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A Deeper Shade Of Black	By : Ginkies Category: Anita Blake > Het Views: 1108 -:- 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.

Chapter List
- 1-A Deeper Shade Of Black
- 1
A Deeper Shade of Black
My names Jazz, Jasmine Matthew-Jones. I am a member of the supernatural security and protection division of the British army. To break it down I am a police officer, detective who deals with the vamps and monster who came to Britain when the international laws of the un-dead came to pass. I work following the moves of the master vampire of the UK. His name is King William. Yeah I know, King? Well he has set up a royal system in the UK. In America they have masters in the major cities, but nothing like the system here. Lately we have been getting a lot of intelligence saying King William and his second in command, Prince John are going to visit the USA to meet with the most powerful vamps. Jean-Claude’s name was mentioned, this was bad news. Jean-Claude is the master of St.Lousie and his human servant is one Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter. They have a complicated relationship. I knew as soon as his name was mentioned I would have to ring her.
*Ring...Ring* I hate phones, you can’t see how people react, yet you can still hear the reaction. I much rather write a letter.
*Ring...Ring* this was going to end up on the answer machine, I just knew it.
*Ring...*Click* Hello-*
"Hello?" It was Anita, she was out of breath but awake.
"Hey Anita its Jazz, Jazz Matthew-Jones?" I asked more than said in case she didn’t remember.
"JAZZ!" She almost screamed my name.
"Yeah that’s me." I said moving the receiver closer to my ear again.
"I need to talk to you."
"Wait shouldn't I be the one saying that?" This was strange.
"Listen Jazz, William is-
"Meeting Jean-Claude in 3 days, I know. That’s why I rang." I cut her off.
"Well when do you get in?" Anita was an amazing woman, so strong and talented. But in our line of work you don’t really get many females, so I and Anita have a strange bond. The only two girls in a mans world. We kick there arses!
"Let me check the flights, but probably tomorrow morning. We can talk about the plans then." I said then we hung up. I walked over to my boss’s room. Rick Coleman, a tall strong man, muscles bigger then my head. But a fair mind and strong heart. So it made him a good guy.
"What Jazz?" He asked in his booming voice.
"Well...We tracked William to America." I said with a fake smile, it was met with a straight face.
"She is helping you isn't she?" A cold and harsh voice came out of his mouth.
"Anita is the best in America, plus we both know that if we don’t get her help Jean-Claude won’t play ball and then we have nothing. No way to get the death sentence for William." I said rolling my hands in the air. Rick watched my little speech then waited a few minutes to speak.
"Fine, but take Luke with you." Then he waved me out of the door. I nodded, I would have much preferred to be alone, but if I had to go with someone Luke was the best. I wondered over to his desk, he was asleep on it. In all fairness it was 3 in the morning. He was small for a guy, the same height as me, and I was 5-3. He had black hair at the moment but it changed regularly, he had deep brown eyes and was pretty cute. It was almost a shame he was engaged to Lynda who matched him perfectly. I felt bad for waking him up.
"Luke, wake up." I said softly pushing him. He mumbled and went back to sleep.
"LUKE!" I shouted slapping his arm. That got him up.
"WHAT? WHAT?!" He jumped up from his desk and looked around. I couldn't help but burst into laughed. He scowled at me and sat back down.
"I hate you Jazz." He said folding his arms over his chest.
"I love you too. Luke we are going to America." I said sitting on the edge of his desk.
"No, no you’re going. I'm staying here. I'm having a week alone while Lynda's in Paris. I'm not giving up my free roam of my house for you." He said leaning back in his chair.
"I didn't want you to come; Rick said you have to go." I said pointing towards the office. Luke sighed.
"Great. I'll meet you at the airport, when?" He asked getting up.
"3 hours?"
"3 HOURS!" He shouted the hung his head muttering to himself. "Fine."
I hate airport especially ones with stupid America rent a cops who think they know better. We got stuck in the airport for 2 hours trying to explain who we were and that we had permission to bring guns and knives on the plane. When we finally got out, all I wanted to do was sleep. But my eyes fell on a familiar leather coat-no sleep for Jazz-great.
"Anita." I said as she took one of my bags. "This is Luke Axe; he is here for a holiday."
"Hey." Luke said putting on his sunglasses.
