Of Noble Chains (The Ventori Fables) (9 page)

“I don’t think everyone is a monster,” Zia held back a sob, “just them.”

Her mother already in bed, Zia gripped Snow’s leash tighter.  Her neighbours dog, a small white ball of fur, padded around on the grass, sniffing but never actually doing anything.  Zia had taken the dog out every night for a walk since her neighbour had broken his leg and couldn’t.  She didn’t mind though, dealing with dogs wasn’t too different from dealing with children.

But tonight was different; Zia was still upset over what had happened with Mal and she was still resisting her gut instinct to head over to Wraith and talk with Achaicious laCoix.  But if Malachi Fel hadn’t been the killer, then that meant it was most likely Achaicious.  Something
nagged at the back of Zia’s mind and she whirled around to come face to face with a tall, blond man perfectly capable of killing everyone and walking away.

“What in the name of the Light, are you doing here?” Zia looked around the street, grateful that she wasn’t in front of her own house, and actually at the end of the Common.  He couldn’t find her mother, at least not too easily.

The shadows from the leaves overhead covered Mal’s face, obscuring any view of his features.  Zia didn’t like that; she couldn’t tell what he was about to do.

“I want to help you,” Mal said, stepping back into the light and holding up his hands.

“Help me?” Zia gaped.  “What could you help me with?”

“With your case,” Mal looked around the area, as if afraid the Clan Guard was about to come down and take him away to prison.  “With
Cindel’s murder.”

“What do you care about her?” Zia tugged on Snow’s leash and began to walk back home.  Not
her
home, but
a
home was good enough right about then.

“It’s not exactly her I care about,” Mal faltered as he trailed behind Zia, “not to say I don’t care about finding out who killed her, I just mean I want to prove to you that not all Specter’s are evil.”

Zia came to a halt and held a finger in the air, not even looking at Mal.  “So let me get this straight; you want to help me catch a psychopathic Caster killer to prove that not all Specter’s are evil?”

“Yes,” Mal confirmed.

“You’re an idiot,” Zia announced.  “I don’t want your help.  I have a mentor, thanks.”  She continued forward.

“You want to talk with Achaicious, don’t you?”  That stopped Zia again.  “I can help you contact him.  We have…met.”

Zia started moving again.  “Like I said, I don’t need your help!”

Something about her bothered Mal.  Maybe it was just her attitude towards Specter’s, or maybe it was just the way she treated him.  He had never been treated so badly, even by a Ventori.  But not one day ago she had yanked him out of hiding and thrown him into the dirt.

Mal’s shield shimmered under the moonlight as he watched the Ventori girl constantly look over her shoulder.  She still hadn’t returned to her own house after returning the dog to its appropriate owner.  He found her curious, and wondered why she didn’t return home yet.

He also wondered who the man was that was following her.  It was another Ventori, that much Mal knew, with dark grey eyes and shaggy brown hair.  He knew how to follow a person too, highly experienced.

Mal had considered leaving the girl and her stalker, but some strange part of him twinged at the thought of leaving her alone under some stranger’s stare.  So instead, he decided to wait it out, follow the Ventori girl to make sure this man didn’t attack her.  It was the least he could do since she seemed to be keeping his secret to herself.

Zia moved down the walkway towards South Havilan, muttering to herself about how stupid an idea this was.  She had gone back home, jumping over a few fences to get in the backdoor; there was still a chance that Mal was watching her.  But if she wanted to get into a club she had to dress the part, so tight jeans, an even tighter tube top with high heeled boots were a much better fit than her previous outfit.  Realizing how far she had to walk now though was making her change her mind.

About forty-five minutes later Zia was walking up to Wraith, her eyes trailing down the line that circled the block.  Bright lights lit up the entrance, but the Specter’s that awaited entry were shrouded in darkness.  Appropriate, Zia thought. 

