Reach Out:
Chapter Eight:
Warrior
Day Thirty-Eight...
Location: Downtown Sewers...
She wasn't going to lie, crawling through sewers on the hunt for a vampire who was no doubt violent wasn't something Zatanna had planned for today. It wasn't even on her bucket list of things to do.
"E puzza di merda dentro qui," the Tremere muttered, holding her nose slightly as they walked along the make-shift bridge out of the water, having performed the lowest spell in the path of conjuring. Nines didn't complain as they walked. "It's times like these I hate the heightened senses."
"Why don't you block it out with a spell then?" Nines asked dryly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world as he walked ahead of her.
Anger flared within her as she glared at his back. "What do I look like? Merlin the fucking wizard?" she snapped at him and could've sworn Zatanna saw him flinch slightly.
God dammit, she groaned in the back of her mind, feeling a little guilty for snapping at him but she was still pissed off beyond belief. After his attitude towards her, the way he constantly treated her like a child...she needed something to hold onto to. A reason to justify her anger and disappointment.
And then there was the dream from before...
She couldn't help but believe it was something more than a dream. All she needed to do was ask him for confirmation but her pride was the wall she refused to knock down.
They paused in front of iron bars, blocking their access and Nines got to work on picking the lock. While the Brujah male performed this task, Zatanna's eyes scanned the area, her nose wrinkling at the foul smell in the air.
The sound of a click drew her attention back onto him as he unlocked the way and she followed him without a word. Both of them were on their guard, Nines more than Zatanna. Soon, they arrived at a dead end.
"Cazzo di fantastico," Zatanna groaned, rubbing the bridge between her eyes and looked at him. "Any other ideas?"
Nines didn't answer as he spotted a small tunnel on the left, just big enough to crouch and crawl through. He jumped off of the make-shift bridge and wordlessly examined the tunnel before gesturing for her to follow. When he didn't hear her move, he looked up and saw the look of horror on her face.
"What?" he asked.
"There is no way in hell I am walking through contaminated water," she told him firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.
He raised a brow. "What are you, a girl?"
She raised a single brow at him, giving him a pointed look and he sighed, rubbing his chin slightly. "I ain't asking you to drink the damn water."
"I don't care," she snipped, pointing to her black leather knee-high boots. "These are new boots and I don't fancy ruining them."
Nines growled with impatience as they stared at each other, a battle of will and submission. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nines pulled out the ultimate card.
Guilt-tripping.
"More people could die and you're worried about your boots?" he stated and Zatanna bit her bottom lip, his words tugging at her sense of justice. Finally, she groaned in defeat and timidly climbed off of the platform, wincing as she stepped into the ankle deep water.
"Ti odio," she muttered under her breath but of course, the male Brujah heard it perfectly. He glanced over his shoulder at her as they began crouching through the tunnel.
"Così fa il resto del mondo," he replied, a tinge of bitterness hidden in his voice as they exited the tunnel. It was a concrete room with no exit except for a ladder heading up. Nines gestured for her to stay put as he climbed up, checking for anything unpleasant.
Zatanna sighed, tapping her foot impatiently before Nines told her to come up. She climbed the ladder, reaching another concrete room but this time, there was another tunnel but shorter, showing them a view of a larger room with stone columns, water running throughout. Further ahead, was a two step platform with a man hung, mirroring Jesus's crucification.
She spotted Nines giving her an expectant look from the corner of her eye and turned to him. "What?"
"Auspex," he answered and she blinked before realizing what he wanted.
"Oh, right," she quickly blinked, activating the discipline and scanning the area. The only auras that had appeared was the fading one of the kine man. "I can only see the kine's aura."
Nines jumped down below effortlessly as she deactivated Auspex, examining the area. As the male Brujah made his way over towards the kine, something caught Zatanna's eye. Frowning, she watched the water closely and saw movement within it, heading towards Nines.
"Nines! Behind you in the water!" Zatanna shouted, wanting to warn him as he reached the platform. Nines, upon hearing her voice, spun around and saw no one around. Without thinking, she blurted out: "Neptune's Might: Nosirp fo retaw!"
The royal blue pantegram lit up underneath the water, with a trident in the middle, as large bodies of water surrounded the invisible Kindred and bind itself around it, revealing the male Nosferatu.
She was both surprised and disgusted, surprised that the spell actually worked and disgusted by his appearance from what she could see.
"Holy shit, it actually worked!" Zatanna exclaimed, jumping down and landing in the water, running over to Nines who examined the watery prison. "Am I good or what?"
The Nosferatu snarled at the sight of her, struggling from the watery binds that held him in place. "When I get out of here, I will take pleasure ripping you apart, slowly...piece by piece."
Zatanna swallowed, a little distrubed as she turned away from those glowing yellow eyes. "I'll...get the kine down," she said quietly, heading over to the lever. Just as her hand touched it, the Tremere was exclaimed in surprise as Nines was thrown at the wall beside her.
