The House of the Rising Sun, Chapter Sixteen

[ladydeathfaerie]

Title: House of the Rising Sun
Fandoms: a cross over between Marvel's X-Men (to some degree) Universe and the Anita Blake Universe
Rating: no one under 18. there will be blood and gore, sex and violence. dirty language and whatever else i feel like tossing in here.
Warning: as i said, sex and violence and dirty words. said sex will include, but not be limited to, M/F, M/M, M/F/F, F/F, M/M/F and probably any other combination i can work out. weak stomach, not my fault. you have been warned.
Disclaimer: i do not own anyone from the Marvel universe. i do not own anyone from the Anita Blake universe. i don't even own Gin. i'm lucky to own myself. i swear i'm not making any money from this. i just do what the sick voices inside my head tell me to. i write purely for my enjoyment. and possibly the comments. please don't sue, harass or bother me. i have no money to pay you, but i do have a really nasty temper. and i know some good cuss words.

The House of the Rising Sun: The Index


~*~*~*~*~

Something fluttered across her consciousness, dragging her away from the enticing arms of Morpheus for a moment. She could feel there was a warm body pressed up against her back, a hand heavy on her hip. She might have been content to go back to sleep, but her companion shifted, the length of his body rubbing against her back. He must have been dreaming of good things because the hard ridge of his erection pressed the soft curves of her ass, pulling her ever closer to full wakefulness. And it reminded her that she'd had her own dreams last night.

That reminder saw flashes of those dreams tumbling through her head. A brief image of a face filled with fear. The sound of low growls filling the background. A plaintive scream of pain. Deep, rumbling laughter. A cry for help. Desperate whispers accompanied by trembling hands. Sobbing. Wide blue eyes filled with panic. Normally tan skin gone pale with the knowledge of impending doom. A blur of motion. Sharp, curved claws. Golden blonde hair splashed with droplets of crimson. Torn skin and muscle. The flashes grew in length until they were full scenes that ran together. She didn't want to see this. Not again. Not ever again. It had been horrible the first time. It didn't get any better each time she saw it after.

It took everything in her to stifle the sobs, to hold on to her composure. She tried to force herself to relax, tried to shove the dream away from her. Tried to find solace in the hand touching her hip. Tried to find peace in the warmth pressed up against her back. Tried and failed. Fear and regret poured into her, saw her muscles tensing as she fought against tears.

"Gin?" His voice was thick with sleep, but she could hear in it the rest of the question that he hadn't actually asked aloud. The hand at her hip moved higher, gliding up her arm until it was on her shoulder. She had a moment to prepare herself before she found herself on her back, Jason's worried blue eyes staring down into hers. She found herself thrown right back into her dream.

She struggled against the dark images, worked hard to push them back into a lock box where they could be locked away and forgotten. They didn't want to go, fought with her until desperation blossomed cold and thick under her skin. Panic followed after it. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest and she knew, if she didn't take control soon, she would spiral down into a pit from which she wouldn't be able to escape. She did not want to go there.

Some of her desperation must have shown through. Or maybe she was taking too long. She didn't know. What she did know was whatever it was prompted Jason to tighten his hand on her shoulder, providing her with an anchor to help keep her locked in reality. "Gin?" His voice sounded more awake this time. She clung to it and his voice as she clawed her way to the surface. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she lied. The look he gave her told her he knew it to be a lie.

"Gin. I can smell your fear."

She sighed and shifted so that she was sitting up in bed, taking the covers with her to present an image of modesty. Jason sat, too, arranging himself against the pillows in such a way that suggested they were discussing something more mundane. But the gentle hand he settled on her thigh, the blankets a barrier between their flesh, belied the pose. He was concerned and he was offering her his support. Unwilling to discuss the true reasons for her distress, she went in search of something that would work equally well. "I'm just... worried. After last night. I kind of fucked things up for everyone and I'm pretty sure that isn't something they're about to let pass."

"Probably not," Jason admitted softly. A glance his way showed her a thoughtful expression that might have been attractive if it wasn't centered on figuring out what kind of hell she'd be facing later in the day. "Even if you didn't intend to do it, it still happened. No doubt there are those in the kiss who will look on it as an attack."

"I would never do that!" Gin insisted. She knew well enough what happened when someone offered an insult to a master vampire and their kiss. She'd seen what came of slights time and again while held captive by Belladonna. Jean Claude was much older and had seen so much more. No doubt his punishments could be extremely creative. "Yesterday was just so messed up. First we get put on display in front of--"

"That wasn't what yesterday was about." Jason interrupted her to say it.

She gave him a knowing look. "Sure it wasn't. Just like you haven't been ordered to watch over me pretty much twenty-four seven."

Jason had the good sense to look chagrinned. "Okay. Maybe you were on display a little bit. But that's just Jean Claude's style."

She snorted out a sound that told him exactly what she thought of that statement. "Hardly. I know when I'm on display. And it isn't just a thing Jean Claude does. Belladonna put Jo and I on display every night. And she didn't care if we could walk or not. If she wanted us on the floor, we were on the floor. Blood loss wasn't an excuse. Don't tell me that putting people on display is just something Jean Claude does."

"The three of you are new to the kiss and you're an attractive trio. Naturally he's going to show you off." As explanations went, it was pretty weak to her ears.

Gin snorted again and leveled a look on him. Jason chose not to say anything else in response. Very smart of him. Gin continued as if he hadn't interrupted her. "So it wasn't bad enough that he put us on display in front of everyone. Then I had to watch the two people I love most go at each other like rabid dogs. Because he's got us split up and we don't know what's going on. We don't even know if we'll get to be a trio again. This isn't doing us any good. It isn't to help us. Its to help him. And now..."

Gin trailed off when she realized that her slip up wasn't the only thing about the night before that had caused problems. The fight and Jo sneaking out were just as big a deal as Gin's loss of control. Jean Claude would have to deal with it. All of it. He'd have to make an example of not just herself but Jo, as well. Most likely in a very public manner. Her mind turned to memories of the punishments Belladonna had doled out. None of them had ever suited the crimes. They'd always been so vicious and deadly. Panic took hold of her as she considered possible punishments. Oh, Goddess. What if Jean Claude liked to...? Her dream rushed in to fill her head again. Fear poured into her quickly, so thick that she couldn't breathe past it.

