SteeleKizz, Inc

Unexpected Alliance

Jaxon

Jaxon weaseled his way out of Kat’s bedroom soon after she fell asleep. He had relaxed her with a hot bubble bath, then she returned the favor when she lured him into her bed. Once he reached his bedroom, he went and showered, again. It was early morning and he needed to get out and feed. He thought over why his appeal to Kat had diminished. Jax could only pinpoint it on her character and what she does, that drastically decreased his desire for her. It couldn’t even be the change over to a vampire as a cause, because he still finds other females attractive. He’d yet to find one that stirred emotions in him, like his father described his initial reaction to his mother. It was love at first sight according to his Dad.

Once he reached his room, he closed the door behind him. Heading to his bathroom for another shower, he rinsed off the lotions and other stuff that he had lathered on from earlier. Knowing his plan worked, he would use it again, but he would have to use it a bit more sparingly next time. He checked the time on his watch confirming that the sun would rise in a couple of hours. He had to get a feeding in before heading to bed, especially if Kat woke him up earlier than he should.

He walked about the house for a few minutes getting a feeling, sensing where everyone was in the house in the early hours of the morning. Kat, Oliver, and Tabitha were still fast asleep. The guards doing their normal rounds. Returning to his room to change into his dark colored hooded sweatshirt and matching sweatpants. He checked the grounds out his window as he opened the window and stepped out onto the small ledge, closing the window behind him leaving it opened just a crack.

Levitating out the window, he quickly bolted to the tree-line where he landed gracefully amid fallen trees. He used his night vision to seek out a moderately tasty treat. The smaller forest animals had grown more curious than fearful with his increasing presense. Whether he posed an inferior aura or somehow they instinctively knew he wasn’t a threat to them, they would look on as he passed looking for more formidable prey.

Many thoughts about the event in two days ran through his mind as he scoured the forested area for something larger than a fox but not as big as the buck he saw lingering around his first night’s feeding. He happened upon a coyote who was eyeing him as much as Jaxon was eyeing him. He’d not wrangled much with wild canines since his transition, so he wasn’t sure how much of a fight it would put up.

Taking a more defensive stance on this creature, he figured he’d use the same tact as some of the bullies he faced in school. Clenching up his fists, he dashed to the coyote who was charging him as well and he punched it’s ear as they passed one another by. The coyote stunned, started wobbling. Jaxon took advantage of this opportunity and retained the wild beast. With a firm hold on it, he took a hearty bite down onto it’s neck. The taste was excruciating and gritty. He decided he’d never feed from this specific animal again unless it was life or death.

When he had his fill, he laid the animal down so that it would awaken and go on about its day. Jaxon meandered through the wooded terrain until he reached the summit looking out over the city lights. He wanted to be able to watch the sunrise, but figured he needed to get ready for his slumber instead. Raising into the night sky, he floated above the trees streamlining to his room’s window.

In his room, he latched the window closed before settling into bed. Laying in his bed, he rested the back of his head in his open hands, deep in thought. He had a lot to think over and a little time to do it in. Tomorrow, he was going to be hitting heavy with his new delivery job. They had him scheduled in for several evening drop offs. He hoped that he could bypass interrogations by Oliver and Kat with his sudden departure.

It didn’t take long for the forces that be claimed him and his body rested.

The following day, he woke up about mid-afternoon, when his mind scryed the house Kat was still asleep. Oliver and the housekeepers were running amuck nervously trying to figure out what the Mistress needed them to do, if anything. Jaxon came down and set about goals and instructions for them. He left a message with Oliver to tell Kat that he was going to town for a few hours, no set time.

He dressed in a blue button up shirt and dark colored blue jeans. When he got to work, they gave him a company shirt and keys to the delivery truck. It was already loaded and ready for him to go. After handing him a delivery log and address book, Jaxon was on the road to his first stop.

Everything seemed to be going rather smoothly, no one complained and everyone seemed to have an overall good review of him. The last stop, was less than anticipated. Upon arrival, he noticed it was a small trailer on the back end of an RV park, a beat up late model station wagon parked in the grassy parking spot that had become grown. Jaxon triple checked his delivery log and the address book, and it all seemed legitimate, something about this scene really set off his gut instinct. Something was wrong. Taking a very risky chance, he got out of the delivery truck and headed to the door. Whoever lived here hadn’t ordered much, less than a bag of groceries. Most of the client’s had several delivery boxes where he had to make several trips versus a single bag.

Jaxon swallowed down a lump that had grew in his throat. In a way, he wished he could use his vampiric abilities to scout out the scene beforehand. That was something he’d have to consider in the future. For now, he came to the porch and knocked on the door. He could smell someone had been there, possibly even still was. There was a strong scent of metal which had him quickly become guarded.

