InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Gonna make you sweat!"

tao_ (tao_) wrote,
@ 2010-09-15 16:55:00

Who: Riley and Tao
What: an unexpected visit
Where: Tao's office

Tao had not gotten a lot of sleep. Thankfully, he did not need a lot. He'd cleaned meticulously of course, then sat on the phone all night. His source did not like to have any suspicion on them that they even liked vampires let alone were indebted to one. So a late night phone call was pushing things. Unfortunately, he did not have a lot of time to placate her. After explaining the problem, and promising this was a final favor she had relented and headed out to the church in the morning. He had laid in bed, no not a coffin, and stared at the ceiling. Usually a good couple of hours in the room, even if it didn't last as long as he would like, were relaxing. He'd instead found he let his guard down more then he anticipated and the shifter had garnered more respect then he had previously expected to give. Worse yet, he wasn't all that sure the rule of keeping things in the room would stick, as they had finished out negotiations inside.

That was upsetting as well. He'd had no problem taking out tribute. He had purposefully given the new leader the information to see how he would deal with it. Seeing if he would reach for that small bit of power, or even more. It would be telling on his position as leader and give Tao some weak points to use. Still, he had planned on enjoying the negotiations. There was nothing like riling up a shifter. Even the idiot power hungry ones.

Deciding sleep wasn't coming he'd headed into work, checking over inventories, new information and new hires. The club was doing well, they had a steady stream of regulars as well as those coming for the thrill of seeing a vampire. He drew up the new treaty and even slipped in a clause regarding collars to see if it would be noticed. The phone call from his plant came early and she had information. Not that it was good, she promised to stay on it. He explained it wasn't necessary, but she felt obligated. If only to spare the pack and vampires more problems.

He accepted a glass of blood to drink, from a blood bank few knew he owned and sat back to rest. Riley should be calling soon so he could pass on the information. The phone call, Tao mused, would be short and to the point. The shifter did not seem to enjoy talking to him much. The thought made his mouth twitch and he almost chuckled to himself.

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amulius
2010-09-25 05:55 pm UTC (link)

Riley clenched his hands into fists. "You think I'm completely incompetent!" He snapped slightly unnerved by the look in Tao's eyes but more enraged by the way that the vampire had dismissed him out of hand. "I have a right to do what needs to be done to protect my people, and you have no right to tell me otherwise." He bared his teeth at Tao, "Like it or not, you're going to have to accept that I'm going to be here. I have the human woman's scent, and you can't keep me from following her." His brow furrowed, "It shouldn't be you, it should be me. There's less risk if it's me, I'll heal as soon as I shift!"

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tao_
2010-09-25 06:04 pm UTC (link)

Tao was suddenly aware they were raising their voices and in an effort to stop them from full out yelling he lowered his arms and stepped farther into the shadows. "I said nothing about your competence." He hissed. "You are protecting your people, the problem was one too big for either of us to deal with on our own, we have now shared information and have enough to do something. To stop this. The best thing you can do for your people now is to keep them out of sight." He heard the car door, heard an engine and knew it wasn't his.

"Your right to protect what is yours does not supersede mine." He replied softly. "Now go, before you are seen."

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amulius
2010-09-25 06:27 pm UTC (link)

Riley remained silent, just bristling. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, "You son of a bitch." He growled, "Fuck you, if you think you can do it on your own, then fucking do it, I hope you don't get staked." He turned away from Tao, just staring into the darkness of the alley, and then back to the vampire. "Don't get staked." He repeated, his expression hard.

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tao_
2010-09-25 06:38 pm UTC (link)

Tao hated how the energy rose between them. It flickered over his skin and the last thing he wanted to do was keep his distance, but he refused to move. He kept himself from flinching at the growl. Better for him to hate again, easier for him to hate him. As long as he left. "Don't get caught." He retorted simply and turned heading back out.

Marie jumped from the car and licked her lips. "Shit shit shit! They are on their way, hurry it up!" As soon as she saw Tao come back towards the car she pulled the gun and shook her head, "What, needed a snack? No time." She added looking down the street at a van coming towards them. She winced an apology and shot twice.

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amulius
2010-09-25 06:48 pm UTC (link)

Riley watched Tao's back with baleful eyes as the vampire returned to the car. He heard the sound of wheels as the van rounded a curve and ducked back behind the garbage can when the shots rang out. He quickly shifted back into the Labrador and poked out his head from behind the can, watching with his eyes wide.

The van screeched to a halt at the intersection and two burly men in powder-blue ties barreled out of the sliding side door, followed by a slimmer man with too-white teeth who was smiling wide at the human woman.

"Marie, Darlin'!" Exclaimed Pastor Michael Dubois of the Holy Sun Church, "What do we have here?"

