Crystal Noir | By : Cornflower Category: Anita Blake > Slash Views: 2609 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own the Anita Blake series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
~ Crystal Noir ~
Series: Velvet and Fur,
sidebar to the kitty/vamp love.
Author: Camilla
Pairing: Asher/Tamlin (OMC)
I'm running far ahead of canon here, guess that makes it an AU.
Prologue:
Silently approaching him. The dark-clad angel under the stars...His skin shimmering white under the moon, ruby red lips almost black in the dark night...
His fallen angel. His own ...
"Mon ami..." The midnight gaze is fixed on him now. A pale hand reaches out to touch him. Just a brief stroke over the back of his hand. A reassuring touch. Remembrance of intimacy ... lost.
"Jean-Claude..." His own dark voice sounds in the darkness. He keeps his face hidden under a veil of golden hair. Only one of his eyes looks back at Jean-Claude as they meet at the parking lot outside the Circus. The sky draped in stars like a jeweled cloak above them. Reminding him of countless night like this: admiring the night, their world, the realm of the stars ... together.
In past times he would have kissed him. Tasted those red lips, been consumed and wrapped in the scent of him. Seduced by the alluring taste, the sweet feel of the other in his arms. Alas, those days were gone.
"Why so sad, mon ami?" Jean-Claude's fingers trail his cheek, on the smooth side ... always... drawn to the beauty he saw there. His smile barely hid his fangs, black hair fell in heavy locks and framed his glittering, dark gaze. Open and concerned, such a light in there...how could anyone see darkness and evil in the depths of those eyes? Darkness was for Asher, and Asher alone.
A sharp intake of breath and...
"Nothing...do not worry about me. I could feel your presence, that is all..." Feel him, yes, as always; forever bound to the past by his scars where Jean-Claude had risen to power and a new life, with new lovers... But this, this was not changed: He would always feel Jean-Claude's presence. Feel it like a stab in the heart.
He was Jean-Claude's past now. That was all...His past and guilty conscience.
So much ... lost...
Sometimes he wished he'd never come to this country. That Jean-Claude had never seen him like this. Would rather have stayed a gold-rimmed memory: A beautiful image in his mind.
But he had come, drawn by his own rage...Stayed there, out of love...Just to see the one he loved so struggle with his heart and be forced to face his new love every day. See flaring longing of what was lost in the other vampire's eyes, yes...But also swallow the bitter knowledge that it was past. He and Jean-Claude would never be that close again. It had cracked and burned to ashes with Juliana, too much pain, too much suffering. What they once were had melted away with Asher's beauty, been erased by holy fluid.
"Why are you here?" he asked Jean-Claude, "Why are you worried?" He could feel the uneasiness radiating, a hint of nervousness...Oh yes, jean-Claude never bothered hiding from him, he still trusted him above all. That was good, reassuring.
"Damian came and saw me," Jean-Claude, said calmly. "There's a budding master in the city, he is working for me," he smiled feral and amused, Asher rose his eye-brow:
"How so? Has he offered an alliance?"
Jean-Claude grinned in reply, a sudden hint of humor lit up in his gaze:
"Not quite," he smiled. "He is working at the Guilty Pleasures," he informed with a forced, serious expression to cover up the amusement.
"Ah!" Asher chuckled softly. "How did that come about?"
"I don't know," Jean-Claude replied, still amused. "But he has not risen to power yet..."
Asher pondered the information. "I suppose he is not working behind the bar, considering your expression..."
"Non, he is a dancer," Jean-Claude smiled again. "A very good one if I may add, he has done nothing to hurt my business, yet..."
Asher chuckled at the utterly amused expression on his dearest’s face. "But you believe he will?" he added seriously. "That he is bidding his time...?"
"He had his eyes set on sweet Nathaniel..." Jean-Claude declared. " Damian got the impression he was trying to build his own court...Seek out my weaknesses, yes...He was already informed about...many of my affairs."
"And Nathaniel?" Asher asked, suddenly worried on the cat's behalf.
"Ah," Jean-Claude smiled a little ironically: "The power of love...he is safely back in his vampire's arms."
"Good," Asher smiled slightly. He wouldn't have liked it if something bad happened to the vampire and the wereleopard, he had a certain weakness for them; their union made him feel warm inside. His heart a little less hard.
"I don't need this disturbance in my own house, so to speak," Jean-Claude was talking about the other master again. "Granted, he is weak, but he can still cause problems..."
"What will you do?" Asher asked him. He too could see the annoyance this strange master could bring about...And had already done by sneaking into Jean-Claude's territory, trying to woo one of his people. It guaranteed he knew Jean-Claude would have been made aware of his presence. If Jean-Claude didn't act in any way he would see it as an offence, or in the worst case scenario, a weakness.
"He can grow strong this one," Jean-Claude replied. "He is bold and arrogant. Self-assured. I think I have to make him an offer."
"What kind of offer?" Asher asked, and they spoke calmly now. This was well known territory: politics.
"Something he can't refuse, and that will benefit me as well..."
"Of course."
"I will not approach him myself. I am his employer and he has done nothing to me yet but help fill my pockets...nor has not threatened me, openly," he added. "I want you to talk to him, mon ami. You are my second in command and he cannot be offended that you come in my place...You will go there, and make this offer on my behalf," he stated.
"Oui, mon ami, but of course," Asher smiled slightly. He would do what he could to limit or remove the threat, besides he was a little curious: A budding master, stripping at another master's club...Either he was overly confident or something quite unusual. Most likely however; the new one had a plan.
Jean-Claude's hand came to rest on his healthy one, caressed it lightly:
"Thank you," he said softly. "There is no one I trust like you."
Somehow, however, the gentle words felt poor and unsatisfying. Could never be enough...
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