Chapter 2: Pick A Cover, Win a Fight

Using a long and legendery cover as the Were-Cat Gia Merroe, Des is tracked down by a watching Dwayne who seeing a threat in the many gun men on the floor of the Equites Novem inserts himself in to make sure she gets out alive. It provides the opportunity for him to create his first cover, and gives him a much better idea of who and what the woman he was so drawn to is.

For she is a Lady of the Night

the wearer of a thousand masks

never deviating from her task

to live she has to run a thousand times fast

wear a cover,pick a fight.

Never say quit or die

Live in the fast lane of the quick and the dead

or be run over, pumped full of led

paint yourself the target to protect the blissfully ignorent

He won't let her just be a throw away so he cast in his own die.

- excerpt from The Silver Blade by Makilome

Dwayne's POV

He and Marko had been tailing her. Almost every time she caught them, a sarcastic wave here, an amused smile there. Always some hint that she saw them. On some level it gave him a sense of relief. If she could acknowledge them, she was not in any danger. He kept thinking back to when he grabbed her and how close she came, and he was beginning to understand just how reckless with her own life she really was. If he didn't think she wouldn't come murder him in his sleep, he would find a way to contact Julian and get him to yank her out of that life! This night was one of the reasons he wanted desperately to get on speaking terms with the Prince of San Francisco! It was an open, outdoor bar out on the beach, one where any decent shot had many opportunities to take out their prey, and where many predatory supernaturals did exactly that! And they were crawling around like flies tonight! He could smell the gun metal and gun powder where they hid them under flimsy and very unconvincing clothing. He caught a glimpse of her chestnut hair, sitting at a table alone with a bottle of Scottish Whiskey and a shot glass.

He made him forget the fact that it was an incredibly sexy sight to see a woman who could knock back three shots of the bitter liquid without one cringe and without even a sign a vampire could pick up on of being the slightest bit tipsy! She took longer to drink the third, alerting him to the fact that this was no casual visit. Especially not without how her eyes descretly scanned the crowd. He had been around long enough, watched enough busts to know when someone was on a meet! And if these were the same bastards who tried to take her out, the stakes couldn't possibly be any higher! He growled with a loud annoyance when one of the comic book idiots appeared and started his speal. The man was going to blow her cover! He saw when she was spotted, the Weres moving in packing their heat while a dark haired, well dressed business man wearing sunglasses spotted her and wore a smile that made him feel internally sick. It was the smile David wore before they dove in for the kill. Not catching the hint, the Frogg brother wouldn't leave, and was looking to create a scene.

He wanted to know who and what she was, so now was a good a time as any to dive in! He didn't even think about it, silently telling Marko to close in and take a spot at the bar, he was going to insert himself into Des' cover. His brother had been highly amused and a bit excited. They didn't do anything like this before, he himself couldn't help but be pulled in by the adrenaline. Time to don the hat of the Hunter he was! He walked up slowly, wearing a casual smile and enjoyed seeing the Frogg go paler than a sheet! His hand went to the middle of her back on the back of the chair. He bent and kissed her cheek, a warning glance sent to the Frogg. "Sorry about the wait my dear, I was otherwise occupied." he said. She gave him a look over her shoulder and a slow, knowing smirk that made him slightly crazy and a little insensed. "I do hope your hunt was sucessful." she said while he took the seat right next to her and pulled in close, hand never leaving its place. It was a comment directly meant to be heard from their scene causing problem child. And it worked it's magic, with a glare that if worn by any of his brother's would mean someone's death the boy stormed out. She let out a loud laugh and he wore an amused grin.

"So you are up for a little excitement on this fine evening?" she asked pointedly with a knowing look. "What can I say, I am always up to try something new. Everyone should try things at least once in life." he bit off, finding that inspite of the very real danger he rather enjoyed the banter and her complete lack of fear. It gave her a freedom that many a female did not share and made her a little wild. Which was why the others had taken to her so easily and agreed so readidly with David to keep her close. Well that and Paul being the perv he was couldn't take his eyes off her ass or her tits, depending from what angle he was watching, for five seconds or any time long enough to focus on what his actual task was! "Interesting point of view! Perhaps I should join one of these hunts!" and all the sudden he found his own self falling into Paul's trap! It was just the visual, so beautiful and covered in crimson of her prey... His voice dropped an octive and became very low. "I think you should. You might like it!" and he didn't resist the urge to run a hand along the soft skin of her exposed arm, enjoying it's softness and it's warmth. She had spent time in the sun today! "You know, you may be right." her eyes lit up, he could litterally feel her increasing heart rate, the excitement he knew very well. It was that of the predator closing in on it's unwitting prey and it was intoxicating him faster than the shot she just slid!

