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maderrHey, look ^_^ Slowly but surely my muses are returning nicely tanned and looking rather smug, the fuckers
DwtD verse, as already stated by the icon ^^;;
"I did not believe it when my secretary told me who – perhaps I should say what – wanted to see me. What brings you here to my domain? Have you a name?"
"Charlie, and I came to say that I have not come to cause trouble." Charlie met the demon lord's gaze without flinching. He'd made certain to learn everything he could about Sable Brennus before venturing into his territory. He wanted no trouble, he really meant that.
Though he wasn't above causing it if that became necessary.
Sable Brennus was everything he'd heard and more. Handsome. Powerful. And from the looks he'd given the blonde standing by the glass wall, utterly enamored of his Consort.
"You're alone," Sable said idly.
Charlie nodded. "I am searching for my Master."
"He's missing? And yet you function?"
"Yes," Charlie said quietly. "I am meant to protect."
Sable lifted one brow, leaning back in his seat, the leather creaking faintly, soft fabric of his suit whispering. "You have failed, then?"
Shame washed through Charlie and he dropped his gaze to stare at the dark carpet. "They had two jinn. I killed one."
The blonde man, who through descriptions and the way Sable watched him was clearly the demon's consort, gave an inelegant snort. "Who the fuck attacked you that they had two jinn under control? Men can seldom control one, never mind two."
"I do not know," Charlie said, shaking his head, shoving back his hair when it fell forward across his cheek and into his face. His fingers ghosted over the turtleneck collar of his sweater, feeling the leather beneath it.
Sable regarded his consort. "What are you pondering, Christian?"
Christian did not reply, instead directing his attention to Charlie. "What was your Master involved in?"
"I cannot say," Charlie replied, feeling tired. "He had many enemies, and thus was I brought forth."
"I see," Christian said softly.
"Christian?" Sable asked, reaching out and tugging his consort close.
"Do you think he might be here?" Christian asked, resting his hand on Sable's shoulder as the demon wrapped an arm around his waist.
Looking at them hurt.
Charlie nodded. "My searching has led me here, and I am hoping to find him before they go elsewhere. However, I wanted to make my presence known, that you know my motives are pure and I truly seek to cause no disruption in your city."
"Oh, a little disruption is good for a kingdom," Sable said with a smile. "Your courtesy is appreciated, and I wish you happy hunting."
"Thank you," Charlie said, and sketched a deep bow before turning and walking toward the door. His hand was on the knob when Christian's voice stopped him.
"If you should desire help," Christian said, "you've only to let me know."
Charlie turned back briefly. "Thank you. I must do this on my own."
"Of course," Christian said. "Then as Sable said – happy hunting."
Charlie nodded, then left.
Outside, dusk had become full night, a hint of the full moon behind a thin bank of clouds. The smell of rain was thick in the air, but given that Sable Brennus was a demon of storms, that was to be expected.
People bustled to and fro on the streets, some in a hurry, others taking their time, a mass of friends and couples, strangers and enemies, a couple of drunkards and even a few small children being towed along by their mother.
Interspersed with the people were all manner of creatures – a goblin, an elf, a brownie…an imp…
Charlie slowed to a stop at the corner, eyes helplessly drawn to the imp. The pale swirl of glowing energies said he was employing magic – likely shapeshifting to blend in. Such spells were useless with him, however.
It was a fully mature imp, and no sign that he was bound…and the way he touched the vampire with him…
An old, familiar pain ripped through Charlie as the imp leaned down to kiss the vampire. A Poor Man's Genie, imps were often called. Though not one of the enslaved races, imps were often imprisoned all the same, and for the same reason – power. Yet imps could function without being slaves, as this one apparently did.
Not that he minded enslavement…
But…
Charlie shook his head, banishing the thoughts with an effort.
Nothing mattered right now except finding Jed. He turned away from the imp and vamp standing on the corner with a rough sound and focused his thoughts.
He wondered why Jed's kidnappers had dragged him all the way here. Why would bastards interested in summoning a great many demons choose to operate in the territory of a demon lord? And at the heart of the territory.
It made no sense…but every little clue and that faint tugging said Jed was here somewhere.
Hopefully all right. Charlie closed his eyes against the waves of pain and shame. He'd tried so hard…had done his best, exhausted his energy…but two old and powerful jinn were simply too much for him.
His boots splashed in a grimy puddle as he stepped off the curb and into the street, the buzz of the city fading as he reached quieter streets, filled with businesses closed down for the night, a few residential buildings.
At the farthest end he caught a glimpse of a goblin and pointedly turned away. Goblins were by and large unpleasant, and he had no wish to get tangled up with a group of them by disturbing one while it hunted.
Quickly turning his mind from that unhappy line of thought, Charlie picked up his pace and soon reached the bed and breakfast where he'd rented a room for a month – paid up front, and the brownie who owned it knew better than to ask questions.
Though she'd spent a good ten minutes admiring him, combing her fingers through his curly hair, admiring the 'white-gold' color. Charlie smiled briefly at the thought, but it was more sad than happy.
Climbing the stairs, he let himself into his room and stripped off his leather coat, hanging it on the hook on the back of the door. Next he stripped out of his sweater, a nice one of black cashmere. Not knowing what one wore to speak with a demon lord, he'd dressed as nicely as he could.
He was much happier to be left in a simple blue t-shirt and his jeans, though he was careful to take off his muddy boots before he moved further into the room. Padding across the thick, green carpet he sat down in the old, pseudo-antique armchair and considered his options.
Jed had always been wearily amused by the entire matter; as if on some level he thought it too ridiculous to be real – but on a deeper level knew the sheer absurdity confirmed it was real.
Slowly but surely they had been working to destroy the Key. Well, Jed had. He had not summoned Charlie until shortly before his cousin, and only other living member of their family, had died one night under bloody, terrible circumstances. Charlie had found the head only after several exhausting hours.
He would not be forced into that situation with Jed, he would not.
Fear compelled him to touch the leather at his throat, tracing the runes so carefully embossed, knowing them all by heart.
A form I give unto thee, to serve the will which made thee.
A name I give unto thee, to serve the will which made thee.
A purpose I give unto thee, to serve the will which made thee.
He let his fingers fall away and stared out the window, seeing nothing but the dirty brick of the building next door and a window covered with faded blue gingham curtains.
Where in the city would they be? He did not want to waste valuable time asking around on the chance someone might have seen something. No…he'd been chasing them for three months now. He had a grasp on how they thought, and he knew what they sought…
"The secret has been passed down for more years than we like to count. I intend to let it die with me; all my family has been killed for it, I will have the last laugh when the secret goes with me to the grave. Bastards."
They would require a place to work…and actually, now that he thought about it, most would read any sudden increase in demon power to be the work of Sable. So hiding right here in the heart of Sable's territory ensured no one would discover or bother them until too late.
Charlie bit his lip. He needed to find Jed soon. It was fast approaching the ideal time of the year for such things and while Jed would resist…the bastards had already killed what remained of Jed's family, and this had been going on for centuries and centuries.
So, a place to work, well within range of Sable to mask what they were doing but where Sable himself would not notice until too late – because all the cloaking and protection spells in the world would not mask such activity from a demon lord for long.
Going to this much trouble, they would also need bodies for the demons to inhabit, or at least objects – though the arrogance of these men…Charlie suspected they would go with bodies.
He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to go back to the demon lord and tell him everything. Sable, no doubt, would root out the troublemakers easily. The matter would resolve itself quickly.
But Jed had given him shape and name and purpose and Charlie had failed miserably. He would never forget the awful feeling of sinking into unconsciousness as Jed screamed his name, of waking up while the world was burned to ash around him, the agony of watching their little house burn, the taste of defeat bitter, the taste of failure foul.
He had failed, and so he would be the one to fix it. If he failed again…then he would return to nothing and hopefully Sable would deal with matters appropriately.
So…if he were intent upon black magic better left alone, and was bold enough to do it right beneath a demon lord's nose… Sable's 'palace' seemed too bold. Nearby, though…and tonight was the full moon, a poor time for casting black magic.
For tonight, at least, Jed was likely safe. No practitioner of black magic, especially of the level of the bastards who had taken his Master, would waste time and energy on a full moon night.
Charlie, by contrast, would fair much better. Tonight would be the perfect time to search, especially now that the hour was late, the streets quieting.
Moving to the bag he'd left on his bed, Charlie rifled briefly through it and pulled out a dark green wool sweater – a leather bound book tumbled to the floor. He'd forgotten he'd tucked it into the sweater before leaving his last hotel room. Kneeling, he gingerly picked it up and rifled through the contents.
They still smelled of smoke, a faint hint of magic. It clung to the few precious things he'd managed to save from the fire despite the three months which had passed. Protecting the bits, undoing what he could of the destructive Jinn magic, had cost him much – but these few things were precious to Jed, and so Charlie had made the effort.
The book itself was an heirloom, a journal passed down through the centuries, meticulously recopied when the previous draft simply grew too old – Jed had been in the process of a new copy when they'd been attacked that last, terrible time. But tucked between the pages were a few pictures, including an old drawing.
It was an image of a man in simple white robes which clung to his broad frame, flowing sleeves hiding his clasped hands, the ends heavily embroidered with runes and sigils, a simple belt of tooled leather slung low on his hips. His hair was a mass of white-gold curls, neatly combed and ordered, save one stray curl which brushed against his right cheek. Though the picture was small, only a little larger than a postcard, the man's eyes positively blazed.
"My favorite part," Jed said in his quiet way, looking at the picture, not at Charlie.
He never seemed to look at Charlie very long.
"They're the color of the sun as it's rising, right when the deep red-orange turns to gold." He looked up, but immediately dropped his gaze again.
Charlie sighed and tucked the picture back into the pages of the journal, in front of one that was all that remained now of Jed's family as it had once been – mother, father, brother, sister, and Jed the youngest of all.
The picture, Charlie knew, had been drawn by a friend of Jed's, back before he'd been on the run. It was what Jed had used to give Charlie his form – right down to the sunrise-gold of his eyes.
