The Legend of Ianto Jones: Chapter Three

Toshiko had seen many things over the last few years but few compared to this. Maybe a skyscraper sized demon outdid it but not much else. The castle, that's what it looked like it may have been by the remaining turret, was in ruins. Smashed masonry and wood and brick were littered across the estate. The morning rays showed how recent was the damage by glowing through the remaining dust. A severed arm at her feet told her little. It wasn't Ianto's but then whose had it been? Friend or foe? If Ianto had done this then was he now friend or foe – or something else?

Glancing over to Jack she could see the worry on his face. He hid it well but after their trip in time Toshiko found it easier to read him. He also seemed to be studying a dismembered body but was distracted and constantly looked back at the car. They had made Jason remain in the vehicle. For his own safety and to prevent the local cops asking too many questions. As Torchwood they had credentials to be here. The young were-wolf did not.

The mission had seemed relatively simple at first. Follow at a discreet distance and if Ianto encountered problems jump in and assist. How hard could it be? The local master of the city was an old friend of Jack's and apparently as preternatural communities go the one here was meant to be under control. Someone forgot to tell the kidnappers that.

Ianto had been here. Remnants of his clothes and a ruined phone told them that much. The destruction told them little and they were telling the cops even less. Gwen was trying to ease things over but Cardiff policing was obviously too far removed from how they did things here. It seemed unless you were male and obnoxious they were never going to listen. They had responded to Jack at first but he had tried to steamroll them like he would at home. Apparently they don't like that either. At least they had let the Torchwood team stay at the scene. Until the specialist arrived; whatever that meant.

Walking over to Owen who was trying to patch up a survivor Toshiko noticed how the locals had stayed back. The injured man must have been a lycanthrope which only bothered Toshiko in that she would not have the chance to study him. In Britain Torchwood could impose themselves on almost any investigation – except when it came to the preternatural community. If they were alien not a problem but if formerly human then they were off limits.

She caught Owens eye and indicated around. He nodded slightly and continued to try and bandage up one of the man's arms.

"I do not need your help dickhead. I will heal shortly."

"Yeah," muttered Owen. "You said that twenty minutes ago and yet you're still bleeding. Whatever attacked you was something different." He finished the bandage with a flourish. "Care to tell Uncle Owen what that might have been."

Naturally all he got was a glare followed by a snort and a growl thrown in for good measure.

A step behind them caught the guy's attention as Jack moved in front of the rising sun.

"Any problems Tosh just put a round in him – I doubt the local constabulary will complain."

That shut the man up. He had seen what one of Jack's bullets had done to a female lycanthrope. She had objected to their early arrival and Jack had barely hesitated. His hesitation was due more to wanting someone to interrogate than any mercy. Tosh had seen the limits of Jack's mercy when one of his own was in danger. The body was already bagged and stored in the SUV. No need to complicate matters with a hard to explain death. Once again their status protected them from searches, vehicles included.

A ripple seemed to go through the police as another SUV pulled up. Their conversations suddenly paused and a whole new set of mutterings took over. Hushed mutterings. Whoever this was they did not like – but were obviously afraid to let said person know exactly how much. Tosh stifled a laugh. The person had not even turned off the engine and they were all worried the person could hear their conversations. St Louis police sure were paranoid.

The driver's door opened and a woman jumped out. She was short, probably about Toshiko's height with long dark hair. It was hard to tell at this distance but Tosh would lay odds that her looks were also dark and alluring. Shaking her head at the errant thought Tosh put her hand on Owen's arm to let him know they had another visitor. She was surprised he had not noticed since he usually spotted anything in a skirt before anyone else. Things change she knew. The events of the previous year had changed all of them.

The woman flicked her hair and checked her side and back. Tosh knew the body language. This lady was packing and had more than one weapon. She turned back to the still open door and pointed her finger at the occupant. Words were exchanged and hands went to hips in obvious frustration but finally the woman nodded in satisfaction and turned to where Toshiko, Owen and Jack were standing. For a moment a smile had been on the woman's face and even from this distance Tosh recognised the look. Whomever the woman had just argued with was more than just a passenger.