"Gin? What is it? What's wrong? You're just suddenly bathed in fear." Jason's hand touched her shoulder and it grounded her. Just a bit.

"I... What is he going to do to us?" Her voice was a faint whisper, but Jason heard her just the same. His hand shifted to her chin, his fingers taking hold of it in order to urge her head up so he could look her in the eyes. "I can handle it, whatever it is. But Jo. There's something she won't tell me. Us. Something that happened. And if he punishes her in a violently physical manner, I don't know what that'll do to her."

Jason's hands settled on her shoulders, fingers gripping just a bit tighter than was comfortable. That minor discomfort cut through the panic and saw her calming a little. No doubt he'd planned it that way. "Gin, calm down. Its true that Jean Claude can be just as creative with punishment as any master out there. I mean, he's had a few centuries to figure these things out. But that doesn't mean he'll employ those tactics. He's just going to make Jo understand that there are rules to follow and that he's put them in place for a good reason."

"She's always been a free spirit, Jason. This enforced imprisonment has to be killing her. That's probably part of the reason she left like she did." Talking about Jo was good. Because as long as they talked about Jo, Jason wouldn't ask her any questions she couldn't answer. Gin didn't want to talk about herself. She wasn't up to having a deep conversation with him now anymore than she had been when he'd come in earlier.

He stared at her a moment, processing what she'd told him. Confusion filled his eyes. "How did she get out? No one can remember seeing her after she left the party. And there was no way she could have left without being seen. There were still guards everywhere."

Gin shrugged. She had her suspicions. But it was Jo's secret, so it was Jo's story to tell. Not hers. "Your guess is as good as mine." It wasn't an outright lie. She really wasn't sure.

He was silent a moment, obviously turning her words over in an effort to find something hidden within them. He wouldn't find anything, but she waited for him to come to that conclusion on his own. Silence stretched between them for a moment or two, then his look turned serious. "Look. I know that this whole thing is hard on you. All of you. But Jean Claude is sure its for the best. There are things you all should know that you don't and..."

"If there are things we should know, then why isn't anyone teaching us?" She let a touch of confusion and anger creep into her words so that he knew she was bothered by the fact that, thus far, they'd mostly been kept in the dark about stuff. And to let him know that she held him as responsible for that as everyone else. Jason gave her a look that plainly said he didn't like the way things were going.

"That isn't my call. I don't know what Jean Claude is thinking. I just know that it isn't fair to any of you. No matter how good his intentions."

She could make comment on just how good she thought those intentions were, but she held her tongue. She was already worked up and she didn't think she'd relax until later tonight, when Jean Claude did whatever it was he was going to do. She just hoped and prayed that he wouldn't hurt them too badly. They were already so broken.

"Gin." Jason's voice was soft. She stared at him, silently hoping that she'd see some sign of hope on his face. It wasn't to be. His expression was uncharacteristically somber. The fear he'd help ease back earlier tried to roar to life again. "I know this whole situation is confusing. And frightening. But I promise you. Jean Claude won't punish you arbitrarily. Whatever he chooses to use as punishment, it will fit the crime. You need to have faith."

Faith. It felt like such a foreign word. Such a dirty word. Faith was for people who didn't really know how the world worked. Faith was for people who thought that life was fair. Faith was for people who hadn't lost everything. Faith didn't exist in her world. Not anymore.

"You'll forgive me if I don't quite believe you," she whispered softly.

Jason sighed, then pulled her into his arms for a hug. "Its going to be okay. I promise."

She pressed close, let him hold her tightly. "Don't make promises you can't keep," she whispered softly into his chest. He heard it anyway and his arms tightened around her, as if that would make his words true. Part of her hoped silently that it would. The other part of her knew better.

~*~*~*~*~

The girl was curled up in the center of the bed, head nearly tucked under the covers. She was deep in sleep, as at peace as he'd ever seen her. Well, with exception of the time she'd nearly died. But he didn't think that counted. Looking at her in the early morning light, he wanted to kick himself. She looked young and unspoiled. What the hell had he been thinking? He never should have touched her. But there'd been something in her eyes that he hadn't been able to ignore.

He'd seen people who were haunted by their past before, had had haunted looks thrown his way more than once. Those had been nothing in the face of the look she'd given him in the hallway this morning. More than that, the sorrow she said she'd felt had called to him. Which was something he'd never admit was possible. But it had and he'd responded to it in the basest way imaginable. He shouldn't have touched her. It would mean nothing but trouble for the girl when she got back to her people. But she hadn't seemed worried...

Christ. When had he become so concerned about some random stranger?

Sighing, Edward shoved his thoughts aside. There was nothing to do about it now. He couldn't take it back. All he could do was move forward. And that meant getting things rolling. Giving the bed and its inhabitant one last glance, he scooped up his cell phone and stepped out into the hallway. The call he had to make was best done away from prying ears. He made sure to pull the door closed behind him as softly as possible, then pressed the button to dial the last out going call. It rang six times before it was answered. "Do you know what time it is?"

He almost chuckled at the grumpy, sleepy sound of Anita's voice. She was the only person he knew who could make noon sound like it was an obscene time to be awake. "Of course I do. I figured you'd had enough time to sleep off last night's festivities."

"Edward?" He swore he felt her come awake over the line. There was a rustle of sound, probably her legs sliding against the sheets as she sat up. "Why are you calling? Is something wrong?"

"What happened there last night?"

She didn't bother asking him what he meant. Not that he'd expected her to. She was well acquainted with his 'take no shit' tone of voice. Even after all this time and all of the strange shit that had happened to her, she still responded to the big, bad predator in him. "Gin had some kind of metaphysical meltdown and she took nearly everyone under the Circus with her. It took most of the night and well into the morning to get everyone back to normal. I don't know what the fuck kind of powers we're dealing with here, but it was fucking scary."

