Among the Enemy [Equinox]

[misha arden nichols]

“

There was something oddly thrilling about mingling so boldly among the members of the Order and the Children of the Moon. 

Misha wasn't one for covert operations or undercover missions, which they supposed was what made this event even more alluring. He could walk among the enemy, and they were none the wiser. They had been led like lambs to the slaughter, and yet they drank and were merry without any idea of what was to come. Misha could almost ignore the stench of so many werewolves in one place, the high of knowing what was to come was so strong.

The party had been in full swing by the time Misha arrived, and they sank into the crowd without issue. The mask he had chosen obscured their features, and they hadn't interacted with enough of the Order or Children (enough of the ones still alive, anyway) to risk being recognized, even without the mask. If Misha still had a heartbeat, they were sure it would have been fluttering with excitement and bloodlust as he made a circuit through the party.

A cup of the non-spiked punch found its way into Misha's hand, and for a while they made slow circuits through the room. It would be so easy to take one of them out, right then and there. Maybe the blonde part-veela in the green dress, or the werewolf that practically towered over Misha. It would be so easy. They would never see it coming, and even the acrid taste of werewolf blood would be delicious. 

But Misha would wait. He was a good soldier, and he had his orders.

Ivan seemed to be taking his time, and the longer Misha had to wait, the more impatient they became. At last, a familiar scent and a less-familiar figure caught his attention. Though they shared a coven, Misha wasn't sure they had ever actually had a conversation with Senhora Equinox before. He supposed that would change tonight.

"Are we having fun yet this evening?" Misha couldn't help the way his lips curled into a cruel smile at the words. Soon, the real fun would begin. But for now, there was fun enough in watching the unsuspecting Order members and Children as they awaited their deaths. 

senhora solstice equinox ● december 24, 2022 ● 375 words ● n/a

MISHA ARDEN
Nichols★

dandy ♫

[senhora solstice equinox]

you are who you were meant to be

❝

If there was a party, Equinox was in attendance. Especially this party. The drag queen was not the most active or avid of Death’s followers, but they were all too happy to be part of the drama that was soon to unfold. From a dramatic standpoint, tonight would be the perfect night. It was too delicious to avoid. From a more practical standpoint, a career-focused one, she knew that many of those who were a fan of her music and performances would no longer think that after tonight.

To hell with them all.

Equinox’s costume, as expected, was nothing short of flamboyant. Even if she had worn a mask - which she didn’t - the sole drag queen knew she would be unmistakable.

So they had flitted about the room, smiling for photographs, signing little trinkets. Equinox was far from the only celebrity in the room, but she still lapped up the attention like a kitten did with milk. If only because they knew that the eager excitement in the atmosphere was going to soon shift to chaos, fear, and violence.

Things that were skills of Equinox, but that sort of attention wasn’t what they thrived on.

Are we having fun yet this evening?

Misha Nichols had asked the question. The vampire was a member of Eleanor’s coven, just the same as Equinox was, but the drag queen’s membership was more out of convenience than necessity. The coven provided a steady food source without the need to constantly hunt. Blood banks, victims brought in by others. There was never a shortage of food.

But for Misha, it seemed like the coven membership went deeper. Equinox had heard on several occasions their coven leader call the vampire terms of endearment, including calling herself his stepmother. From there, it seemed like a simple deduction. Eleanor hardly hid the things she had done in her life. Clearly, she had been involved with Misha’s father at some point.

And, to the surprise of absolutely no one, she had come out on top of that involvement.

But Equinox was not one to judge. Well, she was, but she truly didn’t care all too much about that particular situation.

“Oh, honey, I am the fun this evening,” Equinox purred in response. “For now, of course.”

misha arden nichols ● outfit ● 377

MADE BY MIZO

[misha arden nichols]

“

Equinox was not someone Misha knew much about, besides the obvious. She seemed to view their membership in the coven as a matter of course, which Misha had to admit grated on his nerves some. The coven, first under Khun Mae and then under their own sire, had become his family over the past decades, and he couldn't imagine not belonging to something like the coven. Equinox stood in stark contrast to the life Misha knew now, and it puzzled them to think about that. 

"Oh, honey, I am the fun this evening, for now, of course."

