"People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. Do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance."
― Niccolo Machiavelli

I tucked in my winter coat as I took a seat in the back row of benches.

Then I watched the show begin before me.

Expensive suits. Rows of them. Some heartbeats raced underneath their tailored collars. Others had the smog of alcohol lingering around expensive cologne. The judge looked irritable and lost hours of sleep lingered under his eyes. They were so imperfectly perfect in contrast to the timeless pieces of stone I had stood before moments ago. The room was alive again.

Then she walked in.

Heartbeat steady, suit pressed to within an inch of its life, hair tied up neatly and a single leather folder tucked underneath one of her arms. I smirked in my seat. They had no chance.

I knew Quinn had an important day ahead of her because she had not responded to her phone all day and because she was dedicated to delivering on what she promised–in this case it was winning.

No one gave me a second look behind the rows of family counterparts or concerned partners–some just looked to be here for their respective clients. The courtroom was a classic masterpiece of traditional design with sculpted wooden finishes and ancient paintings leering over the room. Its marble floor let know who walked down its aisle in echoing intimidation. Perhaps that's why Quinn wore those heels.

She had caught almost every eye in the room. Her beauty was an obvious weapon but it didn't make one doubt her credibility when she was dressed as lethally as the fire in her eyes. 

This was her world, her domain, and I was glad to be in it.

Once the jury was seated and the room was calmed into silence, the vows were read and her opposition mirrored them. I caught on pretty quickly. A defamation case that would cost her client an eye-watering sum... for mortals anyway.

Quinn listened to all of their claims. To their callous attempts to make her rise into anger to draw out amateur mistakes. But she was no such woman and she duelled her emotions as lethally as someone with decades more of experience would. When their lawyer finally finished his triad of accusations and borderline insults, Quinn pressed her skirt down and took a long sip of water. This made the opposition scoff in disbelief.

She didn't even bother to go for the leather folder, a clear backup plan she decided she didn't even need anymore.

She simply stood and smiled and every member of their table before she faced the judge. Every single one of them smelt of adrenaline. I crossed my arms and leant back in the bench.

Then I listened to her speak articulately and measured. There wasn't an inch of self-doubt in every sentence. She spoke like she spoke of her passion or her experiences whilst travelling–with the assurance that left no room for doubt. I cast my eyes about the jury members, they were equally as captivated. It could have all been lies, all deceit and none would know. But the judge remained professionally passive as expected. The only read I had to say otherwise was the slowed rate of his heartbeat and the lack of suspicion in the air.

She didn't speak for anywhere near as long as the opposition, but they had already visibly sunk into their seats after the fifth minute of Quinn beginning. By the seventh she had a sheet of paper she identified to the room and then to the judge himself.

By the tenth minute the judge had enough.

By the twelfth minute Quinn was shaking hands with her clients and tucking her folder back under her arm with a practiced smile I'd seen her use on my former co-workers.

My phone vibrated.

I drew it out and saw an email offering me another meeting to demonstrate my capabilities to Vanguard Security. I placed it back into my inner pocket and glanced up to see one of Quinn's clients throw his arms around her neck in a rush of joy. I chuckled as she laughed and awkwardly disentangled herself.

I saw her draw her phone out once her excited clients finally tore themselves away to talk animatedly between themselves. 

My phone vibrated again.

I flicked it out and scanned the screen.

"What are you up to?" The lawyer not twenty feet away asked.

But now was not the time to ruin her hour of glory. I had much to brood on in the realm of Paragon once more. Who I would condemn to this life to placate them... Who I would train in the ways of immortality personally. Then there was Vanguard Security to contemplate. Maybe I could do both... I had time.

I rose out of the bench and melted into the exiting crowds. 

An immortal ghost once more.

When I hit the cool London air again my phone vibrated once more. I drew it out and sighed at the words.

"So... we had a big win today and there's someone I want to celebrate with. Meet us there?"

