Lucy's House
Sayuri sat on the porch awaiting the return of the last battle group. The hunters, having taken on the Sabbat Headquarters, had taken the longest time to return as they endured what was the worst of the fighting. She had just learned one of the hunters had died. That thought filled her with sadness. She might not have known the man but she was sure he would be mourned by friends and family alike. She then pondered what seeing someone fighting as a comrade in arms die might have done to Kashi's emotional state. He was already under a lot of stress.
The vampire groups had already returned; even the one Bree accompanied. She and most of the vampires had cleared out already, returning to Los Angeles. A few vampires had remained, waiting to talk to Kashi and the hunters. Standing in the yard, talking quietly, was Nines Strauss, and Skelter. The one called Damsel was having a quiet argument on politics with Willow, who was also waiting for Kashi.
She hoped, for all their sakes, Kashi got back soon. They had all missed Thursday classes be they college or, in Willow's case, high school. With the long drive back to Los Angeles, they would be lucky to get a few hours of sleep before having to go back to class. She then inclined her head as a snippet of Willow and Damsel's argument invaded her mind.
"But you see, due to the simplified mechanics of vampires only really having one need, it makes a communistic approach easier. Also, having a long range view on events, being ageless, helps prevent short term gratification from mucking with a system that actually works for everyone when applied to its logical ends." Damsel explained to Willow.
"Needs? What about wants? No human or formerly human creature is without ambition. It's ambition that drives progress. As predators even social predators you have ambition in scads. The drive for self advancement will always outstrip any desire to benefit the common group. The best you can expect is to enter a Nash solution situation where everyone does what is optimal for themselves and the group via informed choices." Willow replied.
Damsel seemed at a loss as to how to counter that argument. Before the pause in the conversation became awkward, however, the hunter's small convoy started to arrive. They had first gone to the abandoned gas station that Lucy used from time to time where they had cleaned up and Simone had patched wounds. From there, half of them headed out for their homes on their own. Jesus' truck and a large van came down the road and parked in the yard. From these vehicles hunters emerged, bent on going into the backyard where Lucy was doing the final prep work to feed them.
The term ragged didn't do the battered group justice; even after showering and cleaning up. Sayuri was sure she had never seen such bone tired looking group of people in her life. Even the normally indefatigable Kashi looked worn down. However, upon catching sight of her, he still managed a weak smile. Before he could leap out of the truck, however, Willow rushed over to him.
"Hey are you okay? You look like you're sick! Actually, I think this is the first time you've ever looked sick." Willow asked, her eyes went a bit distance as she rummaged through her mind trying to remember a time that Kashi had ever been sick.
"It's likely exhaustion." Sayuri added as she came closer.
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired, squirt." Kashi admitted, jumping down out of the truck.
"You look worse than that time you and Justin got into that eating contest, which is the only other time I can recall you've looked even mildly ill." Willow declared.
"He fought hard and did well. He stopped a major threat to the people of California. He waded through blood and fire to be baptised as a hero. Just remember, kid, the hard part is keeping it up. Don't lose your nerve. A few thousand people will live because of what we did tonight. That justifies the sacrifice." Tex proclaimed, her voice tinged with something that sounded like pride.
Sayuri could hardly believe this was the same woman. She had washed and was dressed in a clean t-shirt and athletic pants. She was sober and not acting raucous. The largest change wasn't physical. Washed away, at least for a while, was the cynical anger that masked despair. In a single revelation, Sayuri understood. Tex had long struggled against the darkness and inwardly, she had judged that fight a losing battle. In her mind Sayuri recalled the words of Friedrich Nietzsche:
"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."
Somewhere in the night, Tex had seen a glimmer of hope that the battle wasn't all lost, that monsters might be quelled faster than heroes fell. She had rediscovered hope like a desert traveler discovering an oasis.
"I know and I'm so proud. I know Kashi has what it takes. He's a hero." Sayuri said, beaming with pride.
Kashi's eyes widened with surprise. He stood a bit straighter.
"Hey, kid. Let's talk. We have to be going to beat the sun." Proclaimed Nines Rodriguez as he and the vampire delegation closed in.