"He's coming! Improptu lessons start now, Native! Pick a cover, help me win a fight. You seem already in the pervy sort of mood, so pick a name and do your best impersonation of Paul!" she said silently. Laughter bubbled up, he just couldn't help it so she leaned her head in like they were sharing a private joke. "Name is Dorian Knight, and what is yours, beautiful?" he couldn't help it, she was just so playful and it was so easy to enjoy the game when a fellow hunter of her caliber was there to share it with! "Name is Gia Merroe, the Hellcat of Detroit. Nice to meet you, Dorian the Were-Wolf of St. Louis. How's the pack? Make any recent scores of fine artillery lately?" and he finally raised his hand as the business man took a seat across from them and inserted it into hers, squeezing it once to let her know he knew the stakes and was a great player, when need be. A wide smile crossed her face as he took a seat and she reached out and over the table, patting him on the arm in such a familiar way that he bit down his hardest on a growl. He questioned himself at the possesive action but came up with no answers other than she was marked as One of the Pack already. "Knox! It has been far to long since Detroit! How the hell are you?! Rack and the Boys?" she asked in an excited and fond tone.

Apparently Gia had a history with this particular mark. Which would make it all the better when they got to take the slick and greasy bastard down! He wore a shark's smile with a wandering eye that had him wanting nothing more than to jack him in the jaw here and there! Des was not a piece of meat! His gaze slowly took in Dwayne, and the fact that he was holding "Gia's" hand. Using her advise, he imitated one of Paul's signature smiles, the one that made everyone feel like they were part of the gang. Part of his easy going nature that made him such a good hunter. Prey were attracted to those who looked fun and felt safe. "I see you are running in new crouds lately Gia. Finally falling for a local?" he asked curiously. She let out a bubbling, carefree laugh. She smacked him gently. "Oh Knox darling, you'll always be my first love! Don't be jealous now! This is Dorian Knight, we met in St. Louis. You remember, my man with the plan? Managed to salvage a deal gone bad and got me my guns and my money? Well, turns out he is a hell of alot of fun and has become invaluable to my opperations with his contacts. We have bonded over common interests." to help her sell the pervy innuendo she was going for, he raised up her hand and gently sucked on the pulse point between the thumb and the forefinger, which to his satisfaction, had her let out an involuntary mew and annoying his new mark.

To his credit, Knox hid it better than most mortals would have, under a good natured and indulgent laugh. A business opportunity was more important than his own desires, and he was now part of something far bigger than himself. THose were his thoughts as he reigned in his own baser instincts. "Ah yes, now I recall!" his gaze now blatently ingaged in a friendly staredown, which being the predator he was, Dwayne won easily. "So you are the famous Dorian! I owe you thanks, Gia is invaluable, I wouldn't do anything or make a move without including her. She dearer than my own sister! And certainly more loyal! We all could always use more friends, especially loyal ones, and Gia inspires such loyalty!" it was another comment with hidden meaning that had him wanting to rip his throat out. Instead he gave Paul's smirk and slight shift in his eyes of when something darkly amused him. "She does, for she is the most beautiful of the fairer sex. Such beauty demands loyalty by default. She has never had much need to resort to violence. Althought when she does..." he let himself slowly and appreciatively take in her figure with a slow smile packed full of naughty thoughts that earned him a playful slap to the back of his head. "Public place Dorian! A little discretion please!" she scolded lightly. "Oh don't be that way Gia, man can't help himself!" Knox lightly defended.

