Silver Chains

Requiem moved carefully down the dark and empty truck dock. He could feel a strong magic in the air, the kind that was not felt often among the living. He wanted to check out one particular loading dock, but something was pulling him away from it. Pausing, he reached for the sword beneath his cloak. Yes, even 21st century strippers and 16th century Shakespearean actors knew how to use swords. They were certainly more elegant and less noisy than pistols.

Anita frowned harder when she entered the office and found Jean-Claude standing with his back to her. With their marks wide open, she knew he was concentrating hard on trying to find Richard.
“Anything?” she asked.
Jean-Claude glanced back over his shoulder and stated simply, “Richard wants it to end.” Sighing heavily, he added, “I fear he will try to push Niley into killing him.”
“Not good,” Anita said angrily. If willing Richard to not give up, then she would force feed it to him. “How in the hell is Niley able to do this?”
“As you said, ma petite, he has cut a deal with someone truly evil,” Jean-Claude answered.
“Yeah, well most of the werewolves are now out looking for him,” she said with grim satisfaction. “Jamil and Shang-da are really pissed.”
Seeing that she was dressed to go hunting as well, Jean-Claude said, “I do not think it wise you go alone.”
“Micah and Nathaniel are going with me. Jason has already left with Graham.”
Jean-Claude couldn’t help but smile. “You are sending an army out to find a hole in the earth.”
“Yeah. Well if Edward shows up, tell him where we went.”
“Edward?” Jean-Claude asked curiously. “You called Edward, ma petite?”
“Yeah, and I made him promise not to kill anyone before seeing me first.” Hearing Micah’s voice, she said, “I need to go.”
Telling her to be careful was pointless so Jean-Claude simply accepted her parting kiss and smiled at the wereleopard.

Requiem strained to hear something, anything; it was too quiet, and he could feel the presence of more than one being. Cocking his head, his eyes sweeping the darkness, it occurred to him that he might be in trouble. What if the magic was a decoy? It made sense to him, and certainly someone like this Niley would set out different baits to lure his pursuers away from Richard.
All right, this was not good. Straightening himself, he thought about leaving. Richard absolutely could not be here, and he was not exactly a warrior. Hearing someone behind him, he looked around and stared in surprise at The Wicked Truth.
“What are you doing here?” he asked the brothers.
“Followed the magic,” Truth answered and gave his brother a wary look. “What is going on?”
“I think we are being lured away from where Richard is really being held,” Requiem answered. “And whatever is here is not…friendly?”
“Indeed,” Wicked agreed. “We’ve already had a run in with one of Niley’s friends.” Stepping away from his brother and Requiem, he opened his mind and felt for whatever was beckoning to them. Looking back at Truth, he asked, “Stay and see what it is?”
“Will it help us find Richard?” Requiem asked.
“If we take it alive,” Truth answered. He drew his sword and smiled. “How many, brother?”
“Enough for each of us to have one,” Wicked answered with a savage grin.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Niley frowned, a cold rage burning in his brain as Carman stood over Richard and studied him. “I don’t need you here,” he growled and let his anger trail out over her.
Carman chuckled sarcastically and said, “So far all you have done is rape the Ulfric. You have made no effort to capture or kill the Executioner.” She ran her hand over the hot brown skin. Even bloodied she could see he was beautiful. “I think you have sufficiently broken his mind. You can leave him alone and concentrate on finding Anita Blake.”
Niley glared at the demon and shook his head. “I will rape Richard until he dies, if I want.”
“And you WILL find the executioner and kill her!” Carman hissed venomously at him. “That and that alone is why you were permitted to come back.” Curling her nails around Richard’s throat, she said, “If he is too much of a distraction to you, he can be removed.” She tightened her grip on Richard’s windpipe, and he gasped even in his drugged state. But she released him before he suffocated. “If you want to keep your pretty toy, you better find Blake and do what you said you would do.”
Richard swallowed hard. Anita? Anita was in trouble? Christ, he hurt! The woman disappeared, and Niley was next standing over him. Niley caressed his cheek and said, “I won’t let her hurt you.” Richard trembled and tried to sink back into the protective nothingness of the drugs. What was going on? He was vaguely aware of Jean-Claude. Anita. Anita was in danger.

Wicked smiled as he led his brother and Requiem towards whatever it was, but then the sensation stopped. Jerking back around, he snarled, “I think we’ve been made fools of!”
“Detained for certain,” Requiem agreed. He could hear crickets now and the chippering of a night bird. “What do you gentlemen suggest we do now?”
“Keep looking!” Wicked answered angrily.
“Finding Asher might be easier,” Truth suggested.
“And why would I want to find Asher?” Wicked growled.
“He might be in danger,” Requiem answered. “If you had not shown up, I believe I would have been in great trouble.”
“Maybe,” Truth said. “What say you, Brother? Look for Asher or keep looking for Richard? Time is working against us.”
Wicked looked away. “Maybe Asher does need us,” he finally decided with a heavy sigh. Looking back at Truth, he said, “This sucks!”
“Yes, but at least we now know where Richard is not.”
“And that is a good thing,” Requiem added. When the brothers looked at him, he took a step back. He knew what they thought of him, and in a way it did bother him, but he was never going to be warrior, ever. He had accepted that fact a hundred years ago. He had had plenty of time to come to terms with it.