Betrayed

@fallennate​ // It could have been worse. He could have been holed up with someone hysterical, someone he could barely talk to, someone who would slow him down. Instead, he was holed up with Nate. Yes, he wasn’t too much help in the sense of fighting, but he had combat experience. That was more important, in a situation like this. Angus wasn’t prepared to fight, and was glad to have someone to protect instead. “So, it sounds like they have everything under control out there. We could probably start walking, maybe even get back to my place, if those fuckers haven’t pulled the place to the ground.”

“They’ve attacked us again, of course they’re idiots.” As if the supernatural population of Crown Point weren’t riled up enough, and out for blood. More good men and women would die now, and now they wouldn’t be able to stop until revenge was had.

“I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.” Having taken Nate out of the cells, he was Angus’s responsibility. Angus took that seriously. “C’mon, this is way too open.” He finally let go of Nate, walking up the beach and towards the roads. He wanted to find an abandoned building, somewhere past where the rebels had attacked, where they could bunker down.

“Very good point. Plus humans and traitors – idiots.” Nate sneered, itching to go out there and find whoever had framed him. But he couldn’t. He had no powers and he was still with a Master.

“For now.” The new attack cemented what Nate was saying just a little bit more in his mind. Of course, it could just be coincidence. But it was all stacking up to be something a little more than a wild tale made up by a slave. Not taking his hands off of Nate, he looked over his shoulder at the fleeing people. “Look, my house is pretty far away, and I wouldn’t trust the roads right now. My weapons are at home. I say we find somewhere safe, bunker down, wait it out.”

It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it was better than trying to make it across town, either by car or on foot. Angus had fought in his life, but he usually had more men at his back, more information on what he was defending. He knew the basic layout of the city, but he wasn’t part of it’s defence. “You’ve got experience too, what do you think? Do you think we could make it without running into any trouble?”

“Maybe. Problem is, they will have learned from last time unless they’re idiots. You’re not going to try the same thing that failed again, you’re going to do things differently. That probably means it’ll be harder to move through the city this time.” He mused, “And since the real traitor, or traitors are still out there, they probably have more intel this time.”

@fallennate​ // It was pure chance, really. Angus had suggested going down to the beach, a quiet place where Nate could tell him all he knew. It wasn’t much, to be honest, but if it was true it was interesting. Angus made a note to himself to look further into it, and maybe see if he could find out what evidence was against Nate. 

He saw the people panic before registering the explosions, his years in the Seelie army rushing back to him as he grabbed Nate. by the shirt, pulling him close. “Not gonna happen again. You’re sticking with me this time, got it?” He grabbed his phone, angrily tapping away before shoving it back in his pocket. “Another attack. Obviously. Bigger, this time.”

The beach had seemed so quiet at first and talking had been slightly easier nestled in warm sand. He could tell his lack of knowledge was somewhat disappointing but it was part of what made defending himself so hard. He was largely in the dark.

Then the phones had started ringing. Lots of them. Until he looked over his shoulder to see panic happening before glancing towards the city. Another attack. He’d fucking known it, hadn’t he? Scowling when Angus grabbed the front of his shirt to drag him close and bristling at the words. Did they mean the Master hadn’t believed him at all?

“No shit, sherlock. That’s what happens when you don’t arrest the actual traitor. And now I can’t really help you fight. My powers are all locked up tight, and I’m practically mortal.” He wasn’t going to say he was almost human, even if there was truth in that. His still smarting ribs said so. He was also furious, even if hopeful the presence of more traitors might mean someone realised his truth. Or it could put a bigger target on his back.

He smiled and nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.” Gabe stood and offered Nate his hand to help him up and lead him from the area. “We’ll rest for a little while and enjoy the scenery. And then each other.” He grinned as they approached his car. Once they were inside the car, Gabe reached over to play with Nate’s hair before he started driving. “Would you like me to play with you as I drive, or you can take care of me if you’d like. Might be a tight fit to use your mouth, but you can use your hand. In fact, we both can at once.”

Nate slipped his hand into Gabe’s without having to think it over too much, even though the complicated emotions were still in the back of his head. He rose up and stretched out, relieved to be able to do so without pain spiking in his side. He tried to let himself sink into the moment again, instead of worrying about what all of it meant.

“Well god always was a selfish man. They say he loves all but we know it’s not true. He takes pride in his things and for most of us we are not what he created the way he wanted them.” Chance never really had a thing for religion. After all with hellhounds walking around and demons and other things god and the devil were not some big things. In fact they were very small in the world. “Yes things forbidden are always things that are the most fun. Being pure isn’t everything as some believe. I’m glad you’re happy with your choice.”

“The cells are a nice temperature.” In the cells, it never changed. It was always cool, enough to keep her sharp. She felt sluggish in the sun, and the wind sometimes scared her. It was bright, and hard to see and so unpredictable. Of course, she didn’t vocalise any of that. Ambrosia wasn’t used to having to talk, having to be understood. 

