I Prefer the Shadows (Canaan)

[Rozalina Antonina Nightshade]

November 2026
@canaan

Rose had just returned from Russia a few days ago. She'd been "forced" to spend the past two weeks at the Nightshade manor, all to mourn the death of her cousin, Stella. To be honest though, Rose felt little for the death. Both because of her upbringing and because of her underhanded participation in the events that led up to Stella's death. No one really cared about her involvement though, and she didn't want the credit. For all intents and purposes it had been Fenrir. The two weeks had been like any other time spent at "home". Constant vigilance and mistrust. Like being blind in a viper den. You would never know what might set them off, or where they might strike from. Obviously, being back in the UK was much more relaxing, though Rose was never fully off guard.

Tonight she'd found herself alone at what could only be described as the Pureblood's version of a Gentleman's club (though obviously not with the gender bias, just blood status). It was a sophisticated bar that was only really known to Pureblood families, and membership was rather selective. Of course, the Nightshades made the cut. While Rose preferred to do all business in the UK under the name "Rose North" instead of "Rozalina Nightshade" she didn't bother with that nonsense when it came to this sort of crowd. Too many people already knew who she was from the social events the Nightshades attended or held when she was growing up.

Rose sat alone in half hidden alcove, leaning back into the plush cushions of the long and expensive sofa. Her arms were half folded, only her left arm a bit loose so that she could lazily hold onto her freshly filled wine glass. There was a little chatter here and there but because of how much purebloods demanded privacy there had been sound dampening spells placed over all the alcoves like the one she was occupying, so conversations wouldn't be overheard. The only real sound that could be heard was those passing outside the sound dampening areas (and even those people were respectful to not disturb others) and the songstress on stage, singing a slow and haunting tune. Rose wasn't quite sure what she was waiting for, she had no real plans for the evening. Though the sound of foot steps, something usually dampened unless within the confines of the spell, brought her out of her lazy trance. Someone had just stepped into the alcove she'd been lounging. She didn't move, though her eyes, sharp and cold as ever, immediately snapped from the singer on stage to the guest. It was one she recognized. "My, I didn't take you for the sort to come here, Nott. Special occasion?"

[Deleted]

To say that Canaan was in a mood was an understatement. With the Yule quickly approaching for the year, the meetings between the pureblood head of households had become more frequent. Discussions around what was occuring on certain fronts, parading the amount of wealth one's own family has, shoving others down for how worthless they truly were. While it was certainly nice to take a certain portion of his own mask off, Canaan knew better than to let his guard down completely.

He may be a wolf but he knew better than to think that he was the only apex predator around. There were countless others that could take him and his family down in a single sweep. He didn't have a facade at the Ministry for nothing. He didn't act as if Muggles and Muggleborn using magic were okay by him just to be stabbed in the back by fellow purebloods. Anymore, it was difficult to decipher who exactly was on the same side. Everyone seemed to have their guard up.

So, when the meetings ended, Canaan stayed back at the bar to the pureblood club he was in. There were quite a few milling about, but he needed a minute to himself, a minute to digest the information that was handed to him. Flicking his fingers, another glass of whiskey was brought to him by the bartender. The liquid went down with a burn, but he welcomed it. Running a hand through his blonde hair, he regained his composure, glancing to the alcoves to his left. There were a few other meetings going on, the enchantments preventing others from overhearing.

Yet, his gaze landed on someone different.

A smirk enticed at the corner of his lips before he made his way to the lone blonde woman. It had been a while since his last run in with Rozalina Nightshade. There were not many women who intrigued Canaan. In fact most fell into the submissive category that majority of pureblood women would be sorted into. Good women for a pureblood man to marry, women to which his own mother had attempted to set him up with countless times. All to which by the second round of dates, he grew bored. He wanted a pureblood wife, yes, but he needed someone that could match his...fire.

Slipping into the alcove, he chuckled at her statement, it was true, this was not the place that he typically hung around. He preferred dingier places, ones to which he could get into a bar fight and bloody up someone. However, it wasn't exactly by choice that he was here tonight either.

"Rozalina." Canaan addressed her by her proper name, it came off his tongue almost in a purr. He liked the way it sounded. "Business meetings." He shrugged, taking another drink of his whiskey, his eyebrows raised curiously at her. "I was actually about to leave when I noticed a beautiful woman sitting by her lonesome." The compliment was like second nature as he motioned for another round for them both from the bartender, taking a seat on the sofa, close but not too close to her.

