This is a very small part (by my usual standards) but only because I found it impossible to break up the next scene, and I want to post that whole… basically it would have made this part way too long (for my liking hehe!) so… posting this scene now, and more will be posted tomorrow as a compromise!
Oh and excellent observation to one of my lovely reviewers about how does it rain in Edenia with the force field above, I could huggle you to squelchy goodness, as raising that question has led me to good things in trying to explain it in the plot! (coming soon in a future part hehe)So thanks!
Thanks for all the reviews, and to every one reading this – you all rock!
Part 49
"So you want to co-operate?" Buz grandly declared, having led Harper to a small abandoned house, away from his guards so they were alone.
"I want this collar off, and I think you're the man that can help me do it," Harper returned, getting straight to the point.
"And what exactly would removing that collar from you do for me?"
"Depends how you get your kicks," Harper offered with a slight smirk.
"Do you get your kicks by taking other people's girls?" Buz countered, and anger flashed in his eyes.
"Ok, I thought we were doing the classic standoff but that one has thrown me," Harper offered with confusion.
Buz moved closer. "Don't think me a fool."
"I think many things of you, Buz," Harper begun and then shrugged. "Ok that was one of them but it wasn't top of the list, more mid-table, maybe," Harper offered instinctively beginning to back away, as Buz continued moving forwards.
"I heard about you and Tarah," Buz prompted.
"How she nearly," Harper stopped, unable to speak the words. "Look I was just lucky that Beka came in and stopped her, I'm sorry if it appeared I didn't accept your apology but," Harper saw the confusion now in Buz's expression. "Oh, let me guess, she didn't exactly tell you the same story she sold me?"
"Tell me what happened," Buz ordered in a low voice, as Harper found himself backed against a wall suddenly, and Buz soon put a hand against the wall close to him giving Harper very little room.
"I was recovering from yet another near death experience, thanks to yours truly when Tarah and her sister visit," he rapidly began to explain. "She, Tarah, comes onto me, pretty strong and hey I'm just a guy, and defenceless at that, and well, Beka managed to save my blushes by scaring them both off before it went too far," Harper explained quickly, slightly panicked and feeling the pressure, as Buz stood over him with intimidation. When Buz didn't react Harper realised that he was considering his story. "You believe me don't you, right?" Harper confirmed brightly, knowing Buz did. "Not the first time Tarah has done this?"
"Shut up," Buz moved away with petulance. "Tarah isn't my girl anymore, anyway," Buz then revealed. "She's made a fool of me, lost me everything, all I have now is what you see," he gestured with open arms to only the clothes he wore.
"What about those men who escorted us here?" Harper questioned. "You still seemed in command."
"I'm still a Gilad, I still outrank simple guards don't you dare suggest I am less than a guard," Buz sneered, closing the distance between them slightly. "I still outrank you."
"What is my rank?" Harper enquired.
"I don't know," Buz snapped. "But I outrank it."
"Not all that difficult if you don't know what it is," Harper reasoned unimpressed. "Do I outrank the guards?"
"Probably," Buz agreed, and for a moment both men appeared to be considering their status.
"Listen, you help me," Harper quickly brought the conversation back to where he needed it to be, thinking on his feet with the latest development. "And I'll help you."
"You, help me?" Buz mocked, still showing arrogance despite his losses.
"Hear me out," Harper stressed, gesturing with his arms madly. "You didn't spend hours torturing me for nothing, and I'm still here, whatever you thought I had that was of importance then, I'll give you now, if you help me get rid of this thing," Harper then offered, tugging on his collar. "Let's just start building a trust that doesn't involve torturing me, because I know we can make a great team, come on," Harper encouraged now in full persuasive mode.
"You're willing to just give me the power?" Buz sneered unconvinced.
"You know I have this power," Harper then pulled out his lucky ace. "You know I'm that myth thing, or you wouldn't have wasted your time on me," he added, wishing he had learnt more about what Beka and Asa had only briefly mentioned in front of him.
"I'd convinced myself you weren't," Buz admitted. "You seem to bleed and hurt like anyone else, but here you are, still kicking and fighting even after we've nearly killed you twice already," Buz stressed with impatience.
