Chapter 13 – Meeting with the Prince
September 28, 2004 = Tuesday
I was riding in the back of the cab when we got to Lacroix Tower. I had the driver pull off to the side in a darkened area and got out. I actually felt bad for what I was about to do, but I had no money since I left it all with Brian. Stupid of me, really.
"Hey, miss!" the driver called as I passed the front of his car. "That's ten-fifty you owe me!"
I stopped, as if I were thinking. In truth I was, just not about paying. My patience was awarded when the guy stepped out of his cab, and started to come up behind me. I turned, slowly so as not to startle him and let him approach. I knew I had a faint smile on my lips as the fool stopped and held out his hand. With one swift motion, I hit him in the stomach with an open palm, then shoved the windless sap back onto the hood of his cab. With no thrill like that of hunting, I descended on his neck and fed, long and deep. I was careful not to take too much, but left the cabbie slouched beside his car.
Walking towards the front door, I wondered how many people might be inside. I mean, it was supposed to be the headquarters of the Prince of the local Kindred. Had to be somebody home right? Inside, at the front desk was Chunky butt. Small world. Well, at least it shouldn't prove too hard to get past him. He noticed me as I walked through the glass door, his mouth falling open in awe.
"Snack cake? What are you doing here?"
I shook my head. What were the odds? "Mind buzzing me up moon pie?"
"I'd love to, uh, buzz you up, but according to building security protocol nine-one-six, I'm going to have to verify you're supposed to be here before I can open the elevator."
"I'm here to see Lacroix."
"Sebastian Lacroix of the Lacroix Foundation, or Dwayne Lacroix of Insurrection Baby Formula Company?"
"Sebastian Lacroix. I have a report for him."
"Oh, okay then. Go right on up to the top, he's expecting you."
"Thanks," I said, and headed around his desk to the elevators. I didn't need any drama right now. The elevator door was already called, and the door was open by the time I got there. I stepped inside and hit the button marked "PH," hoping it would take me to the right floor. The doors closed and a quick ride later I was greeted by Scourge Walsh. At least he was looking good.
"Miss Flores, nice to see you again. I trust Santa Monica was friendly enough?"
"Well," I said, not wanting to sound like a whiner. "They didn't kill me when they saw me, but they sure do like trying to make me do everything for them."
He chuckled softly at that, then gestured for me to proceed. Across the lobby was another set of elevator doors, this time flanked by two men in full tactical gear carrying large assault rifles. "Just a little security," he said, as we passed between them to the waiting elevator. "This elevator will take us straight to the top, where Prince Lacroix awaits your report on the Sabbat Warehouse attack."
"Don't know why. I came, I saw, I killed, then I blew it up," I explained dryly. "The only real 'fun' part was that your limo was destroyed when they caught me on my way here."
The doors closed and he hit the top-most button. We began to ascend, then he turned to face me. "Yes, we are aware of the destruction of the limo. Local police were informed it was a terrorist hit. They believe it to be such. Luckily, Mister Rodriguez was able to save you from the Sabbat pack."
"I'm not used to what I can do yet, and that one has a stronger Potence ability than I do. I'm not sure how to fight Kindred like that."
"Blades work best, and the cuts they inflict take much longer to heal. Fire also has a similar effect, and can be used to create obstacles if you're trying to flee."
"Fire? So in addition to becoming something akin to a monster, we've become like animals in that we hate fire."
"It's the Beast in us. A wild animal that you will carry with you for the rest of your nights. The Gangrel can explain it better, if you can find one. I'm not saying you'll always be blocked by fire, you can overcome the fear associated with it same as you could before, but a single fire can make you stop an attack, or stop an attacker."
"Thanks for the update," I said, as the elevator stopped and the doors opened. The doors opened to a small room, where two more men in tactical gear stood guarding a door. This door was different though, the white wood polished to a high shine. The door was also embossed with gold, though I was sure it was only gold plated. Still, a classy door. And only someone who felt entitled, and high brow would have a door like that.
The Prince.
I'm pretty sure my heart took a swan dive to hide in my ankle. The Scourge waited by the elevator, and I reluctantly opened the door and stepped inside. The Prince sat at a large wooden desk, the Sheriff on his right and behind him, that big sword he used to kill my Sire plainly visible. I was so glad that Mister Rodriguez had stopped them from killing me too.
"There you are. I was informed of your presence in the building," he said, his tone and body language dismissive, though his eyes were locked on me. "Since you're here, I'll take the liberty of assuming you've destroyed the warehouse. This is correct, yes?"
"Yes, that is…." I started to say when he cut me off.
"Most excellent. I had no doubt you'd prove my decision a prudent one. I trust you encountered no impediments to your progress on account of my personnel?"
My thoughts went to Mercurio, figuring this was his master, and decided I liked the ghoul. "None whatsoever," I lied.
"You've done well, circumstances being what they were. I will admit, not many in your position would have overcome such a trial. But don't misunderstand me, it was no fool's errand."
I shuffled a little, not sure if I should be glad or mad at his remarks. The man was being carefully neutral. Just trying to be a good leader, I guess, so I decided to play along with what he had in mind until he called our debt good. Which should be any second now.
"You may yet prove to be a genuine asset. It's disturbing, the lack of talent within this organization as of late. Tell me, what would you say to doing a bit of reconnaissance for me?"
As if I could say no? "I guess," I said to him. "What exactly do I have to do?"
