#behind these masks

[behindthesemasks]

19

Chap1er 18

Things don't go smoothing when the team makes it back to the hotel

Back in the hotel, Erik paced the room as he waited for the unconscious Andreas to come around again when the door to the room was almost taken off his hinges as it slammed open.  His head snapped to look over and he barely had time to register there was male crossing the room before his face exploded with pain.  Next came the blow to his throat and then his gut, pain exploding throughout his body.  Falling to the ground, he coughed and wheezed, trying to draw in breath, before he was flipped onto his back and a fist slammed into his face a couple more times.  With the beating he was taking, he was pretty sure it was Oglesby’s men who’d found them, and was sure he was going to die.  Each blow raining down on him caused the pain to increase exponentially, then the world went black.

It took Case, Nic, and Gabe to be able to finally pull Klaus off of his brother who was trying to pound Eric into the carpet of the floor.  Ambrose was immediately in the large man’s face, rage written on every line and curve of his face and the steel grey of his eyes almost glowing with the fires of rage.  The threats and promises of pain that were expressed were enough to keep Klaus from going after Eric again, but everyone knew if they didn’t get Klaus out of the room that it was only a matter of time before his resolve would weaken and it would become chaos again.  

No one had heard from or seen Melania.  The group who had been at the hospital were now also missing, and knowing that Oglesby was at least the money behind the attacks, if not the brains as well, put everyone on edge.  If finding out that Andreas was involved in the threat to Alexander hadn’t been enough of mind fuck, now having Erik threaten Mel was definitely one for everyone.  Things were going sideways faster than anyone could adjust and compensate, and that was not a good thing.  For men whose entire lives were adjusting to ever changing circumstances, not being able to find solid footing was not something that put them in a good mood.

“GET.HIM.OUT!” Ambrose bellowed at the men restraining Klaus, his jaw ticking as his teeth were clenched.  He didn’t turn his attention back to Erik until they had succeeded in getting him out of the room.  If they hadn’t been able to, he was ready to shoot the German asshole himself to accomplish it.  His patience was completely gone and he was ready to start dealing out pain to accomplish his orders to those around him.  That  Klaus had surprised him as soon as the lock had clicked on the door had pissed him off to begin with, the condition that he’d left Eric in only made it worse.

“Restrain him like his cousin.  Make sure they’re both still alive and able to talk when I’m ready for them.  Come get me when they are.  I’m done with the bullshit, I think they believe the old man has gone soft.  I’m about to show them differently.”  Ambrose gave instructions to Cam and Donovan before following the others back out of the room.  He could hear cursing down the hall in the direction of the suite.  Time to go talk with his team and calm down enough not to kill anyone, yet.

“Now we know who hired the assholes at the mansion.  That’s one question answered.” Nic was saying as Ambrose walked in.  A quick head nod to his grandfather and he continued. “How the fuck could he NOT know who was financing this fucking dig?  Oglesby is far from stupid, that’s the only reason he’s still alive.  He’s never crossed us, never crossed the wrong person before.  For him to be this careless and foolish now seems a misstep that is unlike anything he’s done before.  I think there’s still something we don’t know about this.”

“We can figure this out later.  We have three missing team members, my granddaughter is missing, and the asshole that orchestrated this is out there as well.  Priorities, gentlemen.  We can assume that Cade, Alexander, and Dez are all still together for now.  Hopefully that will make them easier to find.  Case, Nic, and Gabe, get out there and find all of them.  No excuses for failure.  AM. I. CLEAR?”  Ambrose’s voice was calm but there was no missing the undercurrent of rage in it.  None doubted that he was barely controlling the desire to hurt, maim, and possibly kill someone in the near future.  All the men’s heads nodded as they rose to leave. “What am I supposed to do? Fucking sit on my ass while they’re out there?”  Klaus bit out at Ambrose in frustration.  Eyebrows raised on the other men as everyone froze.  No one wanted to be between the other two if they were going to go at one another.  Was this really the time to piss off Ambrose more? He was never known to suffer fools lightly. 