"I don't think any man in his right mind could!" Dwayne threw in, finally setting the other man at ease, his stance became relaxed and his men began to disperse into the crowd and order their own drinks. "Now that I can readidly agree with! Don't be to hard on him. I am sure he intends to make it all better later!" he said with a leer while they all laughed. "But to business darling! Things have been picking up for me. I got a in on a new and loyal local group looking to buy. I heard you were in town and told him in the cause for us Weres, there is no better soldier or gun runner than the Hellcat of Detroit! The leader is very interested and wants a meet. So have you had any interesting shipments of late?" he said. Dwayne became very aware suddenly of how good this man was at his job. "In fact Dorian here has just come in to some rather lovely peices from his boys in his hometown. Comes from a job done in New York of conviscated weapons out of the Middle-East. What kind of pieces should we be thinking about? And you know the price is high, things are not as good as the good old days." she had a sad look on his face and Dwayne was rather impressed with the character she created. Knox gave her a look of sympathy. "Don't worry Hellcat, all that is about to change, real soon! You are about to be put back in the forefront, where you belong! My boss understands the prices you are going to have to ask for." she looked up with interest and Dwayne followed her lead.

"Something going on with our Cause here in Santa Carla?" he asked. Knox gave his new friend a wide grin. "Indeed! THe shadow war is about to spill over, and soon we will nolonger have to hide in the shadows! Which brings me to our hardware. I am very happy to hear about the score from the Middle-East. That is just the kind of art my boss is interested in! How long will it be before you can manage to smuggle it inland?" he asked. He laughed along with her. "Oh Knox, you know me to well, you know that?! It will be a few days. There has been a little heat after that building exploded the other night. I have to wait for the police activity to die down in the more dead and unchecked part of town." he bit down real hard on a laugh! He saw Marko choke before breaking down into tipsy giggles at the bar at her antics. "Perfect! That's just what I was hoping to hear! I knew I could count on you! If you do not have any plans, you and Dorian here should come out and be merry with us on Friday. Everyone would be delighted to see you again, Hellcat!" he offered. She looked over at Dwayne and gave him an raised eyebrow. He fought a smirk to keep with his roll. "I'm in, I'm in, don't crucify me babe, then you won't get to those other activities you enjoy so much!" another thunk to the back of his head before she turned back to the sleaze. "Looks like we're on, Knox! Tell the boys it's bbq or I'll eat them instead with Kansas City Misquete!" she said with a long laugh. He couldn't help it, once again, it was just the image! Tiny Des taking dainty bites out of a 900 lbs were!

Whatever the cover Gia Merroe was, Knox took the threat VERY seriously leaving him with questions he wasn't quite sure he wanted the answers to. And because he didn't, what he already knew of her showed that he would be getting them, in DETAIL! As Knox began to get up and kissed her hand the minx had the nerve to say "Scratch and snif!" with a image of a killed were and a hunt knife and a whole lot of skinning and artful if not so gruesome cutting of that one and the one next to her with a man with chestnut hair staring at her bloodied form with a lust that made his stomach turn and sent his beast to the fore to destroy anything that touched what belonged to them! A cool hand slid down his hair and forced him to look at her. "Control it Dwayne! If you want a part of this, there are lessons you have to learn. Lesson one is create a cover, and then control your beast from destroying it! We are still watched and there are to many witnesses! Now breathe with me, take back control!" his inner self knew she was right and so he took breathes that were un needed, while her hand slipped in his and worked something far faster! By the time he looked again she wore a sly smile and he was himself. "Walk with me, see if you can keep the enterlopers out of it except curly upthere." she threw some money down for the greedy waitress who watched them leave all to closely.

Marko still getting his message, he blocked and began obnoxiously flirting, which did make both of them laugh. "And that is the reason he is not the one who gets the girls!" she said. "One of them. Now are you going to tell me what that was back there, Gia?" he asked. "An opportunity, and a test. You see the Equites Novem are the supernatural splinter group of the Sabbat, whom I know you know all to well, as you and the others spent many years violently at war with them to keep them out of your town. They are not out of your town anymore. THis group is highly funded, with hands in pots all across the supernatural spectrum. 6 of our agents were slaughtered when we were betrrayed by one of our own." the way her body slighty trembled and the way the angry air began to tear around them, he knew that this one was highly personal for her. Flashes of the same chestnut haired man he saw before and her... "I am going to use this office, I will bring down a Blood Hunt straight from the Prince of San Francisco, I will bring down the weight of Roma if I have too but I WILL find Gaiden Mose, and then I am going to discect him slowly and burn him in peices!" And all the sudden the waves of the water were becoming higher. He had been her lover, she trusted him, and this had been an important mission with some of the best agents she knew... He didn't care if she didn't welcome it, she needed it!

