Moonlight Charm
Chapter 4
**
Sasha let the heavy wooden door close behind her as she headed down into the Haven. Deep tones of a male singer filled the posh club with a mournful song. Pausing as she stepped down she saw Lilly in her usual booth with Julian and Cash. Tearing her eyes off her former lover and former uncle she saw her clanmates in the opposite booth. They grinned at her and she could only frown. She didn't want to be with them. Looking around at the faces of the Kindred she realized that she didn't want to be with any of them. Turning sharply she was about to leave when there was a loud explosion. It rocked her back and into someone. Looking up she found Cash has caught her from falling to the mosaic floor. Her attention was taken from his face as the sound of people yelling filled the club.
Men in dark clothes came spilling like a wave down into the club. Instantly drawing the kindred into a circle to defend their Prince. Orders were given and the stairs were blocked off by a wall of men with guns. One stepped from them and toward Sasha and family. He stopped a few paces back and lowered the mask on his face.
"Sasha Luna?" He asked in a gruff voice. His eyes intense on her face as he stared into her own eyes.
Julian answered for her. " Who's asking?"
"Be still Prince." His gaze flickered to the man and then back to her. " Stand away from the Enforcer Ms. Luna."
"Why?"
She tossed a look over to Cameron who was looking just as confused as everyone else. The sharp click of a gun made her look back to the strange man. He leveled Dragon's Breath at her and inclined his head. Sasha moved to follow and felt Cash squeeze her arms. She stopped.
"Bowen!" The warning was seconds too late as he staggered and went to one knee. Even against the dark of his clothes one could see blood. His men were looking around in confusion as another fell and then third.
Seconds passed as the wall around the stairs broke and the men were lost to panic. Cash grabbed Sasha and pulled her behind a grouping of Gangrel. Cameron maneuvered his forces and the Torredor closed in from around the club. Julian's people drew up and the men in black were out numbered two to one.
"I am ashamed of you Bowen." A female voice snapped through the club like a whip. Followed by the owner who was in a flowing black coat and solid looking boots. Silvery hair was plaited down her back and accented her moonlight eyes. " How dare you bring an assault out like this."
The man was on his feet but not looking so sure of himself. " You're late Talisman."
"I am never late." She answered, coming to a stop a few feet from him. Her eerie eyes never wavering from his face. The effect was profound for the man looked away and couldn't meet her gaze.
"What of her?" He muttered and glanced at Sasha.
"I will decide her fate," Talisman's tone was cold and harsh, " You are dismissed Bowen."
He jerked his head up and stared at her for moment. " I am command leader here!"
"You are nothing to me." She said moving forward slightly. He backed up and kept her from touching him. " Now leave!"
Tension rose between them for a full five minutes before Bowen stepped wide of her and left. Those of his men that could do so followed quickly, the rest lay on the floor of the Haven. Talisman made no move save from turning to look at the assembled Kindred. Her gaze settled firmly Sasha.
"Tallis?"
A slight smile came to the assassins face as she heard the disbelief. " Still causing trouble are you?"
Heaving a sigh the Brujah grinned and laughed slightly. " You know me."
"I do." Talisman glanced around at the people, " We will talk later I think."
Sasha reached to stop her, Talisman stepped back from her. " I would like you to meet my uncle." Her hand hovered inches from the girl, gently she took her sleeve and pulled the girl up to Julian. " Uncle Julian this is Tallis Metternich, she and I grew up together."
The Prince nodded his head, " I am grateful you could disperse the trouble."
Talisman stared at him before speaking and gave a graceful shrug. " He forgets his bounds on occasion."
"Indeed." Cameron glided up beside the Prince and eyed her. " You are not Kindred."
A dark smile came over Talisman's pale face. " That has yet to be seen."
"I would know if you were." Lilly answered. " You are human."
Sasha caught the flicker in her friends eyes. " Tallis, what, ah, how about a tour of the city?"
"That would be great." Talisman followed the young vampire up the stairs and into the night.