"I don't really want to talk to you." He began. He then sighed. "But you're not going to leave me alone unless I do, so I guess we better get it over with." Kashi waved the others off and walked closer to the the vampires. Sayuri took Willow by the hand and walked off toward the gate into the backyard out of earshot.
"Right, well, we want to know where we go from here. We don't want you for an enemy but, you keep blaming us for what the Sabbat did to you and your sister. We are not with those assholes." Nine said simply.
Kashi sighed again. It was the sound of someone who was both extremely tired and extremely fed up. "Let me break it down for you, okay. Maybe you're not with those assholes, but you are assholes. All of you. You're gangbanger scum and I will treat you like any other gangbanger scum." Kashi paused letting his words sink in. "I won't have anything to do with you. So long as you leave me and mine alone I won't hunt you. Hell, I won't even think about you and I expect the same in return. Don't call me, don't talk to me, don't do me favors or even think about me. Let's agree to have nothing to do with one another and both stay the hell away from each other." Kashi said grimly.
Nines gave a slow nod and eyed his companions. "Everyone is to leave him, his friends and his family alone. Everyone! Now let's go." With that, the vampires left. They headed out into the night to race the sun back to Los Angeles.
Kashi didn't even watch them go. He walked back over toward the backyard. He came through the gate where his girlfriend and sister were waiting. Sayuri had a worried look on her face. He put his arm around her reassuringly. "Don't worry about those guys. I think we'll be staying out of each other's way. Let's get something to eat."
"You sure you want to eat? Maybe you should get a nap?" Sayuri asked.
"He's tired, not dead. Let's get him something to eat so we can get home. I'll load you up a plate, Kashi." Willow said slipping deeper into the backyard.
Kashi smiled as he and Sayuri followed.
In the backyard already the hunters were eating. Jesus walked over with a plate for Kashi. "Here, man. Sorry things became such a mess. Hey! I had my cousin pick up your mom's car with the wrecker. He gave it a full tune up, oil change and some new tires."
"Oh, wow, great! Damn, I just realized. How are we gonna get home? We rode here with you guys but we can't all fit in the truck." Kashi pictured himself, Willow, Sayuri, and James all crammed into Jesus' truck. Even though it was an extended cab, it wouldn't make for a comfortable drive. Maybe Sayuri could sit on his lap? The thought quickly left Kashi's mind. With his luck over the past two days, he'd probably have Willow sitting there and complaining the whole time.
"Don't worry, man. We dipped into our hunter emergency fund and rented James a car. He can drop you off to help pay us all back for letting him keep the rental for a few weeks while my cousin finds him a new ride." Jesus explained.
"Oh well, problem solved then!" Kashi took a large bite of chicken from his plate before even sitting down.
Sayuri laughed and Willow shook her head. It seemed everything was getting back to normal.
Compton, Los Angeles, California
Brandon casually watched the city workmen scraping up asphalt. If he had arrived only a few moments later he would have missed seeing the bleached blacktop they were rapidly tearing up. This was the location that five months ago a similar light show to what had happened the day before had been seen. He had seen the same bleaching effect when Kashi started to glow out at Ladera Heights where they likely were tearing up the asphalt as well.
While Brandon had never been in a gang he knew people who were. He had carefully asked around only to find the gangs were as perplexed as he was. No Korean gang members had been involved in this shooting. Neither the Compton gangs nor the Koreans seemed to know about any of this.
The worst part was when he talked to his friends previously today. None of them remembered the fight at the Jones' house the way he did. Before he took off after Kashi; Justin, Sam, and Toshi had noticed the odd glow about Kashi's face. Sam had wondered aloud if his costume had an LED strobe hidden somewhere. Justin had noticed how odd the attackers all looked he had even wondered aloud if they all had pro makeup artists fixing them up. They had looked so weird. Now not one of them recalled that. They also didn't remember their attacker's odd looks. Now they kept repeating they looked Korean, despite Brandon not seeing an Asian in the bunch.
