hold Meng Die down. It reminded me of watching the men carrying Bunny out. If they want to hurt you, and you don't want to hurt them, you are at a disadvantage. They were inside the building that housed the carnival's freak show upstairs. Though most of the "freaks" were rare super-naturals. I saw people looking in at them from the outer areas. They had an audience.
I thought, Ask for help, get some guards in there and get her out of sight.
I felt more than heard him think that asking for help with the other vamps maybe sensing it would make him look weak. I thought back, Taking advantage of your resources is not weakness, its good management.
I felt him reach out to the wolves upstairs. I felt them moving toward him. Soon there'd be too many men for her to fight back. What they'd do with her once they subdued her, that was a different question. I had one more awful thought. I turned to Claudia. "Can you contact the wererat guards upstairs via mind?"
She pulled a small cell phone from one pocket. "How about phone?"
"Meng Die's animal to call is wolf; I'd like a few wererats to join everyone in the freak show."
Claudia didn't ask, she just made the call. So nice not to be questioned.
"And what does Jean-Claude need that much help with?" Auggie said.
"She's a female of Belle's line. You want her?"
He laughed. "Not if she's this wild, no."
"Auggie wouldn't need help to subdue one of his vamps," Pierce said.
"Jean-Claude could subdue her, or even kill her, but she's chosen a place where there's an audience. Committing murder in front of civilians is a no-no," I said.
"But once behind the scenes, will he kill her?" Haven asked.
I sighed. "Probably not."
"Weakness," Pierce said.
Auggie patted them both on the back, and again there was that tightening around their eyes. "Now, now, boys, some masters would have killed Bunny for her disrespect. Everyone runs his territory a little differently." He was still cheerful, and charming, but there was an edge to it.
"What are you thinking, Auggie?" I asked. I didn't really expect an answer, but I got one.
"That Jean-Claude is too sentimental for his own good sometimes."
I smiled, and knew it left my eyes cold. "You know, sentimental is not a word I would have used for him."
"Then he has changed."