Dance With The Devil
Jun. 27th, 2005 10:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrAll right, I think *crosses fingers* this is mostly error free. I fixed up some flaws I didn't catch yesterday and hopefully that takes care of things. Has the full approval of my betas, including ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jolena, the household mystery buff (though there's little mystery in this one; I kept it boring simple to test the waters since I suck for mysteries - the whole I have all the subtlety of a mack truck thing).
Anyway, on with the show! *goes to get more caffeine and plot the demise of the neighbors*
File 313: The Devil's Consort
"They call her the Devil's Consort."
Chris snorted softly. "How cute. What earned her that name? The dress or the hair?"
The woman in question wore a floor-length red dress that left very little to the imagination. Probably satin, but at a distance it was hard to tell. The matching heels gave her a good three inches, putting her just at chin level with her date. Her hair was a decorative mess of braids and ribbons, twists and knots. Whoever arranged it must have wanted to commit suicide or kill her.
"I think it has more to do with the way she treats men," Douglas said, pushing his glasses up his nose. "But the hair was a fair guess." He reached into his tux jacket and pulled out a small, leather-bound notebook. Flipping it open, he began to tick off what he'd learned while waiting for Chris to arrive. "Phillipa McGovern. Second-eldest child and only daughter to George McGovern, who's paying us. Her brothers are out of the country, so dad's the only family connection we've got. Mother deceased. Fond of garden parties, fast cars and the wannabes who drive them. Said wannabes she tears through much like a dog through a steak. I'd say fond of money, but I figure that goes without saying."
Chris rolled his eyes. "And we're needed here because?"
"Lately she's been ditching all of the above and hanging around after-dark fetes only. Hardly leaves her house anymore until it gets dark."
"If she's a vampire, I'm dropping this case."
Douglas rolled his mismatched eyes at Chris. "You can't still be sour about the last case."
"Wanna bet?"
"Well, she's not a biter so there's no need to fear, oh brave and noble leader."
"Shut up and tell me what else you've got."
Douglas shrugged, "Not much really. We only got this case what, five hours ago? And you only bothered to show up two hours ago. So far as mannerisms and stuff go, she's the same as ever. It's just she hates going out in the daytime suddenly. She's also apparently started taking off after midnight."
Chris mused over that, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he contemplated the woman in the red dress. "Little chance of vampirism, then. They usually get cranky. Same with other species of biter. Any word of cults? That'd fit the after midnight bit."
"It's possible, but her father hasn't been able to figure out where she goes and if her friends know, they aren't giving the info up."
"Right. Possession, you think?"
"That or seduction. Would certainly explain the dress. Maybe an incubi is getting to her."
"Could be, though usually they stick to the bedroom." Chris sighed. "Go put yourself to use and see what you can sniff out. Meet me back here at eleven."
Douglas raised his eyes to the ceiling but did not argue the order. "You're just miffed because you had to come to the party."
"I hate parties," Chris muttered. Shooing Douglas away, he fussed with his own tuxedo in an effort to stall on joining the crush downstairs. The deep blue of his vest brightened the ocean-blue of his eyes. His tux was simple, understated - a stark contrast to the ring on his left ring finger, a large square cut diamond set in white gold. It matched the smaller diamond stud in his right ear, mostly hidden by his longish bright blonde hair.
He narrowed his eyes at the crowded ballroom, making note of the people he wanted to avoid like the plague and picking out those he would need to chat with.
Hopefully he could finish it up in a night and sleep in tomorrow.
Descending the stairs, he let his gaze focus on the man to whom Phillipa was clinging.
And narrowed his eyes again, pausing halfway down the staircase. He didn't recognize the guy. Tall, hard to tell how tall from a distance, but probably taller than his own 5'9". Sandy blonde hair, handsome in a spoiled brat sort of way. Chris wanted to punch him just on principal. But that'd get him yelled at and he really wasn't in the mood. Plus it wasn't a good idea to punch potential suspects before you could prove they were suspects. Ah, well.
He caught a flurry of movement from the corner of his eyes, smirking briefly as he watched Doug move through a crowd of people that saw him only when Doug wanted to be seen. His human guise shifted for a moment, hard to maintain perfectly when he was using other spells. But it reasserted itself a moment later, as Douglas sidled up to a young brunette woman and began to charm her with his honey-brown hair and profusion of freckles, his shy smile and disarming glasses. Chris racked his brain for a name, finally coming up with Elise. One of Phillipa's friends. Looked like Doug would have her picked clean in a half hour tops.
He hated parties. The longer he was here, the higher the numbers for this job were going to go. Luckily Phil's daddy was more than happy to pay whatever.
All because his little girl was probably hitting parties she shouldn't be anywhere near. If this turned out to be a normal case, the price was doubling.
At least it wasn't vampires. Forcing himself to stop sulking and get the night over with, Chris joined the throng and started making his way toward the fountain in the center. The party was a birthday party for Sable Brennus, one of the city's more prominent businessmen. Which meant this party was going to go all night. The ballroom was actually the lobby and most of the first floor of Brennus' most prestigious hotel. It was almost more of a greenhouse; there were so many plants and fountains around. The focal point was the large fountain in the center, depicting several beautiful women in beautiful robes holding the usual jars eternally spilling water.
Chris slowed to a halt as the crowd parted to reveal Phillipa and her date. A very pretty picture they made, but Chris wasn't very impressed. Now he just needed an in.
"Ah, Mr. White. So good to see you could make it after all."
Chris smiled as George McGovern came at him, hand extended. He shook it and smiled pleasantly. "Yes, I just managed to clear my schedule. Some less than happy clients, but they understood you were my priority."
"I'm flattered, sir." George, looking much like a prosperous businessmen should, silk and diamonds and a watch that could probably pay for Chris' house. He stroked his graying beard and motioned with beefy fingers toward his daughter. "Have you met my daughter? Phillipa, my dear, come meet my new friend."