"There's been whispers, rumors spreading around the Kindred community concerning the Elizabeth Dane, the cargo ship being towed into port today. Have you heard of it?"
"No, I don't have a habit of watching the news."
"The Dane was found out at sea. The early reports say it was without crew, but they have yet to report a fate of said crew. The police are investigating the Dane as we speak, but even the Nosferatu have little information on what's been found. However, the reason the ship has caused such speculation is because it was transporting an object called the Ankaran Sarcophagus.
"Now, I'm not one to predicate a decision based on conjecture, so what I need is fact, and more importantly, I need evidence that the occurrences on the Dane were not supernatural in nature, and in no relate to this Ankaran Sarcophagus."
Was there a job in that mess anywhere? "What do you need me to do?" I just wanted to make sure what I was needed to do.
"You have three objectives. One, I want you to examine the Sarcophagus for anything unusual. You may sense something peculiar about it, in fact, many Kindred in the city have reported an uneasiness in the air since news of the Dane was due to arrive today. Do not, under any circumstances, open the Ankaran Sarcophagus. Secondly, the police will have begun their investigation. Find out what they have concluded thus far. Thirdly, take the cargo manifest for the ship. I want to find out what else it was carrying.
"The last thing we want are the authorities aware of our existence, so be careful what you do in front of them. And unlike the warehouse, you cannot wholesale slaughter a ship full of lawmen without consequences. Is this understood?"
"Yes," I said, glad I'd not have to fight this time unless it was necessary.
"Good. It has come to my attention that you had an encounter with Nines Rodriguez earlier. The man so does love to throw that cretinous charm of his brashly about. What exactly did Mister Rodriguez say?"
"He asked me to visit him at the Last Round tomorrow night."
He smiled, and I barely suppressed the shiver that I felt. "I see. Then you should go humor the by-the-numbers rhetoric he's so desperately aching to spew. Please, before the chants of 'fascist opressor' from that dive of theirs clog the air and choke the local kine."
"I'll see him first thing tonight then."
"And give the Anarch community my regards."
Feeling dismissed with that, I turned and left the opulent room. Outside, the two guards turned and watched me leave, but said nothing. The elevator stood with doors open, with Scourge Walsh talking to a young woman in a pantsuit. Upon noticing me, he dismissed the woman and she entered the elevator and left us. I walked over to him, and he smiled.
"Meeting go well?"
"I suppose, I'm being sent out to the Dane after it get's towed into port."
"Ah, still under the Prince's boon, I take it?"
I let my shoulders slump. "Yes. I'm guessing it's standard practice to screw over the new recruits?"
"Fairly standard, I assure you," he said with a chuckle. "Soon, though, you will be the one being owed. Boon's are the currency of the Camarilla, and you may use a boon owed to you in any way you and the debtor can agree to. Whether that be money or to have them perform an action such as blowing up a warehouse or getting information."
"So I risked my life for nothing?"
"Not nothing. As long as you are running errands for the Prince, I am authorized to give you an expense card to be used with the local cab company. You will be able to move where you need to at no cost to yourself. I've also procured you a phone and my number is pre-programmed. Please call me if you see any breaches to the Masquerade, or other supernatural occurrence that my office needs to clean up. You will be paid accordingly for such information, and more if you can take care of the matter yourself."
"Great," I said, taking the expense card and gray flip phone and bag. It looked new, so I wasn't going to complain. The elevator soon returned, and me and Scourge Walsh got on board. He hit the button for the lowest floor available and soon we were descending.
"Are you having any problems that I should be aware of?" Walsh asked me.
"Just need to find a missing ghoul. I lost track of her after feeding her my blood."
"Does she know what she is?"
"No, nor that I am kindred. She was in critical condition when I found her and fed her my blood. But after that I've lost track of her."
"I wouldn't worry too much over her. Ghouls tend to be able to find their masters wherever they may travel."
"So she'll return for her next fix?"
"Probably in the next few days," he confirmed.
The doors opened and we stepped out, and he escorted me over to the main elevators down. While waiting for the elevator, he turned to face me again. "Good evening, Miss Flores, and happy hunting."
As I watched him walk away, I couldn't help but hate the structure they were trying to set up. It seemed so easy to screw someone over, especially the newbie who wasn't even comfortable in their own skin. Like this prince. I would have called the debt settled once I got back, but now I was being made into some kind of go to girl.
I thought about the Prince's words. A lack of talent, he had said. Well, if that were the case, I was about to become one of the most powerful Kindred in the city. I just needed to figure out how to get massive amounts of money, because living in Los Angeles wasn't cheap.
Maybe I needed to expand. Brian could use a boost in his sales, and more free time once I had a safe place to sleep might help him. I also needed to find out about Sharron's situation, whether she had a real place to live, rented, or lived with someone. It would be better if she lived with me, as I could reap her money better, but I wanted to make sure she was bound before I did that.
That just left Poe, who I was thinking might be more house maid and personal groomer than money maker. I needed to figure out where she was, and get her bound soon. Once I had that, I could plan more, but I didn't really see her as making money, just keeping me from becoming a mess.
That meant I had two ghouls making money. I needed more. As I left the building, stunned at how deep I was thinking that I hadn't noticed myself at this level until now, I couldn't help but think I needed more income.
Too bad Dennis turned me down. His place, while a wreck, would let me corral my ghouls and make some money. Illicit business always did seem to turn more money than honest work. I would just have to hope I could get more people to work for me and not piss off any Kindred when I did it.