“Yeah well, he doesn’t explain a lot,” Anita muttered again, starting to feel the first few waves of agitation before true anger set it. She wasn’t sure what this vampire wanted, and the older they were the more difficult for her to understand their driving force. They were definitely something to keep her eyes on and she’d probably would want to share her little BBC interview with Jean-Claude, but right now? Right now all she wanted to do was get as far away from vampires as she could, unless she was using them for target practice.
Anita froze at Edwards nickname. She knew that he wouldn’t take to kindly to her discussing him with vampires, let alone people he didn’t know. And for a moment, the animator wasn’t sure if she closed up for fear of Edward and what these inquisitors would do to him or for the possible piles of vampire ash she’d have to explain to the rest of the marshals. “No,” she finally admitted. “He’s a ‘don’t start anything, won’t be anything kind of guy.”
Finally accepting the lifted weight as their conversation came to a close, Anita stood and rubbed her hands on her dark jeans, gifting him one of her signature not-so-happy happy smiles. “I guess a phone call would do,” she reluctantly pulled out her card and set it on the table, “Or maybe using the mail this time instead of leaving it by my door… Makes me a little jumping, all for the love of trust issues.”
“If you do ever want things explained to you just ask and I will answer your questions without the show that Jean-Claude puts on.” Axel told her with picked up her card, glad that her friend would not be a worry for his time here. “So no unexpected things at your doorstep? I can agree to that rule.” Axel smiled, managing again not to flash her with fangs.
He walked her to the door and held out his hand. “I have been a little rude this evening and I hope you can forgive me, my intent here is just to understand what happened. Nothing more. And I promise Ms. Blake that I will not be a problem for you during my stay.” He would keep to his word after all he did not wan the executioner after him.
“Also should you need my help while I am here do not be afraid to call upon me.” Axel told her as he handed her a card with his name and number on it, it did also have his lingerie company details on it as well. “I do thank you for taking time out of your night to talk with me.”
Anita nodded at that. Taking the time set her single sipped coffee on the table beside them in the thought that the little interrogation was over and done with. She had just began to lean forward when he asked her about the marks, the one bit of information she did not expect him to ask. For many of the other vampires and supernatural creatures buzzing around St. Louis, they just guessed that Jean-Claude managed to ensnare her, the Executioner, into falling in love with him or vice versus. But this one….
“He saved me.” she answered plainly, leaning back into the chair as relaxed as she could although she couldn’t help the rigidity of her movements at her surprise. “He was… protecting me from her.” Although it was almost said through gritted teeth. Anita hated that that slimy vampire put those marks on her. She would never be certain if he did it to actually help her or to help himself. The animator wasn’t sure about anything when it came to him.
“No one that matters,” was her solid response. This was another moment that she was willing to throw anyone else under the proverbial bus. Especially not buses that had fangs sharp enough to rip your spine. “Are we done here? I could just send you my police report on the whole thing. Everything on there is true and doesn’t require us to tiptoe.”
“He saved you? Well now I could understand that being the reason for the first mark but the second? No I have a feeling he forced that upon you.” Axel commented as he watched how rigid she became at those questions. “Did he explain them fully to you?” He asked.
“So none…Hmm….I have heard that it was the one they call death that was with you. Should I be worried about him?” THe vampire asked as he leaned back in his chair and smiled at her responses to him, he knew that his questioning and asking her to come and meet him had annoyed her. “A police report tells me what happened but does not explain it, I would rather hear from those that were there than read a report. I did not mean to make you mad with this.” He explained as he stood up.
“We are done, should I need anything else form you I will contact you. Which is the best way to contact you Ms. Blake?” Axel asked as he gathered the cups and put them back on the tray.
His complement touched her confused if not cautious. Anita was certain what to do with it, especially not the smirk as her dealings with the walking undead so far has not led her to greener pastures. Especially when they appeared to be soft and gentle. She gifted him a slow smile in return, tilting her brows in thought as she attempted to figure out his game and where he was going with all of this.
