Unbound

ch 3

The Dragon suddenly stiffened. "Mistress, Go sit with the Barkeep. Things are going to get hairy for a bit."

Kenzi scurried to the bar, just as the door was thrust open, and in strolled a bald black man...even if he had a head full hair. He walked with an Air that he owned the place… but was completely overshadowed by the leggy brunette that strutted into the taproom on his heels. Kenzi scrambled behind the polished Black Oak barrier, while the two Local 'Lords' looked about, measuring the reaction of the room. Most of the inhabitants nodded to the 'Lords' but continued to sip their drinks and nibble their food.

Spotting the outsider lounging on a bench under a window, the Ash adjusted his silk vest and sash, making sure to flash his 'Colours', his ranking in Fae Society, and strode towards the Dragon in human-form. The Morrigan tagging along, giving the Impression that She was letting the Ash deal with the interloper, because she did not want to break a nail, if things went sideways.

"What are you doing in this City?" the Black man, the Ash demanded.

"Well, until you interrupted us, I was enjoying a drink with my lady." The beast stretched out his arms, adjusted his shirt cuffs, and grinned. "Now as I have not broken any accords, paid my Parol, and et all, why do I have the pleasure of your company?"

"You were told never to come back." the Ash drew himself to his full height.

"Your predecessor." the dragon grinned. "She broke the accord, then tried to Banish me before I could file Protest." He rose to his feet, standing just under the Ash's nose. "Now, as I remember the Accords, put down by the Blood King himself, Trying to enforce an unjust ruling is grounds for Protest." He turned to the side "Milady, I was not ignoring you…" he leered at her, his eyes dropping to her perky breasts, displayed to their best vantage, "nor your most perfect 'charms'."

"Now that I have your attention…" the Morrigan purred, "Where is that pretty bangle?" she flashed her pearly teeth in a shark like grin, "I so want to add it to my collection."

"Ah, but lassy, you are too late. A little thief has not only stole it, but closed it on her own wrist." the outlander shared his own toothy grin, knowing what the female fae was hinting at and planning. "By the rules of 'The Heart', I am hers for five years, and until It is back in my hands, she is 'Protected'."

"What heart?" the Ash asked, "What bangle?"

"The Dragon's Heart." the shorter male answered, never breaking eye contact with the Dark Fae Lady "A relic I leave on the table, within reach of a female, while pawing through my travel bag. If said female takes it, she has stolen my heart. When I am done in town, I reclaim my 'Heart', and move on. If said female closes said bangle on her wrist before I reclaim it, I am hers to Command for Five years. If it sold, I am owed half the value, in trade, and if closed on the wrist of another, I will take payment from both…"

"So her asking about this bracelet…"

"Was an attempt to gain the loyalty of the Beast that killed the last Ash." the white man stepped away, "and allowed her to assume her current title and position." he strode to the Bar.

The Ash turned on the Morrian, hissing "You tried to wrest control of that Monster, who can kill us with little to no problem and We no recourse to bring him to heel?"

The 'Lady' blinked slowly, "Not saying No, but I had to try, and the bauble is so precious." she smirked at the black man, flicking her wrists to show where the jewelry piece would rest, "besides, as soon as I had Command, he would be dead."

The Ash blinked, before turning to look at the dragon, "I doubt that." he smirked back, "You killing him, not you trying. And Trick would be placing bets to see who died in the aftermath."

The door exploded open.

The whole bar went quiet… again.

In Blew what could only be described as liquid sex and death. Knee high boots with a wide two heel hugged her lower legs, where a mesh leggings hugged the rest of her lower body like a second skin. A leather vest hugged her lesser, yet full breasts, giving her full freedom of movement and support. Her raven black hair was pulled up to the top of her head, where a flat hair clip held it tight to her skull, before falling to her shoulders.

Even though the Traveler's back was to the door, he froze, stiffened, and shivered. He slowly turned face the Chi-Vampire. "Now that is an entrance." His grin quaked, "Not even looking towards the door, I was able to track your movements." Before looking at the 'Lords', "I think it was you I sensed, when I was disrupted earlier."

"Release Her." Bo hissed, bracing to attack the 'Thing' her instincts were screaming for her to kill or run from.

"Her?" Ash moved with quick strides to her Shoulder, being careful to stay out of reach, "What are you talking about!"

"That…" she flicker off hand at the Dragon-human, "Has done something to…" she licked her lips, swallowed, "...My Pet."

"Trick?" Dyson asked from position by the door.

"The Human, stole a bracelet from the Traveler," Trick poured a pair of Cosmos for the 'Lords' "Before the item could be returned or reclaimed, she put it on."

"You thieving little Slut!" the Morrigan crossed the room, sweeping her hand back to strike Kenzi, when the Dragon appeared in her path.

"Verbal, will be tolerated, as long as Mistress takes no offence."

