Jaime almost hadn't knocked. Because the Scarab was positively screaming about the level of the threat on the other side of the door. Of course, that had been going on for most of the weekend, but this was a lot closer than Jaime'd let himself get to any of the major powers the Scarab had been pinging off of recently.
Still... he'd been invited. And even if he wasn't exactly comfortable around Karla... Well... He'd been invited.
Karla pulled the door open and beamed at Jaime. "You came!" she said cheerfully. "You'd fidgeted so much when I invited you, I wasn't sure." omg, modding!
Holding the door open, she stepped back to let Jaime in. "Prince SaDiablo, I'd like to introduce to you to my friend, Jaime Reyes." Well, more Dinah's friend than hers, but why add that level of complexity to the introduction. "Jaime, this is my adopted uncle, Prince Saetan Daemon SaDiablo."
It turned out that having the man in visual range made things worse and Jaime had to grit his teeth hard to keep the Scarab from activating right then and there. Because wouldn't that be embarrassing.
He was distracted enough that he didn't have the attention to even offer a polite nod or a handshake or anything.
"No need to stand on ceremony, Karla," Saetan said politely, settling himself into the comfortable chair next to the fireplace. The fire wasn't laid, but it was a familiar enough set up to make Saetan feel at ease. Which was more than he could say for the young male. "Come sit over here and stop crowding the poor lad."
*He is okay, isn't he?* Saetan sent on a distaff thread.
Scully had appreciated that Prince Saetan was willing to meet with her; she she'd brought coffee along, in gratitude. She knocked on the door and waited patiently, gun in the holster at her side concealed by her jacket. She didn't expect any threats from Karla's uncle, but she'd learned a long time ago never to discount anything.
This time is was Saetan who opened the door, giving Scully an urbane bow as he did. "Please come in," he said, stepping aside and gesturing her through the door. My niece says that you might not appreciate our titles of courtesy--would calling you Miss Scully be appropriate, then?"
"I'm comfortable with either, sir. And no, I wouldn't find it inappropriate," Scully said as she walked in, smiling back. Charming, she had to give Karla's uncle that. "I brought coffee, to thank you for your time. And would you prefer I call you Prince Saetan, or Lord Saetan?" She glanced around the suite, automatically noting sight-lines and exits, then calmly looked back at the man as she set the coffee down on one of the tables.
Saetan noticed her caution and approved. She'd been trained well, though it might not be courteous to mention so. "Just Saetan is fine. When we first met, Karla called me a 'blood-sucking corpse,' so you can see, I'm not one to stand on formality where none is needed."
He retook his seat near the fire and waved her into the chair across from him. "The coffee smells delicious. Thank you so much for bringing some. Karla attempted to show me how to use the device that came with the room, but either the coffee was sub-par or we somehow failed to use it properly."
Jack could hardly resist an invitation to get to know Karla's guardian better than he'd had the chance to in Kaeleer -- especially when the man had a name as resonant as Saetan. He was at the suite precisely on time, clothes and hair immaculate.
Another man might have been nervous. Jack refused to use those terms.
He rapped precisely on the door. "Karla? It's Jack Priest."
"Jack!" Karla was delighted that he came. "Kiss kiss," she said, opening the door for him. "Just the male I was hoping to see. You can help me put my uncle's fears to rest--he's absolutely convinced I get up to all sorts of mischief while I'm here."
"Karla." Saetan's amused voice came from inside the room. "No fair warning your friends until I've had a chance to talk to them. Mr. Priest, please come in."
"You want me to lie, then?" Jack asked Karla in a teasing stage whisper before stepping toward Saetan's voice. He greeted the man with a slight bow. "Lord Saetan." He hoped he had the title right. "It's a pleasure to see you again."
It was Prince, but Saetan wasn't going to quibble. Jack wasn't trying to pull rank or any nonsense like that.
"Finally," Saetan said, rising to shake Jack's hand. "Someone willing to tell me the truth of what my scapegrace niece has been up to. I'm pleased to see you, as well. And Karla tells me congratulations are in order--you have completed your course of studies at this school?"
Raven hadn't met Saetan when she'd visited Karla's home, and though she was still feeling unbalanced by her encounter with her father, she didn't want to refuse Karla's invitation. Plus, from what she knew of Saetan's power, neither Sebastian or her father would disturb her in his presence, she assumed, if they had not left the island already. And she'd heard on the radio that Karla had encountered Sebastian, so she wanted to make sure her friend was all right.