**
Rain was falling in a light mist as the two walked silently away from the Haven. Sasha kept glancing over and wondering just what had happened. It was clear that Tallis Metternich was not the same German school girl she had known.
The silence was tangible and Sasha felt jumpy. "So they call you Talisman now do they?"
"Only a few." Came the cool reply. " How long have you been here?"
Sasha glanced up at the skyline, " Long enough."
Talisman smiled a little, " Candid reply coming from you."
"People change." Sasha hunched her shoulders under her leather coat, feeling the material stretch.
"That they do." Talisman paused and cocked her head to one side. Her silvery-white eyes shifted through the shadows and street lights. " Something is wrong."
Sasha hesitated before looking over both shoulders. "It's just my clan."
"Not them, something....else."
Talisman slowly turned her head and stared up at one of the closed office buildings. Moving almost faster then the eye could follow she raised a hand and fired. The flare of her gun was bright white to her eyes and for a moment she was blind. The moment passed and she could see perfectly. Her eyes picked up the finest detail. No shadow remained in darkness to her. She watched as the snipers body hit the ground with a thick wet smack. His blood and bodily fluids spilled across the damp cement. She crossed purposely to him and rolled the body over with a toe of her boot. His face was white with his blood being nothing but a dark river. His clothing was dark and glittered where she had shot him. Crouching down she took out his wallet and flipped open the leather case. His picture and name were both foreign to her. She knew nothing of him or why he would shoot her. Unless...She glanced over at the pale vampire and back at the wallet. Ideas clicked through her mind as she considered all the reasons.
"Do you have a police station nearby?" Talisman asked lightly as she stood up.
"Yeah, " Sasha reached for her phone. " Why? He's dead."
"It's not for him," Talisman glanced up the top of the building. " I'd like to report a theft."
**
Frank Kohanek had thought nothing could surprise him anymore. But when he arrived on the scene of an apparent robbery gone bad, he was surprised. At first he had thought the woman was older because of the gray hair. But as she turned her head to look at him he stopped dead. Her face was young, no more then twenty or so. With eyes like moonlight and silver hair, not gray, with smooth skin and sharp features. She was pretty in an exotic, strange way. As though she had stepped from an alien world. His partner had arrived on his own presumably from home. Sonny paused when he saw her as well. A shrug rolled off him as he approached. That's when Frank saw Luna's niece and felt himself cringe inside. More vampires.
'Just what this city needs." He muttered and joined Sonny as they walked up to them.
Sasha glanced up at the Ventrue detective then away, looking cold and miserable. She hunched up next to the odd girl and stared hard at the ground. Frank knew guilt when he saw it. Looking from one to the other he was sure Sasha knew something.
"Girls, can you tell us what happened?" Sonny asked as he produced a pen and pad from his coat pocket.
"We were leaving that club down there." The odd girl waved in the Haven's general direction. Her words were heavily accented with something European. " And out of no where this guy jumps us." She waved to the man on the ground. There was nothing in her expression as she talked. " He damn near robbed us."
Frank looked down at the body. "Looks like someone shot him before he had a chance."
"Thank god for that." The odd girl said, " I always heard that American cities were dangerous."
Sonny glanced up at her. " Where are you from Ms....?"
"Metternich, Tallis Metternich." She said and produced her German drivers license and student visa.
While Sonny wrote down the numbers, Frank watched her. Impassive, empty. Cold. " What are you studying?"
"Forensic Science," Talisman turned her steady gaze to Frank.
He shivered under those silver-white eyes, "Is that your natural color?"
"Yes."
"Odd." He said and she smiled a little.
"I am that." Her tone was softer as she spoke, almost sad. Her eyes moved to the man on the ground and Frank saw the icy wall that slid around her. "If there is nothing else, I would like to return to my hotel."
Sonny glanced at his partner. " Sure thing one of the officers can drive you."
"Where do you study Ms. Metternich?" Frank asked as she moved to stand.
"Miami State."
He met those eyes and didn't flinch, " A little far from home aren't you?"
She blinked and smiled, " Yes, Germany is very far from here." Turning she allowed one of the officers to guide her to his car and they left.