Her tone of voice suggested to him that she was beginning to regret bringing the three of them to St. Louis with her. He supposed he could understand her feelings. She was the one who had to deal with them. But the little bit he'd gotten from the girl currently curled up on his hotel bed said that leaving them where they'd been would have meant death for all three of them. Either in the real, physical sense of the word or in an emotional way. Which would have been a pity.

"Did something happen with Jo?" Anita asked. Well, if that wasn't a loaded question.

"Whatever happened with Gin touched her here. It doesn't sound like it was as bad for her as it was for everyone else." Which was probably a good thing. If Jo could amplify Gin's abilities like she said... How much of the city could they have fucked up with Gin's emotions?

"She didn't give you any problems last night, did she?"

"No." No problems at all. In fact, she'd been pretty amenable. "She's got a smart mouth, but she uses it to hide just how intelligent she is. Once I got her to calm down, she had an idea what had happened. It took a while to convince her to rest so she's still sleeping."

"The metaphysical stuff can be draining. Make sure she eats something filling," Anita told him.

"I think I can manage." He paused a moment and considered his next words. He knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say. "About the girl."

"What about her?" Anita's voice became careful and controlled. She sounded like she was expecting him to tell her that he was going to take the girl out back and put her down like a rabid dog. Not that he hadn't earned that reputation. But Anita's opinion of him had to be very low when she thought he'd shoot a defenseless girl.

"I'm keeping her until the sun sets." He made sure he used his coldest tone. There would be no arguing about this. He didn't plan on telling Anita just yet what the girl was up to. The moment he let that secret slip, Jo would never see a moment of peace. But he'd seen the determination in her eyes. She was going to learn how to hunt vampires. It didn't matter to her who taught her. She'd ask anyone. And she'd get herself killed if she asked the wrong person. If he hadn't felt personally responsible for her before, he sure as fuck did now.

"She should be brought back to the Circus. She's in deep shit with Jean Claude." Her tone practically bristled with anger and animosity.

"Lover boy isn't up yet, is he?" Edward countered smoothly. "I don't know what he's doing over there. Frankly, I don't care. What I do know is that girl walked out of the Circus under your noses and no one noticed a goddamned thing. And I know, if I hadn't been around, she'd have gotten her ass killed last night. Right now, I'm less than impressed with the way things have been handled. She's a kid, not a criminal. I'll keep her with me and then deliver her to you and Jean Claude after dark. It'll give everyone time to cool down."

She opened her mouth to protest. He felt it across the connection. So he hung up and turned the cell off. The last thing he planned on doing today was get into a pissing match with Anita about what should happen to a scared kid who was trying to take back her life. He was tucking his phone into his pocket when the elevator dinged. The door slid open to allow a young man in hotel livery out onto the floor. He was pushing a room service cart. "Room 546. Lunch for two," he said when he spied Edward.

"That's me," Edward smiled and nodded his head toward the door. "Thanks." The young man handed over the cart without needing to be asked. Edward pressed a ten into the kid's hand for his trouble and waited until he'd loaded back up into the elevator before letting himself into the room again. Jo was just beginning to stir, hair mussed into a wild cascade of fire and sleep still thick in her eyes. She blinked at Edward, then at the cart. "Hungry?" he asked her.

He watched as she rubbed at her eyes with both hands before making an effort to finger comb the wildness from her hair. When she looked at him again, she looked fully awake. That made him wonder if she'd been as soundly asleep as he'd thought when he'd stepped from the room. Tricks like those were learned by people who wanted to stay alive. Who wanted to keep the enemy from launching a surprise attack. Just what kind of horrors had she seen in Belladonna's lair?

"Sure. Let me pee first," she nodded and climbed from the bed. He watched her go, then busied himself with shifting their meal from the cart to the small table. He was already in his seat, fork in hand, when she came out a couple minutes later with her hair pulled up in a tail. Which was mind boggling because he wasn't aware there was anything in the bathroom that would work for such a task. She settled into the chair across from him and lifted the lid off her plate. The grin that spread across her face was wicked. "Sausage. How did you know?"

He couldn't help the faint grin that came at her words. "Call it a hunch." He watched as she speared the wurst with a fork and lifted it to take a bite. He couldn't tell if the way she did so was meant to be as sexual as it was, which made him recall the thoughts he'd had going around his head all morning. "Listen..."

"Won't happen again," she cut him off. He stared at her a moment until she looked up at him and took another lewd bite from her sausage, chewed and swallowed. "Last night. I know you regret it. You did what you figured would fix the problem. I'm an easy lay. I get that. I won't ever mention it again after today. And it won't ever happen again."

It was quite possible that this was the first time anyone had ever shocked him enough to leave him speechless. Then he noticed the way she resolutely wouldn't look him in the eye. How many times in her life had she gotten this speech? "Jocelyn --"

"Please don't call me that," she interrupted. The level of contempt and hurt in her voice convinced him that it was a very sore subject. He inclined his head to acknowledge her request, then tried once more to get his head together.

"Last night shouldn't have happened. You're a kid. I'm not." He waited for some sign that she'd registered his words, but she gave him a blank stare that shouldn't have been as good as it was. "All I mean is..."

She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. It pulled the thin material of her borrowed shirt tight. If she'd done it intentionally, it was hard to tell. "I know exactly what you mean. And its all good. Honest." It wasn't all good. He could tell she was lying. But saying so would only see her on the defensive and he'd found that she was much easier to deal with when she wasn't hiding behind the smart ass comments and the blatant sexual innuendo. "It won't happen again because no one will let it. You won't let it. Remy won't let it. That fucking asshole that says he owns me won't let it. Honestly, you wouldn't want someone like me, anyway. I'm damaged goods."

One hand reached out and toyed with the bottle of water he'd ordered for her. Her gaze shifted to the window and stayed there. "It was fun, right? You can go back home and tell the boys you got to bang a kid and I can pretend that my life isn't a complete freak show because, hey! I got to have sex with a real human again."

Part of him wanted to tell her that it wasn't like that. But it would be a lie. And she'd know it was a lie. He wasn't in the habit of lying to people if he could help it. Not about something important, at any rate. When the silence stretched too long and uncomfortable, she brought her attention back his way and offered a smile that might have lit up her face if not for the brittleness to it. "Its a business proposition, right? Not a sexual one. No one in their right mind would even consider doing a Pretty Woman with me. So don't worry about it. Life goes on and I'll be okay."

