http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan Adrian_Lavan's Journal Copyright 2008, Adrian_Lavan http://www.journalscape.com/rssdocs.html JournalScape Support <custsupport@journalscape.com> JournalScape RSS Generator v1.0 http://www.journalscape.com/rssdocs.html http://www.journalscape.com http://www.journalscape.com/images/poweredby.gif http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-07-10-18:30/ So I'm not sure how many more chapters I'll put up. Although the information here is timestamped and safe, as well as safe because it's in my files. And editing/proofreading is good for me, helpful to the series. But. But I don't want it to be unsafe, or jeopardize its integrity, now that it's available on the internet, with google...well... we'll see. <br> <br>I changed "rising" to "raising" as well, and I have a feeling that I'll be changing it again. :) <br> <br>*&* <br> <br> “What do you mean?” I asked innocently. I knew damn well what he meant, but I needed the time to formulate, and it wouldn’t hurt to know what he knew. <br> “What the hell right do you have to pretend you don’t know?” He was all but screaming into the phone. Yeah, pissed was an understatement. <br> “Well, it mostly stems from the lack of clairvoyance. I figure, I’m gifted enough without knowing what the hell you’re thinking.” I growled to myself, angry at him still. “You seem to have forgotten that you’re not exactly making my happy list. You let Jos rape Alayna, and didn’t do jack shit.” <br> “At least I didn’t kill anyone!” He yelled in response. “You slaughtered Keith and Kael like they were dogs! And after I told them they could trust you, you killed them!” <br> “Kael attacked me,” I replied sharply. “I didn’t want to hurt her, but she attacked me.” <br> “And you killed her anyway.” <br> “It was either that or be killed. I’m picky about that, honestly. And Keith…” I hesitated, sad beyond what I had expected. “He should’ve stuck to the plan.” <br> “You fucking killed them,” he replied bitterly. “I gave them my oath that no harm would come to them. You murdered them.” <br> “Eric,” I felt myself almost wilting under his anger and my own guilt. I didn’t want to hurt them. But I had to. “I’m sorry for what happened. I didn’t mean to kill anyone. Please…it wasn’t supposed to be like this.” <br> “You know what I don’t get? The Alpha is ready to fucking kill you. But he holds off, told us to let you be. Why would they protect you?” <br> “I don’t know,” I said softly. “I’m sorry, Eric. I am.” I hung up before I started to cry. <br> Foyl settled onto the desk and made soothing noises for several minutes. When the phone rang again, he got up to pull out the cord. I waved him away. “It won’t help to let him swear at you more. You did what you had to. That’s all any of us can do.” <br> “And I have to do this,” I said, picking up the phone. <br> “Lucifel?” The voice startled me. <br> “Erin? What…what’s up?” I wiped my eyes with a tissue and tried to sound normal. <br> “I heard what happened last night. The police are saying that the werewolf was on drugs when she attacked you. You aren’t being tried with anything, but…I don’t know Lucifel. It looks bad.” <br> “What looks bad?” With mediums, you have to be careful how you interpret anything. <br> “I don’t know. I just have a feeling. I could…try to find them. Those werewolves, I mean, but I don’t know if that would help you at all,” she sighed wearily. <br> “Only incriminate me, I’m sure,” I replied bitterly. “Thanks for the thoughts, Erin. I…short of werewolves marching on my home, I’m not sure what could make my situation more precarious.” <br> “Be careful, alright? That’s all I’ll say on the matter.” <br> “Thanks,” I said again. “How’re you and Strass doing?” <br> She laughed. “Seriously, I’m sure you’ve almost seen more of him than I have lately! He keeps heading over to visit your uncle, saying that he hasn’t been around other elves for so long. I’d be jealous if he wasn’t telling me how much he loved me every day.” <br> “Trust me, that could be as much curse as blessing,” I replied wryly, thinking of Caninus. “I’m sure he just misses elves. I’m not much for good company, after all.” <br>“Bullshit,” she replied playfully. “Now, you’ve got to tell me who it is you’re thinking about.” She laughed richly, “I can feel him over the line, sort of. Judging by what I’m picking up, he’s got to be a hell of a guy. You sleep with him?” <br>“What?” I sputtered. “What the…are you nuts?” <br>“Oh, dish! Dish!” she begged laughing. “I have to hear about him. I can almost see him now, while you’re thinking about him.” <br>“Oh stars,” I breathed, putting my head into my lap. No way I’d ever live this down. “He’s…a temporary business associate.” <br>“Not a customer, I trust? You’d never do anything so unscrupulous, I’m sure.” She laughed and it lifted my spirits a little until she said, “Lucifel, I can almost see him! Who is he?” <br>“He works for the person I’m working for. We’ve had to work together a few times, and he’s saved me about as often as I’ve saved him.” <br>“Where was he last night?” she replied quickly. “I heard you were hurt like hell.” <br>My fingers brushed over the neat stitches that were too even to have been Foyl. “He saved me then. Kael…she bit me before I shot her. He saved me from the virus, but he won’t say how.” <br>“Idiot,” she replied. “That’s got to be a million dollar cure. Anyway, tell me what he looks like, who he is. You keep sliding away from the image and it’s getting infuriating. Like scrambled porn or something.” We both laughed at that. “Seriously. Describe him to me!” <br>“So you can do a read?” I laughed at her. “I already did one, love. And my cards are more accurate than your spirits when it’s someone I know personally.” <br>“So what did they say?” <br>I paused for a moment, debating about what was an acceptable level of honesty. “The joker,” I said after a moment. “He’s an enigma so that wasn’t unexpected but…” <br>“What were the hearts? I can almost feel them coming from you.” <br>I sighed, “The queen fell on the ace.” <br>“No shit?” she laughed loudly. “Oh, lordy, Lucifel! He loves you that much? Oh, congratulations.” <br>“Yeah,” I replied softly. “I was thrilled.” <br>“So why haven’t you celebrated? He’s clearly psycho for you, dear.” <br>“Because he’s just that; psyco. Erin, he’s a vampire.” Coming clean might get her off my case. I hoped. <br>“Ah. That makes sense then, why you’re afraid to get too close. Afraid he’ll decide you’re a convenient snack?” Erin’s tone was as soothing and gentle as always. <br>“No,” I replied sadly. “Afraid his master will decide to have him kill me.” <br>She sucked in breath, “Ouch, love. Yeah, that’s not good. Pity, too. I caught a glimpse and he’s such a babe! I admire your restraint.” <br>“I don’t want to talk about it anymore, alright? It’s weird enough as is.” I sighed. “Listen, Erin, it’s been great talking with you. I don’t need a therapist when I’ve got you,” I smiled. “But listen, I’ve got work to do. The cops are going to be incredibly pissed at me.” <br>“Yeah, I figured,” she replied wryly. “Best of luck with that, and know that the spirits and I are pulling for you and your mystery guy.” <br> I didn't really want them to be pulling for Caninus and I, but I figured that "pulling for" us included hoping we didn't die, so I didn't say anything. At that point, anything that kept us from getting dead was worth it, even if it meant pretending that a vampire and I were an item. <br>Unfortunately, I hadn't lied when I said the cops were going to be pissed. Coil was livid when I got up the cahones to call him. "What the hell do you think you were doing, Lucifel? Two werewolves murdered in one night? And you ditch both crime scenes? I could lose my job because of this. I've covered for you as much as I can and I could still lose my job. You know they put my ass on probation because of this shit?" <br>I sighed sadly. "I'm sorry, Coil. Listen, I didn't mean to leave the scene, and I didn't want to kill anybody. Kael attacked me first--plenty of people can attest to that. And Keith ran away when I tried to talk to him. By the time I caught up he started attacking me." That wasn't the way it went down at all, but it was close enough to pass. <br>"Why leave the scene, Lucifel? It's practically convinced everyone of your guilt. You freaking ran away--that's so unlike you I can't get my head around it. And why take Keith's body?" <br>"I didn't mean to," I said. "After Keith's death, his body was a mess. I took it to do my investigation, but there was nothing there to even investigate. He was riddled with bullet holes and his abrupt change. No way I could have done anything to his body other than a were test and I already knew the result of that one. So I disposed of the body." <br>"Lucifel, you can't do that. It was a person, even as a wolf. A fucking person, and you burned him." <br>I sighed. "I'll have to call his pack later to apologize for my actions and inform them of what happened. If they want reparations or something, we'll discuss it." <br>He snapped, "Lucifel, this pack is not forgiving. You talk about reparations like it'll be a few thousand dollars--it will probably be your ass in jail for the rest of your fucking life. And you act so caviler about it?" <br>"Yeah," I replied hotly. "If I took this as seriously as I should, I'd be throwing up right now. I didn't want to do any of this, and I'll say it a dozen times more before this interrogation is through." <br>"Lucifel," his tone turned softer. "I didn't want to have to interrogate you..." <br>"It's your job," I said to him. "You do it well. I do mine well. Part of our jobs is to be able to shut off our emotional response. Let's move on, shall we?" <br>"What about Kael? Why'd you bail on that scene?" He'd taken the turn from bad-ass "I'm-gonna-put-your-sorry-ass-in-jail" cop to "lets-work-this-through" cop. I reminded myself that this was why he was such a good investigator. <br>"Kael attacked me," I said, ignoring his tone. "She attacked and I had to retaliate, but I didn't have any of my weapons other than a few knives. They weren't even a high grade of silver ore. She tore into my arm and infected it with the were virus." <br>"Shit! Lucifel, what are you going to do? Other magics don't blend well with necromages or with elves really well. I'm surprised you aren't dead! How are you?" He sounded genuinely concerned. Now he was "Coil-my-friend." <br>"I'm alive and no longer contaminated. Foyl found a way to arrest the virus and then used his own magic to purge it from my system. But I was unconscious--he had to remove me from the scene. Otherwise, I would have stayed, Coil, and you know that." <br>"Yeah," he agreed. "I know that. I'm glad you're safe, Lucifel—OWL couldn't stand to lose you. I'd almost convinced the state department to have you recognized as a civilian member of the unit until all this went down." <br>"I'm sorry," I apologized sincerely. "Now it'll never go down and you'll constantly be covering for my ass." <br>"I'm alright with it," he replied with a chuckle. "You're useful enough that your ass is worth covering." <br>"Thanks," I replied wryly. "Do I need to come into the station officially or anything? I'm sure I've got other paperwork to bring down if we can make it unofficial." <br>"I prefer it that way," he said. "Until their packs raise a shit fit, we'll keep this as low-key an investigation as possible." <br>"Thanks, Coil," I said honestly. "This would've been twice a bitch without your help. I promise, I'll tell you everything I can't later." <br>I could hear him smiling, "If you don't, I'll arrest your ass." <br>I almost said that, if we factored in all the evidence we were conveniently avoiding, he would have to. Trust me, there are better times and places to say that to a cop. Actually, there's no good time or place, which is a good enough reason to say nothing. "Thanks, Coil," I said again. "I'll call." I hung up the phone and ran a hand through my choppy hair. "Foyl, I'll be honest. This is a fucking mess." <br>"Just stay calm, Lucifel. it could be worse." I heard a heart-broken howl my front lawn and my throat leapt into my mouth. <br>"Worst kind of coincidence," I mumbled as I walked over to look out the window. But I already knew what I'd find. And I didn't know how to deal with it. <br> roguemage@gmail.com http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/119584 Thu, 10 Jul 08 18:30:00 UT http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/119584 0 Comments (0) http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-07-07-02:27/ So I'm really, really *really* sorry it's taken me so long to get back to the daemon updates. I've had a large paper to write (which I haven't finished) and I've just been tapped, writing in other areas and not doing much for Daemon. I'm not sure where to go for 3 and it's a struggle, made worse by the fact that I keep editing 1. *sigh*. Still, Lucifel