to make up for my negativity
Oct. 4th, 2005 07:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
maderrI was going to keep this back for a bit, but eh. I've been too negative. So story.
331: Stolen Hearts
The man appeared suddenly, abruptly, as smooth and quiet as Chris was when dropping back into visibility. “Lord Brennus,” he said with a nod of greeting. His voice was smooth, deep, not a trace of any accent. He was about mid-forties in appearance though his real age was no doubt upwards of seven hundred or more. Beautiful, for of course they always were. Beauty was their greatest tool and this one had honed that tool to a fine edge. His dove-gray hair was neatly trimmed, close and soft around his head. Pale green eyes watched them, seemingly relaxed but as sharp as a hawk. He wore a white shirt and soft-grey vest, his jacket slightly darker, the silver gleam of a pocket watch chain just visible. His tie was dark blue and he wore soft-looking kid skin gloves.
“Dracula DeLovely,” Sable said in reply, setting down his glass. “An unexpected pleasure.”
The vampire lord nodded again. “I wish I could say the feeling is mutual, but I’m afraid my motives are somewhat the opposite.”
Sable frowned and motioned to the remaining seat at his table. They were downstairs in his private dining room sharing breakfast while Douglas related their most recent cases, as Chris was always somewhat reticent, ever mistrustful of Sable’s penchant for interfering in his cases by any means possible. “Have a seat, please. What is the problem?”
“I would prefer to stand for now. But I thank you.” DeLovely visibly relaxed, but it was obvious he was still quite tense about something. “I have heard your consort is something of a detective for our circle of the world. I was wondering if I might enlist his services. I will gladly pay whatever fee, and of course I would be in your debt.”
Sable looked regretful. “If Christian were here, he would gladly help you. Alas he is away on business for me.”
“Of course,” DeLovely said, shoulders sagging slightly.
“However,” Sable continued. “Douglas here is his assistant and protégé. Christian trusts him implicitly; indeed has said that he would trust Douglas to solve his own murder or hunt down his kidnappers, whichever came first.” Sable’s lips quirked as he recalled the conversation.
Douglas smothered a happy smile, striving to look professional in front of Dracula DeLovely. “I would be happy to help, my lord.”
“I would gladly accept your help,” the vampire said in obvious relief. “The problem is that last night someone stole my wife’s heart, and since that attack my son has been missing. He is nowhere on the premises or our surrounding territory. I know only that he’s left it. Beyond that, I have no idea where he is. I can handle the matter of my wife’s heart – I need you to find my son before someone else does.”
Sable let out a faint hiss. “The Alucard DeLovely is missing? Do the werewolves know?”
“Not yet,” DeLovely said tightly. “I do not think he would wander into Howler’s territory. I would hazard he is somewhere in your domain; that is why I thought to ask for your assistance.”
Douglas pulled out his small notebook and a blue pen. “Start at the beginning please,” he said, falling easily into the rhythms of his job. “Tell me everything that occurred, from the beginning to the end.” He looked up, expression intent, a strange sight in the young, boyish face he favored when he assumed a human form. “Leave out no detail, no matter how irrelevant it might seem to you.”
“If this is the student,” DeLovely murmured, eyeing Douglas then turning to Sable. “Then I would dearly love to meet the master.”
Sable smiled, pleased. “They are both quite good at what they do. I believe I will leave you to the investigation. Perhaps when the matter is concluded we can all have supper together.”
“I will look forward to it.”
Sable departed, leaving Douglas alone with the vampire lord. “Have a seat, please. It will be easier to talk that way.”
“You are not human,” DeLovely said idly, almost as an afterthought. “You’re able to shape shift, which limits what species you could be, but I cannot tell which of those you are.”
Douglas nodded. “I’m not human,” he agreed. “Now if you don’t mind – start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
“Very well,” DeLovely conceded. “I suspect it all stems from the argument my wife has been attempting to have with our son for some time.”
“…An argument she’s been attempting to have?” Doug repeated.
DeLovely smiled. “Perhaps I should start a bit further back. My son is three hundred years old; quite young for a vampire. He’s always been an obedient boy. Never a lick of trouble at all. Quiet, polite; I’ve received so many compliments on his decorum and demeanor that I could not count them if I tried.” He sighed. “He’s never protested or fought anything. He would do anything I asked and more besides.” DeLovely rubbed his eyes, as if weary. “It has long troubled my wife and I. Though we of course think it wonderful to have such a son, we worry for him. It is not normal for a boy to be so unprotesting. We fear that he will wind up severely unhappy later in life.”
“A couple of years ago a Dracula several territories over proposed marriage between our children. Rosette, his daughter, is wonderful and sweet. When I posed the idea to my son, he instantly agreed – with all the fervor and interest one shows in choosing socks. This upset me, but he did not seem unhappy. I stipulated they should be engaged for a few decades and hoped matters would work themselves out.”
He sighed. “My wife was not so complacent. She is ever trying to spur our son into some contrary action; to make him realize that he is not as happy as he appears. My son merely brushes her aside, insisting he is happy – and certainly there is no overt evidence to the contrary. The marriage especially upsets her. She is a romantic and hates that there is no romance at all between them.” He smiled faintly. “Even I admit that the two seem more like brother and sister than betrothed.”
“Anyway – I believe last night she finally broke him. I heard them both shouting, and my room is some distance from the salon where I heard them arguing. But as I was about to go and investigate, the shouting stopped. I went back to work, assuming one or the other would find me if they felt the need. An hour or so later I heard the shouting resume, then again a dead silence. I thought nothing of it until my clock chimed midnight and I realized my wife had never come up to bed.” He winced. “My own failing is that I get so wrapped up in work I do not pay as much attention as I ought to things. If I had been more alert, I might have prevented what occurred.”
Douglas’ pen flew across his paper and he nodded and muttered to himself, jotting notes alongside DeLovely’s recounting. “Continue, please.”
DeLovely nodded. “When I entered the salon, I saw my wife lying on the floor covered in blood. Her dress had born torn open and her heart ripped from her chest. I have her stabilized, as it takes far more than that to kill a vampire, but if I do not retrieve it soon…”
“But you said you needed no help locating the heart?” Douglas asked.
“No,” DeLovely said firmly. “I can sense it is somewhere in my manor. I will locate it easily enough. But my son has vanished. I went to his room to find him but it was empty. A search of the house, later a more thorough spell search, revealed that he was gone. Nor is he in my territory, as I could find him if he were. I do not know if he is guilty or not; nor do I particularly care. I simply want him back. He has never wandered off like this before and I worry what will happen if the wrong people were to realize his identity.”
“I’ll find him,” Douglas said. “But a name and picture might help. As would knowing all his interests, hobbies, favorite foods, anything of that nature.” He grinned suddenly. “Though I guess favorite foods should be replaced by favorite kinds of human?”
DeLovely laughed. “My son’s name is Zachariah; usually he just goes by Zach. He is rather fond of sweets – we need blood to live of course, but it is not the only thing we consume. Chocolate especially has always been one of his weaknesses. He likes music of almost any sort but mostly classical. He hates noisy places but is fond of watching people. At parties he often sneaks away to hide and watch, rather than actively participate. So far as feeding goes…he often feeds on people as quiet as himself. He never had a taste for the flare and flash that so many vampires adore.”
“That will help a great deal,” Douglas said, smiling approvingly. “Do you have a photo? Some sort of picture?”
DeLovely nodded. “My future daughter-in-law is quite fond of taking pictures.” From inside his vest he pulled out a small photo and handed it to Douglas.
Douglas stared at the photo in silence for a few moments. “He is remarkable.”
