DISCLAIMER:
I own nothing. The Clan names, discipline names and structure, titles and other such things are copyrighted to White Wolf Game Studio. Neither I, nor this story, are affiliated with White Wolf or any of their associates or subsidiaries, nor do I receive any monetary compensation from the publication of this narrative.
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Chapter 25: Questions
Stephan sits on the cot in his cell, his hands are loosely clasped and leaning forward with his weight resting on his forearms which press into his thighs. His nails are now measure an inch in length from quick to tip. He's has always hated these claw like nail, which need daily failing, but now he's thinking they might have their use. His shoulder length hair is stringy and hangs in his face, as he mutters quietly to himself. His dark eyes are fixed on a seemingly random spot in his cell. He has reached out and found that small spark in the dark that is Lolli, but to his dismay it's faint and doesn't respond to him. Stephan knows something is wrong, but is powerless to get to her. Several days have passed since he 'found' her, or has it only been hours? It's impossible to tell time now. He can't even tell how regularly the medical staff has been arriving in attempts to convert him back to Ventrue. The last visit resulted in a broken nose, several dislocated fingers and a broken arm.
The medical staff no longer comes alone and the guards aren't afraid to use their Taser, sometimes without provocation. When the door opens Stephan's body doesn't move he simply cranes his neck to glare at the intruder. His mumbles never stop, nor are they loud enough for anyone to understand what it is he's saying.
"Mr. Villos," the doctor's air of authority is diminished by the cast and black eyes. "You will come with us."
"Why does it think that is a good idea," still staring at the hated doctor, his eyes never blink. It unnerved people when he referred to them as 'it' and does give him a measure of satisfaction when they cringe.
"Lady Peltier has some question," the injured man admits.
"I must decline," his eyes return to the floor. "I am simply too busy today. Make an appointment with my assistant," he waves a dismissive hand. "Perhaps she can pencil it in next week."
"This is not a request," the doctor signals for two guards to move in in order to remove Stephan by force if necessary.
With a heavy and annoyed sigh, Stephan rises to his feet and makes a show of straightening his hopeless rumpled and stained shirt. He takes in both of the guards as he tries to smooth his disheveled hair back away from his expressionless face. It's with deliberate and slow movements the he pops not only every joint in his fingers, a snub to the doctor, but also his neck. Raising his hands in a display of surrender he has the added bonus of his shoulders popping which further aggravates the doctor.
"Very well," Stephan questions, referencing the locked cage.
The armed and armoured men are suspicious and exercise great care with opening the cell and pulling the ghoul out. The doctor retreats into the hallways as Stephan is pushed out of the holding area. Four more guards stand ready, eager to send an electrical charge through Stephan's body if he so much as breaths wrong.
"Keep your hands where we can see them," one of the guards commands. Stephan's face is devoid of any emotion as his hands remain at shoulder level. They lead him through a maze of identical corridors until they reach a simple metal door with a plaque identifying the room beyond as the 'Examination Room'. One of the men behind him push him into the sterile smelling, brightly lit chamber. Two guards remain outside the room while the other four keep a careful eye over their charge.
It's a large area with cabinets on his left and a small inexpensive desk and empty chair to his right. The desk is turned so that anyone sitting in the vacant chair could easily acknowledge those entering. Behind the desk sit a series of three bookshelves with a plethora of books and binders. Just beyond the bookshelves rests a small mobile medical that Stephan doesn't recognize.
Across from him he can see several more medical machines, all on wheels waiting to be used. And in the middle of the room lays a body beneath a sheet on metal gurney flanked by Peltier and Antonio on side and slender brunette woman in a lab coat on the other. Stephan keeps his gaze on Antonio.
"We have questions," the dark haired woman began.
"I have many answers, but why does it think I have the answers it wants?"
"Because the questions are in regards to her," the middle aged woman removed the sheet to reveal the still form of Lolli in little more than thin hospital gown. The guards tense, preparing from some type of retaliation. It was more willpower than habit that prevented him from displaying any type of reaction beyond a casual glance.
"What questions does it have, I wonder," he returns his dead gaze to the doctor.
"Have you had sexual relations with her," the nameless doctor casually gestures to her right while her other hand pushes the wire framed glasses up her nose.
