Crimson Bonds Excerpt
Alastair was of course fashionably late to make an entrance. The double doors leading to the chamber swung open and Al stepped in, his face set in a stern stare. “Evening all. Please sit.” His eyes scanned all those present from Council to candidate, mildly surprised to find a few who had not sworn fealty in the lot vying for the vacant position.
O’Byrne started to sit at the head of the table but quickly covered the mistake by pulling it out for Alastair. He slid into the chair to the left, assuming the Advisor wasn't coming to take her place. The Council all bowed softly before settling, shuffling in their seats as Ruark and Alastair strode proudly into their hall.
Following with slow confident strides, Ruark’s dark eyes moved over all present as he kept pace with Alastair. He looked over the applicants seated like errant children sent to the principal.
Alastair waited for Ru to sit before taking up his position at the head of the table. “Ternight we continue what we started. All submissions for the role of Shamus will be duly noted, but they will be put to the test before final consideration. Are there any late entrants to be submitted?”
Ruark settled back in his seat, moving his trench aside for a flash of guns though he remained silent, watching and listening. He was here as muscle and a silent vote on who would run the general day-to-day law and order in Edinburgh’s vampire sect.
Dark eyes materialized from an alcove to the left of the front doors. Soft thuds of booted feet sounded hollow through the high ceiling chamber, drawing a body out of the shadows. Long legs strode with purpose toward the table. A woman stopped at the far end, left open so the applicants could be perused by the Council at will. The full lush lips smirked, a shade darker pink than the pale skin of her high cheeked face tapering to a narrow chin. Deep blue eyes swept the Council before settling on Alastair. A toss of her head sent waist length ebony hair spilling over her left shoulder. “Aye, Elder. I may be late, but I be the best. Ya can send the o'ers home now and save yarself a long and wasted night.”
McLachlan looked up recognizing the girl as one who had not sworn fealty but little more was known about her. He regarded her silently before nodding for O’Byrne to take her name and details. “Yer wish to be Shamus?”
“I dinnae wish to be Shamus, Elder. I am the Shamus. Just a matter o’ ya recognizing it and making it all official-like.” Her eyes flashed at him before she bent to fill in the unnecessary paperwork the old man pushed in front of her.
Ruark smirked at her confidence, tilting his head to study the relatively unknown vampire. This one could be interesting to work with. She might even give Al a run for his cocky money. Glancing up to Alastair for the moment, he just shook his head.
She slid the file folder across the table all the way to Alastair's hand. The smirk reappeared as she dropped her hands to her hips. He could make it easy, or hard. Either way was fine with her.
Alastair caught the folder and looked up at those deep blue eyes holding her gaze with his sea-greens for a long moment. “Take a seat Miss…Morgan” he added blandly after consulting the file, then quickly tossing it with the others.
Calynn Morgan settled on the end of the table, smiling as she crossed her arms over her busty chest, a feat in and of itself. She swung her leg slowly, like a pendulum ticking off the time until he realized she wasn't playing around.
Ruark shifted in his seat trying to hide his amusement while Al looked over the files in front of him, ignoring Calynn for the time being. He set a handful of files aside, a sadly small number compared to those available. Finally he stood and spoke loud enough for all to hear. “If I read yer name ye may stay. All other's leave now.” Calynn's name was among the handful called.
Ruark watched the ones leaving, memorizing their faces in case they tried anything. Looking from them to those staying, his eyes narrowed as he watched them all and their reactions.
Some of those not called meekly slumped out of the hall, others a little more boisterous about being summarily dismissed. Calynn was all smiles though. The list was down to a small handful. She let her hard gaze leave the Elder, winking to the Punisher before looking at her competition. All men, interesting.
The Council shifted in their seats, uncomfortable at some of their favorites leaving. Of course the new Elder would know who they had in their pockets. O’Byrne alone seemed unperturbed, eyes flicking over the three men left as they joined Calynn at the foot of the table.
Standing slowly, Alastair leveled his gaze on them all. “Thank yer all for coming. I have chosen yer because of the skills yer claim and because I know yer hold no ties to those around yer. But we shall see how yer fair in a fight.” With a shrill whistle from Ruark four strong guys from his club entered the room.
A sharp nod sent his employees off with the candidates. They knew what to do. An exercise of fighting skills in the rectory would suffice, then a simple test of honesty just to make sure.
Alastair continued the mundane business the Council insisted needed his full attention. Requests for asylum, disputes over property bequeaths from aging Sires. He looked up as the doors opened half an hour later and the victors strode inside surprised to see the dark haired woman among the only two left. “Welcome back.”
Ruark looked toward the doors, smirking at the outcome.
Whistling as she walked, hands in her pockets, Calynn hadn’t a mark on her. The other applicant didn't look quite so well. His lip still bled where she'd pierced it with his own fang. At the scowling look of the Council the whistle died on her pursed lips, sucking them in a little as she smiled, bowing with the other applicant at the foot of the table. The guard behind her sported a nasty shiner like he was smuggling a baseball under his skin, blushing at the smirk Ruark gave him. The guard behind the other applicant met Alastair’s gaze with a sharp shake of his head.
Alastair stifled a grin at the insolent whistle. Perhaps his instincts had been correct after all. She was almost good enough for Punisher, but he remembered the last female Punisher he ran across. Besides he trusted Ru above and beyond anyone no matter how qualified.
“Calynn Morgan, Hume Gorrie” he addressed them both. “We thank yer for yer interest in working with us to keep this city safe and well run.” A jerk of his chin to the guard behind Hume sealed the deal. The man was escorted out leaving Calynn to face the brunt of the Council’s weighty gaze. She met Alastair’s gaze and held it, not cowed at being singled out. “Would the Council please rise and welcome our new Shamus?”
Calynn had the decency to hide her smile as the Council stood and gave her a soft round of applause. Her hands pulled from her pockets and slid behind her back, shaking softly as they clenched together. She bowed at the waist accepting the appointment.
Ruark shook his head, remaining silent and seated as the others stood. He dismissed his guard to get some medical attention before watching the Council again. He was enjoying this circus.
Calynn reached for the guard's arm. “Sorry 'bout clocking ya. Guess a no would have sufficed?” She gave him a saucy wink before patting his ass for him to go.
Alastair motioned Calynn to a seat at the table, disregarding her dismissal of the guard. He finished up business and proclaimed that the Advisor was away on business for the duration and the next Council was to be convened in a month. Dismissing them he stared across the table at his new Shamus. What had he just done?