Meredith stands at the precipice of a bold decision, fully aware that by accepting Jasper's proposition, she has plunged herself into a perilous web spun by an unpredictable player. She surveys the tangled threads of her dilemma and acknowledges that this is the only path left to her. With steely resolve, she hopes that when the dust settles, Jasper will accept her final decision without protest. Yet, neither of them can foresee the treacherous terrain they are about to navigate in the shadowy corners of New Orleans. What lies ahead is not just a moment of judgment; it is a fierce struggle for survival, a brutal contest that could determine their very lives.
Jasper didn’t trust Meredith, and Meredith did not trust Jasper, but they had agreed to work with one another. The time spent the rest of the afternoon after this agreement was used to pull all of the different volumes off of the shelves that they would need to do a thorough investigation. Jasper also was trying to determine how to keep Annabella and Adriel from discovering the mission that Meredith had been given.
She was now sitting cross-legged in one of the large, plush, leather chairs in his library, looking over an old tome that he believed had the history of Jean Pierre before in it somewhere. Even he wasn’t quite sure where the Grigori came from before he had turned up in New Orleans. He’d never really dug into it either, not really caring. Watching her, Jasper was vexed on how to keep his friends from all killing her, whilst simultaneously proving two of their innocence. Answering to the Phanuel was not on the top of his “to-do list” anytime between the current day and the end of time.
“Finding what you are looking for, Princess?” Jasper leaned back in his chair, crossing his long legs at the ankle atop the leather ottoman before him. He was currently leaving the research up to her, since she was the one who had all of the details.
Meredith’s eyes rose from the typed text before her, but her head stayed bowed over the book. The look she pinned him with just made him smirk, which made her eyes narrow. “I’m not a princess, we covered this.” Her eyes rolled, and she looked down at the book again before she blew a puff of air to try to get an errant lock of hair out of her face.
“Touchy, touchy there, are we, sweetling?” Jasper leaned over from the other side of the table, reaching forward to let his fingers skim her forehead to remove the lock for her. He swore that he saw her jaw clench and he loved it. Getting under her skin was a favorite pastime of his.
There was a heavy sigh. “Must you? Really?” She tried to ignore him. She failed.
“Oh, why yes, darling, I very much must.” He grinned and put his hand on the top of the book to flatten it down on the table they were both leaning over. This earned him a glare, which made him smirk all the more. He loved getting under her perfect exterior, he couldn’t even say why. “If you aren’t learning what you want to know from that, I do have another idea how we can find out the information.” His head tipped, waiting for her to ask.
For a full minute, silence filled the air of the library. It was probably the first actual silence there had been since Jasper had caught her in there. Meredith, however, was trying to figure out what his angle was, because she couldn’t believe he actually wanted to help her. “Well…carry on…what is this idea you have, Jasper?” She finally gave in and asked when it was clear he was not going to volunteer the information.
With a smirk that he saw caused her to have to purse her lips to keep from another snarky response, he replied: “we’re going to live together in my mansion in the Garden District of New Orleans. Blend into society as a couple.” His smirk grew as he watched her eyes grow wider and her jaw go slack.
Meredith receives her new assignment, and already there are complications...BIG complications....
“Sir, if I investigate them, the demon is sure to take offense. I still reside in Imperium. Are you going to remove me from the realm? Have me reside at least on Earth for the investigation?” Meredith felt like her chest was tightening and getting too small for both her lungs and heart to be able to share the space within her ribcage.
“Meredith, I see no reason to change anything. Are you unable to do your job?” Phanuel tipped his head as he regarded the justice nymph before him. She had never backed down from an assignment before. What about this one was troubling her so? It couldn’t be just a demon.
