Ceallaigh: thank you! Here it is!

Bex: thank you :-D well, it is the thought that counts… ;)

Sharmeen: here you go.

*

Inferno

Chapter 11: You Will Respect My Authority

*

She had long since stopped hammering on the door and the growing dizziness had persuaded her to sit back down on her pad of foam. She sat, hunched over, listening, trying to think and not getting anywhere.

The door flung open, bringing Cassia to her feet, jerkily and leaving her swaying as floaters taunted and tainted her eyes. It was Flame.

"Clothes!" He said, his voice at odds with his dead eyes. He shoved them at her, She gaze at him stonily, not responding. Flame continued as if she'd given him a joyful welcome. "And." He dropped the packet at her feet, "Food."

Cassia's expression didn't' change as she told him. "I'm not changing, and I'm not eating that." But she wanted to. She could smell it, tangy and salty on her tongue, to slide easily down her throat…

Flame raised a mocking eyebrow. "It's cows blood. Died anyway and was strung up by its arse before human consumption. Do you know that humans bleed the carcasses?"

"I WONT' DRINK BLOOD!" perhaps she said it so forcefully because that's what her body was demanding for her survival. Either way, she just wasn't drinking blood.

Flame carried on, as if she hadn't said anything. "Just don't burst it on the floor. When the blood lust hits you'll find yourself licking it off the floor." The tone of his voice indicating that that would be a good sight for him, at least. He grinned evilly at her, laughing behind his pale eyelashes, framed by his vivid eyes, mocking her.

Cassia felt tears wash over her eyes. She held onto them, clinging to little bit of dignity she had. She wasted to cry though instead she thought as hard as she could, to cover it up. Go AWAY! I don't want an audience!

Flames grin, if anything enlarged. "I've seen those bags being attacked before."

His tone clearly expressing that he was enjoying her pain. Cassia felt her anger flare. "Well not me." She informed him, testily. "So unless you want me to stay as I am, you will fuck off." There, that was better. Not weak, entirely more like her.

"Tough. I stay."

"Tough. I. Won't. Change."

"Drink. The. Blood." Who ever said anything about clothes? The clothes where a nicety. She needed the subsidence for what was to follow.

"Go. Bite. Your. Self." She told him, hating him more than ever. She had a minute warning as he lunged for her, and she was too weak, too slow, to avoid him, or even deflect him.

*

Chase walked down the steep, narrow steps, feeling the abrupt air change as he entered the dungeon level. Despite good ventilation it was dank and cold with a despairing chill that would settle into anyone's bones. At that moment he wasn't concentrating on that, he was focused on the cries of an elated crowd. Catcalls, cheers, wolf whistles, egging on… he rounded the corner and saw the group of his men that where, surprise surprise, outside of Cassia's cell, where he'd sent Flame.

"Don't you have something to do?" Chase threatened in the mildest, calmest of tones. The spectators scattered, bleeding well with the shadows, till they where out of sight. Chase didn't bother to watch them go, instead the sight before him transfixed him. Flame had the newbie in a headlock, her and legs rendered useless as she struggled futilely against he elder vampire. "Drink it." Flame was hissing at her.

"Go bite yourself!" Cassias reply was tight lipped, but Chase admired her spunk.

"Never mind me! Drink!" Flame snapped as unaware of his sole spectator, as he had been of the crowd. Totally and completely focused. Chase made a note to himself to try and keep Flame and Cassia separate, and smiled.

"No!" Cassia yelled back.

Chase wiped his face of the smile, and stepped in. "Children." He stated, amused that Flame hadn't heard his voice, or the threat it offered. Now, Cassia possibly noticed him arrive but due to her only line of sight being the floor…

"Get fuck puppy off me!" she yelled, only serving to infuriate Flame further. Before Chase could react Flame had positioned Cassia so he could break her neck. Chase could hear her bone creaking. "Stake me!" She still managed to chock out, "don't' break my neck!" the further stunting of her breathing made her greying vision flash with slices of purple and vivid crimson.