“Thank you,” DeLovely smiled with pride. “I like to think that even in a race that depends on beauty for survival, my son stands out in a crowd.”
“I’ve no doubt he does,” Douglas said and pocketed the picture. “Have you any idea what sort of place he might have run off to? A type of restaurant? A friend’s house? Anything of that nature?”
DeLovely nodded, obviously upset that he could not provide more help. “I wish I knew. But he seldom left the house and then usually with my wife and myself or with Rosette. And she could not tell you more than I have.”
“Well, if you think of anything else let me know? I will find him as quickly as I possibly can.”
“I thank you,” DeLovely rose and gave a brief, elegant bow. “If you need me, simply contact me.” He touched gloved fingertips to Douglas’ forehead, and Douglas could feel the minor spell thrum through his mind. With another bow, the vampire lord was gone.
Doug slouched back in his seat, allowing his anxiety to show. “Jeez, why did I have to get a missing Alucard as my first real solo case?” He stood, then took a deep breath. And another. “All right.” Grabbing his coat and scarf, he vanished.
The water was cold where it lapped at his feet, even through his thick gray skin. Doug grimaced, then held his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly. The piercing sound carried across the calm water, breaking the still silence that always lingered at this largely uninhabited section of the river. He moved away from the water’s edge and waited.
Several minutes later, two women began to walk out of it. They walked hand in hand, water making their clothes and long, white-blond hair cling to their shapely frames. But even with the small, sharp fangs that were visible their smiles were pleasant, green eyes alight with genuine pleasure at seeing who was waiting for them. They raced to embrace him, greetings lost amongst their happy laughter. “Doug! We haven’t see you two in ages!”
“Speaking of which, where is Chris?” the river nymph on his right looked around.
“He’s not here, tonight. Just me. How’ve you been, Splish? Splash?”
“We’ve been great,” Splish answered, still holding onto Doug’s left arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Always so straight forward,” Doug said with a smile. “Heard of any new beauties in town?”
Splash looked curious. “Vamps you mean? Not recently. When did he arrive?”
“Probably just today,” Doug said. “So I guess you wouldn’t have heard about him yet. But would you let me know when you do? You’re my best lead at the moment.”
The nymphs kissed his cheeks. “Of course. But only if you promise to come visit sometime, ‘kay? You always come just for business.”
“I’m sorry,” Doug said sheepishly. “We’ll come visit this weekend, all right?”
“All right!” The twins exclaimed together and with a parting kiss dived back into the water.
Shifting back into his human shape, Douglas left to do some searching of his own until the river nymphs turned up something.
Two hours later the twins found him in a coffee bar, walking arm and arm, perfectly content to be damp on the chilly autumn night. He greeted them with a smile and kissed their damp cheeks. “You look like kittens that caught a canary. Or maybe fish that got the cat wet.”
Splish laughed. “Your missing beauty is causing quite a stir, Doug. Rumors are already flying about him. Some say he’s an Alucard, even. How silly is that?”
“Very silly,” Doug said, lips twitching. “How do you find these things out so fast?”
Splash shrugged. “Wasn’t hard, really. Humans always notice vampires, and they’re easy to get info from if you’re a soaking wet, half-naked woman.”
"Where might I find him?"
"That French place on Plum and Green."
Doug winced. "That figures."
Splish and Splash laughed. "So what's our reward for helping out the great sleuths?"
"What do you want?" Doug asked with a grin.
"Oh, if it's going to be like that..." Splish winked.
Her sister winked as well, linking arms with Splish as they prepared to leave. "We'll think of something and let you know tomorrow."
"Why do I sense I’m going to regret my generosity?” Doug walked them out, then turned right as they turned left. "Try not to cause me too much trouble, ladies." He grinned as they walked away laughing.
His humor faded as the job at hand reasserted itself in his mind. A few minutes was all it took to walk the five blocks to the corner of Plum and Green streets, and the small, simple but stylish restaurant that Douglas and Chris had avoided like the plague ever since a hunt for a dogai got out of hand.
"Figures Chris would miss this..." Douglas grumbled softly, entering the restaurant with no small trepidation. He accepted the glare of the host with good grace, and steeled himself for a fight. "I'm looking for someone."
"How nice for you," the host replied. "You can look from here."
"You're being ridiculous," Doug said with a withering glare of his own. "Let me find him, talk to him, and I'll be gone. I'm only looking for a vampire; there won't be any trouble."
The host blinked. "That nice boy at table twelve? He's got nothing to do with your sort. Leave him alone."
"My sort?" Doug frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Mouthy imp."
"Wannabe human."
"Get out."
Doug dropped his voice to a barely-audible whisper. "After I get the Alucard I was hired to find before the werewolves do."
Whatever the host had readied as a retort died on his lips. He looked at Doug in disbelief. "You're going to bring werewolves in here? Don't you dare!"
"He will if I don't get him out of here. It's only a matter of time before they find out."
"Get him and go. You have five minutes."
"Fifteen."
"Ten," the host said with finality, and pointed in the general direction of table twelve before busying himself with other things.
Barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Douglas went where he'd been directed. The picture he'd been given was in his pocket, but he wouldn't need it. His eyes flit around the room, making note of everything he saw while he looked. An interesting mix of paranormals. He spared the goblin in the corner a second glance, not liking the way she was picking at her food while watching the room. She caught his eye and looked swiftly away. Doug cast his eyes elsewhere.
How he hadn't seen him right away, Doug didn't know. He should have. The Alucard DeLovely was far more beautiful than his picture. More than a few in the restaurant were sneaking glances; Douglas almost felt sorry for the humans that didn't realize they were already half-snared.
He was the image of his father, a tall, slender, aristocratic beauty. The only differences were age, for Zach did not look more than mid to late twenties, and Zach's hair was black, long and straight. The sort of black that almost looked like a dark blue. Eyes looked up from a cup of tea as Douglas approached, dark green and clearly troubled. "You're here for me," the Alucard said calmly.
Douglas nodded. "Your father hired me to find you and take you home."
Hesitation filled Zach’s face, clearly warring with the compulsion to do as he was told. “I don’t want to go home yet,” Zach said.
If there existed s man who was capable of resisting that voice and face, Doug wanted to meet him and prove him a liar. He didn’t know what it was, but something about the vampire tugged at him. “May I sit?”
“Oh!” Zach looked chagrined. “Please do.” He looked at Doug’s forehead, briefly reaching out to touch the sigil that DeLovely had placed there earlier. “You haven’t contacted him yet, have you?”
“Not yet, no…” Doug resisted the urge to shake his head, confused by the way he could still feel Zach’s touch. “I won’t, yet, but I cannot delay for long. I was hired to find you and return you home safe. I have to stick by my job.”
Zach nodded. “Of course,” he said politely, tucking a stray strand of blue-black hair behind his ear. “What is your name?”
Doug smiled sheepishly. “Douglas. I’m a detective with the White Detective Agency.”
“Dad has mentioned it before. Lord Brennus’ consort is tied to it.”
“Chris owns it,” Doug said with another grin. He returned to the matter at hand. “Why don’t you want to go home?”
“Because they don’t want me to be there,” Zach said unhappily. “I heard the whole thing. I did exactly what they wanted. I’m not going home. Not yet.” His left hand clenched and unclenched in the table cloth, and he stared hard at the small candle in the center of the table.
Unconsciously Douglas reached out and covered Zach’s hand with his own. He squeezed it reassuringly. “Why not explain to me what happened? Things are never so bad explained as they are in your own head.” When Zach remained silent, he prodded a bit more. “Your father mentioned you and your mother had an argument.”