"This is some serious MIB bullshit here." Brandon mumbled to himself as he walked off into the night. He'd have to keep a low profile. He couldn't afford to be found following cops or tailing Kashi, but he was damn well going to keep his eyes open. He owed Kashi a lot. While they had been friends and rivals for years, he had often been jealous of Kashi's natural talent and how easily he glided through life. However, he also knew Kashi was the real deal; a once in a generation gifted figure, like Bruce Lee. Competing with such a talent had sharpened him and driven him to better himself. What ever mess Kashi'd gotten into, Brandon would find a way to help. After all the goofy bastard had always been there for him.
Sweet Rest Inn Parking lot
Bree got out of her car and waved to Banyan. She had always liked Banyan. Bree's mother, Ashley, had used the young mother as an example of why it was important not to get pregnant at a young age. However, Bree took a different lesson from Banyan. She admired the strength Banyan had to raise such a difficult and energetic child, to deal with a complete waste of a husband and even a second pregnancy during a divorce. Now it was time to repay some of that inspiration.
"Hey Bree. So what's really going on?" Banyan asked in a weary voice. She had just clocked out from her night job cleaning hotel rooms.
"Get in. It'll be a while before your kids get home. I'll tell you the full story on the way to buy you breakfast." Bree offered.
"So, I take it everything's okay now?" Banyan asked, relief crossing her tired face.
Bree nodded.
"Alright, but let's eat anywhere but the diner. I spend enough time there as it is and if I have to look at Carl right now, I think I'll do something I might regret and you'd have to put me in handcuffs and take me off." Banyan quipped as she got into the car.
Bree drove for some time. She took a circuitous route to properly explain what had transpired to Banyan in a private setting. She finally pulled up to a little restaurant she knew about that was off the beaten trail. She'd learned about it while she had been on the force. After they went in and ordered they sat in silence. The look on Banyan's face said it all; she was attempting to work through the revelations that Bree had imparted on her. After their meal had been cleared away, Banyan finally spoke again.
"Willow was kidnaped and they never told me?" Banyan asked in disbelief.
"Yes. I don't care if Kashi keeps his own secrets, but he has no right to keep Willow's abduction from you. You're her mother. You're responsible for her safety and well being." Bree said.
"This is insane. Kashi always got into trouble and he kept secrets, but nothing like this. He could get killed." Banyan lamented.
"Truth be told, it's not Kashi I'm worried about. It's that he's been dragging Willow into his troubles. She's a smart girl but too smart for her own good. She's been dragged into a world of supernatural powers her intelligence can't match. Unfortunately, she doesn't see that. She thinks she can keep up with what's going on." Bree explained.
"How can she be so stupid?! She should have told me herself! Why is she keeping this from me?" Banyan asked, puzzled. Her face was a mixture of concern, heartbreak and indignation.
"I've known her for a long time, and if I were to guess I say she doesn't want to worry you. She doesn't believe it's in your best interest to know." Bree replied.
"What does a twelve year old know about her mother's best interests?! This is incredibly irresponsible of her! I expect this sort of thing from Kashi but from her?!" Banyan said, her indignation beginning to outweigh her concern.
"Either she's a girl or she's mature, Banny. You have to decide which it is. You can't treat her like an adult when it's convenient and a child when it's not." Bree said, steeling herself for the reaction that statement would provoke.
"What exactly do you mean by that?!" Banyan cried out in a loud voice, momentarily forgetting they were in a restaurant. The restaurant quieted as heads turned. The soft clink of silverware was the only sound audible for a brief moment. The waitress approached, looking worried as the other diners returned to their conversations. Bree waved off the waitress and then turned back to Banyan.
"I when I was sitting for you you used to always tell Willow to remind Kashi about things you'd told him to do or not do. Then Kashi would get upset because his little sister was nagging him to behave. Kashi never forgot what you told him Banyan he didn't care. Kashi wasn't Willows responsibility to keep track of. Now she seems to think she has to look out for him."
Banyan shifted uncomfortably but did not interrupt.
"Then, when Willow was in the fifth grade do you remember how you had me pick her up from school on the first day because you had gone with Kashi to get him athletic equipment that he needed? Her teachers asked me why she had only skipped a single grade. They wanted to know how they were supposed to keep a class that was beginning pre-algebra interesting for a girl who was doing trigonometry in her head? I told them I was just a friend who used to sit for you." Bree continued.
