Shadwell Sebastian Woolsey stomped aimlessly through the rain. He had a destination but he was in no hurry to get there.
His shoes needed replacing, he noted as water crept in from a puddle he had not managed to avoid. He hated getting wet. Some might say he was a walking stereotype but he had never met another tom who hated it as much as he did. Hell, a fair amount of them used water as their first introduction to the Elemental arts.
Not Shadwell, though. As a Black-fur, he couldn’t create an affinity for such a healing Element to use in his magick. His gifts - if you could call them that - were of a much more complicated and forbidden nature. He could scratch the surface of his potential and did fine for himself with what he could do. However, Black-furs could only access their core magick by using a no-fur conduit.
Which was something Shadwell was never going to be able to do. Collaring a no-fur was a luxury for the most elite of Elementalists, something that Black-furs definitely were not. Beyond the prohibitive cost of just owning one, if an Elementalist wished to use a no-fur as part of their magick practice, there was a very expensive licensing process. Only the talented and affluent Calicoes would have the resources to have a collared no-fur. From what Shadwell had heard, most of them who showed any inclination towards Elemental magick when they came of age were gifted a no-fur of their own to use and abuse.
Black-furs like Shadwell were about as far from Calicoes in the social pecking order as no-furs were from toms. His jewel green eyes and thick soot-colored coat marked him as a Cursed One. Which, while still being better than being born a no-fur, was not the easiest of lives. Not that Shadwell was going to ask for pity for how he’d been born.
He’d always been clever and was born with a knack for reading auras, allowing him to see the motives of most toms. What had started when he was young as a hustle to keep himself fed had become a real career with real clients who paid well for his less-than-legal talents. It also allowed him to have an office that doubled as an apartment and featured a gorgeous antique stained glass lamp that he’d gotten cheap because it had never worked. Like every other feline Elementalist, Shadwell enjoyed shiny things. Unlike most of them, Shadwell often got himself into trouble because he could become fixated and obsessed with shiny things.
He couldn’t afford many of those these days as his ability to attract clients was uncertain at best. Keeping his apartment office in the City took most of his coin. The office didn’t need much anyway. It was a place to keep a few precious treasures and a couch to crash on. Most of his clients preferred to meet in clandestine alleys and bars so they weren't actually seen going into the Infernal Affurs office. Shadwell’s best friend Jinx swore it was because of the awful pun in the name, but it had to be the reputation that Shadwell had on the streets.
Even with a solid success rate and reasonable prices, you blow up one small parking lot by accidentally opening a demonic gate and you are suddenly a pariah.
Oh, they’ll still pay for your services, but they’d prefer it not to get out that they did. Which made word of mouth a hard sales tactic.
Tonight, like most nights, Shadwell was meeting someone Jinx had set him up with. Thank the gods for Jinx. The Orangelo owned a barely-this-side-of-legal speakeasy in the heart of the City. In exchange for keeping him in rich clients, Shadwell kept the speakeasy cloaked in a shadow spell so it stayed off the radars of the authorities that might like to break up the illegal gambling and smuggling that Jinx allowed to happen in the back rooms.
The whole demon gate incident had also had earned the Black-fur the street name of Hades. His proper name was such a pretentious mouthful and the moniker suited his line of work. Hades didn’t just work the underground, he basically ran it as far as the uptown toms were concerned. He investigated the stomach-turning bad things that toms did to each other. For a price. Needed to figure out who had cursed you? Hades did that for a price. Need to find some dirt on a rival business or break up an illegal gambling circle? Hades did that too, for a price.
If he were completely honest, there was very little that Hades wouldn’t do for the right amount of money.
Hades stepped into Jinx’s bar and made a beeline for the booth where he always did business. Jinx nodded to him as he crossed the room, acknowledging Hades’s presence. That also meant that the tom would be here with a drink as soon as he could get away from tending bar. Hades leaned back, making himself comfortable as he waited. He stared at the familiar copper ceiling tiles emblazoned with pictures of mystical places. He relaxed as he watched the cozy lights dance on the tiles.
Shiny things really were the best.