is probably my very favorite and I missed her. <br> <br>*&* <br> <br>The alarm went off at noon. As I was groggily trying to find my way to it, I heard something smack it hard. “Caninus, if you broke my alarm clock, I’ll sue your ass.” <br> <br>“Mph. Go for it,” he said, burying his face back in the pillows. I laughed, having a hard time remembering that this was a vampire who I would almost certainly have to fight at some point. A vampire who may be ordered to kill me at any time, actually. <br> <br>“Caninus, we need to come up with a plan for what we’re going to do about Antoinette. I’ve got three more to kill, to buy us time. After that, I refuse to try to bring any back from the dead.” I shook my head, “I’d have to kill someone else.” <br> <br>“I was wondering about that,” he admitted, pulling his face away from his pillow. “Ask Foyl if he can help you. He’s your familiar, so you should be able to draw power through him or something. Or have him help you by harvesting the deaths of the other vampires. Whatever.” <br> <br>I paused for a second. “I don’t know. I’ll have to ask. But…that doesn’t help us plan what to do about Antoinette.” <br> <br>He rolled over again and smiled at me. “Angelus, honestly, you over-think. When you refuse to raise the others, she’ll threaten to kill you. She’ll try to force me to do it, but I need you to distract her, probably with Foyl’s help, so I can kill her. If you do raise those others, she’ll wait until you’ve come to claim your price and then she’ll try to have me kill you. Then I’ll attack you, make it look convincing, then you shoot her, we attack her, problems solved.” <br> <br>“You liar,” I said to him. “You know it isn’t that easy. We need to come up with a plan.” <br> <br>“Sleeping. That’s the best plan I have,” he said, rolling back into the pillow. “We’ll plan later, alright? When I’m not so tired.” <br> <br>I sighed heavily. “Not that I have a whole lot of options,” I replied bitterly. “Sleep. I’ll be in later with a sun lamp to try and get some answers out of you.” <br> <br>“Ouch, Lucifel!” he laughed. “But you said later, right? So I get to sleep now?” <br> <br>I smiled involuntarily. How someone so deadly could be like such a little kid I didn’t know. “Yeah, go to sleep.” <br> <br>I went down the stairs, smiling as I saw Foyl curled into a tight ball on the top of a bookshelf. I brushed my hand against him as I walked past. He startled awake. “Lucifel?” He rose and stretched like a cat. “What’s on the agenda today?” <br> <br>“A few questions for you,” I said, ushering him into the basement. I looked around in vain, trying to find something to eat. I finally sighted the peanut butter and started making a sandwich. “A witch’s familiar helps her use energy and cast spells faster, right? So then, as a necromage’s familiar, do you do the same thing?” <br> <br>“Beg pardon?” he asked quizzically. “I could choose to bind to a witch if I wanted. I can still hold energy, but I don’t know if you can draw it from me. You’d have to learn.” <br> <br>“Could you teach me?” I smeared the jelly over the peanut butter and slapped another piece of bread over it. <br> <br>He thought about it for a moment. “I think I could try. But not now—I’m sorry, Lucifel, but I’m worn to a frazzle from the emergency call last night. It’s a powerful spell, and usually requires some preparation. I was surprised it brought who it did.” <br> <br>“I heard you arguing with Caninus,” I said slowly, taking a bite. “You said you knew his secret?” <br> <br>“I do,” Foyl replied. “And I wish I could dare tell you. But I have sworn not to, on my bindings to you. To tell you would be to sever those bonds. I’m sorry, Lucifel. I am.” <br> <br>“You smelled it,” I said, ignoring his protests. “Which means its something physical that he carries with him. Can’t be that he killed his mother or anything.” <br> <br>“Guilt has a smell too,” Foyl gave me a grin. “I know you’re fishing, Lucifel. I won’t give you the secret. I would have if he had let you fester with that virus, but he saved you. I won’t.” <br> <br>“Then will you translate something for me?” I dragged up the memory of what Caninus had said to me the night before. “Can you read it from my mind?” <br> <br>“Surface memories, I suppose. Concentrate on it very, very hard.” <br> <br>“Try not to embarrass me, alright?” I replied, closing my eyes as Foyl settled on my shoulder, pressing his head against my neck. It was where Caninus had kissed me, and the memory flooded back with force. I tried to concentrate more on what he was saying than what he was doing, for both our benefits. <br> <br>Foyl pulled away from me. “Lucifel,” he laughed softly. “I do not lecture, especially not lecture you. But I wonder, do you really want to know what he said?” <br> <br>“Yes,” I replied simply. “The Latin bothers me, because usually he speaks in it when he’s torn to his last defenses. It’s a defense mechanism in itself; speak in a dead language so that you can speak what you can’t hold back, but no one knows about it.” <br> <br>“Certainly true enough. ‘Ego dilgo vos adeo’ he said. ‘I love you so much.’” <br> <br>I sat very still, the sandwich in my hand. I forced the mouthful down and just stared for several moments, too stunned. Then I barked a laugh, “They were right. The cards are always right, though we can’t see it or don’t believe it until it passes. Come to think of it, Uncle was right too. I’m sure he’d laugh to see me so stupidly humbled.” <br> <br>“Elris would do nothing so cruel,” Foyl replied. “But this still surprises you. It surprised me, until I remembered what happened when he showed up. After you passed out. He was crying as he tried to care for you. Even after I had burned the cells away, he refused to put you down. Carried you all the way to the car, through your house and put you in bed. He hardly put you down to drive, held your hand the entire way. And he cried out every time your breathing became labored.” <br> <br>My stomach wouldn’t sit right. “This is impossible,” I said softly. “He’s a vampire, and will very probably be asked to kill me by the end of the week. No way in hell. He’s playing us.” <br> <br>“Believe what you will believe,” Foyl replied diplomatically. “That is what he said.” <br> <br>I ran my fingers through my hair, no longer craving the sandwich. I ate it anyway, though, because every time I put it down, Foyl bared his teeth slightly. “Hey,” I said after the first was gone. “I’ve never seen you eat. Do you need food?” <br> <br>“Of course,” he replied with a grin. “I don’t live off of magical energies. I prefer sausage to peanut butter, though.” I laughed and pulled some from the freezer, popping them into the microwave. <br> <br>“Listen,” I said. “I’m going to need you to teach me how to draw energy from you. I need to know if I can use that energy to raise the dead. Specifically, dead vampires. I should need a sacrifice to do it, but Caninus seemed to think I could draw energy through you.” <br> <br>He paused thoughtfully for a moment. “Maybe,” he said. “I wouldn’t care to try. Perhaps…but we will have to see.” <br> <br>“He thought you might be able to store energy from the other three I need to kill, too,” I said, pulling the sausages from the microwave and setting them on the table. <br> <br>“Probably, but only for a limited time.” <br> <br>I grinned wildly. “If it works, I just got a plan.” <br> <br>*&* <br> <br>No manner of brilliant plans was going to keep me from having to do my job today. I called Harold Thompson at his office. He was a junior partner in a law firm. Go figure. “Hello?” He picked up the phone with an air of disinterest after his secretary transferred me. <br> <br>“Hey, Harold,” I said, with just enough of an air of danger to keep him scared. <br> <br>“Excuse me, who is this?” His tone wavered between polite and angry. Good. <br> <br>“What, you don’t remember me?” I purred. “It was just last night. You were pretty eager to know me then, and now you don’t even remember?” <br> <br>“Hold on a moment,” he said, and I heard a door close. “What do you want? Blackmail?” <br> <br>I laughed despite myself. “I’m a professional, Mr. Thompson. I let you slide last night because of…unforeseen circumstances. But I’m giving you the offer now.” <br> <br>“Pay out your contract? And then you collect again from my wife when you tell her I’m working?” <br> <br>“Half again,” I corrected. “I’m not without compassion, certainly.” <br> <br>“Fine,” he replied curtly. “Give me the account and amount and I’ll have it wired right away.” <br> <br>“As soon as the bank calls to confirm it, I’ll phone your wife.” I replied pleasantly. I gave him the numbers and hung up the phone. “Foyl,” I smiled as he settled on the desk. “I meant to thank you for what you did for me last night.” <br> <br>He shrugged, “I did what I had to. I couldn’t let you lie there and die.” <br> <br>I shrugged in return. “Nonetheless. Thank you.” He smiled and I scratched him down the scaly ridge of his back. “There are three more I have to kill. I was thinking about making contact with the first today.” <br> <br>The phone rang on my desk. I picked it up and spoke pleasantly with the banker. When she confirmed the amount, I thanked her and hung up. “Mrs. Thompson? I’m sorry I didn’t call you last night. Another case came up with the police and I didn’t have the opportunity.” <br> <br>“Oh! Okay…Harold got in late last night, but earlier than he had been. He told me he’d been working.” <br> <br>“Oddly enough, Mrs. Thomson, he was working. He may be cheating on his diet and possibly flirting with his secretary, but he doesn’t appear to be a werewolf.” <br> <br>“That was all? Working and eating cheesecake with his hand up Fat Anne’s dress?” She laughed happily. <br> <br>“Mrs. Thompson, I’m not sure I understand your sentiments.” <br> <br>“He’s been banging Fat Anne off and on for some time, and I look the other way. He only sleeps with her when I won’t sleep with him. I’m relieved. I’ll have the amount wired to your account.” <br> <br>“Half of it, please,” I said to her. “I’ll give you a discount because of the lapse in my etiquette.” <br> <br>“Oh, thank you! I’ll have the bank wire it immediately.” I thanked her and hung up with a laugh. <br> <br>“I just made an extra five grand, just for lying to some guy’s wife. That’s such a depressing sign of the times.” <br> <br>“You saved him the trouble,” Foyl answered. <br> <br>The phone rang and I answered it, expecting the bank. “Is it true?” Eric’s voice came through the phone, rich with indignation. <br> <br>Shit. <br> roguemage@gmail.com http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/119451 Mon, 7 Jul 08 02:27:00 UT http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/119451 0 Comments (0) http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-06-18-23:42/ So I just got back, technically late yesterday, but let's be honest, I was wrecked. Still kinda am. Ridiculously happy to sleep in my own bed, play playstation, relax and do nothing. It's nice. <br> <br>I do have to work tomorrow, (suck) and write a 30 page paper and do a shit ton of unhappy work. Culturally, it's almost like I just got out of jail--Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends came out and I JUST got to listen to it. Kushiel's Mercy is out and I don't own it yet (I'll fix that tomorrow). 