“I am perfectly capable of doing my job. However, you well know that they are friends and associates of Jasper. Not only Jasper but also of Annabella LeFebvre, who is due to be mated to your brother Adriel.” She leaned forward in her chair towards him. “Since he is oh so fond of ripping the wings off of angels, do I even want to guess what he is going to do to me? I doubt it. That doesn’t even take into account that Jasper and Annabella are dear friends of Imperium’s Queen, who is also Adriel’s daughter. All of this you well know. So, why, Phanuel, are you playing stupid as to why I’m asking why I would ask for a change of residence for the investigation? Have you handed me a death sentence and forgotten to inform me?” Her tone became clipped towards the end, the irritation she was feeling bleeding through her normal patient and metered cadence.
“You do have a point. However, I did not think that any of that would be too big of an issue since you would be acting upon my orders. Do you truly believe that your Queen would interfere with your orders coming straight from me?” Now his brows rose as he waited for her answer.
“Oh, no, sir. I don’t think that Abriella would interfere at all. I do, however, think she would not stop any of the other three from turning me into dust. It is exactly her lack of interference that I fear more than her doing so. These are trusted confidants of the realm, guardians of the Earth, those who are entrusted to help hold balance. You are asking me to call them into question!” Her reserved demeanor was cracking, her frustration shining through like the sun through gaps in a perfectly laid cloud cover.
“Adriel isn’t known for holding his temper well, this is true. Now that he has been given his mate, I can see how that might lend him to be even less inclined to do so if she is involved. And if this Jasper is a friend of theirs as well, and of the two you are looking into, then you may be facing danger. I had not considered such when the decision was made to leave you in your current location.” The Angel of Judgement blew out a heavy breath and stood.
“Two days. You have two more days in Imperium, and then I will have you a home in New Orleans where your investigation will begin. That is my only grace on this matter. Do not fail me on this Meredith. There is something going on in that city, and you need to find out what it is.”
****
Meredith had seen Jasper off with one of his friends, so she took that opportunity to sneak into the library. Quiet as a mouse, she opened one of the two heavy wooden doors and slipped inside. The light coming through the large floor to ceiling windows was bright enough that she didn’t even feel the need to turn on the lights. If she wasn’t able to see something, she would just use the flashlight on her phone. She was trying to avoid detection. If she was able to do this correctly, the only indication that she’d been in there would be the missing books on the shelves, and hopefully Jasper wouldn’t notice them until she was already topside and working her case.
What she didn’t know was that no one, absolutely no one, could get into the library of Imperium without Jasper knowing. The reason for this was that within the confines of the library were tomes and artifacts that should never leave. It was not just a room to store histories and catalogs of information, but also a safe of sorts to keep some of the most dangerous and deadly things in creation from being accessed by those who could use such things to bring about mass casualties the likes of which hadn’t been seen since the Great Flood…or worse.
So, as Meredith made her way along the bookshelves deeper and deeper into the cavernous room that held troves of information, not one step was not known by Jasper. He could follow her path within his mind, and the path she was taking was an interesting one indeed. She was not going her normal path straight to the information she needed. No, this time she was weaving in and out of the stacks as if she was trying to hide her trail. Most interesting indeed.
Once she was sure that no one, and nothing, was in there with her, Meredith finally went to the section she needed. Her heart was thundering to the point that all she could hear was the blood rushing through her ears, her pulse pounded in her neck, and she was sure at some point a rib was going to pop out of place. Just get the books, shove them in her messenger back, and get the fuck out of that room before the damn demon showed up. That was all she had to do.
The first book on the real history of New Orleans came off the shelf and into her bag with ease. Next came the book on the origins of The Triad. Her hand had just closed over the French Imports of Immortals in the 1700’s when a large male hand closed over hers, and she could feel a large body press against hers from behind. She’d been caught.
“I’m going to assume there is a very good reason that you’re in this section and have taken two of my private books off of the shelf, little nymph?” The taunt was heavy in Jasper’s voice. His question hung in the air just over her head as she thought of some kind of explanation that wouldn’t enrage him.