A mixed drink just to his tastes appeared moments before his new client. The Tawny fur was from money, that was for sure. No feline had that wide a waistline and didn't have money. Also his suit was tailored to flatter his giant frame. Hades didn't recognize him as any of the uptown toms he’d worked with before, so chances were he knew Jinx through one of his shadier dealings. He was so large Hades almost didn't notice the no-fur being dragged along on a leash behind him.
He only let his eyes fall on the no-fur for a moment. The money tom had dressed him in a mockery of the suit he wore. The no-fur had on very, very short pants that barely hid anything and a collar with a small tie hanging from it that matched the one the big tom wore. What little fur he had on his head was a mix of blue and greens. Dyed to be more appealing to his master no doubt. His eyes held the blush pink glow that signified an omega who was ripe for breeding.
"Hard not to admire, isn't he?" The fat tom caught Hades trying not to look. "It doesn't bother me. I have a stable of them."
He wrapped the no-fur's leash around a post. The pretty but too thin creature knelt down and put his hands on his thighs as he bowed his head in obedience.
"Another one of whatever he's having for him, bourbon straight for me,” Fat Tom said to the waiter who appeared. Once they were alone again, the fat feline finally introduced himself. "I am Gran Martelli of the Martelli Syndicate. Relax, I am not that Martelli. I'm his cousin. There are some odd things going down at my totally legit warehouse and I think I may have gotten tangled up in a big ball of yarn, if you know what I mean."
Hades sighed. "Let me guess, you got into it with a Teffald or you got it on with a Teffald and your rival families are angry."
"Nothing like that." Gran rubbed the sweat off his glass nervously. "That might be easier to deal with."
"Well, out with it! I can't agree on my price if I don't know the job." Hades sipped his drink but had the look of someone about to jet.
"There's been a murder." The fat tom cut right to it. "But that's not what I need you for."
Hades waited for it. Everything about this tom said that whatever the job was, it would be unpleasant. He sipped his drink and resisted the urge to ask for Jinx to bring something for the shivering and obviously hungry omega.
"Feel free to get on with it." He finally sighed. "I know my reputation proceeds me. You can’t be wondering if you've come to the right place."
"I need this no-fur to disappear."
And there it was.Where had so many felines gotten the idea Hades had no morals?Hades reminded himself to never ask that question anywhere Jinx could hear him."Sir, with due respect I'm not called Hades because I actually am aneight-headed Death demon who breathes fire and sends toms to the Underworld.""No, no, my good tom.It's purely a business transaction. I need him brought upstate to a breeding house. I'm heartbroken,I truly am. But it's the only way to get any good money out of him now. There are… things that point to the absolutely unbelievable idea that he might have killed the tom in question. I don't believe it,of course,but toms talk."The fat feline gave a broad laugh,very out of place with the tale he was telling.Hades was reading between the lines and it didn't sit well with him. He turned his sharp green gaze to the kneeling creature. "Did you kill the feline, no-fur?""Go on,
The no-fur that,up until this morning,had belonged to the Martelli family took his time as he meandered through the estate garden. Because of his innate magical ability and his skill with floral design, he had lived a fairly pleasant life for an uncollared no-fur. The family had at least twentyno-furs in the stableat any timeand he only had to service the disgusting Gran once or twice a month because the free-loader was very fickle about which no-furs he requested from his cousin’s stable.Gran'scousinand the man behind thepowerfulmobfamily, Liam Martelli, wasn't interested in the no-fur past what he could do to set up a banquet room for an event. Liamwas happily married to one of the sexiest chefs in the world, a sleek Gray-furred delight called Cook. He had no use for any of the many no-furs his family ownedfor any of their common uses. Liamhad a strong distaste for the whole no-fur trade an
Hades knew exactly what was about to transpirebetween the no-fur and his hideous master. Not only had he seen the glint of Gran's knife, he'd read the tom’s aura. Despite already having a plan to rid himself of the aqua-haired no-fur, the fat tom was both angry and afraid of him.There was a lot of dirty litter going on here and Hades knew he might be best served to return the money and walk away.But he wasn't going to be able to leave the no-furto this monster. Never mind that he was driving him upstate to hand him over to a different kind of monster. That was a detail Hades chose to ignore right now. But this was still the Martelli family,even if it was an offshoot that claimed no connections. Not that Hades believed that story for a second. Gran's last name was no joke.Before Gran had formed a response that no doubt would involve callinghim rude at the very least,Hades stomped past him, grabbingthe no-fur
