A/N: I don't own "The Dark Tower of Abyss", that also belongs to Rhapsody. Also, I don't know exactly what the Latin means, so I can't give a translation. Sorry, I tried. And I'm changing the rating because of some sexual content. I don't to be found guilty of another "infraction" and have my account locked again. Please tell me if I don't need to change it. BTW, sorry, no pregnant teens here. That's just wrong, whether in fiction or in life, teenagers should NOT be having sex.
Tattletale
Scott walked away from the church slowly and heavily, glancing back every so often. He had seen Islene standing at the door, heard her whisper good-night. He glanced around. He saw and sensed no one. Then again, he was still new and his powers weren't very strong. Still, he had to see her one more time. He snuck back to the window and glanced in. Islene sat leaning against the altar, making a fire, her lips moving. Scott listened, trying to project his hearing through the window. She was singing again, in her high, operatic voice.
"Domine deterges nubila caelo,
Bellato a proposito non deterreres,
Unholy vision, ancestral terror!
Spare my mind, my innocent eyes!"
Scott sighed sadly again. He wished, not for the first time, that he was in there with her to hold her, comfort her, draw her tired mind away from the evil they were fighting. But he couldn't any longer. He could only watch as she lay down against the altar and fell asleep, her face relaxed and peaceful for once, lit by the golden flames of her little fire. Smiling sadly, he walked away, hoping he had not been missed and praying he had not been followed.
Chuckling evilly, Aaron slipped into the great Gothic castle that overlooked the entire town. The Count liked to have one overlooking every town and city he ran. Which meant all of them in the world, of course. But his very favourite was in his homeland, Transylvania. Which was precisely where they were, right outside Lower Belabartòkovitch, right where it all began. Aaron bolted down the innumerable halls and passages, heading for the Count's library.
"Well hel-lo there, handsome."
Aaron groaned inwardly, rolling his eyes. 'He never gives up, does he?' he thought, forcing himself to smile and turn. "Evening, Herbert."
Herbert smiled playfully and sauntered towards him. "Whatcha doin'?" he asked.
"Looking for your father. Is he in the library?" asked Aaron, hoping this wouldn't turn into another one of Herbert's "I-could-tell-you-but-you'd-have-to-fuck-me" games. No such luck.
"Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllll, I could tell you, if I wanted to," Herbert purred, looking at his bright red fingernails as he spoke. Aaron groaned audibly this time.
"How many must I tell you this?" he asked. "I'm straight, Herbert, straight¸ which means I don't screw guys."
"There's a first time for everything," replied Herbert patiently. C'mon, Aaron, puh-leeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaazzzzze? Pretty please?
"Good-night, Herb," said Aaron, turning and walking away.
"He's not in the library," called Herbert sadly. Aaron stopped and turned around. "He's with Sarah. In the bedroom."
"Damn, bad timing," said Aaron, feeling kind of bad for Herbert. He wasn't a bad guy, really, just very persistent. Or insistent, as the case may be.
"They've been in there a long time, so it should be OK," said Herbert.
"OK, thanks," said Aaron, starting towards the Count and Countess's bedroom. Sighing, he stopped and turned back again. "Look, Herb, I'm sorry. I really am. I like you, but only as a friend. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I guess." Herbert looked up at him curiously, and smiled.
"Aw, it's all right," he said. Aaron smiled back, waved, and left.
He reached the bedroom in a few minutes and raised his fist to knock. Then he hesitated, and listened for a minute to make sure he wasn't interrupting. The last time he had, he had lost his hand for the night. He didn't want to do that again. But no sound came from the room. Satisfied, he knocked lightly, just in case they were sleeping. There was a muffled sound of footsteps and the door opened, revealing the Count. Upon seeing Aaron, he slipped out into the hall and shut the door. Putting a finger to his lips, he motioned for Aaron to follow him. They went to the Count's library. Once there, the Count turned to Aaron.