Edward nodded and took a bite of his steak. He had his doubts about the last of her statement, but he said nothing on the subject. She shifted focus to her meal. It was plain to see that the enthusiasm for it was long gone. Her motions were done more out of habit than anything else. He held back a sigh and cut off another slice of steak.

~*~*~*~*~

Anita stared at her phone a few moments in confusion before setting it aside on the night stand. That was certainly unlike Edward. She'd known him a long time, and she'd never known him to willingly spend time with anyone who wasn't working with or for him. Certainly not a barely adult woman who seemed to hate the whole world. Why the hell was he holding on to the girl? And why did she get the feeling that there was something more to his answers than those he'd given?

Sighing, she considered going back to sleep. Considered ignoring the entire mess with their angry runaway until later and just staying in bed, wrapped around Micah and Nathaniel. But that thought reminded her that there were other things to take into consideration for the day. It wasn't just the angry runaway that needed to be dealt with. Her friend was in just as much deep shit as the other woman. Certain members of Jean Claude's kiss would not let such events pass without some form of payment being taken from their hides. She shuddered to think what would need to be done.

Realizing her brain wasn't going to let her get any more rest, Anita untangled herself from the arms that were curled around her and slid from the bed. Neither Nathaniel nor Micah stirred, allowing her to escape into the bathroom with ease. Nathaniel was likely to sleep most of the day away. It had taken her, Micah, and Jason to calm him after the emotional upheaval he'd gone through the night before, and he'd finally drifted off into slumber only because he'd been emotionally exhausted. Seeing him like that, after all the growing he'd done since she'd met him, had been almost too difficult to bear.

She'd wanted to tear Gin to shreds for what she'd done last night.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she realized that her feelings hadn't really changed much. Sleep hadn't done her any good. She was starting to really regret bringing Remy, Gin, and Jo to St. Louis with her. There were weird things going on that she couldn't put her finger on. And Remy had far too much power for a vampire so young. The three of them were dangerous. They could kill someone she cared about, or they could get someone she cared about killed. Considering just how many people she was connected to, there were a lot of someones.

Something needed to be done. Before they really did hurt people. She was certain Remy was hiding powers from them. He'd already proven he was far too strong for a vampire only five years undead. There was no way he should have been able to mark the girls. But she'd been there. She'd felt him do it. Which meant whatever power it was the two women had had been made stronger. If he finished the marks, what kind of power would that grant them? It was obvious that they were a triumvirate even without the full four marks having been given. They'd been tied to one another before Remy had been turned. Anita was sure of that.

A small, dark voice at the back of her head said she could kill them and be done with it. Solve Jean Claude's problem in minutes. It would certainly make things easier for everyone involved. The kiss could go back to normal. But it wasn't a very realistic solution to their problems. And it wasn't fair to do something so drastic and permanent to people who had been traumatized and terrorized by a group of overly sadistic vampires. Which put her right back at square one.

Shit. What the hell was she supposed to do? She'd brought them here. She was responsible for them as much as she was responsible for the kiss. How did she protect one group without harming the other?

"Anita." Micah's voice slid across her senses, soft and gentle and full of understanding. It rubbed against her battered thoughts like a fluffy house cat rubbing against its human's legs. No doubt he knew what was going through her mind. She hadn't heard or sensed him when he'd come into the bathroom, which suggested she was far more caught up in her thoughts than she'd expected to be. "You need to turn it off."

"Its my fault they're here, Micah. I brought them here and now things are going to hell in a spectacular way. I'm to blame for all of this." One hand motioned toward the bedroom where Nathaniel lay sleeping. Micah stood behind her, watching her in the mirror.

"They're scared, Anita. All of them. You can't blame them for being scared."

"And that's supposed to explain what happened here last night? Jo snuck out and I haven't got a clue how she managed that under the ears and eyes and noses of so many vampires and lycanthropes. According to Edward, she could have been killed. And now he's keeping her until after dark? What the hell is going on there?"

"You know Edward likely has good reasons. He never does anything without a reason. Trust that he knows what he's doing." If Micah had a clue as to what Edward was doing, he kept it to himself.

She turned to face him. "Oh, I trust that Edward knows what he's doing. He always has a plan. He always knows what he's doing. But I've never seen him willingly spend time with someone so young and inexperienced."

Micah gave her a pointed look, reminding her that she wasn't much older than either Jo or Gin. "Hard as he can be, it is in his nature to protect people. Jo needs protection."

"She doesn't seem to think so. Its like she intentionally tries to goad people into committing violence. What if that vampire last night had killed her?"

"Did it sound to you like she cared?" he asked quietly. His words took Anita back to the very public fight Jo'd had with her master last night, how she'd pretty much said that they should have left her behind. Anita had to admit, she'd been shocked to hear the girl say such a thing.

"I don't think she realized what she was saying."

He gave her a look at that, shook his head at her. "She knew exactly what she was saying last night. Don't you think she's scared and confused? She traded one kind of prison for another. And no one has told her anything about what's going on. She doesn't even really have any friends here."

Anita frowned. "Of course she's got friends."

Micah shook his head. "Other than Asher, who was ordered to court her good will, and Amanda, who does she spend time with? Does anyone talk to her? Does anyone try to make her feel welcome? Does anyone treat her like a real trauma victim?" He paused and gave her a few moments to think about what he'd said before pushing on. "Whether she admits it or not, she's frightened. It isn't hard to miss, if you know what you're looking for. Even someone without any enhanced senses can see it. And the two people she relies upon most, the two people who understand exactly what kind of trauma she suffered, have been taken away from her."

"I'm sure Jean Claude knows what he's doing," she replied. To be perfectly honest, she was starting to wonder on that one.

"I don't pretend to understand the way he thinks. I certainly don't know what he wants to achieve by keeping them apart. But I think we've all done wrong by the three of them. They came here because they wanted to be safe. So far, they haven't seen much of anything that would help them and make them feel safe."