"No," his answer is quick and lucid. "I've never had sexual relations with Peltier."
"I have a meeting tonight," the expression on Peltier's face is not one of amusement as she checks her gold and diamond studded watch. "And I literally do not have time for this. Antonio."
Stephan's dead gaze moves to his former associate.
"I'm sure you remember how this works," Antonio has a dark and victorious grin on his face when brings a small tray with an assortment of sharp instruments into view. He rests the tray on the gurney and the doctor repeats her question, this time specifically referring to the Malkavian on the table.
"A gentleman does not reveal such things about a lady," he'd survived Vincent Bruno's cruelty; he could withstand Peltier's torture. Antonio looks to his Regnant who nods in approval. Grinning ear to ear he picks up a device that resembles bolt cutters only smaller in size and approaches Stephan. Stephan prepares for pain, but his blood runs cold when Antonio turns and brings the device over to Lolli with the intention of cutting off one of her toes.
"Stop!"
Peltier quickly places a hand on Antonio's shoulder, halting his actions.
"That is an irrelevant question, given our current accommodations. Why ask?"
"Show him." Peltier again glances at her watch, her time crunch is the result of her hasty decision. Disappointment is obvious in Antonio's posture as he backs away from the Malkavian. The doctor wheels over an ultrasound machine and unceremoniously flips up the bottom of Lolli's gown, exposing her genitals to all in the room. Stephan bites back a growl as the woman moves a probe along his lover's abdomen until she finds what she's looking for and turns the monitor to show Stephan.
He stares at the grainy image, his mind struggling to make sense of the fuzzy picture before him. His eyes widen as the implication sets in. His hand reaches toward the monitor. Lolli is pregnant.
"This is a trick," his voice is low as if to convince himself. "Kindred do not procreate in the same manner as humans," his eyes never leave the screen. "Kindred are sterile."
"This is no trick," the doctor assures. As if on cue the fetus twitches.
"I'm the father," his eyes dart to the prone woman on the table and back to the monitor.
"That has yet to be determined," Peltier sighs and again looks at her watch. "As much as I would enjoy continuing this little chat, I must leave. Dr. Birch, continue and have a report ready for me by tomorrow evening. Antonio," she turns to address her ghoul. "Assist Dr. Birch and try not to disappoint me."
"Of course, milady," he bows his head respectfully to her before returning his attention to Stephan. Peltier signals for one of the guards to escort her as she leaves the room, her heels seem to echo in the room.
"Has she always had the ability to eat human food," Dr. Birch continues as she powers down the ultrasound.
"Not to my knowledge."
"How long ago did she start eating food," she pulls down Lolli's gown.
"I cannot answer that correctly without knowing today's date," it's a partial truth he could easily give them the date but he needs to know how long they've been captive.
She eyes him suspiciously but provides him the date. Immediately he can hear Lolli's voice excitedly squeal that it's been 10 days. Her voice is so loud and clear he jumps. His attention snaps to Lolli, he's half expecting to see her doing her 'happy dance' instead she's very still on the table. He quickly looks at the others in the room, who give no indication that they heard her but are now very intently watching him.
"Ten weeks ago," he offers no explanation for his reaction.
"Has she experienced any sudden changes in mood?"
He cocks his head and studies the woman for several seconds before realizing she had asked a serious question. "She is Malkavian Dr. Birch. I challenge you to find one of her clan who does not display sudden mood changes."
"Fair enough," the woman concedes. "What about her appetite? Has she consumed more vitea within the last 10 weeks?"
Stephan pauses, considering the question while he stares at his beloved. He realizes that this may be his only chance for escape and is trying to come up with a plan. He's been in this facility only a handful of times with his former Regnant and he thinks he can recall the layout, but that was more than a decade ago. There are three guards in the room, all with Tasers and the instructions that he isn't to be killed. One is directly behind him while the other two flank him. If he moves fast enough those flanking him will stun each other while the third will disable Antonio, this should leave Stephan to only have to worry about the third and the doctor.
"Mr. Villos," she taps her clipboard when his pause becomes too long.