After a minute or two, heavy footsteps attempted to quietly cross the floor towards the door. When the door opened, Jaxon had to take a look around wondering if this was a set up by Kat. The man from the New York City art auction, Detective Homer Marshall, stood before him in a Hawaiian shirt, tan shorts, and a bushy mustache. He looked like an actor straight out of Hollywood. Jaxon did his best to cover up his laugh, however, the look on the Detective’s face was far less humourous than Jaxon seen it. He looked around himself before going back inside, motioning Jaxon to follow him. Clipboard in hand, Jaxon followed along.

“I was wondering how long it would take for you to come for a visit,” said the Detective. “It was a pain to find your location and then set up operations here without it being obvious. Have a seat.”

Marshall headed to the fridge and pulled out a drink opening it up as he leaned back on the counter.

“I apologize for my advances in the bathroom. I know about some of the dirty work that Miss Krzysztof has done in the past. The last thing I needed was to lose an asset like yourself before I could talk to you personally.”

“An asset?” Jaxon queried of the detective’s comment.

“Although, she has a dark and sinister side to her that I’m quite sure you aren’t aware of or have seen...yet.”

“What do you want to know?” Jaxon said blatantly. He c***s his head to the side looking at him. “And why? Are you really going to do something about it or play games? Because for one thing, if you were at that party, why should I trust you to begin with. How do I know you aren’t on her side? Working for her, to see that I’m not going to do anything dumb. I wouldn’t put it past her.”

He tips his drink at the younger man. “I plan on it. I need an inside guy.”

“Still you’ve given me nothing to prove that you aren’t working for her. I know it takes money to get in there. I know on a cop’s salary, you wouldn’t be able to get in there by that bit alone. You either aren’t a regular cop or your working as a middle man. How do I know you aren’t working for her to check me out? You’ve still not given me anything to say you aren’t. Any one can go and buy a badge. I could buy yours. Prove it to me, that you aren’t working for her. Then we can talk. I’m not stupid, dude. I don’t want to end up in some meat processing plant. I don’t want to be cat food or dog food tomorrow. I don’t want to talk to any one that she’s paying. If you can’t prove it to me, I walk.”

There was a couple of minutes of silence as the detective was not only impressed by this young man’s bravado, but his intelligence as well. When the detective didn’t give Jaxon a reply, he stood up and headed towards the door.

“You are a smart ass. I like that. It means you’re honest. Let me show you what we’ve built the case up against her.”

“First off, where’s the money coming from to get you into those art shows? It’s not cheap to get in. You have to know people or have the money to back your ass. How many people are on the case? Because the more people in on it, the more likely I am to be cat or dog chow.”

The detective darted around Jaxon and the furniture to raise a tapestry which hid a wall of information pinned and tacked up on a large corkboard.. “Me and one other. A federal task force is who I work for, I am a US Marshall. The name is a play on my job, it’s not my real name. A girl has went missing. She is the daughter of a high priority political figure. We have information that Miss Krzysztof has coming into possession of this young lady. We don’t have enough to prove it yet.”

There is a picture of a young girl on the wall. Jaxon steps up to the board taking to memory everything, including the picture, in a split second. One of the great aspects of being a memory.

“How many people would know I’m involved?” He said finalizing the information intake to memory. “Can you keep my name out of it, even if I could get you the information for a warrant?”

He shot the Marshall a brazen look. The Marshall gave him a blank stare. “It depends on the longevity of our time working together. The validity of the information you give me and if I can cross reference it to other sources. If it’s all good, I can definitely keep your name on it, by listing you as a verified confidential informant.”

They stared at each other for several seconds. A cold, void gaze between them. “Isn’t she paying you enough? Why are you working as a grocery delivery driver?”

Jaxon raised his eyebrow. “For one, it gets me out of the house. Two, it gets me away from her. It let’s me relax and, I love driving. Plus, I don’t have to wear those damn clothes. I can be me, instead of her pet.”

The Marshall gave a half-laugh at Jaxon’s comment. “Most men wouldn’t mind being her pet.”

Jaxon headed towards the door but stops for a moment looking at the Marshall. “I’m not most men. I assume when you want an update, you’ll call for more groceries?”

“That’ll work.” The Marshall says as Jaxon departs the trailer then goes back to studying the board. Jaxon goes to the truck and brings back the bag. When he returns, placing it on the counter, the Marshall speaks over his shoulder. “If you come up with anything, give me a call.”

Jaxon speaks plainly. “Okay.” He then leaves to take the truck back to the grocery store. He had more work cut out for him than he initially anticipated.