He remembered the soft smile that had greeted him, upon completion of the spell.
The smell of incense, pungent and sharp, but also sweet. Sandalwood and rose, mingled with beeswax and fresh spring air, fluttering pale blue curtains, stirring the pink roses in a vase on a long coffee table. The magic circle had been drawn with chalk, adding its own dusty scent to the mix.
He blinked, unused to having shape and thoughts and feelings. The first thing to greet him, beyond those mingled scents, was a smile. Soft, more in the pale brown eyes than at the mouth, but utterly beautiful. He smiled back, or tried, but being real rather than an essence was new. Even as he knew things, he did not.
"My name is Jed," the man with the pretty smile said quietly. "Thank you for accepting my spell."
He bowed low, fingers tangling in the odd clothes he wore, a robe of white with runes and sigils embroidered at the edges. He sensed somehow he should be laughing, but could not say why and so did not. "You are the reason I exist, Master, of course I would answer to your spell."
"The words 'of course' do not belong anywhere near slavery, unless to say that of course it should not exist." Jed sighed and turned away, and he was sad to lose those pale brown eyes and the smile that had been in them. "I am, however, desperate. I need protection until I can escape them for good. I would be eternally grateful if you would watch over me until that goal is achieved."
"Of course, Master," he replied quietly.
Jed turned and smiled again. "Thank you. I apologize for doing this to you…as I said, I am at my wits' end." He sighed softly. "I suppose you need a name…hmm…" Jed wandered to the bookcases running the length of the far wall. "A fortuitous name would be best, yes…" He pulled down a book and flipped through it, then shook his head and replaced it. "Have a name of your own in mind?"
"No, Master."
Giving another soft sigh, Jed continued to rifle through books, shaking his head and muttering. He opened one – and suddenly smiled, turning back around. "How about the name of a great king?"
"Master?"
"Charlemagne," Jed said, closing the book with a satisfied snap and sliding it back into place without looking. "It's perfect."
"Charlemagne…" He tasted the name, saying it slowly. "Yes, Master."
Jed laughed. "Alright, so it's a little ostentatious, I suppose. I like it. We can call you Charlie for short, if you like."
"Yes, Master," Charlie said with a smile.
"Very well then, Charlie, let us get you out of those silly clothes, eh?" Jed pushed his glasses up his nose, the blue frame glinting in the candle light. "I'm afraid the robes came with the picture." He nodded to something beyond Charlie.
Turning, Charlie regarded the picture propped on what was clearly a summoning altar, meant to control what came from the circle in which he still stood. A picture…of a man in a robe that looked like his…with pale, curly hair and eyes that were clearly yellow. He moved closer, out of the circle, the spell tingling as he left its hold for good to be real once and for all. Gingerly he picked it up, examining every bit of the drawing. He turned to Jed. "This…is what I look like? Is that good, Master?"
"Yes," Jed said softly. "An old friend drew it for me, said it was to protect me."
Charlie nodded. "Yes, Master."
"Again, I thank you."
"You are the reason I exist, Master. It is my reason for being to serve you, in whatever way you desire."
Jed choked, face turning red, and Charlie blinked in confusion. "Come on," Jed said, voice unsteady. "Let's find you some real clothes."
"Yes, Master."
Charlie returned the journal to his bag, then stowed the bag under the bed. That done, he strode from the room and back out into the streets. The silence here was heavier than ever, and as he returned to the nightlife districts it seemed to linger. Many abnormals were still out, but they were quiet, content each to mind his own business.
The beat of leathery wings and a dark shadow brought Charlie's head up, and he blinked in surprise to see an imp – the very same one he'd seen before with the vampire.
"So it's true," the imp said, landing neatly on the pavement in front of him. If the others in the area were startled to see a fully mature imp, they gave no sign of it. His mismatched eyes glowed in the dark, long horns gleaming where they jutted from his forehead. The leathery wings were drawn in and neatly folded. "There really is an angel in town. I've only met one other angel in my life, and that was way back when I was under the thumb of my first master. You don't look anything like her – but she wasn't a Guardian Angel either."
Charlie could not help the pride that thrummed through him, that Jed had been able to create him, and he was so well created that even with his collar hidden it was obvious what he was. "My Master is most skilled," he replied.
Of all the abnormal races in the world, the most powerful were what was generally called the enslaved races. There were four of them.
Dragons. Jinn. Demons. Angels.
Dragons were living weapons, created for that sole purpose, traditionally answering only to the blood of kings. Even in the present day, when not drugged and forced, they obeyed only those who possessed indomitable strength of spirit. Incredibly powerful, nearly unbeatable, the price for their power was the need for a Liege – an Owner. Swords were useless without someone to wield them.
Jinn. Wild beings made of fire and dark emotion. Fierce, deadly, but they could not use their own power with any sort of control – it took a Master to control the untamable fires and emotion. Jinn were incredibly rare, perhaps only a few hundred in all the world – and they came at a high price.
Demons. Creatures of hell who were bound from the moment of their summoning, trapped in an object or bound to a body. Even when free of their enslaver, they were restricted by their own power, forced eventually to settle into a territory and take a Consort.
Angels. Nothing but sheer force of will, a lingering presence created by the emotions and wants and will of humans. The more a human believed that an angel was watching him, the stronger that presence grew. Giving true form to an angel was hard, though, a spell that few could manage with real success. It was hard to give form to a concept, to something that existed only in the back of the mind.
There were books, spells, records…all manner of texts detailing the history of, the various types, all the different uses to which they could be put.
Charlie was a Guardian Angel, summoned for the express purpose – written directly into his spell, for angels were created by will and desire and so must be given purpose along with form – of protecting his creator or whosoever his creator commanded be kept safe.
Except Charlie had failed, yet somehow still existed, likely because Jed was still alive and so perhaps he had not failed completely. He still wore his collar, the spell which had brought him forth and given him form, life. It bore his master's name, written in sigils, that no other could ever control Charlie.
"Does that collar upset you, Charlie?"
"Why should it, Master? It is not too tight, and quite light."
Jed smiled, but it was not a happy one, and he returned to his work without further comment.
Charlie reached up to touch the collar cinched around his throat, tracing the runes and sigils, puzzled by the question, wishing he knew what to say or ask – but being created by Jed was apparently not enough to understand him. He turned back to stare out the window, into the dark, moonless night, feeling there was something else he should be doing but uncertain as to what.
"Did you need something, imp?" Charlie asked quietly.
The imp shook his head. "Nope. Just wanted to see the angel for myself. Chris said you were looking for your Master."
Charlie blinked. "You know the demon's consort?"
"Yeah, he's sort of my boss," the imp said with a grin. "Name's Doug."
"Charlie."
"A pleasure. Need any help?"
That was twice now he'd been offered help, when it had never been offered to him before. First by a consort, now by one who apparently was close to the consort. "No, but I thank you. The courtesy is appreciated. It is my duty to save my Master."
"I'd say be careful of the crazies, but you look like you could teach me a thing or two," Doug said with a laugh. "Take care, angel." With a graceful launch and snap of his wings, the imp vanished back into the sky.
Charlie frowned, horribly confused by the kind reception he’d so far received. Passing through the territories of vampires and wolves, he had scarcely been given a second glance. Shrugging, he continued on his way, wandering the streets while looking carefully for any sign of where his Master might be.
In a city this large, simply wandering was not the most effective method of searching – but he did not want to waste time asking around, and he already knew that they would be close to Sable's palace without being in it.
He opened his jacket enough to pull down the collar, stroking his fingers over the leather collar. It was warm against his skin, surprisingly soft, and he knew the embossing had taken Jed hours to accomplish.
A tingle raced up and back down his spine and Charlie slowed, taking a closer look at his surroundings. He'd left the bars and restaurants well behind; here there was nothing but offices, warehouses, a couple of empty lots.
Then he felt it – the pulsing warmth that said his Master was near. He'd not felt it in months, and though now he felt it only faintly, the point was he could feel it. Jed was close. Charlie closed his eyes and let himself simply feel.
Master…
His feet moved as if of their own volition, following the faint trace of Jed's presence, instinct seeing what his senses could not.
When he stopped moving, Charlie slowly opened his eyes.
An old warehouse building. He looked up – the Tantalus was but a block away; in the daylight, it would cast a shadow over this space. The pulsing warmth in his chest was stronger than ever. Charlie examined the warehouse, weighing his options. In the end, simply going in through the front seemed the most effective course.
If he had not already known Jed was inside the abandoned place, the pristine padlock on the dingy door would have been a clue. Charlie hefted the lock thoughtfully, feeling the curses laid into it, goosebumps prickling his skin as the magic tried to hurt him and was instead broken down.
As the magic ceased, Charlie pulled hard, tearing the lock casing from the shackle and tossing both pieces to the ground. He slid the door open, ignoring the rattles and creaks. There was little point in trying to stay too quiet – likely someone had felt it when he'd deactivated the curses in the locks.
Inside the warehouse was empty, save for a few rusted bits of old machinery he could not identify. The floor was covered in grime, wet and thick, clearly from the holes in the room where frequent rain had come right in.
Here and there were a few animal skeletons, birds mostly, who had gotten in but never out. Charlie bypassed all of it, more interested in the single bit of light he could see in the upstairs office, a flicker of shadow that spoke of movement.
Then the door abruptly swung open, and more goosebumps popped up on his skin as he felt the hot wash of magic. The man at the top of the stairs blinked in confusion, mouth gaping as he stared at Charlie. "You! Why aren't you dead?"
Charlie did not reply, merely bolted for the stairs, racing up them, movement too fast for a human – even one capable of magic – to completely follow. He grabbed the man by the throat and dangled him over the edge. "Where is my Master?" he asked softly, squeezing hard enough to bruise.
"Here," the man managed, his eyes glinting as he silently called up a spell.
Charlie let him. The magic washed over him, making his skin prickle, causing a brief chill, but dying nearly as fast as it had been cast. Charlie contemplated the dangling man, then reached out with his free hand and tore away the earring in his right ear.
The man screamed in pain and thrashed in his hold, mindless of his precarious position.
