It’s just business
Brie teasingly dangled a piece of Hallow’s End candy in Cam’s face. It was a brightly colored lollipop, one she’d picked up from her pile and couldn’t simply offer it to him in a friendly manner. “D’you want it? Or do you need to go on a diet to fit into your leather and corsets again?” Her twin, Leon, gave a rare, amused snort as read from an old tome. Cam wrinkled his nose and snatched the candy away from Brie. “I didn’t have a baby. It’s not baby fat! I’ve just started eating like a normal person.” He pulled the wrapper off the lollipop and shoved it in his mouth. He made a face at the flavor and pulled it out again. “What is this? Tomato? Who the fuck makes tomato lollipops?”
“Congrats, you’ve found the trick?” Leon mused quietly from across the table. All three giggled; it was only recently that Cam had started to get along properly with Brie. Once the two of them became better friends, Leon had quickly warmed up to Cam. “I wonder. Do vampires get cavities? Or are you now immune?” Brie pondered out loud, glancing at the ceiling thoughtfully. Cam raised an eyebrow as he glanced at her, lollipop back in his mouth. “I dunno. M’not dead. Prob’ly still need to brush ‘em.”
“Now there’s a question. I’ll give you five gold if you walk up to another Vampire, an older one, and ask them!” Brie gave him a sly look. “Easiest five gold I’ll ever make. That doesn’t even count as a proper dare; I’m so fucking disappointed in you, Brie.” They laughed and giggled, but the good feeling washed away when the door opened with a loud creak. Gilzo (Brie and Leon’s father) and Verimay, A Darkfallen, entered the room. Everything chilled immediately, and the two looked very serious. Something was wrong. No words exchanged; just a simple gesture. Gilzo beckoning Cam to follow. He steeled himself, burying his fear and worries deep, deep down as he stood up slowly from his chair to follow the smaller man out of the room. Verimay wasn’t her bubbly self, as she remained quiet as well. Once all three had left, Brie glanced at Leon and mouthed: “What did he do?” Leon could only shrug.
Cam remained calm, as he always did when entered Gilzo’s office. Warmth emitted from the hearth as a fire crackled within it, purely for Cam’s benefit and not the Undead. A blizzard howled outside, shaking the windows gently, but did not break or open them. Verimay stood by the door, tall, long ears twitching slightly. Gilzo still hadn’t said anything, an indication of how angry he truly was. Gilzo pulled back a strand of blonde hair out of his face as he sat at his desk and stared coldly up at Cam. “Please. Sit.” Cam didn’t like sitting, but he knew better than not to do as he was told. “If any of your belongings have been nicked, you know it couldn’t possibly have been -” “Nothing has been stolen, Cameron.” Gilzo interrupted harshly. “But I have been told something interesting. And no, it’s not about Vorain.” “Well, that’s a first innit? Normally when I get pulled aside like this, it always has something to do with him for one reason or another. So. What is it then? What’s got your knickers in a twist so badly you left your kiddo’s in the other room?” Cam didn’t like the silence that followed before Gilzo spoke again. “Two Knights of the Ebon Blade approached Verimay recently asking her about Cult of the Damned activity.” Gilzo’s gaze didn’t leave Cam. “Have you been making interesting friends again, Cameron?” Both of Cam’s eyebrows shot up at the accusation. He pulled the candy out of his mouth and glanced between Verimay and Gilzo. “Oh. Woah, woah. Woah! No, no no no! I did not…I have not spoken to anyone affiliated with the Ebon blade about Cult of the Damned. I haven’t spoken to anyone about any of this. The only one who knows is Vorain, and you know he wouldn’t be dumb enough to snitch on you.” Gilzo narrowed his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. “Oh, yes. I know. I know someone like him wouldn’t pull a stunt like that. But you. You might be stupid enough to try.” “Do you still not..!” Cam glanced around, shocked. “Do you still really think I’m just here to bust you? I know I’m not part of the Scourge or a cultist, and I’m not undead. But in case you forgot, I’ve got these things now.” He opened his mouth to gently bap his fangs finger a finger. “There’s really not a whole lotta groups who don’t mind these!” Gilzo’s eyes twitched and in an instant, chains of shadow pulled Cam out of his chair and into the air. He kicked and squirmed as he felt his neck squeezed by shadows. “Except your loyalties walk a dangerous line, kid. Azeroth is not a place where you can safely walk forever in the dawn that separates the night and day. Or Twilight, as preferred by some. So yes. If I hear that one of my people is getting quizzed by the Ebon Blade about the Cult of the Damned, or the Scourge, I’m going to wonder if someone snitched, and I’m always going to think of you first.” He waved his hand flippantly, and Cam was free. He hit the floor with a loud thunk, gasped for air, and glanced up as he heard Gilzo approach. “N-never your brother? Never Brie? Never Ettore? Never Annette?” Cam hissed, aggravated that he was once again blamed for something he didn’t do just because he was a rogue. Gilzo’s sneered as he grabbed Cam by the collar, effortlessly hoisting him up, although he was a couple of inches shorter than Cam. “Eventually, them. But always you first. You’re lucky they were looking into others and not us. Otherwise, this conversation wouldn’t have been so pleasant.” Oh, this was pleasant? Rich. Cam gave him a flabbergasted look. “If you knew they weren’t asking about you? Why harass me, then?” “Wanted to be sure.” Gilzo narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his nose, eventually letting Cam go and giving him a shove. He gestured for Cam to leave, and he did so gladly, rubbing his neck gingerly. “Fucking…gods damned hell…” “ Oh, and Cam,” Gilzo called out to the young man, who paused but didn’t turn around. “Don’t even dream about telling him.” “….’Course not.” Cam grumbled as he walked away. “Everyone’s always telling me to be careful about Vorain when he’s not the one I should be worried about.” He solemnly thought to himself.
@easternkingdomer @scourgemerchant @twincrusaders @sir-arsalot @levesquethevile tagging for the mentions! Annette, Verimay and Cam do not have their own bloggos.)
