Chapter XXXII

They dragged Tanis to his convert wine cellar, Hermione hauling him by the scuff of his collar while James and Remus were right behind them, wands draws and at his back so as to not get any funny ideas and Keller and Sirius bringing up the rear. The room was in disarray and judging from the mess must have been in the midst of a threesome before they decide to drop in.

The ruffled bed sheets and lacy undergarments lying on the floor were a dead giveaway and not to mention the smell of sex hung heavily in the air and laced with freshly spilled blood and what might also be some drugs, opium or something...

Geez, it looks like we might have almost walked in on a blood orgy here. Either that or a very badly propped porno movie set, all it's missing is the lights and movie cameras…

You said it, I mean back there in the tunnel when I was coming down this way I thought something smell a little funky, ugh and no wonder but somehow it starting to reek here and I think I know why…

There were a dozen or more candles on the other side, some lit while others were sitting there in the room. It had some kind of musky incense burning scent that was probably trying to cover up the stench that was wafting from the den below. It didn't do a good job disclosing the smells and left her feeling sick in the stomach by breathing it in and having the pungent air in her lungs.

But while they couldn't hope for Tanis to have windows here but at least not to be too close to the source and yet no one would ever expect what they found there. It look to be a medieval chamber but could have pass itself as a brothel and seem well lavish despite having to be trapped here in exile from his own kin.

Hmph, looks like Tanis has been having a good time here… Keller knew he couldn't just very well waltz out of this place and go wherever he pleased but that's not why they were here. They had something far more important to discuss and didn't need to waste time with idle chitchat when they should really just cut right to the chase.

At least that what she wanted to do and Hermione could sense how impatient she was becoming just by watching her from the side. They couldn't really rush things without having to force it out of him and hope he'll be willing to give them what they need.

Keller as much as I want to get the information out of him as you do, we must get him to cooperate and hopefully be willing to tell us what we want.

Yeah but if he doesn't and tries to pull a fast one, well let's just say I have my own ways and know how to make them talk.

Keller please…

Keller sigh to herself while she watched Tanis shifting uncomfortable under everyone's gaze and went settle himself in a chair while he seem to be trying to figure what their intentions were for the purpose of barging in on him. He knew that he was very well outnumbered and with nothing to use against them, taking away his gun and his other weapon out of reach but having to rely on wits to make it through again until he could come up with something. He look again at everyone and seeing Keller's stare on him and how much it reminded him of the Death Dealer Selene and shudder to think what she could do, if not worse to him after she taken care of his consorts.

To see the wary and terrified look on his face made Keller smiled inwardly as she could see him squirming with all those presents surrounding him and knowing they got him trapped and corner like a rat and fearful for his life.

He should be, having to deal with two hybrids, a werewolf and two wizards and how the odds were against him at this moment.

Then again, maybe trying to get under his skin be the open opportunity they need and make him give the information easier instead of having to do all the dirty work. Either way, they were going to get the answer they want, even if she had to make him talk herself through her own methods.

Keller felt something rub against her and look down finding Sirius staring up at her his eyes full of concern and almost asking if she was all right. She had almost forgot that he had been beside her the whole time ever since they caught Tanis and been walking alongside her. He was furious when he had saw Tanis holding the gun at Keller and wanted to lung right at him and tear him to ribbons but had saw that Hermione had everything under control and decided to stay close to Keller and making sure no other surprises came at her expense.

She was grateful for his consideration for her, she wasn't really hurt but besides being attacked by two massive lycans she was all right. She bend down and scratch him on the head while whispering in his ear, "I'm fine Sirius but listen I think you better change back now ok."

Keller stepped aside and watch as he shift into his normal form and standing on his two feet again. They heard a startle gasp and saw Tanis had watched and didn't seem like he was able to believe what he just saw.

He probably wouldn't have as he knew only of their general kind very well existed but for him he might never have guess a bunch of wizards and two hybrids to drop in on him and he won't, not before this night is over…

"You have gotten quite comfortable here I see, even I would've never expect them to be so generous in making you have such a privileged luxury in such a confided place like this." Keller said as she need to get his attention as to why they were here while eyeing everything in the room and taking it in how well his accommodations were despite that it barely disguised the fact that it was in an ancient monastery out in the middle of nowhere.

There was no doubt about it that someone had definitely paid for his well expenses and made sure to give him anything he needed despite being in a dingy and decrepit church and left to rot in this frozen wasteland.

"So how come you had werewolves as your bodyguards huh?" Remus asked a little bit out of disgust that his own kind was to be forced into such a low and disgruntle kind of position like this.

Was that how most seen them as, besides being monster they were to be turn into some kind of watchdog to sic on defenseless people? To be reduced into guard dogs?!

