Chapter 39 – Removing a Threat

October 4, 2004 = Monday

~Eliza Flores~

One thing I found different with the Ninja was that it was a gas hog. The small cycle was already under a quarter of a tank when I pulled into Hollywood, so I stopped it at the Shell station to top it off. My black market dealer wasn't behind the register, probably his night off after ruining the crematorium.

I did snag a new pair of shades, as I'd lost the last set in the Fu Syndicate's lab. I didn't know if they were damaged or not, and it wasn't worth the Shadowjump back to the lab and risk the lights being on, again, for a pair of shades I could replace for five bucks. My new sunglasses were a small round frame set in gold with dark black tint. Since the clerk didn't spark any interest after looking at me, I had to believe I was covering my irises well enough to be seen in public.

Riding my Ninja to Isaac's, I parked it next to his office door and went inside. Isaac was reading a binder of some kind, flipping idly through it. He frowned at seeing me, and leaned back in his chair to steeple his fingers.

"Heard the fire department was called to King's Way," he said, staring hard at me. "I wonder if it would have made any difference if I told you to leave the cowboy anticsat the city limits."

"Those little monster things that were on the tape," I told him, getting a nod from Isaac, "Infested that house. It's where they were made. I burned it down to destroy any I might have missed upstairs. Also made a nice distraction later when things started to go south with Andrei, giving me an upper hand. Bottlenecked all his little creations into the sewers that I cleaned, finding my way to the Nosferatu."

"So you know what no one else has ever figured out," he said, shaking his head. "Usually people that scour the sewers looking for the Nosferatu don't come back. Nothing has ever been proven, but the working theory is that if you need the sewer rats, let them come to you."

"Great," I muttered, wondering if I had saved or damned myself.

"You do have my thanks for the end run on Andrei, though," he said, bringing my focus back to him.

"Well," I said, deciding that if I wanted to ever push my luck on anything and do something for me, it might as well be now. "How are you doing on that actressfor your movie?"

"I'm afraid you're acting days died when you did," he told me, and I smiled at him.

"It's not for me," I told him and he cocked his head. "I can't be around too much ultraviolet radiation, either. Burns me for some reason. No, I was hoping that maybe my ghoul could audition for the part."

"A ghoul," he said, spinning a quarter turn away as he thought it over. "It has been done before, mostly with Toreador ghouls who are proficient with their presence ability. It creates a likable actor if the person has some innate ability to act."

"Well, I'm told she was on the cusp of making it in Hollywood," I told him, remembering what Brian had once told me about her. "She just didn't have that last oomph to make it on her own."

"Then we might be able to exchange favors," he said, swiveling back to face me.

"What do you have on your mind?" I asked him.

"There's a gargoyle that's taken up residence in my beloved Asian Theatre," he said, laying it out for me. "It's closed now, but that's beside the point. I'd like to renovate it, get it open again. I had sent some people to evict it, and it sent them back with a few less limbs. So it's very simple. Remove the gargoyle, and I'll give your ghoul an audition for my latest film."

"Any tips?" I asked, not knowing what a gargoyle even was.

"It's a walking block of stone with a taste for blood," he said, not being very helpful. "I'd suggest whatever method doesn't result in you being eviscerated. In truth, I'd rather have it as an ally, but I doubt it's going to be chatty. Here's the key for the theater. I'll leave the rest up to you."

"I'll take care of it," I told him as I took the key.

"And for the love of theatre," he said, making me turn back to face him as I opened the door to the outside, "Don't burn the place down."

"Sure, Isaac," I said with a smile while getting a scowl from the baron. "Stone doesn't burn anyway. Any other information on gargoyles I should know?"

"They're normally tied to the Tremere," he said, and my eyebrows went up, "Though there's no proof, yet, that the local Tremere created this one. You might ask Strauss, but more than likely he's behind it. I'd love to have the dirt that he's responsible for this one being loose in the city. I'd love to smear that under his pristine nose."

"Thanks, Isaac," I said, figuring I might need to head home first. I had stolen a book once, on my first visit to the Chantry, that listed Thaumaturgical creatures. Might be worth going home to read. "I got a line on Strauss, so maybe I can figure something out."

"Best of luck to you then," he said, and I left Isaac in his office. Hopping on my bike, I headed to the mansion, making good time as I split lanes and moved it right along.

At the house, I searched through the boxes my ghouls had packed and found the book I had stolen, and thumbed it open. It was hand written, but legible. It took me a minute of skimming, but I found several lines that talked of the large brutes.