"You should not have kidnapped my Master," Charlie said, and let him go.
He heard the man crash to the ground, but it wasn't so far the man would die – probably would bear no injuries save those Charlie had given him. Charlie contemplated the earring lying in his palm in a small pool of blood.
Horn. The earring had been carved from imp horn. That would explain why a mere human had such magic, and could cast it so easily. Charlie dropped the earring to the ground and stamped hard, grinding the heel of his boot into it, then smearing the dust into the thick grime on the floor.
That done, he shoved open the door to the office; it gave a long, groaning creak, and rattled as it hit the wall. Charlie barely noticed, the warmth in his chest flaring to a white heat.
Tied up and tucked into the corner of the dank office was Jed, looking much the worse for wear but otherwise alright. His strawberry blonde hair was matted and filthy, clothes torn beyond repair. He'd been wearing old jeans and a faded rugby t-shirt when they'd taken him, and he still wore them.
Charlie strode over to him and quickly did away with the rope, then bundled Jed close. "Master, I'm sorry."
"Charlie," Jed gasped out, and his arms wrapped around Charlie's neck with startling strength, burying his face in Charlie's throat. "I kept waiting for you, I knew you weren't dead."
"No, Master," Charlie said softly, and slowly stood up, settling his arms around Jed's waist, closing his eyes at the relief that washed through him, rinsing away the tension of the past three months. He hated to move, perfectly content to stand there holding his Master, heedless of the smell and unpleasant setting, but Jed's safety came first. "Come, Master, we must go before the others return."
Jed shifted in his arms, head moving in what was likely a nod.
Charlie delicately brushed tangles of hair from Jed's face. "Your glasses, Master?"
"They were broken a while ago," Jed replied. "I've had a nasty headache for the past two months thanks to them."
Adding that to the list of wrongs to be redressed, Charlie took Jed's hand and led him out of the office and down the stairs, back out into the street. He saw Jed shiver and shrugged out of his coat, slipping it over Jed's shoulders. "My room is not far, Master."
"Thank you for finding me, Charlie," Jed said softly, offering a tired but genuine smile. "They said you were dead, and I saw you fall – but I knew you'd find me."
Charlie nodded. "I am sorry it took me so long, Master."
"Nonsense, Charlie," Jed said with another tired smile. "Those Jinn nearly killed you, and we've been moving quickly. All things considered, you found me with impressive speed." Jed squeezed his hand, and leaned into him. "I'm glad you're alive, Charlie. Truly. It made me sick, to think you were dead or badly hurt because of me. I never should have summoned you."
The words were like a slap, and Charlie faltered briefly, stumbling. "Y-yes, Master," he said miserably, happiness at being with Jed again going out like a candle. "You are, of course, welcome to dismiss me at any time."
"No, Charlie – that's not –" Jed sighed, and grimaced, looking at his filthy hand. "Let me get cleaned up first, I cannot stand the smell or look of me, and I will not have this discussion while I so closely resemble a garbage heap."
Charlie laughed softly despite himself. "It is not so bad as that, Master. Mr. Hoskins was always much, much worse even after he took a shower."
Jed blinked at him, then threw his head back and laughed. "I swear that man showered in sewage water. I hope we never have to pass through that city again!" He rubbed at his scraggly, unkempt beard. "I must look as though I'm related to him, ugh. Are we nearly to your room, Charlie?"
"Right here, Master," Charlie said, and quickly led the way up, locking the door behind them. "I will set clothes out for you, Master."
"Thank you, Charlie. Burn these things, would you? Oh, my glasses, wait a moment." Jed fumbled through his pockets and came out with mangled frames and a handful of glass that was all that remained of his lenses. Setting the mess on the nightstand, he vanished into the bathroom and tossed out his old clothes. They formed a filthy heap on the pristine carpet and Charlie smiled briefly to think of the way the brownie would screech to see such a mess. He knelt and fanned his hand out over the heap. Fire was not his strength, but in small portions… His eyes flashed and the clothes burst into flames, the fire dying when nothing of them remained, leaving not even ashes.
Turning, he pulled his bag from beneath the bed and then rose. Rifling through it, he brought out clothes he'd bought for when he found Jed, knowing he would need them. He set them out, then after casting a protective seal around the room, went in search of food.
When he returned, overburdened with what seemed like at least half the kitchen, he found Jed sitting cross-legged on the floor, bent over a small magic circle, meticulously writing in the necessary runes and sigils.
His hair was still wet, Jed always too impatient to properly dry it, the strawberry blonde strands clinging to his neck, soaking his shirt, one strand stuck to a pale cheek. He wore the jeans, blue t-shirt, and black and blue flannel, left unbuttoned, that Charlie had set out for him.
He murmured a greeting to Charlie, but did not look up from his work. In the middle of the circle were the remains of his glasses. The tip of Jed's tongue stuck out between his lips as he worked, an odd habit that Charlie had always found cute.
Jed muttered softly to himself, bracing his hands over the circle, and then a brief flash of blue light filled the room.
Smiling in satisfaction, Jed picked up his newly-restored glasses from the middle of the circle.
Charlie smiled as Jed turned to face him. "I see you found the chalk in my bag."
"You are nothing if not always prepared, Charlie," Jed said, sliding his glasses onto his face. Though his thirty-first birthday had recently passed, Jed could easily pass for much younger. "Did you empty the kitchen?" he asked, mouth twitching as he took in the tray of food Charlie held.
"The owner is a brownie," Charlie said. "She thinks I'm very pretty and too skinny."
Jed laughed, a rare sound, and any unhappiness Charlie still felt faded beneath it.
"Well, it's all true," Jed said at last, "so I can hardly fault her. Set it on the table and we'll do our best to fatten you up."
Charlie blinked, and obeyed. He tried to bite back the question – but he wanted to know. Needed to know. "Master – did you mean it when you said you should not have summoned me?"
Jed's fingers fumbled with the teacup he'd picked up, and he swore softly as hot tea splashed on the back of his hand. He shook his head slowly back and forth, but did not look up as he spoke, mopping up the spilled tea with stiff motions. "No, Charlie…but I am not proud I was so concerned for my safety that I enslaved you."
"Master…"
"I always let it go, ignored it, told myself it was alright…but then I saw those Jinn throw you through the wall, heard your head crack against the banister. You were lying so still on the floor…" Jed's hand trembled and he dropped the tea-soaked napkins to fist them tightly, still not looking up. "I was finally forced to admit how selfish and cruel I've been. I summoned you to protect me, and that almost got you killed. I had no right to play so cruelly with your life like that…you never had any choice but to protect me, and nearly died."
Finally he looked up, and Charlie found it hard to breathe in the face of the agony soaking those pale brown eyes. "Though it would pain me, break me even, I would rather free you than ever again see you endure such pain on my behalf. It isn't fair, it isn't right." He reached out slowly to touch the collar at Charlie's throat. "You never had any choice, and that makes it so much worse. I'm sorry, Charlie."
Charlie caught his hand before Jed could pull it away, disliking that it was cool to the touch, holding it firmly in his own to warm it. Heart beating fiercely, he gave in to an urge long held back and pressed a butterfly-soft kiss to the palm. "You say I am a slave, Master, but you never once asked how I felt about it. Not once have I ever felt that way. If technically I am enslaved, I have ever willingly been so."
The hand in his twitched, and when it did not pull away Charlie pressed a firmer kiss to the soft palm, pleased that it was warm now. The bathroom had been stocked with mint-scented soap, and the sharp smell clung to Jed's skin, mingling with the sweet, vaguely almond-like scent that was only Jed. "Master, please, if I could ever have one boon it is that you never banish me."
Jed made a low, rough, indistinct sound and moved suddenly close, free arm sliding around Charlie's waist, burying his head against Charlie's chest. "A thousand times I told myself it would be the right thing to do, and that I would when you rescued me…but I can't Charlie, I just can't. You—You're—"
Charlie released the hand he still held to wrap his arms around Jed, holding his Master close, the deep knot that had always resided in his chest slowly working itself loose. The scent of mint and warm skin filled his nostrils, but Charlie could only smell sandalwood and rose, beeswax and chalk and spring air.
He started to speak, but felt the pulse of dark, burning magic a second before they were surrounded by blazing heat.
Snarling in rage, pent up anger finally spilling free, Charlie raised one hand aloft and then dragged it back down, closing it into a fist as he did so – the heat vanished and Charlie scooped Jed up, bolting from the room, the house, and out into the street.
He held Jed close as he stared angrily at the men waiting for them – three humans, one of them the man he'd earlier hurt, and a Jinn. At least they'd not acquired more Jinn in the past three months.
Carefully he set Jed down and shoved him back. "You will pay for hurting my Master," he told the assembled men. "How many times must he tell you that he will not do as you desire?"
"He will," the leader said nastily. "If he doesn't, we'll just keeping taking away what he loves – including you, angel."
"No," Charlie said softly. "None will ever take me from the arms of my Lord and Master, especially one such as you." He wasted no more time with words, but burst forward, launching himself at the jinn.
It roared with a hungry lust for battle, for blood. Though it looked human, dusky skin and dark, curly hair, its eyes resembled hot coals and all who touched it were guaranteed to come away badly burned – assuming they lived. Of the enslaved races, only the Jinn were unconditionally wrong, one of the few races created out of nothing good. Even demons, greatest in power and born in the depths of hell, were not inherently evil as were jinn.
Charlie's skin hissed as the jinn latched onto him, but it healed nearly as fast as it was seared. With a roar he threw the jinn off, gasping for a breath that did not taste like burning flesh.
The jinn laughed as it regained its feet. "You killed my brother, angel. Show me your wings so I can tear them off and hear your screams."
Charlie nearly rolled his eyes. He bared his teeth. "Come closer so I can bottle you up, Genie. Ah, but if you do the bidding of these humans – you're already bottled, aren't you?"
Snaring, the jinn attacked, washing the street in blistering heat, hands aflame as he attacked Charlie, burning through his clothes and flesh. Charlie screamed but did not struggle out of the grip. Instead he clung tightly, hands sliding over the jinn's shoulders, shredding its clothes, fingers seeking out that which he needed.
