409Author's Rant: I know, it's been a minute...work's been swamped. I'm gonna try to post a few more chapters in the following month. Anyway, on with the show!
Chapter 4
Selene didn't get a chance to empty the clip in her SW99 pistol at the target in front of her. She sensed Remus even before he stepped foot into the large underground weapons range, the man walking with strong strides like he was on a mission. Whatever, she didn't care. He was probably back to see if she changed her mind on going on the escort duty to Japan with the Regent while he met with one of their allied covens. In the eight-hundred years she's been alive she had never been one for all the bureaucratic nonsense the covens held, and probably wouldn't change her mind any century soon.
"What is it Remus? If it's about the escort duty I'm still not interested. Silvius is more than capable squad leader for the small detail." She raised the gun in only her left hand instead of both and squeezed the last three rounds down range, the shots grouping in the same tight pattern smack in the center of the cardboard target. She cut him a droll stare from the corner of her chocolate eyes, flipping the safety on her gun. "Besides, it's not like he has any other pressing matters to attend to other than chasing the next piece of ass."
Selene could practically taste the tinge of fear that crept up the back of Remus' spine, though she had to applaud him for keeping his face neutral and in check. A woman with a gun was a bad thing: a woman who could very well outdo most marksmen was a hell of a lot worse. He was only three-hundred years old, but he knew to either fear or respect those much older than himself, so did his twin Romulus. Though anyone—besides the Regent—who approached her knew to keep a deep rooted respect and air of caution when they were around. She might only be an empath, but the centuries were well spent and now she was a borderline telepath to boot, so she wouldn't hesitate to use her own mind against someone else's.
Bottom dollar, she would win a game of wills just about every time.
"It isn't about the envoy duty." Remus began, holding a large manila folder up to their eye line before tossing it on the small work bench and covering up a few spent clips. "It's something I think you'll be more interested in. Especially considering you haven't been very 'interested' in anything else as of late."
She regarded him with a mix of annoyance and sly satisfaction, allowing the smallest of grins tug at the corners of her lips. She knew exactly where he was trying to jab at, and it didn't matter to her one bit. The bastard always tried to get a rise out of her with some form of taunting banter. Lucky her she could throw it right back. "If certain individuals wouldn't be so bland at times, then maybe I would take more 'interest.'"
The anger rose up in Remus but he snuffed it out before he let it reach his face, cocking his head to the side and gave the older immortal a tight lipped smile. "On another day I would be inclined to make you put up or shut up, but the contents of that folder are more pressing right now. So open it."
Selene popped out the clip to her pistol and sat both items aside before picking up the large manila envelope, unwinding the red button and string enclosure. "So what is so important that you came all the way down here yourself?"
She didn't witness the smug smile that spread across his face the same moment she pulled a series of papers and large photos from the envelope, feeling her heart catch in her throat at the sight of one of the photos.
"Because someone we thought perished during the war apparently didn't. And I've already been given the green light from the Regent to gather a party and move in. Thought you might want to know before we left."
The picture had been taken at night in a very populated area, where she couldn't guess. The man circled in the picture wore dark clothing and sported dark hair down to his chin. Even though it was only a black and white surveillance photo and the quality was slightly poor, there was no mistaking the handsome face that had been circled in green marker.
He was alive. Gabriel was alive. That…damned…BASTARD.
Remus watched her study the picture with an intensity he knew all too well. It was one of the few instances where Selene would if she wasn't busting someone's balls. In all his years she always showed a downright snide personality that rubbed many a person in the wrong way. And when she was on the job she became so detached from everything except her goal it made even old vampires like her to be wary.
Whenever the abtrünniger was brought up she would become even more detached—and downright bitchy—if it was possible; he was just wondering how long this episode of Bitch Extraordinaire was going to take this time around.
"How many have seen this file?" Selene spoke quietly, carefully going through the rest of the photos and the few printouts of information.
"Not including the two of us—the Regent, two others, and my brother. He was the one who sent me the file a day ago."
