Satin Bruises

"And he gave you a raise, just like that?"

Raleigh looked at her twin complacently, admiring how the pantsuit she was wearing accentuated her tight body. A cascade of auburn curls piled almost down to her ass, and as Raleigh idly watched, she flicked just enough blush over the high cheekbones that they shared to make them glisten.

"Can I borrow those pants?" Raleigh asked, settling back into her chair.

Reilly threw a sharp glance over her shoulder at her sister, slightly marring the perfect mirror image of their faces.

"You still haven't given me back the last pair you borrowed! And as I recall, you also still owe me for those leather tights of mine you trashed during that raid on that cult in New Orleans. Are you going to get ready? We only have half an hour," Reilly returned to her make-up, outlining glistening sea-colored eyes in a deep gold shadow.

"I don't know why your panties are all in a bunch, I was just going to wear this," Raleigh answered, reaching for her beer on the table. The look her sibling was giving her was not at all friendly.

"First, you know for a fact I'm not wearing panties, ruins the line of the linen. Second, you know how important this is to us, and our family. We need this employer to be sympathetic, so the least I can be is professional. And third, if you didn't want to go, you could have said so. No need to be passive aggressive about it," Reilly smoothed the clumps out of her mascara and turned to the bedroom at large to continue the conversation.

Raleigh was perched on the queen sized mattress, bare feet dangling above the pile of red satin that were her mussed sheets. A feather comforter in a plush black duvet hung drunkenly off of her left side. Reilly was leaning against the mahogany vanity, huge mirror draped with theater lights and exotic postcards. A glamorous cavalcade of cremes and cosmetics littered the surface.

"I'm not letting you go alone to this thing, you should know better to even suggest it. He's not hiring me. All I have to do is watch your back tonight. Why are you in my room?" Raleigh asked, swinging her legs against the stacked mattress. Reilly quirked an eyebrow, and the two girls grinned at each other, comfortable in their banter.

"Pish, I'll be too busy watching your back to defend mine, maybe you'd better not come," Reilly teased, sauntering out into the hallway. Raleigh rolled her eyes and got up to follow her twin as she pulled her shirt on over her head.

"You ain't gotta watch my back," Raleigh answered defensively. "I am the strong one in this relationship."

"And I'm the smart one," Reilly retorted. "Are you seriously going like that?" she asked, eying her sisters jeans and printed t-shirt.

"Yeah. Got a problem?" the older twin huffed, donning her black and white Chuck Taylors.

Reilly shrugged her shoulders and grabbed the car keys. "Whatever, let's go."

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The twins arrived at a place called The Circus of the Damned, Raleigh had never heard of it, but Reilly said that it had been around St. Louis for a while. They entered the building by a side door, which lead them directly into the belly of the Circus. On the other side of the door, there stood a tall man with dark hair and a seasoned swimmers body.

"Can I help you ladies?" he said gruffly, folding his arms over his muscular chest, trying to look intimidating.

Raleigh raised her eyebrow and looked at her sister, who was somehow not drooling over the hunk of muscle. Reilly smiled politely, extending her hand. Raleigh imitated the bouncer comically, daring him to "get big".

"I'm Reilly Gallion and this is my sister Raleigh. We have an appointment with Jean-Claude."

The bouncer instantly softened. "Oh Miss Gallion, yes, Jean-Claude is waiting for you ladies in his office. I can escort you if you'd like."

"That would be very much appreciated," Reilly said, full of pep and energy. Raleigh stared at her sister, wondering how she could be flirting right before an interview. The half-clad man lead the girls down a long hallway, his hips swaying ever so slightly. Raleigh nudged Reilly to get her attention and jerked her head a little to tell her to look at the man's rear end. Reilly nodded, smiling hugely.

The girls tore their eyes away from the man's tush and glanced around. They descended a wide and slightly curved stone staircase that was lit lowly by wall sconces. The steps themselves were not quite as high as standard ones, giving the general look of a very gently sloped ramp. Whatever these stairs had been designed for originally had not been human. The two girls entered a large open hall, after passing through two heavy wood, steel bound doors. The walls were draped tastefully in a cream gauzy fabric that gave the impression of a huge picnic tent in the middle of a park. The room's inhabitants, however, did not. There were supernatural creatures at every turn. Here there were women painted from head to toe in tiger stripes or leopard spots, some with whips and others with collars. A young man with long black hair slid gracefully passed them. Behind him, there was a woman crawling on her hands and knees, a leash dangling from her leather collar. When Reilly met her eyes, the woman hissed angrily. The man jerked her forward, while Raleigh flipped her off, taunting her. The man caught Raleigh's eyes and winked at her, Raleigh winked back and added a flirty smile.

