A/N: My first full DJ fanfic, please be nice. I only have one other fanfic posted called Precious Jewels (I'm a shameless self promoter ^_^) Also the title is subject to change if I can think of a better one, so you are officially forewarned.
The Contract
Chapter 1
She walked down the street, the heels of her boots clicking almost angrily against the sidewalk. She was too deep in thought to notice the few people scattered on the dark street corners, but not so absorbed that she hadn't noticed the shadow trailing behind her. Her hand fell to the side where her body would shield the sight of her stiletto when she summoned it. Her lip curled as she heard a faint swearing where the fool had tripped over a can. Amateur. But still… She began to strengthen her inner barriers and called in her green jewel, just in case.
She slid into an alley, snapping up a sight shield. And waited. Soon enough her stalker cautiously approached the mouth of the alley. A nondescript Hayllian warlord prince, entered slowly, sending out a psychic probe. She smiled when he licked his lips nervously and stepped deeper into the alley. Well now, look what the cats dragged in. What did you want from me? She thought coldly, watching, waiting for the man to draw close to where she was standing.
Suddenly the Hayllian was slammed into a wall. The sharp pain instinctively made him try to strike out but he froze when he felt a brushing kiss of cold metal against the skin of his throat. Strong, slender fingers tangled in his hair, jerking his head back as a weight pressed into him from behind, trapping him against the wall. Warm air trailed along his neck as his assailant purred, "What do we have here? Sugar, you have ten seconds to tell me why you were following before I introduce you to the realities of death."
"A job! My boss wanted to speak with you about a contract. Please!" Before she could answer he made a quick descent, not even gathering his full strength as he let loose with a bolt from his Opal jewel. He heard her grunt and was slammed into the wall again for his efforts. Blood trickled down his chin from his broken nose.
"That's not the best way to get someone to agree to something you want them to do!" Surreal hissed furiously and the point of her knife dug into the tender skin of his throat warningly. "Try again."
"I was just testing you," he gasped out. "My boss… he'd been told you were good, but he wanted to know how good. I'm sorry… please…"
Hmph. "Who's your boss, sugar?" She demanded roughly, tightening her grip in his hair.
"His name is Lord Haledon Geltanor."
"Where is he staying?"
"He's got a room at the Red Moon House."
"Why didn't he just wait to approach me there?" Surreal snarled suspiciously. She didn't like this entire situation. There was something about this man's psychic scent…
"I already told you mistress, he wanted to test you before he approached you with the offer."
"Well then I've been tested. Is there anything I'd want to know about this Haledon character? Like who pays him for instance?"
"He works for no one." There was another dull thud as he greeted the wall again. "Please, I don't know anything else," he whimpered out, the last impact had knocked some teeth loose.
"Well, we'll see." It's a pity you know as much as you do. Just too many people wandering about announcing that I'm an assassin for my comfort. He didn't feel the quick web she of gray energy she fastened around his heart, looping it over his jewel as well. She smiled as she stepped back, knowing he would die the next time his heart began to race as fast as it was now regardless of the cause. He would have a heart attack and his jewels would shatter, sending him to the Darkness. But then, that was hardly her problem now was it?
She walked up to the desk and rang the silver bell that was sitting on there. Soon enough a woman came bustling out dressed in a very low cut gown that was made out of a shimmering material that exactly matched the honey tone of her skin making anyone who looked at her think she wasn't wearing anything. Until they looked again. Surreal smiled at the older woman, Sherien loved to shock people like that. The slightly older woman gave a huge grin in return, not her classic seduction smile but an honest grin reserved for only her closest friends.
"Well if it isn't little Surreal! What are you doing in this part of town, or should I ask?" She cocked a brow inquiringly. She knew about Surreal's second line of business, had even gone so far as to encourage her and let her get started, unofficially to be sure, at her Red Moon. Surreal flicked the tip of her ear with her finger, their agreed upon signal that indicated she was there on business… and on business.
"Same old. Who've you got for me this time?"
"Oooh, a whole slew of them, and they just about all think they're just soooo important that they don't need an appointment. Here's a list of all the ones who've come in just today. Here are the ones that came in since the beginning of the week to yesterday. And these are the ones that set up an appointment months ago. The others, you can pick and choose as you please."
"This one's new…" Surreal's eyes narrowed as she came to the name she had been scanning the list for.
"Who's that?"
"Haledon Geltanor."
"Oh, him. The Lord Haledon Geltanor," her lips curled in a sneer. "He is new. Came in just the other night and asked if you were in, then said he'd keep a room until you came then paid up front in cash for a week. Oily little man who's quite full of himself. Take my advice, since he wasn't one of the long term appointments, don't take him on."
"Oh, but I think I should all the same. I understand he wants to know if I'm as good as the stories."
"Oh, I… see. Well you can have the Peacock room, or the Mirror room to stay in while you're here." She laughed at the grimace on Surreal's face, "Sorry darling, but all the other rooms are taken and I didn't know you were coming."
"Fine, let me get settled in and then send this Haledon character to me, ok?"
"Will do. And Surreal, take all the time you need." They both understood that Sherien wasn't just talking about the room.
Soon Surreal was settling into her room. Shattered mirrors covered the walls; the only full and undamaged mirror was the large one hanging above the bed. The walls were of course covered with a clear glass that had a strong strengthening spell on it to keep any customers from harming themselves. Her bare feet sunk into the thick black carpet as she walked over to the closet to hang up the clothes from the trunk she had called in. After she had finished that she walked into the bathroom and turned the water on, dropping a couple of colored pearls into the bottom. Leaving it running into the claw footed tub she returned to the room and stretched out on the black satin comforter, staring up at herself.
She studied her features, wondering the same thing she always wondered. Where do I come from? Who are my mother's people? She stared up at her yellow green eyes, an exotic face framed by her delicately pointed ears and her silky midnight hair. It was a face she hated because of the man who sired her. She could pass as a Hayllian if it weren't for her eyes and ears. One of these days Kartane, I will make you pay.
Her lithe slender body was stronger than it appeared beneath the pale green silk robe that ended mid thigh. Her body was a weapon, just as he had taught her it could be. And it was one she used well, with a killing precision. She watched her lips curve at her small joke, a joke that less than a handful of people in all of Terreille would catch. Daemon Said was one of them. She rolled to her feet to check on her bathwater.
The water was high enough so she turned the small crystal knobs and pulled the end of her belt free, tugging it until her robe fell open. She carelessly shrugged it to the floor where it pooled in a tangled heap before she slipped into the steaming water. Surreal slid in until it reached her neck and she propped her feet on the rim of the tub, causing some bubbles to fall over the edge to the floor. She let the warm water relax her muscles, and her mind drift. She knew that she'd have to deal with this Haledon character soon. But not yet, for the moment she wasn't going to think about it. For the moment she wasn't going to think about anything.
Special thanks to Raksha and her sister for making me think of this one. Don't worry, it'll get better later. Just wait till my someone 'random and sexy' pops up, lol.