.^^ Zetre's Rapier ^^

— James —

"So do I get an explanation on how you opened a grand staircase portal? Because that's awesome." Zetre asked in his native tongue, then grinned, pulling me through the crowd towards the stairs to our seats.

"Sure, it's just a little thing I whipped up, took a little bit of the Bifrost, tweaked it a mite." I shrugged, and gently steered him around a group of people.

He scoffed. "Oh, you just 'tweaked the Bifrost a Mite' you pompous little Irishman! How'd that work, exactly?!?"

I chuckled. "Oh, just a bit of mischief I got up to a year or so ago. The tweaks happened about a week ago. I was tired of having to walk all the way to Dad's house every time I wanted to go to Greece, or to the Compound to get to Miami... then my company in the Grand Canyon started, and I actually needed proper transportation." I paused, and then grinned. "You know, what about you? What mischief have I missed? Master Mage Lithos of the Order of Merlin?" I nudged him playfully, switching to Latin for safety in the crowd. I didn't want a heart attack to ruin tonight.

He noticed my reasons, and then grinned. "Fuck I love that title. And if you want to know, I've been working on a Revolutionary version of Mana-Infused Plasma, it's going to be great! I've got it mostly stable, but it has a weird way of igniting... I mean, I'm part of the Fire Clan, I like when my magic actually makes things ignite, but it's too hot to properly stabilize while keeping solidity... it turns to liquid every time. Not all the kinks sorted out yet." He sighed.

I hummed. "You might try asserting a limiter sequence, like the Zekesian Arbitrary Limiters? You remember, the-"

"The Zed Limiters? Oh god why didn't I think of that?!? You're a total magical genius you fucking idiot!" He laughed, hugging me tightly.

I grinned. "You insulting me here, or complimenting? Choose one, yeah luv?"

He shrugged. "Oh don't be picky."

"I've never been accused of being picky before, but so be it!" I laughed, and noticed our seats. I moved the curtain aside, and grinned at the empty balcony. "Got the whole balcony to ourselves, eh?" I wiggled my eyebrows at him mischeviously.

Zetre grinned. "Don't be nasty, I'm here for the music first!"

I clutched my chest dramatically. "Right in the heart! So rude! Maria, you beautiful darling, how could your charge harm me so?!?"

She raised an eyebrow, and sat down at the back of the three rows of seats. "The show is starting." She commented dryly.

I sat Zetre and I down at the front, and chuckled softly as the announcer began explaining the Schedule. "Or you could try manually limiting the initial magical inertia, just send less Mana into it." I murmured.

He scoffed. "You think I didn't try that?"

"I don't know, I'm still foggy about the entire experiment! You only gave me the basics! Spit out the fun bits!" I grinned and poked his ribs playfully.

He swatted my hands ineffectually. "After the show we can talk magic! I want to listen to the music!"

"Alright, you're right, I hear these guys are really good." I nodded, and tapped a soft rhythm on his hands, playing some basic Bach as we waited for the men on the stage to get set up.

He paused. "I didn't know you knew Cello?"

I grinned widely. "Ooh, Lots of things you don't know about me, luv! I'm a walking, talking, evolving man! Always acquiring new skills! Just a little guidance, and I can learn anything..." I winked.

Maria fake-gagged, and sighed, making Zetre laugh. "Is that so? How about learning to be silent?" He asked.

"Oof! My one weakness!" I sighed, dropping my face into my left hand, while he was playing with the right.

He shook his head. "I knew it... but still, shut up, they're starting!"

I smiled and settled into my chair languidly, stretching out like a cat, while studiously ignoring his eyes roaming my beautiful frame.

He shook his head slowly, still eying me. "You are one arrogant Irish idiot... but you do strike quite a nice form, I'll admit that much."

"Ahh, mon ami, who ever doubted? We are beautiful, this is obvious. Beautiful people are often drawn to the arts, and each other." I smirked.