"A day ago?"
Remus was forced to take a step back when she turned on him with cold silver eyes, her face turning into a mask of granite in the span of a breath. "We got a bit of information from one of the larger covens located in America. The coven recently moved to the Bay Area of California several decades back."
Selene cut him off with a sharp hiss. "When were these taken?"
"About three weeks ago. Rommie had been talking with the information specialist with the American covensome time ago and somehow the topic got brought up. He had the guy look into it for him and this is what he found."
"Which are only a few photographs and surveillance reports? Nothing about how they found him, where he's currently living—"
She started past him in an angry huff but was stopped when Remus grabbed her by the arm and yanked her back around, forcing her to look at him. "It's something. It's better than what you've dug up in the past sixty years. You thought he was dead."
She stared down at the large male hand on her upper arm then up at the one who it was attached to. Remus was a staggering six foot five compared to her five-foot-seven petite frame, and had her outweighed by at least a hundred-fifty pounds, but at that very moment she could easily rip his entire arm off at the socket and beat him senseless with it.
"Careful where you tread, Remus." She spoke slowly, baring her fangs at him. "And take that hand off me."
Remus lowered his face down inches before hers and brought her body in closer, grey eyes flashing iridescent silver. "You're not a big bad bitch you make everyone believe you are Selene, so stop trying to act all menacing. And for the record—just about everyone in the coven who's over a century or two knows how you react every time Gabriel is so—"
Remus didn't get the chance to finish his words.
His brain didn't register for a full three seconds that his air had been violently cut off, and another two to find out that he was now pinned by his throat with a vicious hand of dark crimson claws against the nearby concrete wall. He didn't see her move, didn't even sense the barest of flinches in her muscles.
Though he tried his hardest he couldn't keep the panic and utterly terrified look from gripping his heart in tremors, and he felt wholly disgusted at Selene while she stared at him meekly with her vampiric silver eyes, face an expressionless mask.
That…bitch…
"I said careful, Remus." Selene spoke, applying more pressure with her talons on the thick throat underneath just enough to make him wheeze, Remus reflexively grabbing at her wrist with both hands and tried to pry her off. Her arm was an unmovable steel rod, and he wouldn't get away unless she wanted him to.
She wholeheartedly thought that Remus enjoyed trying to push her buttons just so she could rough him up.
Masochistic asshole. No matter how many times she would rebuke him, it was always her bed he sought more than anyone else's.
She calmly looked over at the files in her free hand, staring at the black and white surveillance photo of Gabriel. His face was almost expressionless, but he looked healthy and alive. He was the one she truly wished her talons were digging into, the traitorous bastard.
She glanced back at Remus, tilting her head slightly to the side and watched him struggle against her grip, his eyes now a pale iridescent lavender despite the livid expression etched into his strong features. His pulse was erratic, breathing small and pitiful. His fear of her choking him to death—or worse, breaking his neck—was an acrid taste in her mouth. "You young ones are always so bold, and daring. Foolishly thinking that since you're powerful and immortal that none can hurt you." She released her claws from throat and let him drop like a stone to the floor, hearing him take in huge ragged gulps of air and coughing harshly. More than likely due to his bruised windpipe.
Remus had a hand gingerly rubbing his raw neck. He was even more enraged when he pulled his fingers away and they came back tipped in red. He seen the talons she had at his throat turn back into the dainty pink flesh of feminine fingers, flexing her hand and stared at the small droplets of blood that ran down the back of two digits.
"Flesh is still flesh, and pain is still pain." Selene mused in an almost thoughtful manner. She put her lips over one of her knuckles and suckled the crimson droplets off her skin, keeping her eyes on the large man on the floor at her feet. She crouched down low in front of him like the predator she was, face still an unmoving mask. "And you should really learn your place."
"And you should learn not to threaten anyone who ruffles your feathers in the slightest provocation."