'Gargoyles: During the medieval conflict with the Tzimisce, Clan Tremere delved further into secret blood magicks and created a race of protectors known as Gargoyles. Since their inception, Gargoyles have been used as scouts, warriors, and sentries. Gargoyles are monsters, vampires by virtue of the blood and flesh through which they are created. They are no more than the detritus of other clans, given a second chance to serve their Tremere creators. Unfortunately, many have wrongly come to view their service as slavery, and have fled their masters in search of some delusional Utopia. Most escaped Gargoyles live in isolation, preferring solitude to even the company of their own kind.'

Shutting the book, I set back in the box. So, Strauss or someone at the Chantry had likely created the gargoyle, which was probably like a ghoul and that it was bound in some way. If Isaac found out this information, and that Strauss had let such a breach loose without stopping it, he could very likely have Strauss put on Trial which would end with Strauss's death. Such a position likely would make Strauss very open to negotiation, and might reveal a secret that he might not ordinarily reveal.

They were supposed to be the masters of blood, or so I had heard. Beckett had described my condition as a bad case of diablerie, or something like that, but maybe Strauss knew more. Maybe, just maybe, he could get Lasombra out.

Emboldened by this new idea, I went back to my bike and opened it up to fly to the Chantry. Parking outside on the street, I went in the front door that was watched by several cats and a few fairy-like familiarsand followed a path to the double doors that contained Strauss's personal library. The regent was sitting in his chair, reading from an aged leather bound book when I walked in, and he sat it aside as he smiled at seeing me.

"Greetings, Miss Flores," he said, then gestured for me to sit beside him. "Please, take a seat and tell me how I might be of assistance, tonight?"

"I have a question for you about gargoyles," I told him, and he seemed puzzled by that.

"Gargoyles?" he asked me, creasing his eyebrows. "Why are you asking about gargoyles?"

"It seems that one has taken up residence in an old theatre in Hollywood," I told him, and his crease deepenedmore. "I have a few questions about them, and was told the Tremere might be able to help.

"Very well," he said, steeling his face as if he were playing poker and knew he was showing his tell. "What can I tell you about them?"

"What is a gargoyle?" I asked, deciding to educate myself before this one ripped my arm off and beat me with it.

"A gargoyle, put simply," he explained, "is a creature that was created to protect the Tremere clan in the early years of our existence. They are very powerful, and not to be trifled with."

"So the Tremere created them?" I asked, laying the groundwork for my accusations to come later.

"Yes," he said simply, then creased his forehead in thought again before letting himself relax. "We used our extensive knowledge of blood magics to create a race of protectors. They served that purpose well, but they have caused many problems. It's a complicated issue."

"Just how complicated?" I asked, pushing for more. I knew I had Strauss in a corner, I hadn't seen the unflappable man show this much emotion since I'd known him.

"Well," he said, licking his lips to wetten them, "Many gargoyles still serve their Tremere masters, but a number of them have since rebelled and gone into hiding. They are a sentient race, like our familiars, but ultimately unfit for the freedom they desire. They...need the guidance of their former masters."

That last line was said as if he was choosing his words carefully, and his tells were showing. He was nervous about something, and he knew I was close to finding it out, if I hadn't already.

"Had some personal experience in this matter?" I said, studying his face for any hint of shock. What I got wasn't a hint, it was full acknowledgmentas he sighed, and nodded his head.

"Yes, I know something of gargoyles, this one in particular," he said, getting up to pace by the fire. I watched his hands, ready to summon a shadow katana and slice him from collarbone to pelvic bone if a speck of blood showed up. "I had hoped he would meet his final death, but it seems my creation still lives to torment me."

"YOUR creation," I stressed, making sure I heard it right. Isaac's words sang in my ears, and I knew I was going to have to choose my allies carefully in this matter. I needed a cure for diablerie, and only Strauss would have it.

"Yes," he said, turning back to face me. "Many years ago, I created this gargoyle to protect the chantry from our enemies. He was a faithful servant, and saved my life more than once. Unfortunately, he became increasingly upset about his role as my protector, and wished to be set free. I refused to do so, so he stole away into the night, and I haven't seen him since."

I watched as Strauss deflated, finally sitting back in his chair. He was restless, and he knew what he was telling me could be used to call his own Trial.

"I see," I said, wrapping my fingers around a shadow in case my next sentence set Strauss off. "Well, Isaac Abrams has asked me to get rid of it."

"Isaac?" he said, alarmed at the mention of the Toreador baron. "His disrespect for the Camarilla is surpassed only by his hatred of Lacroix. If it gets out..." he said trailing off as he leaned forward to put his head in his hands."

