Any characters you recognize belong to Sherrilyn Kenyon or Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m just doing this for fun. This is rated PG-13 to be safe.

I want to thank Luna and Maggie for letting me bounce stuff off them. Thanks to by Fantastic Beta! And my Muse.

New Version of an Old Game (Nate’s Story Chapter 17)

I don't remember dreaming, but I must have tossed and turned a lot. I woke up encased in the sheets like a Saran wrapped salmon. I started to unravel myself, which caused great amusement to someone in the room.

I turned my head to see a guy I didn't know sitting in the chair watching me. He was slight but muscled with dark hair and the strangest eyes I'd ever seen. They looked like cat eyes. Then it dawned on me, another shifter. 

I finally got myself unwrapped and sat up. He just watched me. It was a little irritating so I asked him if he was my new babysitter. He shook his head. He introduced himself as Micah, Nimir Raj of the Blood Drinkers Clan. What the hell that was I had no clue.

I went to the bathroom, cleaned up some and then returned to the other room to get dressed. He was still there. Checking my watch, it was a little after two.

I looked from my wrist to my uninvited guest. “I need some coffee, a change of clothes and my toothbrush. Want to take a ride?” 

He stared at me a moment with those strange eyes. “I don't think you're supposed to leave.”

I shrugged. “You'll be with me. So I'll have to come back. Right?”

He thought about that. I could see conflict playing out in his eyes. Then he grinned. “Heaven forbid you have a nasty plaque build up. Besides, I'll be with you. You'll have to come back.”

He stood then. He was short but something told me he more than made up for his lack of height. I could feel a hum of power. I checked my pockets. My wallet and keys were still there.

I nodded at the shifter. “You lead.  I don't quite know my way around yet.”

He shook his head. “We'll walk out together and we'll walk back in together.”

“Fine.”

He watched me as I slid the daggers into my belt. I wanted to grab my duster but I didn't want to tempt fate by running around in plain view. I just hoped that the sun was low enough in the sky that I could make it to the car without too much of a burn.

Then I got an idea. It wouldn't be a very good fashion statement but I wasn't a trendsetter. I pulled the top sheet off the bed and draped it over my shoulders.

“The sun burns if we get prolonged exposure.” I explained.

“Like a vampire.”

The comment stopped me. “I'm not a vampire, not anywhere close.”

He looked at me curiously. “No sunlight, fangs, and you like the taste of blood. There are a lot of similarities.”

“I don't like the taste of blood. I can manage the sunlight and I don't prey on unsuspecting mortals to stay alive. Now can we go?”

He nodded. “You can't blame me for being curious.”

“Curiosity killed the cat.”

“I'm not a normal cat.” He smiled.

With that, he opened the door and we left the room. After a few twists, turns, and steps we ended up at the back door of the club. Opening the door slightly I was greeted by cool air and clouds. The Fates were smiling on me, for now.

The car was where I left it, amazingly intact. I unlocked the doors and let him get in first. As I slid behind the wheel, I threw the sheet into the back seat. Starting the car, I looked over at the shifter in the other seat. He was looking out the side window. I reminded him to put on his seatbelt and pulled away from the curb.

I tuned in the station. Ellen was on the air. I'd be glad to get back to work. If I didn't stay busy I got bored and that was dangerous. My rider was pretty quiet on the drive to my place. Once there and inside, I handed him the remote to the television, and went to my room.

I put together a bag for one night. I wasn't going to stay any longer. I had a job and I didn't want to piss off Mitch. I took a long hot shower, shaved and brushed my teeth. Then I put on fresh clothes, blue jeans and a navy blue sweatshirt. I took the bag and walked back out to the living room. Micah was going through my CDs.

He looked up as I walked back in. “Let's listen to this one on the way back.”

“Sure.” I looked at the CD. It was Incubus, their second album.  “Lunatic Cafe for coffee and a sandwich?”

He seemed to give it some thought before he nodded. “I haven't been there in awhile. Sure.”

I turned off the lights and locked up. We were off again. The cafe wasn't overflowing and we managed to find a table.