"Sarah's sleeping," he explained. "I don't want anything to disturb her. She hasn't been feeling well. Something she drank disagreed with her."
"I hope she feels better soon, "said Aaron. "I have news of the girl, Your Excellency."
"Ah, yes," said the Count with a smile. "Our brave little survivor. What of her?"
"Scott met with her tonight," said Aaron. The Count cocked an eyebrow in interest.
"Really?" he said. "Did he, now. I assume he did not bite her."
"Accidentally, on the lip," replied Aaron. "While he was kissing her. But he did not turn her."
"No. I suppose he wouldn't," said the Count thoughtfully.
"Something else, too," said Aaron eagerly. This much gossip could get him promoted from stool-pigeon to lieutenant or something. "Islene, making sure he wasn't an illusion to draw her out of the church, asked him to tell her something only the two of them know. That turned out to be her name. 'Islene' is her middle. Her first name is Soul. Her initials spell out 'sin', Soul Islene Nyelle. She only let Scott call her Soul because they love each other, and it was a special sort of sign for them. And Scott has promised to visit her again tomorrow night." The Count's grin had been stretching wider and wider during this time, and now Aaron was afraid that it would freeze that way.
"This could be it," he said. "This could be the key to ensnaring our clever friend. We cast an illusion around someone to give them the appearance of Scott, lure Islene out of the safety of the church, and then…she's ours."
"Brilliant, Your Excellency," said Aaron, feigning admiration and wisely not mentioning that this was the obvious course of action and anyone could have told him that. "But there's one other thing."
"And what might that be?" asked the Count.
"Scott promised her that, if she was caught, he would try to prevent us from killing her," said Aaron. "He wants to be with her forever. And honestly, I think she deserves it after all this. With all due respect, Excellency, I think we should turn her."
"Good God, Aaron, you think I'm such an unprincipled character," said the Count dismissively. "I never had any intention of killing her."
"Oh, well, that's good to hear," said Aaron in surprise. "Ah, may I venture to ask why?"
"You may," replied the Count. "That doesn't mean I'll venture to answer."
"Of course, Your Excellency," said Aaron with a slight bow. "If that is all-"
"That is not all," replied the Count smoothly. Aaron immediately straightened. "I want you to be our decoy for Islene. But do not, under any circumstances, bite her. I want her brought to me. I will be the one to turn her."
"Certainly, Excellency," said Aaron, hoping he wasn't overdoing the "Excellency" nonsense. 'God, I want that promotion,' he thought. 'Then I can finally dispense with this nauseating groveling.'
"I heard that," said the Count calmly. Aaron flushed.
"I-I'm truly sorry, Excellency, I-I-I didn't mean any d-disrespect…" he stammered.
"Calm yourself, Aaron," replied the Count. "Actually, I was growing weary of your incessant groveling as well. And you are not my "stool-pigeon", you're simply good at getting information when I want it." With a grin, he added, "But you can have your promotion. And call me Giovanni."
"Thank you Your…ahem, Giovanni," said Aaron in surprise. "Shall I go out tomorrow night, then?"
"That would be logical," said the Count. "That is when she'll be expecting Scott. Oh, and he cannot be allowed to leave, of course. Make sure he is always watched."
"Certainly," said Aaron.
"Oh, and send the groups out to call to her as usual," said the Count. "If they don't show up but Scott does, she'll be suspicious. We can't have that."
"I'll take care of that first thing in the evening," promised Aaron. "Anything else?"
"That should do it," replied the Count. "And have a room prepared for her. Make sure she'll be comfortable."
"Right," said Aaron, and he turned and left when the Count said nothing more. Giovanni waited until he could no longer even sense Aaron before going to a desk hidden somewhere deep in the labyrinthine library. Once there, he activated a hidden switch underneath. The centre of the desktop opened up, revealing a hidden compartment with a picture inside. He took it out and gazed at it for a while.
"Very soon, Linda," he said softly. "I'll atone for my mistakes. Soon, you can forgive me."