"Not that I can recall," He's careful with his phrasing as to explain his long silence. Lolli had taught him how to heighten his senses; he returns his gaze to Lolli and focuses on his hearing listening carefully for the number of hearts beating. He can feel his Regnant's pleasure at him using the lessons she's taught. He hears six hearts beating and he begins placing names to pulsing sounds: one is his, another's is Antonio's, and a third is Lolli's. He slowly turns his attention to Dr. Birch who's is making a note on her clipboard, he can't yet fine tune his hearing to just one person but he can watch to see if she's breathing. Before she asks her next question he knows who the real threat in the room is. She asks several more questions which he answers as honestly yet as vaguely as possible. This interview lasts for nearly an hour, all the while his mind continues to work and he looks for an opening. A few seconds is all he needs, but the guards are too alert, reacting to his every twitch.
"I believe that's all the questions I have at this moment."
"I have a good understanding of human biology, but can you explain, or theorize, how she became pregnant," he's stalling now, fine tuning the details.
"When a woman is Embraced the change is so violent that her body will abort the fetus. My current theory is that she had ovulated before she was turned and because her lungs and heart never stopped beating the egg was in a type of suspended animation. But I have no facts yet to confirm this."
"What will happen now?"
"I hardly think that's any concern of yours," she waves to the guards dismissing them. He knows exactly what that means. Once the baby is born it will be subjected to tests and experimentations, and Lolli will most likely be killed. If he lives, he'll never see the child.
"No," he manages half a step before the guards flanking him grab his arms. One of the guards prepares to stun him, but Antonio stops him, enjoying the anguish in Stephan's eyes.
"I'll go!" Stephan stops struggling. "I'll go peacefully back to my cell, just don't hurt her." His voice is calmer, hoping to ease the men holding him into lowering their guard providing him the opening he desperately needs. The guards look to Antonio and the doctor for instruction.
"It's a trick," Antonio's eyes narrow. "Stun him."
"No," if he's stunned he's helpless and will lose this one and only chance, but before the guards can follow through with the order the lights go out in the facility.
..~~~**~~~..
She sits on the floor of Chris' office; her eyes never leave the brown carpet. She was beautiful once and she can't let go of that memory. She remembers how her hair would shine in the sun, a deep red with natural rich amber highlight and marvelous deep ruby low lights. Most of her hair has fallen out she still has a few clumps strewn about her scalp. Her once porcelain smooth complexion is now scarred not only from the failed attack on the Kindred of Las Vegas, but also from the Nosferatu blood coursing through her veins. She tries not to think about her teeth and clings to the memory that they were once white, straight and perfect. By some twisted perversion of luck her eyes are still brilliant blue eyes shine as vibrantly as when she was beautiful. They were and still are her most remarkable feature.
"Oh my," Peltier holds a perfumed, silk handkerchief to her nose as she walks into the meeting. "Her aroma is surprisingly unique, isn't it?"
Kit barely manages to suppress a grin; he's enjoying the emotional torture this fledgling is going through.
"So this is the survivor," Chris uses this statement to call the meeting to order.
"Wait," Ravenscar looks about the room. "Where's Frank?"
"He has a personal issue to deal with and will not be joining us tonight."
A young woman quietly opens the door and slips in. She's visibly shaken and stands by the door wringing her hands waiting for Chris to acknowledge her.
"Is this important," Chris sighs in annoyance.
"I know you said no interruptions once the meeting starts but," she glances over her shoulder at the door. "There's a Jeremiah Conway here and a small group who insists they need to announce their presence. They're rather…creepy."
"Conway," Chris is intrigued.
"Who," Jack English, the new Gangrel Primogen questions.
"He's Lolli's Sire's ghoul. My curiosity is piqued. Show them in."
The woman leaves the room and a few moments later Jeremiah, followed by two women who's appearance horrifies many in the room.
The woman on his left stands just over 4' 6" her pale skin has a sickly yellowish sheen to it and stringy, dull dark colored hair hangs in front of her glassy sunken eyes. Clothing hands on her emaciated form, her crazed eyes scan the room studying the faces and staring into the eyes of those around her. It's apparent in those dark crazed orbs that she regards all of them as both predator and prey. Her head continually tilts from one side to the other, as if the scrawny neck lacks the strength to hold it up.
