Chapter 8: Fear Leads to Power
Hi again everyone. Sorry that its been so long since I've updated but I've been working like mad with school and trying to get up my new website. The addy for the site is on my profile page so please feel free to visit and tell me what you think. Anyways, warnings for this chapter are similar to the last one. Please read and review and thank you.
Chapter 8: Fear Leads to Power
"I already told you, sir. He cannot be disturbed."
Rai growled low in his throat and reaching over the counter, the necromancer jerked the bouncer forward. "Listen to me." His eyes swirled and the specs of sapphire that floated in the sea of silver vanished. "Do not fuck with me right now. You either take me to him or you shortly won't have legs to come after when I go to find him myself."
The vampire's face contorted with fear and recognization as Rai pulled him in so that the necromancer's familiar face was revealed through the haze of smoke and strobing lights. "Ra-Rai Ma-Maxwell?"
Smirking cruelly, Rai nodded. "You betcha. Now what were you saying about me seeing Jean-Claude?"
"I-I-"
"Now, there is no reason to get violent, mon cher." Came a smooth voice from behind where Rai and Ruen stood.
Rai's eyes bled back to their normal color as he pasted a pleasant smile on his face and turned around. "Now, what did I tell you about calling me that Jean-Claude?"
The sultry master and owner of the club they were now in chuckled and motioned for Rai to embrace him. This of course, the necromancer could not refuse on terms that Jean-Claude may then take that as insult and refuse to give his assistance. "So why are you here mon cher?"
Sighing, Rai moved away from the ebon-haired vampire before Jean-Claude could run a hand through his hair. "Ruen and I are here to gather some information. Don't tell me that you don't know because I am quite aware that you tend to make everything your business."
"You have not changed at all. Just as blunt and sharp as always." Jean- Clause stated with a smile, his eyes only flickering to Ruen briefly to register him.
"And I would have thought that my behavior would have hinted for you to use my real name by now." Rai shot back; he ignored the warning pull on his sleeve from his friend and only gave Ruen a reassuring glance.
Jean-Claude seemed undaunted by the comment, his eyes still glowing with careful amusement. (Even he knew to be cautious around Rai no matter how much he teased the necromancer.) "Not quite yet. Now shall we go to my office? I take it that this matter is of great concern for you to come here personally."
Rai nodded mutely, glaring at the bouncer one last time as the trio walked past and grinning when the vampire skittered away as if the hounds of hell were after him.
"Can we trust him Taranthiel?" Ruen whispered to his companion as they walked down the hall.
The American sighed and looked at his friend out of the corner of his eyes. "As much as I hate to say so, yes we can. Don't worry, if anybody, Jean- Claude will be able to find out what we need. Not to mention you managed to gather some other powerful sources that I probably couldn't even access."
Ruen mumbled something and an embarrassed blush rose on his cheeks. He only flushed harder when Rai grinned and clapped him on shoulder. "C'mon. Jean-Claude's not always the patient one and I don't want to have to do any type of odd favor for him just to answer my questions."
With that they fell silent and hurried in through the door the master vampire had disappeared into. Once they entered, the duo found Jean-Claude already seated behind and ebony desk and upon seeing them the other motioned for Ruen and Rai to take the chairs across from him. "Would you like some refreshments?"
Rai smiled, secretly patting Ruen's knee so that the vampire would follow his lead. "No thank you Jean-Claude. You know I am never one to drink alcohol while in a meeting."
Ruen shook his head as well and received a nonchalant shrug in return.
"Well, then let's get down to business." The necromancer moved forward in his seat. "As I know that you make it a hobby to keep in my affairs Jean- Claude, I don't doubt that you know of the rogues that are after me."
"Hmm. . .I might. What do you want know?" Jean-Claude's eyes were half- lidded as he steepled his fingers.
The American snorted, leaning back in his own seat. "You know damn well what I want to know. I want their names and if possible, where they are hiding."
"Their names I can provide you with, mon cher but I am afraid that even I do not know where they are."
