As Nakela passed through the hole in the collapsed wall, she dove into the shallow water of the sewer, vanishing beneath it's slimy surface. The Crawlerlings turned and scurried through small cracks in the walls as the rest of the shifters fell back behind the saber-toothed tigon. Mara opened her jaws wide and gave a deafening roar as she ran forward. In doing so, she belched out a massive fireball from her gullet that flew rapidly toward the hole, and the vampire.
Gren yelled out in surprise and fear at seeing the sudden ball of flame heading straight for him. He was unable to follow whatever Nakela had just done, and it now looked like he was on his own. Burning through a bit of the potent shifter blood, he used his Celerity to increase his speed, so that he could flee as fast as he possibly could. The fireball hit the wall and exploded, singeing Gendel's back as he ran and collapsing part of the tunnel. He couldn't go back now, only forward. As he turned a corner, he found himself running straight into a massive spider's web, extremely sticky and with strands as strong as steel.
"What the hell...!"
Gren grunted in surprise, ignoring the pain in his singed back for the moment. He didn't struggle, knowing that it would tangle him even worse in the sticky web. Wondering if he could cut through it, he used his sharp claws to try and saw at the strands. All it did was get his hands even more stuck as the webbing held him tightly. But then he found a new problem as the web began to catch fire and burn, with him trapped inside of it. He then heard a laughter behind him. Turning around, he saw a horrible creature with the body and head of a giant spider, and the torso of a homid, step forward seemingly out of no-where. The beast held Nakela, seriously wounded, in a clawed hand.
The vampire hissed as he started to panic from the flames. All vampires had an instinctual fear of flames, thought after what Moira had done to him several days ago he was able to just slightly push back the fear, forcing himself to remain as calm as possible so that he could try using one of his other Disciplines, one that he'd never attempted before.
Concentrating hard, the Gangrel vampire tried to mentally call out, summoning forth a swarm of sewer rats to aid him. But his attempt failed, as his own vitae refused to respond. He couldn't use any of his blood, and felt his own vampiric strength beginning to wane. The webs burned, coming loose from the walls, but he was still trapped in their sticky embrace and surrounded by the fire. That is, until a wave of filthy water suddenly rushed up to cover him, dousing the flames.
The were-spider looked in surprise at the sudden surge of water and hissed angrily. He glared hatefully, then suddenly sank his own long fangs deep into the flesh of Nakela's neck, and began to drain her blood. With the fire out and the web released from the walls, Grendel again tried to struggle in an attempt to use his claws to cut himself free. He snarled fiercely at the monster that held the were-dragon.
"Hey! Get yer ugly face off her!"
The spider ignored him, and he still was unable to use any of his disciplines, his blood feeling very heavy in his body. Looking up, he could see a storm drain in the ceiling, tiny beams of morning sunlight streaming through the bars. He yelled out even louder, hoping that by some miracle someone could perhaps hear him.
"I'm talking ta you fly eater! Let her go!"
Grendel suddenly felt something very strong grab him, and jerk him backward. Everything spun, and he felt like his body was being pulled through some sort of thick, resistant substance. It lasted for nearly a second before he was then thrown onto the ground, several feet from where he had been a moment before. The remainder of the webbing lay on the ground where he had been, and none of it was any longer stuck to him.
The spider released it's grip on the were-dragon and stared in shock. In the next instant, the unseen force slammed hard against the spider, throwing it back several yards, and into the putrid water with a large splash. Nakela fell to the ground, unconscious and very pale. The vampire heard a strange feminine voice echo in his head, one that he didn't recognize.
Run you fool!
He didn't need to be told twice as he jumped to his feet and ran toward the unconscious female shifter. Grendel quickly picked her up and slung her light form over his shoulder. He then turned and ran again down the tunnel. He had no idea where he was going, but right now all that mattered was simply getting as far away from that were-spider, and the rest of the Fallen shifters, as he could.
As he ran, he felt his vitae flowing again. Whatever force was stopping him from using it was apparently dissipating. Nakela was completely unconscious, and her skin felt very cold, far colder than it should be for anything still alive. The vamp sighed in relief at having his Disciplines back, though he was also quite concerned at the way that Nak's skin felt.
As he ran, he looked up at every possible manhole cover and sewer grate above him, looking for one that did not show ray of sunlight coming through them. He growled, cursing his rotten luck at the sun just coming at when he finally was able to escape from that Hellhole. The strange voice then whispered in his head again.
