Vices and Maces

Chapter 44: Party Time

CW: blood, broken bones, burns from electrocution 

The noises outside the room had grown louder for the second time. Janus realized that it must have been a bar, and that it was getting late which is why he was actually able to hear the chatter and shouting. Not to mention the booming music. That means they've been here for two days now.

It must have taken hours to figure that out after they were left alone the first night. When Black left, two others took his place. A lightning genie and a demon. There were two deep burns on Janus's arms, mirroring each other, the skin far too sensitive because of the electricity.

Cuts ran up both arms, but when it was clear that simple pain wasn't going to be enough to make Janus talk, one of them grabbed a baton. There was bruising on their sides, and a deep gash inside their cheek from their teeth cutting it when they were hit on the side of their head. The shifter couldn't even feel their leg, unless they moved, then they really felt pain from the broken bone. But as long as they stayed still, the pain wasn't unbearable.

All in all, Janus felt like shit. Every minute spent in this room, they were less hopeful for escaping. They've given up on shifting, because it was obvious they really were being watched, and every time they tried the electricity kept them from shifting any further so it wasn't like they could turn into an animal that had a hard shell. Maybe they were faster but... god everything hurt so much, including shifting.

But so far the pain hasn't been in vain. They were able to make them think they know something important so they don't kill them just yet. But the truth was they knew nothing of Bleeding Roses plans. They made time to escape, if only that was possible.

Thankfully they were left alone for today, except for when someone came in to give him some food.

Hopefully Virgil and Remus were still safe. And more importantly... Hopefully Black won't try to use Virgil against them. If the weredragon was hurt because of Janus... They would never forgive themself.

Wherever Virgil was, hopefully he was very far away from this place.

~~~

"Ya comfy in there, buddy?" Remus asked, looking inside his bag that sat on his lap during the drive.

Virgil, in his small dragon form, made a noise between a coo or a growl. Remus's bag was giant on the inside, though small on the outside. Honestly, Virgil could shift into his human form and still have enough space to be comfortable. But considering he was just inches from the poisoned morning star... He didn't want to try.

Though looking at it, he could see a button on the side and small closed holes on the spikes of the skull. It must hold the poison on the inside, maybe that's why Janus wasn't poisoned when they were scratched from what felt like forever ago.

"Alright, I'll pat my bag when we're there." Remus closed his bag.

Roman threw a black suit jacket at him. "Take off your jacket and put that on."

"Did you just have that in your glove box?"

"Yes, I try to keep a spare suit. Now take off your jacket, it has our logo on it. We're going in disguise, remember?"

"You gotta dress fancy, T," Sal said. She was driving the car, a black faux feather scarf around her neck. She wore a dark pink sparkly dress that hugged her figure, and honestly she felt great in the outfit.

"I am dressing fancy! I'm not wearing ripped jeans. Or pants with paint or blood on them. I'm wearing fucking slacks! And a green button up."

"Good thing the suit jacket will go with it then," Roman said.

Remus rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll take off my jacket. But I'm not wearing the suit jacket. I don't wanna look like you."

"Anyway, why are we taking the dragon?" Sal asked, glancing at Roman before focusing on the road again.

"It's his friend, his mission, his plan." Plus if it's a trap, they have a hostage. "Besides, it would be useful to have someone from Wolfsbane on our side."

Remus crossed his arms. "We did have that, but you didn't trust them."

"You were just dating them, as far as I know, no information between our gangs was passed. Right?"

"Yeah yeah fine. But when we get them out of there, I want them under protection. I don't want this to be for nothing."

"Don't worry, we'll take care of your date mate," Sal told him. "I have another question, Petals. How did he know how to get a hold of you?"

Roman looked out of the window. "I told him if he ever wanted to leave Wolfsbane, to go to Daisy's bakery and ask for me."

Sal sighed, "Really? Really? You do realize how easily a trap could have been set up, right? You are just as dumb as your brother!"

"Hey!" Roman snapped.

"I take no offense to that," Remus stated from the back seat.

"Thorn, take off your jacket and put it under the seat, we're almost there," Sal told him. "I can't believe I'm doing this."

"Do we have any code names while we're in there?" Remus asked as he finally slid the jacket off.

"Shit, I knew we were forgetting something," Roman cursed.

"Whatever names come to mind then," Sal said.

"Alright Deborah," Remus teased.

"I will cut out your tongue. Try me, Brad."

"Brad! I don't think you could cut any deeper if you tried. Do you know how straight Brad sounds? I don't even look like a Brad."

"Well now it's grown on me," Roman joked.

"Good for you, Paul."

Sal rolled her eyes. "Cool, Brad and Paul. Call me Deborah and I'm leaving you to handle this yourselves. I like Wendy better. I almost chose it when I changed my name."

Roman folded his arms. "Brad, Wendy, and Paul. If we're not caught it'll be a miracle."

"Oh we've faced worse together!" Remus said. "Remember when it was just you and I, against the world! When we had no one, not even our father!"

"I'm not particularly fond of those memories."

"Eh, yeah, I guess. But we made it through together, right?"

"After you joined a gang on your own. I'm just glad it wasn't Wolfsbane."

"It somehow ended up being worse," Sal laughed. "Because the leader of that gang tried to kill you. I had to warn your brother 'cause you weren't taking it seriously."

Remus sighed, "Good memories."

"Thorn, you're where all my stress comes from," Roman told him.

Sal turned into a parking spot. "Well tonight is going to be very stressful. Let's go have some fun."