Vices and Maces

Chapter 41: The Slippery Snake Wasn't Slippery Enough

CW: kidnapping, blood

"I like how we said we would go to Denny's first and we came here last," Remus laughed as the two of them walked out of the restaurant, arms linked.

"The centaur wasn't surprised that we're dating now at all. She's really seen it all," Janus added.

"Oh yeah, two guys that were fighting one night ended up dating a few weeks later. That's nothing new to her, I'm sure."

Janus sighed, looking up at the sunset. The view wasn't as pretty from the ground as it was from the top of the building, but the sky still held the beautiful warm shades. It was bittersweet. "This has been nice. I'm just sad that it has to end."

"Aw so you did become attached! I knew I could get you. Sadly not in me."

"Gross!" Janus laughed, elbowing him. The two laughed together, moving their arms so they were holding hands as they walked down the street. "But... yeah, okay, you've grown on me. Maybe if we had met at a different time, at a different place... But that's just life, isn't it?"

"Maybe I'll see you around?" Remus looked at them with a hopeful look.

"Maybe you will. And maybe we could get a coffee, if the time is right."

"I think that would be nice. Don't I at least get a kiss?" Janus scoffed and rolled their eyes. "Hey if you don't wanna you don't- hm!"

The shifter cut him off as they leaned down and planted a kiss on Remus's lips. It was a soft and quick one as they pulled away, looking deep into the halfling's eyes. But then the two of them leaned in again, pressing harder against each other.

Janus grabbed his waist and Remus grabbed their shoulders. The orc fae stood on his toes to be able to push further. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was a sweet few seconds. And oh how both wished it could last longer.

However they separated. They had to. Each second together was a huge risk.

Or so they thought it was still a risk. Neither of them noticed the pair of eyes that saw them embrace. The eyes that noticed the rose patch on Remus's arm, with burning petals and poison dripping thorns.

And they certainly didn't hear the owner of the eyes dial a phone number, or the ringing of the phone. Remus and Janus both walked away from each other before the phone answered.

"What is it, Dahlia?" the person on the other side of the phone asked.

"Hello Black. I have some information that you'll find very interesting."

~~~

Virgil yawned as he typed on his supercomputer. He could only work on it at night now since Black decided to increase production on creating weapons. It was Virgil's job to supervise everything and help out when it was needed.

Apparently Black has been recruiting more and more people. This war between gangs was growing, which means Virgil has more work to do. Creating things that will end lives. Oh the guilt was ever increasing with each weapon created.

So working on the supercomputer was so refreshing. Very difficult and frustrating, but it was a million times better than creating even another blade. Every time he finished another line of code was a victory to him. Especially since he was doing it himself and was never good at coding.

It was getting pretty late though, and he has to get up early tomorrow. Tomorrow they'll be mass producing some fire guns, and there are only so many people who are fire resistant. A new shipment of fire crystals had come in, a large one too.

His hands moved across the holographic keypad as fast as possible, finishing up another line of code, successfully connecting the speakers and finishing up bluetooth. The day before he was able to put in a calendar system, and it seemed to be working. Down to the year and day...

It really has only been two years since he's been 'recruited.' He hoped that the new people weren't being forced into this. Well... no one really plans on joining a gang, they're usually backed into a corner. But... as long as they weren't being forced into it like Virgil was... well...

Virgil's phone buzzed, making him jump. He glanced at it, seeing he had gotten a new email. He unlocked his phone and tapped the notification. First he had noticed it was from Black, which was unnerving at this hour.

Then he read the message... It was short but damning.

"Dear Snapdragon, Snakehead will no longer be working with us. I will send you a new gofer in a few days. -Black."

Virgil didn't know how long he sat there rereading the message, looking for some hint that Janus is okay. This can't be right, Janus has to be okay! Did they quit? There's no quitting or retiring from the gang... Maybe they ran away? Please let them be okay.

The dragon's blood ran cold when they noticed their bracelet was flashing. Did that just start now? Or was it flashing earlier? If so, for how long...?

The spinning chair rolled a few inches as Virgil jumped off of it, throwing his coat on and rushing to the window. He pushed the window open and jumped out, growing his wings to catch himself before shifting into his dragon form.

Janus should be home around this time. Virgil just needs to get there as soon as possible. He's only been to the apartment a few times, but he knows exactly where it is.

It took him longer than he'd like, but luckily a window seemed to be open. He dived into the apartment, landing in the living room. He shifted and stood up, looking around the apartment. There seemed to be a fight...

Drawers were left open, cabinets opened and their contents spilled out. The couch was torn apart. Someone was looking for something here...

Virgil looked down at his arm, seeing the blinking had stopped. It would only stop for two reasons, something turned it off, or the bracelet was destroyed. Did they get away?

He had to be sure, so Virgil pulled out his phone and called Janus. A second after he hit the call button, he heard a buzzing coming from the other room.

His legs felt numb as he walked over. His head was buzzing. It felt like he was underwater as he reached Janus's bedroom.

"Snake?"

The buzzing came from the floor, and there was Janus's phone. In clear view, Virgil's name was on the screen. Blood drops on the floor, the blanket tossed halfway off the bed.

"No no no," Virgil put his phone away and started searching the house. "Snake! Sn- Janus!"

He left the bedroom when it was clear the shifter wasn't there. The house was a mess but Virgil just made it worse, throwing everything around to find Janus as he called their name. Maybe they shifted super small and were unconscious? Oh please don't be dead. Please please don't be dead!

Virgil spent hours in the apartment, constantly wiping away tears as he looked in every corner of the house, trying so desperately to remain calm. Well, okay, he was far beyond that, now he was trying to not have a mental breakdown while searching for his friend.

But Janus wasn't there at all. They're not in any room in the apartment. Not in any corner or- or...

Virgil glanced down at his bracelet. Oh he's such a goddamn idiot! He gave Janus a charm that had a tracker in it the other day! And he didn't find their bracelet, so they have to still have it!

"Please please please," Virgil muttered as he grabbed his phone and opened up an app he created. It opened to a grayed out map of the city, a few places named.

Virgil searched for the yellow dot and found it. They were still in town, but they were in a part of town that was owned by Wolfsbane. With the email and Janus's apartment torn apart like this... it was easy to put two and two together.

Janus was taken away by Wolfsbane. By Black.