“It was what she wanted,” Zach said. “To see me lose my temper, get angry, pitch a fit…then they wanted to shock me into running away. ‘Wake me up’ was how they put it.” His shoulders sagged. “So that’s what I did.”
Doug felt like he was being left out of the conversation. “I’m not quite following.”
“Forgive me,” Zack said. He smiled weakly. “I am still feeling rather upset by the whole affair.”
“Understandable. Start at the beginning and explain everything to me. Slowly, take your time. But do not leave anything out.”
Zach nodded. “It was a few days ago. I was planning on joining my mother and betrothed for tea but had taken longer talking to my father than I had anticipated. So I arrived a few minutes late. Before I stepped in, their conversation struck me and I, however shameful, decided to listen rather than admit myself.” His kept his eyes on the flickering candle. “They were discussing me, and their concern that I was secretly unhappy and how I wouldn’t realize it without something to wake me up.” He dared a brief glance at Doug, but shied away again. “They were detailing their plan to do exactly that.”
“What was the plan?” Doug asked, suspecting that he knew and that he must be crazy to believe such a thing possible.
“They argued a bit over what exactly to do to “shock me into action”. I didn’t listen long enough to learn upon what they decided. It was rather a nasty shock to see the lengths to which they went. He sighed. “I went along with the arguing, and the getting upset – then went back to finish things and be “shocked into action.” I was not expecting to see that my mother’s heart had been stolen. At that point I just wanted to leave the whole thing behind. So I left. Do you suppose that is suitably shocked into action?”
“I’d say so,” Doug replied. “Your mother and betrothed arranged the entire affair? And you let them?” He shook his head. “Why?”
“So that when I finally returned home they’d believe I was satisfied and leave me alone.”
Doug fell silent, thinking.
“I thought,” the icy voice of the host broke in. “That you were here on a case.”
“I am on a case,” Doug snapped. He followed the direction of the host’s pointed stare.
To where he still held Zach’s hand. He snatched his hand away as if burned. Nearly knocking his chair over in his haste, Doug stood up and motioned to Zack. “Come, we’ll talk elsewhere.” As he left, he cast the goblin in the corner another suspicious glance.
Zach’s voice was low as he spoke. “The goblin thought I was competition. She’s been watching me all night because she wants one of the waiters for dinner.” He grinned suddenly, looking very boyish. “But I fed recently enough I don’t need to eat, and the waiter wasn’t really my taste.”
Doug laughed. “I see. Well, that’s good to know. I was half afraid she was keeping tabs on an Alucard.” He led the way down the street, making sure Zach walked on his left side, away from the street. “So do you think your mother and betrothed will be content after this?”
“I hope so,” Zach said.
Though he knew it was overstepping his bounds, Doug could not keep himself from speaking. “If you were happy, they wouldn’t constantly press you.”
“If I say it, I mean it.” Zach said. “They should leave well enough alone.”
Doug took his elbow and guided Zach as they turned a corner, down onto the main street. Sable’s hotels drowned out the stars several blocks away. “So when are you planning on returning?”
Zach shrugged. “How long does it take for someone to realize they’re happy?”
“If you have to ask, clearly you’ve never been happy.”
The vampire was silent. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp. “My happiness,” he said, looking Doug in the eyes. “Is not your concern.”
Doug felt like he’d been slapped. “Of course,” he said. Realizing he still held Zach’s arm, he let it go and buried his hands in his pockets.
Silence reclaimed the conversation, this time filling it with tension and awkwardness.
“I am sorry,” Zach said several minutes later. “It is wearing to constantly be reminded that you are not happy. I know everyone is concerned – but telling them the truth would make them far unhappier than I am now. Better to leave me in peace than press it and make things worse.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad, whatever it is.” Doug said.
“Yes, it is. I’m an Alucard. Certain rules and traditions must be followed. To break them would upset my family greatly. It’s not worth it.”
Doug frowned. “Shouldn’t you let them help you make that decision?” He started to say more, but the wind carried toward him a scent he didn’t like at all. “Werewolves.”
Zach tensed. “Here? But…surely they’re not…”
“Here for you? Of course they are, Alucard. But how did they find you so fast?”
A voice like wet gravel answered the question, as a creature stepped from the shadows and into the street. It was a strange cross between wolf and man, as though the craftsmen could not decide how he wanted his creation to look and so settled on an awkward in-between. A mongrel wolf, rather than a purebred. He pointed up. “We just used a couple of yours.”
Doug didn’t bother to glance up, knowing by the mongrel’s words exactly what he would see. Imps were second only to demons in the diversity of their spells, and search spells were amongst their repertoire. “Have werewolves become so weak they have to use slaves do their job for them? Nostrils too filled with the stench of your own cowardice you need an imp?”
The wolf only laughed, as others like him slunk from the shadows to gather in the street. “Give us the Alucard, little imp, and we’ll let you stay free.”
“Let me?” Doug laughed. But even as he continued to jeer, he began to cast a spell that would protect Zach. “The Alpha must want to be rid of you, to send you to fetch an Alucard from the center of a demon lord’s territory. Leave now and I’ll let you live. You have no right bringing your feud here.”
“The Alucard is the one who came here.”
“Leave him alone,” Zach interrupted. “If you want me—“
“Shut up,” Doug snapped. “Don’t make my job more difficult.”
Zach stared at him. “I’m trying to help.”
“Then be quiet – do not bargain with werewolves. You’re a noble, you don’t do that. Let me handle this.”
Though he looked as though he wanted to argue, Zach watched Doug a moment more and then relented with a nod. “Fine.”
“Good.” Doug cast the spell he’d been preparing, throwing the spell over him much like a net. “Don’t move from that spot until I tell you.”
The mongrel with the wet gravel voice laughed again. “Protecting your master, imp?”
“No one is my master,” Doug snapped.
Then the gathered wolves were attacking, snarling biting moving faster than the normal eye could follow.
Doug singed one, filling the street with the acrid smell of burning fur and blood. The mongrel got past his defenses, and Doug hissed in pain as the werewolf’s claws raked down his arm, leaving a large gash. He threw a spell in retaliation, smirking in satisfaction at the howl of pain as the spell hit. Abandoning his human shape, he launched himself high when the werewolves backed off just long enough to regroup.
Only to be thrown to the ground by a spell from behind. He hit the ground hard, just glimpsing the two imps who had hit him – the picture of misery but obedient no matter what. Because it was in an imp’s nature to be submissive and obedient. Especially when their horns had been sawed off.
Infuriated, both for and at the imps, Doug forced himself up, barely missing the werewolf that had launched himself directly at the fallen imp. Instead of imp, he wound up eating an ice spell and Doug threw himself back into the fight.
A hasty spell stopped the bleeding of his right arm. Doug went for the mongrel leader, who was attempting to break through the magic net protecting Zach.
Where the hell was Sable? Bastard was probably enjoying the entertainment.
Folding his wings down, he engaged the leader, slowly drawing him away from Zach, who watched them angry that he could do nothing more.
The werewolf fell with a groan some time later, right arm bleeding profusely. Doug looked at the blood dripping from his claws with distaste.
“Doug!”
He whipped around, and snarled to see that the imps and a last werewolf were working against the protective spell he’d cast. “Get away!” he shouted, and threw out a spell that sent all three to the ground unconscious.
Doug dropped to one knee, feeling a bit dizzy. Looked like he’d gotten a bit carried away – but he’d do worse to anyone that tried to touch Zach. Forcing himself to his feet, he reassumed his human shape as he approached the vampire. With a word and motion he broke the spell protecting him. “Are you all right?”
