Chapter Eleven:

Keep On Dancing

Day Forty-Five…

Location: Nosferatu Hideout, Hollywood…

The first thing she noticed was the long table in the middle of the make-shift, underground room. Then the two skeletons dressed up; a man and a woman.

"By the clack-smack cracking of my thumbs, something wickedly powerful comes this way," a mysterious, croaky voice hissed through the shadows, setting Zatanna on edge. "I don't remember seeing you on the guest list for the dinner party…"

Zatanna swallowed the lump in her throat. "I didn't realise there was meant to be an invitation. I was under the impression that you were already expecting me," she responded in a cautious tone.

A soft laughter echoed through the barley lit underground room. "Cast and crew only boss."

She was blind; having no visual on which she assumed was Gary. This did not bode well with the neonate and she growled in frustration. "Show yourself, ombra demone."

"Maybe I'm in your head, Lady Rogue."

Zatanna rolled her eyes at the stupid nickname that seemed to be common knowledge amongst the Nosferatu.

"I just want to talk to you."

"We are talking. But you aren't listening, boss."

She clenched her fists at her sides, taking a calming breath before surveying the room with caution. "All right, fine. I'm listening, Gary. I'm just here about the Ankaran Sarcophagus."

"You don't say," Gary hissed in a sarcastic tone, his voice closer to her left. "Wake up, boss! Who do you think you're dealing with? Why else would LaCroix send you on this snipe hunt?"

A chill ran down her spine as his breath was against the left ear. "Oh, that's right….I know you work for the prince."

Zatanna spun around, glaring around the room. "I work for no one," she spat angrily.

"You're a long way from home, and neither Nines nor Isaac have any domain down here. Tread carefully," he warned her and she frowned before her eyes opened wide.

"So you know everything then."

"You're neither with the Camarilla, nor with the Anarchs but you believe in their cause more," he chuckled in a dry tone. "You have entertained us…of course we'd keep tabs on you, boss."

Zatanna crossed her arms over her chest, her jaw clenched. "I'm glad to have done so. I believe it's common courtesy to show yourself since you have seen me."

Gary seemed to pause. "Are you sure, boss? You don't want my image in your subconscious. It's the stuff nightmares are made from."

"I've already seen two Nosferatu in my newborn days. It won't bother me, I can assure you," Zatanna said quietly, sympathy for the hideous appearances of the Nosferatu. She could only imagine the amount of rejection they receive from the other Kindred due to their appearances.

"Behind you, boss," Gary whispered as she turned around, not reacting as he had expected.

"Thank you," Zatanna bowed her head politely before placing a hand on her hip. "Now where's the sarcophagus?"

"Where, where, where did it go? That thing gets around more than Mae West," he mused before studying her. "Why, might I ask, should I give you that information?"

Well, fuck.

She honestly had nothing to bargain and Gary saw this. He chuckled at her obvious dilemma before clicking his tongue and waving a finger in front of her.

"I know where the prize is, there's nothing that doesn't get leaked down here. Tell me, boss, have you ever gone up against a Kuei-jin?"

"No, but I know what they are," the Tremere answered, frowning slightly. Beckett had given her the information in exchange for what she had uncovered when the Ankaran Sarcophagus was under her protection.

They were vampires but not like the Kindred. They were shape-shifting assholes from the east and not to be messed with.

"They've got it, don't they?" she questioned and he shrugged his shoulders, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'd place my bets on that, boss. You see, I sent an agent, Barabus, to snoop around in Chinatown…do a little hacking, make a few contacts…but he hasn't been calling lately, and it's breaking my heart," Gary informed her bitterly, glaring at the floor as if it caused him some sort of pain. "You go to Chinatown and get him back and I'll tell you what you need."

Zatanna's shoulders sank a little, a tired sigh escaping her lips. "I'm everyone's errand girl, huh?"

"Only because you do it so well."

"That's not exactly a comfort."

oOo

Day Forty-Five…

Location: Isaac's Barony, Hollywood…

Isaac hummed, his chin resting on his hands as he sat at his desk inside the jewelry shop. Upon her return, the Baron of Hollywood had questioned her on the situation. The young neonate informed him of her meeting with Gary and where she was off to next.

"The Kuei-jin are not to be trifled with, Miss Ible," Isaac sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Zatanna was currently sitting in one of the red, velvet arm chairs with her legs hanging off of the side. "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Yes, because I've had time to scheme to my heart's content," Zatanna responded, sarcasm dripping out of her teeth. Isaac just looked at her, unimpressed with her response as the door behind them opened.

She glanced over her shoulder, only to fix her gaze at the floor in an effort to hide her face with her long, brown locks.

"Isaac what the hell is going on?" a familiar, husky voice snapped at the baron. "I get shoved into a taxi by Jack and dumped here. You better have some explaining to do."

Isaac regarded her for a moment before turning his gaze back onto the Brujah. "For your own protection, you are to remain here."

"What the fuck is going on?"

She couldn't take it anymore; hearing his voice after nearly a week….after the way he had just left her alone in the sewers the way he did. Her mind reverted back to his last words:

I accidentally used passion. It may have seemed consensual but you didn't remember. In all sense, I raped you…

That's just the thing, kid. You think it wasn't because that's what Presence does and I can't taint you…

Like I wasn't already tainted, a bitter thought passed through her mind as she stood up.

"There's a blood hunt on you, by order of the Camarilla prince, LaCroix," Zatanna informed him, keeping her back to him as he fists clenched at her sides.

"Who the hell is this?" Nines demanded and Isaac glanced at her again, a questioning look in his eye. She gave him a slow nod of her head and Isaac's eyes flickered back onto the Brujah.

"An ally of mine and a friend of yours I believe," Isaac answered Nines as she slowly turned around, facing him.

His eyes widened.

"Zatanna? What the hell happened to you?" Nines whispered and she crossed her arms over her chest, leaning against the back of the chair.

"I freed a gargoyle," the Tremere answered with a shrug of her shoulders. She noticed the slight bags under his eyes. "You look like shit."

Nines shook his head, still trying to process as to why she was there. "Why are you here?"

"I had some business to take care of," she answered before walking past and headed for the door. "Thanks again, Isaac."

oOo

Nines watched her go before narrowing his eyes at the baron. "Why was she here in Hollywood?"

"What makes you believe that I am aware of her business here?"

The Brujah's face twisted into a scowl. "Because you of all people wouldn't let someone working for the Camarilla into your territory. You hate them just as much as I do."

The corners of Isaac's mouth twitched slightly as he inspected Nines with amusement in his gaze. "And yet, you seem to be friends with her…close even."

When he made no move to agree or deny the baron's statement, Isaac sighed. It was clear to him that they cared for each other but something was preventing them from expanding on their feelings. Whether it were something horrible or their own stubborn behaviors separating them; Isaac could not help but pity those around the Brujah and Tremere.

"She had requested for you to be brought under my protection," Isaac explained, standing up from his desk. "Do not let her request be in vain, Nines."

Nines didn't say anything as he watched the baron leave.


Translation:

ombra demone - shadow demon

Song: Keep On Dancing from Barbie and the Pink Shoes. Do not judge. I blame the kids I babysit who got it stuck in my head and made me use it for this chapter. Anyway, sorry for the short chapter but I felt I had to end it there for this one. Rate and review :)