A Scripta

Kalius threw open the door to end the incessant pounding. The man on the other side regained himself as he realized the door wasn't there for him to pound on.

"What."

A woman in robes, and two men in obvious hero outfits stood at the door. The pounder was dressed in casual modern clothes. "Kalius of Thebes?"

"Yes."

"Can we come in?"

He held the door open to them. They streamed into the room, and Kalius passed his hand through his hair. "Is this about last night?"

"Yes, it is." The man in casual dress looked around the house. "How long have you owned this house?"

"My...ex bought it. The deed's right here." He went to a shelf and took down the manila envelope. The man sighed when he looked at it, looked up at the other people. "Almost a year."

The group of them looked around, saddened or upset. The woman in robes went over to the trap door. Kalius watched her carefully. She asked, "What's down there?"

"Wine casks. He bought all the furnishings to make it look lived in."

"Mind if I go downstairs?"

"I do."

The woman turned to him, her eyes glowing gold. Kalius looked back at her, steadily. The casually-dressed man handed Kalius back the deed. "We do not allow anyone to purchase a house here."

"I'm not going to live here." Kalius looked back at the woman. "You *really* don't want to go into my head ."

"Cassie," said one of the heroes. She closed her eyes and opened them, her eyes returned to a normal hazel color. The hero said to Kalius, "Then tell us what is downstairs."

"A vampire."

"You didn't beat this man Atticus because he found out you had a vampire companion?"

"No, he insulted us."

Said the woman coming back to them, "'Greek sheep-fuckers' was the exact term. And catamite?"

The other hero nodded. "Means faggot." Kalius bristled. That hero looked at Kalius. "Just explaining."

"Luckily he's healed, though he wants to exact vengeance," said the casually-dressed man. "Technically, you're not working for the Midnighters, though you have done some things for us in the past. Think you could pay a fine and stay away from here for a few days?"

"Do we lose the house?"

"I'll have to check with my superiors. Most likely, yes. You never should have had it in the first place."

Fucking Grim, Kalius thought in rage again.

The man who explained what catamite meant said, "You have a tie here. Maybe if you promise not to associate with the citizens..."

The woman glided over. "There are other heroes who have ties to Ancient Rome. Do we allow them all to come here?"

The casual man said, "It's not for us to decide." He started to the door, his entourage following. "Please leave by tonight. We'll send a messenger with the amount of the fine."

The people left. Kalius went into the house and punched the stone hearth. He was going to hurt Grim.