3 Doors Down released a new CD, as did Disturbed and I don't have them yet. (sigh). <br> <br>On the other side, I have seen and done so many amazing things. Reading a book set in France is difficult, since every time a place/area is mentioned, I go into shock realizing that I was there. Monmarte? Yeah, it's not in the nicest neighborhood, but Sacre Cour is pretty col. I can't help but think NOW of all the places I've been. At the time, I was too shocked, too tired, too...whatever...to realize it. <br> <br>I might post more updates on the craziness of my trip, or any of a million things. But a shower and bed just sound too awesome right now. roguemage@gmail.com http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/118833 Wed, 18 Jun 08 23:42:00 UT http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/118833 0 Comments (0) http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-05-26-00:17/ So I'm flying out later today--no more updates for awhile. I really debated about not doing this one, especially since I have to be up at 6 and it's already after 12. I'm not even up to the usual formatting. Sorry. It's still readable. Sorta. If I feel up to it later, I'll repost. <br> <br>*** <br> <br> I woke up to darkness. Not surprising. I always wake up to darkness. I sat up, slowly, trying to ignore the pulsing pain in my head. “Fuck,” I said or tried to. My throat was hoarse enough that it came out just a noise. I coughed and swallowed, trying to clear it. Someone pressed on my diaphragm, helping me cough, supporting me from behind so I didn’t tumble backwards. <br> “Here,” Caninus said, handing me a glass of water. I took it greedily, gulping it down. Several swallows later, my throat was finally moist enough to speak. <br> “What happened?” I looked around, and was gratified to notice that I was in my bedroom. I was happy to see that I wasn’t still in the clothing Foyl had transformed, but I did see it crumpled into a pile near the foot of my bed. <br> “Do you remember Kael? She attacked you, or you attacked her.” <br> “She attacked me,” I said, taking another swig to clear my throat. “I was ready to go home for the night.” <br> He shrugged, “You fought. She bit you.” <br> “And then I shot her. And passed out. Then…” I was fuzzy on the details. How had he gotten there? How had he known? <br> My confusion must have been evident on my face. “You passed out and Foyl didn’t know what to do. So he did a spell, drawing whoever would be able to save you.” <br> “You came,” I said in wonder, brushing hair from his cheek as he leaned over me. <br> “Of course,” he nodded, a smile playing with the corners of his lips. “You needed me.” His eyes were dark with something I wasn’t sure I could name. Longing in part, but pain. So much dark pain cut through his expression, hidden by his goodwill, that I nearly cried for him. <br> “What did you do?” I said instead. <br> He looked uncomfortable. “I…it’s complicated. Basically, I took blood from the wound and added my saliva. It arrested the virus for a time. Then Foyl identified the cells and destroyed them all. Including the ones that came from me, so you’re in no danger.” <br> “And I fell like shit because?” <br> He laughed. “She did break two of your ribs. Other than that, we think the damage is nebulous. Sprains and so forth. You look like hell, by the way.” He brushed my hair from my face. “Come on. Let’s get you up.” <br> I struggled upright and he supported me. “What time is it?” I asked, swinging my feet to the floor slowly so to avoid the dizzy spells. <br> “About an hour to dawn,” he estimated, helping steady me. “You’ll be alright, but you’ll feel like hell for awhile until your body heals itself some. I’m sure that will be faster, though, than expected. You are an elf, after all.” He smiled and I grinned in return. <br> “I don’t suppose you or Foyl could find something for me to eat?” I asked hopefully. <br> “Foyl’s already on it,” Caninus smiled. “Apparently, he’s quite the chef. Never would’ve guessed, but he’s making a tortellini that he says will make you throw out every frozen pizza you’ve got. Personally, I think that’s a threat.” <br> I laughed loudly. “I hope he knows what he’s doing. The kitchen is in the basement.” <br> “I showed that to him. He tried to make it in your lab, which I doubt would have been very…edible at all.” <br> I laughed, rising to my feet. It was too quickly; I stumbled and began to fall. Caninus dove to catch me. He gave me a calculated shove and I landed on the bed, taking him with me. “Sorry,” I said, still a little disoriented. His face was inches above mine, still drowning in anguish and desire. Slowly, I reached my hand up to caress his cheek. “What is it?” <br> “What do you mean?” he asked, trying to feign nonchalance. <br> “I mean, you’re pissed. You’re angry at me, or with me or something. Why? What’s under your skin?” I tried to sound kind and supportive—the last thing I wanted was him getting even more pissed because I sound accusatory. <br> His hands braced on either side of me. “It’s…” he sighed heavily, sorrow winning out against his mask. “You killed them. You killed Keith and Kael, even though they were entirely innocent. You murdered them. I told you to run, I was going to help you gather Alayna and your uncle and cousins and run like hell, somewhere Antoinette’s influence doesn’t reach. But you did it anyway. You played her game. You had an option.” <br> “Running,” I replied sharply. “Turn tail like a coward and run, putting myself in your care. You know what she would have done to you? She’d have killed you to get the information. And you would have given it to her. Then we’d be where we are now, except you would be dead and Alayna probably would too.” <br> He cocked an eyebrow in amusement. “That would bother you?” <br> “Yes, it would bother me! I’m not…” I was about to say ‘a murderer,’ but it tasted false in my mouth and we both knew it. “I’m not that heartless.” <br> His hands brushed my face tenderly again, and I wondered what the hell I had just invited in. And why I didn’t care anymore. “You can be,” he said softly, lowering his head to mine. But his lips held off. “I can’t.” He pulled away, anguished. <br> “Wha…?” I replied wittily. I was still too worn out by the incident with Kael to be smart. <br> “You murdered them. People who I knew and respected died today because of you. You just did Antoinette’s bidding and slaughtered two good people. I can’t…” <br> I sat up slowly, suppressing the dizziness that came anyway. “Why? Why did she want them dead badly enough to force my hand?” <br> “She didn’t force you,” he replied bitterly. <br> I rose a hand, forestalling him. “We’ve argued this. You had a solution, and that is noble. But it is flawed, for which I am sorry. I wish it would work that way, but it didn’t. You would be dead and I would still have killed them.” <br> “I could handle her,” he argued. “I had a chance to take her down. I could’ve won.” <br> I grabbed his face roughly between my hands. “A chance,” I repeated. “You had only a chance. You would have died, and it would have been my fault too. Kindly do not ask me to live through that too.” <br> He stopped, his eyes meeting mine to stare. I could see my silver eyes reflected in the dark green of his, and feel his heart beating oh-so-faintly under my fingers as his face flushed slightly. “You would care?” he asked carefully after a moment. <br> “Of course,” I replied. “We’ve finished with this topic?” He nodded slowly and I smiled. “Are you going to tell me why she wanted those werewolves dead?” <br> He shook his head, eyes smiling sadly. “Sorry, Lucifel. I should get back.” <br> “Bullshit,” I admonished. “And you know it. You can’t make it back in an hour. You’ll be stuck here all day, so you may as well tell me what the hell is going on.” <br> He huffed a sigh, but his lips smiled slightly at the corners. “Yeah, I know. I was just hoping I could make you not ask. It isn’t…comfortable.” <br> “Tell me,” I urged. <br> “You’ve already pegged it, I think. She wants the city. The current pack alpha is old enough that she can kill them off. Keith and Kael weren’t seeking the alpha position, but they were the best equipped to do Antoinette harm. Kael was too given to her passions to be effective and Keith was too secretive to delegate and too squeamish to be able to do the nastiest of tasks himself.” He shook his head sadly. “The other vampires…I’m sure it makes sense why she wants them dead.” <br> “Why…” I swallowed tightly. “Why does she want the others alive?” <br> He ran a hand through his hair. “Of the five, at least three knew a secret she needed. One…I killed one of them because he would be able to hand me to her fully.” <br> “What does that mean?” I asked, my eyebrows drawing together tightly. “She’s got something over you already…” <br> “But she doesn’t know all of it. If she knew everything, she’d be able to use me and…all of my faculties to further her desires. Not a position I fancy.” He shuddered. “If she gets hold of the information from him, there will be one more on your hit list, I guarantee it.” <br> “Then the others?” I let him drop the subject. He wouldn’t tell me what happened, and I didn’t expect him to. <br> “One of the others is a bribe for one of the only other master in a hundred miles who might threaten her. The other I’m not certain of. I think he has another secret she’s drooling after.” <br> I sighed, “I wished there was more you knew. But I’ve got a feeling that’s it.” <br> He nodded, “Unfortunately. How’re the dizzy spells?” <br> I shrugged, the effect making the room spin slightly, and I gasped involuntarily. “Noticeable,” I replied after a moment. He laughed and my face flushed. Damn it, I was not weak! I stood up slowly and took a few steps towards the door. <br> The dizziness subsided after a moment, but flooded back as my knees buckled and I fell to the floor. Almost to the floor, anyway. Caninus caught me before I hit the ground, lifting me up in his arms. I could feel his soft laughter as he held me against his chest. I put my arms around his neck to stabilize my position. <br> “Too much too soon, meus angelus. You need to learn to tone it down a tad, alright?” he placed me in bed, but neither of us let go right away. Slowly, he slid his arms out from under me, and braced them to either side. Slowly, I let my arms fall as well. “Angelus…” he breathed softly. “Ah, meus angelus…” his head came closer to mine and I let him. Stars help me, I let him. But he stopped just far enough away that I could feel his breath on me, could reach him if I wanted. “Lucifel…” I knew what was coming—accusations, anger, and more about what I had done. So I did something I knew I’d regret. I rose just enough from the bed to kiss him. Not that he resisted; he kissed back with such force that I lay back in the bed, flat, before long. My arms wrapped around him again and pulled him closer. He pulled away to breathe, but went right back to kissing me repeatedly and passionately, down my neck to my collarbone. “Ego diligo vos,” he whispered fiercely, kissing me with alternating ferocity and tenderness. “Ego diligo vos. Ego dilgo vos adeo.” He kissed me on the lips again, fierce and tender at the same time. When he pulled away slowly, I felt a tear drop onto my cheek. But it wasn’t mine. “I can’t,” he whispered. “Lucifel, as you love the light, don’t as this of me. I can’t.” <br> “Because I killed them,” I replied bitterly. If it was because I let passion take control of me or because he’d pulled away I wasn’t sure. <br> “Yes. No,” he shook his head in confusion. “Because if I do…” he caressed my cheek lightly, sorrow enveloping him. “If I do, I’ll never stop. I’ll let you in and I’ll compromise everything. And…if I let you in, you won’t want to be near me.” <br> I caressed his cheek slowly, wiping away the tears that my thumbs caught. “I won’t shove you away, Caninus.” <br> “You will,” he nodded sadly. “You will because you will have to. I’m no one to accuse you of murder, after all.” <br> I pulled him by his hair, closer to me. “If you cannot judge me for it, then I cannot judge you. Remember that.” <br> “It isn’t just that. I’d have to tell you everything. What I’ve done that makes the vampires no longer trust me. Where I’ve fucked up so bad I can hardly tell. Everything.” He shook with fear and the effort of controlling himself. “I let you in, then you’ll know. If you know, you’ll run. And you’ll be right to. I’m a monster after all,” he laughed bitterly. <br> I kissed him softly. “I’m an elf, Caninus. And a necromage. I’m damned by my own people, it seems, and according to every religion there is. I couldn’t even go to my own mother’s funeral. When Elris dies, I’ll have to stay here. I can call them back to this side, but I can’t say goodbye to them as they wish. The community tolerates me, Caninus. But that’s all.” <br> He kissed me softly in return. “We’re a right pair of misfits,” he laughed sadly. “I’m so sorry, Lucifel. But…if nothing else, this damns us twice. Antoinette will find out and we’re both fucked, in more ways than one.” He smiled sadly. “Abstinence makes us fonder, patience is a virtue and all that.” <br> I laughed softly. “Wimp. You just know you couldn’t handle it. It’s alright—I don’t blame you.” <br> “Thank you, then,” he said, kissing me again, more chastely this time. “I will claim a rain check though, if you’ll let me have it.” <br> “On one condition,” I said with a smile. “What did you say? When you were kissing me.” <br> He turned red, and then laughed nervously. “I…I can’t tell you that.” <br> “You’d die of embarrassment?” I laughed. “Fine, whatever. You’ll have to work twice as hard to woo me in the future thought. Remember that,” I slid away from him before I ruined our chances by giving in to the desire in me. “Foyl’s got to be done by now. Did you want some?” <br> He shook his head. “The sun is coming up, though. Be sure to close the blinds across the hall, angelus?” <br> “Of course,” I said, going down the stairs to the basement. <br> “You’re awake then?” Foyl said with another one of his odd smiles. “The tortellini is almost done.” <br> “Alright,” I said, sitting at my computer to wait. While he finished up, I tried to find a Latin-to-English translator, but it was a pain in the ass, especially when I didn’t know how to spell what he’d said. After fifteen minutes, I declared it a lost cause and claimed my tortellini. He was right—it was mind bogglingly delicious, although I didn’t want to throw out the pizzas just yet. “Go get some sleep, Foyl,” I said as he hovered near the dishes. “I’ll