Yes.
His skin prickled, despite the heat, as his fingers found the marks of binding inked into the jinn's skin. He screamed in pain as the Jinn continued to sear his flesh, feeling blood pouring all over, as brutal this time as it had been all those months ago…but then he felt the cool tingle as the binding spell dissolved beneath his touch.
The jinn shuddered in surprise, and Charlie felt it the moment the jinn realized just how precisely Charlie had killed his brothers. He used the momentary pause to twist free, vision blurry, body in so much pain – he fell to his knees and used his own blood to cast the circle, movements choppy and quick, but accurate. Too fast, too much, for the humans to follow.
Before it could wreak mindless destruction, he bound it anew – then drew one more sigil in the circle.
With a last angry snarl the jinn vanished, leaving only wreckage and the acrid smell of smoke as evidence he'd ever existed.
Releasing a pent up breath, Charlie struggled to his feet. Nearby, Jed stood helplessly within the protective circle Charlie had cast.
"You killed the jinn, angel," the leader of the three men said. "Two of them, now. Do you know how expensive they are?" He eyed Charlie speculatively. "Though I suppose if I had you in recompense…"
Charlie shook his head. "You are not my Master. Leave now, leave us alone, or I will kill you."
"No way," the man said. "I want the ring."
Jed laughed sadly from within his protective circle, and the look he gave the men was far too old for his years. "You've killed my entire family, several friends, all for such a stupid reason. You obviously don't need it, if you're able to control two jinn…" Tears streamed down his cheeks. "Why is it worth it?"
"I want to control a hundred jinn," the man said, greed giving his eyes a hard shine. "That sort of power is worth any price."
"Do you know the saddest part of all?" Jed asked. "Solomon was given that ring because he asked for help. He wasn't the nicest person to ever live, but he wasn't like you. He needed help, and so my ancient ancestor made the ring, and not once did Solomon ever abuse it. You have already proven unworthy of such power, and if I must endure the deaths of hundred more I will because one such as you should never have such power."
Charlie smiled with pride and affection. "Gladly will I die to protect my Master," he told the men. "I've killed two jinn, humans – you are as nothing to me."
"Oh, I don’t know," a low, husky voice said from the shadows across the street. "That big one looks rather tasty."
As one the three men spun half around to watch the figure that slunk from the shadows, and Charlie could hear them draw audible breaths as they fell beneath the spell of the beautiful vampire.
With a ripple of shock he realized he recognized it – it was the one who'd been with the imp.
"Come and speak with me, handsome," the vampire said to the leader.
Charlie gawked as the man obeyed, shaking his head in wonder as the man was quickly turned into a meal.
The beat of leathery wings brought his head back around, and he blinked as Doug landed neatly beside him, mismatched eyes gleaming in the dark. "He's been bitten before," he said, eyes on the feeding vampire. "Probably when he was young, before he got to be so powerful – one bite makes you vulnerable to others, no matter how strong your magic. That and he didn't properly have his guard up. The idiot." He finally turned to look at Charlie, and grinned. "Sorry to butt in, but they're tearing up our turf."
A startled cry from the remaining two men diverted Charlie's attention yet again, right as he sensed a wash of magic far greater than anything he'd ever sensed before.
Sable Brennus stood over their bodies, expression dispassionate. Christian was nearby, and Charlie watched as the demon's consort approached Jed.
"I am sorry," Charlie said slowly. "I truly did not mean to cause trouble."
Sable laughed. "This looks like jinn work, not angel work." His eyes dropped to the blood-made spell circle. "You're quite adept."
"My Master bears the blood of great sorcerers," Charlie said. "When he made me, that talent wove into my being."
A soft thump broke the relative silence in the street, as the vampire dropped his meal. He grimaced. "Not very tasty, but I suppose it was the least wasteful way to dispose of such a vile creature." His eyes flashed with the cold light of a predator for a single moment, but as Doug approached him, the vampire's eyes warmed to something far more pleasant.
"I could have just killed him," Sable said idly.
"Too easy," the vampire said. "This way, he died angry and afraid, which if he's the one we think he was, it's the least he deserved." The vampire smirked. "Not that you couldn't have made him suffer, demon lord, but this way the blood didn't go to waste."
Sable shrugged and let the matter drop, turning to his consort, who was entrenched in conversation with Jed.
"There's more of his cult out there," Christian was saying as Charlie drew close, breaking the protective circle with a thought as he reached them. "I was hired a couple of months ago to root them out, but they move far too quickly for me to pin down. It's sheer dumb luck they came right into our territory."
Jed grimaced. "Cult? I didn't know they were that organized. They only want me for my magic adeptness."
"Blood of the great mages," Sable said softly. "Humans these days do not use magic well. Few are those who can, and I've not encountered one of your power and ability in three hundred years."
"I wish I did not have my power and ability," Jed said with a tired smile. "Then again, it brought me Charlie, so I cannot truly begrudge it. I want no part of making magic rings and such. I am sorry my troubles bled into your world."
Christian shrugged. "As I said, we've been looking for them for awhile. We've had spells out to catch their magic signature – and their powerful jinn." He flicked his gaze to Charlie. "You must be powerful indeed to have killed two of them."
Charlie shook his head. "I failed the first time."
"No, Charlie," Jed said softly. "Not once have you ever failed."
"Yes, Master," Charlie replied, smiling.
Christian shook his head, looking between them. "So what are you planning to do now?"
Jed's smile faded, and he shrugged. "Find a place to hide, until either the world forgets about me or magic rings go out of fashion."
"Stay here," Christian said abruptly. "Maybe more of them will come looking for you, and you'd be safer here than anywhere else."
Jed blinked, then laughed softly. "You want me to be bait?"
"Well protected bait," Doug inserted with a grin, mismatched eyes glowing. "Not that you need it with your guardian angel, but you know – the more the merrier."
"Why?" Charlie asked. "No one has ever treated us as you do."
Sable chuckled. "Christian is good at collecting strays, and he badly wants to finally finish this case." He looked at Charlie, then at Jed, eyes like moon-lit clouds. "One should always treat angels with respect, especially an angel so well and lovingly made, and the Master who made him. So if you want to stay, you are most welcome."
Doug yawned. "Though next time a jinn comes looking to barbeque you, tell him to wait until morning."
Charlie's lips twitched. "I will try."
"Good," Doug replied. "Then we're going back to bed." So saying, he held the vampire close and launched into the air.
Sable laughed softly and reached out to snag Christian close. "Bed sounds good." He look up briefly, eyes flashing as he gazed around the street, the damage done by the jinn gone as quickly as it had been done, leaving the street and buildings as good as new. Sable yawned. "Good night."
They vanished, leaving Charlie and Jed alone in the street.
"I'm glad no one else was killed this time," Jed said, not protesting as Charlie gently tugged him close, resting his head against Charlie's broad chest.
"I am glad you are still here, Master," Charlie replied. Problems for the time being resolved, even the matter of where to go, his thoughts focused immediately on where they'd left off upstairs, on the demon's words. An angel so well and lovingly made.
Of course he was, but it made him happy to hear it all the same. "Master…" he said softly, barely more than a whisper.
"Are you certain you're happy, Charlie? Though you've never had a choice in anything…"
Charlie pulled just far enough away to tilt Jed's face up, fingers tingling as he touched that soft, warm skin. "What of you, Master? You never had any choice but to be human. Does that upset you?"
Jed laughed, body shaking with it, and he once more burrowed his head against Charlie's chest. "Have you ever noticed, Charlie, that you're a bit of a snob? You do not like humans, with precious few exceptions. I know that wasn't me, I like humans just fine. Well, most of them. Some of them."
"They're almost all idiots," Charlie muttered, but smiled. He tilted Jed's face back up, and dared to brush his thumb across those pale lips. Jed's tongue darted out, just barely touching his thumb, making Charlie's breath hitch. "You had no choice but to be human, Master, but like it just fine. Why, then, cannot I not be quite content to be your angel?"
"I…" Jed stared up at him, light from the street lamps reflected in his glasses. "When you put it that way…I guess…"
Charlie smiled and tugged Jed close, and leaned down to kiss his master softly, happiness flooding him when arms wrapped around his neck and Jed returned the kiss, finally feeling as though he were doing everything for which he had been made.
DwtD verse, as already stated by the icon ^^;;
Made For You
"I did not believe it when my secretary told me who – perhaps I should say what – wanted to see me. What brings you here to my domain? Have you a name?"
"Charlie, and I came to say that I have not come to cause trouble." Charlie met the demon lord's gaze without flinching. He'd made certain to learn everything he could about Sable Brennus before venturing into his territory. He wanted no trouble, he really meant that.
Though he wasn't above causing it if that became necessary.
Sable Brennus was everything he'd heard and more. Handsome. Powerful. And from the looks he'd given the blonde standing by the glass wall, utterly enamored of his Consort.
"You're alone," Sable said idly.
Charlie nodded. "I am searching for my Master."
"He's missing? And yet you function?"
"Yes," Charlie said quietly. "I am meant to protect."
Sable lifted one brow, leaning back in his seat, the leather creaking faintly, soft fabric of his suit whispering. "You have failed, then?"
Shame washed through Charlie and he dropped his gaze to stare at the dark carpet. "They had two jinn. I killed one."
The blonde man, who through descriptions and the way Sable watched him was clearly the demon's consort, gave an inelegant snort. "Who the fuck attacked you that they had two jinn under control? Men can seldom control one, never mind two."
"I do not know," Charlie said, shaking his head, shoving back his hair when it fell forward across his cheek and into his face. His fingers ghosted over the turtleneck collar of his sweater, feeling the leather beneath it.
Sable regarded his consort. "What are you pondering, Christian?"
Christian did not reply, instead directing his attention to Charlie. "What was your Master involved in?"
"I cannot say," Charlie replied, feeling tired. "He had many enemies, and thus was I brought forth."
"I see," Christian said softly.
"Christian?" Sable asked, reaching out and tugging his consort close.