Phillipa, Chris could see, was less than thrilled at being pulled away from her circle of admirers to meet a friend of her father's. But her impatience vanished as her gaze latched onto Chris. "Phillipa McGovern," she smiled with all the charm a school could teach a girl and extended her hand.
Chris accepted it, bowing slightly and kissing the knuckles. "A pleasure, my lady."
Her delighted laughter was pretty, clear as crystal and no doubt addictive for most. "Such a quaint gentleman! Daddy, who is this?"
"Chris White," Chris said, releasing her hand.
"He's a detective, sweet. But keep that quiet. He's helping me investigate a business matter. I'm only telling you so that you'll cooperate with any questions he asks you - no matter how strange they seem. All right?"
"Oh," Phillipa said, immediately disinterested. "Whatever you say, daddy." She started to say more, but her date appeared at her elbow and murmured quietly in her ear. "Excuse me, please. It was nice to meet you, Mr. White."
"Chris, please. The pleasure was mine." Chris smiled until she vanished onto the dance floor, and then turned to McGovern. "Asking her what she's up to at night is hardly going to be within the realm of a business investigation."
McGovern shrugged, "It's all I could devise for why you'll be around my house and business so much."
Chris refrained from a comment about leaving the devising to those paid for it and merely nodded. "I'm sorry I was out of the office when you stopped by. My assistant filled me in on the basics, but I would rather hear it all from you. If we could talk?"
"Certainly. Sable won't mind my use of his office, we can talk there."
Nodding, Chris motioned for McGovern to lead the way. They were nearly out of the overcrowded room when they were intercepted by the host and guest of honor.
"McGovern, my friend. I've been trying to get to you all night. You've been so popular, I'm starting to get jealous." Sable Brennus winked, storm-cloud eyes bright with amusement. His thick, dark curls had been rigorously tamed to lay neatly around his head, softening the hard lines of his sternly handsome features. He quirked a fine black brow at the man beside McGovern. "Mr. White, always a pleasure to see you."
"I'm sure," Chris responded. "If you'll pardon us, Mr. Brennus, Mr. McGovern and I had something we needed to discuss."
"Of course, of course. I did not mean to keep you from business. But George, do not try to leave without coming to speak with me. If I'm abandoned to the women all night long, I will hold you responsible for the wretchedness of my birthday party."
McGovern laughed. "I'll be back shortly, Sable. You can last a few minutes more, can't you?"
"A few - but no more than that."
"Understood," McGovern said with another laugh, clapping Brennus on the shoulder as he guided Chris from the room.
In Brennus' study, Chris moved to take the leather seat behind the desk, motioning McGovern to take the seat on the opposite side of the desk. He leaned back, folding one leg neatly across the knee of the other and steepled his fingers. "Start at the beginning and tell me everything. I cannot emphasize the importance of that enough. What may seem trifling to you could be of crucial importance to me. Leave no detail out. Begin, please."
"I see you managed to survive the ordeal, fearless leader."
Chris didn't deign to look at Douglas. "Do you want your wings clipped, smart ass?"
"Not particularly, no."
"Then cease with the smart ass and start with the helpful."
"Somebody's snippy tonight. Miffed you're not getting any?"
"Miffed because it looks like I get to shadow the broad all night instead of going to bed early and sleeping in for once." Chris gave him a look. "Last warning."
"Things are getting weird. It's like everyone's totally oblivious to her strange behavior. Only her dad has seemed to notice - and he's only noticed that she leaves at midnight. I even asked about her not being around her usual hangouts and they came up with perfectly normal, acceptable reasons. It's like her dad's a nutcase."
Chris sighed. "A parent sensitive to workings against his child." He rubbed his chin, leaning on the balcony railing and staring down at the party that was still going strong after four hours.
"Not terribly sensitive, if all he notices is that she keeps weird hours suddenly."
"Yeah, well. If he knew more then our job would actually be easy and heaven and hell forbid that actually happen."
Douglas gave him a look, resurrecting an old argument. "If you hate the job so much, why not quit?"
"One, he'd be too smug to live with. Two - I love this job." Chris winked. "I just like bitching about it more. Did you learn anything about her date? I don't recognize him."
"There's no reason you should - he's a guest in the hotel, a visiting businessman from Germany. He and Phillipa met a couple days of go and they say the Devil's Consort is utterly enamored of her latest toy."
"Interesting. That's probably relevant, but it doesn't help me at the moment. Now let's get a move on. You're going to follow her and lead me to where she's disappearing at night."
"Why do I do all the hard work?"
"Because I'm the boss and you're the lackey."
Douglas muttered something beneath his breath.
"What was that?" Chris narrowed his eyes.
"I said yes sir, right away sir." Doug smiled, the picture of obedience, and led the way from the ballroom.
A man dressed in the elaborate burgundy and gold uniform of the hotel stopped them at the doors. "Mr. White, I was told to give this to you." The man bowed and departed without another word.
Chris muttered a few choice words and ripped open the heavy, cream-colored envelope. Tilting it, he tipped out what turned out to be an earring to match the one he was already wearing. "Bastard."
Douglas peered around Chris, pushing up his glasses as he looked at the earring. "Oh, neat. Someone's getting impatient with your sleuthing."
"Shut it." Chris warned, stuffing the earring into a pocket. "Let's hurry up and get this over with."
Snickering softly, Douglas nodded and they continued on their way outside. "So you just want me to follow? When should I contact you?"
Chris grimaced. "Wait for me to contact you - unless it's too dangerous and then warn me before it gets to that point."
"You don't think they'll sense me? Once we're away from the crowds and stuff?"
"Not unless you're getting fat and lazy. Unless it's something of a higher caliber than I'm thinking - and I'm thinking bored children playing games they ought not be playing - then they wouldn't notice you if you started chanting benedictions.
"And if there is something stronger than that involved?"