She hated to admit that Micah was right, but he was always the voice of reason. Maybe he understood better than some what the three of them might be going through. Hadn't he been in a similar position once? The weight of the world settled more firmly on her shoulders, bringing forth a sigh. Everything he'd said was truth. And she knew, at the back of her mind, that they needed to change things before the situation blew up even further. The problem with that was Jean Claude. He was as stubborn as she was when it came to things of a vampiric nature. And she wasn't sure she could talk him out of his course of action.

"How much do they know? How much do they really know, Anita?"

"Not nearly enough," she replied.

"He needs to tell them. All of it. They need to understand, before their bond strengthens. If Gin is capable of touching so many people now, I don't think we want to find out what she can do when she's got all four marks and no clue what they mean."

"Edward said it touched Jo last night," she told him. It was easy to see his reaction in the mirror, easy to see how uneasy the information made him. Silence held between them for several long moments while Micah fully considered what she'd told him.

"Maybe its a good thing that Jo wasn't here last night." The speculative tone of his voice saw her actually turning to face him. He was considering something. It was obviously something important because he was actually frowning. "Remember when we were in New Orleans and you sent us into the club to check things out?"

"Yeah. The reports you gave me were not happy. I remember Edward saying he thought it was some sort of ritual."

"It certainly had that feel," Micah agreed. "But there was something odd about the entire situation. People were eager to be picked. They were eager for the show to start. Almost like they were addicted to it."

"So... what? You think that's something to do with the two of them and whatever Gin did last night?"

Micah considered it for a brief while, then nodded. "I do. I think that the two of them together can do..." He paused, struggling to pick the right word. "Magic. That's all I can think of. I don't know what they do, but they do something that draws people to them. Almost like some kind of metaphysical pheromone. They do whatever it is they do and they draw people to them like moths to a flame. That's kind of what it was like, watching them dance together."

She watched his reflection as he paused and frowned, his expression suggesting he was thinking quite intently about something. "Micah? Did you just remember something?"

"That night. When Nathaniel and I were in the club. I didn't realize it until just now while talking about it... There was something on the air that night. We got inside before the girls made their moves, so it was a typical club aura at first. Cigarette smoke, stale beer, sweat, make up, arousal. There was also the dead smell that belongs to vampires. And the musky, furry scent that belongs to all the lycanthropes. It was nothing unusual. At first."

"But?"

"All that changed. When the girls moved from where they'd been sitting. Nathaniel and I had no trouble locating them based on the pictures Ms. Munroe gave you. We were watching them, waiting to see what was going on." He paused and frowned. She thought it might be at himself. "I don't know why I didn't remember it until just now. But the minute the girls moved, the atmosphere in the entire club changed. The air became... electrically charged. It was like someone had cast a spell over everyone."

"Did it affect you and Nathaniel?" Anita didn't know how she felt about the idea of Gin and Jo being able to ensnare people in a metaphysical net like that. It was a dangerous power and it was dangerous to let them continue to do such things. But that was another problem to deal with. After they dealt with their current problem.

It took Micah a while to answer her question, his thoughts obviously turned back to that night in New Orleans. After several moments, he slowly shook his head. "I don't think it did. I don't remember being as eager as some of the crowd looked. But there was a definite pull. Maybe its a subtle thing. Maybe they didn't know they were doing it?" The last was filled with a touch of hope.

Anita frowned at him. "I highly doubt it."

Micah slid his arms around her and tugged her close to him. "Don't get mad at them, Anita. They were trying to survive the only way they knew how. The instinct to survive is strong, even when someone thinks they want to die."

"You know I have to tell Jean Claude about this. Its going to change the way he deals with them. Not necessarily for the better, either."

His frown told her exactly what he thought of her assessment. "Promise me you'll try to convince him that he needs to change the way he deals with them. They need a tender touch. Not whatever he's doing with them now."

"I'll try, Micah. I can't promise anything. But I'll try."

"That's all I can ask for," he replied, then turned her to face him. His smile was soft and tender, as were his lips when he pressed a kiss to her own. Anita melted into him and allowed him to push the worry away. It felt wonderful to be free of her cares. Even if it was only for the moment. "Now. You've got nothing pressing until Jean Claude wakens. Let's go back to bed."

She nodded. That sounded like a good way to spend the day to her.

~*~*~*~*~

He hadn't been awake long before Anita joined him in his room. He felt her come, felt the worry and the agitation that came with her. Something had her upset. And the sun hadn't even set yet. He heaved a sigh. It was going to be a night of headaches, wasn't it? Well, whatever her problem was, it was about to be his.

Jean Claude schooled his face, wiping away everything but a faint smile, only a moment before Anita walked through the door. She was frowning, but the frown died when she saw him. A slow smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. He welcomed her into his arms for a hug, then pressed a kiss on her when she turned her face up toward his. She was freshly showered, her favorite scents clinging to her hair and skin in a subtle and enticing way, and dressed to face the day. She'd clad herself in black jeans and a blue t-shirt. The darkness of her holster was more pronounced against the brightness of the blue. "You are upset," he said softly.

"Yes. But not for reasons you might think," she told him, then let go a sigh and pulled away. Reluctantly. Obviously she didn't think their conversation was going to go well. "We have a lot to talk about and, honestly, I don't know how to broach the subject or how to word things without upsetting you. And possibly me."

It sounded like it was going to be one of those talks. He took a moment before he motioned toward the small suite that occupied his chamber. Anita moved toward it without saying a word, leaving him to trail after her. He was surprised, and he wasn't, when she settled into a chair. Wordlessly, he took a seat on the couch and waited for her to gather her thoughts. Based on the tension in her body, she had a lot to speak with him about and she was sure it was going to end up in an argument.

"Let us start someplace mostly safe.. How is Nathaniel?" It was as good a way to get the conversation going as any. She sighed and leaned back in the chair, obviously trying to relax.

"He's okay. He slept until about three this afternoon. When he got up, he was still a little... confused about things. But it wasn't anything like last night." Her dark eyes lifted to meet his and he saw the concern there. "I think he'll be okay after a little more time. But I don't ever want to see him like that again."