Yes but they tried to kill your mate and he's the one who sic them on her, Moony didn't have to remind him but thinking how Tanis was here and not too far from where he was and couldn't help growling at the vampire as if blaming him for the endangerment of his mate. If he try to do anything funny to Hermione, he'll kill him before he lays one finger on her head. Even if he had to tear him with his own hands to keep his own mate safe.

Hermione could immediately sense the tension coming off him and knowing how bad things could get if he let the wolf take control, she quickly went to his side and staying close to him, letting her presence wear calm the beast down. She also kept an eye on Tanis, making sure he didn't try to do anything and make a run for it. He didn't seem likely to not with Remus staring at him and with a dangerous look in his eyes that made him stay in his spot.

"I'll give it a wild guess here but that it has something to do with Lucian?" Tanis's head turn in Keller direction as she walk about the room, staring at everything that look to been very much expensive and there was no way he could leave the premise without alerting the elders and having the Death Dealers on him before having the chance to escape and dispose of him quickly, "He's been giving you a lot in exchange for artillery and possible information to fight the vampires am I right?"

He didn't speak but that was all she needed to know that confirmed her suspicions. He was shock to hear the girl know Lucian was very much alive and was making business with the supposedly dead lycan leader. It didn't really come fully to him to wonder how she came across this information and the only ones who were really in leagues with the lycans were either him or Kraven and his men but nobody in the covenant had an idea about it. If anyone else had they would have immediately put him to death for more than the 'crimes' he had done and be in for consorting with a lycan and dealing firearms to the enemy.

James turn to her confuse suddenly curious as he asked, "Wait so you're saying he's the one providing the werewolves to go up against the vampires? Isn't that kinda like turning against your kind or something?"

"Apparently in this world, everything has a price and anything can be bought almost with just the right amount, willing to turn against those that threw them out or by the highest bidder willing to give something to them. Trust me I know." Keller having seen her fair share of how far one's loyalty being paid off and how even at the turn of one's own kind just to have some extra cash on them.

Hermione already figure that out, people who only watched out for themselves and cared only for their needs and didn't even consider who gets hurt in the long run.

Even thinking of one certain rat who had daresay turn against his friends to the dark side, which she had no idea as to how she might tell them despite she shouldn't for the preservation of the timeline. Everyone turn to Tanis who seem to be still in the same spot while everyone crowd around him.

He looked over to Keller who cross the room and wanting to get straight down to business, "Well now that's said, I think we should get as to why we here as we don't want to waste anymore of your precious time now do we? I hope you don't mind if we start, good cause we need to talk about something that you might happen to know about and figure you'll be willing to give us some answers."

If you know what's good for you unless you want me to rip off your fingers one fucking digit at a time, the silent threat went unnoticed and Tanis chose to ignore what she was asking by pouring himself a glass of blood-red wine, seeming to regain some dignity of his vampire pride as there was no way he was going to share whatever he had to a bunch of kids who dare enter his private sanctuary and start going about demanding from him. These punks were many centuries younger than him and seeing no reason to be afraid until he could come up with something.

"Whatever you are looking for, surely I wouldn't know."

Wrong answer. She looked to Sirius and giving a gesture to him who seem to get the idea and grin as he point his wand and shot a red light at the wineglass in his hand. Tinted glass exploded and wine splashed over the wall.

They watched as Tanis jumped backwards a shocked expression on his face. His blasé pose shattered just as readily as the wineglass. Bits of the shards embedded in his palm but that was not the reason he was cursing profoundly while trying to remove the pieces.

"Son of a bitch!"

He turn to glare to see everyone with their wands out and pointed right at him and Keller look to Sirius, showing how well impressed she was. Nicely done and couldn't have done it any better as she walked to Sirius, knowing how well he enjoyed the chance of getting to play the bad cop or bad wizard in this case.

Well this was going to make things interesting as she decide to make sure that Tanis gets the picture that they were serious of using whatever means to make him talk and not afraid of using whatever spells just to get what they want.

"Now Tanis let me make one thing perfectly clear to you and listen carefully cause this will be the only time I say this and better not forget. If you don't cooperate and answer our questions, I will be sure to cast the entrails-expelling curse in which you will have your inside come out and trust me we will not hold back on that or any other dangerous curses if you refused to answer any and also I will make it my own personal privilege to take every last organ out of your body and shove them right up your ass when I done. Now do I make myself clear or what?"

She saw his normal pale complexion turn to the color of ash and Keller had to keep from smirking at how easy it was getting what she want.

"Now are you ready? Good, let's start off with the first one: Tell us what you know of the Queen of the Night and the Queen of the Moon."