A Vow So Beautiful

XXX University reminded Dane of his more younger and vulnerable days. He felt nostalgic walking through the campus scenery, remembering fond memories of rushing to get to class on time. Even the halls reminded him of little things. But after glancing at the empty classrooms and Prisana's petitle little figure beside him, he couldn't help but urge her into an empty room and tease her.

But by god, he was only torturing himself. After sepearating from her and sending her off to class properly this time, he was left hard and aching to take her there in that classroom. But all lust dissipated however when he recalled thoughts to calm down his desires like Leo hugging him or Cleo having the audacity to kiss him on the cheek. That settled any and all lust out of the car windows.

The usual routine greeted him. His employees would rise from their seat and offer something along the lines of a simple 'hello'. It was supposed to be routine except when Dane entered his office, two men greeted him. One, the wicked devil who had once again placed the desk into his office which had been thrown out countless times.

The other one, Jake who stood by Dane's desk and peered out into the window. He didn't quite mind Jake's presence but it was the devil he minded. The devil Leo who had no business to keep on putting his desk where it shouldn't belong. It was an odd scene watching the two unlikely pair of men in the same room waiting for his return. Dane had to wonder what if any words were exchanged between the two.

"Devil," he scoffed the name and turned over to Jake. "And Jake."

"My dearest friend, it's been a while. Congrats on winning the elections."

Dane ignored him as Leo opened his arms wide while Jake spoke, "Yes, congrats. And could I er....have a meeting with you in private?"

"Oh pardon, I'm Leonardo Duval. His best friend. I'm in on the spicy details so don't feel the need to talk in private."

Dane glared at Leo because his jokes knew no limit or end. "Don't pay him any mind Jake. He's a lunatic who's bent on having my soul."

None of it was false. Dane meant every word but Jake just simply laughed, as if believing the both of them were truly best friends.

"I'm jealous. The both of you seem to get along well."

Jealous of what? And well? Dane looked at the devil which shrugged. In what way did they get along well? Surely something was wrong with Jake's eyes or ears.

"No way in heaven and hell do we get along well," Dane grumbled.

He lightly pat Dane on the back, almost fatherly like. "No need to be shy. Your father and I were the same. We bickered to no end but when it came down to the real heart and business of things, we were each other's best friend and could have a damn good hell of a time with each other too. It worked both ways."

The devil dared to pat the other side of his back, "Yes no need to be shy in announcing our bromance for each other. Just lay it out in the open. Come out of the closet my friend!"

"Foe..." Dane grumbled again before finally erupting. "Jake. This devil is not my best friend. I owe him many things and he's in with us on the same objective, to find the Golden Deer . And devil I swear, more silly words out of you and I'll throw you and your desk out of this room."

Leo made a big show of zipping his lips shut with two pinched fingers.

Jake on the other hand simply nodded his head and cleared his throat. "So then I assume it's safe to speak?"

Dane eagerly nodded as he stalked around both men and took a seat at his desk. He beckoned for the two men intruding his office to take a seat. And so they did. The devil irritatingly relaxed himself too much into his seat, putting both feet atop the edge of his desk. There was no time to chide him as Jake began woving his tale.

"I've reached out to some old connections and dug around more and apparently, there's both good and bad news I need to tell you. Which would you like to hear first?"

"The bad news," Dane braced himself in a heartbeat without fear.

"...The Golden Deer has begun to move and for reasons unknown it was during the senator's captivity...The chief that your father and I used to work under had passed away recently. Both your father and I were good friends with the chief...Dane, it was a homicide and to taunt anyone on its tail the Golden Deer left his tattoo mark on the crime scene. I know it's not a coincidence. The chief must have found something out too. The Golden Deer is mocking us, warning us that we're playing a dangerous game."

There was no readable expression on Leo's face that Dane could study.

"Do you have any pictures?" Leo asked.

Jake showed him a picture to which Leo nodded and confirmed, "That is indeed the mark of the Golden Deer. It seems like the dangerous game has officially begun."

Dane looked Jake deathly in the eyes. "...So what? Will you cower away again and turn back home to California? What will it be Jake. "

Jake shook his head and nearly leaped up from his chair. Fire burned intensely, enough to burn through Dane's own heated gaze. "Of course not! I...I vowed I'd find the truth together with you. I'm not afraid anymore. I owe it to you and most of all to your father to put all demons to rest."

A sense of praise flickered over watching Jake overcoming his past struggles and finding way to join hands with Dane regardless of the dangerous game teetering near death itself.

Dane rose from his seat and grinned at Jake, patting him on the shoulder with a hand. A warm smile slowly crept up onto Jake's face as he stared at Dane's content expression and hand resting at his shoulder.

"Those are the words I want to hear. Now tell me, what's the good news?"

"...As for the good news, the Golden Deer isn't the senator. I had an old friend to a check to see if there were any tattoos or if he had them covered but the results came up negative."

A sigh escaped Dane's lips before he could seal it, content knowing Prisana's father wasn't the reason behind all of their troubles. He wouldn't have to forsake the man who had blood ties to his wife. And yet, he immediately frowned.

"That's hardly good news. We have no leads."

"But what about your father's notebook...Did you find anything?"

Leo's interest piqued up, "You never mentioned your father's notebook to me."

Dane turned to him and shook his head. "Now you know. Anyway, there wasn't anything of importance. The strange thing was that a few pages had been torn out from the book. Coincidence or not, we'll never know what was on those pages."

"Coincidence indeed," Jake mulled over intently.

"Damn it," Dane frustratingly slammed his fist against the table as both men grew startled. "We're back to square one."

"That's what the Golden Deer wants us to believe," Leo chimed in among the turmoil raging inside Dane's heart and mind. "Think hard my dear friend, why did they choose to come out now?"

...Why now?

How strange. Dane regarded the devil in a newfounded light. Surely the devil knew something and was one step ahead of both Jake and Dane. It seemed that way regarding that nasty smirk plastered onto his face. He didn't want to listen to the devil but he did. Dane thought real hard.

The murder of the chief happened before securing the senator's temporary position, during the actual sentor's imprisonment, and after the elections. The perpetrator only chose to come out now...Precisely because they were afraid of something. Enough to get rid of the head of the police force itself. There should be top secret records that would help solve the mystery!

Dane slowly turned to Jake.

"...Jake, I have another favor to ask of you..."