“This is the Library of Imperium, demon. All of the books within are open to anyone. I am doing research on a case for Phanuel. You know that I have to be thorough.” She tried to sound confident, but now Meredith’s heart was about to explode and she wasn’t sure that she wasn’t slightly shaking in fear. She knew that if it came down to it, Jasper would win in any kind of battle. He wasn’t the target of her investigation, so her powers were null against him.
“What investigation involves New Orleans, The Triad, and anyone that arrived in the 1700’s that doesn’t involve someone close to me, Mer?” Now he was pressing against her more, his lips against her ear, and there was a threat that underlined his voice. Either his voice had gained a literal edge, or his fangs had dropped and were sliding over the curve of her ear.
“Jasper, you know I cannot divulge any investigation from Phanuel. Please, just let me get the volumes I need and I will get out of your space. I will even promise to put them back where they go.” Now her voice was shaking. Forget trying to hide the fear, he was scaring her and she wasn’t going to try to hide it. She hated Phauel, but she had no choice but to follow orders.
Suddenly, Jasper flipped her around and her back was slammed against the bookcase just hard enough to get her attention. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he knew exactly what she was hiding. “You are NOT going after my friends, little nymph. I will kill you first, do you understand me? Then I will hand your soul over to Anna and Adriel to torture. You will beg for Abriella to obliterate you rather than what we are going to do to you for daring to go after those who are upright and keeping New Orleans safe for humans and others.” Fangs dropped, eyes swirling red, yellow, and orange, and his voice coming out in a feral growl, Jasper was going to damn well make his point.
“Jasper, please…please. I don’t have any choice. Phanuel. I begged. I told him what would happen to me.” Tears streamed down her face, her whole body shook, as the reality that Jasper was going to kill her set in. “You kill me or Phanuel does, it doesn’t matter. Either way I’m dead, I don’t have a choice…” Her eyes closed and she sobbed. “Just…just make it quick. Please…I haven’t done anything yet. Not one thing. Your friends are still safe, but Phanuel will send someone else, someone that doesn’t care that you, Annabella, Adriel and Abriella are friends of theirs. He’ll send someone that won’t really care what the truth is. So, please, just Jasper, please don’t torture me. Make it quick and save your friends if they’re innocent.” Meredith’s head tipped back, exposing all of her neck. She knew how he’d do it, since his fangs were down, she just hoped he’d do it fast enough it wouldn’t hurt too bad.
For almost a full minute, Jasper just stared at her stunned. Normally he and Meredith sparred, argued, insulted one another. He’d expected her to fight back, possibly even physically. Falling apart, this he hadn’t expected. She had known that he and the others would come for her to protect their friends and tried to get out of this, she’d known Phanuel had been sending her on a possible death sentence, she’d let him know, and he’d sent her anyway. She wasn’t a match for Annabella, Adriel, or even himself.
Abriella really was rubbing off on him too much, he wasn’t sure he liked it. Then again, she really was rubbing off on Heathcliff, so he couldn’t complain too much. Craning his neck a little, his lips thinning at irritation at himself, “I’m not going to kill ya, Mer. Damn it.” He released his tight hold on her shoulders and pulled her against him to hold her more gently in what could best be described as a hug. What the fuck was wrong with him?
“Listen, I’ll make you a deal, k? You and I are going to do this together. Fuck Phanuel. I won’t try to influence you. We’ll research together, work in New Orleans together, whatever you do, I’m along with you. I know people, I can get you in places that you won’t be able to get into otherwise. If something is going on, we’ll figure it out together. I don’t believe that Jean Pierre and Armaund are up to something, but if they are, then we’ll figure it out. You go up there alone, and,” he sighed wondering where this sudden bout of protectiveness came from, “you’re going to have a lot of people after you that will hurt you, little nymph. Will you work with me Mer?”
Meredith didn’t know what shocked her more, that Jasper hadn’t killed her, that he was holding her to comfort her, or that he was offering to work with her so that she could get the job done and not die. Had one of the books fallen on his head? Did Abriella enter the library and threaten him? Had she hit her head?
