The Hunted

Author's Note: This is the first time I�ve written for the Anita Blake fandom. I have tried to include all the elements requested, with the exception of someone sprouting JUST a tail and ears (anime catgirl style) only because I don�t know anything about anime and did not want to screw up the story for one element.

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Jason entered the room and found Jean-Claude in a foul mood. His mouth was set in a grim line and the blue eyes were stony. Silently, he turned and tried to slip out the door unnoticed. But, apparently, tonight was not his lucky night.

�Jason,� growled Jean-Claude.

�Yes?� he asked, hesitant to say anymore.

�Where is Anita?� he asked, his patience with his human servant wearing thin.

�Out on police business I assume, that detective, Zerbrowski, called her.�

Jason�s hair stood on end. He could feel the energy of the vampire; the anger as it rolled through Jean-Claude. Yes, he was Jean-Claude�s pomme de sang and he was also a wolf, Jean-Claude�s animal to call, yet he had retained an independence of his own. But tonight was different. Tonight, he felt Jean-Claude�s power engulfing him. And it made him nervous.

Jean-Claude began to pace angrily. Jason tried to will himself invisible, but occasionally Jean-Claude�s eyes would flick over to him and he knew that the vampire was well aware of his presence. He tried not to show fear, for Jean-Claude would scent that as well as any wolf. Jean-Claude reacted as only he could, by allowing Jason�s fear to ripple through him and turning that fear into passion.

�Go,� he suddenly ordered Jason. �Just go.�

Jason quickly and quietly slipped out the door, grateful and sad at the same time. Grateful because he remembers all too well the ferocity with which Jean-Claude reacts when he is angry with Anita. Sad, because he cannot help the Master of the City, his master, when he most needs it.

Jean-Claude cursed Anita and her idea of what her life should be like. A husband, 2.5 kids, a dog in the yard and a white picket fence are not what animators get as a life. Instead, they get tromping around graveyards raising the dead half the night as their life. And that�s before one adds in human servant to the Master of the City and member of the preternatural squad. Next thing you knew, she�d want to be baking brownies and attending PTA conferences.

And the current Master of the City was in a snit over how his servant�s time was divided. She was one-third of their triumverate and yet, in a way, she was stronger than either him or Richard. Oh, he knew, she would never submit to him. Not now and probably not in a hundred years, all of which served to make him angrier. He had risen to power, fought for every inch of it and Anita could send him crumbling back down to with nothing more than her iron will.

He flung the door to his rooms open and headed out into the night. Tonight he needed to not be the one waiting for Anita to show up. Tonight he wanted her to be the one waiting, when he returned, if he returned. Here was not the only place he could sleep away the sun�s burning rays.

And, of course, as always, there was business to attend to. Leaving the Circus of the Damned, he headed to Guilty Pleasures, then to the Lunatic Caf�. He had no interest in the shows at either place and yet, he wanted something; something different and exciting. He expected to find himself looking for a small female with black hair. Instead, what he found himself looking at young, well-built blond males.

But he�d sent Jason away. In his anger, he�d sent away the one he was drawn to. Not only his wolf to call, but also his wolf, his pomme de sang, his friend. His lover, even? That remained to be seen. He had not yet broached that subject with Jason. There would be time for that later. For now, he needed to feed.

He looked up to see her standing in front of him. Her body posture told him that she was proud and brave. Head held high, her eyes meeting his, she did not flinch. The moonlight picked up the golden highlights in her hair. He could see her violet eyes, darker than amethysts, blazing in the darkness. A quick sniff told him she was wolf, his animal to call. Yet, she faced him completely unafraid. Mon Dieu! Was no one afraid of him anymore? First Anita and now this one.

�Jean-Claude,� she said, her voice a statement, not a question. She knew who he was and that fact unnerved him slightly. How was it that she knew him and he did not recognize her?

�Yes?�

�You need to feed. I offer myself willingly this night.�

His midnight blue eyes darkened. �You do not fear me.� Again, there were no questions, for the answers were obvious. He stepped toward her, nearly closing the distance between them. She did not tremble, nor did she look away. �I am the Master of the City and you are my animal to call. Why do you not fear me?�

�I answer to no master. I am on your lands without permission, so I offer myself freely.� She watched as he stepped closer still, bringing himself directly in front of her. She pulled her hair off her neck and tilted her head, giving him free access. She did not tremble, for it was true, she did not fear Jean-Claude. She did not trust him either, but to offer herself said that she did.