“No, I’m not.” Zach snapped. “But you’re a lot worse off than me.” His ire faded. “I should have just gone home.” He reached out to hold Doug’s arm, gingerly examining the deep gash left by the werewolf. “I’m not worth this much trouble.”
“It’s fine,” Doug said with a smile. “I’ve had worse than this. And of course you are…” He hesitated, not quite sure what he was trying to say. “You’re the Alucard DeLovely.” Somehow that explanation didn’t sound quite right. Whatever. “Come on, we should get you back.”
“I should just teleport,” Zach said.
“Nah. I think we’ll be all right now.” Doug looked around at the various bodies lying in the street. “Stupid werewolves.”
Zach followed along beside him, and they walked in silence for a bit. “I didn’t know you were an imp.”
Doug tensed, and much of his satisfaction at successfully protecting Zach faded. In all the excitement, he’d neglected to keep him human shape. He waited for the remarks that usually came with the realization he was an imp.
But Zach startled him by smiling. “You don’t act like any imp I’ve ever seen. If they all acted like you, I bet they could put even a few of my folk in their place. Mom’s always trying to coax the ones in town into a rebellion or something. They just sort of look at her.”
Though he racked his brain, Doug could think of nothing to say. He smiled and continued to walk toward Sable’s hotel, and didn’t pull his arm from Zach’s worried grasp.
“It figures things get interesting the minute I leave,” Chris groused as he handed Doug a glass of whiskey. “Only the boring stuff ever occurs when I’m around.”
Sable chuckled from where he sat in an armchair directly across from the couch on which Doug sat. “Only you, beloved, would consider that incident with the sirens boring.”
“It was boring. I’ve never seen anything so idiotic in my life, except maybe for the last time we dealt with vampires. But those were peasants, I should have expected as much.”
Zach smothered a snicker, and focused on bandaging Doug’s arm. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
“I told you,” Doug said. “It wasn’t any trouble.”
“And he probably brought it on himself anyway,” Chris said, smirking at his partner. “I really wish I’d gotten back sooner, just to enjoy your fight firsthand.”
Doug stuck his tongue out. “We were on the main strip, with plenty of streetlight. If you were back, why the hell didn’t you come to help?” He glared at Sable. “And where the hell were you? I guess I lack the proper blue eyes and blonde hair?”
Sable laughed, and held onto to Chris to keep him from adding to Doug’s injuries. “There are certain fights,” he said, giving Doug a look he didn’t understand. “In which even I won’t interfere. If things had truly been dire, I would have assisted. However, I will be sending Christian to ‘chat’ with Alpha Sandalio tomorrow. I am clearly getting slack if werewolves think they can carry their personal feuds into my territory.” He frowned in thought. “And it is well-known that I and the Dracula DeLovely are old friends. Well, never mind. It will be dealt with tomorrow. For now we should see the young Alucard gets home.”
Zach nodded and finished his work on Doug’s arm. “Thank you for helping me. The DeLovely owe you a great debt. I should not have run away from home.”
“All children do it at some point,” Sable said idly. “I’ll have to tell you what I know about the time Christian ran away. Or I could just invite his parents, at that…” Reflexively he blocked the smack aimed at his chest. “You’ve nothing to be terribly upset about. Just say you’re sorry and the matter will no doubt end.”
The words seemed to have no effect on Zach’s guilt. Reaching out, he touched his fingertips to the sigil on Doug’s head. It flared then faded. “Thank you again,” he said quietly.
A heartbeat of silence and then the Dracula DeLovely stood before them. “Zach,” he said in relief, opening his arms and embracing his son when Zach stepped forward. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“I’m fine, dad. Sorry to have caused so much trouble.”
DeLovely just shook his head. “You,” he said dryly. “Are not the one who needs to be apologizing. I thought your mother had given up scheming when we married. Clearly she was just saving up her energy. There is a bit of explaining to be done when we get home.”
Zach only nodded, still looking contrite.
“Lord Brennus – Sable – I appreciate your assistance.” Sable nodded, and DeLovely turned to Doug. “And you, Master Douglas. Words cannot express my gratitude. Especially as I can see the night did not go flawlessly.”
“A trivial encounter with mongrels, Dracula.” Doug stood up. “I was happy to help. I hope all problems have been satisfactorily concluded.”
DeLovely gave his son a pensive glance. “Very nearly all.” He turned to Chris. “And you must be the Consort about whom I’ve heard so much.”
“And just what exactly have you heard?” Chris said, shooting Sable a look.
Sable looked innocently back. “I said not a single word.”
“No, you probably said several.” Chris retorted. Moving away from Sable, he addressed DeLovely. “I am sorry I was not here to help. But I trust Doug was more than up to the challenge.”
“Of course.” DeLovely nodded in acknowledgement to Doug. “Whatever we can do to repay you, let me know. And now if you’ll pardon our hasty departure, we’ve a few matters left to resolve back home.”
“Of course.”
Doug watched them, still standing in front of the couch. He caught Zach’s eyes and was unable to look away, confused by the way Zach so intently watched him back.
Then the vampires vanished, and Doug was left feeling confused and…bereft. “…Why do I feel like I did something wrong?”
Sable smirked. “Children. Pay attention. This is what you were supposed to do.” And he dragged Chris close, kissing him deeply, possessively.
Doug felt suddenly as though he’d lost the fight with the werewolves, as all the pieces collected during the course of the odd case fell into place. “I’m an idiot.”
“Yes,” Sable said as he ended the kiss, looking smug at the slightly dazed expression on Chris’s face. “But you’re young, so it’s forgivable. And fixable.”
“Fixable how?” Doug asked as more pieces fell into place. Namely the pieces that said he was an imp and Zach was an Alucard. “Vampire rules on marriage and family are pretty strict, given the whole one child thing. I might be bolder than most imps, but that’s a line I’m not sure I can cross. Besides, how do I know…”
Chris smacked Sable’s roaming hands away. “If you’re about to ask how do you know if Zach was just an interested as you didn’t know you were – I’d say you and his father were the only two that didn’t notice how he was looking at you. Children.”
“I’m three times your age!”
“In imp years, you’re barely out of your teens.”
Doug muttered beneath his breath.
“Anyway, you’re in the wrong place to be bitching about things being impossible. There’s no such thing as half-ghosts, right?”
“And it’s impossible for imps to be anything but subservient.” Sable grinned. “An independent imp who fights like a demon? Ridiculous.”
Doug nodded. “I think I missed my chance though.”
“Let the DeLovely work out problems which have clearly been stewing for some time. If that look Zach gave you is any indication, there’s something he hasn’t been telling his parents. So give it time and then pay a visit. But for now I think you should go write up your report.”
Douglas grinned. “Yeah, I should. I’m sure Chris has his own ‘report’ to give you.” He laughed as Sable didn’t give Chris a chance to reply, and left.
Outside, he opted to walk the five blocks back to the office rather than simply teleport or fly. Tired as he was, he wasn’t ready to get behind a desk. The sky was cloudy as ever, but the rain had yet to break so the early morning hours were pleasantly cool. Not that he would have noticed if a tornado suddenly tore through the city. His focus was only for a certain vampire and his own stupidity. Amusing that he’d been envious of what Chris and Sable had, and yet the minute a chance for it was shoved right into his face he’d not even noticed. But that was all right. Now that he knew, it was only a matter of time. Let Zach work out the problems with his parents first. He could wait a bit.