"Then I'll be called down to your own Trial," I said and his head jerked up. "You have a masquerade breaking gargoyle on the loose, and no apparent plans to bring it under control. Several kindred have lost limbs in attacking it, and the only reason it hasn't been seen by people yet is because it hides in an abandoned theater. What happens if it decides it wants to go somewhere else? Somewhere populated?"

"Questions will be asked," he said, getting back to his feet to pace by the fireplace. "Gargoyles are known to be linked to the Tremere clan, so those questions will lead them back here. If they talk to it..."

"It identifiesyou," I said and he hung his head again. Deciding it was time that I had the Tremere Regent over the barrel and could ask for what I want. "Now, the question is, what are you prepared to offer in order to make this go away?"

"Anything," he breathed, almost unheard over the crackle of the fireplace. "I can't afford to let this set our clan back in the Los Angeles area."

"Good," I said, standing to move closer to him. "Then we can do business."

"So," he said, turning to face me. "You want me to teach you the secrets of the Tremere?"

"Much more serious than that," I said, and his eyebrows rose. "I need the Tremere's help in dealing with a case of diablerie."

"Such a thing is possible," he said, lifting my hopes. "We researched that very topic when our own founder, Tremere, diablerized Saulot. Saulot, if you had not heard the name, was an Antediluvian and head of the Salubri clan. It gave our clan legitimacy, even at the cost of our leader."

"What happened to him?" I asked, wanting to know if he was successful.

"He eventually lost the battle, though by then Saulot had grown powerful enough to reject our magics," he said, and I held out a glimmer of hope. "Tremere himself was able to flee to a new body, that of another member of our clan and continue his work. Where Saulot wanders now, I do not know.

"So tell me young one," he asked, turning to face me, "Who have you diablerized that causes you such grief that you would pass over the secrets of the Tremere?"

"I didn't diablerize anyone," I told him, and Strauss cocked his head at my response. "Lasombra found me in the Void," I told him and shock coated Strauss's face. "He's trying to rise again through me. Some nights, I don't wake but he does."

"That would explain much," he said as he bowed his head in thought. "I thought you were learning your clans disciplines a bit too well without proper teaching. We might be able to achieve something, though it carries great risk."

"You can force him out of my blood and back into the Void?" I asked and Strauss nodded.

"It might also purge you from your own body," he warned, and I sighed at the thought. "If you can destroy the gargoyle without involving the clan and costing us anymore of our reputation, we will attempt to purge Lasombra from your being."

"Then we understand each other," I told him moving for the door.

"Here, take this," Strauss said, pulling a smallstone disk from on top of the fireplace. "It is an ancient ward that may help you in your battle with the gargoyle. You need only carry it on your person to enjoy its benefits."

"How does one fight a gargoyle?" I asked, taking the stone disk and stuffing it in a pocket.

"With much difficulty, I'm afraid," he said smiling, and I felt a knot of worry form in my chest. "Gargoyles are notoriously resilient. Their hides are made of stone. Firarms are almost useless. Blunt force is the only thing they understand. My advice is that you take a sledgehammer with you."

"Thanks, Strauss," I told him, opening the door. "I'll take care of it and be right back."

I left the regent in his study, probably pondering whether he should flee Los Angeles before the Sheriff came for him. That meant I had to take care of this gargoyle quickly, so I could claim my favor before Strauss was ruined. If that happened, I was going to lose my fight with Lasombra, and I couldn't afford that.

Striding quickly to my Ninja, I hopped on it and started for the nearest phone booth. Leaving the running bike on its kickstand, I went over and picked up the phonebook and searched it for hardware stores. Strauss said it'd be best if I had a sledgehammer, and I didn't know where else to turn to. Problem was, the stores were likely closed so I'd have to break in and steal one.

Hating to do it, I found the nearest store and headed there, driving by the front window slow to find a shadow to jump to. I didn't jump right then, but kept it in my sense and drove away and parked in an alley not far away. I then jumped, coming out in the store. I searched the aisles, glad I didn't have to worry about cameras seeing me.

After finding the sledgehammers, I tested the weight of each one. While I could handle a light weight one with ease, I eventually picked up the largest one they had, a sixteen pound version with a yellow fiberglass handle. It was heavy, but I figured it would swing nicely if I used my potence.

Stuffing the sledgehammer into my near empty messenger bag, I jumped back to my bike and started it. Iraced it back to Hollywood, looking for the Asian Theater. I found it, a run down older building with an Asian theme like I had seen in Chinatown. The key unlocked the door, and I ducked under the closed for restoration sign and entered it. The lobby was a large empty room with a broken skylight, but I no more stepped into the lobby when a large ten foot stone statue crashed jumped through the missing skylight.

