Satin Bruises

Reilly finally finished the spreadsheets for Jean-Claude's monthly spending. She discovered that his former financial adviser had been embezzling money, had him fired, and requested a list of accountants from a trusted accounting/stock broking firm. Just as she set the email, Jean-Claude slid quietly back into his office.

"When did you leave?" Reilly asked, rubbing her eyes. Jean-Claude sat on the corner of his desk and gave her the ghost of a smile.

"After the memory," he started quietly. "You started working...very diligently. When I tried to touch you, you pulled away. You had shut down. So, I decided to leave you to your work. I stopped in every few minutes to check on you."

Reilly grinned guiltily, rising from the desk and approaching the flawless vampire. Jean-Claude pulled her into his chest.

"I even went and checked on your sister and son."

"Are they alright?"

"Believe me, they are in very capable hands," Jean-Claude whispered into her hair. Reilly sighed heavily, finally feeling exhausted. She yawned against the vampires hard, porcelain chest as he picked her up smoothly, carrying her to his bedchambers once more. He laid her down evenly, took off her shoes, and pulled the covers over her. Then, he leaned over her and kissed her forehead.

"Sleep soundly mon charme. I shall return shortly," he breathed in her ear. Reilly rolled over on her side, facing him with her eyes closed.

"You aren't coming to bed?" she yawned again.

"Oh no, dear heart. I have some business to tend to. If you like, I'll send for Asher."

Reilly nodded slightly before slipping off into a deep sleep. Jean-Claude smirked and kissed her once more before leaving her to find Asher, who was lounging in his own chambers, immersed in a copy of Faust. The blonde glanced up from his book and smiled.

"I must depart for a short time," Jean-Claude said quickly, hinting ever so slightly at his plans. "Would you be so kind as to go lay with our lady while I'm gone?"

Asher's eyebrows knitted together in confusion, but he nodded briefly as he got out of his chair. Jean-Claude turned to leave, Asher's voice stopped him.

"This is about the lion isn't it?" Asher asked sullenly. Jean-Claude turned around slowly and faced him.

"No, this is about a defenseless woman being taken advantage off. This is about putting a monster in it's place."

"Jean-Claude, she is far from defenseless."

"Are you saying that I should just let this go? I should just let this...animal wreak havoc on these women? You know as well as I do that Haven will not stop until he has the boy. I also know that, in our own century, this behavior would not have been tolerated. He would be dead by now."

Asher nodded once more, understanding that Jean-Claude was on the proverbial war path and nothing would deter him. Jean-Claude turned around again and left the room.

Jean-Claude left the Circus, deciding to search for Haven on foot. Wearing soft leather pants and a pressed white, collared, button up, dress shirt, he quickly made his way down the sidewalk. Strangers glanced at him as he pressed passed them. His senses flared slightly as a were lion passed him hurriedly. Jean-Claude stopped in his tracks, paused, then turned quickly to follow the young man. When the were lion noticed the Master of the City following him, he sped up and cast a nervous glance over his shoulder.

The vampire caught up with the lion and caught him by the arm, dodging into an alleyway. He shoved him against the wall and held him there with a hard hand on the lion’s chest. The young man stared at him in shock.

“Where is Haven?” Jean-Claude growled furiously. The lion looked around, terrified. Jean-Claude shook him harshly and repeated the question. The bedraggled lion spilled his guts.

“He’s at Forty-8,” the lion mumbled incoherently. Jean-Claude smiled and let the boy go. The lion ran down the alley. Jean-Claude called out to the lion, who skid to a stop.

“You better hope you get there before me,” Jean-Claude whispered, sending the other man on his way. Jean-Claude turned and made his way towards the night club.

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The very air around Forty-8 pulsed. Young people in various states of inebriation and undress filled the surrounding industrial area, all talking and laughing loudly. Music thumped through the night, and Jean-Claude’s lip curled. This was so tawdry, he could smell vomit and drugs on the air, he made his way to the former warehouse, dodging around the children effortlessly. He glided through them, unnoticed, creeping in behind the bouncer, to enter the dark room. Lights pulsed, bodies vibrated around him, and he was assaulted by the heat and energy. With a critical glance around the room, Jean-Claude pushed into the crowd, bodies parting around him as they sensed the predator in their midst. No one looked at the evil angel cutting through their dancing.

It didn’t take long for the vampire to spot Haven. He was the only other supernatural thing in the area, and it showed. Haven watched the crowd, predatory. His eyes scanned the crowd, turning every woman into a meal, and every man into an obstacle to cut through. The lion threw his head back, inhaling hugely, teeth gleaming weirdly in the multicolored lighting. He shook his hair out, laughing maniacally into the musically polluted air. The vampire tensed, muscles cording. Jean-Claude decided his death was going to be slow. The vampire could feel his mouth twist into a smile as he slipped through the crowd like a needle through lace, and the lion hadn’t even noticed him yet.

Jean-Claude moved intently through the crowd, smiling charmingly at the women who tried to pick him up. These women, beautifully trashy, made Jean-Claude feel filthy. He could feel his supernatural skin crawl. He would have a bath when he got back to the Circus, Reilly would join him. Hiding his distaste, he continued on to Haven, who was still completely unaware of the vampire’s presence until he was right behind him. The lion turned around and nearly leapt out of his skin when he met Jean-Claude’s eyes, furious and gleaming. He turned to flee, but Jean-Claude grasped his wrist painfully and growled.