"Do you think he might be here?" Christian asked, resting his hand on Sable's shoulder as the demon wrapped an arm around his waist.
Looking at them hurt.
Charlie nodded. "My searching has led me here, and I am hoping to find him before they go elsewhere. However, I wanted to make my presence known, that you know my motives are pure and I truly seek to cause no disruption in your city."
"Oh, a little disruption is good for a kingdom," Sable said with a smile. "Your courtesy is appreciated, and I wish you happy hunting."
"Thank you," Charlie said, and sketched a deep bow before turning and walking toward the door. His hand was on the knob when Christian's voice stopped him.
"If you should desire help," Christian said, "you've only to let me know."
Charlie turned back briefly. "Thank you. I must do this on my own."
"Of course," Christian said. "Then as Sable said – happy hunting."
Charlie nodded, then left.
Outside, dusk had become full night, a hint of the full moon behind a thin bank of clouds. The smell of rain was thick in the air, but given that Sable Brennus was a demon of storms, that was to be expected.
People bustled to and fro on the streets, some in a hurry, others taking their time, a mass of friends and couples, strangers and enemies, a couple of drunkards and even a few small children being towed along by their mother.
Interspersed with the people were all manner of creatures – a goblin, an elf, a brownie…an imp…
Charlie slowed to a stop at the corner, eyes helplessly drawn to the imp. The pale swirl of glowing energies said he was employing magic – likely shapeshifting to blend in. Such spells were useless with him, however.
It was a fully mature imp, and no sign that he was bound…and the way he touched the vampire with him…
An old, familiar pain ripped through Charlie as the imp leaned down to kiss the vampire. A Poor Man's Genie, imps were often called. Though not one of the enslaved races, imps were often imprisoned all the same, and for the same reason – power. Yet imps could function without being slaves, as this one apparently did.
Not that he minded enslavement…
But…
Charlie shook his head, banishing the thoughts with an effort.
Nothing mattered right now except finding Jed. He turned away from the imp and vamp standing on the corner with a rough sound and focused his thoughts.
He wondered why Jed's kidnappers had dragged him all the way here. Why would bastards interested in summoning a great many demons choose to operate in the territory of a demon lord? And at the heart of the territory.
It made no sense…but every little clue and that faint tugging said Jed was here somewhere.
Hopefully all right. Charlie closed his eyes against the waves of pain and shame. He'd tried so hard…had done his best, exhausted his energy…but two old and powerful jinn were simply too much for him.
His boots splashed in a grimy puddle as he stepped off the curb and into the street, the buzz of the city fading as he reached quieter streets, filled with businesses closed down for the night, a few residential buildings.
At the farthest end he caught a glimpse of a goblin and pointedly turned away. Goblins were by and large unpleasant, and he had no wish to get tangled up with a group of them by disturbing one while it hunted.
Quickly turning his mind from that unhappy line of thought, Charlie picked up his pace and soon reached the bed and breakfast where he'd rented a room for a month – paid up front, and the brownie who owned it knew better than to ask questions.
Though she'd spent a good ten minutes admiring him, combing her fingers through his curly hair, admiring the 'white-gold' color. Charlie smiled briefly at the thought, but it was more sad than happy.
Climbing the stairs, he let himself into his room and stripped off his leather coat, hanging it on the hook on the back of the door. Next he stripped out of his sweater, a nice one of black cashmere. Not knowing what one wore to speak with a demon lord, he'd dressed as nicely as he could.
He was much happier to be left in a simple blue t-shirt and his jeans, though he was careful to take off his muddy boots before he moved further into the room. Padding across the thick, green carpet he sat down in the old, pseudo-antique armchair and considered his options.
Jed had always been wearily amused by the entire matter; as if on some level he thought it too ridiculous to be real – but on a deeper level knew the sheer absurdity confirmed it was real.
Slowly but surely they had been working to destroy the Key. Well, Jed had. He had not summoned Charlie until shortly before his cousin, and only other living member of their family, had died one night under bloody, terrible circumstances. Charlie had found the head only after several exhausting hours.
He would not be forced into that situation with Jed, he would not.
Fear compelled him to touch the leather at his throat, tracing the runes so carefully embossed, knowing them all by heart.
A form I give unto thee, to serve the will which made thee.
A name I give unto thee, to serve the will which made thee.
A purpose I give unto thee, to serve the will which made thee.
He let his fingers fall away and stared out the window, seeing nothing but the dirty brick of the building next door and a window covered with faded blue gingham curtains.
Where in the city would they be? He did not want to waste valuable time asking around on the chance someone might have seen something. No…he'd been chasing them for three months now. He had a grasp on how they thought, and he knew what they sought…
"The secret has been passed down for more years than we like to count. I intend to let it die with me; all my family has been killed for it, I will have the last laugh when the secret goes with me to the grave. Bastards."
They would require a place to work…and actually, now that he thought about it, most would read any sudden increase in demon power to be the work of Sable. So hiding right here in the heart of Sable's territory ensured no one would discover or bother them until too late.
Charlie bit his lip. He needed to find Jed soon. It was fast approaching the ideal time of the year for such things and while Jed would resist…the bastards had already killed what remained of Jed's family, and this had been going on for centuries and centuries.
So, a place to work, well within range of Sable to mask what they were doing but where Sable himself would not notice until too late – because all the cloaking and protection spells in the world would not mask such activity from a demon lord for long.
Going to this much trouble, they would also need bodies for the demons to inhabit, or at least objects – though the arrogance of these men…Charlie suspected they would go with bodies.
He closed his eyes, fighting the urge to go back to the demon lord and tell him everything. Sable, no doubt, would root out the troublemakers easily. The matter would resolve itself quickly.
But Jed had given him shape and name and purpose and Charlie had failed miserably. He would never forget the awful feeling of sinking into unconsciousness as Jed screamed his name, of waking up while the world was burned to ash around him, the agony of watching their little house burn, the taste of defeat bitter, the taste of failure foul.
He had failed, and so he would be the one to fix it. If he failed again…then he would return to nothing and hopefully Sable would deal with matters appropriately.
So…if he were intent upon black magic better left alone, and was bold enough to do it right beneath a demon lord's nose… Sable's 'palace' seemed too bold. Nearby, though…and tonight was the full moon, a poor time for casting black magic.
For tonight, at least, Jed was likely safe. No practitioner of black magic, especially of the level of the bastards who had taken his Master, would waste time and energy on a full moon night.
Charlie, by contrast, would fair much better. Tonight would be the perfect time to search, especially now that the hour was late, the streets quieting.
Moving to the bag he'd left on his bed, Charlie rifled briefly through it and pulled out a dark green wool sweater – a leather bound book tumbled to the floor. He'd forgotten he'd tucked it into the sweater before leaving his last hotel room. Kneeling, he gingerly picked it up and rifled through the contents.
They still smelled of smoke, a faint hint of magic. It clung to the few precious things he'd managed to save from the fire despite the three months which had passed. Protecting the bits, undoing what he could of the destructive Jinn magic, had cost him much – but these few things were precious to Jed, and so Charlie had made the effort.
The book itself was an heirloom, a journal passed down through the centuries, meticulously recopied when the previous draft simply grew too old – Jed had been in the process of a new copy when they'd been attacked that last, terrible time. But tucked between the pages were a few pictures, including an old drawing.
It was an image of a man in simple white robes which clung to his broad frame, flowing sleeves hiding his clasped hands, the ends heavily embroidered with runes and sigils, a simple belt of tooled leather slung low on his hips. His hair was a mass of white-gold curls, neatly combed and ordered, save one stray curl which brushed against his right cheek. Though the picture was small, only a little larger than a postcard, the man's eyes positively blazed.
"My favorite part," Jed said in his quiet way, looking at the picture, not at Charlie.
He never seemed to look at Charlie very long.
"They're the color of the sun as it's rising, right when the deep red-orange turns to gold." He looked up, but immediately dropped his gaze again.
Charlie sighed and tucked the picture back into the pages of the journal, in front of one that was all that remained now of Jed's family as it had once been – mother, father, brother, sister, and Jed the youngest of all.
The picture, Charlie knew, had been drawn by a friend of Jed's, back before he'd been on the run. It was what Jed had used to give Charlie his form – right down to the sunrise-gold of his eyes.
He remembered the soft smile that had greeted him, upon completion of the spell.
The smell of incense, pungent and sharp, but also sweet. Sandalwood and rose, mingled with beeswax and fresh spring air, fluttering pale blue curtains, stirring the pink roses in a vase on a long coffee table. The magic circle had been drawn with chalk, adding its own dusty scent to the mix.
He blinked, unused to having shape and thoughts and feelings. The first thing to greet him, beyond those mingled scents, was a smile. Soft, more in the pale brown eyes than at the mouth, but utterly beautiful. He smiled back, or tried, but being real rather than an essence was new. Even as he knew things, he did not.
"My name is Jed," the man with the pretty smile said quietly. "Thank you for accepting my spell."
He bowed low, fingers tangling in the odd clothes he wore, a robe of white with runes and sigils embroidered at the edges. He sensed somehow he should be laughing, but could not say why and so did not. "You are the reason I exist, Master, of course I would answer to your spell."
"The words 'of course' do not belong anywhere near slavery, unless to say that of course it should not exist." Jed sighed and turned away, and he was sad to lose those pale brown eyes and the smile that had been in them. "I am, however, desperate. I need protection until I can escape them for good. I would be eternally grateful if you would watch over me until that goal is achieved."
"Of course, Master," he replied quietly.
Jed turned and smiled again. "Thank you. I apologize for doing this to you…as I said, I am at my wits' end." He sighed softly. "I suppose you need a name…hmm…" Jed wandered to the bookcases running the length of the far wall. "A fortuitous name would be best, yes…" He pulled down a book and flipped through it, then shook his head and replaced it. "Have a name of your own in mind?"
"No, Master."
Giving another soft sigh, Jed continued to rifle through books, shaking his head and muttering. He opened one – and suddenly smiled, turning back around. "How about the name of a great king?"
"Master?"