Chris rubbed his chin, thinking. "Follow anyway. If you get into trouble, you know how to reach me."
Douglas grumbled. "I had better get a bonus for this."
"Like you don't have full access to the stupid bank accounts already. Give yourself whatever bonus you want. Within reason."
"Right!" Douglas suddenly looked much more enthusiastic. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go have a look at the house - and her bedroom." Chris held up a key ring. "Daddy trusts me way too much, I think."
"I think perhaps you came highly recommended."
"Shut it," Chris said in warning.
"I'm gone." Douglas sauntered away into the parking lot, headed for Phillipa's car.
Chris waited until Douglas vanished into the vehicle before turning to head for his own car, a plain black SUV that he stubbornly refused to get rid of despite repeated urgings to do just that. Inside the car, he fumbled around to change out of his monkey suit and into jeans, a blue t-shirt and the soft, worn brown leather jacket he clung to more relentlessly than the SUV. He glared at the earring given to him by the hotel employee. "Don't need your help," he muttered, but shoved the earring into a jean pocket anyway.
The house was dark when he reached it, and a brief examination showed only a couple of guards. The McGovern estate relied mostly upon electronic security.
Which meant this would be a breeze. Chris parked a couple blocks away and walked up to the house. Still a few yards from it, he vanished.
Intangible he passed through the walls and across the lawn. He walked easily through the door and into what turned out to be a kitchen. Continuing on, he made straight for where McGovern had said his daughter's bedroom would be. That was the best place to start - everyone kept their secrets in their sanctuary.
The room looked as it should for a twenty-something rich girl with too much money and leisure. Pastel silk, lace, and so much clothing he was hard-pressed to determine the color of the carpet. He didn't bother to turn a light on. Returning to tangible, he set quietly to work picking through the messy room for things that didn't belong.
And came up empty. Chris glowered at the room, supremely displeased. This was not how he'd wanted to spend his evening. It wasn't how he was supposed to be spending tonight. Losing all patience, he dug out the earring he hadn't really wanted. Fastening it to his left ear, he then lifted his hand to sketch a symbol in the air. It shimmered silver, then glowed bright red and vanished. Around him, the entirety of the room began to take on a faint red glow.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" Chris continued to curse as he left the house, not bothering to go back the way he'd come but simply passing through the wall and lowering himself to the ground below. Still intangible, he made for his car.
Once solidified and in the car, he touched the diamond earring in his right ear. "Douglas!"
At first there was no response, and Chris began to worry despite himself. "Douglas!"
"Sorry, sorry. Wasn't exactly able to reply, Chris. You may want to hurry up and get out here. There's some weird shit going down. Reminds me a lot of when you--"
"Why don't you tell me where you are? That'd help a lot."
"Park. Couple miles east of the lake campground. You can't miss it - chicks dancing around in a devil fire."
"Stay safe, Douglas. Run if you have to."
"No worries there. Should you call for help?"
"No!" Chris shouted. "I don't need his goddamn help."
"Yeah, yeah. See you in a few."
Chris muttered and groused to himself as he drove to the park, words growing more colorful as he parked and began walking from the campground in the direction Douglas had given him. He sensed it before he saw it.
For the rest of his life - and probably beyond - he would always sense the presence of demon fire.
He slowed down as the feeling grew stronger, going partially invisible to decrease his chances of being seen without using more of his energy than he had to, and approached the clearing with caution.
"Not impressed," he muttered softly, watching the spectacle in the clearing. "Not impressed at all."
"Yeah, these young ones have no class at all. Nothing like when you danced. I didn't even recognize it for what it was at first."
Chris turned to glare at the figure that dropped down soundlessly beside him. Though how he managed the feat, Chris didn't know. It wasn't as though Douglas in his true form was a creature typically given to silence. "I gather you know who the demon is now?"
"Yeah. It was so obvious once I got here, I had to agree with you that this is scarcely worth our time." Douglas shifted on his feet, impatient. His normally bright, glowing eyes had been muted to a dim green and pale gold.
Smiling faintly, Chris examined his assistant. When he'd first found him, Douglas had been nothing but skin and bones and despair. Now the dark gray flesh was filled out with trim muscle, the neatly folded leathery wings now fully functional. And his horns were growing back; though at present they were little more than short, small pointed knobs, in a few more years they would be the proper horns of a mature imp. His heavy tail swished the air as he continued to shift impatiently from foot to foot. "Let me crash the party. You cover, because I have no doubt that someone is going to try something stupid and I've already wasted enough time on this stupid case. I'm so charging him triple for this idiocy."
"Like you need the money."
"That's not the point."
"Of course not."
Chris ignored the tolerant look he knew Douglas was giving him. "Cover me, smart ass."
"I will."
Nodding, Chris stepped from the cover of the forest and approached the idiocy going on in the clearing. He felt the wards set up around the perimeter and bypassed them easily, the earring in left ear shimmering.
Idiocy was really the only word for it. But no - debacle worked as well.
Seven figures occupied the center of the clearing. Five stood at what were the points of a star - a pentacle. Though Chris had no doubt these yahoos liked to call it a pentagram or some such nonsense.
This particular pentacle was probably just dug straight into the earth, then filled with demon fire. All around them the demon fire - this particular fire bright scarlet - burned in a high circle. In the very center of the pentacle two people writhed in what Chris was certain they considered dancing.
Atrocity was more like it, but kids always did what they wanted. He snorted softly at himself, acting like an old man when he was only thirty-one. Forcing his mind to the matters at hand, he started clapping loudly to get their attention.
Seven startled faces turned to look at him, the dancing figures none too pleased. Phillipa frowned, clinging to her date. "What are you doing here?" Her voice, when she spoke, was as hard as ice, completely unlike the honeyed, distracted voice she'd used at the party.
Chris sighed. "Let me guess - this group got into things they shouldn't, you possessed Phillipa and now you're getting too strong to stay in the mortal world undetected."