"I could put you on a leash," the man teased.

"You would have to fight for it," Raleigh threw back, blowing a quick kiss before turning back around to follow her sister and the bouncer who Raleigh decided then would be named Bubbles.

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Bubbles lead the girls down another, shorter staircase to a modest wooden door and gently knocked before pushing it open. He stuck his head into the office for a split second, then brought it back out.

"Okay, Jean-Claude isn't in his office right now, but you two can make yourselves comfortable and he will be with you shortly," Bubbles explained as he shoved the door all the way open, revealing an office with a modern feel and antique furniture. Somehow, the whole decor worked.

The girls smiled and made their way into the office. Reilly remained standing, her hands politely folded behind her back. Raleigh plopped into one of the comfortable, old leather chairs in front of the desk and crossed her legs. Bubbles stood in the doorway and asked if the girls would like some refreshments.

"Oh no, thank you," Reilly said politely.

"I would like a beer, if you..." Raleigh stopped speaking when Reilly shot her an icy glare. "On the other hand, a soda would be better, if you have any."

"What kind?" Bubbles inquired with a smile.

"Sprite will be fine," Raleigh answered. Bubbles nodded and left them alone. Reilly turned to her twin, livid.

"I can't believe your behavior!" Reilly hissed.

"What?! He asked if I wanted anything," Raleigh hissed back.

"Yeah, so you get a beer so my employer can see that my sister is a fucking alcoholic! Dammit all to Hell Raleigh!" Reilly snapped, balling her fists. Bubbles came back into the room with Raleigh's Sprite. He handed her the can, then placed a glass of ice on the table in front of her.

"I wasn't sure if you wanted ice or not," Bubbles said apologetically. "So I brought you some in a glass."

"That's sweet. Thank you, Bubbles," Raleigh said nicely. Bubbles stared at her briefly before laughing.

"Bubbles? Seriously?" He giggled.

"That is quite the intriguing nickname," a new voice purred. Everyone in the office stilled and turned toward the door. In the doorway stood a tall, slender man with curly ebony hair. He radiated supernatural power and grace. When he spoke, his voice reminded Reilly of velvet and satin, smooth and sensual.

"Riese," the man said softly, keeping his gaze on Reilly. "Thank you for taking care of the ladies. You may leave."

Riese nodded and left quietly, closing the door behind him. Reilly still remained standing, shooting a meaningful glare at Raleigh. Raleigh secretly rolled her eyes and stood up. The man came toward Reilly and shook her hand gently.

"It's a pleasure to see you Ms. Gallion," he purred, then turned toward Raleigh. "And you brought your sister."

"If I'm a problem, I can leave," Raleigh suggested. Reilly shook her head and shot yet another icy glare at her sister. The tall man smiled as he took his seat.

"Please, both of you be seated," he insisted, gesturing to the two chairs before him with an elegant hand. Pearl clusters glistened on the cuffs of his sleeve. Raleigh slumped back into her spot, watching as her sister moved across the space to take her seat. When she was settled, the gloriously handsome man behind the desk spoke.

"As I am sure you two are aware, there have been several power upheavals in the last year in the courts. They make me...nervous. In my position, nervous is not something I can afford to be," he stated simply, watching Reilly's face carefully while he talked. She looked back, relaxed under his gaze, listening.
"I was assured by many sources that if I am in need of peace of mind, discreet peace of mind, that you were the woman I should contact. What is it that you can do for me?" He asked, assessing the slim build of both of the ladies before him.

"If I may be frank, Monsieur Jean-Claude?" Reilly asked, leaning forward slightly. He nodded, steepling his fingers beneath his chin. Reilly looked once at her sister, flashing a ghost of a grin.
"In terms of peace of mind, I am the most effective provider this side of the Atlantic. With me on retainer, there is nothing you will want for. To be honest, there are perhaps a handful of humans with my unique talents, and even less who would be inclined to work for a businessman of your...caliber."

"You mean a monster," he interjected, eyes glittering.