"Charlemagne," Jed said, closing the book with a satisfied snap and sliding it back into place without looking. "It's perfect."
"Charlemagne…" He tasted the name, saying it slowly. "Yes, Master."
Jed laughed. "Alright, so it's a little ostentatious, I suppose. I like it. We can call you Charlie for short, if you like."
"Yes, Master," Charlie said with a smile.
"Very well then, Charlie, let us get you out of those silly clothes, eh?" Jed pushed his glasses up his nose, the blue frame glinting in the candle light. "I'm afraid the robes came with the picture." He nodded to something beyond Charlie.
Turning, Charlie regarded the picture propped on what was clearly a summoning altar, meant to control what came from the circle in which he still stood. A picture…of a man in a robe that looked like his…with pale, curly hair and eyes that were clearly yellow. He moved closer, out of the circle, the spell tingling as he left its hold for good to be real once and for all. Gingerly he picked it up, examining every bit of the drawing. He turned to Jed. "This…is what I look like? Is that good, Master?"
"Yes," Jed said softly. "An old friend drew it for me, said it was to protect me."
Charlie nodded. "Yes, Master."
"Again, I thank you."
"You are the reason I exist, Master. It is my reason for being to serve you, in whatever way you desire."
Jed choked, face turning red, and Charlie blinked in confusion. "Come on," Jed said, voice unsteady. "Let's find you some real clothes."
"Yes, Master."
Charlie returned the journal to his bag, then stowed the bag under the bed. That done, he strode from the room and back out into the streets. The silence here was heavier than ever, and as he returned to the nightlife districts it seemed to linger. Many abnormals were still out, but they were quiet, content each to mind his own business.
The beat of leathery wings and a dark shadow brought Charlie's head up, and he blinked in surprise to see an imp – the very same one he'd seen before with the vampire.
"So it's true," the imp said, landing neatly on the pavement in front of him. If the others in the area were startled to see a fully mature imp, they gave no sign of it. His mismatched eyes glowed in the dark, long horns gleaming where they jutted from his forehead. The leathery wings were drawn in and neatly folded. "There really is an angel in town. I've only met one other angel in my life, and that was way back when I was under the thumb of my first master. You don't look anything like her – but she wasn't a Guardian Angel either."
Charlie could not help the pride that thrummed through him, that Jed had been able to create him, and he was so well created that even with his collar hidden it was obvious what he was. "My Master is most skilled," he replied.
Of all the abnormal races in the world, the most powerful were what was generally called the enslaved races. There were four of them.
Dragons. Jinn. Demons. Angels.
Dragons were living weapons, created for that sole purpose, traditionally answering only to the blood of kings. Even in the present day, when not drugged and forced, they obeyed only those who possessed indomitable strength of spirit. Incredibly powerful, nearly unbeatable, the price for their power was the need for a Liege – an Owner. Swords were useless without someone to wield them.
Jinn. Wild beings made of fire and dark emotion. Fierce, deadly, but they could not use their own power with any sort of control – it took a Master to control the untamable fires and emotion. Jinn were incredibly rare, perhaps only a few hundred in all the world – and they came at a high price.
Demons. Creatures of hell who were bound from the moment of their summoning, trapped in an object or bound to a body. Even when free of their enslaver, they were restricted by their own power, forced eventually to settle into a territory and take a Consort.
Angels. Nothing but sheer force of will, a lingering presence created by the emotions and wants and will of humans. The more a human believed that an angel was watching him, the stronger that presence grew. Giving true form to an angel was hard, though, a spell that few could manage with real success. It was hard to give form to a concept, to something that existed only in the back of the mind.
There were books, spells, records…all manner of texts detailing the history of, the various types, all the different uses to which they could be put.
Charlie was a Guardian Angel, summoned for the express purpose – written directly into his spell, for angels were created by will and desire and so must be given purpose along with form – of protecting his creator or whosoever his creator commanded be kept safe.
Except Charlie had failed, yet somehow still existed, likely because Jed was still alive and so perhaps he had not failed completely. He still wore his collar, the spell which had brought him forth and given him form, life. It bore his master's name, written in sigils, that no other could ever control Charlie.
"Does that collar upset you, Charlie?"
"Why should it, Master? It is not too tight, and quite light."
Jed smiled, but it was not a happy one, and he returned to his work without further comment.
Charlie reached up to touch the collar cinched around his throat, tracing the runes and sigils, puzzled by the question, wishing he knew what to say or ask – but being created by Jed was apparently not enough to understand him. He turned back to stare out the window, into the dark, moonless night, feeling there was something else he should be doing but uncertain as to what.
"Did you need something, imp?" Charlie asked quietly.
The imp shook his head. "Nope. Just wanted to see the angel for myself. Chris said you were looking for your Master."
Charlie blinked. "You know the demon's consort?"
"Yeah, he's sort of my boss," the imp said with a grin. "Name's Doug."
"Charlie."
"A pleasure. Need any help?"
That was twice now he'd been offered help, when it had never been offered to him before. First by a consort, now by one who apparently was close to the consort. "No, but I thank you. The courtesy is appreciated. It is my duty to save my Master."
"I'd say be careful of the crazies, but you look like you could teach me a thing or two," Doug said with a laugh. "Take care, angel." With a graceful launch and snap of his wings, the imp vanished back into the sky.
Charlie frowned, horribly confused by the kind reception he’d so far received. Passing through the territories of vampires and wolves, he had scarcely been given a second glance. Shrugging, he continued on his way, wandering the streets while looking carefully for any sign of where his Master might be.
In a city this large, simply wandering was not the most effective method of searching – but he did not want to waste time asking around, and he already knew that they would be close to Sable's palace without being in it.
He opened his jacket enough to pull down the collar, stroking his fingers over the leather collar. It was warm against his skin, surprisingly soft, and he knew the embossing had taken Jed hours to accomplish.
A tingle raced up and back down his spine and Charlie slowed, taking a closer look at his surroundings. He'd left the bars and restaurants well behind; here there was nothing but offices, warehouses, a couple of empty lots.
Then he felt it – the pulsing warmth that said his Master was near. He'd not felt it in months, and though now he felt it only faintly, the point was he could feel it. Jed was close. Charlie closed his eyes and let himself simply feel.
Master…
His feet moved as if of their own volition, following the faint trace of Jed's presence, instinct seeing what his senses could not.
When he stopped moving, Charlie slowly opened his eyes.
An old warehouse building. He looked up – the Tantalus was but a block away; in the daylight, it would cast a shadow over this space. The pulsing warmth in his chest was stronger than ever. Charlie examined the warehouse, weighing his options. In the end, simply going in through the front seemed the most effective course.
If he had not already known Jed was inside the abandoned place, the pristine padlock on the dingy door would have been a clue. Charlie hefted the lock thoughtfully, feeling the curses laid into it, goosebumps prickling his skin as the magic tried to hurt him and was instead broken down.
As the magic ceased, Charlie pulled hard, tearing the lock casing from the shackle and tossing both pieces to the ground. He slid the door open, ignoring the rattles and creaks. There was little point in trying to stay too quiet – likely someone had felt it when he'd deactivated the curses in the locks.
Inside the warehouse was empty, save for a few rusted bits of old machinery he could not identify. The floor was covered in grime, wet and thick, clearly from the holes in the room where frequent rain had come right in.
Here and there were a few animal skeletons, birds mostly, who had gotten in but never out. Charlie bypassed all of it, more interested in the single bit of light he could see in the upstairs office, a flicker of shadow that spoke of movement.
Then the door abruptly swung open, and more goosebumps popped up on his skin as he felt the hot wash of magic. The man at the top of the stairs blinked in confusion, mouth gaping as he stared at Charlie. "You! Why aren't you dead?"
Charlie did not reply, merely bolted for the stairs, racing up them, movement too fast for a human – even one capable of magic – to completely follow. He grabbed the man by the throat and dangled him over the edge. "Where is my Master?" he asked softly, squeezing hard enough to bruise.
"Here," the man managed, his eyes glinting as he silently called up a spell.
Charlie let him. The magic washed over him, making his skin prickle, causing a brief chill, but dying nearly as fast as it had been cast. Charlie contemplated the dangling man, then reached out with his free hand and tore away the earring in his right ear.
The man screamed in pain and thrashed in his hold, mindless of his precarious position.
"You should not have kidnapped my Master," Charlie said, and let him go.
He heard the man crash to the ground, but it wasn't so far the man would die – probably would bear no injuries save those Charlie had given him. Charlie contemplated the earring lying in his palm in a small pool of blood.
Horn. The earring had been carved from imp horn. That would explain why a mere human had such magic, and could cast it so easily. Charlie dropped the earring to the ground and stamped hard, grinding the heel of his boot into it, then smearing the dust into the thick grime on the floor.
That done, he shoved open the door to the office; it gave a long, groaning creak, and rattled as it hit the wall. Charlie barely noticed, the warmth in his chest flaring to a white heat.
Tied up and tucked into the corner of the dank office was Jed, looking much the worse for wear but otherwise alright. His strawberry blonde hair was matted and filthy, clothes torn beyond repair. He'd been wearing old jeans and a faded rugby t-shirt when they'd taken him, and he still wore them.
Charlie strode over to him and quickly did away with the rope, then bundled Jed close. "Master, I'm sorry."
"Charlie," Jed gasped out, and his arms wrapped around Charlie's neck with startling strength, burying his face in Charlie's throat. "I kept waiting for you, I knew you weren't dead."
"No, Master," Charlie said softly, and slowly stood up, settling his arms around Jed's waist, closing his eyes at the relief that washed through him, rinsing away the tension of the past three months. He hated to move, perfectly content to stand there holding his Master, heedless of the smell and unpleasant setting, but Jed's safety came first. "Come, Master, we must go before the others return."
Jed shifted in his arms, head moving in what was likely a nod.
Charlie delicately brushed tangles of hair from Jed's face. "Your glasses, Master?"
"They were broken a while ago," Jed replied. "I've had a nasty headache for the past two months thanks to them."