The woman frowned and said nothing, though her eyes had turned the same scarlet as the fire that burned all around them.
Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jacket, Chris stepped closer. "Getting too strong and so you thought you'd take a consort. I thought demons were supposed to be smarter about this sort of thing. Or maybe I'm just lucky and know the few smart demons that exist."
The demon narrowed her eyes, releasing the man she'd been clinging to and faced Chris fully. "Who are you?"
"Tsk, tsk, honey. If you live in this city, by now you should have heard of me. The disrespectful call me a spook detective. I prefer paranormal investigator. Phil's dad asked me to check out what his little girl was up to at night. You're really sloppy - then again you are young and stupid. Next time you try something like this, keep in mind that most parents are sensitive when it comes to their children. You should've used a stronger spell than what you're using on them." he motioned the five women standing blankly at the points of the pentacle, distantly recognizing Elise. "And really - you're not strong enough to take a consort. You should've just stuck with spells for a few centuries."
The demon stepped out of the very center of the pentacle, though she didn't leave the circle of fire altogether. "How would you know?"
"It doesn't take a genius, sweetheart." Chris yawned. "First and foremost, only demon lords are strong enough to warrant and take consorts. If you were that powerful, you wouldn't have to hide in a forest and use humans as batteries for the spell. Second, taking a consort requires a lot more than lust and desperation. Given that neither you nor the esteemed Phillipa seem to understand anything beyond that, I won't waste my time explaining why you're doomed to fail. Last but not least - a consort should not be someone as lazy and spoiled as William Claus. There are responsibilities that come with the position - it isn't one that should be given lightly. And it looks like your toy of choice isn't even a willing participant." William's eyes were indeed blank, the man was as unmoving as the five women now that the ceremony had stopped. "Very, very stupid on your part."
Breaking from the circle, the demon launched herself at Chris in a blind rage. He laughed softly as she passed right through him, spinning around to watch as she picked herself up off the ground. "Give it up, baby cakes. You can't touch me."
"What the hell?"
Chris laughed. "Douglas!"
The imp came from above, having hidden up in the trees while Chris talked. In no time at all he had the demon pinned, grinning. "This really isn't much of a demon."
Chris crouched on the balls of his feet, arms propped on his knees. In the light of the demon fire, the diamond on his ring seemed to almost glow silver. He ignored the way the demon's eyes widened, as she caught sight of it. "Nah. She can't be more than a few decades old - otherwise my little trick wouldn't have proved troublesome for her. And look how easily she went down before an immature imp?"
Douglas grumbled at being called immature but did not argue. "So what now?"
"Tie her up or something and then take her back to the office. We'll exorcise the demon in the morning. I'll disperse the rest of this idiocy."
"Sure thing."
"Good. Then I'll see you tomorrow at about nine - make that ten."
Douglas smirked. "Sure thing."
Ignoring the smirk, Chris turned on his heel to take care of the mess created by an impatient, panicky demon. "Children…"
It was hours before he was finally able to return to his apartment. A glance at his watch only depressed him further. Three in the morning. This was so entirely not where he was supposed to be at three in the morning. He combed a hand through his hair, staring miserably into the full-length mirror on his closet door.
The mirror shimmered, rippled, and Chris stared at it a moment before smiling faintly - and stepping through it.
A minute later he stepped out of a larger mirror, into a room that was so simply done it could only be obscenely expensive. Beyond the wide expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows opposite him was a view of the city he called his own. There were so many lights it was hard to believe most of the city slept.
To his right was a massive bed, raised up on a dais. He'd tripped on the steps leading up to it more than once - luckily the bed made for a soft landing.
A fireplace was the focus of the opposite side of the room, casting light on the black leather couches and chair clustered around it. And just out of the light, leaning against the back of the couch, was a man still dressed in the tuxedo he'd been wearing earlier that night. His storm cloud eyes glowed pale silver in the fire-lit room as he stood and approached Chris. In his impatience he had disheveled his hair, causing the neatly arranged curls to cascade wildly around his head and in his face. "Christian," he said by way of greeting, before pulling Chris close and kissing him like a starving man.
Chris didn't protest, merely kissed him back like his life depended on it, tasting wine and something indefinable that always made him think of magic. When the kiss ended, he tilted his head back to give access to the warm mouth that nipped and licked at his throat. "Sable…"
"I know you don't like parties, beloved, but this was a little much." Rising to his full height - a good four inches taller than Chris - Sable smiled. "I was hoping the earring would speed things along." He went back to nibbling at Chris' throat.
"I've told you before not to interfere with my cases," Chris said irritably, not mentioning the fact that the earring had cut his work in half - without it would have taken him a lot longer to figure out what the demon possessing Phillipa was attempting.
Sable shrugged. "I was rather impatient for you to finish."
"I'm sorry," Chris said, irritation fading beneath his guilt. "I can't exactly say no to someone who needs my help. And did you really want another demon and consort floating around your territory?"
Sable laughed, the sound vibrating in his chest. "They thought they could reside in my territory? How amusing. Children are so foolish. You should have told me, beautiful, I would have dealt with the matter and we could have celebrated my birthday properly."
"You're over five hundred, Sable." Christian shook his head in exasperation. "One would think you'd be bored with birthdays by now."
Sable smiled softly, the expression oddly gentle for a demon known to be anything but. "They were boring - until I found a consort to celebrate them with."
Christian's gaze softened and he leaned up to wrap his arms around Sable's neck, silently begging for a kiss that Sable gladly gave him. "I'm sorry."
"As you should be," Sable said with a teasing grin. "But I'll forgive you if you'll come to bed and make it up to me."
Rolling his eyes, Christian never the less smiled and allowed Sable to take him to their bed. "I stopped them in the middle of the dance, Sable. It was atrocious - nothing like ours."
Sable's eyes faded to a soft, shimmering gray as he recalled their dance in silver demon fire. "We shall have to dance again, sometime. We've not done it for too long."