“That’s exactly what you’re going to do.  You’re a loose cannon, Klaus, I can’t have you out there possibly blowing up at an innocent person, and bringing the Serbian authorities attention swinging around to us. We’ve got two men tied up in here, and a couple dead bodies in a burned out car out in the woods near the excavation site.  You think we want attention on us?”  Ambrose’s head tipped to the side, his lips thinning as his cold blue eyes pinned Klaus with a hard stare. His voice was cold and almost emotionless, something that rather worried the others in the room, who exchanged quick glances.  He was like a volcano that had been smoking and suddenly stopped, an eruption was imminent.

“Someone needs to see if they can locate the GPS tracking devices on the cars, run their credit cards, see if there is ANYTHING that can tell us where the four have disappeared to.  And sweep this fucking room!  How the fuck did she get out of here and leave no trace?”  Now, now there was anger, lack of sleep or coffee was showing in Ambrose’s demeanor.  Just a crack, not a full explosion, but if Klaus pushed him again, there was no telling how big it could get. “Now, you all have your tasks.  Do them.  I’m going to handle our guests here, and find out what the fuck is going on.  I’m sick of playing catch-up.”  Ambrose turned and headed out of the room with no further comment.  He was about to shoot someone, and he’d prefer it to be one of the two assholes down the hall rather than one of the team that he still needed. As Gabe prepared to slip away, he looked over at Nic and Klaus.  Both men looked utterly defeated and worry was etched deeply into their strong features.  Now it wasn’t just Mel that was missing, but the other three who had been at the hospital, at least as far as anyone else there at the hotel knew.  He was the only one who knew that none of them were in danger and they were all together.  There was a little bit of guilt that gnawed at him over that, but not enough to stop him from what he planned on doing.  No, his loyalty did not lie with anyone in the hotel where he now stood.  He was going to those with whom he felt the most loyalty.

“Guys, try and look on the positive side.  Maybe the others have found her, and that’s why they’re not answering.  Case and Cam said that they had called the guys more than once before they had gone out looking too.”  Gabe tried to give some reassurance, if only to relieve his own guilt. “Yeah, I’m sure they’re all kicked back and drinking coffee in some posh shop while we have been looking for them and worrying.” Nic bit back, sorry afterward that he had been quite so harsh.  “Oglesby has got to be close, Mel is a bargaining chip and Alexander is a target.  It’s not safe to assume anything at this point.”  This time exhaustion and worry was clear in his tone and words. Gabe nodded curtly and headed out the door behind Case.  He felt a vibration in his pocket and swiped to open his phone while they waited for the elevator.  It was the 228 number again.  ::Omni #955.  Package is tired::  It was all he could do not to laugh, someone had clued her in on the lingo.  As soon as he could be, he’d join the four that were there, then they’d have to figure out how to deal with the boss.

support banner - @cafekitsune

[cljordan-imperium]

OUT OF CONTEXT LINE TAG

@winterandwords tagged me to share a line from my WIP with no context.

From @behindthesemasks

“Fine, you two can have a pissing match later.  I need a gun.”

Soft tagging - @dogmomwrites @cillmequick @runnning-outof-time @writingmaidenwarrior and @aziz-reads

[canisalbus]

The forbidden smooth Machete.

A lot of his head is just fluff, without it he's even more noodly than usual.

[lotus-pear]

he's so crazy we can't take him anywhere 😭🤣

[crayonurchin]

First art of the new year is all about re-structuring your internal monologue.

In my early 20s I was working full time in London with many social commitments and a variety of hustles and side projects.

In my later mid 20s I cater to many sensory and social drain needs I have and indulge in special interests while respecting my lower energy reserves and celebrating my different way of processing the world.

Did I get more autistic? Nah. I got less fake.

-

[Art description: Three panels showing figures on a black background. Long descriptions follow.