She sighed. “Nikolaos hired me to investigate a string of vampire deaths. She used humans and threats to get me to do whatever she wanted. and when she realized that she couldn’t control me. She had killed to get me and then tried to kill me. Key word, try. And, well. What goes around…”
Anita shrugged again, a false attempt at hiding her annoyance. “I don’t care about your vampire politics,” she pinched the bridge of her nose between two fingers. “Jean-Claude was only protecting me and his, er, peers. Nothing more.”
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table as she spoke, it was not to distract her or annoy it was just part of his thinking process. He gave her a slow no as she explained why she had killed the master vampire. “I understand the need to kill someone if they are trying to kill you. I shall let the others know that you did not just hunt her down and kill her that it was provoked by her.” Axel told her.
“When did Jean-Claude place the marks upon you? I find it hard to believe that given who you are that you just let him put them on you.” He pointed out as he notice her annoyance. “This is not about vampire politics. I am making sure that the council do not come here and end you and Jean-Claude for killing Nikolaos. I am merely investigating the death of an old vampire.” It was not his intent to cause any issues or problems whole he was here, he just want to get the answers that others needed.
“Who else was involved with her death?” Axel asked as he listened and watched for any signs of her lying to him .
“They should be,” Anita muttered into her coffee cup as she gave up the machismo attitude and settled into the warmth of the dark roast. The animator was tired of unchecked vampires, killing humans with just a blink of the eye or the whim of their anger. Phillips face, bruised and bloodied was still just as sharp in her mind as the old vampire was to her right now. He died with a betrayed trust and she couldn’t do a damn thing about it. But she at least made sure that he was avenged, and it was done with out regret. Even her involvement with throwing down the insane dictatorship of that bitch and consequently putting Jean-Claude in charge. It was better to know your enemy, wasn’t it?
She lifted her brow at that, it wasn’t a new insult to her to call her nonintimidating. It was actually a compliment to hear, being the image of nonthreating and ‘petite’ probably gave her more cushion when dealing with the big shots. No one took her threats to heart, no one expected her to even attempt to kill them. And for Anita, well, that’s what made her one of the head honchos in town. Apart from being ruthless.
“Because she tried to kill me.”
Anita stared plainly at the vampires bottom eyelid, her finger tapping lightly on the ceramic cup. The animator wasn’t sure how much he knew about what happened in that cramped hole of a nest, and she was not going to be the one to drop the water on it. Snitches get stitches.
Axel wasn’t trying to insult or put the other in a foul mood, he had learnt enough already of which buttons to push and not to push with her. “Yes they should be scared of you, even more so seeing as you took out Nikolaos.” He said with a small smirk.
He placed his tea cup down once he had finished it and thought for a moment at her saying that the master vampire had tried to kill her. Sure he knew that Nikolaos had a temper and had needed from time to time be put in her place but he had not thought that one of their own would kill her or even team up with the executioner, as she tapped her cup he looked at her. “I need to know why she tried to kill you and why it mattered so much to Jean-Claude for him to kill one of his own. Was it so that he could become the master of the city?” Axel asked as he placed his hands on the table and watched her.
Anita found herself stuck on the image of a panther as she watched him move towards her and then to the table across from her. Her tongue darted over her lips in an attempt to hide her surprise at his limp. He didn’t seem to be in any sort of pain and his gait shifted in a way that was familiar, as if he had been living with it for however long he’s been walking the cold nights. But, as always, another darker calling caught her attention and she was found shuffling slightly as the warm and inviting scent of coffee greeted her as friend.
“Then someone’s been talking too much,” Anita tossed a muttering grunt at the idea of Jean-Claude and tentatively picked up a glass of coffee. She wasn’t too easily persuaded in trusting the vampire, as her trust scale with any vampire was incredibly low, but she understood their practices of manners and shadows. Didn’t like them. But she wasn’t going to risk her life over a damn cup of coffee.
“If it’s all the same to you,” She gifted him a tight lip smile, finally deciding to sit opposite of him, and yet far enough that she could draw her weapon if he’d moved a couple of inches within a blink of the eye. “I’d rather not take that risk.”