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tao_
2010-09-25 06:54 pm UTC (link)

Tao gave her a baleful look but didn't have time for a retort. Did she have to shoot for the stomach? He groaned and fell to his knees, reaching for the darts. He had to wait until they at least took some effect before pulling at them. A growl rumbled in his chest at the man addressing Marie. He didn't like him, immediately he hated him and knew he had to be more then just another human sucked into this.

Marie swallowed then lowered the gun, pocketing it. "It's him, the Master that has Jeanne. His car is back there. I'm going to find out where my sister is and then kill him." She bit off. As long as they believed that she could deal with it on her own and get them both out of there. She walked towards Tao and grabbed an arm to pull him towards the car.

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amulius
2010-09-25 07:08 pm UTC (link)

"Now, hold on just a minute there, darlin." Pastor Dubois was tall with a long face and the clearly defined jawline of a high school football star. He raised up a hand and gestured for his two goons to able towards Tao's prone form. "We can't let a lady like yourself alone with one of these abominations. Jerry?" One of the large men looked up, "Would you kindly escort Miss Marie to her destination? For protection, of course," He added. "We'll take the vampire."

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tao_
2010-09-25 07:10 pm UTC (link)

Marie didn't have to fake her anger, her outrage. "Look, I've been after him for years. I didn't have any help getting out of the last two territories I had to search, I can handle one fucking vamp! I want my sister, you want him, you can have him. After I get some answers." Her teeth were set on edge. "I have a place, can chain his ass up and get some answers."

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amulius
2010-09-25 07:15 pm UTC (link)

"Calm yourself, darlin." Dubois said in a warning tone, and the men continued to advance on Tao and on her. "I understand that you've been through a rough time, but this really is a unique opportunity. We've never captured a live one before, well-" He chuckled, "So to speak. We're all on the same side, Miss Marie, so I suggest you think about the will of God before you decide that you're hellbent on going your own way." He clucked his tongue. "Vamps are tough critters, you can't trust their pretty faces, this one could be as old as dirt and vicious as a bear. You understand that we need to be careful. You're a part of our family, Marie. You did say that was what you wanted, didn't you?"

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tao_
2010-09-25 07:20 pm UTC (link)

Marie purposefully took a deep breath and let it out. "Yes, but I want my sister back. She's been sold and bargained for by these, things for too long." She glanced to Tao then to the car. "Not, everyone has the stomach for it. For torturing a vampire." She added softly then looked at Dubois. "If they can't handle it, then I'll do it. I've been waiting for this chance. I can't just pass it up."

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amulius
2010-09-25 07:31 pm UTC (link)

Dubois considered this. On the one hand, he was loathe to let a genuine specimen slip from out of his fingers, but on the other hand, most if not all of the vampire and shifter killings had been completed by people outside of the 'family,' those distraught individuals who had fallen into the doctrine of the church of the Holy Sun, but were not really stable enough to be introduced to the leadership. In Dubois mind, Marie was one of those. She was overly connected to her sister. Perhaps allowing her to kill this particular vampire would thoroughly cement her loyalty to the group.

The pastor gave a slow not and gestured for his men to pull back, which they did immediately. "Alright, darlin, we'll pull this monster in your hands, let them be the tools of the Lord's divine justice." The two men began to walk back towards the man, "But," Dubois added, "When you're done with him, I want his fangs, do you understand?"

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	tao_ 2010-09-25 07:35 pm UTC (link)
	Marie didn't let him see how relieved she was but gave a casual one shoulder shrug. "Fangs before I kill him. Got it." As a kind of concession she paused and looked up at him. "Once I know about my sister, is there anything else? This is his territory, he must know what is going on, where others sleep, businesses. What do we need?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

amulius
2010-09-25 07:48 pm UTC (link)

Dubois reached out to place both hands on Marie, one on either shoulder. He looked down to her with a very serious, fatherly sort of look. "That pack of wolves in the forest." He began, "If that vamp can help us locate them, that would be excellent. But don't waste too much time trying to reason with the thing." He took a step back, slididng his hands off of Marie's shoulders, "It's not much more than an animal, a sick, sick animal that needs to be put down. But not too quick, mind." He smiled, and began to walk back to the passenger's side of the van. "Remember, he will kill you, so kill him first." With that, he slid into the van, and it pulled away from the curb, driving off into the night.

As soon as it was gone, Riley, in his Labrador form, bounded out from the alley and pushed past Marie to stand over Tao. He growled a little and then licked at the vampire's face with a small whine.

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tao_
2010-09-25 07:53 pm UTC (link)

Marie's eyes flashed, if she were honest, she had no qualms with them killing off the shifters. She'd yet to meet one that deserved anything less then to become someone's rug. She knew there were evil vampires as well, some not as malevolent but just as bad. No way she could convince Dubois that any of them were worth saving though. So she nodded. "I'll get whatever I can on the pack." Once they were gone she let out a long breath and turned staring at the dog and frowning. "Look Lassie, he wouldn't feed you anyway, he doesn't take in strays. Well, not pets anyway." She added.

