The fire crackled in the stove as I held my tea close, basking in the warmth radiating across the room. Grizzly Hills is always cold, and this time of year, especially so. Princess lay curled in my lap, pinning me down for all intents and purposes as he purred away. It was a good, much needed distraction as I pondered over recent events.
Snuffles was at large. Duroxas was gone. Everyone I was aware of being hurt was healing, at least, and that by itself was a blessing. So far, we hadn't met any casualties from that twisted night elf's vendetta.
I was still lost in thought when my com buzzed to life on the end table beside me, and an unfamiliar voice began to speak. It shattered that feeling of peace in an instant.
" Well, well, it sure took my men some time to crack the code on these damn things but it seems like it works. Of course getting around to using one of your very owns helps." The unfamiliar man cleared his throat."So hello deary, I was wondering if my little siren got my message around."
Little siren? I stared at the com, as if I'd never seen it before. Only then did the memory come rushing back to me. In the Bazaar, I'd been approached and accosted by that strange woman... I set my tea down deliberately and leaned to the table, snatched my com, and composed myself. "Who is this?"
The stranger chuckled at me, and in that moment, a background noise carried: a pain filled gasp of a sound.Ā Ā " Oh , why excuse me. I Forget that the Countess is the only one to have met me in person. I am Luminous Sunblaze, rightful heir to the Sunblaze name."
I felt another chill pass over me, and I let an edge enter into my voice, stone cold, "And who else was that?"
" Oh yes, one moment." He asked the other's name in a whimsical tone. I couldn't make out the reply, save for the heavy trollish accent. What came next was loud and clear; a gunshot. " Hmm, well I didn't catch his name before he spat his disgusting Amani blood on my face. One of yours I do believe. The pig did carry some nice cigars to be sure."
I felt words escape me. The gunshot echoed in my ears, though it had gone silent. Amani, troll, cigars. One of ours. Zeejin? My hand tightened on the com, my teeth grit together. It was amazing that I managed to set it on the table without giving in to temptation and throwing it against the far wall.
" Disgusting thing, bleeding all over my floor." He cleared his throat, then I heard his mocking clear as a bell, "One Wolf Down..."
No. This couldn't be happening again. Not again. "No... no, no... oh, Light, no..." The cat stirred in my lap, pressed his nose to the underside of my chin. "Bloody Hell, no." My voice was faint. Wavering. I set my shaking hands on Princesses back, then quickly embraced him. "FUCK!" I buried my face against him, and my tears of impotent rage wet his fur.
The com continued without me as I tried hard to collect myself, to halt the sudden string of profanities that fell from my lips in Thalssian, Orcish, Common, and even a spattering of Gilnean.Ā I could hear the sound of wind rushing over the com link, and then Tylorias's voice.
" Damn you Luminous!! I'm going to kill you and hang your corpse over Silvermoon!"
Ā I drug in a shaking breath, loosed my grip on Princess. He was purring. There was a brief static over the coms. It was Trouble.
"Ya can let me know when ya got balls ta take on th' alpha, 'cause right now yer jus' fryin' small fish."
"Well then Big bad, come get lil' ol Red." Luminous's voice had my arms tensing around the cat again, and I growled out more expletives.
Trouble offered only a low whisper, "Growl," before her com went silent.
Ā "Next on the list will be someone a little closer to that inner circle of yours. Perhaps a certain red haired fellow that lives in the slums of Shattrath."
The stones had been cast, and my already complicated, dangerous life had just taken a turn for the worst.
