Any characters you recognize belong to Laurell K. Hamilton or the members of this group. I’m just doing this for fun. It’s rated PG so far but that may change.

 

And yes I know it's been awhile. But I've been busy. Thanks again to my beta. She works miracles. And I am playing loose with wizards, Loose is fun.

So here goes.

 

Camden’s Story: Part Seven

 

Camden sat down on the sofa and waited for Zach. He'd never been up close and personal with a vampire before.  Jean Claude walked around the desk to stand in front of him. The vampire offered his hand and introduced himself. Camden stood and shook the man's hand, careful to avoid eye contact.

 

Jean Claude was amused. “I assure you, I will not try to be spell you. I cannot do it to your father. I doubt I could to you.”

 

Camden looked up and grinned. Jean Claude chuckled and motioned for his guest to sit. The master studied the young man for some time before speaking again.

 

He finally asked his guest. “Would you care for something to drink?”

 

“No thank you. I just wish dad would get here.”

 

“There is no need to be frightened. You are safe here.” The vampire assured.

              

Camden sighed. “From what? Who? Nobody wants to tell me anything. All I know is that Trisha is involved.”

 

“It is complicated. Vampire politics usually are.” He saw the confused look on the boy’s face and added. “I cannot tell you anything until Zachary arrives.”

 

“How long have you known him?”

 

Jean Claude smiled. “Almost four years. He has been very helpful in dealing with certain councils.”

 

“You're really French? From France?” The young man asked.

 

“Oui. And you are really American. From America.”

 

Camden laughed but then his face turned serious. “You think he's alright?”

 

“I'm sure he is. Why don't I have Jason show you around the Circus? There is an arcade one flight up. It provides something for my people to do on their time off.” The master explained.

 

“Do you ever play games up there?”

 

“I assure you the games I play are much more serious.” Jean Claude answered with a raised eyebrow.

 

“You need to loosen up.” The boy told him. There was a knock at the door just before it opened and Zach walked in. Camden bolted out of his seat. He grabbed his father in a bear hug telling him, “I thought they'd got you!”

 

“Not that easily.” They parted as the man told his son. “I'm glad you made it safely.” He then turned to their host. “Thank you Mon Ami.”

 

The master vampire nodded. “Of course. Do you know who it was?”

 

Zach nodded. “Unfortunately. It was Trish and Mick from Taylor's band. I can…”

 

“Did you say Mick?” The young man interrupted.

     

His father turned to him. “You know Mick?”

 

Cam nodded. “He came in to buy a bass last week. The band is at Dead Druids.”

 

“You aren't the only guitar shop in town.” His dad told him.

 

“And the shop is not on the beaten path as it were.” Zach nodded at Jean Claude’s comment.

 

“Why would he be helping Trisha do anything?” The young man asked.

 

His father sighed. “Because she's offered him something. Power. Money.”

 

“Possibly.” Their host shrugged.

 

“Wait you think they had something to do with the break in?” The boy asked.

 

“I wouldn't rule it out. In fact I'd almost count on it. This all happened after I expressed my concern for your safety.” Zack confessed.

 

His son shook his head. “I just don't see the reason they're after me.”

 

Jean Claude tried to explain. “Some believe that you are a threat to their power base. Others would want to control you for your uniqueness.”

 

Camden shook his head. He just didn't get it. There was nothing unique about him. He sat back down on the sofa. He heard Jean Claude and Zach talking but none of the words registered. Unique… Yeah, right.

 

The young man finally heard their host saying, “I can call the owner of Dead Druids and ask him to keep an eye on this Mick person.”

 

The sorcerer shook his head. “I should just go talk to Taylor. Find out from him what's going on.”

 

“Why don't I take a trip to Dead druids and draw them out?” Cam offered. Jean Claude and Zachary stared at the young man so he added. “You could stay in the shadows in case they try anything. I mean it's not like I'd be alone.”

 

Zach shook his head. “What if we couldn't get to you? It's too dangerous.”

 

His son exploded. “Look, I've had it! They wrecked the shop, wrecked my truck and that's before I even knew about you. Level with me now or I'm out of here.”

 

“He is too much like you.” Jean Claude told the sorcerer who grinned and ran a hand through his hair. The master asked the older man. “May I?” The sorcerer nodded and their host continued. “There are two sides competing for your… skills.”

 

“Skills?” The young man asked.

 

“Be still and listen.” The master vampire told him. Camden complied. “You may have inherited your mother's gene yes. But what is feared the most is that your ability to shift combined with your latent intuitive powers and your father’s sorcery will make you stronger and more powerful than either the vampire council or the courts of the wizards. They fear you will destroy them.”

 

The young man scoffed. “Right. That's nuts. One, I may not have any powers and two, my mother's genes may have passed me by.”

 

Zach shook his head. “That doesn't matter to them Cam. They see any chance of losing their seats of power as a threat.”

 

“That is why your identity was protected. Why only a chosen few were trusted with your location. Someone has broken that trust.” The master’s face was blank, devoid of emotion.

 

“This so sucks.” Camden told both men.

 

Jean Claude nodded in agreement. “It may be for the best that you remain here until we have neutralized the threat to you.”

 

The young man sighed. “I need to go to my place and pick up some things.”

 

“Cam, it's too dangerous.” The sorcerer told his son.

 

Their host offered a solution though. “I will send Jason with him and one of my people will drive. You and I will talk to Patrick.”

 

“Would that be alright Cam?” Zack asked.

 

“Okay. I'll grab some things real quick and come back.”

 

“Promise?” The sorcerer asked.