"They wanted to test Willow and move her up more grades I told them she needed to stay with children her own age. She has to learn social skills." Banyan explained.
"Her classmates are two or three years older than her already. She's in a dead zone when it comes to them. They are through puberty, she's not. They have radically different interests. She can't talk to most of them on an intellectual level and they think of her as a child they are forced to endure." Bree explained.
"Did you bring me out here to criticize me?" Banyan inquired.
"No, not at all. You have two amazing children, and that's not hyperbole. Kashi is the most sensational athlete I've ever seen or heard of; he's skilled at every sport he's turned his hand to...and Willow! She's gifted in ways most people can't even imagine. However, such great gifts have come special needs and considerations. Over all you've done a remarkable job helping keep Kashi out of trouble, but it's over Banyan. You succeeded. Kashi is in college. He's going to have an education. Even if his sports career doesn't pan out he'll have a foundation for a future. It's time to let go and focus on Willow. Kashi doesn't need you looking over his shoulder anymore. Kashi isn't going to become a criminal. I doubt he ever would have, really. He's not his dad. He doesn't have the temperament. Worrying over Kashi monopolized a lot of your time. Time you can't get back but now you can try to make it up." Bree finished.
Banyan looked down at her plate. "True greatness will always shine through in the blood." She mumbled to herself.
"What?" Bree asked.
"Something my father used to say. He used to make my life a living hell trying to live up to his expectations, to be worthy of him. I never pushed Kashi to be good at sports. I just push him to keep himself involved with things he loved so he'd stay off drugs and out of trouble. I won't have Willow's childhood stolen from her by people who want to press and push her to advance and measure up. Maybe I have over corrected along the way. What do you think I should do? Not about Kashi and Willow's personal lives, I'll think on that. What I want to know what you think about all of this. You were a law enforcement official. I want to know what you think I need to do about this situation." Banyan explained.
Bree thought a bit, taking a sip from her drink. Those few sentences were the most Banyan had ever revealed about her parents. It was rather interesting. Banyan's father was someone who thought himself great. He had made Banyan's life near unbearable trying to live up to his expectations. She had rebelled and married a marine. Interesting indeed. Finally she spoke.
"You still have the gun you bought when Jin was bringing scum into your house?" Bree inquired.
"Yes. I keep it locked up most of the time, although I still take it in the glove box when I'm driving. I don't have a place for it on the bike so I don't have it tonight. I'm a bit rusty. I've kept my license up but I just haven't had time to get to the shooting range." Banyan admitted.
"We'll go back together a few times over the next few weeks. You were good with it once. You might need it again. That's about the only thing you can do to prepare. Be supportive of Kashi and keep an eye on Willow. Other than that, now that you know the truth, do the best you can. You always have." Bree assured.
Kimura House, Inglewood
James stopped the car and turned to look at Kashi and Sayuri in the back seat. Willow, who sat in the passenger seat, half turned so she could look at both them and James.
"Well, guys, here you are back home! I hate to drop you off and run but I'm exhausted." James admitted.
"Yeah same here, bro." Kashi replied, getting out.
As James drove off Sayuri checked over her car while Kashi checked out the work on his mom's car.
"When Jesus said new tires I thought new to us, not NEW new! These are nice. I don't think mom's ever had new tires on this." Kashi nodded impressed.
"May I come in and use the restroom? I know you said you're tired, but I need to." Sayuri asked.
"Huh? Oh! Oh, yeah, sure! No problem, Sayuri. In fact you want to get a nap, I'll sleep on the sofa if you want to use my bed." Kashi offered.
"No thanks, just the bathroom." Sayuri said with a smile.
The trio headed inside. Kashi and Willow both went to their respective rooms to unpack the duffle bags they had obtained that held the remains of their costumes. Kashi tossed his in the floor and went out to haul in the bags of candy he had acquired during the trick for treat expedition.
When he came back into the house, laden with candy, he heard Willow and Sayuri talking in the hall outside the bathroom. As he came to the top of the stairs and rounded the bend he was greeted with the sight of Willow holding a laptop
"They just gave this to you? Don't you think that's suspicious, Willow?" Sayuri asked cautiously.