"Tomorrow," Chris said, and drew Sable back to the matter at hand.
jolena, the household mystery buff (though there's little mystery in this one; I kept it Anyway, on with the show! *goes to get more caffeine and plot the demise of the neighbors*
Dance With The Devil
File 313: The Devil's Consort
"They call her the Devil's Consort."
Chris snorted softly. "How cute. What earned her that name? The dress or the hair?"
The woman in question wore a floor-length red dress that left very little to the imagination. Probably satin, but at a distance it was hard to tell. The matching heels gave her a good three inches, putting her just at chin level with her date. Her hair was a decorative mess of braids and ribbons, twists and knots. Whoever arranged it must have wanted to commit suicide or kill her.
"I think it has more to do with the way she treats men," Douglas said, pushing his glasses up his nose. "But the hair was a fair guess." He reached into his tux jacket and pulled out a small, leather-bound notebook. Flipping it open, he began to tick off what he'd learned while waiting for Chris to arrive. "Phillipa McGovern. Second-eldest child and only daughter to George McGovern, who's paying us. Her brothers are out of the country, so dad's the only family connection we've got. Mother deceased. Fond of garden parties, fast cars and the wannabes who drive them. Said wannabes she tears through much like a dog through a steak. I'd say fond of money, but I figure that goes without saying."
Chris rolled his eyes. "And we're needed here because?"
"Lately she's been ditching all of the above and hanging around after-dark fetes only. Hardly leaves her house anymore until it gets dark."
"If she's a vampire, I'm dropping this case."
Douglas rolled his mismatched eyes at Chris. "You can't still be sour about the last case."
"Wanna bet?"
"Well, she's not a biter so there's no need to fear, oh brave and noble leader."
"Shut up and tell me what else you've got."
Douglas shrugged, "Not much really. We only got this case what, five hours ago? And you only bothered to show up two hours ago. So far as mannerisms and stuff go, she's the same as ever. It's just she hates going out in the daytime suddenly. She's also apparently started taking off after midnight."
Chris mused over that, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he contemplated the woman in the red dress. "Little chance of vampirism, then. They usually get cranky. Same with other species of biter. Any word of cults? That'd fit the after midnight bit."
"It's possible, but her father hasn't been able to figure out where she goes and if her friends know, they aren't giving the info up."
"Right. Possession, you think?"
"That or seduction. Would certainly explain the dress. Maybe an incubi is getting to her."
"Could be, though usually they stick to the bedroom." Chris sighed. "Go put yourself to use and see what you can sniff out. Meet me back here at eleven."
Douglas raised his eyes to the ceiling but did not argue the order. "You're just miffed because you had to come to the party."
"I hate parties," Chris muttered. Shooing Douglas away, he fussed with his own tuxedo in an effort to stall on joining the crush downstairs. The deep blue of his vest brightened the ocean-blue of his eyes. His tux was simple, understated - a stark contrast to the ring on his left ring finger, a large square cut diamond set in white gold. It matched the smaller diamond stud in his right ear, mostly hidden by his longish bright blonde hair.
He narrowed his eyes at the crowded ballroom, making note of the people he wanted to avoid like the plague and picking out those he would need to chat with.
Hopefully he could finish it up in a night and sleep in tomorrow.
Descending the stairs, he let his gaze focus on the man to whom Phillipa was clinging.
And narrowed his eyes again, pausing halfway down the staircase. He didn't recognize the guy. Tall, hard to tell how tall from a distance, but probably taller than his own 5'9". Sandy blonde hair, handsome in a spoiled brat sort of way. Chris wanted to punch him just on principal. But that'd get him yelled at and he really wasn't in the mood. Plus it wasn't a good idea to punch potential suspects before you could prove they were suspects. Ah, well.
He caught a flurry of movement from the corner of his eyes, smirking briefly as he watched Doug move through a crowd of people that saw him only when Doug wanted to be seen. His human guise shifted for a moment, hard to maintain perfectly when he was using other spells. But it reasserted itself a moment later, as Douglas sidled up to a young brunette woman and began to charm her with his honey-brown hair and profusion of freckles, his shy smile and disarming glasses. Chris racked his brain for a name, finally coming up with Elise. One of Phillipa's friends. Looked like Doug would have her picked clean in a half hour tops.
He hated parties. The longer he was here, the higher the numbers for this job were going to go. Luckily Phil's daddy was more than happy to pay whatever.
All because his little girl was probably hitting parties she shouldn't be anywhere near. If this turned out to be a normal case, the price was doubling.
At least it wasn't vampires. Forcing himself to stop sulking and get the night over with, Chris joined the throng and started making his way toward the fountain in the center. The party was a birthday party for Sable Brennus, one of the city's more prominent businessmen. Which meant this party was going to go all night. The ballroom was actually the lobby and most of the first floor of Brennus' most prestigious hotel. It was almost more of a greenhouse; there were so many plants and fountains around. The focal point was the large fountain in the center, depicting several beautiful women in beautiful robes holding the usual jars eternally spilling water.
Chris slowed to a halt as the crowd parted to reveal Phillipa and her date. A very pretty picture they made, but Chris wasn't very impressed. Now he just needed an in.
"Ah, Mr. White. So good to see you could make it after all."
Chris smiled as George McGovern came at him, hand extended. He shook it and smiled pleasantly. "Yes, I just managed to clear my schedule. Some less than happy clients, but they understood you were my priority."
"I'm flattered, sir." George, looking much like a prosperous businessmen should, silk and diamonds and a watch that could probably pay for Chris' house. He stroked his graying beard and motioned with beefy fingers toward his daughter. "Have you met my daughter? Phillipa, my dear, come meet my new friend."
Phillipa, Chris could see, was less than thrilled at being pulled away from her circle of admirers to meet a friend of her father's. But her impatience vanished as her gaze latched onto Chris. "Phillipa McGovern," she smiled with all the charm a school could teach a girl and extended her hand.
