Sylum Snippet: The Dreaded Phone Call

And the third one!!

It was the call they had both dreaded.

David was sound asleep, but Joshua had been anxious for most of the morning.   It had started the day before, but he had kept quiet about it, not wanting to disturb David while he worked.   When it wouldn’t go away, he sent a few text messages out to the contacts they had regarding Paul’s job.   

Both messages stood on Delivered.

Paul kept a low level block on their Bond while he worked, which they completely understood.   David also kept a block on his side, for the same reasons.   So there were times that Joshua was the middle man when it came to feeling both Mates.

His phone buzzing startled him awake, looking around he fell asleep in the oversize chair.   It was an international number, one he didn’t recognize, he answered it anyway as he knew if Paul had to get a hold of them, it wasn’t always going to be from a familiar number.  “Hello.”

“This is Joshua?”  The male speaking had an Indian accent, though is English was almost perfect.

“Yes, who is this?” He kept his voice low, not wanting to wake David up quite yet.

“Simon Masrani.”  Joshua wasn’t sure if one of the richest men in the world was looking for a good time or what.

“How can I help you?”  He asked, not sure he wanted an answer.

“Your Mate, Paul …”

Joshua sat up in his chair.  “What about him!?”  He barely registered that David woke up from his outburst.

“He’s here, along with his brothers.”  Simon informed him.  “I do not know what fully happened, but all three are safe in my home.   I’ve contacted M, who is on her way.   Since I couldn’t access their phones, M gave me your phone number along with Yev’s.   He’s recovering, but I’ve always found that a person heals better with their loved ones nearby.”

Joshua took a deep breath calming his nerves.  “I hadn’t realized you were a Chosen One.”

There was a deep laugh.  “I’m older than dirt!  I run the India side of Sanguen for Alexander.   Hence if anything happens in India I know about.  Being the the 8th richest man in the world, just makes it easier to get past the bureaucracy.  Let me know flights, and I’ll have my people waiting.   Can I text to this number?  I’ll keep you updated.”

“Yes, please.  Are you sure he’s alright? He’s safe?”  Joshua asked as he stood, noticing David was already grabbing their to go bags.  Something neither had before Paul entered their lives.   He watched as he pulled set aside the fake passports, along with the cards and papers that went with them.

“He’s got some viscous bodyguards.”  Simon chuckled.  “I like Paul, have met him on occasion tried to recruit him to my Clan.   So no worries on his safety.  He’s been checked over by my doctors, fed and is resting.   So far I’m the only one who can step into the room, his guards won’t let anyone else in.”

“Guards?”  Joshua grabbed their actual passports out of the safe, noticing David had slipped out of the room to let his second know to take over the House.

“Oh yes.  I’ll send a picture.”  He could hear the humor in Simon’s voice, some of the anxiety settled.  “Keep me posted on travel time, I’ll have one of mine meet you at the airport.”

“I can text you at this number?”  Joshua asked, zipping up the last of the bags, ready to grab and go.

“Yes.  This is my private mobile.”  Simon paused and talked to someone off to the side, but Joshua couldn’t understand what was being said.  “I’ve got to go, we’ll wait for your arrival.”

“Thank you.”  He hung up the phone, grabbed the bag just as David stepped back into the room, giving him a nod.   “He’s fine, but obviously something happened.”

“So now that the first ‘phone call’ happened do you think it will get easier?”  He asked, sliding into Joshua’s arms holding tightly for a moment.

“I’m going to say no.”  Joshua kissed the top of his head, chuckling slightly hysterical.  “Let’s go.  We’ll get a flight on the way.”

They were on a flight to Dehli with in four hours.

***

Simon had sent Carl to go pick up his guests.  “Be nice.”

Carl looked at him with a grin.  “I’m always nice.”

The engineer was a bit shocked at the contrast of the two Mates, but then if anyone looked at his Mate, they would wonder how the hell they ended up together.  “I’m Carl Cox, Simon sent me.”

David gave him a smile, held out his hand.  “Thank you for the ride.  I’m not sure I know what time it is or where am I at.”

Joshua grinned.  “Nice to hear an American accent.”

Carl chuckled.  “Don’t get fellow country men out here often.   Car is this way, and I can give you some detail while we head out of the city.   Ahsoka’s home is a bit of drive, but worth being out of the city, and also stands as our Clan home.”

“I had no idea there was a small Clan in India.”  Joshua commented as they drove out of the city into the countryside.  He actually had never been to India, so this was a new experience.

“We’re still under Sanguan.  Simon has tried many times to make it official but something always got in the way, so we all figured it was just best to keep thing as they are.  Alexander is used to sections of his Clan running themselves.”

“Simon mentioned Paul had guards?”  David asked, focusing away from the countryside and onto Carl.

“Oh yes.  Hopefully they’ll let you through.”  Carl left it at that, and was quiet for the rest of the trip.

A few hours later, they passed through a secured gate, and up a long driveway.   The home was beautiful, something out of Bollywood, yet didn’t feel lavish or pretentious, it felt like a home.   Surrounding the areas were wild animals, birds, and reptiles.   It felt like an animal sanctuary mixed in with a Clan of Vampires.

Simon was waiting for them at the curve of the driveway.   Once they stopped he actually opened the door to let them out.  “Welcome to India.  Follow me.”

They followed him around the main house, and towards the back where they looked to be bungalows.  Joshua picked up armed guards at various locations, but a feeling that those weren’t the guards they had been told about.  There were about five bungalows huddled together, with a small fence enclosing them in.  “M, is already here, she’s up at the house resting.  Yev will get in a few hours from now.”   He walked them over to the third bungalow from left.  “Paul is resting here.  Be careful of his guards.”

David and Joshua stepped up onto the small porch, opened the door, and froze.

Paul was a sleep on the large bed, they could see bandages across his chest, arms and one of his legs.   He looked like he’d been tortured and left for dead.

But what caught their attention was two Komodo Dragons on either side of the bed, staring them down.

“Arthur, Gwen stand down.”  Paul’s voice was tired, but the two guards gave both Mates a last glare before wandering off to the side.  

They took the opportunity, making their way to the bed.   “Hey.”  David gently sat down, while Joshua squatted next to the bed.  “We’re here.”

“I’m tired, still in pain, and just pissed off.”  Paul opened his eyes enough to look at his Mates.  “Please just lay in bed next to me.  I … “

They knew him asking that was a lot, neither hesitated, stripped down and crawled into the bed keeping Paul between them.  “Just rest, we’ll be here when you wake.”  David leaned over and kissed his forehead, while Joshua ran a hand through his hair soothing him.   

“I have to ask, but you only have to answer if you’re up for it.  Why did you name them after our Clan Leaders.”  Joshua wasn’t going to ask where he got them.   Komodo Dragons were dangerous and endangered.  They still needed to get Paul up to Mod, but had been putting it off.  After the two deadly guards, the trip will need to happen sooner rather than later.

“They are cute, adorable and deadly as fuck.”  Paul muttered as he fell back to sleep.

David held his hand, giving Joshua a small smile.  “I won’t tell them if you don’t.”