"Hello." Anita said flashing him a friendly smile. Then she turned her attention to me. "Williams here already, been here a week. And the mortality rates rose too, who’d a thunk it?"
"Well we need to catch him in the act so we can kill him." I hated William with a passion. A strong passion.
"We need sleep." Luke said suddenly changing the topic. He knew just how I felt; he lost his sister and mother to William. I hadn't lost anyone; I didn’t have anyone to lose thank God.
"Your right, I pulled some strings and got you both rooms in a nice hotel not far from the police station." Anita walked us to the car and put the bags in the back. The drive to the hotel was friendly, it was mainly me and Anita talking about what had happened since we met last. It didn’t take long for Luke to fall asleep.
"So do you still get the dreams?" Anita asked not taking her eyes off the road. I don’t think she really wanted to ask, more had to for her safety.
"Yes. I can still see the attack clearly; even hear the apology ring in my ears." I said looking our of the passenger side window.
"How’s your control?" She asked still refusing to even glance at me.
"It doesn’t even come to me. Its not even part of me. It’s nothing." I said in a cold voice. I didn’t like how the convocation was going. I hit back-verbally of course.
"Do you still sleep with Jean-Claude?" I spit out the question, it came out stronger than I would like.
"OK I'll give you that one, I'm sorry I pissed you off. But you know I need to ask."
"What I need is to find it, kill it and I'll be fine."
"So you don’t even want to know why it apologised." Now she was glancing at me.
"No." I said looking at her face. The car ride went in silence after that.
When we finally reached the hotel and got booked in we crashed in our rooms.
"I'll call for you around 5; it gives us some time to talk before sun down." Anita said glancing between me and Luke. I nodded and Luke grunted then walked into his room.
"I'm sorry about in the car, really Jazz I am." Anita said putting a hand on my arm.
"Me too. Friends?" I asked smiling, she nodded and I walked into my room.
The room was nice, small living room and nice bed. Bed now that’s what I really needed. I dumped my bags and just fell on the bed. I check the time and set my alarm for half an hour before Anita was going to call. I took one deep breath and went to sleep.
My dream was all too familiar...
The beat of bass from the rock music pulsed threw me. I loved bass since I knew what music was. My body was swaying in time my mind truly free. A noticed a guy watching me dance, his eyes were emerald green they were breath taking. I smile at him but didn’t move towards him, that’s just not done. I carried on dancing not watching him, too much. The song changed and I looked for him, but he was gone. I shrugged it off and continued to dance. It was getting late when someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"Hello." His voice was deep, sexy, amazing. I turned and met his eye. My breath taken away all I could do is smile like a giggly school girl.
"Hi." I finally managed to cough out. He laughed a rich warm laugh. Dimples formed in his cheeks and his dark brown hair bounced with his laugh. We started to dance, our bodies inches away from each other. I stared into his eyes and felt myself get lost, I mean really lost. I blinked and we were in a bed.
"What?" I whispered out as he kissed my neck. When he heard my words he froze.
"Jazz?" His voice scared.
"Who are you? What’s going on?" I asked starting to push him off me. He just suddenly screams, so much pain in that one scream, so much hurt.
"I'm sorry." He said before his hands ran down my back, only they weren't hands, they were claws. Razor sharp, killing claws. I screamed until I passed out.
I shot up bolt straight, breathlessly, sweating like crazy. I took some slow breaths and calmed myself. There was a knock on the door. I walked over and opened it.
"You ok?" Luke asked gun hidden but to hand.
"Just a bad dream, sorry." He wasn’t looking at my face, but my shoulder.
"What?" I asked glancing that way. My shoulder was covered in blood, there were claw marks. It was just a dream...right?
"What happened Jazz?" Luke asked forcing his way into the room. I shut the door and glanced at the clock. I would have had to get up in 5 mins anyway-not a total loss.
"Nothing. I must have caught myself on something." I said sighing. I knew what had happened. I knew exactly what was happening, but I just didn't know why.
"Jazz come on, I'm not stupid." Luke said putting his hand gun back into his shoulder holster, his shirt un-buttoned showing off his well toned 6 pack. I wondered how the holster didn’t irritate him and just figured it was still adrenaline working.
"Luke, just drop it ok? I need a shower and get ready to go out. You stopping here tonight? We're going to scope out the place and meet up with Jean-Claude." When all else fails, change the topic, life taught me never to fight a battle when you can just run away. Luke knew what I was doing; he gave me one of those hard as nails looks, waiting for me to spill. I didn’t.