Adding that to the list of wrongs to be redressed, Charlie took Jed's hand and led him out of the office and down the stairs, back out into the street. He saw Jed shiver and shrugged out of his coat, slipping it over Jed's shoulders. "My room is not far, Master."
"Thank you for finding me, Charlie," Jed said softly, offering a tired but genuine smile. "They said you were dead, and I saw you fall – but I knew you'd find me."
Charlie nodded. "I am sorry it took me so long, Master."
"Nonsense, Charlie," Jed said with another tired smile. "Those Jinn nearly killed you, and we've been moving quickly. All things considered, you found me with impressive speed." Jed squeezed his hand, and leaned into him. "I'm glad you're alive, Charlie. Truly. It made me sick, to think you were dead or badly hurt because of me. I never should have summoned you."
The words were like a slap, and Charlie faltered briefly, stumbling. "Y-yes, Master," he said miserably, happiness at being with Jed again going out like a candle. "You are, of course, welcome to dismiss me at any time."
"No, Charlie – that's not –" Jed sighed, and grimaced, looking at his filthy hand. "Let me get cleaned up first, I cannot stand the smell or look of me, and I will not have this discussion while I so closely resemble a garbage heap."
Charlie laughed softly despite himself. "It is not so bad as that, Master. Mr. Hoskins was always much, much worse even after he took a shower."
Jed blinked at him, then threw his head back and laughed. "I swear that man showered in sewage water. I hope we never have to pass through that city again!" He rubbed at his scraggly, unkempt beard. "I must look as though I'm related to him, ugh. Are we nearly to your room, Charlie?"
"Right here, Master," Charlie said, and quickly led the way up, locking the door behind them. "I will set clothes out for you, Master."
"Thank you, Charlie. Burn these things, would you? Oh, my glasses, wait a moment." Jed fumbled through his pockets and came out with mangled frames and a handful of glass that was all that remained of his lenses. Setting the mess on the nightstand, he vanished into the bathroom and tossed out his old clothes. They formed a filthy heap on the pristine carpet and Charlie smiled briefly to think of the way the brownie would screech to see such a mess. He knelt and fanned his hand out over the heap. Fire was not his strength, but in small portions… His eyes flashed and the clothes burst into flames, the fire dying when nothing of them remained, leaving not even ashes.
Turning, he pulled his bag from beneath the bed and then rose. Rifling through it, he brought out clothes he'd bought for when he found Jed, knowing he would need them. He set them out, then after casting a protective seal around the room, went in search of food.
When he returned, overburdened with what seemed like at least half the kitchen, he found Jed sitting cross-legged on the floor, bent over a small magic circle, meticulously writing in the necessary runes and sigils.
His hair was still wet, Jed always too impatient to properly dry it, the strawberry blonde strands clinging to his neck, soaking his shirt, one strand stuck to a pale cheek. He wore the jeans, blue t-shirt, and black and blue flannel, left unbuttoned, that Charlie had set out for him.
He murmured a greeting to Charlie, but did not look up from his work. In the middle of the circle were the remains of his glasses. The tip of Jed's tongue stuck out between his lips as he worked, an odd habit that Charlie had always found cute.
Jed muttered softly to himself, bracing his hands over the circle, and then a brief flash of blue light filled the room.
Smiling in satisfaction, Jed picked up his newly-restored glasses from the middle of the circle.
Charlie smiled as Jed turned to face him. "I see you found the chalk in my bag."
"You are nothing if not always prepared, Charlie," Jed said, sliding his glasses onto his face. Though his thirty-first birthday had recently passed, Jed could easily pass for much younger. "Did you empty the kitchen?" he asked, mouth twitching as he took in the tray of food Charlie held.
"The owner is a brownie," Charlie said. "She thinks I'm very pretty and too skinny."
Jed laughed, a rare sound, and any unhappiness Charlie still felt faded beneath it.
"Well, it's all true," Jed said at last, "so I can hardly fault her. Set it on the table and we'll do our best to fatten you up."
Charlie blinked, and obeyed. He tried to bite back the question – but he wanted to know. Needed to know. "Master – did you mean it when you said you should not have summoned me?"
Jed's fingers fumbled with the teacup he'd picked up, and he swore softly as hot tea splashed on the back of his hand. He shook his head slowly back and forth, but did not look up as he spoke, mopping up the spilled tea with stiff motions. "No, Charlie…but I am not proud I was so concerned for my safety that I enslaved you."
"Master…"
"I always let it go, ignored it, told myself it was alright…but then I saw those Jinn throw you through the wall, heard your head crack against the banister. You were lying so still on the floor…" Jed's hand trembled and he dropped the tea-soaked napkins to fist them tightly, still not looking up. "I was finally forced to admit how selfish and cruel I've been. I summoned you to protect me, and that almost got you killed. I had no right to play so cruelly with your life like that…you never had any choice but to protect me, and nearly died."
Finally he looked up, and Charlie found it hard to breathe in the face of the agony soaking those pale brown eyes. "Though it would pain me, break me even, I would rather free you than ever again see you endure such pain on my behalf. It isn't fair, it isn't right." He reached out slowly to touch the collar at Charlie's throat. "You never had any choice, and that makes it so much worse. I'm sorry, Charlie."
Charlie caught his hand before Jed could pull it away, disliking that it was cool to the touch, holding it firmly in his own to warm it. Heart beating fiercely, he gave in to an urge long held back and pressed a butterfly-soft kiss to the palm. "You say I am a slave, Master, but you never once asked how I felt about it. Not once have I ever felt that way. If technically I am enslaved, I have ever willingly been so."
The hand in his twitched, and when it did not pull away Charlie pressed a firmer kiss to the soft palm, pleased that it was warm now. The bathroom had been stocked with mint-scented soap, and the sharp smell clung to Jed's skin, mingling with the sweet, vaguely almond-like scent that was only Jed. "Master, please, if I could ever have one boon it is that you never banish me."
Jed made a low, rough, indistinct sound and moved suddenly close, free arm sliding around Charlie's waist, burying his head against Charlie's chest. "A thousand times I told myself it would be the right thing to do, and that I would when you rescued me…but I can't Charlie, I just can't. You—You're—"
Charlie released the hand he still held to wrap his arms around Jed, holding his Master close, the deep knot that had always resided in his chest slowly working itself loose. The scent of mint and warm skin filled his nostrils, but Charlie could only smell sandalwood and rose, beeswax and chalk and spring air.
He started to speak, but felt the pulse of dark, burning magic a second before they were surrounded by blazing heat.
Snarling in rage, pent up anger finally spilling free, Charlie raised one hand aloft and then dragged it back down, closing it into a fist as he did so – the heat vanished and Charlie scooped Jed up, bolting from the room, the house, and out into the street.
He held Jed close as he stared angrily at the men waiting for them – three humans, one of them the man he'd earlier hurt, and a Jinn. At least they'd not acquired more Jinn in the past three months.
Carefully he set Jed down and shoved him back. "You will pay for hurting my Master," he told the assembled men. "How many times must he tell you that he will not do as you desire?"
"He will," the leader said nastily. "If he doesn't, we'll just keeping taking away what he loves – including you, angel."
"No," Charlie said softly. "None will ever take me from the arms of my Lord and Master, especially one such as you." He wasted no more time with words, but burst forward, launching himself at the jinn.
It roared with a hungry lust for battle, for blood. Though it looked human, dusky skin and dark, curly hair, its eyes resembled hot coals and all who touched it were guaranteed to come away badly burned – assuming they lived. Of the enslaved races, only the Jinn were unconditionally wrong, one of the few races created out of nothing good. Even demons, greatest in power and born in the depths of hell, were not inherently evil as were jinn.
Charlie's skin hissed as the jinn latched onto him, but it healed nearly as fast as it was seared. With a roar he threw the jinn off, gasping for a breath that did not taste like burning flesh.
The jinn laughed as it regained its feet. "You killed my brother, angel. Show me your wings so I can tear them off and hear your screams."
Charlie nearly rolled his eyes. He bared his teeth. "Come closer so I can bottle you up, Genie. Ah, but if you do the bidding of these humans – you're already bottled, aren't you?"
Snaring, the jinn attacked, washing the street in blistering heat, hands aflame as he attacked Charlie, burning through his clothes and flesh. Charlie screamed but did not struggle out of the grip. Instead he clung tightly, hands sliding over the jinn's shoulders, shredding its clothes, fingers seeking out that which he needed.
Yes.
His skin prickled, despite the heat, as his fingers found the marks of binding inked into the jinn's skin. He screamed in pain as the Jinn continued to sear his flesh, feeling blood pouring all over, as brutal this time as it had been all those months ago…but then he felt the cool tingle as the binding spell dissolved beneath his touch.
The jinn shuddered in surprise, and Charlie felt it the moment the jinn realized just how precisely Charlie had killed his brothers. He used the momentary pause to twist free, vision blurry, body in so much pain – he fell to his knees and used his own blood to cast the circle, movements choppy and quick, but accurate. Too fast, too much, for the humans to follow.
Before it could wreak mindless destruction, he bound it anew – then drew one more sigil in the circle.
With a last angry snarl the jinn vanished, leaving only wreckage and the acrid smell of smoke as evidence he'd ever existed.
Releasing a pent up breath, Charlie struggled to his feet. Nearby, Jed stood helplessly within the protective circle Charlie had cast.
"You killed the jinn, angel," the leader of the three men said. "Two of them, now. Do you know how expensive they are?" He eyed Charlie speculatively. "Though I suppose if I had you in recompense…"
Charlie shook his head. "You are not my Master. Leave now, leave us alone, or I will kill you."
"No way," the man said. "I want the ring."
Jed laughed sadly from within his protective circle, and the look he gave the men was far too old for his years. "You've killed my entire family, several friends, all for such a stupid reason. You obviously don't need it, if you're able to control two jinn…" Tears streamed down his cheeks. "Why is it worth it?"
"I want to control a hundred jinn," the man said, greed giving his eyes a hard shine. "That sort of power is worth any price."