Take the next left... Go to the grating...
Grendel wondered if he was just being lead into another trap, but for now he did as the eerie voice told him. Turning the corner, he saw the grating up ahead in the ceiling. the tunnel was dark, showing no hint of morning light yet. He stopped just below the grate to check on the were-dragon again.
"C'mon... This ain't no time ta be taking a nap darlin'..."
The vampire gently placed two fingers to her throat, but her skin still felt as cold as death, and she was barely even breathing. Even worse, he couldn't even feel her heartbeat. The voice then echoed again.
Move fast, vampire. She can't regenerate in her birth-form, and if she isn't healed soon, she'll die. Not even the Bane can save it's host now.
Grendel grunted and put her back over his shoulder again before climbing the ladder to the grating above. It wouldn't move, so he shoved himself up, ramming his other shoulder into the grate to force it open enough so that he could get through. The grating led up into an alley, but one that faced north-south, and the buildings were tall, blocking the sunlight. The buildings to both sides, like many of them in this older part of the city, were fairly run-down. Only a few yards away he could see a boarded door leading into one of them. The tabby quickly ran for it, feeling his skin prickling even in the shade, and he simply used his body as a battering ram to smash through it, collapsing to the floor on the other side of it.
He found himself in the back storage room of an abandoned office building. The air in front of him swirled, and a tall form stepped out of the mists. The creature's fur was pitch-black with a deep red dorsal mane running from between it's long pointed ears down to a little past mid-back. Three golden hoop earrings were in the were-jackal's right ear, and two in her left. Her small amount of clothing was made of gold, gemstones, and white cloth. Pupil-less golden eyes looked down at the vampire and she moved to kneel down beside the unconscious dragon. Gren noticed that she was the same jackal that had been chasing them with the rest of the shifter pack back in the dungeon.
He backed away as the shifter kneeled down, giving her a bit of room. He had no idea who she was, why she was helping them, or who's side she was even on... But right now he really didn't care, as he was simply glad to finally be away from Moira and the other Fallen. The jackal checked Nakela's pulse, shaking her head. Her clawed right hand began to glow blue, and she lightly pressed it to Nak's chest. The glow began to spread across the smaller female's body, and her wounds slowly began to close. Grendel leaned back against the wall, watching the shifter for a moment with a small amount of curiosity and concern. He then groaned, closing his eyes. He was beginning to feel the strain of his escape, having never used so many of his Disciplines in such a short amount of time, and it was a fight for him to stay awake as well with the sun now up.
The jackal pulled her hand away once the wounds were healed just enough that Nakela would survive. But she purposely left the other shifter weak. As the dragon began to slowly wake up, the jackal quickly unhooked a golden chain from around her waist, then bound Nak's wrists with it. Gren opened his eyes just in time to see her securing the chains to the kat-form dragon.
" Wha...What are ya doing?"
"Do you really think that I'm going to fully heal a Fallen dragon, just so she can turn around and attack us? I don't think so."
"A Fallen...? So that's why they let us escape so easily..."
The vampire growled in irritation. He knew that something wasn't right. Even despite the fire and the were-spider, their escape was just far too easy. Now he finally knew why.
"We need ta take her back ta her Pride. I... need ta tell them about what they're facing..."
"Ha! Those jaguars would sooner rip you and her both apart. So long as that Bane is in her, the Hellcat will never let her get anywhere near the others, and especially not her kittens. No, it has to be exorcised first. Then Sarita might be more inclined to listen to what you have to say..."
Nakela groaned softly as she began to wake up. She tried to move, but looked down to her hands, realizing that her wrists were bound.
"What... What's going on..?"
"We escaped...No thanks ta you."
The tabby growled coldly at her, then turned his attention back to the jackal.
"Can ya get the bane out of her... And will we be safe here?"
Nakela then laughed, a cold, chilling sound. Though her voice was the same, the darkness in it was all too obvious, and quite disconcerting.
"Safe? No place is safe. Not anymore. They already know. They're already coming."
The other shifter pinned her long ears back in irritation. She knew that the dragon was right.
"Yes... No doubt Bat-Caller is already tracking us."
Grendel looked at the jackal, a bit confused. He then looked around the warehouse, noting the thin beams of sunlight coming through the boards on the windows.
"Bat-Caller? Which one is that? If... If they attack us, I won't be any good like this. Not with it being daylight outside."