wash them in the morning. Everybody’s exhausted. Get some sleep.” <br> “Thanks, Lucifel,” he said with a grin, flying off. I climbed the stairs back to my bedroom and paused after closing the blinds. Did I go in and sleep next to him or remain virtuous? <br> “You can come in,” he said softly. “I won’t touch you, meus angelus. I swear it. After all, I broke it off if you recall.” <br> I laughed, opening the door. “I do remember.” <br> He lay on his side in my bed, looking completely at home. “How was it?” he asked as I shut the door behind me. <br> I smiled, “Delicious, but I’m not throwing out the pizza. Did you want some now or later?” <br> He laughed wryly. “Later, angelus, I’m too tired to eat now. But your kindness warms me. If we win out, I swear to you one boon of your choosing.” <br> “I’ll have to give that some thought,” I smiled, curling into my bed with his arm draped around me oh-so-casually. “Good night.” <br> He laughed, “It’s supposed to be ‘Good morning,’ love.” <br> “Whatever.” <br> roguemage@gmail.com http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117991 Mon, 26 May 08 00:17:00 UT http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117991 0 Comments (0) http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-05-24-20:12/ So I'm posting a little earlier than usual today, but that's because I'm going off=grid for most of tonight. Not really off-the-grid, just away from my laptop. And I don't want to let this disapear. <br> <br>I had a bad dream last night where someone was taking these chapters, showing them to a publishing company, claiming them for themselves. The worst part was that they wrote up the ending while I was away and it was terrible. I had to remind myself that I have time stamps that date back to last year before I calmed down. Still, if that happens, I'll probably go berserk. <br> <br>*** <br> <br> <br>I didn’t say anything about it to the others. Foyl was there, sitting on my shoulder in the heat of the fire, but he said nothing. I was getting used to his presence, and taking it for granted. “Where did you go during the fight?” <br> <br>“I came back here. You told me to stay out of the way, and so I checked on Elris and his sons before I came back here. Tidied up the wards and waited.” <br> <br>“Thanks for prepping the fire pit for me,” I said. <br> <br>“You told me you’d need it. I was just making sure you didn’t have to struggle to light it up. Are you alright?” <br> <br>I smiled at him sadly. “Oh yes. It could be infinitely worse.” <br> <br>“So what now?” he did his best to massage my shoulders as he perched, and I smiled at him in thanks. <br> <br>“Well, we check and see how many jobs I need to do tonight, but I think it’s just one later. I believe the tracking for that woman’s husband is due tonight or tomorrow. The moon’s at what?” <br> <br>“Almost full,” he replied promptly, not even bothering to look for it. <br> <br>“Alright,” I said. “Tonight is it. So I’ve got to shower first, and then we track that guy.” I winced. “First, I need you to stitch up my arm, then I’ll shower. Tomorrow we get Kael.” <br> <br>“And you make me stay away again. Why don’t you trust me for one measly job?” <br> <br>“I do,” I replied, scratching him under the chin. When did I learn he loved that? I couldn’t remember. “You’ll track with me. But the business for the vampires I refuse to involve you or anyone else in.” <br> <br>“Afterwards, we go whole on the information. You know, you tell. I know, I’ll tell. Agreed?” He gave me a stern look that wasn’t entirely mocking. <br> <br>“Yeah, agreed. This is just…you know the saying. Two can keep a secret if one is dead.” <br> <br>“Very well. If it must be so secretive. But you don’t get another ‘it has to be a secret,’ alright? I bonded to a necromage for a reason. I could’ve had a nice, bland witch.” <br> <br>I laughed. “Yeah, I suppose there’s that. Trust me, by the end of the year, you’ll regret picking the necromage.” He nodded sagely and I laughed more. “You can sew this up, right?” He nodded, and I breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s get that over with, and then we’ll see about that job tonight.” <br> <br>*&* <br> <br>The wife was adamant that she didn’t want her husband to know I was there. She kept insisting that I stay hidden, in fact, until I told her that I did this for the police when we encountered crazed werewolves on ketro. “Oh no! Harold would never do something like that.” I only saved myself the trouble of hearing her tell me to hide, just to hear her tell me her husband wasn’t a druggie. Well after I was asking myself if the job was worth it, she finished and I gave her my most disarming smile. <br> <br>“Mrs. Thompson, I’m sure everything will be alright. What time will he leave?” <br> <br>“Well, he’ll be home in a few minutes, then he’ll probably leave in another twenty.” <br> <br>“I’d like to take a look at some of his belongings, first.” I forestalled her by continuing, “If my partner can catch the scent of a werewolf on him, then it will make this simpler.” <br> <br>“Oh. Yes, of course.” She darted up the stairs, and Foyl snorted from his perch on my shoulder. <br> <br>“Ye gods,” he snapped. “I’d bet if he’s sneaking out, it’s to find some ugly little girl with a PhD in chemistry. Somebody he can talk to.” <br> <br>I chuckled, and was about to reply when the wife came traipsing down the stairs again. “This just came back,” she unzipped a dry-cleaning back and extended the suit to me. <br> <br>“I don’t think I’ll smell it on that,” Foyl replied, striving to be at least a little polite. <br> <br>“Oh. Okay. I’ll put it away then.” A car door slammed outside and she turned very pale. “He’s here! Oh…what to do?” <br> <br>“It’s alright, ma’am. We’ll step out the back and wait for him to leave.” The car was parked a short ways down to make it look like we weren’t here. Clearly, from his wife’s wit, we hardly needed to bother. We ducked out the kitchen and I checked my watch anxiously. It was barely 1:30. “Settle in,” I said to Foyl as I leaned against the side of the house, below the windows. <br> <br>The outside door opened again in front and for a moment, I was sure we’d been seen. Then the car engine started and Foyl laughed. “Settle in, hmm? Let’s go.” <br> <br>Vaulting over the side fence, I led him to the car half a block away. By the time we got there, it was easy to follow Harold without being obvious. “Keep an eye on him. I don’t want to accidentally end up tailing the wrong guy.” Foyl’s eyes were better than mine—which would help so I didn’t end up losing him or getting caught tailing him. Harold swung a right out of the suburban neighborhood and into traffic. I waited for an opening and followed. He drove for a few miles, to the outskirts of town, finally turning into a small neighborhood. It was run down slightly, businesses smattered amidst the houses. <br> <br>“He took a left here,” Foyl said when I hesitated. Traffic wasn’t light this time of day—late or early depending on your schedule—even in this neighborhood. I followed his direction and saw the suburban ahead, as he killed the engine and the lights. I drove past. <br> <br>“Businesses are there,” Foyl warned. “You can’t be sure which he’s going in to.” <br> <br>“I can,” I said, looking into the rearview. “He took a straight shot across the street.” I pulled into a stall and parked it. “You ready?” <br> <br>“Yeah, but I don’t hide easy. You don’t have a massive handbag or something do you?” <br> <br>“Afraid not,” I laughed. “You’ll have to hide in the rafters.” He snorted in annoyance, but let it go. Dragons tend to attract notice. I walked up to the building and paused. It was a club, alright, and a specifically catered one. <br> <br>“What’s the hold up?” <br> <br>I looked down at myself sheepishly, “I’m not sure I’m dressed right for this. I’ll stick out like crazy.” He eyed my outfit slowly. I was wearing dark jeans and boots with a low heel. I had a pale tank top on, the same color as the hair I’d clipped back, with a silver shell over it. I motioned for him to glance in the window—almost every woman there was wearing leather, and well over half wore ungodly corseted tops, shoving their breasts up to a nauseating height. <br> <br>“Yes, I don’t think you quite fit in with this crowd. Should we wait outside?” <br> <br>I looked down at myself angrily. Damn it, I looked good. Why the hell did I need thigh-high boots and a latex bustier to track this son of a bitch? “I don’t know,” I answered Foyl. “I’ve known werewolves to be able to hide in a house, pay for an hour or so, transform for said hour of pleasure, and then come out as normal as ever.” <br> <br>“So staying out here is out of the question. What about waiting until one of them leaves?” <br> <br>I eye the girls uneasily. Assuming that I didn’t get a disease from one of them, I wasn’t too keen on wearing those outfits. “Don’t think they’d fit,” I said. <br> <br>“Then we have a spell.” <br> <br>“You’ve had a spell the whole time and didn’t mention it? Why?” <br> <br>He looked at me sheepishly. “Because it will probably be uncomfortable and only last about an hour. And I’d have to model it after one of those so it would be very….” <br> <br>“Say no more,” I sighed. “I hope ten minutes is all I need. Cast it and let’s go.” <br> <br>“Let me look a little,” he admonished, hovering by the window to get a better look. “I’ll try to mix the articles so it isn’t an exact copy. Now stand still.” I did, breathing deeply to calm myself as he changed in a harsh, unfamiliar language. Time flowed by quickly, to my surprise, before he said, “Done. Now look.” <br> <br>I did, and nearly gasped. My pants were still black—but now they were leather. The shell was sitting on the ground, my tank top now a tight corset, black in the middle where it laced and red on the sides. My guns lay near the shell, as I tried to find somewhere on the tight outfit to put them. “Tell me this is just a spell,” I said softly, bundling the weapons in my shirt and keeping the knives. <br> <br>“Um. More or less. It’s real, but I can change it back. But only in the next hour. So you’d better go if you want your other clothing back.” <br> <br>I nodded, “Take the shell back to the car, quick, then.” I waited for him, taking a few experimental steps in my new, thigh-high boots. “Ready?” <br> <br>“Yeah,” he said, as he hovered near the top of the door. “I’ll try to help by scenting him out.” <br> <br>“Thanks,” I replied sarcastically and opened the door. Eyes drifted over to me, most of them approving. Fuck. I didn’t want to be noticed, but I didn’t want to be desired here either. “By the bar,” I whispered up to Foyl as I spotted my mark. <br> <br>I sidled next to him, and smiled. He was on his second drink but not drunk enough to ignore me as I sat down. “Hey, beautiful. What’re you doing here?” <br> <br>I laughed over the pulsing techno music. I hate techno. “What’s anyone doing here? I’m looking for some…fun. Maybe some company.” I pretended to eye him, not sure what woman would really be tempted by this. He wasn’t old, exactly, but his gut was developing as his hair disappeared. It looked like it had moved backwards a few inches—clearly he was trying to grow a pony tail but wasn’t there yet, so it looked like a god damned mullet. <br> <br>“I’m looking for…company…too, baby.” <br> <br>I smiled at him charmingly. “I don’t know,” I leaned forward, the pants riding uncomfortably tightly against my groin. “I’m looking for…furry company.” <br> <br>He grinned widely. “I’m always willing to be furry company, baby.” <br> <br>My eyebrows rose. “You? You’re a were?” <br> <br>“In the flesh,” he chuckled. “You really looking for furry company?” <br> <br>“Yeah,” I giggled and simpered best I could. “I wanted to,” I leaned close, giving him the impersonation of talking dirty. “I wanted to fuck a were, you know. See him transform while we were fucking.” <br> <br>He laughed, caressing my leg through the leather. “Yeah, babe. I’d think you’d love it. Wanna go to the room in back?” <br> <br>I wrinkled my nose and drew away slightly. “Not that back room. It’s…sorry, just something less obvious.” <br> <br>“You ever done it outside? Under the open air?” <br> <br>I grinned wickedly. “I’d love to do it there. I’ve always loved screwing outside.” I took his hand and pulled him toward the door. A face flashed by, trying to place my face before glaring at me sharply. I remembered it after a moment. <br> <br>Fuck. Kael. <br> <br>I pulled him outside faster, dragging him to the woods. “Wait,” I said as he started to strip. “I wanted to…you know. I want to see you as a wolf first. I’ve been screwed around by people who claim to be werewolves before. Can you change back and forth that many times?” <br> <br>“For you, babe? Absolutely.” He stripped and got down on all fours. For a moment, I was sure he was shitting me, then his legs began to shorten and his arms grew longer and furrier. His nose extended into a