"You wanted to kill a mythical being, shame on you," Harper mocked. "You got to respect people's faith, not try to murder it."
"So is it true?" Buz put to him. "Or are you just lucky?"
"Me?" Harper raised his eyebrows. "Me, lucky?" he checked and then laughed. "Yeah, I'm the all original lucky boy charm, that's me full of luck, charmed life, that's what I've had," he teased and then his expression returned to serious. "Give me a break, you think this body, and all its injuries and marks are those of a lucky guy?" he sneered.
"I should be breaking your neck, I shouldn't even be reasoning with you, I should be forcing you to listen to me," Buz ranted and then sighed. "But knowing you, snapping your neck would only result in it bending never snapping," he now mocked, and Harper had to smirk.
"I can't help being me," he offered, keeping his actions as passive as he could, to win the Edenian's trust.
"I know this is a trick, it has to be," Buz gestured unconvinced by Harper's show of friendship. "I can't honestly believe you actually want to help me, not after everything I've put you through," he added with a frown. "But the fact you're still living and breathing, and people now think you've had my girl, I'm not exactly the feared one I was," he frowned sadly. "You could say you've cost me a lot," he sighed. "So what the hell, I'll play ball, I've tried being your enemy so why not try being your friend."
"Well let's not get carried away," Harper quickly offered. "I just want to use you so I can get this damn collar off."
"Yeah, and then what?"
Harper hesitated. "I can wash behind my ears again?" he tried to offer.
"Try washing the rest of yourself first," Buz suggested turning his nose up.
"Well it's not my fault there's no fricking showers on hand," Harper snapped at the insult to his lack of cleanliness.
"Ok," Buz agreed.
"You'll help me?"
"Yeah, and in return I want you to show me the power, I want to regain what I had and more, I want to control this city by right," Buz exclaimed. "And then Tarah will pay for humiliating me, and Edenia will be a much better place for all of us."
Harper slowly nodded his head, not convinced for a moment that Buz's intentions were good for Edenia or Tarah, and for a moment he feared the dangerous game he was about to play but he quickly dismissed them, and then offered his hand and the two men shook on it, confirming the deal.
"Can I go now?" Harper enquired.
"Go," Buz dismissed tiredly. "It's not like I have any authority to push you around, we're business partners now," he added.
Harper took a moment to revel in Buz's downfall, and hesitated before leaving. "You tortured me, left me for dead and made me go through a heap of emotions I'd rather not have in the past week or so," Harper began, as he moved a little nearer. "So tell me one thing," Harper requested and waited for Buz to look at him before continuing. "Who is the real power behind the Gilads?"
"Now you've figured out its not me?" Buz mocked. "Pallu, he's the one you should really be aware of, sneaky guy who works only behind the scenes making saps like me do his dirty work, and take his falls," Buz revealed bitterly.
"That makes no sense, Pallu was afraid of the Gilads, he thought I'd attract their attention," Harper argued.
"He's big on mind games," Buz simply said. "Was he in the house at the time with his lover when he claimed that?"
"Ethan wasn't there, Zal was," Harper answered unsure.
"Most probably tormenting Zal then, knowing if Zal had said anything he'd have revealed to you his Gilad connection," Buz grinned knowingly.
Harper stared at Buz, finding no reason not to believe him. "Why does Pallu torment Zal, I saw him threatening him," Harper remembered.
"He's an easy target, and resists the Gilads, more than enough reason for a creep like Pallu, and being Ethan's kid brother only adds to the pleasure it gives Pallu," Buz shrugged, and moved closer to Harper. "Enough about Pallu, and that loser Zal," he then sneered with intent. "I want your power so I can take it away from Pallu and make that guy suffer," Buz then insisted strongly, causing Harper to back away slightly. "Now we're equal you should know that he's still got Zal right where he wants him, so don't trust him."
"I'll try and remember that," Harper simply responded. "Can I trust you though, or is this still a game?" Harper then added.
Buz didn't say a word in reply and simply left the room, leaving Harper alone for a moment to contemplate what he had just been told.
TBC