�What is your name, wolf?�

�Lenora,� she replied. There was no need to correct him now. There was a glimmer of fear as the hunter suddenly felt like the hunted. Her resolve quickly pushed the fear away, refusing to give into it.

His mouth was cool on her neck. She felt his teeth pierce her neck and he began to drink. Her hands instinctively gripped his biceps. She held on tightly as she felt her blood draining. He continued to drain her and she briefly wondered if she could be killed this way. The world began to tilt beneath her feet when she heard a shout.

Jean-Claude drank deeply. He was angry and lonely and here was this woman who had so freely offered herself to him. She did not fear him as Anita did. She would not submit to him either. She looked the perfect combination between Anita and Jason. Short and defiant like Anita; blond and muscular like Jason. Her hair was even the same texture and nearly the same length as Anita�s. Only her eyes remained her own. In all his years, he�d never seen such a color.

�Jean-Claude!� Jason shouted as he ran toward the master. �Jean-Claude, you must stop or you will kill her. Stop!�

Jean-Claude pulled himself away from the girl�s slender neck. She lay helpless in his arms, her arms hanging listlessly at her side. When had she stopped gripping his biceps? She had seemed so strong and now she lay, nearly lifeless, done in by his hand. But her heart still beat. Jason took the girl from Jean-Claude and waited for further instructions. �Bring her,� Jean-Claude ordered.

�Excuse me?� replied Jason, shocked that Jean-Claude would even suggest such a thing.

�I said, bring her. She offered herself willingly and I abused my power. It�s the least I can do for her.�

So Jason followed Jean-Claude, the girl in his arms barely breathing. Her heart beat slowly, but it was strong and steady. He looked down at her. How she reminded him of Anita, only blond instead of dark-haired. She was strong this one, ropy muscles covering her body. And she was wolf. But definitely not one of the Thronnos Rokke clan. She was not one who would have gone unnoticed.

When they entered Jean-Claude�s rooms, he indicated the couch. Asher immediately came into the room. One quick glance at the girl and he spun on Jean-Claude. �What did you do?� he shouted, not bothering to hide his anger. �In all these years, Jean-Claude, you have never done something so, so���� the blond vampire fought for words, �so rash. And now, you risk everything? If this girl chooses to complain, you will be Master of the City no more. You will lose everything.�

�Do you think I do not know that, old friend? Do you think that I would have willingly endangered myself and my friends?�

Jason remained against the wall, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. And he watched her. Her breathing remained steady, her heartbeat sure. She would survive but at what cost to the vampires?

�You do not lose control, Jean-Claude, tell me what happened.�

�Nothing happened, Asher. Now, please leave us.� Jean-Claude could not explain what had happened. How would he explain that he had been angry and his mind had been otherwise preoccupied. He knew that he had endangered her and compromised his position. Anita would be disappointed, but he was more concerned about what Jason thought at the moment.

Asher turned and stalked out of the room. Jason turned to leave as well.

�Do not leave me tonight, my wolf. Will you stay?�

Jason turned and nodded. He was surprised at the pain in Jean-Claude�s voice, the need that remained there. He began removing his clothes as he moved toward the bed. �She sleeps. Her heartbeat is strong and sure. She will survive.� He climbed into the bed and patted the space next to him.

Jean-Claude removed his own clothes and slipped into bed next to his wolf. He took both comfort and pleasure from Jason�s body. He had no need of blood tonight. He ensured Jason�s pleasure as well. As the blond lay in his arms, he hoped it was not for this night only, but for many more to come.

Daylight came and went and still she slept. Jason had checked on her often. He knew that Jean-Claude�s first concern would be her.

She awoke slowly, checking carefully for any injuries. The memories of last night returned and her fingertips instinctively touched the bite mark. Her neck was bruised, but otherwise, she was unharmed. She realized she was still dressed and that was a good thing as well.

Looking around, she took in her surroundings. They were obviously underground. The rooms were lushly decorated in black and white. She saw no one, but her sharp hearing and sense of smell picked up two vampires and one wolf. It was not the wolf she sought.