331: Stolen Hearts
The man appeared suddenly, abruptly, as smooth and quiet as Chris was when dropping back into visibility. “Lord Brennus,” he said with a nod of greeting. His voice was smooth, deep, not a trace of any accent. He was about mid-forties in appearance though his real age was no doubt upwards of seven hundred or more. Beautiful, for of course they always were. Beauty was their greatest tool and this one had honed that tool to a fine edge. His dove-gray hair was neatly trimmed, close and soft around his head. Pale green eyes watched them, seemingly relaxed but as sharp as a hawk. He wore a white shirt and soft-grey vest, his jacket slightly darker, the silver gleam of a pocket watch chain just visible. His tie was dark blue and he wore soft-looking kid skin gloves.
“Dracula DeLovely,” Sable said in reply, setting down his glass. “An unexpected pleasure.”
The vampire lord nodded again. “I wish I could say the feeling is mutual, but I’m afraid my motives are somewhat the opposite.”
Sable frowned and motioned to the remaining seat at his table. They were downstairs in his private dining room sharing breakfast while Douglas related their most recent cases, as Chris was always somewhat reticent, ever mistrustful of Sable’s penchant for interfering in his cases by any means possible. “Have a seat, please. What is the problem?”
“I would prefer to stand for now. But I thank you.” DeLovely visibly relaxed, but it was obvious he was still quite tense about something. “I have heard your consort is something of a detective for our circle of the world. I was wondering if I might enlist his services. I will gladly pay whatever fee, and of course I would be in your debt.”
Sable looked regretful. “If Christian were here, he would gladly help you. Alas he is away on business for me.”
“Of course,” DeLovely said, shoulders sagging slightly.
“However,” Sable continued. “Douglas here is his assistant and protégé. Christian trusts him implicitly; indeed has said that he would trust Douglas to solve his own murder or hunt down his kidnappers, whichever came first.” Sable’s lips quirked as he recalled the conversation.
Douglas smothered a happy smile, striving to look professional in front of Dracula DeLovely. “I would be happy to help, my lord.”
“I would gladly accept your help,” the vampire said in obvious relief. “The problem is that last night someone stole my wife’s heart, and since that attack my son has been missing. He is nowhere on the premises or our surrounding territory. I know only that he’s left it. Beyond that, I have no idea where he is. I can handle the matter of my wife’s heart – I need you to find my son before someone else does.”
Sable let out a faint hiss. “The Alucard DeLovely is missing? Do the werewolves know?”
“Not yet,” DeLovely said tightly. “I do not think he would wander into Howler’s territory. I would hazard he is somewhere in your domain; that is why I thought to ask for your assistance.”
Douglas pulled out his small notebook and a blue pen. “Start at the beginning please,” he said, falling easily into the rhythms of his job. “Tell me everything that occurred, from the beginning to the end.” He looked up, expression intent, a strange sight in the young, boyish face he favored when he assumed a human form. “Leave out no detail, no matter how irrelevant it might seem to you.”
“If this is the student,” DeLovely murmured, eyeing Douglas then turning to Sable. “Then I would dearly love to meet the master.”
Sable smiled, pleased. “They are both quite good at what they do. I believe I will leave you to the investigation. Perhaps when the matter is concluded we can all have supper together.”
“I will look forward to it.”
Sable departed, leaving Douglas alone with the vampire lord. “Have a seat, please. It will be easier to talk that way.”
“You are not human,” DeLovely said idly, almost as an afterthought. “You’re able to shape shift, which limits what species you could be, but I cannot tell which of those you are.”
Douglas nodded. “I’m not human,” he agreed. “Now if you don’t mind – start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
“Very well,” DeLovely conceded. “I suspect it all stems from the argument my wife has been attempting to have with our son for some time.”
“…An argument she’s been attempting to have?” Doug repeated.
DeLovely smiled. “Perhaps I should start a bit further back. My son is three hundred years old; quite young for a vampire. He’s always been an obedient boy. Never a lick of trouble at all. Quiet, polite; I’ve received so many compliments on his decorum and demeanor that I could not count them if I tried.” He sighed. “He’s never protested or fought anything. He would do anything I asked and more besides.” DeLovely rubbed his eyes, as if weary. “It has long troubled my wife and I. Though we of course think it wonderful to have such a son, we worry for him. It is not normal for a boy to be so unprotesting. We fear that he will wind up severely unhappy later in life.”
“A couple of years ago a Dracula several territories over proposed marriage between our children. Rosette, his daughter, is wonderful and sweet. When I posed the idea to my son, he instantly agreed – with all the fervor and interest one shows in choosing socks. This upset me, but he did not seem unhappy. I stipulated they should be engaged for a few decades and hoped matters would work themselves out.”
He sighed. “My wife was not so complacent. She is ever trying to spur our son into some contrary action; to make him realize that he is not as happy as he appears. My son merely brushes her aside, insisting he is happy – and certainly there is no overt evidence to the contrary. The marriage especially upsets her. She is a romantic and hates that there is no romance at all between them.” He smiled faintly. “Even I admit that the two seem more like brother and sister than betrothed.”
“Anyway – I believe last night she finally broke him. I heard them both shouting, and my room is some distance from the salon where I heard them arguing. But as I was about to go and investigate, the shouting stopped. I went back to work, assuming one or the other would find me if they felt the need. An hour or so later I heard the shouting resume, then again a dead silence. I thought nothing of it until my clock chimed midnight and I realized my wife had never come up to bed.” He winced. “My own failing is that I get so wrapped up in work I do not pay as much attention as I ought to things. If I had been more alert, I might have prevented what occurred.”
Douglas’ pen flew across his paper and he nodded and muttered to himself, jotting notes alongside DeLovely’s recounting. “Continue, please.”
DeLovely nodded. “When I entered the salon, I saw my wife lying on the floor covered in blood. Her dress had born torn open and her heart ripped from her chest. I have her stabilized, as it takes far more than that to kill a vampire, but if I do not retrieve it soon…”
“But you said you needed no help locating the heart?” Douglas asked.
“No,” DeLovely said firmly. “I can sense it is somewhere in my manor. I will locate it easily enough. But my son has vanished. I went to his room to find him but it was empty. A search of the house, later a more thorough spell search, revealed that he was gone. Nor is he in my territory, as I could find him if he were. I do not know if he is guilty or not; nor do I particularly care. I simply want him back. He has never wandered off like this before and I worry what will happen if the wrong people were to realize his identity.”
“I’ll find him,” Douglas said. “But a name and picture might help. As would knowing all his interests, hobbies, favorite foods, anything of that nature.” He grinned suddenly. “Though I guess favorite foods should be replaced by favorite kinds of human?”
DeLovely laughed. “My son’s name is Zachariah; usually he just goes by Zach. He is rather fond of sweets – we need blood to live of course, but it is not the only thing we consume. Chocolate especially has always been one of his weaknesses. He likes music of almost any sort but mostly classical. He hates noisy places but is fond of watching people. At parties he often sneaks away to hide and watch, rather than actively participate. So far as feeding goes…he often feeds on people as quiet as himself. He never had a taste for the flare and flash that so many vampires adore.”
“That will help a great deal,” Douglas said, smiling approvingly. “Do you have a photo? Some sort of picture?”
DeLovely nodded. “My future daughter-in-law is quite fond of taking pictures.” From inside his vest he pulled out a small photo and handed it to Douglas.
Douglas stared at the photo in silence for a few moments. “He is remarkable.”
“Thank you,” DeLovely smiled with pride. “I like to think that even in a race that depends on beauty for survival, my son stands out in a crowd.”
“I’ve no doubt he does,” Douglas said and pocketed the picture. “Have you any idea what sort of place he might have run off to? A type of restaurant? A friend’s house? Anything of that nature?”