"Not really. I helped them out, so they paid me with this set it up for me to use when I was working to help coordinate data at Lucy's house." Willow replied with a small note of arrogance in her voice. She then looked down at the laptop again. "It's a really good one. This laptop isn't even available for the public to purchase yet. It's got everything."
In the blink of an eye, the laptop was no longer in Willow's hand. She looked confused for a moment before staring up at Kashi, who was holding the laptop at eye level looking at it.
"When did they give this to you, Willow?" Kashi asked in a calm voice.
"Hey! Give that back! They gave it to me after I found a trap that Bree and the Tremere vampires almost fell into! It's a reward!" Willow said in a shrill shriek.
"Good, then they didn't break their word to me already. I told them we weren't going to have anything to do with them again. If they had, I'd be calling up Jesus to find out where this Tremere chantry is...whatever that is." Kashi said darkly.
"Leave them alone, Kashi! They didn't break any of your stupid rules! Not that you have any right to order me about anyhow!" Willow shrieked in fury.
"I don't think you understand me, Willow, you are NOT going to have anything to do with them! Why can't you understand that they are dangerous?! This is for your own good!" Kashi said, losing his temper.
"Kashi, DON'T!" Willow cried out.
Kashi's hands began to glow as he dug his fingers into both sides of the laptop and pressed his fists inward towards each other. The sides of the laptop cracked into splinters as his fingers became hard as iron. The center then shattered as if caught between a hammer and an anvil.
"We don't need anything from them! We don't want anything to do with them! You are through with vampires, Willow! They. Are. Dangerous. They probably bugged this to hell and back!" Kashi said, gesturing at the shattered remains of the laptop he held in his hands. "If I hear about one of them even so much as talking to you, even if you talk to them first, I will make them regret it."
Willow looked at her brother. Her mouth formed a hard line. Not one sob escaped her, but tears began to roll down her cheeks. For a moment, Kashi was taken aback. He had seen anger and disgust in his sister quite often, but this was new. Regret now flooded him, pooling in his gut like a stone, but he couldn't think of anything else to do to make sure his little sister was safe.
"Willow, please understa-" Kashi began.
"You're the monster." Willow whispered quietly, interrupting him.
Kashi's eyes went wide as if he'd been slapped in the face, but before he could respond Willow took a step back into her room, then closed and locked her door.
Kashi looked at Sayuri to find sadness, not sympathy, in her eyes. He looked at at the door then again at Sayuri. He then began to try to explain.
"I...I just...she's headed down a bad road. Sayuri these people...they're users! They...she doesn't need to be with them! They'll use her to get at me! I'm not going to cause her to be used like that! I can't let her fall for their tricks." Kashi tried to explain.
"Kashi, I tried all night to work on healing the gulf between you and Willow from her end. I thought I had made so much progress. In that one gesture you've undone all my work. More than undone, this is worse now then when I started." Sayuri admitted sadly.
Kashi's face paled. The broken pieces of the laptop clattered to the floor as they slipped from his grip. "I"m sorry! I'll make it up to you, Sayuri, somehow..." He started.
"Kashi, you don't need to get along with your sister for me. If you're doing it for that you're doing it for the wrong reason. Look, I better go." Sayuri said as she started down the stairs.
"Sayuri wait! This isn't how this should end! I just...I don't' know what else to do! If these vampires get their claws in her it would be my fault." Kashi said desperately.
"Kashi it's late we're exhausted. Let's both get some sleep and talk about this later. I'll call you tomorrow." Sayuri said, gliding down the stairs. Kashi wracked his brain for something to say before she stepped back outside. Kashi stood stunned. He then marched down the stairs and opened the door. Instead of Sayuri, standing there with her keys in hand, was his mother.
"Just the man I need to talk to." Banyan said grimly. Kashi looked past her to see Sayuri getting in her car. She waved a sad farewell and drove off.
"Mom, I don't have time for this..." Kashi began.
"I've been talking to Bree. I know what you've been doing and what happened to Willow a few months back! You are not going anywhere until we've talked about this, Kashi Kimura!" Banyan said in a tone only an angry mother can muster.
