Caomhnóir – Manny - 25

“Manfred Van der Venne,” Alasdair growled, his anger showing in every line of his body.

Hamlin stepped back a pace, wondering if he was going to become dinner for a gryphon. Even as a human the man was frightening. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like to face him in his real form.

Manny, however, didn’t seem particularly fazed by Alasdair’s rage. “He needed to know, if for no other reason than to keep him safe.”

“You were ordered—“

“Yeah, yeah, like you thought I’d obey when it came to him. If you did then you’ve got no idea what the word love means.”

“Love: a strong positive emotion of regard and affection; a deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction.” Alasdair looked at Manny, not even close to cracking a smile. “I suspect you definition is couched in terms of sexual desire.”

"No." Manny replied tersely. "I love him, like it or not. Real love, not just fuck-buddy love."

Hamlin bit back a smile as he listened. Alasdair might have the reputation for being fearsome and tyrannical, but apparently Manny had no problem standing up to him.

"Very well." Alasdair sighed. "Why me? Why do I seem to get the love struck ones?"

Manny grinned. "Your sweet and caring personality?"

"Manfred, be quiet. Let me at least think about what you are to do next." After pacing to the window and then back to his desk, deep in thought, Alasdair stopped to ask, "Is there any indication that Cerdic is living at the house now?"

"He certainly hasn't put in an appearance. I suppose he could be hiding out in what used to be his quarters. The space takes up the whole top floor of the house so there'd be more than enough room for him and Mr. Shadrick."

"Have you seen anyone around that you don't know, a delivery man, a new postman, even a new neighbor?"

"No delivery men, we handle all the shopping ourselves. I don't think I've ever seen the postman to be honest. The mail just ends up in the box. As far as neighbors go, there's an apartment complex next to the house, and one behind with a terrace that abuts ours. It would be hard to know who's new and who's not."

Tapping one clawed nail against his lips, Alasdair nodded. "It is my feeling that, while the voice was Cerdic's the body may look like someone else now."

"Because of the fire?" Manny asked.

"Oh no, that would have made no difference. If such things mattered you would be running around with evident stab wounds from your death. Cerdic is very old, and very clever. It would have been remiss of him not to ask for some sort of exterior transformation before being returned here. The basics would be the same, but the hair, the features, might have been altered enough to hide his real identity."

Hamlin chuckled softly to himself. When the others looked at him, he shrugged. "I was just thinking, there're a lot of less than honest people that would love to have that happen to them without having to go through plastic surgery."

"I don't think they'd like the reason it happened though," Manny pointed out.

"Yeah, probably not. Death as a form of identity alteration is a bit over the top."

"Boys, if we may get to the subject at hand," Alasdair said firmly. "It has been decided, Manny, that you will be the one responsible for eliminating Cerdic once again. And this time, despite your desire that he suffer eternally, you are to go through with the entire ritual."

Manny blew out a long breath. "Alright. Any chance of getting some backup? It took two of us to destroy him the first time around, and Godric died in the process. Cerdic is, as you pointed out, old and clever. He's also one hell of a fighter."

"There is--" Alasdair replied after a moment's thought, "one Caomhnóir who is free at the moment."

"Probably straight as they come and with Victorian attitudes," Hamlin muttered.

"Boy, will you stop talking to yourself. If you have something to say, say it. Not, of course, that I can't hear you anyways." Alasdair actually grinned slightly. "And, no, he is not Victorian, nor is he straight. He and his, I believe the proper term these days is 'partner', have been together for six years now."

"Anyone I know?" Manny asked.

"As I am unfamiliar with all your acquaintances down through the years, I couldn't say. His name is Keegan o Broin."