Karla sensed who it was through the door and had barely opened it before giving Raven a hug. "I'm fine, darling," she promised. "And I'm being discreet about the whole thing. The less Saetan knows, the less he can worry about," she said in an undertone. And then in a voice meant to carry, she said, "Raven! So good of you to show. Come on in."
Raven nodded. "I will say nothing in his presence," she confirmed quietly, then stepped into the room when they'd finished the hug. "Of course," she said pleasantly. "I could not miss the opportunity to meet your uncle, since I was not able to do so during my visit."
Saetan had stood when he heard Raven's voice, and walked over to greet her, palms out and up in the traditional subordinate position, according to Protocol. "Lady Raven, it is an honor," Saetan said, golden eyes twinkling. "Your name is frequently mentioned in Karla's letters."
He looked her over, starting slightly in surprise at the red Jewel on her forehead. She wasn't Blood, that was for certain and yet, the Jewel held a steady hum of of power. As did the girl herself. Very interesting.
Cassidy had been both pleased and surprised when she had received the message from Karla on the distaff thread. She had tried to dress carefully, and then couldn't decide if she was supposed to be formal or informal for this meeting.
When in doubt, use Protocol.
That would be why there was a nervous witchling standing outside the hotel room door. Drawing upon all of her training and her inner reserves, she raised a hand and knocked politely on the door.
Karla opened the door with a grin. "You look concerned," she said, dimpling at Cassidy. "Never expected to meet the High Lord, did you? Don't worry, it'll be fine," she promised. "He's...a good male. One of the best I know. And his daughter's about our age. He's used to having teenaged witches around. And he'll be thrilled to know that I'm not the only Blood around."
Cassidy shook her head. "No, I never did," she admitted with a smile. "It's exciting and a little intimidating, too." She tilted her head at Karla. "What is the proper way to address him, Karla? I want to make sure I get it right and not accidentally offend."
Though, Karla's description of him being a good male and having a daughter their age did help her nerves a great deal.
"Either 'High Lord' or 'Prince SaDiablo' will be fine," Karla assured her. "Before long, he'll probably have you calling him Saetan, just like the rest of us. Also, Cassidy--he wears the Black."
Of the handful of Blood who'd ever worn the Black in their entire history, Saetan was the only male to have done so--at least, if you didn't know about Daemon. And Karla still didn't.
"It's nothing you need to worry about--he'd cut off his own hand before he'd raise it to you in violence--but I didn't want you to be surprised."
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Still... he'd been invited. And even if he wasn't exactly comfortable around Karla... Well... He'd been invited.
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Holding the door open, she stepped back to let Jaime in. "Prince SaDiablo, I'd like to introduce to you to my friend, Jaime Reyes." Well, more Dinah's friend than hers, but why add that level of complexity to the introduction. "Jaime, this is my adopted uncle, Prince Saetan Daemon SaDiablo."
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He was distracted enough that he didn't have the attention to even offer a polite nod or a handshake or anything.
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*He is okay, isn't he?* Saetan sent on a distaff thread.
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He retook his seat near the fire and waved her into the chair across from him. "The coffee smells delicious. Thank you so much for bringing some. Karla attempted to show me how to use the device that came with the room, but either the coffee was sub-par or we somehow failed to use it properly."
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Another man might have been nervous. Jack refused to use those terms.
He rapped precisely on the door. "Karla? It's Jack Priest."
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"Karla." Saetan's amused voice came from inside the room. "No fair warning your friends until I've had a chance to talk to them. Mr. Priest, please come in."
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"Finally," Saetan said, rising to shake Jack's hand. "Someone willing to tell me the truth of what my scapegrace niece has been up to. I'm pleased to see you, as well. And Karla tells me congratulations are in order--you have completed your course of studies at this school?"
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She knocked on the door and waited.
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He looked her over, starting slightly in surprise at the red Jewel on her forehead. She wasn't Blood, that was for certain and yet, the Jewel held a steady hum of of power. As did the girl herself. Very interesting.
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When in doubt, use Protocol.
That would be why there was a nervous witchling standing outside the hotel room door. Drawing upon all of her training and her inner reserves, she raised a hand and knocked politely on the door.
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Though, Karla's description of him being a good male and having a daughter their age did help her nerves a great deal.
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Of the handful of Blood who'd ever worn the Black in their entire history, Saetan was the only male to have done so--at least, if you didn't know about Daemon. And Karla still didn't.
"It's nothing you need to worry about--he'd cut off his own hand before he'd raise it to you in violence--but I didn't want you to be surprised."
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