Rage erupted inside of Kashi. Bree had been talking to his mother behind his back. How dare she?! What gave her the right to do that?! He fought down his fury. He was normally very laid back and he hated being angry, but one of the things that always made him furious was when his family was harassed. It seemed, these days, everyone was doing it; ever since he received his powers.
"What did she tell you?" Kashi asked.
"Enough that I can likely tell if you lie to me. Now sit! I want to hear the story from you." Bayan ordered.
Kashi sat down, his mind reeling, trying to figure out how much Bree knew and how much she'd told his mother. He realized she'd formed the perfect trap for him. He wasn't sure how much she had heard or from whom. Kashi was not a very good liar to begin with. He would have to tell the truth despite his efforts to keep his mother out of this. He would have to tell her everything. He mentally vowed to see Bree pay for sticking her big ex-cop nose into their family business.
Tremere Chantry
Strauss lead the Tremere clan vampires and ghouls back into the chantry. There was just just enough time to quickly review the night's performance before the rising sun forced them to slumber.
In front of his study, however, Strauss stopped. Something was amiss. While the chantry's residents from great to small had been out, the building had not been left completely defenseless. There were other protections on it. However, there was no sign those mystical wards had been bypassed or broken. What attracted Strauss' attention was a rather simple precaution that revealed someone had entered his study in his absence. A thread lightly affixed to his study door was now only attached by one side. The precaution was mundane, non-magical and so simple as to often be overlooked.
Strauss raised the staff of power he had pulled out of storage for the battle in San Diego and pointed it at the door. Before he could take any action the door opened to reveal a messenger of the clan. Strauss knew such individuals often came with instructions from the Lord or Pontifex.
"You can lower that staff, Regent Strauss, and send away the apprentices. Our words are not for their ears." The messenger commanded.
"If you will forgive me, messenger, but the chantry is indisposed. We have just returned from a campaign of war against the Sabbat that saw all of San Diego liberated. I have yet to debrief the apprentices on their performance." Strauss explained.
"Yes, I'm sure it was all very interesting but neither you nor your chantry's inconvenience are near the importance of this message in the grand scheme of things. This comes from the highest sources and it is of emergency priority. Not that you will have much time to read over it before day takes us.
Somewhat taken aback by being spoken too in such a fashion in his own chantry, Strauss judged this messenger's arrogance was either a sign he truly was important or he was in serious need of lesson in manners. Either way, the situation was best dealt with in private.
"Apprentices; to your rooms. Before you are permitted to rest for the day you will record as much of your observations of the battle as possible. At next nightfall the detail and means used to record these observations will be judged during our rescheduled debriefing." Strauss ordered.
The apprentices, noting that the regent's ill mood was worsening, hurried off. Strauss entered his own study and closed the doors. He then turned to face the messenger.
"I do not recognize you. Are you a messenger for a different Pontifex than my own Lord's master?" Strauss inquired.
"I am from the Vienna mother house. As I told you I come from the Highest sources. Not your Pontifex." The messenger explained.
"The Council!" Strauss exclaimed.
"No, Strauss. The Highest." The messenger pulled out a signet ring and displayed it.
Strauss stared at the ring in abject shock; there, right before his eyes was the heraldic shield surrounded by serpents with the motto arbitrium vincit omnia blazoned on the scroll underneath. Strauss swallowed nervously and fell to his knees.
"The will conquers all. By his authority are we ruled. Never in my existence did I think I would receive a messenger from the Master himself." Strauss said in shock.
"You have discovered several things of grand importance, Maximilian. First; this boy, this sun manifested being, then a soon to be ascendant magus. Lord Tremere found the combination curious. In his investigations he has discovered these 'Exalted', as the more recent ones are calling themselves, seem to be selected for power based on the strength of their soul. This is most important as souls of such high quality are always chosen for great destinies even before such power comes to them. Yet, the power itself loosens fate's hold on them. They become free agents able to causally disrupt the fated interplay of events and even reshaping them with trivial ease. To find one in the company of, let alone related to, a magus is quite extraordinary. It could not be chance, thus he was curious when the girl's fate seemed...obscured to his attempts to use the art to reveal it." The messenger recited.