"Fine. Do you need my help?" He asked sighing, also realising when to stop pushing, smart man. Why couldn't I find one of them? Luke was an expert in zombies, we were all experts. My speciality I hear you cry, Lycanthropy or werewolves to most people.
"Not expecting any zombies, but I'll call if we need you." I said smiling softly. He sighed again and walked out. Now all I had to do was get cleaned up, hide massive marks from Anita and more importantly Jean-Claude who could smell them, and find and kill the most powerful vamp in living history. Easy...right? Who was I kidding; I'd be dead by the end of the week. I laughed to myself and went to get cleaned up.
I don’t mind showers, in fact the hotter the better. But today it stung like hell. Fresh water on fresh wounds. I had to bite my lip so hard to stop from screaming. It was like this the first time round. The intense pain, the screaming that was almost inhuman. This time the pain faded faster. The water hot enough to scold my skin, yet apart from the pain of the cleaning I didn’t feel it. After I was clean I bandaged myself the best I could. There was no way I could hide the fresh blood from Jean-Claude I would just have to hope he kept stum. I put on my black t-shirt with Bite Me wrote in fake blood font over the front, dark jeans and my wrist guard. I didn’t take weapons out with me, just the odd blade. Most people in our profession agreed guns were the best method, but with guns you generally had to hide them, and that meant coats. In St. Louise coats where not an option for me. I was melting in what I had on. God knows how Anita wonders round in a full length leather jacket.
We met down in the lobby of the hotel around 5. Anita was dressed in her deep blue polo shirt and jeans with the coat hiding the guns.
"No Luke?" She asked stretching as she stood from a chair.
"I don’t want him involved if I can help it." I said messing with my brown hair. I had it cut recently and it was too short, it was on my shoulders and looked nice, just wasn't long enough for me. Anita gave me a look.
"Really?" She said smiling.
"It’s not like that! He's engaged and I'd like to get him back in one piece." I said rolling my eyes at her. She nodded, Anita understood what it was like to want to protect someone, make them feel safe.
"So where are we heading to?" I asked walking to her car. Anita seemed a little distracted, maybe she was, and maybe I just didn’t speak loud enough. I let it go and followed in silence. To be honest I liked the time to think. I wondered what life would hold for women like us, would we ever find a man who is human, alive? Anita had fallen for Jean-Claude a long time before I met her. I think she would do almost anything to be with him-almost anything. I hadn't had a real relationship since I joined the SSPD. Men seem to be scared of women with power, be that natural or supernatural.
"The Laughing Corpse." Anita said pointing to the club we were walking to. I didn’t realise we had gone so far into vamp town.
"Huh? Funny name..." I said sarcastically as I saw the queue of humans waiting to get in.
"It'll make you laugh to death." Anita joked rolling her eyes.
"Ok, this Jean-Claude’s place?" I asked as I noticed the vamps as bouncers. Anita just nodded then went to the front of the line. We got tons of dirty looks, if only looks could kill.
"Hey Anita, he's in the office, your friend?" The bouncer flashed me his fangs, I think he was hoping for the shocked little girl routine. I wasn't in the mood.
"Yeah, she's an executioner too Frank." Anita said laughing as we walked into the club. Frank gave me a very unhappy look then decided not to waste his energy on me and flashed his fangs towards the queue. He got the girly screams he wanted. The club was full to break point of people. When I say people I really mean humans, living, breathing humans. They were all watching a couple of vampire trying to do magic tricks. They were the kid your granddad does when your two, the old coin from the ear stuff. They had a slim blonde woman and like an idiot she looked shocked when the coin appeared.
“Are they... you know?” I asked trying not to upset any of the vamps.
“Yeah, they are all hypnotised. Come on Jean-Claude’s room is this way.” Anita said walking passed the bar and down a small corridor, all the walls were blood red. I wondered if it was for style reasons or hunger ones. It would be rude to ask, but I just might if Jean-Claude didn’t tell us anything. I followed Anita down the dark red corridor until we reached a nice deep oak door. One light knock, just loud enough to hear over the laughed and she walked in. Jean-Claude as always looked like he was expecting us. He was sat at his desk arms crossed and a small smile on his face. His dark curls fell down his face leading to his open lacy shirt and I presumed some form of trousers.