Having driven about 40 minutes outside of the city, Hades felt they’dgone far enough. He had watched for anyone tailing him but he was fairly certain Gran was more concerned about the no-furdisappearing than if Hades was driving away from his agreed destination.Not that he expected the no-furcould hear him but he spoke his planout loud."Going to pull off at this next rest stop. Says it's closed but I have a professional investigator's badge on my car,so no one will care if we park for a bit."It was just a few miles up. Hades jumped as his cell phone went off. He tapped it and looked quickly at the screen just to see who it was. When it blinked unknown he didn't give it a second thought. Wrong number or someone wanting money. Either way,not important.Putting his blinker on,he barely missed being clipped by an asshole who sped up as soon as he changed lanes. Thank the gods he was able to slide into the exit
Feeling Hades'shot breath on his neck as the coarse,lust-filled words reached his ears told the no-fur that he made the right decision. The likelihood he would be in the breeding home before this time tomorrow wasn't changing. But that wasn't what this was about.The no-fur had no illusions about where his life was heading. It would be the ultimate actof stupidity for Hades to try to save him. There was acting out of concern, albeit a counter-cultural concern, like what the strong sexy tom did with that horrible cage. Then there was destroying your life for a dime-a-dozen no-fur. The omega doubted he would have the strength of character to make that kind of choicehimself. And for a complete stranger? No one was willing to risk that much for so little.The no-fur knew how little value he had in the scheme of things. His ability to be seeded would make Gran and Hades rich.He would be a part of birthing the next generation of toms and no-furs
Hades leaned against a tree catching his breathwhile the no-fur laid in his lap,making little happy noises as he stroked his curly blue-green hair. They were mostly sheltered from the rain by a large canopy of leaves Hades had easily summoned with his connection to the no-fur.He was in trouble. With one hasty decision, he had over-complicated his life.Hadeshad no clue what he was going to do now. The thought of taking the pretty furless creature to be caged and mounted at the omega farm had gone from a questionable choice toabsolutelyunacceptable.He groaned. His body ached all over. Probably less than the no-fur'sdid, but he wanted to do itall again.He could think of lots of other things he wanted to do as well. The no-fur set him on fire. Hades found his paw curling into a possessive fist in the no-fur’s hair. He'd heard of bonds that were accidentally set off by becoming a no-fur'stemporary E
The no-fur wasted no time heading for the shower once Hades left. Until he saw the amazing Jacuzzitub in the bathroom. He did a quick clean-up in the admittedly sexy shower but didn't spend a lot of time in it. He was all about the tub. He poured some rosemary and orange blossom bath salts in the deliciously hot water and sank inside it. The water was steaming,nothing like the pathetic showerand tub combohe shared with the other no-fursin the Martelli stable.The invigoratingscents made his toes tingle. He leaned back and closed his eyes and immediately starting thinking about Hades. Hades biting him. Snarling the dirtiest things. Calling him 'pretty baby'. He sighed and ran his hands along his chest and started toying with one of his nipples,handling it roughly. Just like Hades would.It hadn't been his intention to play with himself in the tub. But now the no-fur was lost in the fantasy. The hot water assaulting h
The Persian BBQplace was much fancier than what Hades was used to. Even if he'd wanted to try it in the past, the one in the city frowned upon anyone who didn't have the means to own a no-fur. That was pretty much the key that got you inallthe fancy doors.Hades was reminded of how much of a fortune he was giving up if he saved Doll as he considered thelack ofprices on the menu on the door of the restaurant. The kind of place that didn’t post prices was the kind of place that the tom could never dream of affording. Shockingly, he could afford ittoday.He hadn't used even a quarter of the first coins Gran had given him.He pressed the button for the bell and a Persian in colorful traditional dress appeared to let them in. He and Dollmust have passed musterbecause, after a long silent look,the Persian bowed and allowed them entry. Inside, everything looked expensive. Afish tank consumed an entire wall