"Meka Bat-Caller, the Fallen Balam. The black jaguar. She's a tracker, and a damned good one."
"Let her come! A Strider's no match against a Balam! She'll rip you both to shreds!"
Gren hissed fiercely as he turned and snapped at the bound female before turning his attention back to the other werebeast.
"Shut up you! So what do we do Miss Jackal?"
"Ghost. My name's Ghost. And we need to keep moving. Up. I can ward the upper floors of this building, so we should be safe At least until sunset, but then I'll be able to perform the exorcism. Besides, Bat-Caller won't dare face me one-on-one. Even she knows better than to mess with an 'Eater'..."
The jackal gave a dark smile, and Nakela gasped, visibly paling at her words. Grendel simply nodded. He could tell that this shifter was different from the others, and would follow her lead for the time being.
"Alright, I'll be able ta get some rest then too. I need ta sleep..."
"Bring her then. I'm going ahead to set up the Wards."
She then stood up and shifted to her lupus form. Now that Gren could more clearly see the shifter's animal shape, he could see that she was a tall, lean, pure black canine resembling a cross between a jackal and a sight hound. Even in her animal form, she still had the dark red dorsal mane, the earrings, the collar around her neck, and the wristbands. The lean canine turned and ran swiftly toward, and up the stairs at the other end of the large room.
"C'mon you!"
The male hissed as he grabbed Nakela by the chains on her wrists, jerking the were-dragon up and once again slinging her over his broad shoulder. She hissed hatefully, but didn't struggle. Once the jackal was up the stairs, she spoke softly to the vampire, hoping that she wasn't overheard by the other shifter's keen ears.
"You idiot. You have no idea what she is... Think she's helping you? Think again! She's got her own plans. She's what's called an 'Eater of the Dead'."
"Does it really look like I give a damn right now? She's not the one that's tried ta break me, hurt me, or seduce me yet! Right now, I trust her more than you!"
"Don't be a fool! She kills others... mortals, shifters, vampires... and eats their brains! She does this to gain their knowledge! I don't know what her game is, but if she's somehow managed to trick Mara Ten-Card, then she's got some evil plan in mind here."
"Says you... Yer one of the Fallen now. You'd say anything ta try and manipulate me more... I'm not listening ta any of it. And if ya hadn't noticed, what little knowledge I have ain't worth a hill o' beans ta her."
Nakela glared coldly, but then the glare then turned to a slight, dark grin.
"Not for a vampire. But for a former Enforcer... She's going to want to know everything she can about this world."
"I was a foot-patrol kat. Not much info there either. She'd be able ta learn a lot more from your mind than mine."
Once he finally reached the top of the stairs in the upper floor of the warehouse, Grendel simply dumped her onto the bare floor. She growled slightly when she hit the hard floor, but then gave another dark smile as she looked back up at him as he started to walk off.
"So much for trying to be a 'good vampire'. Sounds like you're starting to turn more towards Moira's side after all."
The vampire suddenly stiffened, whirling around on her with a fierce look in his slate-colored eyes.
"Look who's talking! I'd rather die than ta serve her or those Fallen!"
"Keep up that yelling, and you may just get your wish, vampire."
The black were-jackal, again in her crinos form, materialized out of the shadows as she stepped back out of the Umbra and into the physical realm.
"I've completed the Wards, and there is even a Lune willing to help in the exorcism. As soon as the sun sets, I'll return to perform the ritual."
She then pulled out a small cloth and walked back toward Nakela. The dragon struggled as best she could, but was still far too weak to resist the were-jackal tying the cloth over her mouth. Grendel sighed with relief.
"Thanks. Ya read my mind. She was starting ta annoy me."
He walked over to a nearby corner, making sure he was no-where near the windows. The last thing that he needed was to be burned 'alive' in his sleep. Sitting down, he leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, allowing sleep to finally take over him. Ghost ignored the vampire and the bound Mokole as she prepared for the exorcism. The mystic drew a pentagram on the floor in chalk, surrounded by numerous strange symbols. Some were Garou glyphs, others were Egyptian hieroglyphs.
It took her nearly two hours to prepare, but once she had finally finished, she then walked back over to Nakela and forcibly grabbed her, dragging her over to a nearby pillar. Nak hissed through the gag and tried to struggle, but she was still no match for the crinos-form Garou. Ghost secured her tightly to the cement pillar, making certain there was no way the smaller female would be able to get loose until she returned. Satisfied, the jackal once again took her lupus form, and disappeared back into the Spirit World.
