The Contract

6: Truth and Lies

Six: Truth and Lies

Hiccup's eyes flickered and then opened, the bleary emerald depths focussing on the unfamiliar surroundings. He was lying on an improbable four-poster bed in a huge high-ceilinged room with two full-length windows and alabaster detailing on the ceiling. Heavy pieces of dark wood furniture were stationed against the dark red painted walls and a pale cinnamon carpet was placed centrally, covering all but the outside foot of the mahogany floorboards. He blinked again and sat up, head snapping round as he scanned his surroundings. This was either the best hotel in Berserk or he had made it into Dagur's central base of operations.

He smiled as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and then he stared: a man was stationed at the door and he inspected the waking Hiccup with unfriendly eyes. Self-consciously, he levered himself to his feet and swayed, the room tilting. He had obviously hit his head harder than he had realised and his fingers trailed up to the lump hidden under his tussled auburn hair. He winced slightly as he felt the firm swelling and grimaced, closing his eyes and mastering the nausea. Blinking determinedly, he stumbled to the door. Predictably, the guard stepped in his way as Hiccup offered a small smile.

"Um...which way is it to the bathroom?" he asked. The man scowled. "Bath...room?" he tried more deliberately. The man inspected him like a nasty insect, then grabbed his arm and hauled him roughly from the room and along the fine corridor, the wallpaper a pale cream with vivid hand-printed flowers stretching from the deep lapis Persian carpet to the white painted ceiling. Dark wood doors were closed on either side and Hiccup allowed himself to be hauled along. Abruptly, the guard stopped at the furthest door, opened it and shoved the auburn-haired man in, before taking station at the open door.

"Um..a little privacy?" Hiccup asked dryly, eyeing the toilet, the huge old-fashioned sink and the elaborate roll-topped bath with cast iron clawed feet. The man scowled but Hiccup was standing his ground until the man closed the door. Immediately, Hiccup sped to the sink and started the water running, then quartered the room once more, before he made it to the window and opened it, peering out to see a view of the street. His sharp sight found the casual blond shape parked on the street corner in a beanie and mirror shades. He sighed then lifted his watch, making sure the light reflected off the glass and briefly flashed a few letters in Morse before silently closing the door and bouncing down to use the toilet, then washing his hands and splashing water on his face before the guard got bored. He was still drying his face as the man burst in, granting Hiccup barely enough time to pull the flush before being hauled away.

"Wow-if you were that desperate, I could have waited," he suggested, offering his goofy smile. The man growled and muttered under his breath, shoving the lanky auburn-haired man forward. He reached a wide staircase that curved elegantly down to a huge marble-floored hallway, an elaborate and frankly enormous chandelier gleaming overhead. Inclining his head, Hiccup stared up, wide-eyed, at the impressive space and circled round as he hit ground level. "This is impressive," he commented as the man shoved him forward. Dressed in black leather with the Skrill symbol on his back, he was clearly one of Dagur's men and Hiccup played along as he was shoved through a pair of moulded double doors and into a huge Dining Room, an enormous oval mahogany table dominating the Georgian space, plain indigo walls highlighted by white coving and roof and full length windows. At the far end of the table, the poised shape of Heather was seated, a second place setting waiting at her right. The man shoved Hiccup once more and grunted before withdrawing to the door and closing it behind him. Pausing, the young man turned his bright emerald eyes on the raven-haired lawyer.

"Not amazingly chatty," he commented lightly. "Um...why am I here?" She rose gracefully to her feet and gestured to the seat at her side and warily, he advanced, taking the seat and sitting with his hands on his lap, forcing himself to sit back.