Chapter Text
The chanting turned most obnoxious. Meant as a homage to him by these mortals, it only hurt his ears like needlepricks.
Pain errupted where the binding cut in his flesh as he twitched his fingers. Well, his loaned flesh.
Oh, yes. Ryan's body has been more than a suitable host. A young child in need of guidance, in conflict with himself and his superficial family... ensnaring him in his net had been so, so easy. Of course, over time Ryan tried to free himself from the shackles confining him. But no amount of self harm, of drugs and life threatening situations, of defiance and pleasurable company could ever put out the deep, burning fire he caused in his soul.
No. He had nestled within the most precious part of this human's being and was determined to stay. He would stay inside Ryan until his body couldn't take it anymore. As long as he could, so his mind would escape the prison he had made for himself so long ago.
Until his host made began the investigation regarding the slaughter of some peasants. It sparked his interest, those ritualistic killings, the fanatic crusade of those who dared to call themselves his minions. They weren't the first and neither last to proclaim themselves as his herolds, but it was the dedication that caught his attention.
Finally, after an eternity, there was a way to fully breach the barrier to the human world. Every piece in his grand scheme finally fell into place: the desperation of this foolish detective, the arrival of the vampires, the reunion of this insignificant branch of royalty. He would soon be free of his eternal punishment. Very soon...
Screams suddenly disturbed the painful chants. The sound of bodies hitting on the floor echoed to his bleeding eardrums, he could feel them, the screaming of their tormented souls, oh so familiar yet not even close to Ryan's; their agony had never been as enticing as his, never so delicious-
They may have changed, caught in metal gears, but he would always recognize the young humans looking down at his malnourished form in great disgust, even shedding a few tears as they freed him from his confines...
„What have you done?!“ cried the man at the cultists trapped between his metal claws. „WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BROTHER?!“
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Goliath observed the scenery before him: Nashville, who played catch with a buffalo-sized bat.
It was unlikely that Berlind meant any harm to the young gargoyle, but that wasn't what made Goliath suspicious: the one claiming to be a queen had asked them not to intervene while she searched for the man named Ryan Kuhn. But he couldn't shake the uneasiness spreading in his gut. Almost as if the vampiress was trying to distract them while something bigger was already in motion.
„Goliath?“ He half expected it to be Elisa, until he recalled that she was on duty tonight. As he turned around, he was greeted with the sight of Agent Tahanet's spotted face.
„Can i help you, Agent?“
„Yes.“ Leah joined him and leaned against the balustrade, her gaze pinned on the spectacle before them. „I came to apologize.“
Goliath lifted a brow ridge at her. „Oh?"
Leah finangled with the clasps of her leather bag for a moment, pulling out a package of cigarettes. She shook one for herself out of the pack before offereing it to Goliath, who politely declined. Setting it alight, she took a hefty pull and wheezed „Jup“ around the burning in her airways, then blew out a cloud of blueish-gray smoke. „I should have told you about my... 'acquaintances'.“
He didn't answer right away, only blew a displeased huff out of his nostrils.
„But i really didn't meant to offend you. Or your clan. It is just that Rosiel and Hakon are, well... let's say they can be useful from time to time. Still, i guess i could have laid the fact of Hakon's continuing existence a bit gentlier on you.“
„That's how you know so much about me and my clan.“ He didn't look at her. „From this viking spirit. If he even is one, that is.“
„Hmmm. A good guess. I'm not so sure myself what he is. I think he's a bit too fleshy for a spirit. Jokes aside, there are things about Hakon not even i know. Elisa told me you battled him in his spectre form a few months ago. Wich makes me wonder how this is possible, considering the fact that he serves as my informant for six years now.“
„This sentence alone makes me wonder in turn, how you could ever trust this monster enough to approach a clan of gargoyles based only on his intels.“
Leah took another hefty pull from her cigarette. „Don't insult me, Goliath. I am very capable of gaining information on my own. After all, i'm part of the paranormal counterdivision of the FBI. And you may not like this, but Hakon has been nothing but reliable whenever my unit worked with him. But yeah: it was a shitty move just placing him infront of you without prior warning.“
„Kind of you to notice, considering the fact that it was you who asked for our help. And right now, i have the feeling that my clan get's dragged into a even greater conspiracy. It started with one vampire and a dead security guard and now there is a whole massacred village, a foe i once thought long dead and four vampires apparently related to a former foe turned ally to my clan.“
„Yeah, it's kinda hard for me to keep track as well.“
„If you are being sincere, Leah-“ Goliath deliberately used her first name instead of her rank „-and wish to keep up our good faith, then i suggest you now tell me everything you know.“
„With 'everything' you mean-"
„Everything. Down to the last minor detail.“ Goliath stated with finality.
Leah swallowed heavy before finishing her cigarette, snipped the bud over the balustrade and lighted herself a second one.
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„Hey!“
Neither Hakon nor Rosiel turned around as they waited for their elevator. „Ignore her.“ hissed Rosiel. „If we pretended we didn't hear her-
„Hakon!“
Rolling his eyes, Hakon exchanged a glance with Rosiel, then took a steadying breath before turning around with a superficial, charming smile.
„What can i do for you, Detective-?“
„Maza.“ the woman scowled at him. „Why are you loitering around here?“
„Oh but my dear detective, nobody is loitering anywhere. Both Rosiel and i are authorized to be here by the head of the house.“ Both men smiled even broader at her and did polite little bows.
„I know you are plotting something. And just FYI: better watch your back. I'll have an eye on you.“
Hakon still smiled, but at the same time his brows pulled up in a frown. „Plotting? Nobody is plotting anything, detective. Like i said: we are guests, not intruders.“ He took a step closer to Elisa, while Rosiel repeatedly pressed the button with a hand behind his back. „I know you do have your reservations regarding me, considering my past with your... friends. But i'll gladly try to disperse your doubts. Over dinner perhaps?“
„Beat it.“ Detective Maza barked and crossed her arms. „First this thing between you and Leah and now you try to ingratiate with Xanatos?“
„First of all: we don't need to 'ingratiate' with anyone. We answer to no human. And secondly: our association with Agent Tahanet is pure buisness.“ He allowed his eyes to wander over her form for a moment, making sure she got the innuendo. „In every way.“
„Bah!“ Elisa cringed but withstood the urge to take a step back. „Just be aware that i'll be watching every single of your steps. If you plot something against the gargoyles, i will find out.“ Suddenly the elevator made a little bing and the door slid open.
„Then i hope you have a lot of patience.“ The viking flashed her one last, bright grin, then joined his companion.
„And stop hooking up with my friend!“
Hakon grabbed the elevator door before it fully closed: „Everything has a price, Detective. And Agent Tahanet is willing to pay it.“
Elisa went to retort, but a sudden buzzing in her jacket caught her attention. It turned out to be her pager and the alert on the display was enough to make her insides twist.
„Move it!“ she snapped at the two men in the elevator, who exchanged befuddled looks as she squeezed between them.
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