Misplaced Book I: No Place Like Home

Anita shifted in her seat uncomfortably waiting for Jean-Claude to explode or do something at least. She really hated it when vampires did that still as death thing. It was usually when they were about to react in fury. Finally she couldn’t take it anymore. “Say something Jean-Claude.”

“What would you have me say, Anita?” Yep big trouble. He was using her real name. “I tried and lost you to Monsieur Zeeman. You obviously prefer the werewolf. Though I must admit to some confusion. You have yet to see him shift, something I believe is a big factor to you. But I have hid nothing of what I am.”

“Like bullshit you have.”

“What you want to see and what I show you are often two different things. I wonder how it is you have seen so much, yet are surprised when the truth jumps out to bite you.”

“The only one trying to bite me is you.”

“Really? Perhaps you should examine your chosen a little more closely. Or have you hidden that side of you as well, Richard?”

Anita narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

“Ask Richard which he prefers after a shift, blood or sex.” She turned to Richard.

“Blood. But that is the wolf side. I keep myself in control of that side unlike you Jean-Claude.”

“I do not deny who and what I am. That is your job.”

“You arrogant-” Jean-Claude stopped him with a wave of his hand.

“Do you really wish to fight me, my wolf, without any of your protectors. I am in my own territory. You will not win. And I believe your Ulfric would thank me for that, since you challenged him.” He settled more comfortably in his chair, confident he was winning this tete a’ tete. “Now, you and Anita are going to talk over this and I will hear from Anita her thoughts on the matter. Return tonight and we shall discuss the future of the city since Elizabeth’s presence effects that. Now leave my office, please. And I hope you have a wonderful wedding.”

Anita gritted her teeth and stood, pulling Richard with her. “Fine, but if I find out she is a joke to get back in my graces; I will kill you.”

Jean-Claude sneered in challenge.

* * * *

While Anita’s life was getting complicated, Buffy was having to time of her life. The boys had followed her as she shopped for necessities. The account in her new bank had been beyond substantial; she could sit on her butt for a couple of years without worrying about money. Not that she intended to. She would find a job or maybe even go back to school.

As Jason drove to the shops, Buffy looked over her new records. Powers had hidden their tracks well, even for someone who was good at unraveling truths would have a hard time seeing the holes in her story. According to her records she had been adopted by a well-to-do couple as an infant through a private agency in a foreign country. So unless she did something serious to have the police look that hard, no one would find out. She had come from a very small town that was hard to find on any map. Their were no other records since a recent earthquake, which her fake parents had passed away in, had destroyed most of the town. That sounded a little suspicious, but in her experience most people don’t look closer for the truth.

Anita’s apartment was nice, but Buffy would look into getting her own place. It was too crowded in the city and her neighbor while nice-minus the annoying dog- would be a target if someone decided to attack her.

Also Anita while nice the first time, from what little she knew and had heard, had a tendency to shot first ask questions later. Eventually one of them would get too pissed at the other. Richard was another problem. He was an overgrown boyscott with big dreams who couldn’t accept a large part of himself. Personally, she thought Jean-Claude was more interesting and would take her ribbing a lot better.

Of course, Jean-Claude could kill her a lot easier. She liked the dangerous- no she didn’t have life issues.

“So Beth,” Buffy nearly groaned. Despite telling the weres to call her Buffy, Jason had taken a great delight in making a new nickname. She would’ve slapped him if she didn’t think he’d have gotten off on it. “Since you’re apparently from a different dimension, tell us about yourself. Interests, hobbies, secret fetishes?”

“Trust me puppy, you couldn’t handle it if I did,” She sneered.

“Know what I’d like to handle.” Buffy pretended she didn’t hear Stephen’s quiet murmuring. She had just met them and they were already on her list of people to protect. Even from their masters.

* * * *

Buffy had figured out their behavior after they had gone to numerous shops and she had tried on many scanty outfits she would never wear to tease. They were treating her like the most dominate person, referring to her wishes, most likely standard were behavior, though most humans do the same to an extent. It was a new feeling; no one had ever reacted like this to her after just meeting. But they were also friendly, genuinely wanting to know her.

She rather liked the feeling of people respecting her for her and not just the slayer ness. Not that they knew about it.

She had learned a lot about them as well. All of them were at the bottom rungs of their respective groups. The groups which seemed like hell. She would have thought packs or pards would be like a family or a haven. She blamed their leaders for that. Not that her boys, when had she started thinking of them like that, had said much about them. But she knew enough to want to hurt them badly for all the shit they pulled. Nathaniel seemed especially broken.

Buffy shook out of her thoughts. Threats wouldn’t help until she knew more of the situation. Speaking of which, “Hey, Jason, isn’t it time to head back for the big meeting?”

“But Beth, we were having so much fun. Helping you, visiting the mall, leering at half dressed women.”

“Cute. Well next time we can go bathing suit shopping.” She snickered at the frustrated groans of the men.

* * * * *

Jean Claude kept his mask of indifference on as he surveyed the meeting. This wasn’t going well from the beginning. Anita had walked in first, alone. All she said was she needed time to think and sat by herself in a corner not saying much. Which was usual. It had been thirty minutes and she hadn’t threatened anyone yet, even when Elisabeth and the weres arrived fifteen minutes late. Richard had arrived earlier, bringing Sylvie and a new member Shang Da. Elisabeth hadn’t reacted to the blatant display of power, in fact she might have been sniggering. Richard was glaring, but his bodyguards obviously thought she was a child or a new were that didn’t matter.

That was the problem with werewolves- arrogance because they had the largest population, so no other group was powerful. They forget the rats and hyenas that could easily take over when deals fell apart. And it would. If Richard won Ulfric, Jean Claude doubted he would send ‘presents’ to Narcissus. And he doubted the Rat King would allow his rodere to be pawns much longer. Elisabeth had a world of trouble if the powers had sent her here to solve this.

And two more problems in the form of Raina and Gabriel walked in. Elisabeth actually growled. He was pretty sure she wasn’t a lycanthrope.

Of course he hoped this wasn’t the time he was wrong.

****************

TBC
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