Rai muttered a curse. "This is your city Jean-Claude and you do not know where these rogues are?"
Jean-Claude's eyes darkened for a brief moment before the casual smile was prominent again. "They have proved no threat to my people yet and if I am not mistaken, they are also after Master Asgaroth."
"Selfish and coldhearted as always. And you wonder why I never liked you Jean-Claude. Fine, just give me their names and I can take it from there." Rai replied, not wanting to waste more time with the vampire, lest he accidentally killed Jean-Claude for his previous comment.
"If I give you some names what will you give me?"
Rai smirked and he deliberately moved his coat aside so that his gun was visible. "Your life."
A small flash of panic echoed through Jean-Claude's mind. He knew that the other was serious and he was also quite aware that Rai could and would slay him before he could even move to retaliate. Steeling his private fears, Jean-Claude smiled. "You drive a hard bargain, mon cher."
"Always."
Jean-Claude titled his head slightly as he studied Rai but finally he smiled and nodded. "And as always I cannot refuse you." Opening a drawer in his desk, the vampire withdrew some files. "Here. This is all the information I can offer."
Rai skimmed through the folder quickly before nodding in satisfaction. He stood and offered Jean-Claude a smile. "We'll contact you if we need anything else."
The two cautiously exited the spacious office and the brunette would occasionally finger his weapon or toss a potentially homicidal glare at passing occupants of the club. With that combination, Ruen and Rai had no hindrances as they shoved and pushed their way to the door of the crowded room.
* * * * *
Derek was glaring daggers at the wall when his remaining companions silently entered the apartment. Managing a strained smile for Rai, the platinum-haired vampire stood. "Did you find anything?"
"We managed to gain a few leads from Jean-Claude but not much else. We have to wait for the spies that Ruen managed to assign to gather some more information before we can act." Rai answered but his puckered brow was not for the delay in assistance but rather the expression that he had seen on his lover's face when they first entered. "How did your dealings fare?"
Derek couldn't stop the scowl that spread over his features. His fangs were clearly in sight, signifying his displeasure as he answered. "Those damned bastards killed several of my vampires."
"Where are the remaining ones?" Ruen gasped out before the necromancer could even utter the question.
"They're with Anita Blake. She and several of her wereleopards managed to save them. I was planning to go find them but I wanted to wait until you two returned so that you would know where I was going." Derek grabbed his coat and was about to walk out the door when Rai's hand on his arm stopped him. "What?"
The necromancer shook his head. "You are not going alone."
"I have to Rai and that would be no place for you. I don't want you to get hurt in a matter only concerning me."
Rai's icy eyes flashed with brief pain before they hardened again. "Do you honestly believe that this doesn't concern me even with my relationship with you. They tried to hurt you through attacking your lessers and if they hurt you then it damn well has something to do with me. Besides, you know as well as I do that you won't be able to leave if I prevent it. I hate to say that but it's true. I can change the command words for the wards around this apartment before you even reach the door Derek."
"Please. . .Rai-"
"No." Answered Rai firmly. "I am not going to let you go alone. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you get caught and I knew that I could do something about it."
Derek sighed resignedly and finally nodded. "Alright but what about your brother and the others?"
"I can look after them." Ruen interjected calmly. "Don't worry."
Flashing his friend a grateful smile, Rai exited the apartment with Derek.
The remaining vampire didn't move for long moments after the duo left but the chiming of Rai's miniature grandfather clock, Ruen broke out of his self-induced trance and glanced toward the bedroom. Opening the door a crack, the silvery-haired man grinned in satisfaction at the sight of the three pilots deeply slumbering. His smile only widened as he moved into the room fully and paused to reconsider his determined course. Glancing at the unsuspecting occupants of the room, Ruen felt a small pang of regret as he raised his arm to perform the needed spell. He almost stopped himself as he was about to speak the activation word for the enchantment but steeled his mind and it slipped out. ". . .death."
T.B.C.
So how was it? Good? Bad? Please review. Thanks.