"I mean a businessman," she shot back, unruffled. "Between my sister and I, there are precious few threats that should concern you." He smiled, showing the slightest gleam of fang, a deliberate move.

"Do you consider yourselves unequaled then?" He asked, shifting his eyes from one twin to the other.

"Hardly," Reilly answered easily, "we simply consider ourselves the best at what we do."

"Show me."

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Raleigh watched bemusedly a few minutes later as her sister stood barefooted in the gauzy room from before. Across from her stood two disgustingly handsome 'assailants.' One had the red hair, green eyes, and muscular build of one of the original Celts. Unlike the slightly red-tint that the twins had to their (mostly brown) hair, this looked like ketchup pressed flat. Shimmery and shoulder length, his hair swirled silk-fine around his strong-jawed and lovely face. Two too-kissable lips curved arrogantly under an aristocratic nose. A broadsword hung from one narrow hip. This guy was so Reilly's type. Raleigh smiled to herself at that thought.

The other opponent was shorter, with a more lithe build. Blonde hair, a wicked grin, and oh-so-innocent blue eyes graced high cheek bones and a chest that was more naked than not. Wearing nothing but a black leather vest over his smooth pecs, this werewolf had caught Raleigh's eye immediately.

Both men stood calmly, looking with some amusement at the petite woman facing them. Out of her three inch heels, Reilly looked much more fragile. Both twins were delicately small, with slim shoulders and ideal waists. Only her confidant stance gave lie to her stature.

Jean-Claude sat across from Raleigh, the leashed kitty from before resting her head on his knee, waiting to be petted. He looked at the grouping in the middle of the floor with only mild interest-or so it seemed. Both girls could feel a vibrating excitement to his aura as he sat nonchalantly. All of the other furniture had been moved to the walls, and the crowd from before lounged across tables and sofas, watching the tableau in the room's middle.

"How many times must I tell you? Attack her," Jean-Claude instructed, sounding unperturbed, but a current of something dangerous and easily provoked swam under the surface of his tone, and in his eyes. He reached down, and gripped the hair of the woman at his feet.

Both of the men glanced to the vampire, uncertain, before the slight blonde said quietly, "Yes, master." He pulled off his vest, and let it fall to the floor behind him. Turning back, he sighed a bit, glanced to the vampire at his left, and then they both charged.

So fast that their figures blurred, they raced toward Reilly who did nothing but raise her hands before her, and speak a single ringing word. Three feet from her, both men were lifted from their feet, and thrown backward with such force that the werewolf hit the wall and the vampire was sent into a headlong roll into a group of the surprised spectators.

Startled and cursing, the blonde were picked himself up. Furious, the vampire threw himself to his feet, stalking back out into the room. He reached the spot he had been thrown from before, and ran a hand through the air in front of him. He met with no resistance, even as he took a step closer to Reilly. He took another step, still with his hand out in front of him, and another, getting closer and closer to Reilly.

About a foot from her, she stepped back, with a quick, "That's far enough." The red-head grinned, cat like, and then launched a lightening quick punch at her face. He met with the same force as before, six inches from her nose. With a grunt of effort, he pushed his arm against the invisible wall stopping him, muscles cording with the effort it took to not be pushed back. He planted his feet, shoving with his whole weight. Reilly watched as his knuckles became first white, then a raw red, and then started a gentle trickle of blood. The vampire growled, and pulled his hand quickly back, to examine the tiny cuts there. He moved back, eying her warily.

Without warning, the blonde from earlier launched himself at Reilly from her left, getting no closer than before, but instead of being pushed back, he frantically pushed himself into the Change. Reilly made a noise low in her throat that was almost displeasure, before throwing her hand out toward the shifting lump of flesh and bone. Her attention was diverted from the vampire long enough for him to unsheathe his sword. She snapped her eyes to him, speaking a word that was mostly lost in bells. A wind blasted against his body, whipping the hair back from his face, and making the grip on his weapon precarious. He hunkered down, trying to maintain his feet as the other man finished his change, and a half-wolf form growled a staccato and slashed at Reilly's shield.

Finally loosing her composure, Reilly brought her hands together over her heart. She spoke a string of the chiming words, sounding more irritated than magical, and the energy that was keeping the two men back finally became visible. Blue coronas swirled around the two creatures, casting an eerie glow over the rest of the watching faces. The werewolf howled a pained note, almost a scream, before collapsing into the hazy magic around him. Unconscious but supported by the strange wards around him, he hovered before being lowered almost gently to the flagstone floor.