Chapter 4
**
Sasha let the heavy wooden door close behind her as she headed down into the Haven. Deep tones of a male singer filled the posh club with a mournful song. Pausing as she stepped down she saw Lilly in her usual booth with Julian and Cash. Tearing her eyes off her former lover and former uncle she saw her clanmates in the opposite booth. They grinned at her and she could only frown. She didn't want to be with them. Looking around at the faces of the Kindred she realized that she didn't want to be with any of them. Turning sharply she was about to leave when there was a loud explosion. It rocked her back and into someone. Looking up she found Cash has caught her from falling to the mosaic floor. Her attention was taken from his face as the sound of people yelling filled the club.
Men in dark clothes came spilling like a wave down into the club. Instantly drawing the kindred into a circle to defend their Prince. Orders were given and the stairs were blocked off by a wall of men with guns. One stepped from them and toward Sasha and family. He stopped a few paces back and lowered the mask on his face.
"Sasha Luna?" He asked in a gruff voice. His eyes intense on her face as he stared into her own eyes.
Julian answered for her. " Who's asking?"
"Be still Prince." His gaze flickered to the man and then back to her. " Stand away from the Enforcer Ms. Luna."
"Why?"
She tossed a look over to Cameron who was looking just as confused as everyone else. The sharp click of a gun made her look back to the strange man. He leveled Dragon's Breath at her and inclined his head. Sasha moved to follow and felt Cash squeeze her arms. She stopped.
"Bowen!" The warning was seconds too late as he staggered and went to one knee. Even against the dark of his clothes one could see blood. His men were looking around in confusion as another fell and then third.
Seconds passed as the wall around the stairs broke and the men were lost to panic. Cash grabbed Sasha and pulled her behind a grouping of Gangrel. Cameron maneuvered his forces and the Torredor closed in from around the club. Julian's people drew up and the men in black were out numbered two to one.
"I am ashamed of you Bowen." A female voice snapped through the club like a whip. Followed by the owner who was in a flowing black coat and solid looking boots. Silvery hair was plaited down her back and accented her moonlight eyes. " How dare you bring an assault out like this."
The man was on his feet but not looking so sure of himself. " You're late Talisman."
"I am never late." She answered, coming to a stop a few feet from him. Her eerie eyes never wavering from his face. The effect was profound for the man looked away and couldn't meet her gaze.
"What of her?" He muttered and glanced at Sasha.
"I will decide her fate," Talisman's tone was cold and harsh, " You are dismissed Bowen."
He jerked his head up and stared at her for moment. " I am command leader here!"
"You are nothing to me." She said moving forward slightly. He backed up and kept her from touching him. " Now leave!"
Tension rose between them for a full five minutes before Bowen stepped wide of her and left. Those of his men that could do so followed quickly, the rest lay on the floor of the Haven. Talisman made no move save from turning to look at the assembled Kindred. Her gaze settled firmly Sasha.
"Tallis?"
A slight smile came to the assassins face as she heard the disbelief. " Still causing trouble are you?"
Heaving a sigh the Brujah grinned and laughed slightly. " You know me."
"I do." Talisman glanced around at the people, " We will talk later I think."
Sasha reached to stop her, Talisman stepped back from her. " I would like you to meet my uncle." Her hand hovered inches from the girl, gently she took her sleeve and pulled the girl up to Julian. " Uncle Julian this is Tallis Metternich, she and I grew up together."
The Prince nodded his head, " I am grateful you could disperse the trouble."
Talisman stared at him before speaking and gave a graceful shrug. " He forgets his bounds on occasion."
"Indeed." Cameron glided up beside the Prince and eyed her. " You are not Kindred."
A dark smile came over Talisman's pale face. " That has yet to be seen."
"I would know if you were." Lilly answered. " You are human."
Sasha caught the flicker in her friends eyes. " Tallis, what, ah, how about a tour of the city?"
"That would be great." Talisman followed the young vampire up the stairs and into the night.