1. A drawing of OP as a person with hip-length hair and a dress standing sadly with her hands clapsed together in front of her. She is coloured a muted rainbow gradient. Behind her, two pairs of nondescript figures chat while smiling. White text says, ‘I’m getting more and more autistic the older I get.’ 2. OP’s colours are brighter, and her expression looks happier. Crayon-like scribbles have crossed out the text from the previous panel. 3. OP’s colours are vibrant, and she balances on one leg and throws her arms out as she dances. The text above has changed to say, ‘I’m becoming more and more myself the older I get.’ \End descriptions]

[sweettater96]

Source : indiasfilmss on Instagram 🖤

[biowho]

Dragon Age put important plot information in your games challenge

[hop3isaprison]

sketchbook snippet: slashers

[gearbroth]

Spychecking?

[goryhorroor]

horror sub-genres: found footage

[shepscapades]

can I possibly give post-destruction etho a hug it seems like he needs it/nf

I can’t think of a reason he would decline!

[behindthesemasks]

17

Chapter 16

Mel wants answers, but the one that comes changes everything...

TW: violence, guns, hitting, threats, someone has a gun aimed at them

During the ride back to the hotel, Case and Mel had changed their whole dynamic.    He found she wasn’t nearly the princess that he had believed her to be; and she found he wasn’t nearly as serious and dour as she’d thought him to be.  By the time that they pulled into the underground garage to park, they were laughing and cutting up like they’d been friends for years.  Case never lost sight of the fact that someone had just tried to kill everyone in the last SUV he had driven, and was ever vigilant now that their means of escape was greatly reduced.  

After assessing the area and deeming it safe, he let Mel out her side, casually draping an arm around her slim shoulders and pulling her in close like they were lovers.  Looking down at her, he gave her a grin and a wink as he started to lead her towards the doors into the hotel.  Her arm looped around his waist as she hip bumped him.  He had to give her credit, she picked up on non-verbal cues a lot better than most he’d had to guard over the years.   And the fact that she had shot Andreas, and had a bead on Donovan at the dig site, gave him a healthy respect for her skills and also the strength of character she possessed.

All the way up to the top floor, the two looked like a couple returning to their room for the night.  He considered walking that way in to see Erik and Cam, but decided that he didn’t feel like getting shot by Erik.  Lord knew that he was as twitchy as Klaus right now, since it was Andreas that they were trying to get information out of, and who was part of this whole plot to take out Alexander.

Once they had reached their floor, they went straight to the room that Erik, Cam, and Andreas were in.   Case noticed the way Mel visibly tensed as her hand landed on the doorknob; she had not been nearly as relaxed as she’d acted.  Damn, she was good.  They could use her on some of the missions they went on, that was if Ambrose wouldn’t lose his mind in the process.  Hell, might be more fun if he did.

Erik and Cam were over by one wall talking when Case and Mel walked in. Andreas’s eyes went wide seeing the petite female again.  It was clear he remembered their previous conversation and was in no hurry for a repeat.  Before Case could stop her, she was before the male again with her gun drawn and pointing firmly at his manhood.

“I just got back from what had to be the least enjoyable car ride I’ve ever had.  I am getting seriously tired of being fucking shot at Andreas.  SERIOUSLY. FUCKING. TIRED.  Now you are going to tell me who the fuck ordered this, and you’re going to do it now; because my patience ended somewhere between here and the dig site while I was in the back of that SUV.”  The distinctive click of the safety being turned off was heard and none of the other men moved.  They had to hand it to her, the woman knew how to make an entrance and a statement…all at the same time.

“They…they weren’t supposed to shoot at you.  You’re not even supposed to be here.  No one wants to piss off Ambrose, they’d be stupid to.”  Andreas was stuttering and stumbling over words in his haste to get them out.  He wasn’t so much afraid of dying; however, his cousin and Cam had been inflicting pain on him already, but nothing like she was about to.

“A name, Andreas.  NOW!”  He felt the gun move slightly, and another click sounded, which was the hammer being pulled back.  Now all that separated him from pain he’d wish he’d be dead from, was a twitch of her finger.  “I don’t think you’re getting how tired I am of games.”   The other men glanced at each other, they all had to remember not to piss her off in the future.

