Shadows
King Kong, in Cannes, on a date with spiderman
Dan dare's sitting there, scared by the killer teddy bears
Downtown, mini mouse is slippin' micky's in the famous grouse
While big bird spreads the word,
Anybody with a heart votes love
[Song: Absurd. Artist: Fluke]
It was a hole in the wall. A dirty night club crammed into what used to be an old diner. Far from posh and eclectic like The Bronze, the Tin Crow had only two real draws. They always played decent music and the blood martinis were plentiful and properly made. For a nightclub competing with something as popular as The Bronze, it too drew a crowd. Its patrons however, were mostly those of dark race origins who wished to keep their rather secretive identities to themselves. The Tin Crow did a fine job of playing host with its well-worn ebony tables, pool tables and various well-used arcade games tailored to those of dark race. The bar was worn but suitable even with its ever-present greasy surface.
"Hey!" A low voice rumbled over the music, his hand lifting briefly as his female counterpart spun to face a dirty, pale sod who had found balls enough to grab her ass with a cold, bony hand. "She's taken."
A hissing snicker as the unknown, gaunt featured male took a step back and gave a crooked smile. "Taken, taken. But not by the others."
"What the fuck is that babble?" Lightning reflexes and a flash of her hand, she had his private parts twisted in her grip. She smiled as he immediately gave an unnecessary groan. "Well, speak before I rip off your nuts and shove them down your throat."
The male chuckled, his eyes glittering slightly in the smoky colored lighting of the club. "You will see soon enough." He dropped then to one knee as she increased the pressure against his manhood. He raised his hands in the air.
She gave a hard twist and a firm yank before releasing him. "Get lost before I change my mind." Spinning on the heel of her leather boot, she took the hand of her mate.
"Damn fool," Hanz breathed his tone giving away his irritation. He led her across the room to the nearest open table in the front corner. He didn't have to ask the bar girl, she knew them by name and went immediately to the bar to get their drinks.
Naekia smiled, "That's why you rule babe," She reached across the table and took his hand. Her expression gave away her feelings for him but beneath that there was a hint of concerned curiosity. "Odd that he would say something like that, isn't it love? Aren't you even sort of curious as to what he meant?"
The bar girl interrupted the conversation. She slid the drinks over the table with consummate precision and placed the snifter of bloody vodka in the center. "Anything else I can get you this night?" She winked at Hanz, a greeting she'd been using since she'd first met him and his mate. Some would have been offended by it, however, Naekia didn't mind. In fact she found it rather amusing that another was so interested in her mate.
He shook his head and returned the greeting, "Unless you can explain what that lout meant with that babble earlier?"
Her eyebrow lifted slightly as she set a tray of blood clot truffles down on the table. The sweet little delicacy was at the top of Naekia's favorite desserts list and this was the only place for a hundred miles that one could get them. "You haven't heard the latest rumor then?" She provided Naekia with several extra napkins as that particular dessert was rather messy.
"No?"
…Judge Dredd, found dead, face down in Snoopy's bed.
Outside, Tweetie Pie's getting itchy on more supplies
Meanwhile, Snow White getting ready for work tonight
Turning tricks with crystal tips,
Trying to make the best of its absurd.
[Song Lyrics: Absurd. Artist: Fluke]
The bar girl let her gaze sweep the room as if what she was about to reveal was a well-kept secret. She seemed a bit nervous and her hesitancy wasn't lost on Hanz or Naekia. They'd known her long enough to know that nervous Nellie wasn't usually her style. After a few minutes, she turned her attention back to them. In her eyes there was just the slightest hint of restrained fear. "Strangers lurking in the area. Already one regular that's turned up missing. Rumor is the old convenience store is where they took him but nobody knows for sure." She shook her head, topped off their drinks and managed a crooked smile. "But you didn't hear that shit from me. Whistle if you need anything."
Puppy dogs and pussy cats in suspect suicide attacks
Captain Kirk from planet earth, fights it out with papa Smurf.
Some phony little ponies, preying on the old and lonely
Making friends, robbing them, the X-men taught them everything…
[Song Lyrics: Absurd. Artist: Fluke]
Naekia finished off one of the truffles. She took a swig of her drink, her gaze settling on her mate. "That sounds suspicious. Do you think the rumor is legit?"
Hanz gave an easy shrug, but the concern in his expression gave away his thoughts. "She wouldn't make that shit up. Not her style however the rumor could be blown up to some extent too." He gave the situation some thought as his gaze swept the dance floor and those patrons that surrounded the bar. "We'll see. Some may be intimidated by strangers, but I'm not one of those."