Waiting for the order, we asked each other questions. It turned out he was an okay guy for a shifter. I still think he thought I was going make a break for it; I got the feeling if I did there would be hell to pay, for him at the least.

He looked at me curiously. “Nathaniel thinks a lot of you. He likes that someone outside the circle could be his friend and not want anything in return.”

I shrugged. “He's a nice kid.”

The cat shook his head. “He's too trusting.”

“A lot of people his age are.”

There was a hand on my shoulder, a light touch. I turned to see the Asian woman that I had guessed was my neighbor.

She smiled. “Decided to get dressed?” I blushed, and she chuckled. “Sorry. Couldn't help it.  I'm Mai, your neighbor.”

She offered her hand and I took it as I told her, “I'm Nathan. This is Micah.” He nodded as I asked her, “How long have you lived next to me?”

Mai gave me an odd look but answered. “Only a week. I teach Jujitsu not far from here. You should come by. Nice meeting, you Micah.”

With that she left. Micah gave me one of those looks like he knew something I didn't. What, I didn't know.

We finished lunch and drove back to the District. I let Micah take the CD. We went back in the way we came out, returning to the room I had left.

The bed was remade, everything in it's place. Asher was waiting. I dropped the bag beside the bed and sat down. Micah thanked me for lunch and left. Smart kitty.

Asher and I sat looking at one another for a few minutes. I felt like a kid in the principal’s office, caught skipping class.

He finally spoke. “You should not have left.”

“I came back and I had an escort.”

He shook his head. “Anita is not very happy with Mr. Callahan.”

Great, more trouble to claim. “I needed to get things and I want as few of you people knowing where I live as possible.”

“That I cannot fault you for.”

I sighed. “So what's on the agenda for tonight? More questions? More blood? Let's get it all out of your system because I won't be here but one more night.”

“Do you think I wish you harmed?” He asked.

“You may not but I'm not so sure about your friends.”

He hesitated before answering. “I granted you safe passage. I gave you my word.”

A chill ran up my spine. “Why do I get the feeling that you've been overruled?”

“I am not Master of the City. Jean Claude's word is law.”

Now I was getting pissed. “Asher I can't give answers I don't have and I'm tired of repeating myself. I'm just tired.”

“I know that feeling.”

I looked up at the sadness in his voice. “You're older than he is. Why do you bow to him?”

He gave me an odd look. “How do you know I am older?”

“I can feel it.” I told him as I removed the daggers from my belt and slid them under one of the pillows. “I don't know how.”

He shook his head. “You are a mystery Mon Cher.  I need to see to something. Is there anything you need?”

“A bottle of rum?” I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask if I was stuck here. He tilted his head slightly so I added, “No ice.”

“As you wish.” He told me as he left.

I sat there for a few minutes thinking about all this mess. I could hardly believe it was all because I was trying to be nice and bring Nathaniel his CD. Maybe I should just let Goth Princess take my head and be done with it, no more problems. Of course I doubt Acheron would let that happen.

After an hour or so I began to pace the floor. Something didn't feel right but maybe it was just paranoia. There was a knock on the door. Hopefully it was someone bringing the rum.

I didn't give it a second thought. I just opened the door and was tackled. I didn't even have a chance to fight. One of them sat on top of me while another cuffed my wrists behind my back. Then I felt a sharp sting in my left forearm. Everything went very dark.

I came to slowly. There were voices but they seemed a thousand miles away. My body felt heavy and my arms ached. Was I standing? I couldn't tell. I moved my legs. They swung freely. Okay not standing.

I opened my eyes slowly not sure what I'd find. I was in some type of spotlight. Everything else was dark. I glanced upward to find my wrists secured to a beam overhead. This was so not good.

Then the mayor stepped into my little circle of light. He had on a shirt that looked like it was taken from the painting of the kid in blue. You know the one. I just grinned and shook my head.

His arched an eyebrow. “You find me amusing?”

I shook my head, still trying to clear the fog from whatever they gave me. “Not really. Now that you have my undivided attention, what do you want?”

His face was a cold mask. “I want to know why you are here. Who sent you?”

