Vices and Maces

Chapter 53: His First Name is Samael? Lame

CW: death (not main character), blood, mentions of: broken bones, kidnapping, being tortured/beaten, and jumped

Virgil hasn't worn a suit since he joined Wolfsbane. He's never really needed to because he doesn't go anywhere anymore. But showing up at Black's office without one felt unprofessional, so his old self took over and he put one on.

Standing outside of the office building, he wasn't sure if he regretted it or not. He was missing the comfort of the trench coat he always wore. He still had a knife in one pocket, and a small handgun in the other. He just had to hope he wouldn't have to walk under any metal detectors.

The building looked like any ordinary building. Virgil has only been here two times, once when he was... brought here against his will when all of this began. Black had tried to recruit him, Virgil told him to go to Hell, and he was beaten half to death. The other time... was when Virgil finally gave in to Black's attempts and he officially joined Wolfsbane.

The memories made Virgil's insides squeeze with anxiety as he numbly walked in. He went up to the receptionist at the desk who was typing away at a computer. Taking a deep breath and swallowing his nerves, he spoke up.

"Excuse me? I-I have a meeting with Samael Black."

The receptionist seemed to be a plant nymph, and there was a small potted tree behind her. She glanced up before turning to the computer, clicking at something with her mouse. "Name?" she asked.

"Snapdragon, Noble."

The receptionist sighed and clicked a button on an intercom. "Noble is here."

"Send him up," a voice from the small machine said. Black.

"Third floor, room 612. Have a nice day."

Well that was impossible already. "You too."

Virgil turned and left. He definitely didn't want to take the elevator, so he took the stairs. The walking kept his anxiety from getting worse, so it was helpful.

What was he doing here? He's going to be killed! He shouldn't be here. This was so so stupid, he had to hope there were several escape routes. Escape routes that could easily be blocked off or that would lead him into an ambush.

Virgil walked on autopilot, never being able to forget which room Black was in. It didn't matter that it was two years ago. This was the building Virgil's dreams officially died in.

The hall felt longer than it was, but Virgil found himself wishing it was longer. He stood frozen in front of the door, the plaque next to it reading "612." However he couldn't leave now, he was already here. So he just took a deep breath and knocked.

The door opened and Virgil relaxed only slightly when he saw Melany. She put a finger to her lips and waved him in. Confused, Virgil came in and saw Black at his desk, staring at three Wolfsbane members who stood in the middle of the room.

"Just wait here, Black's almost done," Melany whispered.

"I know one of you three is the mole," Black hissed.

Virgil's blood went cold. He knows there's a mole? But... he doesn't realize it's Virgil yet. The handgun felt heavy in his pocket, if he needed to fight... would he have the guts to kill? No, he didn't need to, not if Black thinks it's one of the three in front of him.

"Sir, we have been nothing but loyal," a woman spoke up. She was the only one in the group, the other two were all men.

"Two of you, maybe, but one of you hasn't been. We had a prisoner busted out, you three knew where we kept them."

"What about Daylily?" one of the men asked.

"Daylily was killed during the attack, so I know it wasn't him. It had to be one of you. So... who's going to confess?"

The three of them were silent, and Virgil realized that he was watching someone's execution. Black must have been talking about Janus escaping, none of them were to fault. Black sighed in disappointment, giving Virgil goosebumps. His hands were numb, and his stomach turned, but the dragon pushed it down so it wasn't visible how shaken up he was. He held his hands against the side of his legs to hide any shaking.

"Well, it doesn't matter. I already know who the mole is."

Virgil saw Black raise his hand and shut his eyes tight. There was a grunt of pain, and someone fell to the floor, two other people gasping. Hesitantly, Virgil opened his eyes. One of the men was on the floor, blood pouring from a wound Virgil didn't see, and honestly he didn't want to see.

"You two are dismissed, take the body with you and dispose of it," Black told them, a small bubble of water floating next to him, tainted pink. It slipped back into a vase full of wolfsbane flowers. The purple petals were covered in the discolored water.

"Yes sir," they both said at the same time.

Black pressed a button on his desk and said, "Call up a cleaner to my room."

A reply came from the intercom, but Virgil couldn't hear it over the ringing in his ears. A hand touched his shoulder lightly and he looked up at Melany.

"I apologize for that sight, Snapdragon," Black stood up. "I didn't mean for that meeting to go on for so long."

"Oh, i-it's no problem," Virgil stuttered. He really wishes he didn't have to see any of that. Not only did he have a weak stomach for these sorts of things, the only reason he was able to get through the bar fight was because he had to save Janus, but now he knows that Black is on his tail. It was best not to comment on the mole situation. "Did you need something from me?"

"Yes, buying mass amounts of fire crystals is both expensive and suspicious. I already purchased an order of ice crystals for you to do what you're doing with the fire crystals." Virgil suppressed a shudder, being shot with an ice crystal would be horrible, frostbite would take over in moments. "I was wondering if there was any way we could turn it into a laser like you had first thought."

"You want me to make a laser from fire and ice crystals?" Virgil thought about the amount of times the fire crystals had blown up in his face.

Black moved out from behind his desk. "Along with the fire and soon ice bullets. Take your time with it, I should have realized rushing you was a mistake last time." That was... generous. There was a catch, there had to be a catch? Black is never generous. There was no venom in his voice as he spoke, but it felt like he was hiding something. "Request anything you'll need. Metal, tools, crystals, all free of charge. Make a list and send it in."

"Yes sir. Is that all?" Please be all, don't make him do anything else. His head was spinning and there was a small ringing in his ears.

Black was too close to him now, far too close. The water droplets on the wolfsbane petals seemed to glitter thanks to the light. The air felt poisonous to Virgil.

"Keep an eye out." Black put a hand on his shoulder. "If there are any more moles, I want them dead. Rodents destroy gardens, but wolfsbane flowers stand tall, and their poison is strong enough to kill unwanted pests. Make smart choices, Virgil."

He didn't want to appear nervous, really Virgil didn't, but he felt the blood drain from his face and his hands start to sweat. Black has never used his first name before. Does he know? He has to, why else would he show him the execution of a supposed traitor... He needs to be careful.