Naekia gave her mate a flirtatious wink. "Right, right."
…Betty Boop, tired of life, took vows, became a bride of Christ,
While Tin Tin's been playing him at Caesars Palace live on ice
Babar Kumbayahs with the mighty morphin' movie stars
As Big Bird spreads the word
Anybody with a heart votes love.
[Song Lyrics: Absurd. Artist: Fluke]
"Hanz baby, who do you think the regular was that was taken?" Naekia had always been somewhat of a curious sort. He didn't mind as he knew she was more than capable of handling herself in a brawl and she had never been one to back down from a fight.
He scanned the patrons and took in the mood of the crowd. After a several long minutes and a long draw from his own drink, his gaze settled back on his mate. "Not sure but I plan to find out. It's not like strangers to be lurking here and for a regular to have been taken leaves me uncomfortable." He whistled for the bar girl as he finished his drink and refilled his glass.
She gave a wink and a wave to let him know that she had heard his call as she moved through the patrons on the dance floor and those tables that she had drinks or orders to deliver to. A few minutes later, and she sidled up to where they were sitting. "What can I get you?" She questioned in her customary cordial tone.
He shook his head and motioned her closer. His gaze swept the room and the tables nearby as she set her tray down and knelt next to the table. When he was certain that the music was loud enough to cover the conversation and all the other patrons were busy with their own affairs, his gaze focused on her. "Any idea who the regular was that was taken by those strangers?"
She gave a visible shudder, although the reaction wasn't noticed by anyone outside of the two that were within close proximity to her at the table. "Rumor is, and this is just hearsay that came from Alfie," She motioned toward the far corner of the bar where an overweight, dirty gentleman, obviously of Wolven origin, sat sipping from a bottle of Pepper Schnapps, "It was a vamp by the name of Spike and those strangers walked into the magic shop as if they owned it and walked right out with him in tow." Her gaze met theirs, settling finally on Hanz as Naekia enjoyed another blood truffle from the plate. "That's just hearsay and rumor and again you didn't hear that shit from me." She stood then and made a note on her pad as if she was taking down an order.
Hanz gave a low whistle as he took in the information even though it was only a rumor. "Give us two orders of blood truffles to go." He gave the bar girl his patented grin as she took down the order. "Thanks for the information. You know we're in the area if you need anything." He thought of her as a little sister and it had kept her from harm several times when there had been trouble at the bar.
"Right," She gave him her usual wink in return before sidling back through the crowded dance floor to place the order.
The sun moves high above
Watching below all that moves so fast
Plus taking on a different game
A future that was built to last
I see your face light up my screen
You say hello but I can't
Hold you
Does this feel somewhat for real with what no limits to us
We can do
[Lyrics to Song: Skin Against Skin. Artist: Dj Krush]
"Ooh, Hanz baby, they're playing our song. Can we have a dance?" Naekia pursed her painted lips and gave him that pouty, expectant look with her deep set almond shaped eyes. She could see the concern in his expression and she didn't have to ask to know that they would be leaving as soon as their order was finished.
We're making such big steps
It's got me in a spin
Are we aiming too high
Of wanting to feel your skin against my skin, my skin, my skin
[Lyrics to Song: Skin Against Skin. Artist: Dj Krush]
He gave her a crooked smile as he stood from his place and took her by the hand. "Wouldn't miss it love." He pulled her onto the dance floor and held her close.
Neon lights are everywhere
Lighting up the crowded streets
It brightens up my floating bed
Where I lay myself to sleep
Did you receive the kiss I sent today?
Up on the box in Time Square?
How I love the once and yesterday before it vanished into thin air…
[Lyrics to Song: Skin against Skin. Artist: Dj Krush]
Intertwined, they gyrated and swayed to beneath the lights, to the haunting rhythm of the song. "Ooh, Hanz baby, I adore you." Naekia hissed in his ear. She breathed in the scent of his skin and secretly nibbled at his ear beneath the locks of dark silky hair.
We're making such big steps
It's got me in a spin
Are we aiming too high?
Of wanting to feel your skin against my skin, my skin, my skin.
You're never really here
This is all a big mistake
My heart is feeling cold
I don't want to bake it
[Lyrics to Song: Skin against Skin. Artist: Dj Krush]
He gave her a roguish grin and spun her in his arms. As the song ended, he dipped her low, raising her slowly into his embrace. Gently, he kissed her neck and nipped passionately at her lavender painted lips.
She gave a sigh and smiled at her mate as he led from the dance floor and over to the bar where their waitress was waiting with the requested to-go-order.
