Birthrights (17 page)

Seth had worked for Marc for too many years now and
knew it was not wise to keep Marc waiting. He was already late
reporting in, and had also ignored several text messages and a
call. Nothing irritated Marc more than to be blown off, especially
by a subordinate, being the one to do it made Seth smile inside.
Seth finally finished setting up his laptop and dialed into Marc's
personal video conference.

“Its about damn time,” Marc was saying out loud as
the video conference connected.

Seth noted as Marc's face came into view that he did
not appear very happy. 'Good,' Seth thought, 'because I'm starting
to put the pieces together for myself and I can see your endgame
now.'

Marc hissed through clenched teeth, “You’re
late.”

Seth took a deep breath. “Yes, I’m sorry. I was in
the presence of Caislyn and Jaxon. I did not think it wise to take
your call while they were near.”

Marc shifted in his chair. “And what, pray tell,
were you doing in their presence?!” Mark chastised.

I was talking with them," Seth explained and then saw
the look on Marc’s face and decided he needed to explain further.
“As you know, Jaxon works for the Pasquotank Art Gallery, one of
your businesses. She displayed some of Caislyn’s art in the last
show. I was merely using that as an excuse to get closer to them.
I’m hoping to find out more information this way." Seth made a
point of looking thoroughly bored by this revelation. "We were
discussing her art work and if she was willing to show any further
pieces. All of her work sold, and quickly, some of our more
prominent collectors have been asking about her. I still have to
continue the dealings for the gallery, Marc.” Seth looked
thoughtful for a moment then added, "or would you like for me to
simply drop all pretenses? I am not exactly sure what you are
looking for here, since you haven't been open with me about that
and quite frankly, it makes the job that much harder."

Marc glared at the monitor of his computer. Seth was
dangerously close to being flippant with him and he knew it. While
Seth reported to Marc, he ultimately worked for the council and
that was his major bargaining chip. He wasn't as easy to get rid of
as the lower profile vampires that rubbed Marc the wrong way. The
Council would miss Seth’s presence if he were to accidentally
disappear. “Enough of this babble. You do as your told, you
report back with what you find, you don't need to concern yourself
with the semantics of the mission. The dissemination of facts is
for myself and the High Council to deal with. Now what do you have
to report?” Marc demanded.

“Apparently Jaxon is going to help Caislyn with the
search for her parents. I’m not sure why or what she would get out
of it. I’m still trying to find a clue to Jaxon’s past. All I know
is that she came from Raleigh and she was adopted by the DeLaney’s
when she was just a baby. Before that, there is nothing. There are
no records of her biological parents or her birth in any database
or legal system. I ’m looking into private organizations, but so
far no luck there either. I’m also checking with churches, but some
of them don't keep very good records, especially if it was done
anonymously,” Seth reported. He had given Marc more information
than he really wanted but it was necessary in order to keep Marc’s
attention off of Caislyn.

“Anything else, Seth?” Marc questioned.

“No. Like I said, I’m still investigating and
searching through documents. That takes time Marc.”

“Well, you must not be as well connected as I once
thought.” Marc replied snidely. “I’ve heard a few rumblings lately,
rumors about a fight in Camden at Causeway Park. Know anything of
this?”

Seth swore silently. He maintained control of his
shock at Marc’s knowledge of the fight but feigned innocence. “No.
I haven't heard a thing, but most human fights are handled through
the police and are of no consequence to the Vampire Community.”

“Well, I think this will be of interest to all the
communities. It wasn’t a human fight. Fey were involved.”

Seth raised both eyebrows in response to Marc’s
sharing of information. “Really? I’ll have to look into this
further. Did you hear with whom the altercation took place?”

“No. That’s all the information that my sources gave,
but do look into it, Seth. I want to know what brought the Fey out
in the open like that.”

Before Seth could answer, Marc held up a hand to
silence him.  Someone else had walked into Marc's office,
“Damn it, Frank! I told you to wait until I summoned you." Marc
looked back at Seth then, "I believe we are done here." Without
another word the connection was severed.

***

Steel, Demons, & Knowledge

Late the next morning, the girls left the bookstore
to acquire weapons to help defend them from Fey attacks. "Are you
sure this is a good idea?" Jaxon looked more than a bit
apprehensive about having to go deal with a demon today.