Both looked over to the entrance to find a middle-aged man leaning against a support column by the entrance, impeccably dressed in a dark grey suit and white pinstripe shirt open at the collar, dark auburn hair combed back. Remus scrambled back to his feet and bowed at the waist at the man, murmuring a small bit of courtesies before taking a military stance with his hands behind his back.
Selene didn't show the same lines of respect, but least had the decency to get to her feet and give a curt nod of her head.
The male known as the Regent of their coven sauntered over to the pair, chin jutted out like he had been born nobility. He reached out and took the surveillance documents from her hand, slipping the papers back into the brown envelope. "I didn't want you to know of these," he started, looking down at her with dark blue eyes. She could have sworn there was the barest hint of a lofty grin on his handsome face. "But Remus stated that it would be wrong of me to deny you the information. Isn't that right?"
Remus lowered his head slightly, clearing the back of his throat before he spoke. "Yes, my lord."
Selene could see the reverent expression on Remus' face from the corner of her peripheral vision, and it made her want to retch. He was just like most of the males in the coven: showing due respect to the alpha-males, but thought themselves to be in the same spot when talking to a lady. Thought they were better.
"Careful, my dear Selene." The Regent reached out and tilted her head up by the chin. Her eyes were still silver and expression neutral, however she could still feel the heat in her cheeks. "Your thoughts give you away."
She jerked her chin away and forced her eyes to return to normal. "My thoughts do no such thing."
"Yes, they do. And yet, you always try to hide it behind such a cold façade."
"Why wasn't I informed earlier about the investigation of the abtrünniger?" Selene snapped.
"Because I gave Remus and his brother command of the Jagd; the both of them have proved themselves many times in the past, and Remus wanted the honor of bringing him back for his due punishment." The Regent cast a side glance at Remus, "Or bringing back his head."
The beast inside of her wanted to sink its talons into Remus' throat again at the sound of his all too eager reply.
Selene had to mentally restrain herself and not direct her aggression towards the man who stood in front of her. "That still doesn't tell me why I have been blind-sighted and taken off the hunt of Gabriel that I took command of two-hundred years ago. Especially after the fact that he either slain or removed limbs from the last groups that pursued him before I did."
"And yet," The Regent casually stepped past her to the workbench and picked up her empty handgun, leveling it down range with one eye closed. "Somehow you always came back unscathed, and most of your party generally unharmed. The first few years I thought it might be pure luck, but after awhile," he turned his head and cut her a look from over his shoulder. "It had me thinking."
Selene stepped over to his side, keeping her face calm despite the boiled over rage at what he was trying to accuse. "Whatever you might think, my lord, is not the case"
He laid the gun back down on the workbench along with the file. He stared down at the bullet riddled targets for a moment before speaking. "Whatever the case might be, I want you to go and finish your preparations, Remus. You and your brother's team leave for America in twelve hours. Six man cell, no more."
Remus bowed towards the Regent before excusing himself, leaving her alone with him.
Damn him…Gabriel was hers. How could he send another out after him! The only reason Remus wanted to go after him was so he could snuff out any residual competition from a man who left their coven well before he was even born. Gabriel had proved to be some sort of ghost that haunted that man's ego at every turn. She knew he would try something eventually, but the nerve of that upstart to take her off the Jagd.
Fuck. That alpha-male bullshit gave her the scratch.
Selene didn't notice her right hand had been balled in a tight fist until the Regent had brought it up to her line of vision and pried her fingers open one by one. There were red welts from where her nails dug into her skin. He didn't say anything to her for a few moments, just stared at her looking at her palm.
"This is why I didn't want to send you. You're too attached Selene."
She snatched her hand away and pinned him with a hateful glare. "I am not attached, Cronus. Gabriel is my hunt. I know the rules of being appointed lead of the Jagd and whatever you might think I did not think he was still alive after the war. How many times do I have to tell you I saw him get engulfed in flames from a grenade? That hit him directly I might add. There was no way he could've survived."