Hi again everyone. Sorry that its been so long since I've updated but I've been working like mad with school and trying to get up my new website. The addy for the site is on my profile page so please feel free to visit and tell me what you think. Anyways, warnings for this chapter are similar to the last one. Please read and review and thank you.
Chapter 8: Fear Leads to Power
"I already told you, sir. He cannot be disturbed."
Rai growled low in his throat and reaching over the counter, the necromancer jerked the bouncer forward. "Listen to me." His eyes swirled and the specs of sapphire that floated in the sea of silver vanished. "Do not fuck with me right now. You either take me to him or you shortly won't have legs to come after when I go to find him myself."
The vampire's face contorted with fear and recognization as Rai pulled him in so that the necromancer's familiar face was revealed through the haze of smoke and strobing lights. "Ra-Rai Ma-Maxwell?"
Smirking cruelly, Rai nodded. "You betcha. Now what were you saying about me seeing Jean-Claude?"
"I-I-"
"Now, there is no reason to get violent, mon cher." Came a smooth voice from behind where Rai and Ruen stood.
Rai's eyes bled back to their normal color as he pasted a pleasant smile on his face and turned around. "Now, what did I tell you about calling me that Jean-Claude?"
The sultry master and owner of the club they were now in chuckled and motioned for Rai to embrace him. This of course, the necromancer could not refuse on terms that Jean-Claude may then take that as insult and refuse to give his assistance. "So why are you here mon cher?"
Sighing, Rai moved away from the ebon-haired vampire before Jean-Claude could run a hand through his hair. "Ruen and I are here to gather some information. Don't tell me that you don't know because I am quite aware that you tend to make everything your business."
"You have not changed at all. Just as blunt and sharp as always." Jean- Clause stated with a smile, his eyes only flickering to Ruen briefly to register him.
"And I would have thought that my behavior would have hinted for you to use my real name by now." Rai shot back; he ignored the warning pull on his sleeve from his friend and only gave Ruen a reassuring glance.
Jean-Claude seemed undaunted by the comment, his eyes still glowing with careful amusement. (Even he knew to be cautious around Rai no matter how much he teased the necromancer.) "Not quite yet. Now shall we go to my office? I take it that this matter is of great concern for you to come here personally."
Rai nodded mutely, glaring at the bouncer one last time as the trio walked past and grinning when the vampire skittered away as if the hounds of hell were after him.
"Can we trust him Taranthiel?" Ruen whispered to his companion as they walked down the hall.
The American sighed and looked at his friend out of the corner of his eyes. "As much as I hate to say so, yes we can. Don't worry, if anybody, Jean- Claude will be able to find out what we need. Not to mention you managed to gather some other powerful sources that I probably couldn't even access."
Ruen mumbled something and an embarrassed blush rose on his cheeks. He only flushed harder when Rai grinned and clapped him on shoulder. "C'mon. Jean-Claude's not always the patient one and I don't want to have to do any type of odd favor for him just to answer my questions."
With that they fell silent and hurried in through the door the master vampire had disappeared into. Once they entered, the duo found Jean-Claude already seated behind and ebony desk and upon seeing them the other motioned for Ruen and Rai to take the chairs across from him. "Would you like some refreshments?"
Rai smiled, secretly patting Ruen's knee so that the vampire would follow his lead. "No thank you Jean-Claude. You know I am never one to drink alcohol while in a meeting."
Ruen shook his head as well and received a nonchalant shrug in return.
"Well, then let's get down to business." The necromancer moved forward in his seat. "As I know that you make it a hobby to keep in my affairs Jean- Claude, I don't doubt that you know of the rogues that are after me."
"Hmm. . .I might. What do you want know?" Jean-Claude's eyes were half- lidded as he steepled his fingers.
The American snorted, leaning back in his own seat. "You know damn well what I want to know. I want their names and if possible, where they are hiding."
"Their names I can provide you with, mon cher but I am afraid that even I do not know where they are."
