"Feel it. Love it. Need it." Noir hissed.
"Or it will destroy you." Maen snarled.
Harry took a claming breath ignoring the vampire and the werewolf, but listening to their words. He wrapped the fire around him. He had never tried more then making flames and shaping them slightly before. And when it had surrounded him it had always been an inch from his skin, his magic shielding him form the heat. Now he wrapped the tendrils of flame right around his skin. It could choose to hurt him, or leave him be. It had a mind its own sometimes.
He felt his skin itch with the uncomfortable heat. Then it became comfortable and he opened his eyes watching as the flame danced all across his skin. He was one giant fire ball and it felt wonderful. He embraced the fire helping build it up, cooing to it, loving it, needing it, but not controlling it. He threw his arms out and the fire leapt from him spinning around him like a hurricane. Slowly he pulled it back to him where it wrapped happily around his skin once more before slowly extinguishing. Noir (vampire) and Maen (Werewolf) both grinned. He had it for now.
.--.
Harry looked at the two blades in his hands. One was silver, about a foot long and deadly sharp. It had plain black leather wrapped around the handle. The second blade was a foot long and slightly curved. It was made of a metal that channelled magic. It was rare and very expensive. The hilt was wrapped in the same black leather. There was also a rune etched on the blade, just above the hilt, for fire. Harry slid first knife in the leather sheath inside his black leather boots. The second knife was tucked at his waist.
It was hidden from sight by his black cloak, which was quite in looks but waterproof and warm. It was held shut with a silver clasp in the shape of a flame, with a ruby for a crescent moon and a sapphire for a rose. The clasp looked innocent but it was anything but. Any Werewolf that saw the crescent moon on it would immediately know he was under the protection of Maen. Maen was the strongest and oldest werewolf alive. He was a lone alpha. No werewolf would go against him. Noir was the prince of all vampires. He wasn't the oldest, but no vampire would go against him. All obeyed him without question, though he rarely ordered them around, or even visited them.
But it made Harry safe. The one small pin would keep him safe. At least from Vampires and Werewolves. The very few others that recognized the pin would also be wary. Harry fingered it idly. The flame had been his own design. He had wanted something that was his. He ran a finger along the edge careful not to cut it on the sharply carved edges. It was also very nice. He liked Maen's moon the best. He had always loved the color of blood.
.--.
Noir and Maen. They were very close. Harry often wondered if they were lovers, but never asked. It was their privacy. They were also very confusing. They could go from mothering to him, to practically killing him with training, to staring at him as if her were so far away from them. They were sometimes open around him telling him everything, and at other times they were cautious like he was an unwanted guest. One moment they were smiling at him, a second later and they were snarling at him.
In the evenings they always sat together in the library of the manner the two shared and either had book lessons, or just relaxed. It was times at these Harry would find them watching him closely, asking many of his opinions on things, or just silently following him about. They seemed to want to like him, to accept him as one of their friend. But then they would glare as if he were something they would never like. Harry knew there was no love between them, but he still saw them as friends.
At the moment they were in the living room. Maen and Noir were softly chatting together while Harry sat comfortably on the chair. Once in a while the two would glance at him. Finally Noir stood. He moved to Harry and looked down at him. Suddenly he slapped him hard. Harry didn't make a noise as the claws scratched his cheek and his head flinched to the side. The Noir was kneeling beside him drawing him into a hug.
"Sorry my little flame." He cooed.
Harry accepted the word and leaned into the hug.
"You're are on our side aren't you flame?" Noir asked.
Harry looked into his icy blue eyes.
"I'm on no ones side, but I'm closest to yours."
Noir gave a small smirk. Then he roughly shoved Harry to the ground. Harry was grabbed by his collar and hefted up by Maen so their eyes were level. For a moment amber bore into green.
"If you're not with anyone then you're on your own side." He said.
"Aw, but what is my side?" Harry asked as it were the big question.
He was dropped.
"We'll never understand you Harry." Maen said looking at him oddly.
"And I'll never understand you." Harry said with a tittering laugh he had copied from Noir.
Sometimes he wondered if it wasn't those two that were odd, but him.
"You are ours Flame." Noir purred gently running his fingers through Harry's hair.
"Ours." Maen agreed
Harry closed his eyes.
"Yours." He agreed.