The young Kindred turned in time to see the Nosferatu lunge at her. Zatanna ducked in time but was too slowy to avoid the punch landed to her torso. The sheer strength behind the attack had sent her flying towards the water and she landed with a small splash onto her side. Pain exploded in her chest as she winced, slowly getting the air back into her.
The sounds of struggle drew her gaze as she sat up, hands in the water and witnessed the fist fight between the two male Kindred. Both were equal in strength but what the Nosferatu lacked in Nines's speed, he made up by using the Obfuscate trait every now and then.
Already feeling slightly weak from the attack and her use in the spells and Auspex, Zatanna raised a hand shakily towards the Nosferatu. The lilac purple pantegram with the picture of a cacoon wrapped in vines appeared beneath her body.
"Mastery of the Mortal Shell: Ogitrev," Zatanna whispered, casting the low leveled spell of the path. A ripple of lilac light shot from the pantegram towards the Nosferatu. As it reached him, the light crawled up his legs, his torso before being absorbed into his head.
Immediately the spell began working as he seemed disoriented, unable to use his Obfuscate discipline. Nines, seeing the battle turned to his favour, landed an upper-cut to the disfigured Kindred before wrapping his head into a headlock.
Zatanna, knowing what was coming, forced herself to look away as she heard the deathly wail before being suddenly cut off. When the wails stopped, she returned her gaze and found a pile of ash where the Nosferatu had once stood. Her eyes landed on Nine's figure, finding his shirt a little ripped but nothing too major.
"You alright?" he called, jogging towards her and helping the Tremere onto her feet as she swayed slightly, a little dizzy.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she reassured him, looking up into those blue eyes that haunted her. She stared at them, searching for a questionless answer, as if he held something within them. Catching herself, Zatanna cleared her throat, stepping back before heading over to deal with the dead kine.
As she lowered the kine's body to the ground, she felt the Brujah's eyes on her and she looked over.
Cazzo, ho bisogno di sapere, Zatanna snapped at herself as she opened her mouth. "That night when we went clubbing...I never picked a fight with a Sabbat."
Nines's jaw clenched as she stared at him. "...No...you never did."
Zatanna didn't know what she was expecting. She wasn't thrilled that the truth was finally out in the open, but confused. Confused as to why he hid it and lied to her. Why he suddenly changed his attitude towards her.
"What happened?" she demanded of him, taking a few steps towards him until she was on the last step of the platform. When he didn't speak, she pressed on. "Nines, I deserve to know."
Nines glanced away, closing his eyes as his fists clenched at his sides. "...I raped you," he said so softly that if it weren't for Zatanna's heightned hearing, she would have missed it.
Frowning, the Tremere tried to recollect the dream and it didn't seem like rape. "Nines, that wasn't rape. I may not remember much, but from what it seems to me, it was consensual."
"Presence."
Now she was beyond confused. What did that discipline have anything to do with the topic. As if sensing her confusion, Nines looked at her with a look of self-disgust.
"I accidentally used passion. It may have seemed consensual but you didn't remember," he explained bitterly, as if he committed a crime. "In all sense, I raped you."
She shook her head furiously, taking a few steps forward but he stepped back. Hurt flashed through her eyes and into her chest. "Nines, alcohol may have played a part but you never raped me. I wanted it as much as you did."
"That's just the thing, kid. You think it wasn't because that's what Presence does and I can't taint you."
"I'm already tainted by being a vampire. What more damage can there be done?"
Nines shook his head, turning on his heel and began to walk away. "Look, go back to LaCroix and let us handle the Ninth Circle."
"Nines," she called after him, her theoretical heart breaking. "Nines!"
oOo
Day Forty-One...
Location: LaCroix Towers...
She wanted to be anywhere but there. If Kindred could feel stress, her levels would have been through the roof. Ever since that night, the Anarchs handled the rest of the Ninth Circle, with only Damsel or Jack coming to her for more information. A certain numbered man was nowhere to be seen from or heard.
"-Folly of leadership is knowing that no matter what you do, behind your back there's hundreds certain that their own solution is the sounder one, and that your decision was the...by product of a whimsical dart toss," Sebastian, as he wanted to be called by her now, droned on as Zatanna pulled herself out of her thoughts, focussing on his pacing form by the window. "I pronounce the blast sentence and I soak the critical fallout. I make the decisions no one else will. Leadership...I wear the albatross and a bull's-eye."
"Maybe if you made some good decisions every once in a while people wouldn't have anything to say," Zatanna told him and he looked at her, unimpressed.
"Then you can join the crows on the fence after we're done here," he replied in a dry tone and she mentally rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "The blood hunt on Nines Rodriguez for the murder of Alistair Grout will be called."
The Tremere's eyes widened in shock before she controlled herself. "What evidence do you have to support this?" she questioned and he looked at her in slight amusement.
"Reports and eye witness testimonies of him exiting Grout's manor the night he died. Something you left out."
"I wasn't exactly in the right state of mind to report anything other than almost burning alive."