After a moment, Meredith nodded. If this worked, she would make it out of things alive. No one in Imperium would kill her, and neither would Phanuel. He hadn’t explicitly told her she couldn’t work with anyone, and she hadn’t told Jasper who it was she was looking into; he had figured it out from the books she had been taking down.
“What Phanuel’s informant told him is that your friends are taking bribes to allow certain illegal activities to take place in New Orleans, specifically in the French Quarter and the Garden District. Apparently they have old contacts that have returned to the city that are paying them to let them pray upon the humans in exchange for cover from the human authorities. The crimes are pretty grisley and are being blamed on other humans. Phanuel and others are afraid that as they get worse that they won’t be able to be covered anymore and those that are “other” will be discovered. That’s all I know, Jasper. I swear. I’ll work with you, but you have to be honest with me, too. If it’s not your friends, we have to find out what is going on, or all of the those who have called New Orleans home for centuries are in danger.”
Jasper felt his blood run cold. He didn’t believe for a minute that Jean Pierre or Armaund would do that, but if someone was, he had to agree that it was bad, bad bad. Normally Jean Pierre and Armaund, along with Annabella and Adriel would be who he’d call to help suss out who was doing this shit, but now it was going to have to be Meredith and him. He knew the little Justice Nymph was good, no matter how much shit he’d given her over the years. Now it was time to see how well they could work together and not kill each other.
“Sir, if I investigate them, the demon is sure to take offense. I still reside in Imperium. Are you going to remove me from the realm? Have me reside at least on Earth for the investigation?” Meredith felt like the her chest was tightening and getting too small for both her lungs and heart to be able to share the space within her ribcage.
“Meredith, I see no reason to change anything. Are you unable to do your job?” Phanuel tipped his head as he regarded the justice nymph before him. She had never backed down from an assignment before. What about this one was troubling her so? It couldn’t be just a demon.
“I am perfectly capable of doing my job. However, you well know that they are friends and associates of Jasper. Not only Jasper but also of Annabella LeFebvre, who is due to be mated to your brother Adriel.” She leaned forward in her chair towards him. “Since he is oh so fond of ripping the wings off of angels, do I even want to guess what he is going to do to me? I doubt it. That doesn’t even take into account that Jasper and Annabella are dear friends of Imperium’s Queen, who is also Adriel’s daughter. All of this you well know. So, why, Phanuel, are you playing stupid as to why I’m asking why I would ask for a change of residence for the investigation? Have you handed me a death sentence and forgotten to inform me?” Her tone became clipped towards the end, the irritation she was feeling bleeding through her normal patient and metered cadence.
“You do have a point. However, I did not think that any of that would be too big of an issue since you would be acting upon my orders. Do you truly believe that your Queen would interfere with your orders coming straight from me?” Now his brows rose as he waited for her answer.
“Oh, no, sir. I don’t think that Abriella would interfere at all. I do, however, think she would not stop any of the other three from turning me into dust. It is exactly her lack of interference that I fear more than her doing so. These are trusted confidants of the realm, guardians of the Earth, those who are entrusted to help hold balance. You are asking me to call them into question!” Her reserved demeanor was cracking, her frustration shining through like the sun through gaps in a perfectly laid cloud cover.
“Adriel isn’t known for holding his temper well, this is true. Now that he has been given his mate, I can see how that might lend him to be even less inclined to do so if she is involved. And if this Jasper is a friend of theirs as well, and of the two you are looking into, then you may be facing danger. I had not considered such when the decision was made to leave you in your current location.” The Angel of Judgement blew out a heavy breath and stood.
“Two days. You have two more days in Imperium, and then I will have you a home in New Orleans where you investigation will begin. That is my only grace on this matter. Do not fail me on this Meredith. There is something going on in that city, and you need to find out what it is.”
