[center][size=4][font=Arial][b][u]Remain Calm[/u][/b][/font][/size][/center]
[left][font=Calibri][b]â??Me?â?[/b] said the indignant vampire, not even pausing to look up from the board. [b]â??Him!â?[/b] He jabbed an accusing finger at the slyly-smiling shinigami across from him. [b]â??He iss disgusting. Tsis is [i]not[/i] how you play chess!â?[/b]
[b]â??Itâ??s completely fair,â?[/b] smirked Nathan.
[b]â??It iss completely [i]un[/i]-fair, you tself-tsatissfied buffoon. Completely untsporting, betsides,â?[/b] the vampire groused. [b]â??I come here for pleassantries, not for a tournament!â?[/b]
[b]â??And with that attitude youâ??ll never get any better.â?[/b]
Victor threw up his hands, turning to the werecat for sympathy. [b]â??You tsee? He iss implacâ??â?[/b]
For a moment the room froze. Victor appeared openly stunned; Nathanâ??s eyes shifted up to his partner, but he moved no other muscle. Karl could see Nathanâ??s sister sitting half on the windowsill, a bottle of dark beverage arrested at her lips. Karl himself barely dared breathe.
When Isen spoke her voice was soft and frigid.
[b]â??You command the actions of all your kind in this region, do you not.â?[/b]
[b]â??â?¦yess,â?[/b] said Victor slowly.
[b]â??And nothing happens here without your knowledge?â?[/b]
The vampireâ??s brow knitted slightly. [b]â??Yes,â?[/b] he assented, a touch of wariness entering his voice.
[b]â??Then perhaps you can explain to me,â?[/b] said Isen,[b] â??why I and the Outcast were hunting a Jian [/b][b][i]yÄoguà i[/i] in the middle of the city.â?[/b]
The contempt in her words set Victor visibly back. He cast a fleeting glance of concern at his opponent and opened his mouth, searching for words.
[b]â??...a tservant of tse Jian wass here?â?[/b] he asked after a moment.
Isen growled. [b]â??You conspire with our enemy!â?[/b]
[b]â??Isen,â?[/b] warned the blue reaper.
[b]â??My lady, cat,â?[/b] the vampire soothed, [b]â??I honestly know notsing about possible Jian activity in tse city.â?[/b]
[b]â??Do not lie to me!â?[/b]
Victor made to stand. [b]â??I assure you, tsere iss notsing of tse ssortâ??â?[/b]
Isen lunged, tossing the vampireâ??s chair clear from her path as she grabbed his lapels to shove him backwards. Her body followed instantly, and as her forearm pinned him to the rear wall, her left hand swung up to pull her sword backwards from its sheathâ??but Nathan had reacted as soon as she had moved, spinning through the table to catch her hilt guard with his scythe. The three froze there again: the werecatâ??s arm across Victorâ??s throat, her draw blocked by her companionâ??s hooked blade, his free hand reaching across his body to press two fingers into her temple.
[B]â??Why was this envoy allowed into the city?!â?[/B] roared the werecat.
[B]â??My dear,â?[/B] the vampire managed raspily, [B]â??I do not tsink you are yoursself....â?[/B]
[b]â??Let him go,â?[/b] Nathan said. His companion didn't seem to hear.
[b]â??If you will not talk I will rip your [i]voice[/i] from your neckâ??â?[/b]
[b]â??Isen, [i]back the **** OFF!![/i]â?[/b]
The werecat finally acknowledged her partnerâ??s presence, fixing him with a cold glare over her shoulder. Nathan returned it in kind, holding his gun-fingers firmly in place; their wills fought in the suddenly-electrified space between them until, with a snarl, Isen withdrew, her sword clicking furiously back to rest as she stalked to the kitchenette.
Victor relaxed, breathing a sigh of relief. [b]â??Tsank you, my friend,â?[/b] he startedâ??and then paused again as Nathan swung the gun-hand to point at his nose.
[b]â??Now,â?[/b] said the reaper, [b]â??since weâ??re all [i]sane[/i] again, suppose we clear the air. Isen, I think you should relax. [i]You[/i],â?[/b] he said, staring at Victor, [b]â??can start by telling me why my lady friend is upset.â?[/b]
Victor sighed again and adjusted the lace around his cuffs.
[b]â??Altsough I confess I did detsire to tsave my own neck,â?[/b] he said, [b]â??I am telling you botss tse trutss. I am unaware of any Jian activity in tse area, nor have I tsanctioned any movements by otser groups intside or around my borders.â?[/b]
Nathan nodded and looked behind him. [b]â??Isen?â?[/b] he said, his voice inquiring but level.
The werecat shot him a look of pure disdain and turned away, closing the refrigerator.
[b]â??Of [i]course[/i] I am certain,â?[/b] she scorned, setting a glass quart of milk on the counter and opening another. [b]â??I know their scentâ??and even if I was mistaken, the wretch declared his allegiance as soon as he was cornered.â?[/b]
[b]â??You allowed him to [i]talk[/i]?â?[/b] The reaper lowered his arm and turned, genuinely surprised.
Isen rolled her eyes. [b]â??I am not unreasonable. Besides,â?[/b] she added, gesturing at Karl, [b]â??I wanted to know why he was watching them.â?[/b]
[b]â??And?â?[/b]
[b]â??Shou Jian wants to talk with you,â?[/b] mocked Isen, leaning on the counter. [b]â??He said we have four days to decide.â?[/b]
[b]â??â?¦[i]and?[/i]â?[/b]
[b]â??Not sure. The [i]yÄoguà i[/i] enjoys the sound of his voice. He only gave me vague sinister threats.â?[/b]
[b]â??Oh,â?[/b] said Nathan. [b]â??Well. In [i]that [/i]case.â?[/b]
Christine seemed to know where her brotherâ??s thoughts were going, for she slid off the windowsill and headed his way.
[b]â??I told you,â?[/b] she said. [b]â??Escalation.â?[/b]
[b]â??More like posturing,â?[/b] he retorted.
[b]â??Nathan, youâ??ve been slowly destroying their resources for a few years, now. [i]Please[/i] take this seriously; it certainly sounds like [i]theyâ??re[/i] starting to.â?[/b]
Nathan scoffed. [b]â??Why? For all I know they paid some peon to come try and scare us. Might not even be that old; might be a new recruit who thinks heâ??s invincible.â?[/b]
The empty milk quart clunked onto the counter, and Isen gave a heavy, pleased exhale and leaned over, into her forearms.
[b]â??He knew me,â?[/b] she said, her voice muffled by the bartop. [b]â??He knew my old name. He was not expecting to see me, and yet he knew me.â?[/b] She looked up over her forearms. [b]â??I said he is [i]yÄoguà i[/i]. Not an imitation. [i]YÄoguà i[/i] [/b][i][b].â?[/b] [/i]Glancing to Karl, she indicated the second quart with her head and peered at him as if she thought he was dense.
And then Gavrie drifted down through the ceiling with a casual[b] â??Whatâ??d I miss?â?[/b] right as Alex and Phaidra tumbled, panting and white-faced, through the apartmentâ??s front door.
Isen belched.[/font][/left]