“Ma petite it is good to see you. I see you brought a friend this time.” He said in a sexy voice. Anita nodded and sat in one of the chairs. I stood behind Anita, I hoped he wouldn’t smell the blood if he was so far away from me. “Is she nervous of me, Ma petite?” He laughed.
“I think Jazz is scoping you out, deciding which is better, sitting or standing.” Anita said not looking away from Jean-Claude. He looked at me but I didn’t look into his eyes. No human can look into vampire’s eyes without becoming under their spell so to speak. Most people instantly fall under their mind control, some like Anita, I and Luke are born with the ability to fight it off for a short while. There are only a two exceptions to this rule. If you are bitten three times by a vampire and survive you become their human servant, like Anita. The other reason is if you are a monster in another way, such as me being a lycanthrope. I didn’t want Jean-Claude to know so I chose to look at the floor.
“Well,” Jean-Claude paused “Jazz” He didn’t sound too happy to say my first name. “Will you stand and see me as a threat or sit and see me as an equal?”
“I think its best to stand when in the company of a Master, no offence.” I said looking at his oak table. He laughed and then turned his attention back to Anita.
“So Ma petite, you wish to see me and I love your company, but I must ask what has caused you to come and see me.” He said softly and in rich smooth voice, it was clear to see why Anita was in love with him.
“We need information Jean-Claude. Miss Mathew-Jones needs your help.” Anita said and then turned to me. Standing behind the other chair I felt out of place but I was determined not to sit down. I glanced down to the oak desk again.
“Anita’s right. I work for the SSPD, supernatural security and protection division of the British army. We have been told that you are meeting with a vampire tomorrow night, a very nasty vampire.” I looked at Anita and she looked into Jean-Claude’s eyes.
“Well your information is correct Miss Mathew-Jones. I am meeting with William and his second John, but it is not your business so I bid you good night.” Jean-Claude stood and caught me off guard for a second, we met eyes. Shit. I glanced back down and turned to Anita.
“Jean-Claude, we need your help to bring him to justice. What’s he doing here?” Anita asked standing as well. Jean-Claude was still looking at me; I was waiting for him to spill the beans. Thankfully he turned to Anita.
“I do not trust your friend Anita. I would watch my back if I was you ma petite. I will talk to you alone, she must leave now.” Jean-Claude said looking towards me. Anita looked and I just nodded and walked out. I knew how to work with a partner and when it was safe to leave one behind or not. I knew Anita could handle Jean-Claude. I walked down the red corridor and out of the club. I took a deep breath as the cold air hit me. I decided to walk over to the car and wait for Anita to come. I knew I had messed up as soon as he looked in my eyes. I slammed my fist into a wall and made a hole. I didn’t feel anything; I looked at the hole then my fist. I was shocked by the power I had. My fist wasn’t even bleeding, I pushed the wall and it was very solid. I glanced up to the sky and saw a full moon. Lycanthrope’s change with the full moon, they go fluffy and kill. But since my attack I have never turned fluffy, which is a god send. I’ve never shown any signs of lycanthropia. It is something unnatural, in a world of unnatural things. I walked away from the wall and rested by the car until Anita showed up.
“Jean-Claude wants to speak to you. You don’t have to go and talk.” Anita said walking up to the car. I glanced up at her and she looked pissed.
“What’s wrong?” I asked feeling the need to apologise coming to my tongue.
“He told me what’s going on. It’s not good. Look if you want to talk with him go and I’ll explain it all afterwards.” She glanced around.
“Are you joining me?” I said moving back towards the club, she just nodded and walked by my side. Once we got to Jean-Claude’s door she let me go in alone, closing the door behind me. Jean-Claude was sat back behind his desk not smiling, not even showing any emotion.
“Miss Mathew-Jones, sit.” He wasn’t asking, but I don’t take orders that well, let alone from a vampire. I stared at Jean-Claude, right in his baby blues. “I must insist Miss Mathew-Jones that you sit down.”
“I’m good, thanks for asking though.” I said playing up the big tough girl routine. Jean-Claude sighed heavily and stood. I knew it wasn’t a good sigh but I stood my ground.
“Please sit down. I promised Anita I would not hurt you, but you push my patience.” Jean-Claude started to show a little anger. I had to hide a smile as I sat down; it was nice to know I could still break the emotionless act.
