Banshee Part 8
I watched as the seer turned in place, eyes focusing on the cases one by one, lips starting to curve in a faint frown. "There was someone here- someone who didn't want to be seen."
Biting back a growl, I asked: "A dragon?"
"No." The seer inhaled deeply, shaking his head. "Not a dragon. But someone who has been here often."
"Can you see who?"
"Not yet. They are fearful- the fear is hanging in the air- and so is reluctance-they don't want to do this- but- something-something bad will happen if they don't-"
So whoever it was that had caused that case to fall hadn't wanted to help, hm? Easy enough to guess who was threatening them.
"The spell is easy to break, the case is set to fall- but- they- ah! She set another spell- to lighten the case-"
Well, that explained why Duo had escaped serious injury, but my cousin had still been bruised. Whoever this 'she' was would still have to answer for that.
"She's hoping that it will be enough to satisfy him, that he won't ask her to do anything like this again, that it's enough of a failure so she won't be used- but enough that someone else won't be hurt because of her-"
"So there's a hostage involved?"
"I think so- something like that anyway. I can't see her face- she spelled herself to be invisible- I can only get impressions. She's elven of some type I think- her magic tastes like theirs- but she's not worried by all the cold iron." The seer turned away from the cases and gave me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry Trowa, that's the most I can see here."
"That's fine for now, Iz. At least we have some idea of who did this and why." I already had a pretty good idea of who was pulling the strings on the reluctant assassin.
Iz ran his fingers through his hair and blinked rapidly for a moment, pulling his sight back to the here and now. "How is Duo? He is all right?"
"He'll be fine."
"Unless whoever did this is gets threatened into making another, better attempt."
"I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen." I widened my mouth into a toothy grin. "That's why I'm running a little errand for the Matriarch this evening. May I show you out?"
"Of course." Iz followed me out to the balcony and watched as I sealed the door to the archive. He gave me a penetrating look. "Be careful, Trowa. Deliver your message quickly and then come home."
It wasn't wise to disregard a warning from a seer. "Anything else?"
Much to my surprise, Iz smiled. "I'd tell you not to have too much fun, but.... I know dragons."
"Oh," I slid into my dragon form and spread my wings. "That was a given."
~*~
Dearest, I hate to bother you now of all times, but I need you to do something.
I opened my eyes and blinked. Heero was sleeping beside me, his breath soft and even in my ear.
Whatever you ask of me, Matriarch. I replied formally and heard her laugh.
I think you'll like this one, love. I need a message delivered to the Head of the Grove. Trowa has already agreed to go and deliver it. Now that Heero has told you about the power he's given you- I want you to go too. I think Zechs needs to see what's happened.
My lips curved in a smile. Already a chance to go and give Zechs some bruises? I was all for it.
No bruising unless he asks for it, sweetheart. If he does, then feel free. But I'd rather you and Trowa go in deliver your message and leave quickly. The bruising can happen later.
Understood.
Trowa will be on Heero's balcony in three minutes. Slip out to meet him- don't wake Heero up. I don't want to worry him and I don't want him anywhere near Zechs.
Carefully, I brushed a kiss over Heero's cheek in silent apology. He didn't stir as I slipped out of bed, grabbed my clothes and went down to the balcony. Trowa was there, his green scales lined in silver from the moonlight. He gave me a toothy grin as I changed forms.
"I had meant to comment on your new accessory, Duo," he said with a twinkle at the ring in my ear, very visible in my dragon form. "I'm sure Zechs will be very jealous when he sees it."
"Oh, I'm hoping he is," I said as we launched ourselves into the air.
~*~
I ducked back into the kitchen and put my hand on the shoulder of my shuddering waitress. "It's all right, Sylvia," I told her, as my cook applied a minor healing spell to Sylvia's twisted wrist. "I will do the serving for that table tonight. You simply stay away."
She looked up at me, her eyes shimmering with angry tears. "Then he'll just do this to you, Quatre!" She spat out. "It's not fair!"
"No, but there is no law that says he has to be fair."
"Well, there should be," she grumbled and I had to laugh.
"I agree. In the meantime, we just have to deal with it."
She muttered something else and subsided. I was glad- I trusted my staff, but any one of them could be a spy for Zechs- willing or unwilling. I didn't want Sylvia to be in danger because of a few words spoken in anger.
Of course, she shouldn't be in danger just because someone else was feeling thwarted and couldn't control his temper. He must've heard about the botched attempt in the archive. Damn him anyway...
Though I had to wonder- did he truly want it to succeed? Or was he aiming for scaring Heero out- or for making the dragons toss Heero out? Either way, messing with the Compound wasn't the brightest of ideas, but Zechs wasn't used to losing.
I stepped out of the kitchen, hoping that this one small incident would be it for the evening. Hopefully Zechs would calm down once he'd eaten and spent some time in the company of his sycophants.
In the meantime, I made my way over to his table, intent on being pleasant and hopefully keeping him too busy to assault anyone else on my staff.