He laughed and clapped a hand over my mouth, as the opening cords began. I listened, intrigued by their improvisation on certain notes that I hadn't thought possible for a cello, even a magnetically amplified one.

"I am impressed... I like the lower range best... you can feel it in your bones." I grinned through his hand.

He smiled and removed it, then relaxed, closing his eyes, and just enjoying the music.

I watched his expression, and smiled. 'He really enjoys the music... I like it, but cello has always just been a hobby to me... one I haven't even bothered with for almost a year... maybe I should brush up, maybe play something for him? My hands might crush the bow and neck, now, but it'll be a good challenge, I suppose... and worth it, to tease this expression out of him.'

He smiled and patted my hands. "You're not nearly good enough to make me feel like this, but that's sweet. Learn to guard your thoughts. You know I'm a Sensory Type."

I smiled. 'Why would I hide? I like you knowing what I'm thinking. You and your Sexy little Bubble Butt.'

"Idiot."

'Awww, so cute.'

"Shut up." He grumbled.

The performance continued for a few more hours, making me mentally applaud the endurance of the cellists. Their repertoire was impressive, including multiple modern songs fitted to two cello's, just like I'd heard.

As it was ending and the announcer was introducing the second act, I froze, as the hair on my body stood up.

Zetre grabbed my wrist, and looked at me, confused. "What is it?" He asked simply.

"I honestly don't know." I hummed, and carefully pulled Cat-Scratch out of my bag, (which was hidden inside my jacket,) and controlling the flames. "But I don't like it."

He nodded slowly, and closed his eyes, placing a finger on my Palm. I looked at him curiously, but flinched when his eyes glowed a eerie neon green behind his eyelids.

"Your senses are picking something up that I can't detect... weird... different spectrum, basically. Higher frequency would be a good analogy." He shrugged, the glow fading.

"And is it malicious?" I frowned.

He shrugged again. "Can't tell."

I grumbled and gripped his hand gently. "Do it again, but let me feel it, to."

He nodded and closed his eyes, letting them glow again, and spoke in a soft, echoing voice. "Let my Sight be Shared, Almighty Xian-She of The Seeing Eye."

Before I could ask who Xian-She was, my chest seized, as I sensed an avatar of Set-Apep, much more powerful than the first, and focusing intently on me, benign for now.

"We need to leave." I said simply.

"What did you feel that I didn't?" He asked, sounding offended.

"Nothing, I just recognized it, and it's a God, and He doesn't like me because I trashed one of his temples a few days ago and dedicated it to his sworn eternal enemy, so you can yell at me later, but let's move." I shook my head, and raised a hand to conjure a portal, pulling Zetre to his feet.

A dagger slammed into my raised hand, followed by the force becoming malignant, and it pinned my hand to the wall with impressive force.

I growled savagely, and looked down at the enemy, who was staring at us patiently. "This is a specially tailored tuxedo, you stupid bastard son of a canker-ridden, arse-licking, $7 crack-whore!"

Zetre threw up a shield, then gripped the dagger, hauling with all his strength, and not budging it. "It's alright, I've got it." I growled, and ripped my hand from around it, leaving the dagger in the wall, then healed my hand.

He gasped at the sight of the golden blood, and shook his head. "Okay, who is attacking you??? And what's with the golden blood???"

"An avatar of Set-Apep, the Egyptian god of Chaos and Destruction. And don't worry, I can take him, but the lack of magic in public... that's going to be difficult, especially because he's limited in no such way, I don't think." I sighed, and smacked another dagger out of the air, with my sword.

Maria startled awake at the discordant noise, and I snorted disdainfully. "Some chaperone you are. Anyway, enemies have appeared, so protect your charge."

"You're both my-"

"I can take care of myself." I snarled, and crushed Zetre's barrier with a swing of my hand. The Set-Apep Avatar was in human form, standing in the applauding audience, who had no idea of what was going on, yet. I sheathed my Blade on my hip, and motioned for him to come to me, if he wanted a fight. "The mountain does not come to Muhammad, Set-Apep. And I am most assuredly the Mountain." I grinned, showing him my teeth.