She stifled a gasp of alarm when he took hold of her jaw and wrenched her face close to his. "Yet he lives now. You never confirmed a body or a head. I think you fabricated the little story so your dear Gabriel would live."
She bared her fangs at him and hissed, grabbing at his wrist but he didn't budge. "How dare you! You arrogant, self-righteous asshole!"
"Keep your voice down Selene!" Cronus growled angrily. His eyes flashed over to pale iridescent silver flecked with slivers of blue and gold. Some might think his vampiric eyes in this state were incredibly beautiful, but when they were like this they utterly terrified her.
Those eyes showed his true age, the power difference between them. The hint of his status as an ancient one.
"I let you get away with so much, and all I ask for is obedience from you. I do not need dissident in the ranks; I need loyalty, especially with these times." He let go of her face with a flick of his wrist, sending her backpedaling a few steps. "Times have changed much since we were once human my dear Selene. Humans experiment on anything and everything they can find. Wars have broken out all around us for the most insignificant of reasons. And now we are in times where hiding our secret is harder than it ever has been.
"We are the eternal. We know the true mysteries of this world, her secrets. And our Bündnis are the elite of the vampire nation. We will not become mere beasts who anticipate the next thrill." He came over to her and cupped her face in his hands, far gentler than before but eyes still pale. He stroked her cheeks tenderly with his thumb. "I built this home so we could be strong, together. So we could show the other immortals their true path. But every home has its rules. I know you cared for Gabriel, so did I, but he has broken his covenant with us and abandoned his home, betraying us all."
She lowered her head. God damn it all. "I know; it is why I want to bring him to justice myself."
"Can you, my dear Selene? I fear your empathy gets the better of you—"
"It will not get in the way." She jerked her head up and met his eyes. "For his betrayal to us—to me —I would gladly bring him back here to punish for his crimes. I swore an oath on it centuries ago, and I stand by it still."
Cronus sighed heavily and pressed his forehead to hers, closing his eyes. It was the few signs of affection he would use solely towards her and her alone. "I have always given you what you wanted, haven't I?"
"Yes,"
He released her head and stepped away from her, reaching over and grabbing the brown envelope. When she seen his eyes again they were once again his natural dark blue. "Then I shall not deny you this."
"Thank you, my lord." This time the honorifics she used weren't laden with distain, bowing her head deeply before reaching forward and took hold of the envelope. She looked up when he didn't release it. His face was an impassive mask
"But if you fail me again, there will be dire consequences. Even for you. Bring me the traitor alive, or bring back his head."
"I will not fail this time, I swear it."
Selene waited until the Regent left the firing range before releasing the emotions she had kept in check, smiling inwardly in triumph. She pulled out one of the photos from the envelope but stopped herself short. She didn't need to be distracted; she needed to gather her party and quickly end this before another upset happened.
She had no problem finding where the tracking party was currently. Remus was in one of the upper chambers of the compound with a small group of men to include his twin brother Romulus. The both of them had been converted in the same night so both men looked identical in age and height. The only difference between the two was the way they dressed and their pick of hairstyles. Romulus always wore his dark brown hair short, shaggy like he just got out of bed, and currently sported lighter highlights. Remus on the other hand wore it down to his shoulders in thick waves or in a tight ponytail at the nape of his neck. Romulus dressed like a college kid abroad, while his brother kept his appearance uptight like a well groomed model. And both built like a brick shithouse.
And right now she was after Remus-after his little insurrection she had to re-establish who the so-called bitch in their relationship was.
"Change of plans gentlemen." Selene announced as she strolled into the lavish meeting room, causing all conversations to halt and heads go in her direction. She did nothing to hide the evil smile that spread across her face when Remus' head snapped to her direction, eyes boiling over with fury. Oh, he knew what she was about to say, and why deny him? "This is now a seven-man cell and Remus is no longer leading; he's second in command. But you will all be taking orders from me."