**
Rain was falling in a light mist as the two walked silently away from the Haven. Sasha kept glancing over and wondering just what had happened. It was clear that Tallis Metternich was not the same German school girl she had known.
The silence was tangible and Sasha felt jumpy. "So they call you Talisman now do they?"
"Only a few." Came the cool reply. " How long have you been here?"
Sasha glanced up at the skyline, " Long enough."
Talisman smiled a little, " Candid reply coming from you."
"People change." Sasha hunched her shoulders under her leather coat, feeling the material stretch.
"That they do." Talisman paused and cocked her head to one side. Her silvery-white eyes shifted through the shadows and street lights. " Something is wrong."
Sasha hesitated before looking over both shoulders. "It's just my clan."
"Not them, something....else."
Talisman slowly turned her head and stared up at one of the closed office buildings. Moving almost faster then the eye could follow she raised a hand and fired. The flare of her gun was bright white to her eyes and for a moment she was blind. The moment passed and she could see perfectly. Her eyes picked up the finest detail. No shadow remained in darkness to her. She watched as the snipers body hit the ground with a thick wet smack. His blood and bodily fluids spilled across the damp cement. She crossed purposely to him and rolled the body over with a toe of her boot. His face was white with his blood being nothing but a dark river. His clothing was dark and glittered where she had shot him. Crouching down she took out his wallet and flipped open the leather case. His picture and name were both foreign to her. She knew nothing of him or why he would shoot her. Unless...She glanced over at the pale vampire and back at the wallet. Ideas clicked through her mind as she considered all the reasons.
"Do you have a police station nearby?" Talisman asked lightly as she stood up.
"Yeah, " Sasha reached for her phone. " Why? He's dead."
"It's not for him," Talisman glanced up the top of the building. " I'd like to report a theft."
**
Frank Kohanek had thought nothing could surprise him anymore. But when he arrived on the scene of an apparent robbery gone bad, he was surprised. At first he had thought the woman was older because of the gray hair. But as she turned her head to look at him he stopped dead. Her face was young, no more then twenty or so. With eyes like moonlight and silver hair, not gray, with smooth skin and sharp features. She was pretty in an exotic, strange way. As though she had stepped from an alien world. His partner had arrived on his own presumably from home. Sonny paused when he saw her as well. A shrug rolled off him as he approached. That's when Frank saw Luna's niece and felt himself cringe inside. More vampires.
'Just what this city needs." He muttered and joined Sonny as they walked up to them.
Sasha glanced up at the Ventrue detective then away, looking cold and miserable. She hunched up next to the odd girl and stared hard at the ground. Frank knew guilt when he saw it. Looking from one to the other he was sure Sasha knew something.
"Girls, can you tell us what happened?" Sonny asked as he produced a pen and pad from his coat pocket.
"We were leaving that club down there." The odd girl waved in the Haven's general direction. Her words were heavily accented with something European. " And out of no where this guy jumps us." She waved to the man on the ground. There was nothing in her expression as she talked. " He damn near robbed us."
Frank looked down at the body. "Looks like someone shot him before he had a chance."
"Thank god for that." The odd girl said, " I always heard that American cities were dangerous."
Sonny glanced up at her. " Where are you from Ms....?"
"Metternich, Tallis Metternich." She said and produced her German drivers license and student visa.
While Sonny wrote down the numbers, Frank watched her. Impassive, empty. Cold. " What are you studying?"
"Forensic Science," Talisman turned her steady gaze to Frank.
He shivered under those silver-white eyes, "Is that your natural color?"
"Yes."
"Odd." He said and she smiled a little.
"I am that." Her tone was softer as she spoke, almost sad. Her eyes moved to the man on the ground and Frank saw the icy wall that slid around her. "If there is nothing else, I would like to return to my hotel."
Sonny glanced at his partner. " Sure thing one of the officers can drive you."
"Where do you study Ms. Metternich?" Frank asked as she moved to stand.
"Miami State."
He met those eyes and didn't flinch, " A little far from home aren't you?"
She blinked and smiled, " Yes, Germany is very far from here." Turning she allowed one of the officers to guide her to his car and they left.