He grinned, and gathered his feet under him, leaping straight into the air, with no one any the wiser. I threw Zetre to Maria, just before the Avatar landed in the spot he'd been standing in, and grinned.

"You're a Hard man to find, Son of Bastet! Very tricky, moving around the realms so quickly... you recently took something of mine. I'd like it back." He said casually, his voice seeming deeper in timber because of the amazing acoustics in here.

"Did I? Terribly sorry, don't know what you're talking about! I did trash your temple, yes, but that was business. Your Little minions tried to 86 my mum, you see, and while I'm not inclined to interfere with any sort of interfaith Fae/God politics, I am a good son, no matter what else I am. So they had to go, you see, but I've no earthly clue about stealing anything, unless you mean their souls, which weren't really yours... well, yet." I shrugged.

He cocked his head slowly, gold and obsidian earrings jangling musically. "I see... Perhaps Bast is the Thief, then... that does make more sense... but your insolence in destroying my temple, that was unwise. I'm afraid you have to die now. Nothing personal, really, I happen to like you." He raised a hand filled with black sand, and I blinked when Zetre interfered magnificently.

A giant spell slapped around his mouth, wrists, angles, knees, elbows, and collarbone, then a gag as well, all shaped from a Liquidy-Solid glowing red material. A glowing red rapier of the same material appeared in his hand, and he raised it in a salute to the godly being, before driving in through his heart.

I whistled softly, as the avatar crumbled into black sand. "Impressive, my darling... I am actually shocked." I sent away my weapons, and cleaned my clothes as an afterthought.

"You're not the only one who knows how to fight, you know. I am still learning, but I'm possibly the best Battle-Mage in my entire Clan." He smirked arrogantly.

I hummed. "You know I was going to beat him without magic, then toss him in a dungeon of my own making, which would have drained his godly powers for eternity, powering my spells?" I asked slowly.

He deflated, and sat down. "That does sound more effective... after all gods don't really die."

"Correct. But still, that was very impressive, I can't even imagine what you did to make a sword go through him. His skin was made of the same stuff mine is... well, Almost. A lesser version." I shrugged, and sat down with him, looking at the stage. "Well, there's more performances, if we want to watch them all." I grinned.

He shook his head. "No, dinner is next, then home. I'm a bit shaken by all this, regardless of my quick response." He answered very honestly, to my surprise.

I nodded slowly. "Alright... Dinner it is." I pulled him to his feet, and kissed his hands, before pulling him through my portal, with Maria diving through after us.

Zetre gasped at the sudden sunlight, as we stood in Rome, at around 7:00 their time. I guided us to our destination, where grandfather had managed to get us a reservation at a very nice restaurant.

"Italian is not my first choice, of course, but Dad says that all first dates have to include Italian, so here we are in Roma!" I chuckled at their awestruck faces, and hailed the host, switching to Italian fluidly. "Table for Parthenos?"

He blinked slowly, then nodded. "I will need to see an identification, young man? And of course, you are aware that selling alcohol to those under 14 is illegal in Roma?"

"Yes, and both of us are 15, and our chaperone is 24. Here is my ID, Zetre darling?" I held out a hand.

He nodded and placed his own in my hand, smiling. "An interesting surprise... I approve. Also, your Dad is right, it's traditional to go to Italian restaurants, even though the sauces never agree with me. I'm Portuguese, I prefer spicy to sweet." He shrugged.

I paused, and grinned. "Is that so? Apologies, friend, but it would seem my date would prefer a different venue. The entire meal will, of course, be paid for, for your trouble." I handed him my credit card, and he bowed, walking off into the back quickly, then returning. I accepted my card with a flourished bow, and turned us away from the restaurant.

"What, did you card get declined?" Zetre asked quietly.