He saw me coming and I saw an amused expression slide over his features. Zechs enjoyed inconveniencing me, despite our shared blood- or maybe because of it.
Just before I reached his table, I saw his expression change. It darkened into something that looked like fury- and for a moment I paused and wondered what I'd done to cause that look on his face. Then I realized that the look was directed behind me...
I turned and my heart stopped.
Trowa had just entered the club, Duo a step behind him.
Were they insane?!
Trowa was bad enough- but I had managed to convince Zechs to let me handle him- but Duo?
Moving quickly, I intercepted them before they had made it ten steps into the club. "Trowa, Duo, this isn't the best time-"
"The Matriarch sent us, Quatre." Trowa smiled at me. "We have a message for the Head of the Grove."
Oh. "I see. Please step into my office then. I will see if he will speak to you there." I didn't dare let them go up to him now- there were humans in the club tonight, blissfully ignorant of the tensions around them, and I wanted to keep it that way. I hoped I'd be able to...
"Very well." Trowa headed for my office and I hurried to Zechs' table.
"Quatre-" His hand shot out when I got close to him, his fingers closing painfully around my elbow. "What do you think-"
"They have a message for you- from the Matriarch."
That stopped him for a moment. "Oh? So that's why you sent them away?"
"I sent them to my office- it seemed a better setting than out here-" I gestured around me at the crowd of humans dancing and drinking.
"I suppose you're right." He got to his feet and a few of his entourage rose as well. For a moment I thought he was going to dismiss them, but instead he started off towards my office. I managed to get my elbow free and move a step ahead of him to clear the way.
When I opened the door, I discovered the dragons had made themselves at home. Trowa was leaning against my desk, and Duo had reverted to dragon form, a sinuous ebony form curled over my sofa. I had seen Trowa's form before of course, but not Duo's.
Did Zechs really want to pick a fight with something like that?
"You have a message for me?" Zechs growled, dropping into my desk chair. The rest of the group ringed themselves behind him. I stayed by the door, hoping that if things went bad I could get the dragons out at least...
"The Matriarch sends her greetings," Trowa turned slightly, his lips curled up in something that wasn't a smile. "She would like to remind you that Sanctuary is inviolate and any action against those in her care is considered an act of war."
"This reminder is unnecessary. I haven't violated Sanctuary, even though she has taken something that belonged to me. The banshee is mine."
I blinked. I hadn't expected Zechs to be quite so blunt.
"I think the Matriarch would disagree that Heero belongs to you. Slavery is against our beliefs," Trowa countered.
"He's of an elven race and belongs with us."
"He's found his mate with us, and therefore is part of our clan."
"What?! That's impossible!" Zechs stood up, his anger clear on his face. "He's a banshee- they only choose-"
"His magic chose me." Duo slid away from the sofa, leaning over the desk to face Zechs, his head tilting to the side. The light caught the ring on his ear and I saw Zechs choke.
"It can't-"
"It did. So-" Duo's jaw gaped and his teeth shone, "stay away from him."
Zechs inhaled and I saw him fight down his urge to lash out. Why? It wasn't like him to control himself. What had restrained him? "Then the Free Nation is no friend of the Grove. We forbid any of our kin to mingle with yours- any who live in the Compound are now outcast- and any who associate with or are suspected of associating with the Free Nation will be severely punished."
I saw the look Zechs cast towards me and I knew I was going to be made an example of- someone who had associated with the Free Nation- even if I never saw Trowa after this moment.
Hell if I cared. I wouldn't regret my time with Trowa, no matter what happened.
~*~
I saw a few of Zechs' pets look scared at his declaration. Good. The elfkin needed to rethink their loyalty to this leader.
In the meantime, I needed to finish the Matriarch's errand as she had asked me to do.
"As you wish. I will relay your message to the Matriarch and the Compound." I gave Duo a look and he slid off of Quatre's desk, reverting to his human form.
"As will I," he said and gave Zechs a brief nod. Then he headed for the door, snagging Quatre's arm on the way. "Show us out, elfkin," he said and I followed quickly after, slamming the door behind us.
We had reached the outside before Quatre finally protested. "What-"
"You're coming with us," Duo told him, his hand still on Quatre's arm. "The Matriarch has extended an invitation to you-"
"She doesn't know me-"
"I told her about you," I explained, following them into the alley. "We aren't leaving you there. Are you insane? Did you miss that look Zechs gave you? You know damn well he's planning on making an example of you."
"Yes, but it might not be bad-"
"Are you kidding? He said severely punished. So no, you aren't staying." I snapped, switching into dragon form. "He's not going to touch you again."
"Trowa-"
Before he could finish, Duo tossed him lightly onto my back. I rose into the air quickly and felt Quatre grab hold before he fell off.
Duo rose after us, his dark shape nearly invisible in the night sky.
"Sneaky dragons," Quatre muttered against my scales.
"Of course," I agreed, and headed towards home.
TBC...
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