 

Camden nodded. “Promise.”

 

Zach gave his son a long hug. There was a knock on the door. Jason came in. Jean Claude explained the circumstances to his wolf. Then reminded Jason to be extra vigilant. The two young men left soon after.

 

Jean Claude called Dead Druids and asked for Patrick. Once the manager of the club picked up, Jean Claude told him what was afoot.

 

“Alright. I'll meet you at the back door.” Patrick told him then paused listening to the Master Vampire. “Because the club is packed and if you don't want the band to know you're here, that is the best way. Ten minutes.”

 

He hung up and turned to Liam who asked. “What's up?”

 

“Remember I told you that Mick was asking about JC and his people, the power structure.” Liam nodded at the question. “Well guess who's coming over.”

 

“The master himself I take it.”

 

Patrick nodded. “Yeah.”

 

“Be interesting.” The bartender told him.

 

Camden and Jason arrived at the apartment as full dark fell. Their driver was one of the wererats. He was armed to the teeth too. Camden didn't see any strange vehicles around. He and Jason got out of the car and made their way to the door.

 

Using his key in the lock, Camden turned the knob and pushed open the door. He reached to his left for the light switch. Nothing happened. Camden couldn't see a damn thing but Jason with his were sight could. There were shadows just across from them. Scenting the air, he got the whiff of gunpowder. He'd smelled that enough around Anita. Jason managed to grab hold of Camden and pull him out the door before the shots were fired.

 

The two beat feet for the car. The driver sped off as the intruders exited the apartment after them and fired several more shots before heading for their own cars.

 

At Dead Druids, Jen Claude, Zachary, Patrick and Liam were talking.

 

Patrick admitted. “I thought the kid was special when I met him.”

 

Zachary asked him. “You've met Cam?”

 

The club manager nodded. “He came to deliver some amps. Nice kid.”

 

Liam asked. “So you think this Trisha woman is behind all of the things that have happened to your son?”

 

The sorcerer nodded. “You could bank on it.”

 

“And what does she gain from all of this?” The bartender asked.

 

Jean Claude shook his head. “That we do not know.”

 

Liam speculated. “Wealth? Power?”

 

Patrick and Jean Claude made eye contact before the manager answered his friend. “All of it Liam and something else… Immortality.”

 

The master of the city nodded. “From what I have heard about this Trisha woman, it would be safe to assume that.”

 

There was a knock on the office door. The manager turned to his friend. “Liam.”

 

“I'll handle it.” The bartender moved to the door, opened it and walked through closing it behind him.

 

On the other side of the door stood Taylor. He was of average height and weight, with sandy blond hair and deep blue eyes. His face was drawn as if worried.

 

Liam walked him down the hall a bit before asked him. “What's wrong?”

 

Taylor ran a hand through his hair before answering. “Mick hasn't shown up. Mike said that he had been going out a lot lately with some woman. Brett and Tim tagged along once I guess. It's just strange.”

 

“Is it only Mick who is missing?”

 

Taylor nodded. “I was hoping maybe Patrick would fill in for him. I know it's been awhile. Do you think he would?”

 

“I can ask him. He's in a meeting right now.”

 

Taylor nodded. “Thanks Liam.”

 

Taylor walked away as Liam went back to the office. Zachary was on his cell phone with Camden. His son was talking fast and sounded scared. There were two cars after them. Their driver was trying to out maneuver them.

 

The sorcerer told his son. “Cam, just keep your head down. Tell the driver to head back to the District. Go straight to the Circus. We'll be waiting. Do whatever Jason tells you to do. You're safe with him.”
 

“Let me speak to Jason.” Zach handed the master vampire the phone at his request. “Jason? Who is your driver?” There was a pause then he nodded. “Good. How far are you from the Circus?” A longer pause followed. “Good. We will meet you there.” The master heard the squealing of breaks and both young men scream just before the screeching of metal. The phone went dead. He turned to the others. “We must go.”

 

“How far away are they?” Zack asked.

 

“Jason said that they were close. Ten minutes maybe.” Jean Claude explained.

 

The sorcerer nodded. “Let's go.”

 

“You'll need backup.” Patrick told the pair.

 

Zach looked the manager dead in the eyes and told him. “Send the coroner. Because if Cam and Jason are hurt, he'll need a body bag for what's left of who did it.”

 

With that, Jean Claude and Zachary left the office. Patrick called downstairs and spoke to Kyle. When Jean Claude and Zachary exited the club they had back up, six of them.

 

At the scene Jason was lying on the floor of the car. He could hear movement outside. Camden was above him on the seat. Someone was beating on the glass, trying to break it. It was bullet proof. It would take a lot of pressure to crack it but they could pry the doors open. As the people outside were working on the door Camden groaned and rolled off the seat to land on top of Jason. The young wolf could taste his own blood as well as smell Camden's.

 

As the rear passenger door began to give, Jason's heart sped up. He silently pleaded for Jean Claude and Zachary to get there. He wouldn't let them take the kid. He was also fighting his instinct to shift. Jason knew that if he shifted, he was dead. All of those scenarios were running through his head when he heard the sweet sound of sirens and more squealing tires. He hoped it was the cavalry. When gunshots erupted he knew it had to be. The driver had come to and was trying to get his door open while yelling for them to stay down.

 

'No problem there.' Jason thought. After a short time the gun play stopped. The young werewolf could hear muffled voices just outside the car door. Then the door literally flew off its hinges.

 

Jean Claude stuck his head into the opening. “Are you alright my wolf?”

 

Jason looked up and laughed just before he blacked out.