"Nor I. He has grown so much since he first came into our lives." Last night, or more accurately this morning, had been the stuff of nightmares. Even for him. And Jean Claude had lived far too many years to see the more frightening things in life. It was good to know that Nathaniel would come away from the emotional assault without suffering any kind of setback.

She nodded, then spent a moment studying her nails. She was stalling, unwilling to bring up whatever it was that troubled her. The temptation was there to simply slip into her head and find what plagued her that way. It would get the conversation going faster. However, it was also likely to make her temper spike and make an argument the event of the evening. So he kept to himself and waited. He was surprised that he didn't have to wait long. "Jean Claude, we need to talk about why last night happened."

One eyebrow lifted. There was something in her voice that suggested what she wanted to talk about was something vastly different than he might think it was. He made no reply short of gesturing expansively with one hand in a manner that said she should continue. She frowned at him a moment, then glanced at her fingers again.

"We know that Remy is stronger than he should be. We know he gave Gin and Jo the first mark without even realizing what he was doing. We know that he obviously hasn't been taught anything about what a vampire can and can't do." She heaved a sigh and gave him a look. "Maybe he needs to know some of these things. You've done a good job of keeping all three of them in the dark as to what they can expect."

Her tone told him plainly that she didn't think leaving the trio of newcomers in the dark was one of his better ideas. His first inclination was to tell her that any information the three of them were given was at his discretion. But the look she shot him convinced him to keep those thoughts to himself. "Whatever happened to Gin last night... Edward said it touched Jo at his hotel. That shouldn't have happened. I've never heard of any metaphysical power being capable of something like that. Which means there was some kind of bond between the three of them before Remy was turned. And his giving them the first mark has only strengthened that bond. Which means they all need to know what's going on with them before he gives them the next mark."

"You're sure Ginette's loss of control affected Jocelyn?"

"Edward told me when he called earlier. That, by itself, is pretty damned scary. But a conversation I had with Micah makes it even scarier." She paused and drew a breath, obviously trying to find the right words. That made Jean Claude's curiosity shift into overdrive. In the entire time he'd known her, Anita had never really been one to mince words. And while he'd had occasion to be angry with her over something important, he'd never been so angry that she should feel apprehensive about talking to him. That made him wonder just what kind of news she had to tell him. And he also had to wonder if it was something that would truly upset him.

"What did you and Micah discuss?" he asked, a blatant attempt at prompting her into speech.

"I told him what Edward said about Jo feeling Gin's... whatever it was," she began, one hand spinning in a circular motion at the last of her sentence. "That apparently reminded him of something. Something you should really know about." She sounded a touch grim, making him wonder just how terrible this something was going to be.

"I see." He paused and waited for her to continue. She said nothing. In fact, it seemed she was content to stop there. "I cannot know why last night happened as it did if you do not tell me what Micah remembered, ma petite."

She sighed again, fingers curling up into fists absently. When she realized what she was doing, she made a point of straightening them out, of laying them flat against her denim-clad thighs. "When we were in New Orleans, I needed to get a sense of what was going on before I could consider taking any action. I... Did you know that Belladonna and her kiss operate out of a club that used to be a Catholic church?"

"That sounds very much like Belladonna. She likes to pretend she is her maker. She would see vampires lying in wait for their next meal inside of an old church the height of amusing," he replied. While he had his issues with the church, he found the idea of vampires hunting in a former church distasteful.

"They turned the church into a club. Every report the police had said that the club was the source of all the disappearances." She shook her head a moment, then pushed on. "I decided to send Micah and Nathaniel in to do some reconnaissance. Nathaniel thought it might be a good idea to see if they could find the girls and confirm the accusations of kidnapping before we made a move on Belladonna."

He nodded but said nothing. It was a smart move and he'd have done the same in her position.

"They got in and they got close. They danced with Gin and Jo. That's how I knew the two of them were in imminent danger." She frowned a moment, taking time to pick her next words carefully. "When I mentioned to Micah that Edward told me that Jo was not unaffected by last night's thing, he told me about what went on inside the club that night. Apparently, whatever abilities those two have, they can combine them and it acts like some kind of beacon. Micah said that the girls moved and it was as if the entire church was cast under some sort of spell. It drew everyone to their sides. He said it hadn't been there until they actually moved. He said it was like, together, they made magic."

Jean Claude considered that. There were as many kinds of magic as there were personalities. And no one person understood every kind of magic there was out there. So it was possible that the girls made magic between them. And it was possible that their magic was capable of drawing people to them. If that was the case, he understood why Belladonna hadn't outright killed them. Their ability to lure people in was a valuable asset she'd no doubt exploited for her own gain. She'd made the girls hunt for her kiss, forced them to send other people to their deaths in order to save their own lives It fit another piece of the puzzle into place for him. Perhaps this was something he should see with his own eyes.

"Edward is going to bring Jo back after the sun goes down," she told him, forcing him to put those thoughts aside for the time being.

Jean Claude lifted a brow at that. "And why is that? I would have thought he'd have brought her back the moment the sun came up. I cannot see Edward suffering her sharp tongue for very long."

Anita shook her head. She was as confused by that as he was. "I don't know. I want to say that there's something going on, but you know as well as I do that its impossible to get a read on Edward." She sighed and turned a thoughtful glance his way. "Maybe he's afraid of what will happen to her."

"Whatever punishment I mete out, it is my business and not his. Whether she likes it or not, she is one of my people." He was going to find out how she'd snuck out of the lair without being caught by anyone. He had to wonder if he'd inadvertently let some of his feelings show because she gave him another look.

"Maybe you should consider being lenient with them. All three of them. They're abuse victims. Abusing them further won't accomplish what you want to happen. Hell, keeping them apart doesn't seem to be doing what you thought it would do. Whatever bond they've got, they formed it before Remy was turned. His becoming a vampire only strengthened it. Being apart has to be destroying them." Her statement was uncharacteristically emotional, which gave him pause. She sighed and reached up to toy with one of her curls absently. She obviously expected him to ignore her feelings on the matter.

"I will consider your suggestions, ma petite. But they will be punished for their actions last night."