The next message showed the location of a typically high-end corporate bar. The kind that was practically a members club. A long line of exclusive patrons to its name and its high ceilings with chandeliers to match.

We expect great things from your bloodline, Tara Fletcher.

I shuddered against a cold I didn't feel from weather. All of their crushing weight felt like it was against me from every angle. 

I slipped into the plush interior of Jamerson's car. He met my eyes in the mirror with a nod.

"Straight home, ma'am?" He asked.

I drummed my fingers against my thigh considering. 

"Keep us around Covent Garden." I said slowly, drawing my laptop out, "–I might be needed in the area." I muttered, thinking of the state of parties lawyers engaged in. But Quinn could handle herself just fine.

Jamerson nodded in acceptance and put some music on low in the front seats.

I began the real research on Vanguard. This would decide my next steps on whether I would take a shot at a mortal career again. There were not many places one could hide on the internet anymore... even without Paragon's and police software helping me.

Another few hours passed like this with me at work in the backseats and Jamerson driving us aimlessly around the business end of London. My phone linked up to my laptop and displayed Quinn Adams' name along with an accusation that made me grin.

"Are you ignoring me???"

Three question marks meant she was past her first drink or irritated enough to emphasise. But the demand in it made me more than amused.

"No, Quinn. I'm indisposed."

Apparently that was the wrong answer.

"Such an importvant immortal. I fixed it for you."

I sighed. So, we're into the spelling mistakes already... the night was still young. I was surprised she'd held off calling me.

"Gin or champagne?" I replied simply.

"Come find out."

"I need to work, Quinn."

There was a pause in her reply. The only reason I was in the area at all was incase someone was foolish enough to ruin her night. So I drew back up the sites I had pulling apart Vanguard's financials–

"I think theres one of you here"

I read it and read it again, feeling my body freeze over.

"That's not funny." I sent right back.

"Gold eyyyesss maybe she'll be more fun than you tonight ;)"

I gave Jamerson an order to take us to the bar faster than I could close the laptop screen. I didn't see her next replies. Instinct was enough to get me to her in a crowd of thousands let alone hundreds. The night was alive and in full swing. It was a corporate only event. The stone pillars outside the historic building were floodlit in purples and blues. The doormen were dressed like they were hosting the inner box at the races.

I waited for the opportunity when the first man was distracted with a group entering to grab the others' arm and take his mind. He opened a hand inside with a distant expression as I slipped beyond with the crowd.

If I wasn't racing my senses out to find her I would have been impressed by what I saw.

They went all out with this. Live band music, a decadent central bar in the throng of hundreds, twenty foot high plants running up the walls...

But I wasn't here for any of it.

I let the power of Elder blood sharpen my hearing, steady my blood and calm my focus into a point. Heartbeats were impossible in here so I went for scent. I had traces of her everywhere, but I needed the strongest–

I finally caught it and dodged a crowd of drinkers and a tray of champagne flutes. God there were so many. 

I followed the pure and unmistakable scent that was Quinn Adams and traced it to rows of plush seats curved against the walls that were mounted with caged flame torches. Here more of the well-dressed mortals lounged over bottles of champagne and toasted each other's success.

I saw her in the middle of it all, laughing carefree at one of the men who'd removed his suit and leant on his knees in a white button-down shirt. I scanned every one of those mortals in the booths and not one of them had a hint of gold in their irises or even a slow–

"FLETCHER!" A voice shouted, in excitement.

I flexed my jaw and turned to behold a very relaxed lawyer with bright green eyes and nothing but mischief in her eyes. She slipped her hand around my forearm but I was set like stone.

Her grin turned marginally sheepish despite it all.

"Okay... I might have been–"

I dipped my head beside her ear quickly but I had anything but romance in my voice.

"You tell me a goddamn immortal is in here just to get my attention." I growled, letting a dangerous air change between us. She turned her face towards mine and I drew back quickly to glare her down.

"Look, I just wanted–" She began, but I cut her off again, too angry to give her the time.