"But the Regent-"Remus spat but didn't get the chance to finish. Selene came up to him and put a gentle hand on his throat, tracing one of the bruises with a pad of a finger. Despite the tender touch he flinched back like her hand was on fire and stared at her like she was the Devil himself, his own hand reflexively going to his neck.
She knew the others were looking at their exchange quizzically, everyone except Romulus. He knew how their screwed up cat-n-mouse game was played. And he knew when to stay out of it. Getting sucker punched by a petite lil' bitch wasn't his idea of a good time.
"Put his confidence in me. But I appreciate you gathering a team for me in my stead. You picked a fine lot." She turned her attention to the group of men. "Gather your things and the proper equipment and meet back here in twenty minutes. Most of you are new at this so I'll give you all a proper briefing when you come back."
One of the men with short black hair stood up out of the cushioned chair he'd been sitting in. "But Lady Selene…"
"No questions, just go." She pointed a finger towards the heavy wooden door, shooting him a commanding gaze. There were a few mummers before the rest of them got out of their seats and made their way out the door. "Except for you Remus."
Remus stood stiff as a frozen pole in snow while everyone else filed out. Selene quietly made her way over to the door and closed it in front of him. Anger and frustration radiated off of him in waves, breathing hard through his nostrils. Despite him being pissed off to the tenth power he gave no resistance when she turned him around and made him look at her.
"Well, aren't you going to say something to me?" she flicked the envelope onto a nearby desk then brought her attention to the buttons down his blue shirt, running her fingertips over the very top fastened one. "No thoughtful comebacks? Not even a 'fuckin' bitch?'"
Remus growled at her low in his throat before latching his mouth down on hers, crushing her smaller frame against his large one. The kiss wasn't tender—opposite different end of the spectrum actually—nor was the passion coming from somewhere positive. It was hard, angry, and just a bit possessive.
And it all came from his end. It was more like a silent fuck you more than anything else.
They both knew he despised how revved up he got because of her and how she had all the control.
Selene yanked her mouth away and pushed him hard into the door with a thud. When he tried for her again he was met with her talons pointing at his jugular and a smug grin on her rouged lips.
"Not now, my dear. We have an assignment." She let her hand turn back to normal before lowering it. "When we're back here with the traitor then I'll give you a just reward."
Remus dragged the back of a hand across his mouth, eyes spitting fire. If it was from the raging hard-on he had or from the prospect of other things she couldn't quite tell. Either way she knew he would do as she asked. "Yeah, but I wonder if you'll be able to kill him if it boiled down to it."
Selene closed the small space between them, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Either way, you're going to help me and not complain." She nuzzled her mouth on his bobbing Adams apple, licking one of the bruises she placed there earlier. She could still taste the faint trace of his blood on his skin, feeling his pulse quicken with her wet caress. "You will do as I say. And if we bring him back dead or alive is up to me." The smell of his arousal was strong around him; his skin tasted of it. "Do I make myself clear?"
Remus' anger had been washed away by his growing urge to throw her on a table, rip off her leathers, and have his way with her. But he knew better-he knew how her game was played. He swallowed his pride-literally-before nodding his head in compliance. A low moan escaped his lips at the feel of her fangs teasing his skin underneath his jaw.
"I know you want me, your blood is thick with it," she murmured softly into his skin, tilting his head back with one hand, her other roaming over the lapel of his jacket. "But what do you want me to do?"
His hands went up to her upper arms, wishing he was feeling her bare skin instead of the starchy fabric of her pinstripe blouse. "Please,"
"Please what?"
"We still have seventeen minutes before the others-"he came dangerously close to creaming his Gucci slacks when he felt the hand on his chest travel down to his belt, fingers playing with his fly. "Stop fuckin' torturing me, please."
"So I make myself perfectly clear?" Selene punctuated her inquiry with a teasing rub against his tented pants, feeling his cock jump underneath the expensive cloth.
"Yes!"
"Mm, good boy." She purred, right before sinking her fangs into the quivering pulse underneath her mouth.
Remus did nothing except surrender to her.
It was how they played their game after all.