She paused for another moment, before sitting down on the grass next to him. “Who does that?” She had seen the way some people reacted, the fear that radiated from them. She had so much to learn.

Nate had no idea why she was still talking but he was resigning himself to annoying company for the foreseeable future. Of course, almost all company was annoying to him. He glanced over at her as she sat down, sighing and rubbing at the back of his neck. “Anyone who wants to. Guards, masters, mistresses.” Never mind that he had been a Master not so long ago, doing whatever he wanted – he had felt justified in doing so. If had really been a traitor, they would have to but he wasn’t.

“That doesn’t really sound fair.” Angus hadn’t been in the city at the time, he’d taken a short vacation at what seemed to be just the right time. Angus was a soldier, yes, but he didn’t love the fight. “Yes, play nice. And by that, right now all I’d expect is for us to talk, just like we are now.” He had come to the cells looking for more, but he’d found something even more interesting. “I won’t ask for any more from you, besides more information. If you want help, I’ll need all the details. Everything. Do you think you can agree to that?”

“I’m 25, just a baby to many here probably” she said with confidence, not really ashamed of her youth, she then snickered at his words “It’s not, not when your mom is an Elder in the city and practically runs your life for you, because shes protective and thinks that your 25 years on the planet are measly and make you inexperienced as fuck”

“They probably would, but after a while when you get used to them, the taste gets pretty sweet” she hummed, looking over her cigarette before placing it back to her lips “I could, but I’m also a sucker for looking at new people and hearing about their stories…I mean so many of you guys here have a big story to tell, lives that have span way longer than mine. Leaving isn’t exactly an option for me at the moment”

“Perhaps we need one or two in that case.” He listened to the man and chuckled. “I see. Well that is unfortunate. While I don’t agree humans are the best thing in the world I suppose since your father created them he holds a special place for them, but it’s not fair to push his appreciation onto you and force you to feel the same.” Chance knew all too well what it was like to have rules and morals forced on you. He was not one to enjoy that either. “Leapt huh? Interesting thing to do. Must have been hard.”

“Okay, Nate. What did you get framed for?” Now this was getting interesting. He’d heard a lot of slaves say they didn’t belong in a cell, that was a dime a dozen, but that they were framed for something? That was a little more rare. The slave- Nate- still didn’t look like he was enjoying Angus’s presence, but the seelie couldn’t lie, sometimes that’s what he wanted. Sometimes he liked getting under people’s skin, even just a little bit. “Hey, I can’t promise to get you out forever, but how does a few hours sound? A shower, some good fuckin’ food?”

Going into detail never did end well for him. But he took a deep breath, “The attack on the city. I’m the scapegoat.” A look of disgust twitched across his face. “Fight for the city, nearly die for the city and find myself tossed in a shitty cell because of traitors.” It was probably a fair enough reason to be pissed.

“Why?” Ambrosia didn’t see the appeal of sitting in the sunlight. It was hot, and bright, and it made her sweaty. She couldn’t comprehend someone enjoying that, let alone wanting her to move so badly.

She didn’t move, eyes still locked on him. “How did you get hurt?” She saw a lot of hurt people. More than she’d ever seen before in her life. She didn’t understand, just how so many people got hurt. She’d been hurt, when she’s been taken, but some of these people weren’t new, she’d heard them talking, and yet they had bruises, cuts, bleeding.

She’d better not be a human. “Because cells are cold, and it’s nice in the sun. Fuck me.” He muttered, wincing as he adjusted himself instead so she was blocking less of the light, though his ribs throbbed angrily in response.

“Sometimes if it’s bad enough they have a nurse check them out.” He said shrugging not really caring. Though with the out burst the wolf nodded. “An angel huh….well I suppose making the comment on angels protecting humans is dumb huh. You seem to dislike them.”

“How long ago was the beating? You ever get properly looked at?” Chance wondered how bad and how long the beating had been. Since the male didn’t seem to have anything broken he was a little relieved. Broken bones would make it impossible for them to be rented. “Too close huh? What are you mixed with?”

“Maybe not, but I also have an alpha would chew me out if I ever went against what his rules are.” Chance slipped his hands in his pockets chuckling. “No it seems not. Which makes me wonder how you came out looking so good. Most would have been much worse.” The wolf knew being a fighter helped. 

“Look, to me you’re either a piece of shit who thought it was a smart idea to let that scum loose on the city, or you’re a big enough idiot to have made friends with the wrong sort of people.” Sierra considered the consequences for carelessness needed to be as severe as those for something actively malicious. 

She didn’t flinch, not in any way that she’d admit, but she did straighten up a bit at his outburst, her eyebrow raising. “I don’t know. It’s hard to see myself as the stupid one when the guy behind bars won’t even play the game he’s now found himself in. You don’t want the cushy life? I’m more than happy to make sure you don’t get a taste of it.

“They weren’t friends!” He snapped back sharply. “I didn’t do friends. Those cunts staked me out and decided I was the best fall guy.” And not having friends was probably part of his downfall. No alibi, no one to stand up for him.