“Oglesby.  It was Oglesby.  He doesn’t want the relics coming out of that dig site.  Dear god, don’t kill me!  It was Oglesby.”  Tears started to form at the corners of his eyes.  

“WHO is Oglesby?”  She pressed the gun further against his groin.

“You LIE!”  Erik growled and his fist struck the side of Andreas’s face making a sickening thud and a crunch that may mean that Andreas’s jaw was broken.

Mel stepped back and looked at Erik, gun now at her side. “Who is Oglesby, Erik?”  

“Get out Mel.”  

“WHO. IS. HE?”  Her teeth were clenched, and she was not backing down.  She was done being pushed around.

In a flash, Erik had taken the weapon, and the barrel was up against her forehead.  “GET. OUT!  Cam…Case…get her the fuck out of here, and stay out too.  I will deal with this.”  

Mel stood frozen.  Tears of betrayal and anger stung at her eyes, but she couldn’t even force herself to move.  She felt male hands grab her shoulders; slowly and gently they began to pull her back. 

Erik’s face was a mask of rage as Case slowly guided Mel away from him.  Whatever that name meant, Erik might have just signed his own death warrant.  One twitch and Mel was too close for it to be anything but a kill shot.  She seemed in shock though, and he was afraid if he pulled her backwards any faster, she’d fall.  Thankfully as soon as they were far enough away, Cam stepped in between the gun and Mel, meaning he’d take a chest shot instead of  one to the head.

“I hope you know what you’re doing Erik.  Ambrose will hear about this,”  Cam said calmly as he kept himself between Mel and the gun till they were out of the room and the door closed.

Mel leaned up against the wall across the hallway, bent at the waist with her hands on her knees.  She was fighting panic.  One of the men she trusted most had just put the barrel of a gun, with the safety off, and hammer back, against her forehead.  The look he had in his eyes said he would have pulled the trigger too.  After a few deep breaths, she pulled her phone out and dialed Klaus.

As she listened to the soft ringing in her ear, she saw Case and Cam discussing something, and verifying they both had their weapons.  Klaus’s answer told her that he was irritated, but he should know she wouldn’t just call for anything.  “Klaus, Erik just had a gun to my head.  Who the fuck is Oglesby.”  A curt reply and he hung up.  She stared at the phone in disbelief.  She dialed him again but it went straight to voicemail.  Hanging up, she threw her phone against the opposite wall, then walked towards the suite.

Case and Cam had both pulled out their phones to call Nic and Ambrose when Mel’s crashed into the wall and shattered.  Phone calls were forgotten for the moment as they followed Mel.  They had to make sure she got into the suite okay.  After what had just happened, they weren’t sure she was going to stay in the hotel, and now she wasn’t armed anymore.  If something happened to her. they would both be dead, but at least their deaths would be quick. Erik was going to suffer first, and she might not even have to be dead first for it.

Melania walked through the doors to the suite after sliding her card, and the men stayed outside.  After being shot at in the SUV, and now having a gun to her head, they thought she might like some space.  They weren’t going to leave from outside that door though.  If Erik decided he wanted to make his point more clearly, they were going to stop him.  This whole trip had gone massively sideways in an instant.

While they were waiting, they repeatedly called Nic and Ambrose, even calling Klaus a few times. No one was answering.  They did get a hold of Alexander, Cade and Dez.  All was quiet at the hospital, Sasha had been moved to a private, posh room, and that’s where they were all held up as well.  As soon as it was dark and quiet, they’d slip out and be on their way back.  All three were shocked to hear what Erik had done, but none knew who Oglesby was, or why Erik would react like that.  

After they hung up, all three at the hospital were ready to head back to the hotel whether it was dark or not.  None of them doubted that Cam and Case had it well in hand back at the hotel, but if Erik had lost his mind, there could still be bloodshed.  They also wanted to beat Ambrose, Nic, and Klaus back to at least keep Erik alive long enough to find out what the fuck was going on.  It wasn’t like the man to go off half-cocked, and for him to have literally put a gun against Mel’s head, he had to have completely lost his mind.