muzzle as his hair rippled to extend all over his body. It was a slow process, and by the end I was both nauseated and impressed. That had to hurt like hell. <br> <br>“Holy shit. You are a werewolf! Change back,” I ordered, pretending to unlace my top. The process back to human was quicker—or his arousal sped the process up. As soon as he changed, he strode over to where I was having difficulty with the laces. <br> <br>“Let me help you, sweetie,” he said, reaching to undo the knot. <br> <br>"Thanks,” I said, slipping my hands behind my back and finding the handcuffs that had been clipped to my belt. I pulled them out and snapped them over his hands. <br> <br>“Whoa. Like it a little kinky, huh?” He laughed. I didn’t. <br> <br>“Not really, Harold. That’s really something for your wife.” As he stood there in stunned silence, I called over to Foyl, “Help me lace this back up.” <br> <br>“You got it,” Foyl said, his deft claws tying the shirt back in place. <br> <br>“You…who the fuck are you?” <br> <br>“Lucifel,” I said, with a half-bow. “Your wife hired me to see if you were running off to see a mistress or to transform into a wolf. Clearly, it’s both.” <br> <br>“I’m not under arrest?” I shook my head in amusement. “Then get these fucking handcuffs off!” <br> <br>“Precaution, Harold. You’re a werewolf, remember? The cuffs are spelled so you can’t transform until my assistant removes them. And I don’t think he will until I’m far enough away that I can trust you won’t try to attack me.” <br> <br>“You bitch,” he said softly. <br> <br>“More or less,” I agreed. “I’m sorry to have to tell your wife this. For the record, she’s none too bright. Best of luck to you with your floozies and all,” I said, raising my hand in salutation. <br> <br>“You!” That wasn’t Harold. That was Kael. Fuck. I ran down the slight slope to grab her by the upper arm. I wanted to silence her but her mouth was way too damn big. “You killed him! Everyone’s saying that Keith is dead. You killed him!” <br> <br>“Shut up,” I said, dragging her to the street. “We need to talk.” <br> <br>“Yeah, fucking right. You murdered him you bitch!” <br> <br>“Would you fucking listen? Didn’t Eric call you?” Her face went from blind fury to confusion and back that quickly. <br> <br>“He told me you’d be in contact. You’re supposed to kill me too, hm?” I felt her arm ripple as she began to change. I’d collared the wrong wolf. <br> <br>“Foyl, can you spell her?” <br> <br>“To stop it?” <br> <br>“Pause,” I yelled. “Halt it temporarily. Slow it down. Anything to give me time to talk to her before I have to find some way to kill her.” <br> <br>“I’ll try,” he said, closing his eyes to rifle through his memory of enchantments. <br> <br>“Listen to me, Kael. We need to talk.” I looked around—people were still in the club, and Harold was starting to follow us down the slope, stalking us angrily. One witness was better than half a dozen. “I know how this looks, alright. But I didn’t do it.” <br> <br>“You were fucking hired to! The scanners…said…you called,” she argued, the transformation making her words awkward. <br> <br>“I…fuck, will you stop to listen for a moment?” She did and for a second I was sure she was listening. <br> <br>“Did it,” Foyl said triumphantly. “You’ve got about five minutes, tops.” <br> <br>I nodded in response, not wanting to waste my time. “Listen. Please, for the love of all that’s holy, listen. I didn’t…I don’t want to have to kill you. You need to get out of town.” <br> <br>“Fuck that,” she said, tossing her red-orange hair. “If he bought you five minutes, you’ve got five minutes to run.” <br> <br>“I’m not running,” I insisted. “Because I have nothing to be guilty over. You don’t understand the situation.” <br> <br>“Lucifel!” The strain on Foyl’s face made me swear. Five minutes had just turned into one. <br> <br>“I’m not here to kill you! I never was. I’m not your enemy!” <br> <br>“Fuck you!” She yelled, through a wolf’s mouth. The spell snapped, and Foyl jumped with the recoil. Kael’s change came down on her hard, faster than I’d ever heard of. I darted as far away as I dared, drawing my pathetic two knives. <br> <br>“I’m not your enemy,” I said calmly. “I’m not a threat, unless you’re a threat to me.” <br> <br>“Oh, I’m a threat,” she said, leaping for my throat. The knives held her from tearing out my jugular, but little else. I had two knives against a pissed off wolf. I had no hope outside how far I could run. <br> <br>I dashed away as soon as I could, but she was right behind me. Even as my adrenaline kicked in and I felt my legs strengthen, she was pacing me enough to nip at my ankles. I spun around unexpectedly and sliced at her with one of the knives. She howled as it slid through her foreleg. I ran as fast as I could, but she still wasn’t far behind. This time, though, she tackled me, taking down my bad arm first. Her teeth gnashed at it, tearing open Foyl’s careful sutures. I swore, kicking her away and cutting wildly. <br> <br>“Lucifel!” Foyl yelled above me, and I reached up to him. My hand came away with a familiar weight, and I thought my heart would burst from relief. <br> <br>I fired a bulled from the Casting directly into her forehead as she tried to chew on my jugular again. It entered her brain messily, but I fired another for safe measure. By the time she fell, head a bloody mess, I was nearly shaking with the pain. <br> <br>“Fuck,” Harold said from somewhere away from me. <br> <br>“Let him go,” I told Foyl. Turning to Harold, I said, “I didn’t have any beef with her. Or with you. I was even going to offer to let you pay the contract your wife made and tell her you were working or something.” I hadn’t been, but I was if it kept him from killing me. After all, I’d get to collect twice. <br> <br>“She said you murdered Keith,” he said, rubbing his wrists when Foyl removed the cuffs. <br> <br>“She said it, yeah. But she also attacked me even though I didn’t have anything against her.” My stomach rolled. I’d have been willing to kill her tomorrow night. Why was it so different now that it was already done? My stomach rolled and I almost threw up. But the contents settled somewhat under my iron will. <br> <br>“I’ll call the cops,” he said softly. “I liked her. But Kael…she…I don’t like you,” he said bluntly. “But she attacked you. You had the right to defend yourself, even if it didn’t do you a whole lot of good,” he sighed, pulling his cell phone out. “And I will buy out the contract if you’ll still let me.” <br> <br>“Yeah,” I said. “I’ll just tell your wife it’s a discount. For a boring job.” <br> <br>He smiled bitterly. “Could’ve been a whole lot more interesting.” <br> <br>“You alright?” Foyl said from above me. <br> <br>“Yeah,” I said at the same time Harold said, “No.” <br> <br>“What do you mean?” I turned to him angrily. <br> <br>He shook his head. “Don’t tell me you didn’t realize it? Look at your arm.” It was a bloody mess again, but I shrugged. I’d lived through worse. This week, actually. “You didn’t notice? Kael bit you. She fucking bit you.” I went cold. Werewolves aren’t like vampires—there’s no sharing needed. Just the bite. Fuck. <br> <br>“Foyl, can you cleanse it of the toxins?” <br> <br>“No,” he shook his head. “I’m not skilled enough to tell those cells from the ones your body needs. I’m sorry, Lucifel.” <br> <br>I felt my body wrack uncomfortably—was it from fear or the virus now coursing through me? “I’m so royally fucked.” The world darkened and I blacked out for a moment. My hearing came back first, or was the most vivid hallucination I’d ever had. <br> <br>“Caninus…” I heard Foyl’s voice. “Save her. You can.” <br> <br>Caninus’s voice replied, “Maybe I could. But what she’s done is deplorable. She killed them. Both, despite my pleas.” <br> <br>“I don’t care,” Foyl replied, anguished. “Fix it.” <br> <br>“Or?” he asked lazily in return. <br> <br>“I will tell her what it is you hide so dearly from everyone,” Foyl’s voice was a deathly hiss. He was royally pissed. <br> <br>“You…you don’t know.” <br> <br>“I can smell it on you,” Foyl replied. “I know. Trust me. I have already given my word that I would remain silent, but I’ll break it to save her this fate. Her genes, her powers, can’t mix with this virus. She’ll…” <br> <br>“She’ll become a werewolf and go insane and die,” Caninus sighed. I felt his hand on my brow. “She’ll die. I don’t want her to die.” <br> <br>“You don’t want her to know,” Foyl replied starkly. <br> <br>My vision was returning; I saw an outline of Caninus’s hair waving as his head shook. “No. She’ll find out eventually, but I don’t want her to unless—until—she has to. I just…don’t want her to die.” The cards were right? I shuddered to think it. “Lucifel,” he addressed me as my eyes opened fully. “I’m going to help you, alright? I’m going to give you something to stop the reaction. It will arrest the virus, but not get rid of it. Foyl will be able to detect those cells and purge them from your body. This is going to hurt like hell, but I swear to you I’m helping. It won’t kill you and it won’t turn you into a vampire. I won’t do anything to hurt you. I swear.” <br> <br>I wanted to argue that he’d just said it was going to hurt. But I didn’t—he was descending, his lips locking over the wound on my arm. The asshole was drinking my blood? No, not just drinking it—he was sucking it out and spitting into my arm in return, and doing something my rapidly fevering brain couldn’t understand. I was sure that if I thought just a little more, pushed a little harder, I should be able to tell. I should know what he was doing but…but my brain wouldn’t make the connection. All I could feel was how badly it hurt—so badly! The pain washed over me and eventually I slumped into unconsciousness again. <br> roguemage@gmail.com http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117952 Sat, 24 May 08 20:12:00 UT http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117952 0 Comments (0) http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-05-23-11:59/ So the novelty of the one-chapter-a-day posting is wearing against the worry and fretting of leaving the country in a few days. I know it's cheap to shift the date of posting, but this time I did, just to keep it even. I'll do better this weekend, and maybe even post a bonus chapter before I leave on Monday. Till then, enjoy 23. <br> <br>*** <br> <br> <br>I went over the list in my office. Caninus was still upstairs, waiting for me to assure him the sun was down and my cousins were down in my basement playing video games and, I suspected, looking for my beer. Unfortunately for them, it was upstairs and it wasn’t beer. My work was hard, so my liquor needed to be too. If I smoked, I’d have been doing so with reckless abandon. I was worried as hell. <br> <br>Five to kill. Five to rise. And I had no clue where to start. I didn’t want to kill the werewolves—they were innocent, as far as I cared, in Antoinette’s game. But I didn’t have the option to ignore them. I might be able to swing framing a vampire or two—surely there were dirty deeds in at least one closet! But if I could get the werewolves to leave or something, I was one step ahead. <br> <br>I dialed Keith Jacobs first. On the second ring, a masculine voice answered, “Hello?” <br> <br>“May I speak with a Keith Jacobs?” I did my best telemarketing accent. <br> <br>“Off the list, honey,” he said, as he hung up. <br> <br>“Fuck.” I hit redial and he grabbed it on the first ring. “You’re incredibly rude,” I said before he could comment. <br> <br>“I told you, take me off your calling list. I’m not interested.” <br> <br>“It’s an exclusive list, though,” I snapped back. “Only people the Master of the city wants to see dead.” <br> <br>He paused, clearly in the process of hanging up. “What master? There are plenty who fancy themselves holding that title.” <br> <br>“But only one vampire ballsy enough,” I countered. <br> <br>“Antoinette. Shit. Are you calling to warn me or something?” I could hear his voice turn angry. <br> <br>“You should’ve gotten a call from Eric,” I sighed. “Forgetful bastard.” <br> <br>“Eric…he called a couple days ago. Shit, are you Lucifel?” <br> <br>I barked a laugh. “Yeah, that’s me. I meant to call earlier, but had death threats of my own to handle.” <br> <br>“Yeah, sorry. Eric told me you had some information? Bad shit, he said. Hold on while I switch to the other line.” I did and the line went dead for a moment. As I was debating hitting redial, he came back. “I can talk now. So what’s the info?” <br> <br>“She’s got a hit on you.” I don’t pull punches. <br> <br>“I sorta figured,” he replied, his voice gruff. “We’ve had…rough dealings. I thought you might have something new.” <br> <br>“Yeah,” I replied with a bitter laugh. “I’m the hit man.” <br> <br>“Fuck! Why the hell warn me? Why call?” He was about a half step from threatening. <br> <br>“Because I don’t want to, but if I don’t, she’ll kill my kin and then someone else will kill you,” I answered bluntly. “Your