Chris accepted it, bowing slightly and kissing the knuckles. "A pleasure, my lady."
Her delighted laughter was pretty, clear as crystal and no doubt addictive for most. "Such a quaint gentleman! Daddy, who is this?"
"Chris White," Chris said, releasing her hand.
"He's a detective, sweet. But keep that quiet. He's helping me investigate a business matter. I'm only telling you so that you'll cooperate with any questions he asks you - no matter how strange they seem. All right?"
"Oh," Phillipa said, immediately disinterested. "Whatever you say, daddy." She started to say more, but her date appeared at her elbow and murmured quietly in her ear. "Excuse me, please. It was nice to meet you, Mr. White."
"Chris, please. The pleasure was mine." Chris smiled until she vanished onto the dance floor, and then turned to McGovern. "Asking her what she's up to at night is hardly going to be within the realm of a business investigation."
McGovern shrugged, "It's all I could devise for why you'll be around my house and business so much."
Chris refrained from a comment about leaving the devising to those paid for it and merely nodded. "I'm sorry I was out of the office when you stopped by. My assistant filled me in on the basics, but I would rather hear it all from you. If we could talk?"
"Certainly. Sable won't mind my use of his office, we can talk there."
Nodding, Chris motioned for McGovern to lead the way. They were nearly out of the overcrowded room when they were intercepted by the host and guest of honor.
"McGovern, my friend. I've been trying to get to you all night. You've been so popular, I'm starting to get jealous." Sable Brennus winked, storm-cloud eyes bright with amusement. His thick, dark curls had been rigorously tamed to lay neatly around his head, softening the hard lines of his sternly handsome features. He quirked a fine black brow at the man beside McGovern. "Mr. White, always a pleasure to see you."
"I'm sure," Chris responded. "If you'll pardon us, Mr. Brennus, Mr. McGovern and I had something we needed to discuss."
"Of course, of course. I did not mean to keep you from business. But George, do not try to leave without coming to speak with me. If I'm abandoned to the women all night long, I will hold you responsible for the wretchedness of my birthday party."
McGovern laughed. "I'll be back shortly, Sable. You can last a few minutes more, can't you?"
"A few - but no more than that."
"Understood," McGovern said with another laugh, clapping Brennus on the shoulder as he guided Chris from the room.
In Brennus' study, Chris moved to take the leather seat behind the desk, motioning McGovern to take the seat on the opposite side of the desk. He leaned back, folding one leg neatly across the knee of the other and steepled his fingers. "Start at the beginning and tell me everything. I cannot emphasize the importance of that enough. What may seem trifling to you could be of crucial importance to me. Leave no detail out. Begin, please."
*~*~*~*
"I see you managed to survive the ordeal, fearless leader."
Chris didn't deign to look at Douglas. "Do you want your wings clipped, smart ass?"
"Not particularly, no."
"Then cease with the smart ass and start with the helpful."
"Somebody's snippy tonight. Miffed you're not getting any?"
"Miffed because it looks like I get to shadow the broad all night instead of going to bed early and sleeping in for once." Chris gave him a look. "Last warning."
"Things are getting weird. It's like everyone's totally oblivious to her strange behavior. Only her dad has seemed to notice - and he's only noticed that she leaves at midnight. I even asked about her not being around her usual hangouts and they came up with perfectly normal, acceptable reasons. It's like her dad's a nutcase."
Chris sighed. "A parent sensitive to workings against his child." He rubbed his chin, leaning on the balcony railing and staring down at the party that was still going strong after four hours.
"Not terribly sensitive, if all he notices is that she keeps weird hours suddenly."
"Yeah, well. If he knew more then our job would actually be easy and heaven and hell forbid that actually happen."
Douglas gave him a look, resurrecting an old argument. "If you hate the job so much, why not quit?"
"One, he'd be too smug to live with. Two - I love this job." Chris winked. "I just like bitching about it more. Did you learn anything about her date? I don't recognize him."
"There's no reason you should - he's a guest in the hotel, a visiting businessman from Germany. He and Phillipa met a couple days of go and they say the Devil's Consort is utterly enamored of her latest toy."
"Interesting. That's probably relevant, but it doesn't help me at the moment. Now let's get a move on. You're going to follow her and lead me to where she's disappearing at night."
"Why do I do all the hard work?"
"Because I'm the boss and you're the lackey."
Douglas muttered something beneath his breath.
"What was that?" Chris narrowed his eyes.
"I said yes sir, right away sir." Doug smiled, the picture of obedience, and led the way from the ballroom.
A man dressed in the elaborate burgundy and gold uniform of the hotel stopped them at the doors. "Mr. White, I was told to give this to you." The man bowed and departed without another word.
Chris muttered a few choice words and ripped open the heavy, cream-colored envelope. Tilting it, he tipped out what turned out to be an earring to match the one he was already wearing. "Bastard."
Douglas peered around Chris, pushing up his glasses as he looked at the earring. "Oh, neat. Someone's getting impatient with your sleuthing."
"Shut it." Chris warned, stuffing the earring into a pocket. "Let's hurry up and get this over with."
Snickering softly, Douglas nodded and they continued on their way outside. "So you just want me to follow? When should I contact you?"
Chris grimaced. "Wait for me to contact you - unless it's too dangerous and then warn me before it gets to that point."
"You don't think they'll sense me? Once we're away from the crowds and stuff?"
"Not unless you're getting fat and lazy. Unless it's something of a higher caliber than I'm thinking - and I'm thinking bored children playing games they ought not be playing - then they wouldn't notice you if you started chanting benedictions.
"And if there is something stronger than that involved?"
Chris rubbed his chin, thinking. "Follow anyway. If you get into trouble, you know how to reach me."
Douglas grumbled. "I had better get a bonus for this."
"Like you don't have full access to the stupid bank accounts already. Give yourself whatever bonus you want. Within reason."
