They'd decided neutral ground was best. Yes, they'd seen eye to eye on that. It had been a simple negotiation and for that Jake was already entering this meeting with more openness than if she'd been - and no pun intended - cagey. They'd also agreed to come alone. That meant no aids, note tackers or security. Jake had brought his blade though. Zoheret always had hers ready to go, so he didn't consider it an unfair advantage. Besides, she'd probably seen him with it more times than without it. Jake's dislike of the bird had started during the job. She'd always come off so savage and dark.
Her beauty was haunting and intimidating, and Jake didn't like feeling lesser to anyone, especially the smug Zoheret. The truth was that he feared her, especially back then. He'd heard tales of her necrotic tough, and how even for vampires it took a long time to heal. Every moment, however brief, that he was alone with her he'd always wondered if it was finally time. She also looked through him. Day one on the job he went around to meet everyone, and she and Zeus had no time for him. They'd met in a hallway three days later and she'd barley looked at him. He'd learned to rely on Kerr, Quinn, and even Mr. Lowe, but never her. She and Vomas had seemed like pals, and look how that turned out.
Then the Oligarchy fell, and she'd made a total ass of herself at the meeting where it all ended. However, as a District Leader she'd actually been one of the more together ones. She ran her district well, and even though she was jet setting off to Greece, Jake couldn't call her a bad leader. Was she a soulless hell bitch who Jake had imagined killing multiple times? Yes. Did that mean on occasion they couldn't do business together? No. This was just that, business.
He'd chosen the museum as a neutral place, one where they could be private and yet mortals near enough to dissuade violence. He sat on the seventh floor, which held a wonderful exhibit on the history of music and art. He loved both so much, and was hoping that Zoheret was at the bare minimum cultured. In fact, he assumed she would be. It's why he'd picked this floor.
The Black Prince had dressed the part, an ebony colored suit, with matching shirt and tie. His sword lay across his back, the few mortals who said something were simply told it was okay. They'd agreed of course, and the'd even been nice enough to keep the area clear. His temporary mind slaves would let her enter, and once the meeting was over they'd have no memory of this at all. Such was the power of Dominate. He checked his watch. It was five till the top of the hour.
Was she punctual? Did she arrive fashionably late? Jake was curious to see Zoheret in action. He needed to speak with her, and had dangled prizes above her head to get her attention. He hoped that she'd listen to reason, but if she hated him as much as he hated her, well, that could prove difficult. Still, he thought something crazier. What if they actually got on? He'd enjoyed her joke at the trial. Maybe they'd just gotten off on the wrong foot. Crazier things had been true in Jake's eternity.
Zoheret would've been told the exact time and location. Jake had no back up, no agents to come to his recuse. He didn't fear her anymore, well, not as much anyway.