It was huge, and as it started to stand up straight, I reached into my bag for the sledgehammer. I didn't need to make small talk with it, I had a duty to kill it, as both a threat to the masquerade and to save my soul before Lasombra destroyed it. Which could happen any dusky evening when I didn't wake up.

Holding the sledgehammer in both hands, I charged the lumbering creature just as it roared, and using potence slammed it on the creatures chest. It fell back, then back handed me into pillar. The pillar cracked as I hit it, and I slid to the floor stunned.

The gargoyle recovered, about the same time I did, and we charged each other again. Instead of repeating the same attack, I slid under the creature and went through its legs, just as it swiped for me. It missed, and I came up just as it started to stand up. I used my potence to swing the hammer again, bringing the sixteen pound hammer down hard on its shoulder.

It roared, trying to backhand me again but I ducked under his slow swing. It seemed surprised that it missed when I brought the sledgehammer across his face and chipped its nose. It roared back in shock and anger, then raised its foot to try and crush me like a bug. I rolled free of its stomp, feeling the floor tremble as it steadied itself and eyed me warily.

Facing off for a third time, I could tell by its stance that it was wary of me now, having hit three times now in two different passes and getting only one hit on me in return. It charged again, but this my I used my potence to jump high as it tried to rush low, and brought the sledgehammer down on his head again. This time, my blow knocked the gargoyle off balance, making it stumble and fall prostrate below me. I wasted no time, using potence fueled swings to chip at its back and neck, cracking the stone severely.

I was so intent on what I was doing that, that on one last swing the axe handle broke just shy of the end, leaving me holding nothing but an empty stick. No longer held down by my withering attack, the gargoyle rolled me off his back and struggled to his feet. I needed a weapon, and smiling at the big brute, jumped back to the store and stole another hammer.

Jumping back into the shadows where the brute had been standing, I charged silently at his back, jumping high once again and busting the gargoyle hard in the head. It stumbled forward, going toa knee and I jumped on its back and began to bash its back in, using my shadows to make tentacles and hold it down. The gargoyle fell flat to the floor, screeching in pain as I brought my sledgehammer down again.

This time my blow made a great dent in its hide. Held down by shadow tentacles that were stronger than it was, the gargoyle could only scream as I started to open the dent in its hide. I didn't know if what I was doing was a good thing, but with one last swing, the gargoyle gave a high pitch scream before going silent. As he did, his body suddenly broke apart, breaking at the joints.

Looking around at the broken mess, I gave a grim smile. It meant that I could get relief from Lasombra, and Angel could have her chance in the limelight. Deciding that Isaac could look at the broken corpse himself for proof, I left the broken and intact sledgehammers on the floor as I walked back outside and locked the door behind me.

Getting back on my Ninja, I rode back to Isaac's, and went inside. Isaac was once again reading the binder, further into it now, and was slowly shaking his head. When I closed the door, he looked up and smiled at me as I tossed him the theater key.

"I admit, I thoughtyou'd come back with a stone foot in your backside," he said, smiling at me. "But, I'm glad to see you've proved otherwise. You've got a lot of promise. It's a shame you're still working full time for the wrong side."

"I work for myself," I told him, and his smile faded into a scowl. "The prince is just my current employer."

"And just what did he offer to make you so loyal?" he asked me, leaning back in his chair to watch my reaction.

"First off, if I can get him his precious sarcophagus before Saturday night, which is entirely possible if I can prove it's there, I get to make a childe," I told him, and his eyes went wide. I had to figure it was a high honor, as it had its own tradition guarding the creation of one. "Besides that, I've been paid well for upholding the masquerade in the prince's domain. Plus, I'll be made primogen if I can get the number of Lasombra over five people."

"But what about later?" he asked and I shrugged my shoulders. "What do you do when he starts to work against you?"

I laughed at that, and Isaac's scowl deepened. "You called me a 'wooden soldier of the Camarilla' when I first set foot through this door, butlook at what I've done since I entered Hollywood. I hunted down a tape, waded my way through a Tzimisce's szlachta,stopped said Tsimisce's plans and found the Nosferatu lair, a feat you yourself had never been done. After all that, I've taken on and destroyed some rogue gargoyle that roamed in from out of town that your own men couldn't destroy. Yet you still don't get it? I have the raw talent to get things done. The prince himself realizes that, and rewards me. I have a thirty million dollar home I'm buying from the scourge, and I'm constantly proving people are wrong."