Hours passed, more phone calls to Ambrose, Nic, and Klaus were made with no answer, and the interior of the suite remained eerily quiet.  Finally Case and Cam decided they were tired of waiting in the hall.  Knocking on the door first, Cam slid his copy of the master key for the floor through the locking mechanism and heard the soft click of the door unlocking.  Slowly pushing it open he called out for Mel.  Silence greeted him like an adversary.

Neither man liked the cold feel of stale air and the lack of sound that enveloped them like a thick blanket as they entered.  The feeling of dread grew in the pit of their stomachs. as if someone were adding stones one by one to the bottom of the well, as they searched all rooms to find them empty.  There was no sign of Mel or how she’d gotten out.  They were truly and royally fucked now.  They blew up the voicemail and text messages of Ambrose and Nic, this was not good.  Case called the guys at the hospital and found out that they were just getting ready to leave since the doctor had made the last check of the night on Sasha.  Word was passed on of what had happened, and they promised to be on the lookout for Mel as they headed back to the hotel.  

Finally Cam’s phone sounded the familiar chime of an incoming call.  Unfortunately the usually lively tune sounded as if a death dirge this time, and when he looked down he saw Ambrose’s number.  The weight in his stomach only seemed to grow when he hit the green button to answer, then put the man on speaker phone so they could both talk to him.  “Yeah boss, we got a problem…a big one.  Mel is missing.”  Cam replied to his boss’s first words. Case’s eyes closed at the pure rage that radiated out of the phone with Ambrose’s reply.  “Boss, Erik went off the rails when Mel got the name Oglesby out of Andreas as being who’s behind this.  He damn well put a fucking gun to her head and told her to get out of the room.  Boss, Cam had to step in between them because he didn’t lower the damn thing the whole time we were getting her out of the room.  Head shot boss, he would have taken a head shot.”  Case was alternating between pissed as hell and worried for the woman.  She was unarmed as far as he knew and missing with someone out there that was after their team.  If she had been kidnapped, she would be leveraged to get them to hand over at least Alexander.   

“FUCK!”  The word almost made Cam’s phone vibrate in his hand.  “Oglesby is who killed Erik and Klaus’s parents.  Get your asses out there and find her.” Ambrose’s voice vibrated through the small speaker on the phone, then got quieter. “If ANYTHING happens to my granddaughter because your brother couldn’t contain his fucking goddamned temper, I’m going to kill him my own damn self.”  Cam and Case looked at each other, shit had just gotten worse.  Ambrose’s voice came back loud again. “Find her.  That isn’t a nice request, that’s a goddamned order.  We’re on our way back.”

dividers/banners : @cafekitsune

[cljordan-imperium]

Heaven Visits The LaVeaus - 2

“See, I told you this trip would be good for you.”  Cade finally made it up to them and clapped Arthur on the shoulder.  “And Mama Marie and the spooky bunch has adopted another stray.  I guess we’re brothers now, Arthur.  Wait till you taste her food!  We may never get you back to England.”  They all laughed as they began to head in to see exactly how big of a feast Marie HAD prepared.

Arthur snorted at Cade’s quit and rolled his eyes.  “You’re all spoiling her. How am I supposed to take her home now?”  He side-eyed Cade, a slight smirk toying on his lips.

Cade shook his head, “I guess you won’t.  We’ll keep her and you can go home alone, you grumpy asshole.  She’ll fit in better here anyway.  Bet she’ll think it’s a vacation.” He ducked a swing from Arthur, who wasn’t really trying hard to actually hit him.  Laughing he shoved his friend back, glad to see that the man was..could it be...no…actually SMILING?!  Seemed the slight and fair beauty he’d brought over with him HAD done some good for the old goat.

“Do I need to go get Alexander to separate you two old war horses?” Mel’s amused voice broke into the men’s exchange.  “Hey, don’t threaten us with a good time, beautiful.”  Cade winked over at his fiance’.  “Although I’ve dealt with his cranky ass when he’s tired before, I’d prefer you NOT.”  This got a laugh from Arthur.  Damn, the little woman had started to heal the man.  Hot damn!  This might not be the serious visit he’d been afraid of.  Eggshells shelved?