The woman walked through them like they weren't there and studied the wounded man intently but said nothing. His expression went from arrogance to discomfort and finally to panic.

"Now that we've established that," the woman said softly but her words dripped with menace. "We can start with who you are working for and why the hell you're here in St Louis in direct conflict of the embargo."

At that some of his earlier arrogance returned. "Who are you to command me?"

The woman adjusted her coat ever so slightly but it was enough to give the man a clear view of the gun she had holstered. One hand was very close to the weapon and relaxed as she first appeared to be Tosh knew that she was ready to act in an instant. She raised an eyebrow in approval and looked to Jack who had also noticed and the silent communication went between them. This woman was a professional and from the reports Toshiko could take an educated guess as to who it was.

The woman leaned in close. "I am close with the local Ulfric. He will be very interested in why a rogue dares to enter his territory unannounced."

"I know who you are Blake," blustered the man. "And we know all about your relationship with Richard."

Blake smiled in triumph. "So we have established there is a we and your not just passing through. A good start."

The interview continued but Tosh moved over to speak with Jack.

"Anita Blake," mumbled the Torchwood leader. "Federal Marshal. Vampire executioner and if one listens right part of the local power base between vampires and lycanthropes."

Nodding in agreement Tosh whispered, "But not a lycanthrope herself. Nor vampire obviously."

"Necromancer," answered Jack.

That surprised Tosh. The file mentioned that Blake could raise the dead but necromancy was a giant leap from controlling zombies. "That would explain a lot but does it help us?"

"Not directly," said Jack. "She is however very close to the Master of the City."

"How close?"

His raised eyebrow told Tosh all she needed to know.

Tosh stifled a laugh as Blake walked up. The brunette glared at her as if she had heard everything then turned the glare on to Jack.

"And you are?"

"Very pleased to meet you," said Jack suavely and went to kiss her hand.

Blake was having none of it and snapped her hand away. "Stow it. My cup floweth over with courtiers if you get my drift."

Jack stepped forward. "In my experience that has only ever happened once in all the universe-."

He was stopped as Blake put a hand flat on his chest. Her eyes widened ever so slightly and in the next instance a gun was pointed in Jack's face.

"What the hell are you?" she whispered. Jack just put his arms up and grinned self-consciously.

"Don't bother," said Tosh. "Not even silver bullets will stop him – or restraining orders." Humour might help thought Tosh and for a tense moment it looked like Blake was about to test the silver theory. Finally though she lowered the gun but did not holster it.

"Jean-Claude mentioned you. That alone is not enough for me to trust you but it buys a little freedom. Now what happened here and why is Torchwood involved?"

Jack answered as if a gun in his face was a daily event. Which it almost was Tosh realised.

"He's one of ours."

Blake turned back to the injured man with a questioning look.

"Not him." Jack indicated with his eyes the devastation around them. "The one who did this. No names out here in the open but know that I am very motivated to get him back in one piece and alive."

Blake snorted a laugh. "Looks like he can take care of himself. Its other people I'm worried about."

"He can be a tosser," offered Owen who had joined them. "But he wouldn't kill except to protect himself." He looked at Jack and rubbed absently at his shoulder. "Or to protect someone important to him."

"Is this something he's normally capable of?" asked Blake as she finally holstered her gun.

"No," said Tosh. "Its something recent and we had no idea he could do this." She looked pointedly at Jack. "We're not even sure what happened to him. He came here to see Jean-Claude."

Blake muttered quietly at Jean-Claude's name and Tosh thought she could hear words like secrets, bloody vampires and arse-hole. This vampire and Blake were definitely doing it. That or they were mortal enemies.

"Well then," Blake finally said. "We will have to go see the Master won't we. He should be up by the time we clear up this mess with the sheriff and then make it back to the city." She looked pointedly at their car. "Jason will have to stay away though. The guards might kill him on sight."

Tosh was astounded. "How did you know he was here?"

Blake just grinned and walked away. "The same way I know you're checking out my backside – instinct."