TKO, Total knock out | Novemeber 2026
Rozalina Antonina Nightshade
✿

[Rozalina Antonina Nightshade]

November 2026
@canaan

There was a wariness in Rose’s harsh gaze as she eyed the Pureblood man. Her relationship with him was a complicated one, though did she have any uncomplicated relationships? Doubtful. But Canaan was particularly messy because the man had the unfortunate ability of getting along with both herself and her half brother, Fenrir. Rose never actually liked her half brother, instead her feelings ranged from hostility to temporary truce depending on a number of factors. Like wise, it meant any person that could get along with Fenrir would face a similar emotional range from Rose. Currently, Rose’s feelings for her half brother were quite neutral. It also factored in if she felt Canaan and Fenrir were getting along too well. If they were she could be quite hostile. As of this moment, Rose wasn’t sure how she felt about the Nott man.

She heard the tone of his voice as he spoke, oozing that charm Pureblood women wanted in a partner. She lazily raised her glass and look a long sip, those dark eyes of her never leaving him. She had a rather unnerving stare when she wanted, a skill no doubt honed from her upbringing. Only when she lowered the glass did she even seem to blink, that harsh stare softening just a touch but not totally relaxing. ”And what sort of business could you have here? Nothing too shady, I’d hope,” she answered, only slightly teasing. Despite being a hit wizard he was still a member of the Nott family. Some Pureblood families could never get completely out of the shadows. It was in their blood. Though then you had the Nightshades who were engulfed in the shadows.


His flirtation compliment made her smirk and she raised her glass to her lips, quickly finishing the contents. She set the glass to the side and leaned back, letting one leg cross over the other, the high slit of her dress revealing the pale skin of her leg before. He wanted to flirt? Might as well have some fun. ”And you think your company can entertain me?” she asked, her smirk still faint on her lips.

[Deleted]

The Nightshades were a family that Canaan was all too familiar with. Having frequent run-ins with Fenrir and Rozalina the most of the lot, he knew their back story very well. He was brutally aware just how dangerous all of them were. Even the young, beautiful blonde woman that sat before him, he knew was a viper in disguise. Coiled and ready to strike when provoked. Or unprovoked. It truly depended on Rozalina's mood that Canaan was thrust into whichever end she wished.

Truthfully, it was one reason why he particularly enjoyed his interactions with Rozalina. He never knew which version of her he was going to receive, and being the particular man who enjoyed violence, he was open to either her more violent tendencies and quick snipped responses, or her more open, soft edges, that every pureblood woman held. It intrigued him, and always had him going back for more, that is when he had the opportunity to find her, not that anything romantic between them ever happened...not for his lack of advances either. Canaan was rather...determined on that front.

"The usual pureblood dominance meetings." Canaan shrugged, a grimace on his lips for a mere moment, not wanting to dive into the specifics of the pureblood meetings. "Although, if it were of the shady sort, it would have been more interesting at least." Even though he was thrust into the middle of the pureblood hierarchy, and who was better than who bull shit, he still didn't care for it. He always preferred the...more violent and dangerous meetings instead.

Her stare was hard to miss. Any other male would take heed and take off running. Rozalina was always intense, but that was what he enjoyed about their run ins. It was hard not to imagine what that intensity and violent nature was like in the bedroom. Canaan had to quickly think elsewhere, taking a long drink from his glass.

"I know I could." Canaan smirked at her banter, throwing it right back. "It just depends on what you could handle." He added fully meaing what he was implying, shrugging, taking another drink to keep his mind in the present. Before he could even think about what was coming out of his mouth next he added, "What is a beautiful woman of your stature doing here all by herself? Surely, you are not here to start trouble, Rose, are you?" He stared at her, daring, almost as if to say, Game on.

TKO, Total knock out | Novemeber 2026
Rozalina Antonina Nightshade
✿

[Rozalina Antonina Nightshade]

November 2026
@canaan

Ah, pureblood dominance. Such a boorish and outdated belief. It held little interest to Rose. Despite being a member of the Nightshade family. That didn't mean she didn't at times feel superior, however. Her arrogance came from her skills and cunning, not her blood. Blood spilled too easily. That and too many purebloods were easily swayed by the pretty words of power hungry wizards. "You must need quite the stiff drink then after listening to that drivel," she answered haughtily.

It seemed Canaan had caught Rose on a good night. Or at least a less feral night. The look in his eyes as she'd stared him down was quite nice and seemed to be what made up Rose's mind to accept his company. Her body seemed to relax ever so slightly as she shifted, turning enough towards him to silently convey that he had her attention. THe look in her eyes had softened, less harsh and more of a lazy demand to be entertained. She leaned an elbow on the arm of the couch, and rested her head in her hand, head tilted as she eyed him. "It's not a question of if I can handle your attention. It's whether or not you can actually make me want it," she commented smoothly, a smirk gracing her lips. "So why not convince me you're worth the effort?"

The bartender had brought the next round of drink and Rose reached out to accept hers. She eyed him lazily, taking a small sip from the fresh drink. She enjoyed the silence as she let the liquor burn her throat before answering his dare. "Don't you know, Canaan? Beautiful women are always looking to start trouble," she taunted softly. He had her curious. Just how far he might push if she let him?