She bend to grab under Tao's arms again and hoist up at least his upper body and drag to the car. "Shoo! I don't have time for you."

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amulius
2010-09-25 08:11 pm UTC (link)

Riley barked indignantly at the human woman. Tao had been fairly admant about Riley not frightening his humans, but this one seemed much tougher than her twin, harder. Her attitude made her almost attractive, for a human, at least. He looked up at her face as she attempted to drag the vampire, snorted and turned his head from side to side to make sure that there was no one to see. He shifted in one smooth moment back to his human form.

"Why don't you make time, darlin'?" He said sarcastically, and bent over to pick up Tao by his ankles. "Come on, let's get him in the car. If he stays dead, I'll kill him."

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tao_
2010-09-25 08:14 pm UTC (link)

Marie nearly dropped Tao right then and pulled back. "Sonofabitch!" She debated then decided what vampire bruises and dropped him at her feet reaching for the gun in her pocket. "I have three more shots and I only need one, so back off!"

Tao groaned softly as he hit the ground and tried to open his eyes. Stupid, he should have warned her to only shoot once. Two was a bit of an overkill. His hand limply fell on his stomach and he pulled at the darts getting at least one out.

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amulius
2010-09-25 08:23 pm UTC (link)

Riley couldn't have cared less about having a gun pointed at him. He dropped down to his knees at Tao's side and put a hand over his to help pull out the darts. "You stupid, cold bastard." He muttered, pushed the vampire's hair out of his face, and then pulled the other dart from his stomach. He looked up at the human. "Put that away, you dumb bitch, I'm the pack leader of the shifters."

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tao_
2010-09-25 08:31 pm UTC (link)

Tao got one eye open then closed it again. His voice slurred just a bit. "You were supposed to leave." He didn't have the energy just yet for a reprimand, but he would, later. He wanted to get up on his own but as soon as Riley announced who he was he swore and sat up quickly to push Riley back, taking the last hits to his shoulders and one in the spine. He growled, "Idiot!"

All Marie needed to hear was that he was a shifter, but pack leader? She didn't even have to think, her finger squeezed off round after round until the gun clicked a couple of times. Then her face went red. "I need bullets! GOD DAMN SILVER." She went through her pockets hoping some mysteriously showed up.

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amulius
2010-09-25 08:40 pm UTC (link)

Riley fell back, startled. "You stupid bitch!" He snarled at the human, and caught Tao in his arms. He quickly snaked an arm around Tao's back and pulled the darts from the vampire as fast as he could. He rose from the ground and crossed over Tao's body to grab hold of the human's wrists. "Listen," He growled, "You're working for Tao, I'm working with Tao. I am not going to hurt you, so calm the fuck down, now."

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tao_
2010-09-25 08:44 pm UTC (link)

Marie nearly screamed, he was touching her! She kicked out at him and yanked arms back but couldn't break his hold. "Like hell!"

Tao shook his head, as much to clear it as to silently comment at the problem behind him. "Marie! He's new." He turned and looked at her, his eyes went black, got wider, darker, until there was no white. She went still and face slack. "Leave him. Drive to the safe house. Get blood."

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amulius
2010-09-25 08:50 pm UTC (link)

The human woman went limp and Riley released her, taking a step back. He watched Tao's face as it changed and darkened, and he felt a shifter jolt up his spine. Once the woman had gone, Riley returned to Tao's side, kneeling down beside him. "I couldn't leave." He said shortly, and reached out a hand to brush it over Tao's forehead. "You're colder than usual." He said with a frown, "Are you alright?"

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	tao_ 2010-09-25 08:57 pm UTC (link)
	Tao lifted a hand to brush Riley away. He couldn't be this close with so little control. "You could, you just chose not to. Tell me did you decide to disobey because it was me or because I'm a vampire?" He bit off. Closing his eyes he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I don't typically compel, it's difficult to do when out of practice." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	amulius 2010-09-25 09:02 pm UTC (link)
	"I 'disobeyed' you because you don't hold command over me." Riley replied, slinking back and drawing his hands away from Tao. He crossed his legs under himself and watched the vampire closely. "You told her to get blood." He said, and it was half-question and half-statement. "Do you need blood?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	tao_ 2010-09-25 09:09 pm UTC (link)
	Tao snorted. He could argue that Riley had said he was leaving and did not, making him a liar, but that sounded too harsh even to him right now. "I heal faster with it, yes. I only heard part of what the humans wanted, but by the sounds of it, we can use their search for your pack to lure them out. False information of course." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

amulius
2010-09-25 09:12 pm UTC (link)

"Of course." Riley echoed. He had wanted to kill those humans then and there for seeking to hunt down his pack, but had restrained himself, if only because he expected that Tao would make them suffer worse than he could for their acts against his own kind. "How long is it going to take her to get back here?" He asked, "She had better not try to fucking shoot me again."