The Lion and the Sheep [Saren/Vadik]

Vadik had waited patiently ever since he sent the man all the information he had, especially that regarding the Seyrrou's and their magic. When he received a time and date to meet with the man from the bar he immediately made plans to leave with no detection. Considering he wasn't roaming around Italy, the last place people expected him to come was at the doorsteps of those hunting him. It wasn't that he needed to be less careful, Vadik was always careful, but those who knew him knew he wasn't the type to take any chances, and this was a huge chance.



When he arrived at the shop, his brows furrowed a bit at how someone like the man he met would be so out in the open, but it made sense didn't it. No one would suspect someone like a potions maker and shop owner to be the one behind what Vadik hoped would result in a chaotic upheaval of the current system. With an expressionless face Vadik stepped inside relieved to find that there were no customers in the shop. It was getting late and most had probably retired for the night, but he still had to be careful and hidden underneath his cloak Vadik caressed his wand.

When he heard the door open, Saren lifted only his wand and not his head. There was only one person it could be, and that meant it was time to lock the door and turn the sign. Ever since he'd finished his degree, he'd been able to focus more on the shop and his plans, such as the journal in front of him. He snapped it shut after finishing one final line, and only then did he look up.

"Touch nothing without my permission," he said, then gestured for Vadik to follow him. "Obviously I've decided to let you in. You'll tell no one else who I am. You'll bring no one else here unless I say to."

Vadik approached the man not for a single second did he show any interest in the items around him, he was here for one purpose and playing with potions wasn't how he worked. Vadik's hands remained hidden as he listened to the young man speak and with a small understood he continued to follow behind the man, who he assumed was named Saren judging by the name attached to the store. It didn't matter to him what the man's name was, Vadik served one purpose and right now, it was just to listen and obey.

"I have a couple things to discuss and a lot of things to work on, with a two week deadline," Saren said as he entered the back of the shop, filled with ingredients, vials, books, and scrolls. All of these he ignored as he strode across the room. "I have a project I want to start and a man I wish to discuss." He had sent out the owl as quickly as he could after meeting with the man from the bar, and though the meeting with Vadik was happening nearly immediately, it was more like twelve days than two weeks.

He stopped in front of a wall half-hidden by boxes and raised his wand. The shop had come outfitted with both two upper floors and a cellar, though he had little need for so much space. Over the past few months, he'd been working on converting various parts of the old stone building, and most of the focus had been on the underground rooms hidden behind the faux wall in front of him.

Vadik watched the man without a single word, he paid no attention to the items around, he was only focusing on the man's words and the potential for someone to be hiding around and listening. His eyes scanned his surroundings and continued on behind the man. "I do what needs to be done. Say the word," however, his eyes narrowed at the mention of a man. Vadik assumed that he wouldn't be the other lending his services, but he was still wary and cautious of anyone else who would join. "A man?" his voice had no hint of emotion, but his mind was racing with possibilities.

"Yes, a man," Saren said. A final wave of his wand and the spell was done, allowing him to step through a newly opened section of the wall. "At a dueling bar, he used the name John Doe, which gives us nothing. He did, however, say he had connections that have a grudge against you." He flicked a glance and a raised eyebrow over his shoulder at Vadik.

Vadik followed the man, the name didn't ring any bells and it made him more wary and curious as to who this John Doe could be. "The only ones with a grudge against me are the ones I mentioned to you," he paused wondering if perhaps this was a grudge he wasn't aware of, someone who hated him by association with Caius. "My former liege had few to no enemies. I am no one, but a masked man," but there was still a possibility that someone who was a Death Eater could have had it out for him. Vadik did leave a trail of blood and Caius had him torture or kill those who opposed the Death Eaters. But wouldn't that mean that his connections would also be the opposition? "Is that all he said?" somehow Vadik doubted it, but if this man trusted this John Doe then who was Vadik to question it.

"He has quite the grudge against you, as well," Saren said. The stone steps beneath his feet were worn smooth from years upon years of feet. "Don't worry, I haven't made any decisions about him yet. You do what I need, and everything will work out fine. I may bring him in just to keep an eye on him." There was a lot the cloaked man hadn't told him, but he had two weeks to think about the next talk.

"Against me personally." It was more of a statement than a question, and right now Vadik had warning signals going off in his mind. Vadik was not at the forefront of any of Caius's previous enemies, as few as they were, he was just the blade and Caius was the hand. "I do not know of any man named John Doe, not even a Death Eater code name," Vadik obviously didn't know all Death Eater, but if someone had a personal grudge against him then wouldn't he have at least heard the name in passing. "If this man has a personal grudge then maybe John Doe isn't his real name," he wracked his brain, trying to remember the names of those he worked with or names he heard, but he was drawing a blank. "Keeping him close can work in your favor," if this John Doe did turn out to be a mole or some kind of Death Eater snitch then perhaps he can be captured and used as leverage. "What do you need me to do?"

Of course John Doe wasn't his actual name. Saren withheld a sigh and opted not to point out the obvious. The bottom of the steps led to a short hallway that had once been a large open room for storage. A few doors lined the hall, each lading to identical rooms. "This place is hidden, no one can get down here or leave without my say so. No sound gets in or out. So," he said, turning to his companion, "let's say I want a person that fills a specific set of criteria, could you get them here without drawing attention?"

Vadik paused and the corner of his lips twitched up in a smile, No sounds gets in or out. He liked the sound of that and was pleased with the caution this man was taking, it seems he made the right decision coming to this man. "I came here and to the bar without detection." Vadik had yet to get caught, and if there was one thing he was good at it was hiding and moving undetected. "Name the mark," Vadik would need time to plan, go through it with his group, and cover all potential setbacks; it would take careful planning especially if this person was high profile.

"I need a squib." There were a few projects he was interested in testing out, and a squib was right at the top of his priority list. Since certain things could take a rather long time to do, the sooner he could get his hands on one, the better. "At least of age, I have no interest in children who may simply have not come into their magic. Preferably pureblood, a magical sibling or two would be a bonus."

A squib? That was an interesting one, Vadik wondered what kind of experiments, but he learned not to ask questions if he was meant to know, this man would tell him. A Squib would be easy, a pureblood squib even easier. Most families either hid their squib children and kept them isolated and alone, or they were thrown into the muggle world to integrate as regular people. All he would need to do is have his men dig up information from the few books Caius had left for them, perhaps gather some information, and from there they can work. "Consider it done." Vadik sensed that this man wanted to have it done quietly, so he wouldn't involve any of his contacts. The less people knew about them and their plans the better.

"Bring it at the same time you came today," Saren said. "Transfigure it if you have to to hide it, imperius, whatever you need, I don't care." He lifted his wand again to open the door nearest him. When it swung open, it revealed a basic room where someone could live. A couple of simple necessities were all that were needed. "None of your insane army would happen to be experimentors, would they?"

Vadik nodded his head and peered inside the room, it was similar to some of the rooms in the Seyrrou basement, and it brought back memories of shrill screams of people begging to be let out. His lip twitched into a smile but it was gone just as fast as it had come. "Done," he wasn't the best skilled with a wand, but he had used the imperius curse on a few occasions when Caius deemed it necessary and as long as he kept a safe distance and had a visual at all times it would be without a problem. "The twins might prove useful, Zorn and Thorn. They helped Caius with his spells on more than one occasion," in fact they were the girls that Caius called on upon whenever he needed someone to test certain spells, potions, and objects; especially on unsuspecting prisoners. The two were obedient, but it was closely followed with a thirst for curiosity.