Jean-Claude entered the room and flashed her a smile. �I see you are awake, petit loup.� (little wolf)

She stood and tried to bite back the growl that erupted in the back of her throat. Her lack of success was met with a chuckle. �I am not a wolf, Jean-Claude.�

�But you smell of wolf.�

�I smell of many things, but I am no wolf.

Jean-Claude met her eyes. He had expected to roll her. Instead, it was if his will slammed up against a brick wall. He nearly staggered from it. �You are not a wolf. You aren�t a were animal at all. What are you?�

�I am a were animal. Once I was a lion. Now, I am also a vampire.�

�That is not possible.�

�I regret to inform you that it is possible. I am living proof. I have always been a lion. My king had chosen me because of my strength. That night I was attacked by two creatures. One a vampire, the other a wolf. Now, I cannot shift into my lion form. I smell like wolf. I was banished from my king and my kingdom. I must set this right.�

�But what you are saying is impossible.�

She rolled her eyes. �It is not, I assure you. I know how I felt as a lion. This is different. I prefer to sleep during the day now, although it is not necessary. My fangs are permanent and the need for blood is greater. I am stronger. I cannot deny what I feel.�

�And you have come to St. Louis seeking, what? Amnesty, sanctuary?�

�I come seeking revenge, and your protection in a way. I do not regret to inform you that the vampire who did this to me is already dead. He was not in your territory, not your responsibility. I now come seeking the wolf.�

Jean-Claude arched his eyebrows. �Let us say for a moment that I believe you. You want my permission to hunt this wolf?�

She shook her head. �As Master of the City, I ask merely as a formality. Whether you give it or not, I will still hunt the wolf.�

�So, you have come to ask my permission, but you care not if it is given. What of my protection? Will you forge ahead anyway, without it?�

She nodded yes, her mouth set in a grim line. �I have heard of Anita Blake, your servant and vampire executioner. She hunts the monsters. I am a monster. I know that. I do not need a guardian angel. I simply wish not to be hunted when I have completed my task. After the wolf is gone, I will move out of your territories. I will kill no one else.�

�Where will you go?�

�It matters not. I will not remain in your territory. There is plenty of unclaimed territory in the wild places. I will live out my days there.�

�If you are vampire, you may be there a long time.�

�I hope that whatever gods exist, they are not that cruel.�

�And if I grant you freedom to hunt the wolf and offer you protection from Anita, what do you offer me? Will you offer me fealty?�

�If that is the price I must pay, then yes. You have already taken my blood. If the need arises, you simply need to call me and I will come.�

�I still do not believe that you are as you say.�

She shrugged. �Test me however you wish.�

A moment later Asher, who had been waiting around the corner, rushed the girl. She stretched out her arm and her hand hit his chest and he went down. She moved easily and gracefully to take his arm and wrench it behind his back. He was on his knees in front of her, facing Jean-Claude when Jason charged at her and suddenly both of her hands were held in the air as a sign of submission. She stepped smoothly away from Asher.

�Please, do not make me do this. I don�t wish to hurt anyone,� she pleaded, her voice cracking. Jason stopped and found her halfway across the room. She had moved so quickly, even his wolf eyes had trouble tracking her.

Asher stood shakily. He had not been struck that hard in years. �Jean-Claude, I do not know what she is, but she is stronger than a were animal.�

She rolled her eyes again, her patience wearing thin. She really didn�t have time for this. �Jean-Claude, I am waiting. I do not have time for this. I do not know what I am, I no longer care. I simply wish to hunt the wolf and be done with it. I asked for your permission out of respect. What is your decision?�

Jean-Claude thought a moment. He could think of none of his wolves that would do this kind of thing. He assumed that the wolf had already been killed when Richard had become pack leader. Finally, he nodded. �Granted, but will you tell me the name of the wolf which you hunt?�

Her eyes narrowed and once again the anger began to burn. She would never forget that night. Together, they had destroyed her, destroyed what she was, destroyed everything she knew. She would never again be the same. And she would see them both dead for that. Another hunter was about to become the hunted. Her voice was icy when she finally answered. �Richard Zeeman.�

The End