Rai muttered a curse. "This is your city Jean-Claude and you do not know where these rogues are?"
Jean-Claude's eyes darkened for a brief moment before the casual smile was prominent again. "They have proved no threat to my people yet and if I am not mistaken, they are also after Master Asgaroth."
"Selfish and coldhearted as always. And you wonder why I never liked you Jean-Claude. Fine, just give me their names and I can take it from there." Rai replied, not wanting to waste more time with the vampire, lest he accidentally killed Jean-Claude for his previous comment.
"If I give you some names what will you give me?"
Rai smirked and he deliberately moved his coat aside so that his gun was visible. "Your life."
A small flash of panic echoed through Jean-Claude's mind. He knew that the other was serious and he was also quite aware that Rai could and would slay him before he could even move to retaliate. Steeling his private fears, Jean-Claude smiled. "You drive a hard bargain, mon cher."
"Always."
Jean-Claude titled his head slightly as he studied Rai but finally he smiled and nodded. "And as always I cannot refuse you." Opening a drawer in his desk, the vampire withdrew some files. "Here. This is all the information I can offer."
Rai skimmed through the folder quickly before nodding in satisfaction. He stood and offered Jean-Claude a smile. "We'll contact you if we need anything else."
The two cautiously exited the spacious office and the brunette would occasionally finger his weapon or toss a potentially homicidal glare at passing occupants of the club. With that combination, Ruen and Rai had no hindrances as they shoved and pushed their way to the door of the crowded room.
* * * * *
Derek was glaring daggers at the wall when his remaining companions silently entered the apartment. Managing a strained smile for Rai, the platinum-haired vampire stood. "Did you find anything?"
"We managed to gain a few leads from Jean-Claude but not much else. We have to wait for the spies that Ruen managed to assign to gather some more information before we can act." Rai answered but his puckered brow was not for the delay in assistance but rather the expression that he had seen on his lover's face when they first entered. "How did your dealings fare?"
Derek couldn't stop the scowl that spread over his features. His fangs were clearly in sight, signifying his displeasure as he answered. "Those damned bastards killed several of my vampires."
"Where are the remaining ones?" Ruen gasped out before the necromancer could even utter the question.
"They're with Anita Blake. She and several of her wereleopards managed to save them. I was planning to go find them but I wanted to wait until you two returned so that you would know where I was going." Derek grabbed his coat and was about to walk out the door when Rai's hand on his arm stopped him. "What?"
The necromancer shook his head. "You are not going alone."
"I have to Rai and that would be no place for you. I don't want you to get hurt in a matter only concerning me."
Rai's icy eyes flashed with brief pain before they hardened again. "Do you honestly believe that this doesn't concern me even with my relationship with you. They tried to hurt you through attacking your lessers and if they hurt you then it damn well has something to do with me. Besides, you know as well as I do that you won't be able to leave if I prevent it. I hate to say that but it's true. I can change the command words for the wards around this apartment before you even reach the door Derek."
"Please. . .Rai-"
"No." Answered Rai firmly. "I am not going to let you go alone. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you get caught and I knew that I could do something about it."
Derek sighed resignedly and finally nodded. "Alright but what about your brother and the others?"
"I can look after them." Ruen interjected calmly. "Don't worry."
Flashing his friend a grateful smile, Rai exited the apartment with Derek.
The remaining vampire didn't move for long moments after the duo left but the chiming of Rai's miniature grandfather clock, Ruen broke out of his self-induced trance and glanced toward the bedroom. Opening the door a crack, the silvery-haired man grinned in satisfaction at the sight of the three pilots deeply slumbering. His smile only widened as he moved into the room fully and paused to reconsider his determined course. Glancing at the unsuspecting occupants of the room, Ruen felt a small pang of regret as he raised his arm to perform the needed spell. He almost stopped himself as he was about to speak the activation word for the enchantment but steeled his mind and it slipped out. ". . .death."
T.B.C.
So how was it? Good? Bad? Please review. Thanks.