DeLovely nodded, obviously upset that he could not provide more help. “I wish I knew. But he seldom left the house and then usually with my wife and myself or with Rosette. And she could not tell you more than I have.”
“Well, if you think of anything else let me know? I will find him as quickly as I possibly can.”
“I thank you,” DeLovely rose and gave a brief, elegant bow. “If you need me, simply contact me.” He touched gloved fingertips to Douglas’ forehead, and Douglas could feel the minor spell thrum through his mind. With another bow, the vampire lord was gone.
Doug slouched back in his seat, allowing his anxiety to show. “Jeez, why did I have to get a missing Alucard as my first real solo case?” He stood, then took a deep breath. And another. “All right.” Grabbing his coat and scarf, he vanished.
The water was cold where it lapped at his feet, even through his thick gray skin. Doug grimaced, then held his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly. The piercing sound carried across the calm water, breaking the still silence that always lingered at this largely uninhabited section of the river. He moved away from the water’s edge and waited.
Several minutes later, two women began to walk out of it. They walked hand in hand, water making their clothes and long, white-blond hair cling to their shapely frames. But even with the small, sharp fangs that were visible their smiles were pleasant, green eyes alight with genuine pleasure at seeing who was waiting for them. They raced to embrace him, greetings lost amongst their happy laughter. “Doug! We haven’t see you two in ages!”
“Speaking of which, where is Chris?” the river nymph on his right looked around.
“He’s not here, tonight. Just me. How’ve you been, Splish? Splash?”
“We’ve been great,” Splish answered, still holding onto Doug’s left arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Always so straight forward,” Doug said with a smile. “Heard of any new beauties in town?”
Splash looked curious. “Vamps you mean? Not recently. When did he arrive?”
“Probably just today,” Doug said. “So I guess you wouldn’t have heard about him yet. But would you let me know when you do? You’re my best lead at the moment.”
The nymphs kissed his cheeks. “Of course. But only if you promise to come visit sometime, ‘kay? You always come just for business.”
“I’m sorry,” Doug said sheepishly. “We’ll come visit this weekend, all right?”
“All right!” The twins exclaimed together and with a parting kiss dived back into the water.
Shifting back into his human shape, Douglas left to do some searching of his own until the river nymphs turned up something.
Two hours later the twins found him in a coffee bar, walking arm and arm, perfectly content to be damp on the chilly autumn night. He greeted them with a smile and kissed their damp cheeks. “You look like kittens that caught a canary. Or maybe fish that got the cat wet.”
Splish laughed. “Your missing beauty is causing quite a stir, Doug. Rumors are already flying about him. Some say he’s an Alucard, even. How silly is that?”
“Very silly,” Doug said, lips twitching. “How do you find these things out so fast?”
Splash shrugged. “Wasn’t hard, really. Humans always notice vampires, and they’re easy to get info from if you’re a soaking wet, half-naked woman.”
"Where might I find him?"
"That French place on Plum and Green."
Doug winced. "That figures."
Splish and Splash laughed. "So what's our reward for helping out the great sleuths?"
"What do you want?" Doug asked with a grin.
"Oh, if it's going to be like that..." Splish winked.
Her sister winked as well, linking arms with Splish as they prepared to leave. "We'll think of something and let you know tomorrow."
"Why do I sense I’m going to regret my generosity?” Doug walked them out, then turned right as they turned left. "Try not to cause me too much trouble, ladies." He grinned as they walked away laughing.
His humor faded as the job at hand reasserted itself in his mind. A few minutes was all it took to walk the five blocks to the corner of Plum and Green streets, and the small, simple but stylish restaurant that Douglas and Chris had avoided like the plague ever since a hunt for a dogai got out of hand.
"Figures Chris would miss this..." Douglas grumbled softly, entering the restaurant with no small trepidation. He accepted the glare of the host with good grace, and steeled himself for a fight. "I'm looking for someone."
"How nice for you," the host replied. "You can look from here."
"You're being ridiculous," Doug said with a withering glare of his own. "Let me find him, talk to him, and I'll be gone. I'm only looking for a vampire; there won't be any trouble."
The host blinked. "That nice boy at table twelve? He's got nothing to do with your sort. Leave him alone."
"My sort?" Doug frowned. "What the hell does that mean?"
"Mouthy imp."
"Wannabe human."
"Get out."
Doug dropped his voice to a barely-audible whisper. "After I get the Alucard I was hired to find before the werewolves do."
Whatever the host had readied as a retort died on his lips. He looked at Doug in disbelief. "You're going to bring werewolves in here? Don't you dare!"
"He will if I don't get him out of here. It's only a matter of time before they find out."
"Get him and go. You have five minutes."
"Fifteen."
"Ten," the host said with finality, and pointed in the general direction of table twelve before busying himself with other things.
Barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Douglas went where he'd been directed. The picture he'd been given was in his pocket, but he wouldn't need it. His eyes flit around the room, making note of everything he saw while he looked. An interesting mix of paranormals. He spared the goblin in the corner a second glance, not liking the way she was picking at her food while watching the room. She caught his eye and looked swiftly away. Doug cast his eyes elsewhere.
How he hadn't seen him right away, Doug didn't know. He should have. The Alucard DeLovely was far more beautiful than his picture. More than a few in the restaurant were sneaking glances; Douglas almost felt sorry for the humans that didn't realize they were already half-snared.
He was the image of his father, a tall, slender, aristocratic beauty. The only differences were age, for Zach did not look more than mid to late twenties, and Zach's hair was black, long and straight. The sort of black that almost looked like a dark blue. Eyes looked up from a cup of tea as Douglas approached, dark green and clearly troubled. "You're here for me," the Alucard said calmly.
Douglas nodded. "Your father hired me to find you and take you home."
Hesitation filled Zach’s face, clearly warring with the compulsion to do as he was told. “I don’t want to go home yet,” Zach said.
If there existed s man who was capable of resisting that voice and face, Doug wanted to meet him and prove him a liar. He didn’t know what it was, but something about the vampire tugged at him. “May I sit?”
“Oh!” Zach looked chagrined. “Please do.” He looked at Doug’s forehead, briefly reaching out to touch the sigil that DeLovely had placed there earlier. “You haven’t contacted him yet, have you?”
“Not yet, no…” Doug resisted the urge to shake his head, confused by the way he could still feel Zach’s touch. “I won’t, yet, but I cannot delay for long. I was hired to find you and return you home safe. I have to stick by my job.”
Zach nodded. “Of course,” he said politely, tucking a stray strand of blue-black hair behind his ear. “What is your name?”
Doug smiled sheepishly. “Douglas. I’m a detective with the White Detective Agency.”
“Dad has mentioned it before. Lord Brennus’ consort is tied to it.”
“Chris owns it,” Doug said with another grin. He returned to the matter at hand. “Why don’t you want to go home?”
“Because they don’t want me to be there,” Zach said unhappily. “I heard the whole thing. I did exactly what they wanted. I’m not going home. Not yet.” His left hand clenched and unclenched in the table cloth, and he stared hard at the small candle in the center of the table.
Unconsciously Douglas reached out and covered Zach’s hand with his own. He squeezed it reassuringly. “Why not explain to me what happened? Things are never so bad explained as they are in your own head.” When Zach remained silent, he prodded a bit more. “Your father mentioned you and your mother had an argument.”
“It was what she wanted,” Zach said. “To see me lose my temper, get angry, pitch a fit…then they wanted to shock me into running away. ‘Wake me up’ was how they put it.” His shoulders sagged. “So that’s what I did.”
Doug felt like he was being left out of the conversation. “I’m not quite following.”