"Do you know the saddest part of all?" Jed asked. "Solomon was given that ring because he asked for help. He wasn't the nicest person to ever live, but he wasn't like you. He needed help, and so my ancient ancestor made the ring, and not once did Solomon ever abuse it. You have already proven unworthy of such power, and if I must endure the deaths of hundred more I will because one such as you should never have such power."
Charlie smiled with pride and affection. "Gladly will I die to protect my Master," he told the men. "I've killed two jinn, humans – you are as nothing to me."
"Oh, I don’t know," a low, husky voice said from the shadows across the street. "That big one looks rather tasty."
As one the three men spun half around to watch the figure that slunk from the shadows, and Charlie could hear them draw audible breaths as they fell beneath the spell of the beautiful vampire.
With a ripple of shock he realized he recognized it – it was the one who'd been with the imp.
"Come and speak with me, handsome," the vampire said to the leader.
Charlie gawked as the man obeyed, shaking his head in wonder as the man was quickly turned into a meal.
The beat of leathery wings brought his head back around, and he blinked as Doug landed neatly beside him, mismatched eyes gleaming in the dark. "He's been bitten before," he said, eyes on the feeding vampire. "Probably when he was young, before he got to be so powerful – one bite makes you vulnerable to others, no matter how strong your magic. That and he didn't properly have his guard up. The idiot." He finally turned to look at Charlie, and grinned. "Sorry to butt in, but they're tearing up our turf."
A startled cry from the remaining two men diverted Charlie's attention yet again, right as he sensed a wash of magic far greater than anything he'd ever sensed before.
Sable Brennus stood over their bodies, expression dispassionate. Christian was nearby, and Charlie watched as the demon's consort approached Jed.
"I am sorry," Charlie said slowly. "I truly did not mean to cause trouble."
Sable laughed. "This looks like jinn work, not angel work." His eyes dropped to the blood-made spell circle. "You're quite adept."
"My Master bears the blood of great sorcerers," Charlie said. "When he made me, that talent wove into my being."
A soft thump broke the relative silence in the street, as the vampire dropped his meal. He grimaced. "Not very tasty, but I suppose it was the least wasteful way to dispose of such a vile creature." His eyes flashed with the cold light of a predator for a single moment, but as Doug approached him, the vampire's eyes warmed to something far more pleasant.
"I could have just killed him," Sable said idly.
"Too easy," the vampire said. "This way, he died angry and afraid, which if he's the one we think he was, it's the least he deserved." The vampire smirked. "Not that you couldn't have made him suffer, demon lord, but this way the blood didn't go to waste."
Sable shrugged and let the matter drop, turning to his consort, who was entrenched in conversation with Jed.
"There's more of his cult out there," Christian was saying as Charlie drew close, breaking the protective circle with a thought as he reached them. "I was hired a couple of months ago to root them out, but they move far too quickly for me to pin down. It's sheer dumb luck they came right into our territory."
Jed grimaced. "Cult? I didn't know they were that organized. They only want me for my magic adeptness."
"Blood of the great mages," Sable said softly. "Humans these days do not use magic well. Few are those who can, and I've not encountered one of your power and ability in three hundred years."
"I wish I did not have my power and ability," Jed said with a tired smile. "Then again, it brought me Charlie, so I cannot truly begrudge it. I want no part of making magic rings and such. I am sorry my troubles bled into your world."
Christian shrugged. "As I said, we've been looking for them for awhile. We've had spells out to catch their magic signature – and their powerful jinn." He flicked his gaze to Charlie. "You must be powerful indeed to have killed two of them."
Charlie shook his head. "I failed the first time."
"No, Charlie," Jed said softly. "Not once have you ever failed."
"Yes, Master," Charlie replied, smiling.
Christian shook his head, looking between them. "So what are you planning to do now?"
Jed's smile faded, and he shrugged. "Find a place to hide, until either the world forgets about me or magic rings go out of fashion."
"Stay here," Christian said abruptly. "Maybe more of them will come looking for you, and you'd be safer here than anywhere else."
Jed blinked, then laughed softly. "You want me to be bait?"
"Well protected bait," Doug inserted with a grin, mismatched eyes glowing. "Not that you need it with your guardian angel, but you know – the more the merrier."
"Why?" Charlie asked. "No one has ever treated us as you do."
Sable chuckled. "Christian is good at collecting strays, and he badly wants to finally finish this case." He looked at Charlie, then at Jed, eyes like moon-lit clouds. "One should always treat angels with respect, especially an angel so well and lovingly made, and the Master who made him. So if you want to stay, you are most welcome."
Doug yawned. "Though next time a jinn comes looking to barbeque you, tell him to wait until morning."
Charlie's lips twitched. "I will try."
"Good," Doug replied. "Then we're going back to bed." So saying, he held the vampire close and launched into the air.
Sable laughed softly and reached out to snag Christian close. "Bed sounds good." He look up briefly, eyes flashing as he gazed around the street, the damage done by the jinn gone as quickly as it had been done, leaving the street and buildings as good as new. Sable yawned. "Good night."
They vanished, leaving Charlie and Jed alone in the street.
"I'm glad no one else was killed this time," Jed said, not protesting as Charlie gently tugged him close, resting his head against Charlie's broad chest.
"I am glad you are still here, Master," Charlie replied. Problems for the time being resolved, even the matter of where to go, his thoughts focused immediately on where they'd left off upstairs, on the demon's words. An angel so well and lovingly made.
Of course he was, but it made him happy to hear it all the same. "Master…" he said softly, barely more than a whisper.
"Are you certain you're happy, Charlie? Though you've never had a choice in anything…"
Charlie pulled just far enough away to tilt Jed's face up, fingers tingling as he touched that soft, warm skin. "What of you, Master? You never had any choice but to be human. Does that upset you?"
Jed laughed, body shaking with it, and he once more burrowed his head against Charlie's chest. "Have you ever noticed, Charlie, that you're a bit of a snob? You do not like humans, with precious few exceptions. I know that wasn't me, I like humans just fine. Well, most of them. Some of them."
"They're almost all idiots," Charlie muttered, but smiled. He tilted Jed's face back up, and dared to brush his thumb across those pale lips. Jed's tongue darted out, just barely touching his thumb, making Charlie's breath hitch. "You had no choice but to be human, Master, but like it just fine. Why, then, cannot I not be quite content to be your angel?"
"I…" Jed stared up at him, light from the street lamps reflected in his glasses. "When you put it that way…I guess…"
Charlie smiled and tugged Jed close, and leaned down to kiss his master softly, happiness flooding him when arms wrapped around his neck and Jed returned the kiss, finally feeling as though he were doing everything for which he had been made.
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Date: 2007-05-07 01:21 am (UTC)(And I totally feel your pain re: the muse thing.)
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Date: 2007-05-07 01:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 02:34 am (UTC)This verse makes me feel very happy. And wanting to draw angels. <3
---And I just got back from Universal, and after going on Spider Man for about 1,928,373,930 times, You should write more Heros Universe.
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Date: 2007-05-07 02:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 03:34 am (UTC)Sam does whine a bit. But then there is Dean. And he loves his Sammy so!
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Date: 2007-05-07 03:35 am (UTC)go you....*grins*
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Date: 2007-05-07 03:43 am (UTC)*laughing*
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Date: 2007-05-07 03:45 am (UTC)Charlemagne? >< I thought I saw champagne at first.
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Date: 2007-05-07 04:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 04:53 am (UTC)small error in the last bit: "cannot I not," which I assume should be either "cannot I" or "can I not."
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Date: 2007-05-07 05:01 am (UTC)But mmmm, the pretty. I adore Charlie. He's so... I want to use the word pretty. I love that he's so devoted to Jed, and that he's a physical manifestation of the protective spirit that Jed believes in. Angels, soooo pretty. ^____^ And that they ended up in Sable's territory because they were hiding their demon activity a block away.
and that everyone kept offering Charlie and Jed help and being nice was awesome. And the battle scene at the end, with Zack (Zach?) being all vampiry and CHARLIE, he kicks so much ass. I love Charlie. ^____^ I love too, the explanation of dragons (eee, dragons. ^___^), demons, djinn and angels. That Charlie's so strong because of Jed's will, and that he could and did kill two such evil entities.
And Jed just sounds adorable too. ^____^ I love his geeky t-shirt and jeans look, and the glasses, and that he's a human who can do magic so well even though it's mostly lost to humans. And that he so obviously cares for Charlie. Sooo sweet.
Heh, blathered again. ^__^;; But um, adorable and I hope your muses stop taking vacations without leave. ::glomps:: Mmm, angels. ::goes to re-read:: ^_____^
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Date: 2007-05-07 05:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 06:17 am (UTC)... will there be a glimpse of wings in a drabble, or something? *is insatiable*
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Date: 2007-05-07 10:09 am (UTC)And the plot of this was lovely, too. Sweet little Charlie... I'm glad everything worked out happily.
Much love.
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Date: 2007-05-07 10:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 01:46 pm (UTC)Yes, Christian's collecting pretty strays for his harem! Or not. Sable would have a fit.
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Date: 2007-05-07 04:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 07:59 pm (UTC)And I love seeing Doug and 'his vamp' through another's eyes. God, they're so incredibly cute. XD
You rock. *tackle glomps* I love it!!
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Date: 2007-05-07 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-07 09:10 pm (UTC)So what they be saying is 'we want some beach porn writen' ;)
Awww. That's so cute. ♥ And yey! Sabtle and Christian!
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Date: 2007-05-09 04:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 11:29 am (UTC)Charlie smiled and tugged Jed close, and leaned down to kiss his master softly, happiness flooding him when arms wrapped around his neck and Jed returned the kiss, finally feeling as though he were doing everything for which he had been made.
And that is the best ending ever! Haha... DwtD will always be one of my favourite verses ever. Thanks ever so much!
woah! @_@
Date: 2007-05-14 12:35 pm (UTC)it was a really nice read and thank you for writing/continuing/sharing this world to us your random/fanatic/obssessive readers. ^_~
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Date: 2008-06-18 06:45 am (UTC)Am I the only one who feels more and more like giving a call to certain agency and send them up in a made-up case just to watch the team working?