"You might be able to lie to me, Quinn, but that sure as hell doesn't mean you should." I snapped, tearing my arm out of hers and storming back the way I had come. There was a different darkness inside me that was rising to this too quickly. I couldn't be sure if it was me or the demon of Elder blood.

I shook my head trying to clear it.

This was further than she had ever gone before. It was a risk for absolutely nothing at all–it was just mindless. I was so swept up in the storm of my raging thoughts that I almost missed her...

Almost missed the dominant gold, the military jacket, the dead, beat-less heart.

My head snapped up and she was gone. I whirled and scanned a blur of mortal faces around me feeling like I had imagined it. But senses like this did not lie. Then I was turning back for Quinn. Her back was to me and she was throwing her hand out while she spoke to her coworkers.

"Quinn–"

She laughed in disbelief as she glanced back at me with a frown.

"Fuck you, Fletcher."

A chorus of "Oooo" filled the air around us. I almost rolled my eyes. But I had wrongly accused her of lying to me not moments before.

"That's fair. We still need to leave." I countered.

"I was actually enjoying myself before you showed up!" She shot back.

Her friends were starting to enjoy our display far more than I was comfortable with, but I wasn't about to drag her out of here screaming at me.

"Harassment charge!" One hollered at us, before the rest started cackling.

"Fine. You want to be mad at me? Be mad. Just stay here." I told her flatly.

She slowly gave me the finger before knocking back the rest of her drink to the cheers of those around her. Mortals and their drinking culture would be the end of me. But there were more important things to handle first...

I kept my back to Quinn whilst they drank more and got harder to handle. If that immortal wanted her she would have to go through me. I knew she lingered. The power was here. That ancient and tangible hum of darkness and strength. 

Then as if parting the crowds herself, she appeared. Selena Helland.

Her suit was gone under the military jacket and a cocktail dress took its place. I walked slowly towards her through the crowds as she watched me with curious eyes. A dangerous thing for an immortal to be–and an Elder at that.

We sized each other up as the space closed. Not that physical weapons were needed, everything else needed to be calculated. I left a few feet between us and circled the space she stood in. I had to be sure. Her eyes followed me with dark amusement as I did. Then finally I came to a stop before her.

"I don't remember you being invited to this party." I said dryly, over the band.

Her eyes danced in amusement.

"And you already have a date it seems." She noted, keeping the smile in place.

I snorted, looking her up and down. "I hardly think that's a challenge. Immortality granted us that much."

"I looked this good before the change." She shrugged, swirling the wine around the glass in her hand. I inhaled again just to double check it was indeed wine... Then I dropped the formality from my face and tucked my hands slowly in front of myself, clasping them.

"Why are you here?" I deadpanned.

"No foreplay? Honestly, Fletcher..." She murmured, keeping her edge playful. I was in no mood and she only seemed to enjoy that more. "–Genuine curiosity." She finally answered, when my fingers flexed. "I'd heard of your escapades."

I frowned hard. So Quinn and my own life had become common gossip in the halls of Paragon.

"–you broke all the rules and got away with it." The admiration in her voice made me pause and scan her more closely. Elders didn't admire that... They were the closest circle, the most devote. But then again, Cordius found his own way out without permission.

"I want her more than I fear them." I answered her simply, looking past her shoulder and watching Quinn grin over her glass with her clients or coworkers.

She nodded with a genuine half smile, then she took a long sip from her glass.

"I want in."

I flinched, snapping back into focus.

"There is no in."

"There are always alliances to be made, immortal. And I. Want. In." She answered, as I watched in shock and she swigged back the contents of the glass like a mortal would. She grinned back at my shock with a red smile as it would under other circumstances.

Maybe she was insane.

Maybe she was bored of it all. Maybe I had just created an immortal friendship. She reached out as she had when we had first met. I slowly shook her hand with a frown and she winked at me, pulling me closer without warning.

"Be in touch."

Then she released me and disappeared back into the crowds.