"I didn't expect you to ignore what happened here last night. So thank you. I know this isn't easy for you. If I had known what bringing them here was going to mean..." She stopped abruptly, unwilling to put that thought into words. "I know they need to be reprimanded for the things that took place."

He nodded, then held a hand out to her. Anita rose from her chair and joined him on the couch. When he pulled her into him, she didn't fight it and allowed him to tuck her under his arm. "Since we are speaking of punishments... I have a proposition for you."

She tipped her head back so she could look up at him. There was apprehension in her eyes. "I don't know if I like the sounds of that."

Jean Claude gave her a smile. "It is nothing so horrible. It is... a way of dealing with two problems at once. I have given this consideration and I want to know what you think."

"Okay. That doesn't sound weird at all."

He chuckled at the tone of her voice. Despite all their time together, some things still hadn't changed between them. Her innate distrust was one of them. "I should take offense. But I will not. Instead, I will give you my suggestion and allow you to consider it."

"You're going to let me consider it? Who are you and what have you done with the real Jean Claude?" she asked. There was only a small amount of seriousness in her words.

"You are in need of a pomme de sang. Someone who can feed you without being drained too deeply. Someone we can trust. I believe I have a solution." She stared at him expectantly. He gave brief consideration to how he would approach the subject. It didn't take long to settle on quick and to the point. She was more likely to consider his suggestion if he did so. "I believe Remy would be a good choice. And it will enable you to watch him for signs of the arduer."

Anita frowned at that. "You think he's inherited it?"

"I do. Belladonna is in possession of it. But she has twisted it over the many long years of her life, made it a thing of fear instead of passion."

"Fear is a kind of passion, Jean Claude," she supplied.

He inclined his head. "But only for one side. Passion, real passion such as what we share, is much richer and fuller and meant to be experienced between two or more people." He lifted one of her hands to press a kiss to her palm. "I am almost certain the arduer resides within Remy. And likely in both Ginette and Jocelyn, as well. If they have this ability as you say they do..."

"They all need to know what they're up against, Jean Claude. It isn't fair to throw them into it without any information. Whatever you were trying to achieve by keeping them apart, I don't think its working anymore. I think you need to reconsider that plan."

"You are, of course, correct. Let us get past this evening, then we will consider the next step. You will consider adding Remy to the list of donors, yes?"

She gave him a frown that said she was already considering it. "You really think giving him to me is a good idea? Look at what happened when he found out about Asher and Jo. We can't afford to have another event like that happen. People might not survive the fallout."

"I have faith that the three of them will be made to understand the seriousness of the situation."

"No." Anita pulled away and rose to her feet so she could pace away from him. When she turned to face him, the look on her face said that she didn't share his faith. "We can't rely on faith. I'll take Remy on as a donor, but on one condition."

He sighed. He should have known. "What are your terms?"

"You have to tell them. All of them. They need to know everything that's going on. The marks, Remy's growing powers, their growing powers, the triumvirate. All of it. They can't be expected to follow rules if they don't know why they have to follow them." She stopped, her frown deepening, then returned to the couch to settle once more beside him. "They've all suffered horrible things, Jean Claude. Things that they might not ever tell us about. They're frightened and they need each other to feel safe. Because they were the only thing they had during their time with Belladonna. Tell them. Everything. We can excuse one fuck up like last night without anyone getting hurt. We can't do it a second time."

She was serious about it. He could tell by the tone of her voice and the manner with which she held herself. And he supposed she was right. He'd thought keeping them apart was the way to go. And progress had been made. But not enough. And it was possible what little they'd managed had been destroyed last night. If he didn't do better for them, he was as disgraceful a master to them as Belladonna had been. Much as he hated to admit it, telling them everything was the better solution. "Very well. We will tell them. Everything."

"Then we can add Remy to the list," she replied. Then she snuggled in closer and wrapped her arms around him. "Now. Can we think about something else for a while? Because something tells me tonight is going to be horrible."

"I think I can find a way to distract you. For a little while," he answered her, a smile playing on his face.

~*~*~*~*~

Remy stared at the door a moment before rapping a pair of knuckles against the wooden surface to announce himself. He'd been expecting this. After the clusterfuck he'd made of the party the evening before, it would have been more surprising had he not been told to go see Jean Claude the moment someone knew he'd woken. Despite expecting the meeting, Remy was just a little bit anxious about the whole thing. He had no idea what would happen once he walked through the door and he didn't think he wanted to find out what kind of cruelties Jean Claude was truly capable of.

"Enter."

That one word told him absolutely nothing. Time spent with Belladonna's kiss had taught him quickly enough that vampires that had reached master status were capable of hiding so much from those around them. Jean Claude was no exception. He was older than Belladonna. No doubt he'd had plenty of time to perfect his bland face and his seeming disinterest in everything around him. Taking a breath he didn't need in an effort to shore up his courage, Remy took hold of the doorknob and gave it a turn. The panel swung open on silent hinges to reveal Jean Claude waiting in the middle of the room. His beautiful, angelic face was utterly still and empty and his power swirled around him even though Remy was sure he was holding it back. Remy said nothing, but he stepped into the room and carefully closed the door behind him.

The silence hung heavy between them, oppressive and thick. It reminded Remy of trips out into the bayou when he'd still been alive. Between the still waters and the dense growth of foliage, the air was so moist and heavy that it always felt to be on the verge of rain. He stopped only a few paces into the room, stood in place and let the other man watch him. He had no clue what kind of game Jean Claude was playing, but his new master would find that Remy could play the game as well as any vampire who'd been dead a few centuries.

Finally, after they'd stood without moving or talking for a minute or more, Jean Claude motioned toward a grouping of living room furniture. "Please. Sit. We have much to discuss before full dark."

That seemed a curious statement. "What happens at full dark?" Remy asked, making sure his voice came out lazy and slow. As if he was merely asking to make small talk.

"Edward will be returning Jocelyn to us after full dark. And then we will deal with her rash behavior. Which we will get to in short order. First, we have something more to discuss." Again, Jean Claude motioned to the couch and chairs on the other side of the room. Remy started toward them at a leisurely pace. His mind, however, was filled with thoughts and worries. Despite the lack of anything in the man's voice, it was obvious whatever Jean Claude wanted to discuss was something of great importance.