.
"I knew we couldn't trust that damned jackal!"
The massive crinos werewolf threw the large oakwood table hard across the room. Meka and Andrii both had to move quickly out of it's way as it flew past them to smash against the stone wall. Even Moira took a few wary steps back away from the raging Garou, with Chigger cowering at her feet whining. Mara and Lukus both stood calmly against the far wall in their homid forms. The tall ebony-skinned human spoke up with an uncaring, detached voice.
"I knew there was something wrong with that Egyptian wolf. Gypsies like her arn't known for wanting to join with larger groups unless there's some ulterior motive in it."
Mara nodded her head, considering.
"Indeed. I suspected she was up to something, but wasn't sure exactly what. No matter. Nakela is one of us now, and even if the Theurge manages to exorcise the Asura, it's still too late. The plan worked anyway, and now we know for sure about Ghost-Shadows."
The petite vampire looked curiously over at the leader of the shifters.
"Hang on, you're saying that allowing Grendel to escape was so that you could find out who's side that Ghost was really on?"
"Correct. She was far too eager to come to this world, and I suspected that she had never actually turned to a true Fallen. The scent of Cahlash is on her, no doubt, but it's too faint."
"Great. So... when do we go get them back?"
"The sun's up. I'm sure you're feeling it, so we might want to wait until nightfall. Unless you want to risk the vamp getting torched by the daylight when we go to retrieve him. Accidents do tend to happen you know..."
She gave a cold glance to some of the other shifters, particularly the two larger wolves, Khyrishks and Andrii. Mara knew that the two Garou would much rather just kill the vampires than work with them, and she really didn't trust them either. The two wolves, particularly the metis Theurge, had been trouble since they first joined her 'pack', and the werecat never fully trusted Garou anyway.
Moira certainly could feel the presence of the sun in the sky above her underground lair. Vampires tended to sleep during daylight hours, and it was a fight for her to even remain awake right now. All of her childer had already gone to sleep as soon as the sun had risen. She really didn't like the idea of the escapees being gone for an entire day though. Even if Grendel couldn't do anything in the daylight, she still didn't trust that Nakela, Fallen or not, wouldn't still find a way to get to, or at least contact, the Swat Kats and the werejaguars.
"You're right that I want Gren back in one piece, and not char broiled, but do we really need to wait an entire day?"
The black jaguar flicked her ears back as she moved to stand beside the human-form tigon.
Ghost-Shadows has erected a Ward around where they're hiding. It will be difficult to penetrate, but will fade with the setting of the sun. I found where they're hiding, but was unable to breach the Ward.
"Great. So... All we can do is wait. Well, in that case, I might as well sleep. But as soon as the sun sets, I want to know exactly what is going on!"
Turning on her heel, the silver-furred she-kat stalked out of the room. Chigger, still in his lupus form, ran quickly out behind her. The other shifters watch them leave, then Mara turned her attention back to the pack.
"Ghost-Shadows will no doubt perform the exorcism as soon as the sun sets. That's something we can't risk interrupting, or the consequences could be dire. We'll wait a few hours, then go to retrieve them. The Asura did it's job, but now Blackwater is one of us anyway, so we need not worry too much about that. Let the vampire put his guard down a bit. Meka, I want you to keep an eye on that building. The instant you notice any of them trying to leave tonight, I want to know. It'll be better to go in if Ghost isn't there. And remember, I want both of them in one piece!"
She turned her head to glare at the were-spider coldly. Lukus merely shrugged.
"Ghost-Shadows knows how to heal. I figured that by making it appear as if Blackwater really were dying, it'd make the vampire more desperate. It worked."
"Yes, it worked. But we still weren't completely sure about Ghost! If she didn't heal Blackwater, for any reason, then the Mokole would be dead now! I didn't put all these pieces out on the board just to have her removed so easily! You should know that!"
"The risk was necessary, and it worked. The Mokole is healed, and the traitor revealed."
Mara gave a low growl, but she knew that trying to argue with the Ananasi was pointless. The spider was simply too cold and emotionless to be swayed to anyone's point of view by any method. He couldn't even be argued with because he always said everything so matter-of-factly. With a deep sigh, the human woman simply turned and walked out, the black jaguar following behind her. With a casual shrug, Lukus also left. The two remaining Garou watched the others leave, then glanced to each other. The deformed metis gave a cruel smile to his white-furred packmate.