The vampire remained unimpressed. He slashed through the magic around him with his sword, dispelling the energies. He didn't advance though, simply looked interestedly at Reilly. Finally, after a moment's thought, he inclined his head to her slightly.

"Rune spells?" He asked, sheathing his sword. Surprised and pleased, Reilly nodded, showing him her hands. Tiny, spiky, black lines ran in lines across both palms, looking for all the world like some unseen hand was writing, then erasing, then writing...

"No one recognizes it anymore. You're from one of the northern Germanic tribes then?" She asked politely. Talking shop.

"Ja. It's been a long time since I've seen them used. Very impressive," he said, walking over to the prone wolf-man.

"Well, that's all just impressive as hell," a voice drawled from the stairway, "but how are you at hand-to-hand?" The speaker stepped out into the room, and Raleigh suppressed a curse. Anita freaking Blake. Reilly looked a question at her sister, who obviously knew the newcomer. Raleigh just shook her head.

"Aaaah, ma petite, have you been watching this whole time?" Jean-Claude asked politely, watching as the dark haired woman walked over to Reilly. Her movements were tense and short, showing some serious aggression. Raleigh hated to get involved and ruin her sister's chances, but...

"Ms. Blake! Come here often?" Raleigh joked, subtly moving up behind her sister. Anita didn't take her eyes off of the barefooted woman before her.

"Damien, what the hell is going on here?" She demanded, crossing her arms and staring Reilly down. Unconcerned, Reilly looked to the red-head.

"Damien?" she asked, a lilt to her voice that implied she was surprised. He smiled at her, amused.

"It was changed by the vampire who turned me," he said simply, the still unconscious wolfman draped over his shoulders now.

"Fuck! Is that Jason??" Anita demanded, taking a half step toward the pair. "What did you do to him?" She demanded, whirling back to Reilly.

"Ms. Blake, was it? He's unharmed. He'll wake up in a few hours feeling very rested," Reilly answered, in an almost friendly tone. Trying to diffuse the situation. Raleigh was getting more tense by the minute.

"I'll ask again, what the fuck is going on here?!" She half-shrieked, looking at Jean-Claude.

"I am merely testing out my latest toy, Anita," he answered smoothly, body language clearly stating that the conversation was over. Reilly and Raleigh both looked at each other, amused as hell at his last statement. It was with a slight smile that Reilly turned back to the dark haired woman, only to take a hit in the gut.

"Oh, FUCK no!" Raleigh shouted, stepping up behind her sister. Reilly, doubled over, held up one finger, stopping her fuming sister in her tracks. She straightened, holding the area she had just been hit. Calmly she stepped out of range before speaking.

"Ms. Blake, obviously there has been a huge misunderstanding here, I mean you and yours no harm. I'm just here for a job," Reilly smiled, holding up her hands in a position of peace.

"I'll decide that bitch," Anita answered, getting into a fighting stance. Reilly sighed hugely before turning to her sister. Resignedly, she shrugged off her jacket, showing a perfectly disguised shoulder rig, holding a semi-automatic .22 caliber handgun. She removed the gun, checked that the safety was still on, and handed it to Raleigh. Next, the belt came off, and unbuttoning her dress shirt, Reilly stood in only the slacks and a white camisole. She locked eyes with her sister for a split second, clearly broadcasting one worry. Raleigh smiled a bit, encouragingly. Every eye in the room watched as Reilly turned back to Anita.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Ms. Blake?" Reilly asked hopefully, one last time. In answer, Anita lunged, throwing a textbook uppercut. Nimbly, Reilly dodged and grabbed Anita's arm, using her own momentum to throw her to the concrete. Anita stumbled, but kept her balance, until a round-house kick landed square in the middle of her back. She went to her knees, with a shout, and Reilly was on her. One hand fastened into the dark hair, and the other twisted Anita's right arm up and back. There was a snap, and Anita screamed. Reilly flipped the curvier woman over onto her back and straddled her. Using the fistful of hair as a handle, Reilly brought Anita's face up to her own.

"Since I've already lost this job, let me make something clear, Ms. Blake. If you punch me again, I will break more than your fucking arm," With a vicious final yank, Reilly stepped back to her sister. They shared a long look, and then left the circus without turning back.

Once they were back in their car, Reilly cried silently until the twins arrived at home.