"She is protected by powerful wards and obscurants. We decided that other mages are watching her and the time of her ascension is very close." Strauss said.
"Our Lord and Master brushed away their feeble attempts at obfuscation. They have been watching her since she was five. Their plans are known to him. She is the subject of prophecy. Yet, the prophecy concerning her was odd only revealed, under extraordinary circumstances, during the mage's war; something we know little about of as our Master was busy pursuing matters related to our own Gehenna incident. The girl's fate is not entirely in the stars. At first glance one might think her mundane. However, this is not the case for she herself is not entirely of this world." The messenger paused to let this sink in.
"Not of this world? How is that possible? Does the nature of this prophecy reveal why she is obscured? It must be a powerful prophecy to have mages spending most of a decade observing her." Strauss conjectured.
"At her ascension, the tenth sphere will be revealed. She will have, as her ascendant sphere of power, this tenth sphere of magic. The set will then be complete and the full knowledge of the universe available to spheric manipulation. She might even become the Oracle of the tenth sphere, given time to mature of course." The messenger explained.
"The tenth sphere? I thought such a thing was just a myth. As the conversion into a vampire destroys a mage's avatar, I take it her importance is political. Our Lord wishes her as an ally not as a recruit? It might prove difficult. Her brother is quite protective of her and very powerful. He defeated the Cardinal over San Diego." Strauss explained.
"Difficulties will abound around her. Her brother's protectiveness is almost certainly a part of his fate or was before he became this Exalted of the Sun he is now. You see her's is not a fate without complications. People will seek to use her, perhaps even enslave her, not the least of which is her grandfather." The messenger said with a knowing smirk.
The messenger waved for Strauss to rise and opened a briefcase.
"Her grandfather? The power of a mage does not often run in bloodlines. It is a singular gift or so I was led to believe." Strauss said as he rose.
"You were not led astray. However, this child is a being of exception. The identity of her grandfather will clear up part of the mystery. Read this, but do not speak about what you read. I do not have faith in the protections of your quaint little rustic chantry. Not when dealing with matters such as this." The messenger said handing over a folder.
Strauss looked through the folder. His face clouded as he read. A very paranoid itch began creeping between his shoulders.
"This is…." He paused and looked up at the messenger. "This is quite remarkable. When she ascends he will surely come for her. If he knows." Strauss said. The statement's tone bordering on a question.
"Oh, he knows. No one keeps secrets from such a man for so many years. I suspect he may have solved the same mysteries as Lord Tremere and come to the same conclusions. He very likely knows already the nature of the tenth sphere and the exact date of her ascendance. The mages that watch her are working only from the stars and the original prophecy. Their dates are highly vague. Did you know the girl was born at the stroke of midnight on the winter solstice? She was born in Nineteen-ninety-nine. She will therefore turn thirteen years of age, a number of mystical significance, on the twenty first day of December of this year." The messenger revealed.
"The date of the end of the thirteenth b'ak'tun. That is, highly interesting. This is the date she shall ascend then?" Strauss conjectured.
"Indeed. No doubt her brother's original fate was to guide and protect her. He would have seen she did not become a slave to the forces that seek to make her their puppet. In such a highly destined individual Tremere finds a potential ally. What are decades and centuries to him? In time, the girl will have power enough to repay, and repay many fold, any kindness done to her at such a critical juncture. She must be cultivated as an ally early nothing must be left to chance. We must be the first on site when she ascends. We must be the rescuers who save her from the forces that converge on her. This task will be spearheaded by you, Strauss. Congratulations. You have a chance few have ever had and none of them have ever been mere regents. You can be of service to the Master himself. His instructions are to befriend the girl, protect her from harm and win her brother over to our cause. Success will net you rewards beyond measuring; the personal gratitude of the Master himself not the least among them." The messenger beamed at him evilly.
Strauss reeled. "The brother! He despises us! He has reluctantly acknowledged that we are not his enemy, but that he wishes nothing to do with our kind thanks to the rabid Sabbat dogs!" He thought desperately for some compromise. His thoughts turned to Bree.
"I have found another of these Solar Exalted. I have some inroad with her that might come to fruition if we can aid her in gaining vengeance for her father's death. It is a matter in which we suspect Pentex was involved. We have circumstantial evidence that we can present to her to back up that claim." Strauss began to report.