Anita shifted again in her seat as the thought of Nikolaos resurfaced, bringing with it a rush of emotions bridging from anger to sorrow all in one. “Yes?” She grunted a response, tilting her head dangerously. “What do you want to know?”
He watched all of her movements carefully, he knew who she was and that she would be armed tonight, but he had put his trust in her that she would not draw on him, not that he would inform her of this…..yet. “Perhaps not talking enough, many of the vampires around here are scared of you Ms. Blake, now I know that you are the executioner, and I will not lie that I had expect someone a little more intimidating than yourself.” He told her with a grin, managing not to flash his fangs at her.
“I understand not wanting to take the risk but if I had wanted to hurt you or use my powers on you I would have done so the moment you stepped into this club.” Axel studied her face as he mentioned Nikolaos, it was clear to him that she had been involved with what had happened to the master vampire.
“Why did you and Jean-Claude decide to kill her?” He asked as he sipped his tea, he had only assumed that the vampire had been involved in the killing as not all of what happened had been told to him.
She felt him before she’d heard him. And if it wasn’t for the marks or the necromancy, Anita probably wouldn’t have know that he was there until the first words left from his lips, and even still it surprised her.
He moved so quietly, as they always did the longer they’d lived. It was always a guess that practice makes perfect when it came to vampire movement and fashion, and Anita couldn’t help the thought to ask if there was a special charm school for vampires where they’re taught how to sneak up on humans.
“Well,” she shrugged under her coat, attempting to slide the cold that she felt creeping under her shoulder blades off and felt the warm comfort of her holster as it adjusted. “I was expecting a big round table, probably green, with stacks of poker chips, surrounded by extras from The Godfather, but I guess the economy got to you guys too.”
There was a laugh, albeit weak, but it was her only option when it came to walking in uncertain territory. And as she looked towards the vampire, carefully certain not to look in his eyes even if the possibility of him ‘rolling’ her were slim, she knew that he was an old one. So far, old ones meant danger. Not right now, and not up close, but later- in the dark, when you’re the most comfortable. They pounce.
“I think I’ll stand, thanks.”
He smiled and chuckled as she spoke of a large round table with poker chips and extras from the Godfather. “I do not care for such things like that, this club is not even open to the public yet. It might be should I decide to stay in this city.” Axel explained as he picked up a try that had tea and coffee on it it before moving to one of the tables that was there and sat down. “I hear you like coffee, please take this as an offering of peace.” He said pointing the the hot mug.
He poured himself a cup of tea and sipped it as he looked at her, noting that she did not meet his eyes. “I know you have two marks from Jean-Claude, you may meet my eyes. I will not use my powers on you though I am not sure that they would work on you.” Axel set his cup down and tapped his fingers on the table.
“Now seeing it is only you that came here tonight you shall be the one to answer my questions about the former master of this city.”
It was the letter that got her. How it arrived at her front door with little to no announcement and the look on Jean-Claude’s face when she had shown it to him led her to the speakeasy of a night club. She wasn’t sure if she was being in impudent by coming alone or too stubborn to be stupid, but the letter was addressed to Jean-Claude’s Human Servant and that stroke a nerve.
Anita glanced down at the address on the letter and back to the club entrance, flashing a masked confident smile at the human servant guarding the door as she walked into the empty and silent club.
She sighed. “Well, that’s a little disappointing.”
Axel disliked having to leave his home and come to America, he much preferred the solitude he was granted, only leaving on the odd occasion to deal with council business. How ever the fact that the master vampire in
St. Louis had been killed and answers were needed.
He had sent a letter to Jean-Claude’s human servant instead of him as he knew it would be delivered to him. Though as he watched Anita arrive at the club without the vampire he was a little curious, he sat in teh office of the club for a few moments before going to join her.
“May I ask what is disappointing?” Axel questions as he stepped into the room, he was lucky that he could pass as human on most days, unlike some that even at the age he was had trouble. “Please sit, would you care for a drink?”
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