Midnight Shadows
Chapter Ten: Getting Acquainted
BY: Tammy

Disclaimer: Anita, Dolph, Jean-Claude, Jason, Asher, Zerbrowski, and any other recognizable characters belong to Laurell K. Hamilton. I’m borrowing them. This was written purely for entertainment and not monetary gain. Cara, Calin, Tanon, the Queen, and Dr. Zimmerman belong to me.

Author’s Note: This story is told from Anita’s and Cara’s view points. They alternate back and forth from chapter to chapter.

Cara's P.O.V.

Anita left and I looked around the room again. I was not comfortable with the idea of being alone here with two powerful beings. Not that I had much choice.

"Jason, why don't you get some refreshments for our guest? I think I'll see if I can find something for her to change into. I'm afraid your dress is quite ruined," Jean-Claude said after studying me for a moment.

I looked down at myself and had to agree. The dress was dirty and torn and there was no hope for it. I had packed a valise to bring with me, but it was lost now.

I nodded graciously. Years of being at court will teach you manners that show through in even the most stressful of times. "Thank you. I would greatly appreciate a change of clothing."

Both Jean-Claude and Jason left on their errands. Jason returned first with a glass of some brown liquid with bubbles and froth. It looked like a potion that's main component was mud. I wasn't sure I wanted to drink it.

"I hope you like Coke," he said with a grin.

"Coke?"

"You know cola, pop, soda. It's the only thing Anita will drink besides coffee," he said as he handed me the glass. I hadn't the foggiest idea what he was talking about, but took the glass out of courtesy. He was looking at me expectantly so I took a small sip. It was cold and sweet and the bubbles tickled my tongue. Not unpleasant, but I'd have preferred water.

Before I could say anything, Jean-Claude returned. "If you'll follow me, I'll show you where to change."

The idea of following a vampire anywhere did not seem to be the brightest idea, but I followed him anyway. Anita said I could trust him. He showed me to a bed chamber with a bathroom off it. The carpet and bedspread were black. The bed against the far wall was made of oak, as were the bedside tables on each side.

"The clothes belong to Hannah, one of my vampires. I'm sure she won't mind you borrowing them," he said pointing to some garments laid out on the foot of the bed. He gave a slight bow and left the room before I could respond.

I went into the bathroom and spent a few minutes exploring the facilities. They were far fancier than the ones I'd seen at the hospital. I washed up and changed into the odd clothes that had been left for me. To my sensibilities, the clothing was strange. A floral print skirt made of a soft material barely passed my knees and the short sleeved shirt was a peach color that matched the flowers on the skirt. I hardly felt dressed at all, but on the drive here I'd observed human women wearing much less.

When I returned to the main room Jean-Claude and Jason were sitting on opposite couches. Jean-Claude's skin looked more flushed. I wondered why. They stopped talking as I entered the room. I must have been the topic of their conversation.

"Cara, do you feel better?" Jean-Claude asked me.

"Yes. Thank you again for the clothes."

"Perhaps you'd like to tell us why you've come to Earth. Anita told me you come from a place called Aradorn."

"Why I came? It's actually pretty simple. My people have known about other worlds and how to travel to them for ages. However, very few of us are strong enough to open a gateway. The last Shalandar to do so was Tanon. That was five hundred years ago. I'm the first Shalandar born since then strong enough to follow him. My people are facing a crisis and we need his wisdom and experience. I'm strong, but not experienced. The High Council voted to allow me to come here to find him."

"Five hundred years ago!" Jason exclaimed. "Unless he's a vampire he's long dead."

"No, he shouldn't be. He was only about two hundred years old when he left. My people are very long lived. He's only approaching middle age," I said.

A movement to my right caught my attention. Another vampire I hadn't sensed walked into the room. He had long golden hair and startling ice blue eyes. His hair covered half his face like a veil.

Jean-Claude stood and said, "Cara, I'd like to introduce you to my lieutenant, Asher. Asher, please greet a guest from Aradorn, Cara. She carries two marks from an unknown master."

Asher looked very startled. "She doesn't know who marked her?"

"Non, mon ami."

The crash of the outer door and a loud masculine voice interrupted the conversation just when I might have learned something about those blasted marks everyone was so secretive about. A tall, muscular man with shoulder length brown hair barreled into the room shouting, "Jean-Claude, you damned vampire! I want to talk to you."

We all looked at him in surprise. I didn't have a clue what was happening, but the man was in a rage. He glowed just like Jason, but more brightly. He must also be a lycanthrope. If the glow was to be an indicator, he was more powerful than Jason too.

"Richard, what brings you to the Circus in such a cheery mood?" Jean-Claude asked with heavy sarcasm. "You see we have a guest. We do not need to air our dirty laundry before her."

"I don't care if the Pope is here. You have no right to demand more wolves from me. Jason and Stephen are sufficient."

"No, they are not. I am the Master of the City and I need an appropriate entourage. To put on a show indicative of my power, I need more wolves. They are, after all, my animal to call. What does it say about me that I only have two on hand?"

"I don't care what it says. You can't have anymore!"

Power was beginning to build up in the room. Asher and Jason had backed off to the far wall as Jean-Claude and Richard moved closer. Both radiated anger and violence, but the level of energy they gave off was extraordinary. My shields were being assaulted. Much more of this and I was going to black out.

Without thinking I pushed out with my own power. A silent wind built and pushed them both through the drapes and pinned them to a stone wall. I shouted, "Stop!" as I sent a separate strand of power toward them and cut off their respective powers. I noticed that their powers actually seemed to be linked in some way I didn't understand, but I didn't care as long as they stopped.

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