IJIJIJIJIJIJIJIJ

He could still feel the bloodlust coursing through his veins. The delicious taste of violence and power as he tore them apart. The damned vampire had escaped of course but few of the lycanthropes did. He should regret killing but they had tried to kill him first. Self-defence? Ianto knew it was false to think that. He was more powerful than any of them and could have just run. But then he knew his team were coming and he could not let them be harmed.

He was easily half a mile from where the team were searching the ruins but the cops had arrived which made signalling Jack very difficult. Something else prevented him though. It was like an itch inside his skull. A warning that told him it was too soon. As he waited and watched Ianto saw his instincts were correct. He noticed two and then three lycanthropes discreetly watching the team from the adjacent woods. Too many unknowns and until he knew more he would have to stay away from the team. Jack could survive an attack but none of the others were immortal.

The SUV kept drawing his attention. There was a feel to it as if it had something he needed; something that could help him. Whatever these premonitions were they had worked out so far. He had to believe it was the right thing to do. Follow the car and then take it from there.

Looking at his hands Ianto marvelled at the texture. Multi-coloured scales faded in and out of existence almost like a heartbeat. Like his strength all his senses had increased exponentially but it seemed to be in flux. His body might be going through some kind of metamorphosis but Ianto's mind remained intact. Logic told him this was a preternatural change but it did not match any that he knew of. Not vampire since he was in the sunlight and apart from the violence had no sudden thirst for blood. Lycanthrope was possible but what kind? From everything he knew he should have been unable to change back and forth so quickly and still regain consciousness. Also he had no sense of some kind of internal beast raging inside him.

Even in the midst of the fight he had complete control. His physical form did not seem to have changed except for the ethereal scales. During the fight it had seemed his reach and size had adapted to what he needed. That did not mean he knew exactly how he looked. He needed a mirror and suddenly he realised clothes as well. The car still drew his attention. Whatever he needed – the right course to take was connected with the vehicle.

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJ

Jason tried to sink back into the seat as Gwen quickly entered the car and shut the door.

"Fucking pricks," she muttered darkly still glaring at the cops. "Professional courtesy my arse."

"Now you really do remind me of Anita," said Jason lightly.

Gwen smiled at him. "Just met her so I'll take that as a compliment – she knows you're here by the way."

Jason almost stopped breathing and Gwen noticed. "Hey its alright." She put a hand on his arm. "She said to sit tight and told me to take you back to the hotel. Bossy ain't she? I mean Jack can be a bit you know and Owen can be a right git but Anita really takes the cake."

Jason realised she was trying to calm him down and smiled as warmly as he could. It probably came out as a grimace but she seemed to appreciate it.

"After that we switch to several other cars through a series of underground car parks and storage sheds before arriving at a safe house we organised earlier. Once we're positive we are no longer being followed."

Jason's face must have said it all and Gwen laughed before turning back to the steering wheel. "Between your local cops, FBI and various preternatural power-brokers we have been under surveillance since we got here. This ain't our first trip out you know."

Her voice faded into the background as the warmth flooded through Jason similar to what he had felt earlier. He looked out the window to a group of trees in the distance and sensed Ianto. A different Ianto. Somehow more powerful yet hiding the power in bursts and if he could feel it why couldn't Anita. Glancing back to where Anita stood she gave no indication that she could feel what Jason felt.

Some kind of connection made Jason see what Ianto could see. The ruins and them. The other lycanthropes and the SUV. It was calming even though it was like nothing Jason had ever experienced. "Follow," he whispered and felt the understanding from Ianto.

"They'll try," said Gwen, thinking he was talking to her. "But I have a few tricks up my sleeve and a very classified piece of equipment that might require you having one of Jack's special cocktails later."

Jason only half-heard her as they drove away. His focus was on Ianto who had moved to follow.

Luckily Gwen had her eyes on the road and not on Jason. If she had looked into his face she would have seen his irises change not into wolf form but into serpentine slits. She did however notice a slight smell of sulphur in the air but put it down to American vehicle emissions.

Tbc…