Flame was grinning as Chase grabbed him. He still said, "where would be the fun in that?" as he dragged forcefully off her. Chase held Flame away and fixed the fresh vampire with his eyes. "You have five minutes to change. If you don't' put the clothes on, I'll dress you." He watched her eyes widen, and a hint of respectful fear flared in her eyes, before wheeling abruptly and leaving, dragging Flame after him.

He slammed Flame against the wall, not that far down from Cassia's cell. If it was anyone else the embarrassment of loosing control to a female, newly made vampire in front of nearly the entirety of the group would be enough. Hell, the dressing down normally reserved for these situations would be enough. But no… Not Flame. "Can't you control yourself for a minute?" Chases tone was as expressionless as his face was featureless. Flame opened his mouth, and Chase had an inkling of what he was going to say. Instead he interrupted, "and think very carefully before you answer…" Chases voice lowered dangerously.

"Then what do you want me to say?" Flames tone and face was almost identical to Chases.

"I want you o say: 'I'm sorry Chase, I will show better self-restraint, because I know you taught me better than that!" Flame just sighed, and Chase felt the faint hope that they where getting somewhere for the first time in the centuries or so since they'd… rescued Flame. Chase reflected that Chase and Flame had a lot in common. Possibly why they got on so well.

In the silence that had fallen, the rustling of clothing could be heard. Flame made a disappointed face. "I was hoping you'd beat her up."

Chase gave Flame a superior look and grinned, caring his teeth. "I wouldn't have to fight her to get her to change."

"I'd prefer he beat you up." Cassia injected before Flame could reply. Hell, they can kill each other… But t hen, she'd never get to kill him. She raised her chin squarely, clenching her teeth so it wouldn't quiver, before answering. "I only changed because the bloody look is out!".

In answer the blonde vampire smirked, still being held against the wall. "You're so out on vampire fashion."

Cassia glared at him. "Well I didn't ask to be a fucking vampire did I?" Frustration welled up in her throat.

"I'd say you're asking for it." He leered, showing exactly what he meant. It took a while for Cassia's befuddled mind to grasp his full meaning. She gave him a look of disgust, summoning up a reply, but she was interrupted.

"Children." Chases tone was ominous.

"She is so not my sister." Flame said hurriedly, to be objecting, refusing to let someone else have the last word in.

"You got that right, didn't you stake her in the back at age five?"

"How did you know?" Flame gave her a mock amazed look.

Cassia smiled smugly. "Sources!"

"Crap sources!" Flame crowed, "it was age four!"

"If my sources are so crap how did I manage to find the serpents lair when you're sorry ass couldn't?" She asked him, oh so sweetly.

"Why bother to do what another can do for you?" Flame said with great louche.

She kicked him, right in his solar plexus, following up with a rapid sweep of his feet. Just as Flame was about to retaliate, she felt herself hooked up by her collar, flame also being held in the undignified place. "We are getting on the plane. Now. And I expect you both to be on your best behaviour."

"This is my best behaviour." Flame stated with a slow smile.

"Please! This is your best behaviour?" Cassia gave him an incredulous look, and turned to Chase. "And you haven't killed him yet?" She glowered as Chase and Flame laughed, sharing a private joke at her expense, their laughter rich and vibrant. "Crazy! The whole fuckin' lotta ya!" She turned her back to them and started to stride off, but with their continued laughter and no sounds of movement she tilted her head. "Well! The sooner we do this the sooner you can put me out of your misery."

Flames voice halted her, and she turned to face him, a feeling of dread in her stomach.

"Did you get his deal in writing with a blood oath under the witness of a God of Oaths that he believes in before the witness stones, along with his solemn word on it?" Flame took in Cassia's reaction and chuckled. "Guess not."

Cassia gave Flame the finger.