"I added a few extra." The waitress gave Hanz a wink. "You didn't hear that from me." She smiled. "Enjoy the rest of your night."
He tipped her an amount he slipped to her secretly after paying for the goods. "Keep safe my dear." And with that he and Naekia slid through the building club crowd and out into the darkness…
(2 hours later)
"Do you think Sid was fibbing?" Naekia's eyes flashed beneath the light of the moon as they crossed the alley that split the good side of town from what most saw as the slums.
Hanz gave an annoyed growl, "His lips were moving of course he was. And he doesn't have many teeth to be telling stories through." He shook his head, "I should have knocked the rest out for him."
She smiled, leaning into him as they moved through the darkness on a mission to check out the information given to them by their waitress at the Tin Crow. "So what are we going to do if we find the one that was taken?"
"Depends on the physical and mental state when we find them. I have contacts but they aren't recent that I can call upon if needed." In his tone there was a noticeable layer of pensive concern but the associated feeling of dread balled in the pit of his stomach had never stopped him before. He wasn't about to allow it to do so now. He paused, pulling her to a stop to survey their surroundings while using the enhanced hearing and eyesight that being of the dark race provided to penetrate the dreary darkness. After several moments, he moved forward, taking her hand in his and picking up the pace.
Knowing that her mate had always had a sixth sense when it came to locating the aura of ones in distress, she didn't question him. He led them down an overgrown back alley and across what used to be the parking lot of a convenience store.
The building stood. Its exterior had most definitely seen better days. Graffiti in various colors covered the peel of fading paint and rusty siding. Most of the windows had been replaced with boards and the door, hinges sagging, was now wedged in an odd agape position against the buckling door jam.
He paused at the entrance: listening. His gaze surveyed the moon-shadowed surroundings. Easily, his senses picked up the weakening aura of one in distress. This was the right place, no doubt about that, but the real mystery had yet to be solved.
She took a step back to give him plenty of space as he studied the best way to enter the dilapidated building. "I trust you babe."
He snapped the door from its hinges with a front kick powerful enough to rival the best black belts. It gave a gruff creak then crashed with a scratchy thud to the ground. Its position created a bridge across a threshold that had long caved in and created a good sized hole in the floor. He motioned for her to stay close as they entered the confines of the building. Moonlight penetrated the space through several collapsed places in the roof.
"Son of a-!" He gave a throaty growl as his gaze settled on the scene of torture and cruelty before him.
Naekia gasped in shock as her mate moved to release the chains that held the obviously gravely ill and injured male laying in the floor. The male's face was swollen and other than seizure like twitching, he was unmoving. His eyes were open and it was apparent that there had been more than just physical torture used to subdue him. "Hanz baby, he is still alive right? I mean this looks real bad."
"It is bad. He's been poisoned on top of whatever sort of physical torture his captors used to subdue him." Hanz shook his head. He leaned close to sniff the male's bare chest, the acrid scent of poison leeching from his sweat and the spreading rash coming harsh to his nose. "Hand me your snake oil. It won't do much but it will stop any further spread of the taint and also ease his distress." He pulled his blade from its sheath at his calf and slit the wrist of the injured male. The gash created was just deep enough to bring a steady stream of dark blood.
She watched him wipe the blade of his knife before putting it back in its sheath without touching the blade. Nimble fingers released the clasp of the chain at her neck. She popped the cork on the bottle of oil that hung from it and handed it to him. "We can't leave him here, not in this state—but-?"
He didn't answer her concern immediately as his focus turned to pouring snake oil into the fresh gash on the male's wrist. A sizzling noise erupted from the wound as the oil was absorbed into the blood stream. Keeping a close eye on the situation, he pulled his phone from its place on his person and activated the screen. "We can't treat him. There is only one that has the knowledge to do so." He flicked over to the contact list and scrolled down the long list of names. "It's been a long time." His gaze lifted to his love. "Once I make contact, we will need to move him away from here until we can get him into the hands of my contact."
She nodded, watching the properties in the oil begin to ease the male's distress. The seizure-like twitching gradually subsided and his eyes sagged closed as the oil sank him into a deep state of pseudo-sleep. She waited and listened as her mate explained the situation to his contact. She didn't know the injured male, other than realizing after she studied his features that she had seen him in passing many times, but she had hope that treatment would be successful and he wouldn't lose his existence.
The conversation ended just moments later and he slipped the phone back into its place. "Let's get him out of here. "My contact is preparing for his arrival as we speak." He lifted the unconscious male from the floor and motioned her to follow as they exited the building into the night.