"Another? Well fortune smiles on you! I'll stay another night so you can prepare a report on that as well. Regardless of what is going on with the boy, the Master will not tolerate failure in this, Maximilian. You will achieve results. I go to retire for the day. Make sure this folder is locked up as tight as you can manage in this humble abode." The messenger instructed, considering the chantry with a unimpressed gaze. "It would be quite unforgivable if it was to fall into the wrong hands." He added glibly as he walked off with a jaunty pace relishing Strauss' discomfort.
Strauss looked down at the folder and the nearly impossible mission he had been given. "No, today is not better than yesterday. It is far, far worse." He whispered to himself.
Kimura House, Inglewood
Willow had spent all day at school. For once, she didn't remember much of what had happened. Her perfect recollection didn't help her much in recalling what she had not paid attention to. The afternoon had been taken up by speeches from her mother. Lectures about responsibility and not trying to grow up too fast. Her mother had promised her things would be different. She said she would be spending more time with her. She had even said she was sorry Kashi had broken her laptop, but that it was something she would not have been allowed to keep. Her mother took an equally dim view of her accepting gifts from vampires.
In the late afternoon Willow had stolen outback and dug the bits of the laptop out of the trash while her mother was at work. She had checked it out. Not a component was salvageable. What hadn't been crushed or smashed had been shorted out and fried. Tired of it all, she got ready for bed. She sent out e-mails to Jeanette, Therese, Bertram and even the Tremere, Amy warning them Kashi would murder them for talking to her. She had cried a bit after that.
Now Willow sat in her room feeling empty and hollow inside. She rose from her chair smoothing her sleep shirt. Looking up, she saw her collection of stuffed toys and dolls. On one shelf was Strawberry Shortcake and her friends which had come from Bree. The shelf below held the Carebear known as Cheer Bear which Kashi had bought for her. He had given it to her in recompense when he took back his own hand-me-down toy, Mr. Pig, a stuffed version of the mascot from his favorite barbecue chain. Next to Cheer Bear was another Care Bear; Grumpy Bear which she had bought herself to aggravate him. She stopped perusing the shelf at the next doll; an old but very beautiful porcelain doll with a pensive, almost melancholy, expression on her face. Her one good eye was a green that matched Willow's own. The other empty socket had a crack going down from it that looked like a tear track. Willow had first seen her and the junk store where Banyan was shopping for Kashi some used Tee Ball equipment. Willow had been drawn to the doll whom she'd named Kimberly. The owner had sold her to Banyan cheap. Kashi maintained it was because she was creepy and freakish. Adjectives Willow had heard him use for her too. She was not a doll meant for sleeping with. Even so when Willow felt at her worst, during the rare times she felt like she couldn't go on, she had carefully taken Kimberly off the shelf and slept with her. Somehow Kimberly had always made everything better.
When she was younger, Willow had decided Kimberly was magical. Then she learned magic wasn't real. Now it seemed magic was real. Amy even uploaded some books on magic to the now dead laptop. She had told Willow almost anyone could use certain weak magics. Now it seemed she'd never learn. Amy couldn't talk to her due to Kashi's threats. If Kashi found out she was looking into magic on her own he would get mad. She thought she knew why. He didn't want anyone else to be special or in the spotlight. Like most things in life; be it their mom's attention, the family budget or here and now interacting with the supernatural, Kashi, it seems, felt there was only room for Kashi. No worthless little sister could be allowed to detract from his greatness.
Silent tears again leaked down her face. Maybe some of Kimberley's old magic could help her. Willow took Kimberly down off her shelf and climbed into bed. In the quiet dark of the room her tears subsided as she drifted off to sleep.
Unseen to any, tears of a black fluid leaked out of Kimberly's hollow eye. Only to vanish into thin grey smoke upon drying.
The End
I hope you enjoyed this. I will be taking a break from Kashi and Willow, but I will return to them later. For now I am going back four years to tell the story of the early days of the Terrestrial Exalted, Dragon Blooded as those in the know will call them. Lacking memories of the past they take on the name given to them by the media; the Manifested.