I laughed. "Oh no, nothing like that. I paid for the entire meal, and the reservation, but you wanted spicy, and we're nothing close to traditional, so Spicy it is! Maria, Call Sir Lithos, and please inform him we are changing the destination a bit, but that we will still make the appointed curfew?"

She smiled and nodded, texting on her phone swiftly. "What's the new destination?"

"A surprise." I opened a portal in the middle of the street, making Zetre gasp, but I just kept casually walking, and Maria again dove in after us. "You know, I'm not going to just close it on you, Miss Maria, I'm not an asshole." I said dryly, then stepped out of the way of a funeral parade.

Zetre gasped, clapping gently with the jazzy beat. "What's the festival about?"

"Oh dear, this is just a parade! In this city, they're a dime a dozen! This particular one is a Funeral Parade, they're on their way back from the cemetery." I explained in Portuguese, and hummed along with the song gently.

He blinked. "A parade for a funeral?"

"Welcome to N'ahlin's, babe!" One of the drummers laughed, and played a little harder, keeping the beat going strong, as was his job.

"New Orleans, the City where Life and Death are equal, but not altogether opposite, and both are celebrated at every turn. I love this city. More than Athens, more than Miami, more than London... this is my favorite. Also, their cooking style has been known to burn my mouth, so you'll get your spicy, luv." I laughed, and pulled him across the street, after the little parade had passed.

Café Du Monde was one of the most famous places in New Orleans, but I didn't want a beignet, I wanted spicy Cajun food, so I took him to The Court of Two Sisters, where a small soft-jazz band was playing, at this time of night.

"Welcome to The Court of Two Sisters. It's a lesser-known venue than Café Du Monde, but their spicy turtle soup is apparently the best in the South, so let's see, Hmm?" I grinned.

Zetre laughed, and hugged me with one arm. "You changed our plans, just so I could get some spicy food?"

"Yes." I nodded, and smiled when the hostess sat us on the outer terrace, near the band, but far enough away we could still talk casually. "And the moonlight just feels better than sunlight." I added, admiring the way the blue light played with his slightly tan skin.

He blushed. "Oh! Look at you, trying to get in my pants already!"

I shrugged. "Not really. I mean, I like the idea, but I'm more interested in feeding you, at the moment. And listening to you talk more about that-... magical problem." I switched back to Latin, just in case.

He smirked. "Now, Wouldn't you like to know? I think I figured it out, so why would I share it before it's got my name on it?"

"Oh it's like that, huh? Damn..." I sighed dejectedly.

He shrugged. "It's totally like that, darling! I want my work to be attributed properly. Now that I've finished it, my work will be shown to the Grand-Master Council, and maybe I'll be given a Title! Or maybe it'll just be placed under my name in the Grand Archive!" He grinned happily.

I smiled. "Well then I'm very happy for you, luv. Ah! And here is our waiter. We can't drink in this country, which is a shame, because wine would pair well with most of these meals..." I sighed.

"James? What are you doing here?" The waiter asked in the language of the dead.

I blinked, and looked up at my soon-to-be stepbrother, then grinned. "Hey! How are you, been a while Manny! Zetre, This is Emmanuel, Rafaela's Son!" I introduced him enthusiastically.

He blinked at us, then looked at Maria, blushing. "Well, I- Ahem! It's nice to finally meet you, Zetre, madre has been wantin' to meet you for a while now. And you, ma'am?" He gently asked Maria.

She smiled. "I am Maria, the chaperone for the night. Just pretend I'm not here."

"How could I possibly, ma'am?" He smiled bewitchingly, and she sat up straight, intrigued.

Someone yelled from the kitchen, and Manny flinched, hunching his back reflexively.

I raised an eyebrow slowly. "Manny, who is that?" I asked calmly.

He shook his head. "It's just the chef, he's very grumpy... Ahem! Anyway, let's start you guys off with some drinks, yeah?"