So he pulled her in close and steeled her. She didn't move and not one tear sled down her cheek, the brokeness was inside, from a place where all the tears were shed and revenge is what remained. "WE are going to do those things! For reasons I don't have answers for, I can't stand back and watch you die, so find another reason to go other than this! There is going to be traiters, and no you can't trust anyone outside this, our circle. And yes you are in Our Circle whether you like it or not!" she let out a sarcastic huff and looked up at him with a look that said "oh, really?" "You know I speak truth, it also doesn't bother you in the slightest, you are just to sarcastic for your own good." he countered with a slight grin. "True story." she remarked. She was slowly regaining herself. Probably thinking about the lessons she was going to be now extending to all of the Pack for whatever she was a part of. TOnight showed him it was definately goverment but it was to big and knew to much to be an leg in the FBI. This was no mere drug run tonight. Before Friday she was going to have to make a trip to the Cave and start talking! "I know I will. But right now how about I get walked back to my room and you steal as much information as David desires?" he laughed out loud. "It will be a hurt to his ego to know someone has him figured out." he said jovially as she pulled out of his grasp.

"Well, what he doesn't know, can't hurt him, can it?" she remarked. And the rest of the walk was spent joking, though he was glad she had asked. They had tails all around them and he understood even the walk and the low moment at the beach was a part of the cover and she only allowed talk because those following were probably charmed to hear something else. Which meant he would be following her into her room and having to find a way to vanish. He was really starting to like this girl! It had been far to long since he had a challenge and here it was, one laying just right in his lap! They got to the door and she let him open it. It's something Max would be dead set against. But she was Desemond de Luna, she outranked their Maker, pure and simple! Julian was vicious if matters called for it and Max had no power to be able to stop Julian from placing Santa Carla under his jurisdiction if he made a move against his daughter. Which meant this mission was in effort with the Cammaria. She would have to report ot her 'father' tonight. And that was more of her brilliance. THe local vampires in on the game are allies and not enemies. Which meant anything Max did against her, he did alone. Dwayne had to smile at the beauty of it. When they entered the rather bland and way to white room, he couldn't help but think this needed to be changed soon. She needed the fun of the cave after her daily brushes with death!

"That was a rather done imperonation of Paul there Dorian! Think it would make him proud?" she joked and they both broke down. She moved over and his jaw dropped at the bottle she pulled out of the many bar. It was not just any Scotch, but Scotch aged 1901 made in the Edinburgh underground! "I find after sucesses like this a strong drink is more than nessecery. This was a gift to me, from Arkon before he was assasinated. Julian held it in wait for my 21st birthday. It took just one shot and I got REAL aquainted with his italian marble!" and that cut anything less of the tension between them and he stood there, recieving his ancient Scotch and enjoying her company like she was one of the others! Perhaps even better, she among other things was an intellectual equal, something he hadn't had in more years then he cared to count! Tonight made him feel alive! He was a part of something again, and what did it matter that it was in the shadows? He mattered tonight! He raised a glass getting a raised eyebrow and a small smile out of Des, and beautiful woman that she was, she was obviously not understanding the effect she had on men! Was it so wrong of him to want to teach her? She went ahead and raised her glass. "To the efforts of Dorian Knight and Gia Merroe and the long demise of Sir Greasy!" her laugh truly was contagious! And there it was again, that drinking without flinching! It would make Paul crazy, he was pretty sure about that!

They spent an hour and two glasses each before she made a jaw dropping destraction and she litterally had to push him out into the air before he could get caught doing the same! Stomach burning, happy for the first time in YEARS and slightly tipsy, he made his way to the Cave to give David his report. The night's development gave them a much clearer view of who and what Desemond de Luna is. And now more than ever Dwayne wanted to be a full-fledged part of it and leave this life behind, never look back!