options are as limited as mine.” <br> <br>“But you fucked up. Now I know you’re coming and I’ll be ready for you. Did you want me to kill you or something?” <br> <br>“No,” I heaved a sigh. This was harder than I thought. “I want you to kill you.” <br> <br>“Suicide? Fuck no.” He laughed, “You’d have to be a lot better talker to get me to jump.” <br> <br>“Not suicide. Fake it. You’ve seen Romeo and Juliet, right?” <br> <br>He paused a moment. “Yeah, we read it in high school. So you want me to fake my own death? Take a potion and mysteriously die?” <br> <br>“No,” I said. “Not exactly. I need you to make a stop at the pound…” <br> <br>*&* <br> <br>“Going out?” Caninus said, as I shrugged on my coat. Darkness had barely fallen, but he looked wide-awake. <br> <br>“I’m starting on Antoinette’s job,” I said, not looking at him. “Figured I’d start with the easy ones and work my way up in complexity.” I turned to regard him seriously. “You’ll tell her I’ve started? I don’t want her to kill off Alayna, thinking that I’m stalling.” <br> <br>“I’ll give her your message, and your regards, I’m sure.” <br> <br>“If you’re giving regards,” I shot back, “You’ll need to tell her to go fuck herself.” <br> <br>“Easy, Lucifel,” Fanin said, coming up from my basement. “You look fit to slay something.” <br> <br>“A werewolf, specifically,” I replied. <br> <br>“Merula just pulled up,” Foyl said from my shoulder. “She’s going to take you two back to the safe house.” The cops wouldn’t let them stay in Strass’s place, but they couldn’t stay here either so the cops had set them up a safe house in the mean time. I hoped it worked. <br> <br>“Cool,” Derek said, giving me a hug as he pulled Fanin out the door. “Give us a ring when you get home.” <br> <br>“I will,” I said, watching him go. “Caninus,” I turned back to the vampire. “Don’t let her hurt Alayna. And see if you can convince her to have someone else raise those dead.” <br> <br>“I’ll try, angelus, but she’s set on you. You’re the best—she’d need to kill fifteen people to get those back.” <br> <br>“Try. That’s all I’m asking for now.” <br> <br>“And try I will. See you around.” I nodded in return, ushering him out the door before I coded the alarm and stepped out myself. <br> <br>*&* <br> <br>Keith and I agreed to meet at an underground garage to start with. That was where we’d make the exchange before heading out, separately to fight in the kid’s baseball park. He’d beat me there but only by about fifteen minutes. He was right that it was perfect—I’d cased the park before arriving at the garage. There were even trees deep in left field that would make a great retreat and the smattering of teenagers drinking and smoking joints in the stands would serve well for our audience. <br> <br>I met him the garage, and had to admire his acquisition from the pound. “He’s huge!” I said, unsure. “Are you certain he’ll work?” <br> <br>“Oh yeah. He’s a little lighter colored, but the darkness will help with that, and he’s a little small. But he’s the best I could find—he’s got a bit of a vicious streak so he’ll fight.” I looked between the two, noting the natural silver of Keith’s hair. He grinned at my securitization, causing the odd nicks and scars on his face to wrinkle. “Trust me.” <br> <br>“Fine,” I said, handing him the newspaper and getting back in my car. <br> <br>We met at the park fifteen minutes later. He was walking down the road, strategically, and I stalked up to him from the area of the field. “Keith Jacobs,” I called from a relatively safe distance. <br> <br>The kids turned idly to look at us. Keith turned, saw me and turned utterly white. I had a feeling this wasn’t going to go according to plan. He ran through the park for the trees. I should have shot him, but I gave chase instead. I was faster than he thought—I overcame him before he made it to the pitching mound. I tackled him, pulling out my silver knives. A chorus of “fuck” and “what the hell” came from the teenagers. I re-evaluated—they had a lot more beer in them than pot. “Fucking bitch,” Keith said, wrestling with me, and damn near throttling me. This was not in the plan. <br> <br>“You shouldn’t step on toes you can’t handle, Keith,” I taunted, even as he overpowered me. I tapped his wrists, the signal that I was in pain. He ignored me. Son of a bitch, he wasn’t going according to plan. He’d decided the best thing to do was take out the threat that I posed to his life, rather than my plan. “You shouldn’t change your plans when you play with fire,” I squeaked through what little air I was getting. “You’ll get burned.” I flicked my wrists and the bracelet’s catch released, the blades slicing at his hands. <br> <br>“Fuck!” He pulled away and I slid away from him expertly, pulling out the Casting as I reset the bracelets. “You’re a fool. You’re a joke.” <br> <br>I pulled the knife from my boot with my other hand as I rolled to evade him. “I don’t joke. You should know that.” He lunged at me and I dove away, but he was already there, and managed to pin me to the ground. My energy spiked with my temper and I threw him off of me with a painfully executed twist. <br> <br>“You’re a fucking legend,” he said, circling. “You’re Lucifel. Why stoop to working for some half-fanged vampire?” <br> <br>“Why do you think? Blackmail,” I sliced his shoulder with the knife and winced as he howled. I circled as he circled. In a low voice, I added, “Why don’t you stick with the plan?” <br> <br>“You’re a bitch. A worthless, idiotic bitch.” he said, and bolted as soon as he could to reach the woods. <br> <br>“Fuck!” I yelled, but he was into the trees before I was halfway there. “Son of a…bitch.” From the woods came a massive canine. He leapt on me, fangs nicking at my throat before I put the Casting to his head and fired. <br> <br>My ears rang as my heart mourned. It wasn’t like he deserved it. But…he attacked me. I tried to justify it, sighing. I was getting too used to killing. As he twitched, I struggled up and fired another round at him. “Fucking asshole. Why’d he have to screw with the plan so badly?” I mumbled as I held my arm where it was sliced wide open. The muscle was starting to show, but I clenched back the nausea as I came down of the Elven adrenaline. <br> <br>“Shit,” the most sober of the teens said, stumbling toward me. “Do you need…an ambulance or some shit?” <br> <br>I recoiled at his breath and snapped, “I need you to figure out what a breath mint is, asshole.” Another wave of pain recoiled from my arm and I clutched it tighter. “Shit. Call…somebody.” <br> <br>“Yeah,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “But…like…we aren’t twenty one.” <br> <br>“No shit? Then I’d better just bleed to death. Don’t want you to get busted. Dipshit, they can’t arrest you for it because you called them here. Tell them to send the OWLE squad.” <br> <br>“Oh, no shit?” He turned to his friends. “Hey, he was a werewolf! Fucking crazy!” He turned back to me as he fumbled with his cell phone. “Casey is a werewolf too, and he said it couldn’t be or some shit.” <br> <br>“Fuck that, call, you asshole,” I snapped, cutting the pain back. It hurt worse than I’d thought. But I knelt by the body and grabbed its jaw. I knelt on its chest and secured my fingers around his slick canine, giving it a vicious yank as I tore it out. “I guess I didn’t keep to agreements either.” My stomach rolled and I stood up slowly, trying not to vomit. <br> <br>“Hey, um…I need an ambulance,” the kid said, being careful not to slur his words. “There’s a lady here…” <br> <br>“You fucking suck, kid,” I said, grabbing the phone from him. “This is Lucifel. Get Sergeant Coil over here immediately with an incineration squad. There’s been another…scuffle. A werewolf attacked me.” <br> <br>“Yes, ma’am, but neither you nor Sergeant Coil have the authority to order an incineration squad.” Fuck, they’d taken that away from him already? <br> <br>“Fine,” I snapped back. “You don’t have to send shit. Everyone is fine,” my anger spoke for me, cutting me away from the pain. I’d regret it later, but I had an emergency kit in my car that would make do. “I’m reporting this like a good citizen, alright? Since the body falls under OWLE jurisdiction, thought, it comes to me for autopsy and testing. So I’ll just take it with me.” I was glad I’d started keeping that tarp in my trunk. I could roll it up in that. <br> <br>“Ma’am, I don’t know if I can allow that.” <br> <br>“Are you saying that the police would investigate me for murder? I’ve got plenty of witnesses who saw that he attacked me when I tried to talk to him. You want a statement? Get it from them or come to my house. I’m done dealing with the bullshit.” I snapped the phone shut and handed it to the kid. “You wanna make a quick fifty?” <br> <br>“Huh?” Stars, you have to love the wit of these kids. <br> <br>“Fifty bucks to help me get the body in the tarp and into my car, and to help me bandage this arm.” I sniffed at his breath again, “It’ll buy plenty of that cheap shit you’ve been drinking.” <br> <br>“Are you serious?” <br> <br>“Fifty bucks, take it or leave it,” I snapped. I was doing that plenty lately. <br> <br>“Shit…yeah, yeah. Casey, you guys get down here. Help a lady out.” The others ambled over from the bleachers as I walked back to my car. The tarp and emergency kit were in the trunk, so I pulled them both out. <br> <br>“Get over here,” I said to the one who looked the most sober. “Wrap the gauze around my arm. Tight. Tighter—don’t be afraid of it, for Stars sake.” He pulled tighter and I gasped involuntarily. “That’s about right,” I said when he started to slack off. “Pull it tight and wrap it around.” He did so gingerly until I was ready to do it for him. When it was settled around my arm, I flexed it slightly and nodded. “Tape it off and help me get that were in here.” <br> <br>The damn thing was heavier than I’d expected. We managed, gingerly, to get the tarp over him and grab his legs. With lots of shouted anger, we managed to get him flipped around onto the tarp. It took four of them to get him to my trunk safely—I didn’t dare try to lift it. “Thanks,” I said to the leader as I pealed a fifty from my wallet and handed it to him. “The cops will want your statement. I suggest you tell them to refer any questions about my jurisdiction to a guy named Coil. It’ll piss them off, but get you off the rack.” I nodded at them. Who says that today’s youth isn’t helpful? “He attacked me—I just wanted to talk to him.” <br> <br>“Whatever you want,” he said as I handed him another ten. <br> <br>“Have fun explaining to your parents,” I replied, pulling into my car and pulling away. <br> <br>When I was outside my house, I called Antoinette’s number. On the third ring, an answering machine kicked in. “Keith is gone.” I hung up before I said anything else. I had to work slowly, but I hauled him into my backyard. The fire pit was there for destroying anything dangerous. I tossed him in and lit it up. I just stood there, watching as the furry corpse flamed up into the sky. My heart mourned, to know I still hadn’t beaten my killing streak. Softly, I muttered the prayers I’d known for so long, offering my sorrow for his slaughter and my apologies. I shouldn’t have been so emotional. It’s kill or be killed, but it sucked that he had to die for me to live. I wished I’d had the courage, the ability, to let it go the other way. <br> <br>“She got the message,” Caninus said softly from behind me. “I got the message.” <br> <br>“So I figured,” I replied, not looking at him, still staring into the flames, ignoring the beginnings of hurt tears. <br> <br>“Why?” His voice was strained with enough emotion that I had to turn to face him. “Why would you?” <br> <br>“I didn’t have a choice,” I replied, my as deadpan as I could manage. “It’s not like I wanted to.” <br> <br>“You had a choice,” he said, anguished. “You know you did. Instead, you killed an innocent werewolf. He was a good person, did you know that? Beloved in his pack for his strengths. And you killed him because a monster like Antoinette ordered you to?” He was almost yelling, the anguish plain in his voice. <br> <br>I took a step toward him threateningly. “I had no choice, Caninus. It was kill him, or watch her kill Alayna and then Elris and then Derek and Fanin. And then me. And I will not sit through that. So she sent you here for a reason. Fulfill it and leave.” <br> <br>“I…” his face looked pinched in the fire light. “I…I was so sure you wouldn’t stoop so low, Lucifel. Aren’t you are so much better than this?” <br> <br>“No, I’m not.” I said, spreading my hands to show him the palms. “Trust me, I’ve my share of blood stains. Now. She sent you for a reason.” <br> <br>“Proof,” he said, looking into the fire mournfully. “She wants proof that it was Keith. She won’t be happy your torched it all.” <br> <br>“Not all,” I said, reaching into my pocket for the bloodstained canine. “Most of the blood is his, probably some of it is mine. Let her do her genetic testing, let