'For now.' One part of his mind chuckled.
.--.
The blade sliced effortlessly through the flesh, nothing stopping it. Blood splashed out spraying across his face. His tongue darted out to lick it off his lips. Tasted like copper. He liked it. He liked the feeling it left on his tongue, the feeling it left as it dripped from his hair, the feeling it left as it slid down his pale skin. The man in front of him screamed, gripping the wound on his chest. 'To noisy.' His mind hissed. On more stroke and the man fell headless. Harry wiped his blade off on the man's clothes and stood. Then he apparated away.
He appeared in front of a large house, to big to be a house, but to small to be a mansion. It was surrounded by high stone walls. Inside the walls were gardens, mostly roses. Mostly thorns. A small stone path led up to a large wood door. Harry slipped in said door walking silently down the hall. As he stepped into the first large sitting room arms wound around his shoulder.
"He's dead?" a voice purred.
"Yes. I killed him." Harry said easily.
"Good. You have finished our training. Your first kill showed you can hunt, you can trap, you can ensnare, you can seduce, you can trick, you can kill." Noir purred.
"We have taught you." Maen said slipping from the shadows.
"Not everything." Noir pointed out.
"But enough for now." Maen nodded.
"And only in a month. You are a genius." Noir clapped happily like a child.
Then the man once again wound his arms around Harry, licking his neck at the same time.
"And you like blood. Another plus." He purred licking the blood of Harry's neck.
Maen stepped forwards running a finger over his cheek as if testing the blood.
"Its wizard blood." He said licking it.
"The target was a wizard." Noir said tsking.
Maen gave a grin. Then he held out a bag Harry had barely noticed in his hands.
"Our last gift." Noir purred.
Harry took it gently. He reached in and pulled out a long sword. It was plain except for the black leather around the hilt, and the small emerald embedded in the hilt.
"It matches your eyes." Maen growled happily.
"But there's more."
Harry reached in again to pull out a violin. It was excellently crafted. Perfect. Noir let him go to grab his hand and drag him towards the sitting room.
"Come play one last time for us before you go back Harry, our flame." He laughed childishly.
"Before you leave." Maen said deeply a snarl behind the tone.
Harry answered to the demand and lifted the bow and violin.
.--.
"You be careful around the man Harry." Noir said straightening Harry's cloak.
Harry nodded absently shifting his bag.
"We went to check him out after we learned who you were staying with." Maen said watching Noir fuss over him.
"Yes." Noir said easily. "You be careful around that man Harry."
Harry nodded again.
"He is not an ordinary pet shop owner, nor are his pets ordinary." Maen said looking out the window.
"Do not anger him or the pets Harry." Noir said.
"It does not do well to anger an immortal Harry." Maen warned.
Harry looked at the werewolf who still looked out the window. So D wasn't human. He'd figured as much. Immortal. What an odd concept. Harry would never accept being immortal. He would not wish to have death out of his reach. He just nodded to both. Noir stood straight then leaned over slightly cupping the back of Harry's neck with a hand. He brought his face close. His breath spread over Harry's lips and for a moment Harry thought he would kiss him.
"You be careful little flame." He whispered smirking.
Then he moved his face and kissed Harry's neck. Harry almost hissed as the spot he had kissed burned. He twisted to see a drop of blood sink into his skin and twist into a tattoo of a rose. It was the color of blood. 'Blood magic.' He thought idly. He looked at Noir to see a small bite on his lip healing.
"That will tell me if you are dead or unwell." Noir cooed letting him go.
Maen stepped forwards then and grabbed his arm, yanking him into him. He looked up at the amber eyes and saw a glint in them.
"Watch your back carefully all the time." He said breathlessly.
Then he leaned over and bit Harry's shoulder. Harry winced slightly. Suddenly he could hear everything clearer and smell everything quite well. He could see sharper as well. Being bit by a transformed werewolf changed you into one. No one had ever said what happened by being bit by an untransformed werewolf. Harry looked at his neck to see a drop of blood mix with the bite marks. It spread to make a tattoo of a crescent moon. 'More blood magic.'
"That shall tell me where you are." Maen supplied giving a feral grin.
"Now run along to the pet shop Harry dear. And don't anger the immortal." Noir said.
Harry left as commanded.
.--.
End of Chapter 10.