"Don't worry Jax, just remember what I told about
demons and you'll be fine. My dad used to work with this one from
time to time. Don't get me wrong, never, ever, underestimate a
demon! Ve is the only one we can go to for weapons capable of
killing Fey. Besides, I have something he wants." Caislyn patted
the book bag she was carrying. Before they left the book store she
had gone downstairs and charmed a couple books to take with them.
Jaxon hadn't understood what she was doing at the time and it
showed on her face now as she looked doubtfully over at her
friend.

"Seriously, you intend to charm some Fey killing
weapons out of a demon using books that you put spells on?" Jaxon
shook her head trying to clear out the cobwebs that obviously must
have formed there. "I really don't understand. For some reason,
every day I wake up lately has been a challenge to understand what
motivates all these weird non-human groups to do what they do."

Caislyn tsked gently as she teased Jaxon, "Watch your
tongue, Jax, you are one of us weird non-humans now!" Caislyn
snuggled the book bag closer to herself as she continued, "Trust
me, Ve has been after these books for years and my dad wouldn't
part with them for some reason."

"So, what's to stop a big bad demon from just taking
them?"

"Remember those spells, really charms, I put on the
books before we left? They ensure that I have to give the books as
payment of my own free will and without menacing acts affecting my
decision."

"Okay, well I guess I will see how that works later."
Jaxon said doubtfully.

"Hopefully not," Caislyn said as she hugged the bag
closer to herself. "I really don't want to have anyone attempt to
take them by force, that wouldn't go over well for anyone."

"Great," Jaxon said as she rolled her eyes, "Don't
worry, Jax! The books are charmed!" Jaxon said sarcastically,
"somehow, it's not the books I'm worried about. Can you put one of
those charms on me?" Jax questioned.

"Are you done, yet?" Caislyn asked as they rounded
the corner. "I really hope you are because we're here." Just as
Jaxon looked up Caislyn found herself face to face with an old,
drunk vagrant outside of Ve's building.

The old man looked up at them with his dirt stained,
weather worn face, "You!" He looked from Caislyn to Jaxon and back
again. "And so it has begun. The world will change after all. The
man's eyes glazed over and he began to speak in melodic voice that
wasn't present only moments ago.

"Their power unleashed will open eyes

And bring forth the species beneath the skies

Battles for truth will not deny,

As one they shall all live or die" 

"The prophecy has come to pass, they are among us."
The old man was now back to himself, and began sounding a bit out
of sorts again as he stumbled away from the two girls. "Tell no
one," he ordered them. "Your lives are not your own if you do." The
old man ran off singing of an Irish maid and her man she found in
the woods, or some such nonsense that the girls could barely
understand. 

"Okay, now I didn't see that one coming, weird!"
Caislyn acknowledged as she watched the man who was now dancing
down the street to his own song.

"Really?" Jaxon complained, "after all the things
that have happened since we've met and this is the first thing that
strikes you as weird?" Jaxon rolled her eyes at Caislyn once again
as she asked, "Honestly, I don't think I can take any more
surprises before going to see a demon."

"Let's just go in," Caislyn was still looking into
the horizon where the crazy man had disappeared when the front door
to Ve's building opened. She was startled back to reality when she
heard a male voice.

"I said can I help you?"

"Oh, um," Caislyn fought to gather herself after
being caught off guard. "We need to see Ve."

"I'm sorry, he's a bit indisposed with business right
now. Besides, I don't think he's auditioning any new
girls." 

Jaxon looked confused as she asked,
"auditioning?"

"Oh, hell no, you stupid little minion!" Caislyn
yelled at the man before her. "You get your haughty little ass in
there and tell Ve that Caislyn Vadoma is here and it's very
important!" She crinkled up her nose at the man before her who
suddenly looked very indignant at her outburst. "You heard me, if
you value your position you'll run along and tell Ve I am here with
a friend."

As the man walked back into the house Jaxon looked at
Caislyn as if she had lost her mind. "Do you think that was very
smart? Did you just insult a demon? Oh my God, we are going to die
right here and the last person who saw us alive is going to be some
raving lunatic who was talking about the end of the world and then
danced off into the sunset singing an Irish ditty. Seriously, could
this day get any better?" Jaxon finished rambling as the front door
re-opened.