“Forgive me,” Zack said. He smiled weakly. “I am still feeling rather upset by the whole affair.”
“Understandable. Start at the beginning and explain everything to me. Slowly, take your time. But do not leave anything out.”
Zach nodded. “It was a few days ago. I was planning on joining my mother and betrothed for tea but had taken longer talking to my father than I had anticipated. So I arrived a few minutes late. Before I stepped in, their conversation struck me and I, however shameful, decided to listen rather than admit myself.” His kept his eyes on the flickering candle. “They were discussing me, and their concern that I was secretly unhappy and how I wouldn’t realize it without something to wake me up.” He dared a brief glance at Doug, but shied away again. “They were detailing their plan to do exactly that.”
“What was the plan?” Doug asked, suspecting that he knew and that he must be crazy to believe such a thing possible.
“They argued a bit over what exactly to do to “shock me into action”. I didn’t listen long enough to learn upon what they decided. It was rather a nasty shock to see the lengths to which they went. He sighed. “I went along with the arguing, and the getting upset – then went back to finish things and be “shocked into action.” I was not expecting to see that my mother’s heart had been stolen. At that point I just wanted to leave the whole thing behind. So I left. Do you suppose that is suitably shocked into action?”
“I’d say so,” Doug replied. “Your mother and betrothed arranged the entire affair? And you let them?” He shook his head. “Why?”
“So that when I finally returned home they’d believe I was satisfied and leave me alone.”
Doug fell silent, thinking.
“I thought,” the icy voice of the host broke in. “That you were here on a case.”
“I am on a case,” Doug snapped. He followed the direction of the host’s pointed stare.
To where he still held Zach’s hand. He snatched his hand away as if burned. Nearly knocking his chair over in his haste, Doug stood up and motioned to Zack. “Come, we’ll talk elsewhere.” As he left, he cast the goblin in the corner another suspicious glance.
Zach’s voice was low as he spoke. “The goblin thought I was competition. She’s been watching me all night because she wants one of the waiters for dinner.” He grinned suddenly, looking very boyish. “But I fed recently enough I don’t need to eat, and the waiter wasn’t really my taste.”
Doug laughed. “I see. Well, that’s good to know. I was half afraid she was keeping tabs on an Alucard.” He led the way down the street, making sure Zach walked on his left side, away from the street. “So do you think your mother and betrothed will be content after this?”
“I hope so,” Zach said.
Though he knew it was overstepping his bounds, Doug could not keep himself from speaking. “If you were happy, they wouldn’t constantly press you.”
“If I say it, I mean it.” Zach said. “They should leave well enough alone.”
Doug took his elbow and guided Zach as they turned a corner, down onto the main street. Sable’s hotels drowned out the stars several blocks away. “So when are you planning on returning?”
Zach shrugged. “How long does it take for someone to realize they’re happy?”
“If you have to ask, clearly you’ve never been happy.”
The vampire was silent. When he finally spoke, his voice was sharp. “My happiness,” he said, looking Doug in the eyes. “Is not your concern.”
Doug felt like he’d been slapped. “Of course,” he said. Realizing he still held Zach’s arm, he let it go and buried his hands in his pockets.
Silence reclaimed the conversation, this time filling it with tension and awkwardness.
“I am sorry,” Zach said several minutes later. “It is wearing to constantly be reminded that you are not happy. I know everyone is concerned – but telling them the truth would make them far unhappier than I am now. Better to leave me in peace than press it and make things worse.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad, whatever it is.” Doug said.
“Yes, it is. I’m an Alucard. Certain rules and traditions must be followed. To break them would upset my family greatly. It’s not worth it.”
Doug frowned. “Shouldn’t you let them help you make that decision?” He started to say more, but the wind carried toward him a scent he didn’t like at all. “Werewolves.”
Zach tensed. “Here? But…surely they’re not…”
“Here for you? Of course they are, Alucard. But how did they find you so fast?”
A voice like wet gravel answered the question, as a creature stepped from the shadows and into the street. It was a strange cross between wolf and man, as though the craftsmen could not decide how he wanted his creation to look and so settled on an awkward in-between. A mongrel wolf, rather than a purebred. He pointed up. “We just used a couple of yours.”
Doug didn’t bother to glance up, knowing by the mongrel’s words exactly what he would see. Imps were second only to demons in the diversity of their spells, and search spells were amongst their repertoire. “Have werewolves become so weak they have to use slaves do their job for them? Nostrils too filled with the stench of your own cowardice you need an imp?”
The wolf only laughed, as others like him slunk from the shadows to gather in the street. “Give us the Alucard, little imp, and we’ll let you stay free.”
“Let me?” Doug laughed. But even as he continued to jeer, he began to cast a spell that would protect Zach. “The Alpha must want to be rid of you, to send you to fetch an Alucard from the center of a demon lord’s territory. Leave now and I’ll let you live. You have no right bringing your feud here.”
“The Alucard is the one who came here.”
“Leave him alone,” Zach interrupted. “If you want me—“
“Shut up,” Doug snapped. “Don’t make my job more difficult.”
Zach stared at him. “I’m trying to help.”
“Then be quiet – do not bargain with werewolves. You’re a noble, you don’t do that. Let me handle this.”
Though he looked as though he wanted to argue, Zach watched Doug a moment more and then relented with a nod. “Fine.”
“Good.” Doug cast the spell he’d been preparing, throwing the spell over him much like a net. “Don’t move from that spot until I tell you.”
The mongrel with the wet gravel voice laughed again. “Protecting your master, imp?”
“No one is my master,” Doug snapped.
Then the gathered wolves were attacking, snarling biting moving faster than the normal eye could follow.
Doug singed one, filling the street with the acrid smell of burning fur and blood. The mongrel got past his defenses, and Doug hissed in pain as the werewolf’s claws raked down his arm, leaving a large gash. He threw a spell in retaliation, smirking in satisfaction at the howl of pain as the spell hit. Abandoning his human shape, he launched himself high when the werewolves backed off just long enough to regroup.
Only to be thrown to the ground by a spell from behind. He hit the ground hard, just glimpsing the two imps who had hit him – the picture of misery but obedient no matter what. Because it was in an imp’s nature to be submissive and obedient. Especially when their horns had been sawed off.
Infuriated, both for and at the imps, Doug forced himself up, barely missing the werewolf that had launched himself directly at the fallen imp. Instead of imp, he wound up eating an ice spell and Doug threw himself back into the fight.
A hasty spell stopped the bleeding of his right arm. Doug went for the mongrel leader, who was attempting to break through the magic net protecting Zach.
Where the hell was Sable? Bastard was probably enjoying the entertainment.
Folding his wings down, he engaged the leader, slowly drawing him away from Zach, who watched them angry that he could do nothing more.
The werewolf fell with a groan some time later, right arm bleeding profusely. Doug looked at the blood dripping from his claws with distaste.
“Doug!”
He whipped around, and snarled to see that the imps and a last werewolf were working against the protective spell he’d cast. “Get away!” he shouted, and threw out a spell that sent all three to the ground unconscious.
Doug dropped to one knee, feeling a bit dizzy. Looked like he’d gotten a bit carried away – but he’d do worse to anyone that tried to touch Zach. Forcing himself to his feet, he reassumed his human shape as he approached the vampire. With a word and motion he broke the spell protecting him. “Are you all right?”
“No, I’m not.” Zach snapped. “But you’re a lot worse off than me.” His ire faded. “I should have just gone home.” He reached out to hold Doug’s arm, gingerly examining the deep gash left by the werewolf. “I’m not worth this much trouble.”