“I've told you all that. You know everything about me.”

He pressed. “Are you Fey? You have a certain amount of magic. Luna has seen it.”

“I'm not a magician. I'm just what I am.”

He wouldn’t give up. “Which is?”

I sighed. “I've told you. I'm sure Myra has too and Asher.”

“Yes, Asher has become quite infatuated with you.” He snapped and I swear I almost heard a note of jealousy in the tone.

I’d had enough. “You know I bet he could clean your clock if he wanted to. You think you're so high and mighty. Let me tell you something, you aren't my freaking master.”

I pulled my knees up and kicked out. I caught him off guard because he went sailing into the darkness. Talon always told me I tended to be a bit irrational at times. I guess he was right. Jean Claude walked back into the circle of light.

His expression was cold and calculating. “I hope you enjoyed that. You will not get another chance. Since you refuse to answer my questions willingly, maybe a little coercion is called for.”

“The story won't change.” I told him, sick of his game.

He nodded to someone behind me and the lights came up. The room looked like a dungeon. I bet it was soundproof too. A hand grabbed the back of my sweatshirt and it was yanked off.

I muttered, “What do you people have against my shirts?”

Jean Claude just chuckled. “It is cumbersome for what the Ulfric has in mind.”

With that he left. Something scissor-like raked down my back causing me to inhale sharply. Richard appeared in front of me. His eyes were amber and he was grinning.

He leaned forward and whispered, “I'm going to enjoy this.” He held up his partially shifted hands. “Of course there is that chance you may be infected.” He dragged his claws across my chest, leaving thin red lines in their wake. “You'd have to petition to join the pack of course. I would consider it.”

Through the pain, I told him, “No thanks. I don't do dogs.”

This earned me a punch in the kidneys. Someone else was in the room. It was going to be a long painful night.

I don't remember blacking out but I woke to the sounds of arguing. It was a three-way shouting match, that Anita woman, the Mayor and Asher. In my pain induced haze I tried to make out the gist of it.

Asher sounded agitated. “I gave him my word. My word still stands for something Jean. At one time yours did as well.”

Jean Claude sounded calmer though disagreeable. “He has yet to give a satisfactory explanation to his reason to be here.”

The older vampire argued. “You know he is not lying.”

“Asher what is wrong with you?” The woman asked.

“I was addressing Jean Claude, not you Anita.” He replied.

She sounded shocked. “What has he done to you? Was a taste of his blood enough to make you forget who you are?”

Asher’s voice sounded more formal when he told her, “I have not forgotten my station, Anita.”

The mayor jumped in at that point. “Ma Petite did not mean that the way it sounded, Mon Ami.”

“Of course she did.” The older vampire almost whispered.

Anita sounded frustrated. “Asher we know nothing about him.”

The blonde haired vamp told her, “He has told you everything.”

“How do you know that? How can you believe such fantasy?” She didn’t sound convinced.

Asher told them, “To him, we are fantasy.”

Jean Claude broke in. “We need to discuss this.”

The older vampire sounded tired when he told them. “We could have discussed it but you chose to kidnap the boy, to let Richard and his wolves torture him.”

Anita snapped. “Richard had cause. Pay back is a bitch Asher. He should never have attacked Richard.”

Asher chided her. “Richard should not have provoked the attack.”

“What do you want to do?” The mayor asked.

“I am taking Nathan home.” It didn’t sound like a request from Asher’s tone.

The woman was incredulous. “Home? Listen to yourself. You are leaving yourself open... Jean Claude you can't let him leave. It's too dangerous.”

The voices became muffled. I was slipping again. I stiffened as the door opened and footsteps echoed across the floor to stop just behind me. My body started to shake. I was sure that Richard and his friends were back.

Somewhere a lever or switch was pulled and I was being lowered. When my boots touched ground, my knees buckled. Someone caught me before I hit the floor.

It was Asher’s voice. “Ssh. It's all right. Be still.” I looked up at him as he assured me, “I'm taking you home.”

Someone took off the restraints. The last thing I remember before sinking into darkness was being lifted and a lot of pain.