her do a were test, whatever. It’s his.” <br> <br>He took it gingerly. “You break my heart,” he said softly, palm closing around it. <br> <br>“Mine too,” I said bitterly. “Now get out.” To my surprise, he nodded and left me alone to ponder what the hell I’d just done. Why didn’t anything go like I planned? <br> roguemage@gmail.com http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117925 Fri, 23 May 08 11:59:00 UT http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117925 0 Comments (0) http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-05-22-21:47/ I said I'd post another, and I did! See? I can be made to keep my word. I don't have much to say for commentary this time, probably because today's got me feeling a touch restless, cooped up and ready to be out doing something. It'll probably translate into cleaning the entire house, but hey, it needs it anyway. More importantly, the 21st chapter of Daemon Rising <br> <br>*** <br> <br> <br>The hospital wasn’t exactly ready for us. A couple operatives awaited us at the door. I recognized them, but their names eluded me. “Hey Lucifel,” the blonde one said, tucking away his newspaper and sliding his OWLE ID to me. This was protocol in cases like this, to circumvent bad movie plots turning into reality. “I’m Tucker.” I glanced at the picture, exactly mirroring his face. He nodded at the guy at the latte stand, “That’s my partner, Will.” The man came over casually, sipping his coffee. <br> <br>“Hey Lucifel,” he said, passing me his ID. It stated his name and had the dead-on picture. I looked them over, careful. The haircuts were OWLE all the way, and I could see their round ears. <br> <br>“Foyl,” I whispered softly. <br> <br>“They’re human,” he said in my ear. “Smell like…sweat, faint gun powder. They aren’t lying.” <br> <br>“Good.” I looked up at their slightly confused faces. “Being careful, gents. We aren’t sure if there even is anything to worry about. But thanks for being here so promptly.” <br> <br>“The Sergeant sent us out right after he left. Let’s go visit this gal, then.” I nodded and led them through the hospital to her room. <br> <br>The nurse outside the station beamed to see us. “Oh, dear, that’s a lot of visitors. Give me a moment; we’ll need to check you out.” <br> <br>“Sandy,” I said, recognizing her. “These two are officers. They’re here for a statement.” <br> <br>“Oh, so no frisking, hmm? But we still need to check the others, and you, Miss Lucifel.” She gave me an apologetic look. “I can get away with letting the officers through, but not everyone.” <br> <br>“She was forcibly drugged,” I replied. “And not by anyone likely to be visiting her. We’d be more likely to sneak her in a magazine or nail file than ketro.” I motioned for the others to allow the frisking as I signed the guest book. They’d been letting me get away with “L” since I told them it was dangerous for business to have anyone know about this. I paused at the others and then added “+5.” The nurses wouldn’t look at it until I was gone, so I knew we were alright. As I put it down, I looked over the list. The only one in to visit Alayna lately was me, and the others had all written down their full names and required relationships next to the various rooms they were visiting. I never bothered with the latter. None of the names looked out of place. <br> <br>The others were patted down, and the nurse looked at me apologetically. “We need to check you too, ma’am.” <br> <br>I allowed it briefly, and she only gave me the barest of patting. She never even came near the Casting in its holster. I was beginning to wonder if I could get a Slayer in. Then again, it was starting to look like we wouldn’t need any back up. Alayna brightened as I walked in the room, and nodded faintly at Merula. The cops followed her in, and Alayna looked uncomfortable. When the others all piled in, she was pale. <br> <br>“Who are all these people?” she pleaded softly. <br> <br>Elris beat me to the punch. “We’re sorry, little daughter,” he said in Elfish, startling her nearly out of her skin. “We all wanted to make sure you were safe.” <br> <br>“He…you’re…” she swallowed, her eyes watering. I was sure she was overjoyed until she burst into terrified tears. Turning to me, she pleaded heartbrokenly, “Elves…don’t understand.” <br> <br>“Get out,” I said sharply to Elris and Strass. “She needs calmed down.” In English, I explained rapidly, “She was beaten, drugged, raped, sold and everything horrible just because she’s an elf. She doesn’t think she should be accepted back. She’s scared of other elves.” <br> <br>“I’m sorry,” Elris said to her, clasping her hand. “I’m so sorry, little daughter. We’ll leave, but I hope someday you’ll want to see us.” <br> <br>“Go,” I insisted and they left. Tucker and Will exchanged a look before Will ducked out with them. <br> <br>“We’re protecting all of you,” Tucker explained softly. <br> <br>“Thanks,” I said shortly, taking one of Alayna’s hands. “Dear, they don’t mean you any harm. You can trust them.” <br> <br>“They…they’ll find out why I’m here and then they’ll treat me like what I am. A whore.” She shuddered. “Daughter he called me.” <br> <br>I froze. “Did your father…” <br> <br>“He was the first,” she said bitterly. <br> <br>“Aw hell. He didn’t mean it like that, Alayna. He…he’s my uncle, the gunsmith. That’s his way of telling you that you’re family. When he found out I’d rescued you, he nearly screamed at me for not telling him sooner. He basically raised me after my parents found out what I could do. When my mother died, she didn’t want me at the funeral. No one was supposed to tell me until after she was interred. He showed up at my door and told me the whole story, even offered to smuggle me in to the funeral if I wanted to go.” <br> <br>She cleared her eyes a little with a sad smile. “That was kind.” <br> <br>“He’s been…a father to me, and a friend as well as mentor. He’s not a bad person.” I took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to calm her to Strass. “The other…have you ever heard of a band called Thief.” <br> <br>She gave me one of her strange smiles—filled with anguish and amusement. “My captors talked about it sometimes. They said it gave them headaches, called it a lot of unflattering things.” <br> <br>I laughed. “Probably because it isn’t half bad. Strass is the lead singer of Thief. He sings all the songs and writes all the music. Sometimes he does it in Elvish.” <br> <br>“So if I asked, would he sing for me?” her voice turned tentatively pleading. <br> <br>“If he didn’t,” I told her, tearing up myself, “I’d hang him by his toes.” She smiled and I continued, “You don’t have to see them today or any time. But I wanted to warn you about something. I’ll tell the nurses on my way out, but its very important. If anyone other elf comes in here, call the nurses. There are some dangerous elves around lately. They tried to kill all of us last night and again today.” <br> <br>She turned even whiter. “Someone may be trying…to kill me?” <br> <br>“We don’t want them to,” I said to her. “That’s why these officers are here.” Switching to English, I asked him, “Are you guys here with us and then leaving?” <br> <br>He shook his head. “No, ma’am. We’ll be outside the door all night. In the morning, at eight, we’ll have a shift change, and every twelve hours after that. The nurses will photocopy all ID’s and keep a record, just in case there’s an infiltration.” <br> <br>“So you guys just pulled an impossibly long shift, hm? Fourteen hours has to suck.” <br> <br>He shrugged, “We didn’t have a lot of option. Will and I are junior officers, so we offered to take the long shift. Figured it’d give us some cred with the older guys.” <br> <br>“Smart man,” I said, turning back to Alayna. “This man is Tucker. He and his partner, Will, will be here all night outside your door. In the morning they’ll send a couple of replacements. These guys will protect you from unwanted visitors. You’re safe here.” <br> <br>“Am I really?” she asked me softly. “Or do you just want me to be?” <br> <br>“Oh, both, darling. I want you safe, and I’m willing to stake their lives on it.” Foyl dropped onto my shoulder and I remembered that he’d ducked out to do a sweep of the rehab for any security flaws. <br> <br>“A dragon?” Alayna choked. <br> <br>“Yeah,” I smiled. “He’s my familiar now. I’ll send him over sometimes to check up on you when I can’t.” <br> <br>“My name is Foyl,” he interjected in slow Elfish. It was a little archaic, but crisp. “I promise that you can trust me. I’ve bonded to Lucifel, so what I know she knows.” I didn’t know it worked like that—proof, as far as I was concerned, that it wasn’t true—but I nodded. <br> <br>“Thank you,” she said. “I feel…worn out.” <br> <br>“Course, love. We’ll leave.” I stood up but she grabbed my hand tightly. <br> <br>“Please…you’ll stay to pray with me, won’t you?” Her voice was naked with longing. <br> <br>“Of course,” I said with a smile. “It would be my pleasure. I haven’t had anyone to pray with regularly in so long that I almost forget it.” <br> <br>“The others…they can come in if they want. I want to hear Strass sing.” <br> <br>I smiled widely. “You’ll make his day if you tell him that! I’m sure they’d love to pray with us.” Foyl flitted out the door to carry the message, and I heard his whispers followed by their murmured surprise. <br> <br>“Thank you,” Elris said as he came back in. He took her other hand gently, offering his other to Strass. “May we pray with you?” <br> <br>“It’s vespers,” I said softly. “Lets wait a little, hm?” <br> <br>“I wanted…” Alayna turned red, but dared to look at Strass. “Will…Lucifel told me that you sing. Would you…sing for me?” <br> <br>He startled a little. “It would be my pleasure.” Merula eased the door shut and Strass hummed a note, sustained it for a moment, slid it up the scale and down before taking a deep breath. He burst into song, and I was sure I was going to die. It was gorgeous, something I’d never heard before. Without accompaniment, his voice took on a South African tint, almost chanting. The word weren’t any language I recognized, but his voice itself was so powerful I wanted to weep. Merula did, tears etching down her face without her realizing it. <br> <br>After a pair of repetitions, I recognized the patterned chorus. On my shoulder, Foyl started humming, very softly, the counterpart. I felt my mouth open and the chorus poured out of me, pattered as Foyl had shown me. Strass startled at the pure notes the flowed from me, but nodded, flowing off to another part as Foyl and I continued the repetitious chorus. It freed him to sing something so exotic and heartbreaking that I wasn’t surprised to see the tears falling down my cheeks too. Alayna stared at him, startled at first, but after I started in, she was the only one not crying. With a gesture, Strass cut me out and I felt my voice stop. His faded softly away for several repetitions, and then suddenly blasted back at full volume for one more before cutting away entirely. We were all stunned for that moment, and then Alayna began to weep. <br> <br>“Thank you,” she said to him, waving us away as we tried to comfort her. “Thank you so much.” She choked down her tears and smiled at him as he took her hand. “No one has sung to me in so long…and it was so beautiful.” <br> <br>“It was my pleasure,” he said. Turning to me, he asked softly, “You knew that one?” <br> <br>I shook my head. “I’m a quick study,” I explained, “And Foyl knew it. He helped.” <br> <br>“Anyway, thanks. It wouldn’t have been so forceful without you.” <br> <br>“I don’t care if that’s not your usual style,” I said to him. “If that’s not on the next CD, I’ll hunt you down and kill you.” <br> <br>“It’ll be there if you agree to do backup.” <br> <br>I shook my head with a laugh. “Find someone good.” <br> <br>“Lucifel,” Alayna said to me. “That was so beautiful! Why haven’t you sung to me before this?” Her tone and expression weren’t accusing but I felt like they deserved to be. <br> <br>“It was as much Foyl as me,” I explained again. “I’m almost afraid to ask for another song. I don’t know if anything could top that.” <br> <br>“I could pick something even you would know,” he said to Alayna. “Have you ever heard The Lioness’s Song?” <br> <br>She nodded, “We used to sing it when I was a child. I remember it vaguely.” <br> <br>Elris nodded too, “I remember it well, and I know Lucifel knows that one. I’m sorry for Merula and the others who don’t, though.” <br> <br>“We’ll get over it, I’m sure,” Merula said, waving her hand at us. “Please sing it?” <br> <br>Strass started us off again, with Foyl giving him the background noises. At his nod, we all joined in, singing the nonsense song about a lioness and her cubs. The words make almost no sense, but the cadence is beautiful. Although no one cried, everyone looked moved. <br> <br>When Strass cut us off to finish by himself, we were all smiling and breathless. I looked at the door, and saw a small