The other woman is easily 6' tall and well proportioned, with her head proudly held high. Her blonde hair pulled back into a single braid, her grey eyes shine with lucid and complex thoughts. She wears a pair of black cargo pants and a simple black tank top. Her exposed arms, neck and face reveal the depths of her madness. Her arms look to be a patchwork of her flesh and those from a large variety of other people. Some of the patches have an odd silvery scale look to them associated with Psoriasis.
"My sincerest apology sir," Jeremiah walks up the Chris; he removes his hat and drops to one knee. At Chris' order the ghoul stands back up, still holding his hat. "I understand you're busy, but the condition of my master's probation is that should more than one of his childer enter a city they immediately present themselves to the Prince and do not stay for more than a fortnight."
"Those are curious restrictions," Kit comments.
"It's not my place to question," the cowboy responds.
"Who's your Regnant," Chris questions.
"Dr. Morgan of Clan Malkavian."
"Dr. Morgan," the name slowly sets in, and many in the room seem uncomfortable and some seem clueless to the name's significance. Before she can stop herself an expression of shock with a touch of fear crosses Paltier's face.
"Wait, Lolli is part of Morgan's Brood," Jack asks. In a unison that makes the blood run cold the two women turn their heads. They glare at the Ravnos with such an intense cold loathing that their opinion of that title is made clear. The Kindred slowly sinks back into his chair.
"She is one of Dr. Morgan's Childer," Jeremiah informs, his gaze never leaving Chris. "And she's in some sort of trouble. My master sent us to retrieve her and bring her home, by any means necessary that do not violate the Masquerade or any restrictions may you wish to apply."
"Is it just the 3 of you," Chris questions, unnerved by the women still staring at Ravenscar.
"No sir, there are 4. Sister Mary Theresa is in the hallway. She is woman of," he pauses for the right word, "intense faith. Many Kindred, including her Sire, find it difficult to be in her presence. But if you wish a meeting we are here to accommodate."
"No, no. That's fine." Several decades ago Chris had encountered a human with unshakable faith. It's an experience he would rather not repeat.
"It's possible she just ran off," Peltier voices, the two women move their icy stare to the Venture Primogen.
"With all due respect, my Lady Peltier," he turns to address her, bowing respectfully. She impressed that he not only knows how to address her, but also knows how to bow correctly. "We've tried calling her cell phone and it goes directly to voicemail. That only happens when trouble a brewin'."
"Maybe she didn't charge her phone," she refuses to be intimidated by the two women and waves her hand, dismissing Jeremiah's statement.
"She does have a point," Chris concedes. The women shift their gaze, but no longer have the icy death stare.
"That little girl," Jeremiah chuckles, breaking his formal façade, "has never let her phone die. She carries a backup battery and emergency charger. Her phone would not be off unless she was in trouble."
"She might not even be in Vegas," Chris points out.
"I agree but this is the last place she was seen, so it's the best place for me to start tracking. With your permission of course,"
"The Nosferatu owe her a debt," Kit speaks for the first time. "If we can help, we will."
"As does Clan Gangrel."
"And the Caitiff. Our numbers are small, but we're available."
"I appreciate the offer gents, but we ain't going to war. We've just been sent to bring that little girl home with as little disturbance to your city as possible."
"Which is my wish," Chris regains control of the meeting. "I remember Sindey's last visit," there's a touch of frost in his words.
"And for that my master extended his deepest and most sincere apologies. He also wished for me to stress that such an unexpected visit was neither approved nor condoned. He wishes to offer you, a single favor in exchange for the inconvenience caused by Sidney."
"The favor may be paid by collecting Lolli and leaving my city as soon as possible," his displeasure at the situation evident in his tone. "Go where you have to, do only what you must. You adhere to the Malkavian feeding grounds, if feeding is necessary. Do not engage law enforcement or any emergency response personnel. I don't want you to drive a mile over the speed limit while in my city. Have I made my restrictions clear?"
"Yes sir. Again we apologize for the intrusion. Please give me a moment to get Sister Mary Theresa out of the hallway before Absinth and Patches leave."
"Be quick about it. We have business to complete here."