“You will suffer for what you’ve done,” Jean-Claude hissed audibly. The woman Haven was dancing with glared at the tall man and flinched away when Jean-Claude glared at her in return. As the woman slinked away, Jean-Claude pulled Haven through the crowd, nearly shattering the lions wrist. Haven’s heart pounded in his chest. When Jean-Claude made it outside, Haven began asking questions.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

Jean-Claude spun around. “You raped a young woman, and now you are going to torture her by asking to be in her sons life? I don’t know why you think this is right, but either way, you’re going to pay for your sins.”

“That child is half mine! I have a right!”

“Reilly had a right to say no!” Jean-Claude snapped. “And you snatched that away from her! Now, I’m snatching your rights away permanently.”

He continued to drag the lion down the street until he found what he was looking for. An abandoned warehouse that he “owned”. The vampire dragged Haven inside and searched for the specific room that would be perfect for this particular…situation.

Jean-Claude finished quickly, grinning as he finished his work. Almost gleeful, he left the room, Haven whimpering piteously providing a lovely counterpoint to the electronic beeps from his cell phone. The phone rang several times, before Reilly’s sleep muddled voice came from the other end.

“Darling, is something wrong?” She asked, Asher’s protests muffled as she slid out of the bed. Jean-Claude grinned, and glanced behind him.

“Nothing wrong, cherie,” he chuckled, “I have a gift for you.”

“A gift?” Reilly asked, voice becoming more clear.

“Have Asher direct you to my warehouse, he will know the one I mean,” Jean-Claude said, positively purring into the phone. Reilly agreed, hanging up. Jean-Claude walked outside, glad once again that he had purchased this particular warehouse. With a gulp of the night air, Jean-Claude pondered the approaching lady. Thus far she had been so much more than Anita, in every way. Would she appreciate what he had tried to do for her? Or would she be judgmental? Would she run? He turned at the approaching car, amused by the carburetor in the vintage vehicle.

Asher was out of the vehicle first, eyes resting worriedly on Jean-Claude. Why they had come to this particular warehouse was beyond him, but Asher could understand the need to test the young woman. A need to see if she would fail them as completely as Anita had. Asher squeezed Jean-Claude’s arm as he passed, affectionate, warning, and he melted into the warehouse to see what his lover had done. Reilly approached warily, eying the building, accessing the isolated location. Jean-Claude could see her mind clicking through possibilities. He took her hand, and led her wordlessly into the building. Reilly clung to his hand, totally blind in the cavernous building.

Asher stood waiting in the room with Haven, back to them. Jean-Claude could clearly see the tension in his shoulders, the line of his body wary. Jean-Claude came to a stop.

“Cher,” he said quietly, “would you give us some light?” Asher nodded jerkily, moving to the dangling switch. The harsh fluorescent flooded the room, burning the scene into sharp relief. Haven was naked, bound in fetal position. Silver chains roped around the shiver were, set into heavy bolts in the concrete flooring. Blood pooled on the unforgiving surface, though the offending wounds had long healed on his shifter skin. Reilly let out a little gasp, and her fingers tensed around Jean-Claude’s hand. Asher tensed also, watching her as she looked at the bound man. Jean-Claude was beginning to regret this decision. Could Asher handle another rejection? He dared to look down into Reilly’s face. He eyes were wide and dark, mouth dropped open in an ‘o’ of shock. Her breathing seemed to stutter in her lungs, and Jean-Claude could hear her heart ratchet up several beats. Asher frowned, looking to Jean-Claude. Both were puzzled. Reilly startled them both by speaking.

“He’s completely secure?” She asked, eyes never leaving the panting were.

“Completely,” Jean-Claude agreed, watching as she tentatively moved toward Haven. Reilly got within a few feet of Haven, kneeling down to look into his face. She reached out a hand, brushing his dyed hair gently. Making a face, Reilly pulled back, hand damp with his sweat. He looked up at her, eyes bleary and red.

“Reilly,” He said, sounding husky. She flinched, standing.

“Haven,” she said, voice colorless.

“Reilly, please,” he said, the angle making it impossible for him to look up at her.

“Please what?” She asked, stepping back.

“Please help me,” he said, more a demand than a plea. Reilly looked down at him, backing away a step. She stood and looked down at Haven for a few moments, silent. Jean-Claude and Asher exchanged looks again. Reilly smiled, and then abruptly kicked Haven as hard as she could in the face. The lion grunted, nose broken, blood spurting from his face. Reilly turned to face Jean-Claude then, face alive with vindictive glee. She walked across the room, and wrapped herself around her lover. She was shaking slightly, and Jean-Claude could feel the heat of her body in a burning line. She released him quickly, stepping back.

“And he belongs to me?” Reilly asked, looking up at Jean-Claude. Something welled up in him as he looked down at her face, and he nodded once. She looked relieved, and reached up to cup his face.

“Thank you,” she whispered. Asher looked stunned and pleased, and as he looked at the tableau before him. He moved forward, and when he reached Jean-Claude and Reilly, she reached out a hand, and pulled him into their circle as Haven bled behind them.