gathering of nurses and no few patients. A few of them looked shocked, like they’d come to dress us down for noise but then heard the song. Several were smiling and at least one was crying. <br> <br>“Strass,” I said as he finished it with a breathless laugh. When he looked, I jerked my head to our impromptu audience. <br> <br>“I think I’m wearing our little patient out,” he said instead. “Perhaps we should quit?” <br> <br>“No,” she begged. “Please one more?” <br> <br>“A lullaby,” he agreed amicably. “Then we’ll get out of your hair.” <br> <br>“Did you want the rest of us?” I asked softly. <br> <br>“Foyl can provide the backup like he did last time. That’ll be all I need.” I nodded thankfully—I was feeling worn myself. <br> <br>Taking a deep breath, he sang. I recognized it—it was another of the African-esque songs, but slow and gentle. Foyl supported him with odd howls and chanting between phrases. The final verse was in English, and I wept at the words. He apologized for failing to protect her, and promised to return to her and sing again. If I hadn’t known it from somewhere, I’d have sworn he was suiting it to the situation. As it was, when he finished, Alayna was torn between incredibly excited and drifting off. “Thank you. Would you pray with me?” <br> <br>We did the evening vespers together, and the hush that had fallen for reverence of Strass’s voice was shattered by the odd shuffling of the others and the impromptu audience’s departure. My face tinted slightly with anger, but I let it go. No foreign praying is half as compelling. When we finished, Alayna was nearly asleep, but the tears on her cheeks told me she was awake. <br> <br>“You alright?” I said, brushing them away with an innocuous caress. <br> <br>“Yes,” she said, opening her startling eyes. “Thank you so much, Lucifel. Thank you so much.” She smiled genuinely and I felt my lips tug in response. “You’ve made today so special. Thank you.” <br> <br>“No problem, kiddo. I may even bring these louts back some time. Rest now, though?” <br> <br>“Okay,” she said, falling asleep with a speed I envied. I squeezed her hand and pulled away. “You’ll take good care of her?” I said to Tucker who nodded solemnly. <br> <br>“Coil already threatened us for you, so you can even save yourself the trouble,” Will said with a grin. <br> <br>“Thanks,” I said to him, walking out the door. I dialed my home again and got Caninus’s voice on the first ring. Anxious, I looked outside and saw that it was nearly twilight. <br> <br>“What’s up?” <br> <br>“We’re leaving the hospital. Are the boys there yet?” <br> <br>“Yeah. They found your porn stash and are busy critiquing it,” he said. “Kidding. Fanin’s on your computer with Derek. Surfing the web or playing some games or something. Not your office computer, of course.” <br> <br>“And you’re not even watching them?” I felt my voice take on a sharp edge that seemed out of place juxtaposed to the last hour. <br> <br>“They’re safe,” he said. “Armed and everything. Trust me, no danger.” <br> <br>“Better not be,” I said. “I’ll be there in an hour, max.” <br> <br>“I’ll see you then,” he said softly. “Take care of yourself, meus angelus. Until then.” <br> <br>I snapped the phone shut and ran my fingers through my hair with a sigh. “Best laid plans,” I commented bitterly. “I need to get home and get started on some work. Good thinking with the two vehicles, Strass.” <br> <br>He grinned. “Hey, I didn’t want to be stuck in the backseat with you and everyone else if it kicked back in.” It took me a moment to realize he was talking about the hormonal thing. “What did you do? You said redirect.” <br> <br>“Yeah,” I ran my hand through my hair again and pulled him away from the rest of the group as we exited the hospital. “There are a few things more potent, so to speak.” <br> <br>“Either you get specific or I’ll get pissed,” he snapped, pulling away from me slightly. <br> <br>“Fine,” I snapped, looking to make sure the others were out of reach. For that matter, making sure no one else could hear. “Caninus stayed at my place today because of the sun. The only light proof room in my house is my bedroom.” <br> <br>He stopped dead. “You had sex with a vampire?” <br> <br>“No!” I said, almost too adamantly. “No,” I repeated with less force. “We didn’t have sex. But we…came close…before I stopped it.” I shook my head, dismissing the desire. “Anyway, something about it redirected all of that pheromone crap.” <br> <br>“So wait. Before, this made you attracted to me, which drove my attraction to you and so forth. Now, you’re attracted that strongly to…Caninus?” His face reflected all of the disgust that his voice couldn’t. <br> <br>“Yeah,” I said sharply. “Wonder why I don’t want to talk about it?” <br> <br>“Not terribly,” he said, slightly shocked. “I’m sorry,” he reached out for my hand reassuringly. “If I didn’t love Erica so indescribably, we might’ve made a good run of it.” <br> <br>“Not a chance,” I said, pulling away. “I’d have killed you long ago.” Before he could say anything, I pulled away, lest the shit Caninus had fixed unravel itself. <br> roguemage@gmail.com http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117889 Thu, 22 May 08 21:47:00 UT http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/comments/117889 0 Comments (0) http://www.journalscape.com/Adrian_Lavan/2008-05-22-02:58/ Okay, I realize it's actually the 22nd by more than three hours. But I have a very good excuse this time! You see, there was a midnight showing of the new Indiana Jones movie, and I *had* to go. I had to. There was no opting out. It's INDIANA JONES PEOPLE!!! I will catch up later today (after some sleep). And for the record, despite Ford's advancing age, the movie was pretty awesome. I'd see it again (and again, and perhaps a third time!). <br> <br>*** <br> <br>“Why didn’t you talk with her anyway?” Foyl asked, shifting yet again in the passenger seat as I pulled up to Strass’s house. “If something was going on, she’d warn you.” <br>“And get herself dead in the process,” I agreed. “Listen, I realize that you think I’m over reacting. I hope I am. But I can’t take that chance.” <br> <br>“Fair enough,” he agreed, flying out my door before it closed. “How many are you bringing? Your uncle and his sons, and yourself. Will…Merula join you?” His tongue writhed on the name, but I didn’t mention it. They were not exactly fond of each other, and I figured I’d be better off pretending to not even notice. Sadly, the biased dragon had known her for longer than I had, which is a sad commentary on my need for allies. <br> <br>“If she wants, I suppose she can. It’ll cram us full in my car, though. I don’t know about Strass.” I didn’t want him in the car, just in case my hormones were too much to control. “Foyl,” I stopped, several feet from the door. “Can you manipulate my hormonal responses?” <br> <br>“What?” He blinked at me curiously. “What responses?” <br> <br>“The mating response,” I said through clenched teeth. <br> <br>“Oh? Oh!” Knowledge dawned on his face and he had the grace to look embarrassed. “Not without a lot of tampering. You’ll have to suffer, Lucifel. Sorry.” <br> <br>“Me too,” I said, covering the distance to the door in a few strides and pounding on the knocker. <br> <br>“Just a minute!” Merula’s voice chimed from inside. She pulled the door open, bearing a smile. “Lucifel! I’m glad you came by. Here to check on us?” <br> <br>“Not really,” I said slowly. “Just thought I’d take you three out for a treat, since you’re not used to Kansas City.” <br> <br>She gave me a deliberate smile. “Oh, that would be wonderful.” I exchanged calm glances with Foyl. Something was up, and nothing good. <br> <br>“I’d love some tea, first,” I said. “Is it alright if I get my own or would that make you uncomfortable?” <br> <br>“Uncomfortable?” Her smile was increasingly forced. “Why? Come on, we’ll pour over the tea collection and find something nice.” <br> <br>“The kitchen,” I whispered almost inaudibly to Foyl. Something was going down there and she was supposed to lead me. Foyl leapt from my shoulder and disappeared, hovering at the ceiling. “So how did everyone sleep?” <br> <br>“Oh, we’ve all been awake for ages, silly goose! Not everyone is quite as accustomed to luxury as you. We were all up about…seven-ish?” Either they hadn’t gotten any sleep or there were about seven extra people floating around. <br> <br>“Sorry!” I laughed. “I meant to get over here earlier, but…things come up, you know?” <br> <br>“It’s alright,” she said, the strain showing in her voice. “We didn’t want to call and disturb you anyway.” I nodded sagely, not sure how to interpret that, and made a show of stretching. My hand settled on the Casting hidden by my coat, and I flicked the safety off softly. I let Merula get a few steps ahead of me and waited another moment so Foyl was prepared to go in with me. Drawing my pistol, I dove into the room. <br> <br>Merula can’t count for shit, or I misunderstood her signal. There were at least ten of them there. All, much to my heart’s mourning, elves. I didn’t wait, though, for grief to catch me, but aimed my gun. “Shit,” one of them said, pulling out another gun to fire at me. I didn’t give him the chance. Begging forgiveness in my mind, I fired and the bullet tore through his chest. I didn’t wait to see what happened but shifted to another target and dove for the floor. Bullets erupted above my head. <br> <br>“Shit, get the bitch!” one of them shouted over the din. “What the fuck?” Shots came from another direction and threw the man behind my target across the room. I didn’t waste time, firing indiscriminately, noticing with thanks that Merula and the others were on the floor. Foyl was settled above them, protecting them from stray bullets. Or maybe it was Merula who did it. It didn’t really matter to me. I kept shooting. <br> <br>Firefights seem like they should stick in your memory vividly, but I think if they did, I’d have gone insane years ago. It blurs together, a tidal wave of remorse for the lives you take and yet utter apathy for them as well. I realized it, and well after I wanted it, the shots were finished. Elris’s erect carriage stepped from the pantry, holding one of his lower caliber guns, the barrel smoking. <br> <br>“You took your time, nia. I was worried they would decide you weren’t coming today and kill them. I’m not sure I could have taken them all down by myself.” <br> <br>“Sorry, uncle,” I said softly. “I’d have come sooner but,” I shrugged with a smile. “Traffic was a bitch.” <br> <br>“Bullshit,” Fanin said, standing up from the floor and looking remarkably unshaken. “But thanks anyway. I was so pissed I was the first one they nabbed. I should have been in that closet,” he said sorrowfully to his father. “I should have helped.” <br> <br>“Be thankful,” I said to him. “You don’t want to take lives if you can help it. I don’t want to know that my cousin is as damned as I am.” <br> <br>“If you are damned,” Strass laughed, struggling upright. “Then we are all, well and truly, fucked.” <br> <br>“Welcome to hell, then,” I said with a sad smile. “You get used to it after long enough.” <br> <br>Merula was the first one to be able to stand without shaking at all, and it still took her time to be able to tell me what happened. Everyone else held themselves aloof, but I could feel their discomfort. Apparently, they had arrived outside, where Fanin was tending the garden, and taken him first. Fanin was the bait, so when Derek came out to help, they took him as well. Merula and Strass were in the kitchen, and Elris was in the basement, that I had mistaken for a pantry. When he came back to the stairs, he heard the commotion and decided that being the silent partner would be better. The captors had talked about waiting for me. They were about to call and ask me to come over before I pulled up. <br> <br>It worried me how close I came to being too late. The call, half an hour to wait, and then executions. “You were damn lucky,” I said for what felt like the fifteenth time. “But I think we need to go.” <br> <br>“More?” Strass asked wearily. <br> <br>“Not here,” I said. “I think Alayna may have some unwelcome visitors, though. And she’s not exactly safe. But if I’m wrong,” I shrugged, trying to brush it off. “She could use some more visitors, especially those, no offense to Merula, who know her native tongue.” <br> <br>“She’s an elf?” Elris said, his head shooting up. “You’ve got some Elven girl in a hospital somewhere? And you just mentioned it?” He grinned widely. “Let me grab another clip, just in case and we’ll go!” <br> <br>“No guns in the hospital,” I said firmly. “It will be strictly hand-to-hand.” <br> <br>“Spells,” Foyl said from above me. <br> <br>“Huh?” I replied wittily. <br> <br>“Spells. Do I have to spell it out for you?” He paused and chuckled. “I didn’t intend the pun but…I forgot the main drawback of binding to a non-witch. Necromages may carry the name ‘mage’ but you all seem to forget about sp