"Yes sir," Jeremiah bows quickly, replaces his hat and leaves the room. Patches looks at Peltier until the Ventrue questions the reason.
"You have such lovely skin," there's something off about her statement and Peltier doesn't think it was just a compliment. Jeremiah returns and politely ushers the two women outside.
"Again, we apologize for the intrusion," the ghoul tips his hat and quietly closes the door behind them.
"Now then, to the business at hand," Chris claps his hands if it could purge the eerie feeling the Childer of Dr. Morgan brought into the room. "Kit, what have you learned from…from…what have you been calling her?"
"We've been calling her Fugly," Kit shrugs. "But apparently her name was Margaret. I don't care what you call her. She was once a model and Toreador ghoul until her Regnant was killed a few decades ago. I think that career is over."
"Margaret," Chris directs his attention to the kneeling figure on the floor. "Why have you and your associates attacked my city?"
"I never wanted to," her voice is soft. "I just wanted to live but Patriarch wanted revenge," her eyes never leave the floor. "He said that if hit hard enough and took out the power players, those who didn't kill each other in the power struggle, could be easily picked off in the confusion."
"Was it you who was hunting the Nosferatu?"
"Not me, but yes. They did it to cut the flow of information."
"Who is this Patriarch," Ravenscar makes use of Chris' open invitation to question the survivor.
"He was the first of us. He found us, organized us. It was his idea to capture Kindred who either hadn't presented themselves yet or were leaving town. He said no one would notice and that we could stop whoring ourselves out for vitea."
"Who are you," Catherine speaks the question on everyone's mind.
"Orphan ghouls," she hazards a quick glance at the Brujah Primogen before returning her eyes to the floor. "Our Regnants either died or abandoned us. Some of us had been ghouls for 50 to 100 years. We were desperate, but I never wanted revenge," she hopes that if she cooperates they'll kill her rather than force her to exist like this.
"How many of you were there?"
"A thousand, maybe more but not by much, we came from all over the country."
"You still haven't told us anything about who this Patriarch is," Peltier voices.
"I don't know who he is. He said he was a ghoul to Isabella Bruno and that he suffered terribly. He said she scared him horribly before cutting him loose. None of us saw his face. Not even the hooded ones."
"Hooded Ones," Kit prods.
"That was what the Nosferatu orphans preferred to be called. They were extremely bitter about their situation."
"Isabella has only ever had 5 ghouls," Chris points out. "I've met them all and we can account for all of them on the night of the attack. Whoever he is, he wasn't one of her ghouls."
"But he made a point of having Isabella captured. If he wasn't one of her ghouls then why," she looks up at Chris and in that fraction of a second he can see genuine confusion in her eyes.
"Why would he specifically have Isabella captured," Chris is trying to make sense of Patriarch's actions. Isabella has no shortage of enemies but to the best of his knowledge none of them were ghouls. If any of her enemies had this kind of power, there were much bigger targets they could have captured.
"We always thought it was revenge, but then she was released by Random," her eyes return to the carpet.
"Who," Jack questions.
"One of the Malkavian orphans. He was ok until he and group were out to collect Lollipopp and she did something that shattered him mind. He's been unpredictable since then."
"Explain what you mean by 'she was released' couldn't she have escaped," the tone in Kit's voice causes her to cringe.
"No," her voice is soft. "When they brought a Kindred in, they were staked. There's no way they can escape."
"There's more to the story," Peltier says. "Isabella's temper is such that if the stake were removed, she would have killed, or at least tried to kill, everyone. You're not telling us something."
"I'm not lying," Margaret quickly protests. "I've told you everything I know."
"OF that I have no doubt. We need one of Bruno's ghouls," Chris' statement was directed more towards Peltier. "Maybe she told them something. As for you," he redirects his attention to the young Nosferatu fledgling at Kit's feet. "How many safe houses does your group have?"
"Three that I know of."
"You will give Kit the addresses and security layout. I want to attack while they're weak."
"I've contacted Elise's Regnant. She'll be here in 30 minutes," Peltier reports.
"I think we're done with her," Chris motions towards Margaret. "But we have things we need to discuss before Elise and her Regnant arrive."