Remy was more than positive that their coming conversation had something to do with Gin and what had happened last night. Remy had caught snippets of conversation, pieces he likely wasn't meant to hear, between some of Jean Claude's people about how they'd felt a deep sorrow and they'd simply wanted it to stop. He'd wondered, more than once, just what it was that Gin had done. Maybe, if he was lucky, he'd find out in only moments.

He made himself comfortable on the couch, sprawling across it in an overtly sexual manner. The other man stared a moment, one eyebrow twitching before it settled back into place, then took a seat in one of the chairs. He'd intentionally put distance between the two of them. Remy shot him a knowing smile. Any advance he made toward Jean Claude always left the other man dazed and confused. It would be sad if it didn't, because that would mean Remy had lost his touch. "What we got to discuss?" he asked.

Jean Claude regarded him a moment, obviously giving consideration to how he would go forward. Remy waited patiently, projected an image that suggested he had absolutely no worries or concerns. Finally, the other man sighed and spoke. "There was an incident last night."

Is that what he was going to call it? Remy could play along, see where this was going. "An incident? What kind of incident?"

"I do not know if you are aware, but Ginette had... some sort of episode last night after you left. I do not understand what she did, but it affected everyone here. Ma petite has informed me that Edward reported to her it affected Jocelyn, even though she is some distance from us. It left many people overwhelmed with emotion. And most of them had difficulties dealing with them."

Remy's face gave nothing away. He merely stared, waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was obviously more the man wanted to say. But the pause Jean Claude took to be dramatic gave Remy an opportunity to consider what he'd said. Remy had recognized Gin and Jo's talents the very first night he'd met them. While their gifts had been nowhere near the same as his own, it had still been wonderful to find someone who was some kind of kindred spirit. Those gifts were part of what had attracted him to them. And he knew it was those gifts that had seen Belladonna using them for her own twisted purposes. But he'd never known either of them to be able to affect so many people at once. And certainly not over a distance.

"There are those in my kiss who will view what Ginette did to them as an attack. And they will demand that she pay for her crimes."

"I see," Remy replied. He didn't like Jean Claude's choice of words in regard to Gin.

"No, I do not think that you do. It is well within my rights to punish her for her actions. And that punishment can take any form. Including death." There was another pause and Remy got the sense that Jean Claude was trying to figure out how to proceed. "How will you and Jocelyn fair if anything happens to Ginette? Perhaps you would be able to go on, but we both know that Jocelyn is already fragile. How long would she survive without Ginette at her side?"

It didn't feel like a threat. That didn't mean anything. Remy was well aware of a vampire's ability to be non-threatening even as they planned to rip your throat out. He still chose to take it as a threat and his fingers itched with the need to protect what was his. He felt the question was rhetorical, but Remy answered him anyway. "Jo don' survive without Gin."

Jean Claude nodded. "The two of them are very close. And you may not believe me, but I would hate to see anything happen to either one of them that would cause pain. Which is precisely what will come to pass tonight. There are members of my kiss who will demand blood in payment for Gin's attack."

Something told Remy that Jean Claude wouldn't have normally explained this to him, that he was going out of his way to be helpful. Which left Remy wondering just why he would do such a thing. He gave the other man a good once over, trying hard to find some clue that would tell him what was going on. Nothing was as obvious as all that. Heaving a sigh, Remy straightened. Sat up and gave Jean Claude all of his attention in order to let the man know he was going to be serious. "Why you tellin' me dis?"

"I will be telling you a great deal in the coming days. Things that you will need to know and understand if you wish to keep your little family safe. Things that Belladonna failed to tell you about your new station in life."

He leaned forward, elbows settling on his knees as he pressed his hands together. "My new station in life?" There was something important about that phrasing, something that Jean Claude obviously felt he should know.

"You are a master vampire, Remy." The words fell into the room like large rocks dropping into a small stream. There were ripples in his awareness, ripples that started small and grew larger and larger as they spread out, taking comprehension with them until the enormity of what Jean Claude had just said hit him like a ton of bricks. "It is unprecedented. It should not be possible. It takes centuries to reach master status. And yet..." Jean Claude spread his hands to say he had no clue how they'd gotten there. "With master status comes new responsibilities. And new powers. One of those powers is the ability to lay marks on those closest to you."

"Marks? What kind of marks?"

"The easiest way to describe them is that they are marks of ownership. Ginette and Jocelyn belong to you. Ma petite felt you lay your mark upon them when she arrived at Belladonna's lair to rescue them."

He thought back to that awful night, recalled the anger and fear and death that had stained the air. "Jo... She was dyin'. I could tell. I didn't want her to die."

"You saved her life by giving her the first mark. She, and Ginette, are stronger now. The three of you are connected. After discussing the events of that night with ma petite, we are confident in our belief that the three of you have formed a triumvirate."

Jean Claude fell silent, allowed Remy the opportunity to think about what he'd said. Of course he'd heard the term 'triumvirate' before. Word was, they were supposed to be fairly rare in the vampires' world. It took a great deal of power to form one. He'd only heard whispers of two successful triumvirates, and he was looking at a member of one of them. Remy was fairly certain that whatever bond existed between he and the girls, it had been there before his death and rebirth into his life as a vampire. Those abilities he'd prized in the girls had bound them together in ways he'd never expected. He suspected that such bonds were responsible for the girls coming to look for him after so many years apart.

He considered that a moment. Maybe the Fates had had things in store for them long before he'd met them. Maybe there was nothing he could have done to keep them from Belladonna. Maybe everything that had happened, from the moment they'd first met to right here and right now, had been meant to happen and nothing would have been able to change it.

"You sayin' I'm de girls' master," he said quietly.

Jean Claude nodded at that even though it wasn't a question. "I am saying you are their master. As I am your master. I am saying that you are as responsible for their actions as I am."

That made Remy frown. Because he knew what that meant. Jean Claude was saying Gin's life was in his hands and if Remy didn't do something to prove he had control over his people, Jean Claude would...

~*~*~*~*~