“Where is the bastard?” Arthur asked, looking around the estate that was even larger than his brother’s back in England.  The land here was different, but just as old, and there was something about it that had a different feel.  Something darker, even in the bright Louisiana sunshine.

“He didn’t land until almost midnight last night from his flight, so he is still passed out upstairs.  We can see if he’s awake when we drop off your luggage, old man.  If he misses Mama Marie’s cooking, he’ll be pissed.”  Cade laughed and clapped Arthur on the back as he jerked his head toward the back of the SUV.  “Come on, your wife packs like mine.  I’m not hauling all that up by myself.”  

Arthur looked between Cade and Melania for a moment, a brow raised.  “Maybe it’s something about witches.” It was said flatly, with no derision, and then he headed to the back of the vehicle, leaving both Mel and Cade staring at one another, mouths slightly agape and trying not to laugh.  Yes, he was going to fit right in.  

*****

Alexander had been groggy, but awake, when the men had taken the luggage upstairs.   He made some kind of unintelligible response about breakfast and headed in to get a shower.  Cade just shook his head as he headed downstairs again.   Alexander has known Mel for over a decade and was considered family.  After all that had gone down jn Serbia and after, Cade considered him a brother too. 

"The grumpy Brit will be down in a minute he's showering." Cade announced as he came into the dining room that looked like a Cajun and Creole buffet had exploded all over it.

"There is more than one?  I thought mine was it." Heaven teased her husband who made a grumble but pulled her close to kiss her softly none the less.

''He learned it from Alexander I think." Mel teased.  "Especially before coffee it's not safe to have him around loaded weapons."  

"No weapons talk around the new children." Marie came through and tsked at Mel. "Breakfast. If I'm going to have to listen to the men and their guns all day, I'm not listening to you talk about them while we eat." 

"Of course, Mama." Mel kissed her mom lightly on the cheek before starting to point out all the delicacies that Marie had prepared.  Crayfish, shrimp, grits, cream sauces, and richness abounded.  As a nod to their guests, Marie had even been able to get the local butcher to make blood sausage.

"And someone remember to feed Archibald so he doesn't try to come in and visit." Dontanion's very heavily old French accented voice called from the kitchen.

"Who is Archibald?" Heaven asked, looking confused why a friend would not be wanted as a visitor with so much food being laid out.

"My pet albino alligator.  Come on, you two have a complexion in common.  I raised him from a baby.  Albinos aren't rare to be born, but they rarely make it to adulthood.  Being white in the bayou is a liability." Mel explained as she led the petite woman into the kitchen grabbing a bag of mega marshmallows and then chicken thighs.  "He LOVES marshmallows!"

"You spoil him!" Cade called after her in tease.  

"Says the man I equally spoil!" Mel turned and stuck out her tongue at him.  "He's ornery, but I love him."  She laughed as she looped her arm with Heaven's and led her to the dock.  “I just tolerate Cade.”  Winking over at the beauty next to her, she laughed harder.

Heaven & Arthur Shelby belong to @call-sign-shark

@raincoffeeandfandoms @blind-the-winds @saltysupercomputer @aziz-reads @toribookworm22 @writingmaidenwarrior @jessica-writes22 @late-to-the-fandom

[cry-ptidd]

” Am I not right to weep? O my children, cursed children of a hateful mother - ”

[merricatblckwood]

Louis to Daniel : I'd give it to you now

Armand as fake Rashid : 👁️👄👁️ may I be excused mister du Lac ?

Armand locking himself in the bathroom probably :

[ivanttakethis]

OH MY GOD WAIT—

IMAGE MAKING PRACTICE WAS TO FORCE IVAN INTO LEARNING HOW TO SMILE ON COMMAND

EXPLODING UNSHA WITH MY MIND HATE HATE HATE BITE KILL MAIM DESTROY MASSACRE AAAAHHHHHH