“So, what do you want?” I asked crossing my arms over my chest. Jean-Claude let out a small laugh.
“Direct, I like that. Miss Mathew-Jones you are a monster, with the fresh cuts on your back I’d say lycanthrope.” He paused wanting a reaction, he didn’t get one. “Tell me isn’t a full moon tonight?”
“Why yes I believe your right. Oh and it’s Jazz, please.” I said calmly. Jean-Claude looked puzzled for a second and then smiled, being careful not to show any fangs.
“Very well, Jazz, tell me one thing. Why are you not a werewolf now, trying to rip the flesh off my bones?” He was very to the point.
“Honestly your guess is as good as mine. Now is this all you wanted to talk about because I have a Master to kill and I need to prepare.” I stood from my chair.
“I know why.” He said slowly and watched for another reaction. I tried never to give away a reaction, they usually told the other person your next move and in my line of work it can be deadly.
“And are you in a sharing mood?” I asked still stood up from my chair. Jean-Claude passed me a card over the desk. It was for a dojo in the town, I let my face show puzzlement.
“Go talk to the master there, he can help you. And don’t worry about William and John; they will be in town for at least two more weeks. Tell ma petite I shall see her soon.” I took that as Jean-Claude’s way of saying gets lost. So I took the card for the dojo and walked out. Anita was sat at the bar talking to one of the vampires when I walked up to her.
“Ready to go or do you wants to stick around and listen to the jokes?” She asked pointing towards the stage where a vampire was telling knock-knock jokes. I just rolled my eyes and we walked out. Once we reached the car Anita drove off. She didn’t even let me put my seat belt on.
“What’s going on?” I asked putting the belt on as we drove out of the vampire part of town and back towards the hotel.
“There is going to be a war.” Anita said concentrating on the road. “Jean-Claude and a few other Master are planning to squash William’s hopes.”
“And by this you mean?” I asked sounding slow. I was feeling slow after my nice little talk with Jean-Claude.
“William and his second want to meet with the Master’s of all the major vamp cities to negotiate their surrender. William intends to take over the American un-dead underworld. Jean-Claude is a key point of Williams, old enemies. Anyway Jean-Claude is going to keep William in talks for a week or so until the other Masters can reach us here. We need to keep out of Jean-Claude’s way until the final fight. William thinks Jean-Claude will negotiate his surrender while before the other Master’s show for his little conference.” Anita was driving like a crazy woman and nearly broke my neck when she pulled up to the hotel.
“I’ll call you tomorrow maybe we can make a plan-“
“No give it a day. I need to get some leads. Take Luke for a nice little wonder round town.” Anita said and drove off. I walked up to the hotel and went straight to the elevators. I felt my cuts sting as I was waiting for the lift to arrive. I looked around the lobby but I couldn’t see anything unusual. I turned to the opening lift doors and my eyes changed, everything went black and white, but where a woman walked out of the lift there was a trail of purple behind her, her scent. She walked past me and I went into the lift and closed my eyes tight.
“I’m not insane, I’m not insane, and I’m not insane.” I said with my eyes closed tightly. I took a deep breath.
“Of course your not.” A voice said from behind me I spun around and opened my eyes. Everything was back to normal. In front of me stood a man, he had tinted glasses on, a smart suit and a small smile on his face, small dimples formed in his cheeks. I didn’t recognise him so decided to apologise for acting weird.
“Sorry, just that woman reminded me so much of someone back home.” I said leaning against the wall. The man smiled again and lowered his glasses to show emerald green eyes. I instantly backed up well as much as I could in a small lift.
“Don’t panic Jazz, I’m not going to hurt you again.” He said softly reaching out his hand to me.
“Damn right your not!” I said grabbing his arm and slamming him into the wall, leaving quite a dent. I spun him around and flung him in to another wall. He groaned and decided he’s had enough of it. He spun me with one arm and pulled me back so the he was pinning me against him face forward. He lent his head down to my ear and spoke softly again.
“I don’t want to hurt you Jasmine, please don’t struggle. You will make it so much easier if you just keep still.” Just as he finished talking the doors opened and it was my floor, Luke was stood waiting for the lift. I tried to shout for help but fell to the floor, a pain shooting up my spin and into my brain. It burned and pulsed as it reached my head. My world started to fade as Luke rushed over to me, he looked at me the whole time.
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A Deeper Shade Of Black