"Offended!" Kenzi called out from behind Trick.

The dragon grinned at the 'Lady' "Your ONE warning."

"Who are you to threaten me?" hissed the enraged Fae.

The man smiled, before bowing with a fleurish, "My apologies, allow me to introduce myself. I am Draconius Renton Potaniumous VonProfit." Straightened to look her in the Eye, "The Third. Battle Lord of the Dragon Imperial Nation, War-mage, fourth level, third tier… retired."

Bo's eyes flickered from the Dragon, to Dyson and Hale, to Trick and Kenzi, to the 'Lords', before returning to the Dragon. "And for those of us…"

"She asked who I was." the Dragon-mage turned to Bo. "Mistress. Permission?" the whine in his voice, making him sound like a small boy-child, caused the only true human to face-palm.

"No touching." She called out. As the short white male clasped his hands behind his back, She sighed. "Just go with it Bo-bo. He just wants to get to know you."

"Milady, Please call me Ren." he stepped to about a foot from her, two quick sniffs followed a deep inhale. " Mistress, I will cry myself to sleep over the fact you kept my Heart, rather then giving it to Her. Then I would truly be caught between Heaven and Paradise."

One of the guards behind Dyson moved, a stick of polyurethane and cold iron studs in hand. "Know your place, Muck-dweller." the club shattered over the dragon's head.

The taproom went completely silent.

The dragon turned to look at the 'man'. "Which faction is this shit-stain answerable to."

"Mine." the Ash turned away, "But not on my order, nor desire. I had other plans for you."

"Remember! Outside!" Trick called from his bar.

Grabbing his attacker by the throat, the Dragon headed towards the back door, dragging the struggling fae in his wake.

The room held it's breath until the ironwood door boomed shut.

Bo turned to Dyson, "what…"

"The guard moved enforce the Ash's power base. Had he succeeded, he would have earned Favor of the Courts." the rugged wolfy fae grinned, "But moving on an opponent, known for killing attackers, he bet his life."

"Odds are that he was 'pushed' to attack." Hale walked to the bar glaring at dark haired male in the shadows, the others drifting in his wake. "Hey there girl," he tweaked his hat at Kenzi, "I hear you found a new friend."

"Yes." Trick grunted as he poured three whiskeys for the two cops, and his Granddaughter. "Her sticky fingers bought her a load of trouble." watching the 'Lords' take up their drinks, acting like they were not listening to rogue fae and the Blood King, Trick leaned in, and spoke in a loud whisper. "I am sorry to say, I thought he would just flash a few trinkets, snuffle her, and begone."

"Snuffle?" Bo frowned at the short fae

"Like he did you." the gnomish barkeep sneered. "Sniff you, like a dog getting to know you, maybe a little flirting, and socially acceptable petting." He sat back on his stool, before glaring at the girl ,at least by his standards, "I thought she would know better then to swipe a Treasure from something that I was not happy to have here."

"Sorry." Kenzi brought her wrist, and the 'Object' on it, in to view, "It was calling to me." she stroked it, before offering it to Bo for closer inspection. "At first, i was just going to look… then before I knew what I was doing, it was locked about my wrist, and 'He' was grinning at me." The Morrigan took the girl's wrist as she inspected the bracelet only to be brushed aside by the Ash. "After a few drinks and some small talk, he explained what the big deal was. Though I am a bit unclear on the relationship. He talks like he is the Master of me one minute, like I am little more than a pretty trink owned by a child, the next he is a puppy asking for belly rubs."

"Because, to him, you are a child." the Morrigan sighed as she dropped the wrist, "And he is little more than a dog." A wave of energy washed over everyone, coming from the back alley. "And the only thing keeping that trinket on your arm, and your arm on you, is the Fact that even trying to take it would crush the Dark Fae in this City, if not the City itself. " Looking at Bo, "Congrats, You called her your Pet, and she is now a Power Player." she drained her glass, "But she is still your responsibility" she flounced from the room.

"Yes, you called the monkey, 'Pet'." the Ash grinned at Bo, "You are finally seeing things in a proper light." He looked at Dyson, "See if you can get 'It' to Lauren. We might as well see if we can get a full medical read-up on it." a step, before he paused, "and see that he cleans up after himself." He swept from room.

"And just what did that pretty thing cost you?" Bo leaned on the bar.

"Not much…" the gypsy muttered, before mumbling something that caused the seiren to choke on his scotch.

"Care to repeat that." the Wolf asked, knowing that his partner rarely ever choked on his drink.

"A night of sex."

"Not too bad." Bo looked at the jewelry, weighing the value of the item….

"Per week."

Dyson choked on his drink.

Bo frowned at her best bud, knowing there was more.

"Until he reclaims His Heart and leaves." the gypsy raised her head. "About five years."

Bo choked on her drink...even though she had yet to touch the glass.