As her heels clicked past the crowd they watched her.  She knew they sensed what she was, even if she had tried to hide it.  And feeling the weight of her dagger or her chain didn’t make her feel any safer as she came to the end of the line. 
This will do no good
, she thought.  There was no way she would get inside with a line this long, and there was no guarantee that they would let her in if she got to the front.  A Ventori in a Specter club?  She wasn’t exactly a welcome VIP.

With a sigh, she listened to her heels continue to click as she walked away from Wraith, preparing to find another way inside.

Mal couldn’t tell what she was doing, this Ventori girl.  She had gone back into her house and changed into a different set of clothes, only to come down to Wraith.  All the Specter’s were talking about her, questioning why a clan member so young would be there.  Thankfully most thought it was on a dare and chose to ignore her.  Some though…some were suggesting other things.  Things that made Mal cringe.

Losing his shield, Mal followed the girl into a nearby alley and watched as she tried to find another way into the club.  He was careful to keep an eye out for the stranger that was on her tail, but he had lost the man’s scent once they had passed the bridge.

Mal’s eyes peeked out of the alley, curious to see if the stranger was anywhere nearby.  But when he turned around he was suddenly looking down on the Ventori girl.

“What in the name of the Light are you doing here?” she asked him, for the second time that night.  He had forgotten he lowered his shield, and she could easily see him.

“I was just…following you,” he admitted, not wanting to lie to her.  Mal didn’t like lying, even if it was to someone like her, someone who hated and was so close-minded towards Specter’s.  “I see you are having trouble getting into the club.”

“I’ll get in,” she said, “so you and your creepy stalking self can go away back to your lair while I try and find a murderer.”

Mal grimaced in the darkness.  “I am not the one stalking you.  Besides, you Ventori girl, what are you going to do when you meet Achaicious?  Accuse him outright like you did me?”

“I’ll figure that part out when I get there,” she declared and whirled back around.  Mal felt a smile grow across his face as he watched her go.  He kind of liked that she didn’t back down easily, even to him.  But that tenacity was surely going to get her killed sooner rather than later, most likely tonight.

“I can help you,” Mal found himself saying as he took a step towards the girl.  A firm hand planted on his shoulder and he jumped to find the stranger there.  “Who are—“

“Zia!” The stranger called out.  She spun around again, ready to attack Mal but paled as she saw him.

“What are you doing here?” she, Zia, Mal noted her name, asked.  She seemed to ask that a lot.

“I’ve been following you,” he stepped forward and Mal’s stomach lurched upwards.  He dashed in front of the stranger, readying himself for a fight.  And a strong fight it would be; Mal hadn’t even heard this man approach.  Not a simple accomplishment.

“I do not know who you are,” Mal said, his fingers stiffening, “but I suggest you leave her be before I do something I will regret.”

Instead of leaving, or even cowering, the man laughed, loud and hearty.  He slapped another hand on Mal’s shoulder and pushed him aside as easily as Zia had in the woods.  “Calm down,” he said, “she’s my student.”

“Aeryn,” Zia came into the strange argument, eyeing Mal, “what are you doing here?  And why are you following me?”

“You know him?” Mal asked, his stature relaxing just slightly.  Zia only gave him a nod, still trying to wrap her head around the fact that he had tried to
protect
her.  Such a strong Caster and Specter was ready to fight to save her; she just didn’t understand that.

“I thought you might look into the suspects yourself,” Aeryn shrugged, “which in most cases are very dangerous.  Present company excluded.”  He shot a look at Mal.

“Ah, thank…you,” Mal said back, unable, or unwilling, to make eye contact.

“But Zee, let me ask you something,” Aeryn rested a hand on Zia’s shoulder, “why aren’t you taking his help?  Do you
not
want the most power Caster on your side?”

“He’s a Specter,” Zia spat, “why would I want his help?”

“You can’t assume they’re all evil,” Aeryn gave her a pitying look and she hated it.  What was with this day?  Everyone was trying to convince her that Specter’s were good?  They were nothing but killers!

“I only wish to help you understand,” Mal said, taking a small step into the alley.

“I understand just fine, thanks,” Zia made sure her abhorrence came through to both of them.  She might admire Aeryn, but she wasn’t going to accept his thoughts on Specter’s so easily.

