Jean-Claude nodded. "Oui."
"I am going down there to help Richard. Arrange it, Jean-Claude, or I'll go down there without arrangements being made."
"Even if it's war?" he asked.
"Shit," I said. "Call the little son of a bitch and let me talk to him."
Jean-Claude raised his eyebrows but nodded. He hung up on Asher, then dialed a number. He said, "Colin, this is Jean-Claude. Yes, Asher told me what you have decided. My human servant, Anita Blake, wishes to speak with you." He listened for a moment. "No, I do not know what she wishes to say to you." He handed me the phone and settled back against the headboard of the bed as if watching a show.
"Hello, Colin?"
"This is he." His accent was pure Middle American. It made him sound less exotic than some of them.
"My name's Anita Blake."
"I know who you are," he said. "You're the Executioner."
"Yeah, but I'm not coming down there for an execution. My friend is in trouble. I just want to help him."
"He is your third. If you enter my lands, then two of your triumvirate will be within my territory. You are too powerful to be allowed entrance."
"Asher said you also denied access to any of our people, is that true?"
"Yes," he said.
"Why, for God's sake?"
"The Council, the rulers of all vampire kind, itself fears Jean-Claude. I will not have you in my lands."
"Colin, look, I don't want your power base. I don't want your lands. I have no designs upon you whatsoever. You're a master vampire. You can taste the truth in my words."
"You mean what you say, but you are the servant. Jean-Claude is the master."
"Don't take this wrong, Colin, but why would Jean-Claude want your lands? Even if he was planning some sort of Genghis Kahn invasion, your lands are three territories away from us. If he was going to try conquering someone, he'd pick land next door."
"Maybe there's something here he wants," Colin said, and I could hear the fear in his voice. That was rare with a master vamp. They were usually better at hiding their emotions.
"Colin, I'll swear any oath you want that we don't want anything from you. We just need for me to come down there and get Richard out of jail. Okay?"
"No," he said. "If you come down here uninvited, it is war between us, and I will kill you."
"Look, Colin, I know you're afraid." As soon as I said it, I knew I shouldn't have.
"How do you know what I feel?" The fear rose a notch, but the anger rose faster. "A human servant that can taste a master vampire's fear -- and you wonder why I don't want you in my lands."
"I can't taste your fear, Colin. I heard it in your voice."
"Liar!"
My shoulders were beginning to tighten. It doesn't usually take much to piss me off, and he was working at it. "How are we supposed to help Richard, if you won't let us send anyone down there?" My voice was calm, but I could feel my throat tightening, my voice going just a little lower with the effort not to yell.
"What happens to your third is not my concern. Protecting my lands and my people, that is my concern."
"If anything happens to Richard because of this delay, I can make it your concern," I said, voice still quiet.
"See, already the threats begin."
The tightness in my shoulders spilled up my neck and came out my mouth. "Listen, you little pip-squeak, I am coming down there. I am not letting your paranoia hurt Richard."