“It’s fine,” Doug said with a smile. “I’ve had worse than this. And of course you are…” He hesitated, not quite sure what he was trying to say. “You’re the Alucard DeLovely.” Somehow that explanation didn’t sound quite right. Whatever. “Come on, we should get you back.”
“I should just teleport,” Zach said.
“Nah. I think we’ll be all right now.” Doug looked around at the various bodies lying in the street. “Stupid werewolves.”
Zach followed along beside him, and they walked in silence for a bit. “I didn’t know you were an imp.”
Doug tensed, and much of his satisfaction at successfully protecting Zach faded. In all the excitement, he’d neglected to keep him human shape. He waited for the remarks that usually came with the realization he was an imp.
But Zach startled him by smiling. “You don’t act like any imp I’ve ever seen. If they all acted like you, I bet they could put even a few of my folk in their place. Mom’s always trying to coax the ones in town into a rebellion or something. They just sort of look at her.”
Though he racked his brain, Doug could think of nothing to say. He smiled and continued to walk toward Sable’s hotel, and didn’t pull his arm from Zach’s worried grasp.
“It figures things get interesting the minute I leave,” Chris groused as he handed Doug a glass of whiskey. “Only the boring stuff ever occurs when I’m around.”
Sable chuckled from where he sat in an armchair directly across from the couch on which Doug sat. “Only you, beloved, would consider that incident with the sirens boring.”
“It was boring. I’ve never seen anything so idiotic in my life, except maybe for the last time we dealt with vampires. But those were peasants, I should have expected as much.”
Zach smothered a snicker, and focused on bandaging Doug’s arm. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.”
“I told you,” Doug said. “It wasn’t any trouble.”
“And he probably brought it on himself anyway,” Chris said, smirking at his partner. “I really wish I’d gotten back sooner, just to enjoy your fight firsthand.”
Doug stuck his tongue out. “We were on the main strip, with plenty of streetlight. If you were back, why the hell didn’t you come to help?” He glared at Sable. “And where the hell were you? I guess I lack the proper blue eyes and blonde hair?”
Sable laughed, and held onto to Chris to keep him from adding to Doug’s injuries. “There are certain fights,” he said, giving Doug a look he didn’t understand. “In which even I won’t interfere. If things had truly been dire, I would have assisted. However, I will be sending Christian to ‘chat’ with Alpha Sandalio tomorrow. I am clearly getting slack if werewolves think they can carry their personal feuds into my territory.” He frowned in thought. “And it is well-known that I and the Dracula DeLovely are old friends. Well, never mind. It will be dealt with tomorrow. For now we should see the young Alucard gets home.”
Zach nodded and finished his work on Doug’s arm. “Thank you for helping me. The DeLovely owe you a great debt. I should not have run away from home.”
“All children do it at some point,” Sable said idly. “I’ll have to tell you what I know about the time Christian ran away. Or I could just invite his parents, at that…” Reflexively he blocked the smack aimed at his chest. “You’ve nothing to be terribly upset about. Just say you’re sorry and the matter will no doubt end.”
The words seemed to have no effect on Zach’s guilt. Reaching out, he touched his fingertips to the sigil on Doug’s head. It flared then faded. “Thank you again,” he said quietly.
A heartbeat of silence and then the Dracula DeLovely stood before them. “Zach,” he said in relief, opening his arms and embracing his son when Zach stepped forward. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“I’m fine, dad. Sorry to have caused so much trouble.”
DeLovely just shook his head. “You,” he said dryly. “Are not the one who needs to be apologizing. I thought your mother had given up scheming when we married. Clearly she was just saving up her energy. There is a bit of explaining to be done when we get home.”
Zach only nodded, still looking contrite.
“Lord Brennus – Sable – I appreciate your assistance.” Sable nodded, and DeLovely turned to Doug. “And you, Master Douglas. Words cannot express my gratitude. Especially as I can see the night did not go flawlessly.”
“A trivial encounter with mongrels, Dracula.” Doug stood up. “I was happy to help. I hope all problems have been satisfactorily concluded.”
DeLovely gave his son a pensive glance. “Very nearly all.” He turned to Chris. “And you must be the Consort about whom I’ve heard so much.”
“And just what exactly have you heard?” Chris said, shooting Sable a look.
Sable looked innocently back. “I said not a single word.”
“No, you probably said several.” Chris retorted. Moving away from Sable, he addressed DeLovely. “I am sorry I was not here to help. But I trust Doug was more than up to the challenge.”
“Of course.” DeLovely nodded in acknowledgement to Doug. “Whatever we can do to repay you, let me know. And now if you’ll pardon our hasty departure, we’ve a few matters left to resolve back home.”
“Of course.”
Doug watched them, still standing in front of the couch. He caught Zach’s eyes and was unable to look away, confused by the way Zach so intently watched him back.
Then the vampires vanished, and Doug was left feeling confused and…bereft. “…Why do I feel like I did something wrong?”
Sable smirked. “Children. Pay attention. This is what you were supposed to do.” And he dragged Chris close, kissing him deeply, possessively.
Doug felt suddenly as though he’d lost the fight with the werewolves, as all the pieces collected during the course of the odd case fell into place. “I’m an idiot.”
“Yes,” Sable said as he ended the kiss, looking smug at the slightly dazed expression on Chris’s face. “But you’re young, so it’s forgivable. And fixable.”
“Fixable how?” Doug asked as more pieces fell into place. Namely the pieces that said he was an imp and Zach was an Alucard. “Vampire rules on marriage and family are pretty strict, given the whole one child thing. I might be bolder than most imps, but that’s a line I’m not sure I can cross. Besides, how do I know…”
Chris smacked Sable’s roaming hands away. “If you’re about to ask how do you know if Zach was just an interested as you didn’t know you were – I’d say you and his father were the only two that didn’t notice how he was looking at you. Children.”
“I’m three times your age!”
“In imp years, you’re barely out of your teens.”
Doug muttered beneath his breath.
“Anyway, you’re in the wrong place to be bitching about things being impossible. There’s no such thing as half-ghosts, right?”
“And it’s impossible for imps to be anything but subservient.” Sable grinned. “An independent imp who fights like a demon? Ridiculous.”
Doug nodded. “I think I missed my chance though.”
“Let the DeLovely work out problems which have clearly been stewing for some time. If that look Zach gave you is any indication, there’s something he hasn’t been telling his parents. So give it time and then pay a visit. But for now I think you should go write up your report.”
Douglas grinned. “Yeah, I should. I’m sure Chris has his own ‘report’ to give you.” He laughed as Sable didn’t give Chris a chance to reply, and left.
Outside, he opted to walk the five blocks back to the office rather than simply teleport or fly. Tired as he was, he wasn’t ready to get behind a desk. The sky was cloudy as ever, but the rain had yet to break so the early morning hours were pleasantly cool. Not that he would have noticed if a tornado suddenly tore through the city. His focus was only for a certain vampire and his own stupidity. Amusing that he’d been envious of what Chris and Sable had, and yet the minute a chance for it was shoved right into his face he’d not even noticed. But that was all right. Now that he knew, it was only a matter of time. Let Zach work out the problems with his parents first. He could wait a bit.
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Date: 2005-10-05 09:11 pm (UTC)Squeee!!!! I loved the fight scene and Doug taking on the werewolves. *hearts* You rock. ^_____^
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Date: 2005-10-05 10:14 pm (UTC)^_^ They're fun. And I've been explaining the imps only in shreds. There's one story that'll lay it all out, and it's actually half done.
Heh. Glad my attempt at action worked ^_~ Thanks, Sky! *loves*