Aeryn grimaced and turned to Mal.  “You think you can get her in?”  He nodded in response.  “Good, then if you don’t mind, give her a hand.”

“I don’t need his help!” Zia shouted.

“Zia,” Aeryn sounded like he had lost his patience, “let him help you.  It’s dangerous in there; did you know entering there revokes the Accord keeping them from killing you on sight?”

Zia paled a little more in the dim light.  “But I’m not going to attack them.”

“But you carry a weapon,” Mal said, gesturing to her hidden knife, “that is all they need.”

“Wha—but…but…”

“Just take the help, since I can’t go in with you tonight,” Aeryn turned to Mal. “Look after her will you?”

Mal nodded to Aeryn before the Ventori quickly escaped the alley.  Zia seemed to have been too stunned to refute him, or maybe she was just too frightened.  But no matter what, Mal was determined to show her that not all Specter’s were bad; maybe if he could convince her, he would be able to convince those at City Ark.  Maybe this was the beginning of a new Accord.

“Fine,” Zia finally said to him, “but this whole working with you thing…not gonna last.  So just get me inside so I can do my job.”

Mal held his hand out to her and she paused.  She didn’t want to touch him, she felt like it would taint her if she did.

“It is necessary,” Mal said, moving until he was right beside her, “it is the only way I can pull you through.”

“Through?” Zia asked, roughly putting her hand in his.  They felt different than Aeryn’s, they were much smoother, and just a bit smaller, but still bigger than hers.  Mal turned his face towards the brick wall that separated her from Wraith.  He said nothing, and Zia blinked.  “What.  Just.  Happened.”

They were inside the building.  Just like that; one moment Zia was breathing in the stench of fresh garbage, now she couldn’t breathe from the smoke of the club.  They stood in the ladies washroom, surrounded by blinding lights and two Specter’s taking a smoke break.  The girls didn’t seem to care that Zia had just materialized by them and they walked out.

“You may want to keep hold of my hand,” Mal suggested, turning his face towards Zia, “there will be many people in here that aren’t fond of Ventori.”

“Like Light I will,” Zia said and tried to yank her hand from him.  She expected him to let go immediately, since his demeanor had been so meek before, but he held on.  Zia tried again but to no avail.

“I said I would look after you,” Mal said, pulling her face to look at him with her free hand, “and if you let go of my hand you will most certainly die.”

Zia was going to try and argue, but she found her mouth had dried up.  She had never really looked into Mal’s eyes before; he had been wearing sunglasses and outside it had been too dark.  But now, under the bright bathroom lights she had to think hard to form words.  Mal’s eyes were nothing short of magnificent, with a black pupil surrounded by the thinnest ring of blue and after that an explosion of violet extending over the rest of his eyes.  She felt herself staring, but Zia had never seen anything like this before.

“I am sorry,” Mal blushed just slightly as he moved his hair around on his forehead, “I will change it so you’re more comfortable.”

“Uh-huh,” Zia mumbled and watched as Mal’s eyes changed from inhuman to…well, more human.  The violet contracted and his eyes showed their whites, and the ring of blue dissipated to the edge of his pupil, as if being smudged outwards.  They were still strange but absolutely, “beautiful.”

“I will imagine that means this is better,” Mal smiled and pulled on Zia’s hand, dragging her to the door.  She covered her mouth, unable to believe what she had just said.  He was a Specter, there was no way she could think something like that.

“W-whatever,” Zia managed to say.

“Stay close,” Mal gave her another smile as his hand touched the door leading to the club, “and welcome to Wraith.”

Wraith wasn’t like anything Zia had ever witnessed before; the music roared overtop the Specter’s, who didn’t even try to hide what they were, and the stench of iron and whiskey stained the air.  As Mal led Zia through the droves of people, she found it difficult not to wrinkle her nose in disgust at the Vampire’s drinking blood, or the Demon’s snacking on raw meat. 
And they want me to think these things are innocent?
  She thought.