Sebastian waved it off, as if it didn't matter what she said. "Rodriguez'z execution is only a matter of time. I have lit the fuse-if a war ignites, it's my head they will sharpen the pikes for."
"No one uses pikes anymore," she muttered under her breath as he moved onto the issue of the Ankaran Sarcophagus, while her mind was in a whirl of thoughts.
"I should have anticipated that treasonus maggot," Sebastian shook his head with bitterness in his voice. Well, whoever this was, Zatanna knew she had to make a friend out of him.
"Mind telling me just who the cazzo Gary is?" the young Tremere asked as he began pacing again.
"The Nosferatu primogen," he answered and she swallowed. After her latest run in with a Nosferatu, she wasn't too keen on seeing them again.
But if it's to help Nines, she thought as Sebastian continued.
"-were responsible for finding out where the sarcophagus was taken after the Dane, and for getting keys to the museum. They were the only ones who knew!" he sighed tiredly, obviously blaming himself. "It's obvious to me now, my mistake."
He paused in his pacing and stared at her. "I want him found! The sarcophagus could be...exploited...causing who knows what catastrophe to this city. If it were to fall into the wrong hands..."
Ho una brutta sensazione su questo ...Zatanna thought as she uncrossed her arms, placing them on her hips. "When you say, 'want him found,' you mean me, I'm assuming."
Sebastian didn't look as happy about it either. "The Nosferatu lurk in the filth below the streets of Hollywood, but not even I know just where they hide," he pulled a sour expression. "Hollywood is, unfortunately lacking in any Camarilla loyalities..."
My heart almost bleeds for him, a sarcastic thought rang through her mind and she had to stop the urge from rolling her eyes.
"Hollywood's baron is an anarch named Isaac. Isaac's more civil than the anarchs dowtown, but...nonetheless, he wears his mistrust of me on his sleeve. He may know how to contact the Nosferatu..."
Hope rose within her at the mention of Isaac being an anarch. She knew she had to get this guy on her side and fast if she wanted to help Nines with the blood hunt. You know, after she warned him about it...
"-Find Gary and get him to talk. That sarcophagus could be used against us. Do not come back until you have it. Now, I must announce the blood hunt-and bear the brunt of all consequences," he gestured fro Sheriff. "Escort her out."
Zatanna shook her head. "I can escort myself out," she told him firmly, not wanting to be man-handled by the fucking gorilla Kindred behind the prince as she walked out on her own.
As soon as she left the building, Zatanna made a beeline straight for the Last Round. Each step she had taken, more panic had rose within her until she almost ran into Skelter.
"Whoa, Little Italy, you gotta watch where you're goin'," he caught her and she shook her head.
"Where's Nines and the others?" she demanded as he released her.
"Nines is out of town for some personal business," Skelter answered and she ran up the stairs, finding Damsel and Jack playing poker.
Immediately, both of them saw something was wrong.
"You alright kiddo? You look like someone hit ya with their car," Jack said in mild concern as she shook her head furiously.
"LaCroix has called a blood hunt for Nines," Zatanna answered and looks of horrified fury were planted on every single one of their faces. "The bastard thinks Nines is behind the murder of Alistair Grout."
"What proof does this asshole have?" Damsel demanded as the Tremere ran a hand through her hair.
"Testimonies of eye witness's," she answered. "I don't exactly know the law of the Kindred, but for the kine, that's enough to start an investigation...and what's even worse," her eyes fell to the ground in shame. "..I saw Nines there as well. Ran into him actually."
"Explain," Skelter barked from behind and explained she did. She told the three of them Nines's strange behaviour, his aura changing.
Jack patted her shoulder, a tired smile on his face. "You did good, kiddo. We'll make sure to get the word out to Nines to keep away from the city for a while."
"He could maybe take refuge with Isaac," Damsel thought out loud as Zatanna sighed tiredly, exhausted.
"I'll track down Beckett and get him to pull a favour for me," the Tremere announced wearily, standing up. "I won't see you guys for a while."
"Where's the bastard sending you now?"
"Hollywood to speak with Isaac and track down the Nosferatu. LaCroix thinks it was a man named Gary that stole the sarcophagus and wants me to find its location," she answered, waving them goodbye and leaving the bar for the last time in a long time.
Translations:
E puzza di merda dentro qui - It smells like shit in here.
Cazzo di fantastico - Fucking fantastic
Ti odio - I hate you
Così fa il resto del mondo - So does the rest of the world
Cazzo, ho bisogno di sapere - Shit, I need to know
Ho una brutta sensazione su questo - I have a bad feeling about this
Cazzo - fuck
Song: Warrior by B.A.P
Alright, got the motivation again to get this back up after being woken up at 1am in the morning because you guys reviewed. I lost motivation because my original laptop got hit by my water bottle in my school bag, thus rendering it useless. So yeah...worst nightmare. Which sucks because I had this chapter ready to go and now it's different from the original draft because I have a shitty memory...
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