"Right!" Douglas suddenly looked much more enthusiastic. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go have a look at the house - and her bedroom." Chris held up a key ring. "Daddy trusts me way too much, I think."
"I think perhaps you came highly recommended."
"Shut it," Chris said in warning.
"I'm gone." Douglas sauntered away into the parking lot, headed for Phillipa's car.
Chris waited until Douglas vanished into the vehicle before turning to head for his own car, a plain black SUV that he stubbornly refused to get rid of despite repeated urgings to do just that. Inside the car, he fumbled around to change out of his monkey suit and into jeans, a blue t-shirt and the soft, worn brown leather jacket he clung to more relentlessly than the SUV. He glared at the earring given to him by the hotel employee. "Don't need your help," he muttered, but shoved the earring into a jean pocket anyway.
The house was dark when he reached it, and a brief examination showed only a couple of guards. The McGovern estate relied mostly upon electronic security.
Which meant this would be a breeze. Chris parked a couple blocks away and walked up to the house. Still a few yards from it, he vanished.
Intangible he passed through the walls and across the lawn. He walked easily through the door and into what turned out to be a kitchen. Continuing on, he made straight for where McGovern had said his daughter's bedroom would be. That was the best place to start - everyone kept their secrets in their sanctuary.
The room looked as it should for a twenty-something rich girl with too much money and leisure. Pastel silk, lace, and so much clothing he was hard-pressed to determine the color of the carpet. He didn't bother to turn a light on. Returning to tangible, he set quietly to work picking through the messy room for things that didn't belong.
And came up empty. Chris glowered at the room, supremely displeased. This was not how he'd wanted to spend his evening. It wasn't how he was supposed to be spending tonight. Losing all patience, he dug out the earring he hadn't really wanted. Fastening it to his left ear, he then lifted his hand to sketch a symbol in the air. It shimmered silver, then glowed bright red and vanished. Around him, the entirety of the room began to take on a faint red glow.
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!" Chris continued to curse as he left the house, not bothering to go back the way he'd come but simply passing through the wall and lowering himself to the ground below. Still intangible, he made for his car.
Once solidified and in the car, he touched the diamond earring in his right ear. "Douglas!"
At first there was no response, and Chris began to worry despite himself. "Douglas!"
"Sorry, sorry. Wasn't exactly able to reply, Chris. You may want to hurry up and get out here. There's some weird shit going down. Reminds me a lot of when you--"
"Why don't you tell me where you are? That'd help a lot."
"Park. Couple miles east of the lake campground. You can't miss it - chicks dancing around in a devil fire."
"Stay safe, Douglas. Run if you have to."
"No worries there. Should you call for help?"
"No!" Chris shouted. "I don't need his goddamn help."
"Yeah, yeah. See you in a few."
Chris muttered and groused to himself as he drove to the park, words growing more colorful as he parked and began walking from the campground in the direction Douglas had given him. He sensed it before he saw it.
For the rest of his life - and probably beyond - he would always sense the presence of demon fire.
He slowed down as the feeling grew stronger, going partially invisible to decrease his chances of being seen without using more of his energy than he had to, and approached the clearing with caution.
"Not impressed," he muttered softly, watching the spectacle in the clearing. "Not impressed at all."
"Yeah, these young ones have no class at all. Nothing like when you danced. I didn't even recognize it for what it was at first."
Chris turned to glare at the figure that dropped down soundlessly beside him. Though how he managed the feat, Chris didn't know. It wasn't as though Douglas in his true form was a creature typically given to silence. "I gather you know who the demon is now?"
"Yeah. It was so obvious once I got here, I had to agree with you that this is scarcely worth our time." Douglas shifted on his feet, impatient. His normally bright, glowing eyes had been muted to a dim green and pale gold.
Smiling faintly, Chris examined his assistant. When he'd first found him, Douglas had been nothing but skin and bones and despair. Now the dark gray flesh was filled out with trim muscle, the neatly folded leathery wings now fully functional. And his horns were growing back; though at present they were little more than short, small pointed knobs, in a few more years they would be the proper horns of a mature imp. His heavy tail swished the air as he continued to shift impatiently from foot to foot. "Let me crash the party. You cover, because I have no doubt that someone is going to try something stupid and I've already wasted enough time on this stupid case. I'm so charging him triple for this idiocy."
"Like you need the money."
"That's not the point."
"Of course not."
Chris ignored the tolerant look he knew Douglas was giving him. "Cover me, smart ass."
"I will."
Nodding, Chris stepped from the cover of the forest and approached the idiocy going on in the clearing. He felt the wards set up around the perimeter and bypassed them easily, the earring in left ear shimmering.
Idiocy was really the only word for it. But no - debacle worked as well.
Seven figures occupied the center of the clearing. Five stood at what were the points of a star - a pentacle. Though Chris had no doubt these yahoos liked to call it a pentagram or some such nonsense.
This particular pentacle was probably just dug straight into the earth, then filled with demon fire. All around them the demon fire - this particular fire bright scarlet - burned in a high circle. In the very center of the pentacle two people writhed in what Chris was certain they considered dancing.
Atrocity was more like it, but kids always did what they wanted. He snorted softly at himself, acting like an old man when he was only thirty-one. Forcing his mind to the matters at hand, he started clapping loudly to get their attention.
Seven startled faces turned to look at him, the dancing figures none too pleased. Phillipa frowned, clinging to her date. "What are you doing here?" Her voice, when she spoke, was as hard as ice, completely unlike the honeyed, distracted voice she'd used at the party.
Chris sighed. "Let me guess - this group got into things they shouldn't, you possessed Phillipa and now you're getting too strong to stay in the mortal world undetected."
The woman frowned and said nothing, though her eyes had turned the same scarlet as the fire that burned all around them.
Stuffing his hands in the pockets of his jacket, Chris stepped closer. "Getting too strong and so you thought you'd take a consort. I thought demons were supposed to be smarter about this sort of thing. Or maybe I'm just lucky and know the few smart demons that exist."
