FATE\Deus Decipit

Chapter 49: Dead or Alive

 ...

Chauncey wasted no time. He stepped out and into the light, making his presence known through the cocking of his devilish firearm- pointed directly at the back of Xander's head.

Xander noticed and looked up, without any sign of shock or surprise except for a raised eyebrow, "Why did I know you'd be nearby?"

A sly, if slightly forced grin rose on Chauncey's face, his gun steady, "It's 'cause you love me."

He winked, but these attempts at roguish confidence failed to disguise the discomfort behind his glowing red eyes.

He only sighed, "Right."

Xander allowed the sphere of light to disappear into scattered strings as he slowly raised his hands to show peaceful intent, his eyes looking down, seeming almost crestfallen, "So, what is this about exactly?"

The mage gritted his teeth with frustration, his hand shaking slightly before steadying again, "I've reason to think that you've been compromised. Wanted to see for myself if there was anything to that."

He nodded, "Right. Are the other two involved?"

His expression finally broke into a proper snarl, "Ask 'em yourself; you're talking to me right now."

Xander's head tilted as he inspected the mage, "So, if we're talking, then you could at least tell me why I'm under suspicion."

Chauncey took a deep breath. It occurred to him that the stress was starting to eat away at him, inhibiting his decision-making. Even if Xander was compromised, he might not yet be aware of it. If he could reason with him properly, this could still be handled peaceably. Besides, though he'd promised her nothing, and even if this situation was wholly her fault, he couldn't quite right himself with the idea of killing the poor woman's husband when it wasn't necessary.

He flicked his revolver towards Xander's left hand, where the ruby band was visible just under his jacket sleeve, "Those bands... they're a physical contract with Caster. Putting them on forms a bond between you and him... a bond he could almost assuredly take advantage of."

Xander started to speak, but the mage cut him off "-That! And the fact that, since you've worn the damned thing, you've been acting stranger and stranger. There's every reason to think something's wrong!"

Waiting to be sure that he was finally finished, Xander sighed again with the same crestfallen expression, before the sigh turned suddenly to a chuckle, one unbefitting the situation, "I'm sorry, Chauncey. I keep underestimating you."

He tightened his hold on the revolver.

Xander met the mage's eyes, "I know- I know what these bands are. I know more than you think, more than you could know. I don't suppose it's too late to ask you to trust me?"

Chauncey narrowed his eyes, "The Hell do you think?"

He shrugged, "Just being sure. This is dangerous knowledge, you know."

He raised an eyebrow, " 'Too dangerous to be known'? As in, 'a man too dangerous to be kept alive'?"

Xander smiled with what looked like pride, "Ah, you heard all that did you? Don't worry about that, it's a little old curse that afflicts people spying on things they aren't meant to see. Be thankful you cut me off before it finished."

"On with it."

Xander flexed his wrists to reinforce his surrender, "Right, right. I'm talking about the true nature of the job."

"The Hell are you talking about?"

"We aren't meant to be against Caster, Chauncey. Our job was never to take him out, it was to organize a conspiracy against him, to investigate any possible means of his defeat, not to defeat him, but so that those enemies, those routes to his defeat, could be accounted for and taken care of."