heart of the North, the Voodoo Room is the spirits lover's destination of choice in Sacrosanct. The Voodoo room is a craft cocktail bar that aims to provide an eclectic and exotic atmosphere. Nestled among the William Morris wallpaper, gold, and wood, you will find a new kind of neighborhood cocktail bar. One where hospitality and skill work in concert. With intoxicating liquors and a voodoo vibe, the Voodoo room will keep you coming back for more. Guided by the mantra of providing a one of a kind, high-end experience, the Voodoo Room's mixologists meet the highest standards with a fantastically themed selection of cocktails and specials.

The Witchery

Dark, Gothic, and thoroughly theatrical, the Witchery is a place to indulge yourself with it's lavish, theatrical suites. Whatever room you choose, you'll find glamor, indulgence, and luxury. From the Vestry to the Library and the Armory, the suites of the Witchery are nothing short of sensually romantic. A stay at the Witchery is not complete without dining in the rich baroque surroundings of the original oak-paneled hotel or among the elegant candle-lit charms of the Secret Garden. Whether you stay or dine, The Witchery is an unforgettably magical experience.

tsunami


Posted on September 16, 2014 by Alexis Wilde
North


I shy away from most men as part of my traumatic past but for some reason, I don't feel threatened by the man sitting beside me. There's a mystery behind his eyes but when he speaks softly, I don't feel the urge to jerk back. I'm not a fan of the male gender, though who could blame me? I grew up in a pack of werefoxes and my father wasn't the nicest of men. He wasn't a good role model for a girl growing up. He made me dread the idea of ever taking a mate because I feared they would hurt me the way he did. Everyone in the pack knew about his temper and they knew that I was the victim of it on many occasions yet no one ever intervened. They all steered clear of our house and no one ever looked me in the eye. I always thought they were disgusted with me and my weakness.

Now I'm learning that a lot of men like to prey off of that weakness. It's like even humans can smell the fear. All I have to do is walk down a dark street alone and it brings them out of the shadows like fish bait. I guess its the way I hold myself. There's no pride in my step. My head isn't up and confidence doesn't shine like a star in my eyes. My head is usually ducked, my gaze watching where I walk though my eyes dart every so often to keep up with my surroundings. Being an animal half the time has its perks though. I can smell and hear you coming before anything. Of course, that doesn't do anything for me once I'm already in their line of sight, as in this case.

The man next to me has no reason to stay, no reason at all to help me. We have no ties and I don't even know him. I've never seen him before today and I don't go out of my way to talk to strangers. That's just asking for trouble. I keep to myself mostly. I was on my way to the cute little cafe on the east side of town but I wanted to explore so I took a scenic route through the north. I guess that was my mistake. Now I'm cornered in this bar and I don't even know where the other exit is. I can't help but watch the guy out of the corner of my eye. Even though he seems harmless, it's just instinct for me to know what a guy in the room is doing at all times, especially when they're within reaching distance. I watch the smirk etch across his lips and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. That smirk never means anything good.

His voice has a strong accent to it though I can't quite place it but the smell of alcohol rolls off his breath like a steam wagon. I resist the urge to pull back, nodding slowly instead. I don't speak, feeling that this should be enough of an answer. It's not like I do anything to draw their attention. They just seem to appear. He looks at me a moment longer before pulling his own gaze to the door where the men are still rapping away. I gulp. They're not leaving so they must be pretty determined. I shrivel a little into myself, pulling my hands into my lap as my shoulders hunch. My lips quiver a little and my pupils dilate with fear. I have no back up plan. Where's Tobi or Raven when I need them?

I see another man walking over to the door, probably to find out what's going on and my heart almost stops in my chest. This is it. He's going to let them in and they're going to take me. I feel like I should be melting into the floor right about now, absorbing into the floor boards of this dirty old bar. I guess this is what Raven meant by teaching me self defense. Then maybe I wouldn't feel so defenseless. I glance his way briefly as I hear him speak again. This time his words earn him a blink and a small scowl.

"What makes you think it didn't?"

I answer in return, my tone matter of fact. Trouble was my home for a long time and I just recently got away from it. My home was an angry father who hated my guts and blamed me every day for the death of my mother. My home was a pack who I stole food for and gave me nothing but cold stares or downright oblivion in return. My home was danger and chaos, where the most fun I had was running away into the woods and hiding from my father. Those were the brief moments of happiness I had and it was all I knew. I didn't know there was a way out until the day I ran too far and couldn't bring myself to return. That was the day I found Sacrosanct and Raven and learned what it is to live.

When the tire flies through the window, I whimper and pull my head down, shielding myself with my arms as I curl up into a ball on the stool. I would have been on the floor but I feel him draw it closer suddenly and I freeze. I can already feel my shield coming up, the power always seeming to come to me in my time of need. I feel the wavering feeling of calm that comes with it as it draws around my body and the only one who can reach through it so far is the guy next to me. He stands now but I note how awkward he seems on his feet. I peer at him from beneath my arms, wondering if he's had a little too much to drink. I've heard of these things happening and I've seen enough clumsy men on the street to know. My brow furrows in surprise as he speaks. My lips drawn down into another small frown as my hunched shoulders shrug.

"I told you, I don't know. They saw me walking and started following. I was hoping they'd go on by when I slipped in here."

I jump up with a gasp as the men start over though, noting the look in their eyes. They're intoxicated and angry, probably because it was a challenge for them to get to me. Now they want retribution and it looks like they don't mind going through this guy to get it. Without thinking, I reach out to grab his wrist and pull hard as I turn on my heels. Being quick is in a fox's nature and it doesn't leave me when I'm in human form. I run down the length of the bar, trying to drag him with me as I shoulder through the door into the back room of the bar. Shelves of liquor bottles line the walls but at the back is my salvation, an emergency escape door. I figure it must go back out into the alley. I yank on his arm, hoping to drag him through the door with me as I zip down the dark alley. My feet make no noise on the dirty concrete, only his own shoes making any kind of sound. I take a few turns, wanting to make sure we've lost them before I finally slow down and stop in front of a used book store. I let go of his arm and collapse back against the wall, my sides heaving as I gasp in big gulps of air. Throwing my head back, I look up at the evening sun before I realize that I'm not alone.

As if just noticing him for the first time, I gasp and jump back, my arms shivering at my sides and my fists clenched.

"I...I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to get hurt over me."

I stammer my words, already expecting the anger to cloud over his eyes too.




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