Once again, I got no reviews! PLEASE REVIEW EVERYONE! PLEASE!
P.S: In "Claiming of the Mercenary", I am a huge Lumiere/Alexandria supporter. However, for the purpose of this story, I have paired Lumiere and Jacqueline together.
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Chapter 4
The man behind him was leant against the tavern wall, arms crossed. He was dressed completely in black, with strands of his shoulder length dark brown hair, falling in front of his eyes. He appeared to be in his late twenties, but Lumiere knew that he was in fact centuries old. Overall, his build was like that of his own, tall and pale skinned, but not terribly broad at all.
Lawrence smirked, brushing a strand of hair from his piercing dark blue eyes, "Well, I would have contacted you sooner…" his smirk lessened to a look of seriousness "I've been hunting this bastard, Gaston. It's almost like he's disappeared."
His friend raised an eyebrow, "You're after him too?" he asked.
He nodded, "He raped my little sister" he answered, clenching his strong jaw, anger flashing in his eyes.
Lumiere smirked cunningly, "Well, then I pity the brute" he responded. Lawrence, although he did not seem like it, was a very powerful mercenary, and he had known him for centuries.
"What about you…?" Lawrence uncrossed his arms and grinned teasingly, "I half expected you to be screwing some whore. How about those three I saw you talking to in the tavern?" he questioned.
His friend waved a hand dismissively, "Too cheap for my taste. Besides, I've got bigger problems" he said, face serious.
"What?" inquired Lawrence, no longer grinning.
Lumiere replied, "Same reason that you're here. To get that weasel."
Knowing better then to ask why, Lawrence asked, "Did the bartender know anything after you scared the living daylights out of him?"
"Nothing" he responded. Then, he crossed his arms, "I'm surprised you found me" he said.
Lawrence answered, "It was easy. I just got to your castle, and terrified that English butler until he told me where you were…" he smirked and added, "I'm pretty sure he wet himself."
Lumiere chuckled, knowing who he was talking about, "Cogsworth was always easy to intimidate. Why did you go to all this trouble to find me, anyway?" he asked.
"Last I heard, you'd shot an arrow into Gaston's arm, burnt down his lover's house, taken him to the prince, and then tortured the brute at the castle. I had to come and see the hero for myself" replied Lawrence with a smirk of appreciation.
The older mercenary brushed his dirty blonde hair off his face, "He deserved every bit of it" he said snappily.
His friend rose an eyebrow, "So, I heard you're staying with a vampire. Must be hard for you, Lumi" he said, using the other man's old nickname.
Before he could blink, Lumiere had him up against the tavern wall, a hand around his throat, and his dagger pressed under his jaw, "Say that name again, boy" he dared in a low growl.
Lawrence spat back angrily, "I'm over two centuries old." Then, he did the exact same thing that Lumiere had done to him, to the other man.
He chuckled and, raising an eyebrow, replied, "You also have quite a temper."
All of a sudden, Jacqueline's voice came from behind Lawrence, "Who are you?" she snarled.
He whirled around, and saw her standing before him, dressed in a peasants' gown, holding a parasol over her head. She took a slow, threatening step forward, "I asked you a question, human, and I expect an answer" she said with obvious irritation.
Lawrence released Lumiere, and stepped closer to the vampire "Why should I tell you, bloodsucker?" he hissed. He had never liked vampires in the slightest, and this one was no different. Arrogant. Impatient. Easily violent. They were all the same.
Jacqueline growled low, and, faster than the mercenary was ready for, slapped him so hard that he stumbled back into the wall. She snorted, "That was just too easy" she thought.
Lumiere got in front of her, and clutched her by the shoulders, his brown eyes staring straight into her own, "Calm yourself, Jacqueline" he said, although it sounded more like a command.
However, she did not pay attention. Instead, the Zemya growled at him, and struggled in his tight grasp, "Why should I listen to you?" she spat.
Lumiere sighed heavily, although it was more of a growl. He had had enough of her annoying behaviour. Quickly, the mercenary had her pressed up against him so hard that there was no possible movement for her, her arms locked behind her back by one of his hands, and the other hand was firmly around her throat. He snarled venomously, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you right here."
She smirked, despite the situation, "Do it, then" she challenged. As soon as his grip tightened on her throat, Jacqueline punched him in the stomach as hard as possible, causing him to release her out of shock and pain.
He hissed and, glaring at her, warned through clenched teeth, "You shouldn't have done that."
She put her hands on her hips, "Why not!?" she dared.
Oh, that did it.
In seconds, Lumiere had her pressed against the tavern wall, her arms pinned above her head, and his eyes burning furiously into her own. He snarled, their faces centimetres apart, the look on his face murderous, "You little brat! I've had enough of you! Let the demons kill you for all I care!"
Jacqueline growled, "They will not kill me! You just do not seem to realise that not everyone needs a man to hide behind!" she snapped.
He shook his head, sighed lowly, and released her, "You're too headstrong to realise how much danger you're in" he said.
Later that night, Jacqueline landed soundlessly outside Prince Adam's castle, her black cloak falling behind her like a cape. She stood, and glanced back at the castle "That scared dear Babette, excellent" she thought.
All of a sudden, an animalistic snarl came from behind her. The Zemya whirled around, fangs bared, and scanned the landscape to find her enemy. A large demon lunged out of the shadows, grabbing her tightly and growling at her.
She stared into his golden eyes, and felt fear creep through her. Jacqueline clawed and kicked at him, but then another demon, bigger than the first, grabbed her from behind as well.
That was the last thing she remembered, before she passed out.