The demon narrowed her eyes, releasing the man she'd been clinging to and faced Chris fully. "Who are you?"
"Tsk, tsk, honey. If you live in this city, by now you should have heard of me. The disrespectful call me a spook detective. I prefer paranormal investigator. Phil's dad asked me to check out what his little girl was up to at night. You're really sloppy - then again you are young and stupid. Next time you try something like this, keep in mind that most parents are sensitive when it comes to their children. You should've used a stronger spell than what you're using on them." he motioned the five women standing blankly at the points of the pentacle, distantly recognizing Elise. "And really - you're not strong enough to take a consort. You should've just stuck with spells for a few centuries."
The demon stepped out of the very center of the pentacle, though she didn't leave the circle of fire altogether. "How would you know?"
"It doesn't take a genius, sweetheart." Chris yawned. "First and foremost, only demon lords are strong enough to warrant and take consorts. If you were that powerful, you wouldn't have to hide in a forest and use humans as batteries for the spell. Second, taking a consort requires a lot more than lust and desperation. Given that neither you nor the esteemed Phillipa seem to understand anything beyond that, I won't waste my time explaining why you're doomed to fail. Last but not least - a consort should not be someone as lazy and spoiled as William Claus. There are responsibilities that come with the position - it isn't one that should be given lightly. And it looks like your toy of choice isn't even a willing participant." William's eyes were indeed blank, the man was as unmoving as the five women now that the ceremony had stopped. "Very, very stupid on your part."
Breaking from the circle, the demon launched herself at Chris in a blind rage. He laughed softly as she passed right through him, spinning around to watch as she picked herself up off the ground. "Give it up, baby cakes. You can't touch me."
"What the hell?"
Chris laughed. "Douglas!"
The imp came from above, having hidden up in the trees while Chris talked. In no time at all he had the demon pinned, grinning. "This really isn't much of a demon."
Chris crouched on the balls of his feet, arms propped on his knees. In the light of the demon fire, the diamond on his ring seemed to almost glow silver. He ignored the way the demon's eyes widened, as she caught sight of it. "Nah. She can't be more than a few decades old - otherwise my little trick wouldn't have proved troublesome for her. And look how easily she went down before an immature imp?"
Douglas grumbled at being called immature but did not argue. "So what now?"
"Tie her up or something and then take her back to the office. We'll exorcise the demon in the morning. I'll disperse the rest of this idiocy."
"Sure thing."
"Good. Then I'll see you tomorrow at about nine - make that ten."
Douglas smirked. "Sure thing."
Ignoring the smirk, Chris turned on his heel to take care of the mess created by an impatient, panicky demon. "Children…"
It was hours before he was finally able to return to his apartment. A glance at his watch only depressed him further. Three in the morning. This was so entirely not where he was supposed to be at three in the morning. He combed a hand through his hair, staring miserably into the full-length mirror on his closet door.
The mirror shimmered, rippled, and Chris stared at it a moment before smiling faintly - and stepping through it.
A minute later he stepped out of a larger mirror, into a room that was so simply done it could only be obscenely expensive. Beyond the wide expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows opposite him was a view of the city he called his own. There were so many lights it was hard to believe most of the city slept.
To his right was a massive bed, raised up on a dais. He'd tripped on the steps leading up to it more than once - luckily the bed made for a soft landing.
A fireplace was the focus of the opposite side of the room, casting light on the black leather couches and chair clustered around it. And just out of the light, leaning against the back of the couch, was a man still dressed in the tuxedo he'd been wearing earlier that night. His storm cloud eyes glowed pale silver in the fire-lit room as he stood and approached Chris. In his impatience he had disheveled his hair, causing the neatly arranged curls to cascade wildly around his head and in his face. "Christian," he said by way of greeting, before pulling Chris close and kissing him like a starving man.
Chris didn't protest, merely kissed him back like his life depended on it, tasting wine and something indefinable that always made him think of magic. When the kiss ended, he tilted his head back to give access to the warm mouth that nipped and licked at his throat. "Sable…"
"I know you don't like parties, beloved, but this was a little much." Rising to his full height - a good four inches taller than Chris - Sable smiled. "I was hoping the earring would speed things along." He went back to nibbling at Chris' throat.
"I've told you before not to interfere with my cases," Chris said irritably, not mentioning the fact that the earring had cut his work in half - without it would have taken him a lot longer to figure out what the demon possessing Phillipa was attempting.
Sable shrugged. "I was rather impatient for you to finish."
"I'm sorry," Chris said, irritation fading beneath his guilt. "I can't exactly say no to someone who needs my help. And did you really want another demon and consort floating around your territory?"
Sable laughed, the sound vibrating in his chest. "They thought they could reside in my territory? How amusing. Children are so foolish. You should have told me, beautiful, I would have dealt with the matter and we could have celebrated my birthday properly."
"You're over five hundred, Sable." Christian shook his head in exasperation. "One would think you'd be bored with birthdays by now."
Sable smiled softly, the expression oddly gentle for a demon known to be anything but. "They were boring - until I found a consort to celebrate them with."
Christian's gaze softened and he leaned up to wrap his arms around Sable's neck, silently begging for a kiss that Sable gladly gave him. "I'm sorry."
"As you should be," Sable said with a teasing grin. "But I'll forgive you if you'll come to bed and make it up to me."
Rolling his eyes, Christian never the less smiled and allowed Sable to take him to their bed. "I stopped them in the middle of the dance, Sable. It was atrocious - nothing like ours."
Sable's eyes faded to a soft, shimmering gray as he recalled their dance in silver demon fire. "We shall have to dance again, sometime. We've not done it for too long."
"Tomorrow," Chris said, and drew Sable back to the matter at hand.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 03:48 pm (UTC)Thanks ^_^
Will be more eventually.