A smirk ghosted across Misha's face, though it was likely lost behind his mask. The masquerade was a wonderful idea, letting the Kindred and Followers lurk, undetected, among the Order members and Children of the Moon. But Misha had found he detested the mask, and wanted nothing more than to pull it off and get things started. If they wouldn't have likely been recognized if he took off their mask, they probably would have already discarded it.

The waiting was the hardest part, but Misha knew it would all be worth it in the end. 

"You do like to capture attention, don't you?" They replied, tossing back the last of his drink. Misha's eyes scanned the crowd before them one last time before turning their full attention to Equinox. "Must be fun, surrounded by so many adoring fans." Mirth danced in their words at that. Adoring fans was one term for the people that surrounded them. There was also traitors, mutts, unsuspecting imbeciles. Soon, though, the only word that would describe them would be defeated. 

senhora solstice equinox ● december 24, 2022 ● 434 words ● n/a

MISHA ARDEN
Nichols★

dandy ♫

[senhora solstice equinox]

you are who you were meant to be

❝

You do like to capture attention, don’t you?

Equinox chuckled, amused by the question. She thrived on attention, and so she demanded it. It was her livelihood now, as a performer. Parties like these were intoxicating in a way that was just as immortal as the pair of vampires because it fed those demands.

Must be fun, surrounded by so many adoring fans.

The drag queen hummed her agreement, gaze sweeping the room and feeling a flash of pride for the smiles or the excited glances she caught from others.

“Whether or not they are as…adoring when the night is over remains to be seen,” Equinox replied, trying to keep the words as vague as possible. The surprise, the pièce de résistance, of the night was yet to come, and anticipation was surely building around the room for it.

Very few of them knew the true nature of it. If they did, the mood would be quite different.

“I’m sure you may have some adoring fans of your own when the night is through,” she countered with a tilt of her head. “Though, they may be a different variety.” Equinox paused, surveying the room again.

“I’m surprised Eleanor hasn’t made an appearance yet,” they started, baiting the hook for Misha to take. “It’s unlike her to miss such a grand party - one she’s had such a large hand in, too.” It had caused quite a buzz, at least amongst immortals, when their coven leader had suddenly stopped being spotted as frequently in public. She had just gotten married, but…something felt different. Like they weren’t being told something. Equinox doubted Misha would say anything, but the drag queen was a bit of a terrible gossip. And not knowing something was an itch that she desperately wanted scratched.

misha arden nichols ● outfit ● 298

MADE BY MIZO

[misha arden nichols]

“

“Whether or not they are as…adoring when the night is over remains to be seen. I’m sure you may have some adoring fans of your own when the night is through. Though, they may be a different variety.”

Misha hid the smirk that touched his lips behind the glass of non-spiked punch they held, taking a slow sip as his eyes skimmed the room. "There will certainly be a few, by the time I am done. You can count on that," They echoed. He had yet to meaningfully draw the attention of anyone beyond Eleanor (who had known him longer than anyone else) and Ivan (who they worked beside regularly already), but that night was sure to place them at the forefront of many minds. 

His gaze returned to Equinox, studying her for a moment. It was strange, to know so little about someone that was, at least passably, a part of his inner circle, his family, whatever one wanted to call the coven. They didn't have much else in the world, anymore, besides the coven, Death, and their mission. 

“I’m surprised Eleanor hasn’t made an appearance yet. It’s unlike her to miss such a grand party - one she’s had such a large hand in, too.”

Misha knew a subtle grab for information when he heard one; Equinox was good, leaving it at a general wondering about their coven leader's whereabouts, but Misha had been around enough to see through it.

"I'm afraid Eleanor has more important things to tend to this evening. She trusts us and our dear friend Ivan to see it through," Misha replied coolly, eyes shooting over to look for Ivan quickly. They had been sworn to silence by his former step-mother, weight thrown behind their shared bond. Even if he had wanted to say something, it would have been impossible. The mere thought of speaking words of truth to what Eleanor was up to caught in their throat. "But I suppose that just means more fun for us, hmm? You know what they say about too many cooks."

Where was Ivan? Misha's patience was waning, every passing moment making them want even more to reach out and dig their fangs into the nearest mutt's throat. 

senhora solstice equinox ● december 24, 2022 ● 370 words ● n/a

MISHA ARDEN
Nichols★

dandy ♫