Digging for answers

[Claude Saint-Clair]

Claude hadn't seen the man in the chair. A mistake - a potentially grave one. The headache had kept him from thinking straight. The voice was unfamiliar to Claude, but the tone and cadence of it was of a man who was used to being heard - a higher level Atharim most likely, considering he had access to the safe house. Claude didn't open his eyes straight away, but he heard movement - the movement of Nora across the room.

When Claude finally did open his eyes, the first thing he saw was Nora standing between him and the man. Claude recognized him now. Eliot Lageaux - the Baccarat heir and head of the Moscow headquarters. Lageaux had shown up when they were not home. He'd sent no message. He was just there, waiting in the dark for them to return. He wanted Nora off her guard, but why?

Of course Laguex could know that he was here, if he did look up Claude's file. He was transferred here officially. His only statement made Claude think he had only expected one; Nora. That could mean a lot of things. Perhaps he wished to discuss her plans to infiltrate the Brotherhood. Or perhaps it was something more sinister.

But Nora stood there, and he knew her posture. Defiance. A motion to the hip to indicate she was armed. This appearance didn't make her happy. Claude could think of one reason why. She was worried she was found out. But if that was the case, why was she making herself a shield for her brother?

Shit... Even thinking the curse was surprising to him.

It all came back to the headache. She saw something there. Something he was missing, and the pounding wasn't stopping, making it hard to concentrate, but he found the will to sit up straighter. He was armed, but more important now he could pull her out of the way should Lageux try something untoward towards his sister. Nora had a protective streak when it came to Claude. It was reciprocated in kind now that he was older. No matter what, he wouldn't hurt her.