"So it would seem," he said, and I think I saw fear flash through him. Maybe he was starting to realize that the prince had an agent that was a steam roller. He took a business card from off his desk, and used a pen to write on the back of it. "I still owe you an audition, and I'll honor it. Don't worry that any prejudices I have will affect your ghoul, the director will determine if she gets the part. The director's name is Scorsese, and the time and place to meet him is on the card. Just have your ghoul show the guards the card to get to the meeting, and the rest is up to her."

"Thanks, Isaac," I told him, taking the card he handed to me. "I didn't hardly tear up the theater, for what it's worth. Just a skylight and a pillar."

"And thank you," he replied, leaning back over his binder to continue reading. "Now I can start the remodel and get my beloved theater back in operation."

"Your welcome," I said, easing out the door. I couldn't help but feel as if I had painted a target on my back with the Toreadors, biting and feeding off Damsel, then VV, and now I had unsettled Isaac with how good I dangerous I could be. If the baron truly had Hollywood's best interests at heart, he might try to take me out.

Uneasy, I sat atop my bike and started, noting the time was about two in the morning. I stared at the clock for a moment, then decided I better go check with Strauss and tell him the good news. I didn't waste any time, the light traffic allowing me to open the bike to ninety with no problems and soon arrived at the chantry.

Going inside, I saw several of the familiars and cats still watching the entrance. One immediately jumped down, a large gray haired cat with black spots and darted over to me. It bit at my pants leg, tugging on the hem, then released it and darted to the far end. It waited there, meowing at me and I began to follow it. It led the way to a set of doors, then pawed at a closed door. I opened the door for the kitty, going inside to find Strauss and Eloise sketching an elaborate rune covered pentagram on the floor.

"Ah, Miss Flores," Strauss said as he straightened from his work. "Eloise and I were finishing the preparation for the ritual that should purge you of Lasombra's influence. I do trust that Isaac was not able to discern the gargoyle's true origin."

"Not unless he gets proof from somewhere else," I told him. "All I told him was that it was a rogue gargoyle from out-of-town, which is true in the fact that it's from Los Angeles and in Hollywood. I'm not in the habit of lying, but I don't mind twisting the truth."

"Very good," he said, smiling as he stood back to allow Eloise to check all the symbols. "Toreador have an ability called Auspex that allows them to tell if one is telling the truth. Likely Isaac used this ability when you reported back, making sure the deal was done and to determine the origins of the rogue gargoyle in question. But because you didn't give him any good information to go off, and meant what you said about it being from out of town, he will likely figure its from another chantry. His ambitions have been halted for the night."

"So you'll purge Lasombra from me?" I asked and Strauss nodded his head.

"I just hope we do it right," Eloise said, studying the book she held as she double checked the complex magical runes before her. "We don't, there's no telling what we could unleash."

"This was the final step that Tremere took in ridding himself of Saulot's influence," Strauss said, looking the room over. "We only know that he failed, but he survive the encounter by transferring his soul to his childe."

"I guess Antediluvians aren't to be meddled with," I said and Eloise chuckled.

"They essentially have the power of gods," she said, snapping the book closed and stepping away from the runes. "Even this ritual won't destroy him, just send him back to where he came from. He might be able to rise again through another of his clan."

"Won't be me, though," I said, watching as Eloise started drawing another rune on a small rock.

"True, but because of the sensitive nature of this ritual, we are using a backup to protect ourclan," Strauss said, watching as Eloise coated her hand in blood and transferred it to the rock. It shimmered over the rock for a moment, and she took it in both hands and held it out to me.

"This is our insurance policy," she said, setting into my left hand. "If you lose control, the spell I put on the rock will rebound into you, hopefully before Lasombra realizes what happened."

"What will it do?" I asked and she grimaced.

"Remember Kenny?" she said and I nodded numbly. Kenny had exploded after Celeste threw a blob of blood at him. "If you don't wake up, it should do Lasombra in."

"Alright," I said, and stepped into the circle at Eloise's direction. She then took a knife, slicing my right hand, and had me kneel in the center of the circle.

"Just place your hand in the center of the circle," she said, moving to the edge of the room. "As with your painting, your blood will activate it, and you begin the fight of your life."

"If I don't see you again," I said, steeling myself for what was to come, "Thanks for trying."

"And thank you for your discretion," Strauss said. Him and Eloise stood shoulder to shoulder and flexing my hand I set it on the circle.

Red and gray mists rose from the circle, and then a jolt of electricity surged through me, locking me in place. I tried to rip my hand free, but it wouldn't move. The mists rose over me, and suddenly I was pulled head first into the Void, sure that no one but me could hear my scream.

Edit: 2/6/18 - Fixed an error in Isaac's line about the director. It was from an unfinished edit that I didn't catch. Thank you Darkladyvanstar for pointing it out.