"My apologies, Ms. Caislyn, Ve says I am to seat you
in the parlor." 

Caislyn looked back at Jaxon when she hesitated to
step over the threshold. "Are you done throwing your hissy-fit now?
Because this fool," she pointed to the man leading them inside, "is
no demon. He's as human as they come, no matter what he wishes he
could be."

"My name is Jacob, lady, and I am perfectly fine with
being human." He pointed toward the seats in the parlor as they
reached the door. "You may have a seat in here, Ve will be with you
momentarily."

As they sat and waited for an audience with Ve,
Jaxon's hands were shaking slightly in her lap when Caislyn reached
over and grabbed them to still her.

"Don't worry," Caislyn whispered to her.

"Easier said than done. You brought me to a demon's
house to talk with him about weapons because we have so many other
creepy things chasing after us."

"I think dealing with Ve will end up being the least
of our problems, today. Remember though, he feeds off of strong
emotions so try to calm down a bit." Caislyn was trying to reassure
Jax, but the whole prospect of something "feeding" on her emotions
brought a renewed sense of dread to the pit of her stomach. Taking
several deep breaths, Jax tried to calm herself, concentrating on
keeping her hands still so that Caislyn, nor Ve, would see just how
nervous she was by being there. A few moments later, Caislyn
reached over and put her hand on Jax's arm, "You do realize that
you are shaking the whole couch with your leg don't you?"

Jaxon gave her friend a blank stare, "Oh. See, I
can't just sit here when I'm this nervous. Its either shake my legs
or pace. And I figured that pacing would probably give away the
whole 'I'm extremely nervous because I'm about to be face to face
with a demon' thing. I have to get this restless energy out
somehow, so I guess just shaking..."

"Now your rambling, Jax" Caislyn stated. "Just stop
worrying so much. This is going to go just fine. I know it is. Now
just sit there, close your eyes and center. Remember how I taught
you to shield yourself? Try building a shield to keep your energy
in and other energy out. I mean this place is full of all sorts of
emotion, I can only imagine that you are picking up on some of it,
which has probably exaggerating your nervousness. Concentrate on
your shield."

Jax listened to her friend's advice, closed her eyes
and breathed deeply. She visualized an impenetrable shield forming
around herself. As soon as the shield was complete, Jaxon felt calm
and peaceful. She felt like she could breath and think again.

Ve entered the room in a manner that exuded a pompous
stature without even trying. "Ah, Caislyn, it has been awhile," Ve
drawled slowly as he looked Caislyn over. Caislyn knew that look.
It was hunger. She wasn't real sure if it was the sexual type or
the 'I want to eat you for dinner' type. Ve was kind enough to be
wearing a human illusion for them. She wasn't sure how Jax would
have felt about how the demon really looked. She noticed as Ve
paused for a moment, then looked over at Jaxon curiously, "and who
have you brought for me? Another whore for my collection,
perhaps?"

"What is it with everyone assuming I'm a whore,
already?" Jaxon whispered to Caislyn. Jaxon nearly lost her shield
when her anger flared to full force and it wavered
briefly. 

Caislyn, having dealt with Ve before had expected
some sort of shocking comment from him. She clasped her hand over
Jaxon's and smiled reassuringly at her before she turned to address
Ve. "Now, is that anyway to treat guests, Ve?" Caislyn feigned
indifference before she began talking again. "We came to beg favors
from you and you call my friend a whore?" She prepared to stand and
continued on, "maybe you were the wrong demon to come see, after
all." She tsked under her breath and waited for Ve to take the
bait.

"Favors, you say?" Ve questioned almost immediately.
Caislyn knew from watching her father deal with the few demons who
had come in his store that the one thing demon's could not resist
was a favor. She also knew the one thing she never wanted was to
owe a favor to a demon. They tended to end badly and are never
worth the rewards you received. Ve continued on when Caislyn didn't
answer immediately, "my apologies to your friend, please, sit and
stay a while." He smiled as Caislyn sat back down. "Now, do tell
what sort of favors fair Caislyn is requesting?"