Edge walked into the house running a hand tiredly through his hair. He'd
really managed to make a mess of things. He needed to find Nemesis and talk
to her. Their previous conversation had gone very badly and Edge needed to
make things right. He just didn't know how to explain things to her when he
didn't understand it himself.
Edge paused and listened; he couldn't hear any signs of others in the house. Gangrel, Christian and Nemesis must have gone out to feed. Edge closed his eyes and sighed the memory of the hurt on Nemesis' face as he had walked out the door appearing in his mind's eye.
Walking further into the house Edge tossed his coat onto a nearby chair too weary to bother hanging it in a closet. He plopped onto the couch in the living room to wait until the others got home. He would talk to Nemesis then.
Edge sat in lost in thought for almost an hour before he heard the front door open. Edge got to his feet and walked into the hallway only to find that Nemesis wasn't with Gangrel and Christian. "Where's Nemesis?" Edge asked confused.
Gangrel raised an eyebrow, "She should be here," Gangrel paused a moment extending his senses and connection to his child. When he didn't sense her in the house he turned to Christian, "Go see if she's in her room, hurry." As Christian ran up the stairs Gangrel turned to Edge. "She knows better than to leave the house by herself."
Edge looked down at the ground, knowing that if Nemesis had left the house it was because of him. The blonde looked up as his brother ran back down the stairs looking worried. "She's not there," Christian said stating what they had already known.
"Dammit," Gangrel swore turning towards the door, "Let's go find her. There's only a few more hours until dawn."
The trio hurried outside and Gangrel pointed towards the woods, "Let's starts there. I am hoping that the girl was not foolhardy enough to venture into the city alone. Hopefully she has simply gone for a walk."
When they reached the woods Gangrel broke off from his childer, "Split up. We should find her faster that way." Edge and Christian nodded and headed off in different directions calling their sister's name.
Edge moved quickly through the trees coming to a halt when he picked up her scent. Using her scent to track her he followed her through the woods until he stopped suddenly a chill running up his spine.
Kneeling down he picked up the leather duster that he and Christian had given to Nemesis on the day of her presentation. Checking the ground he could see signs of a struggle and after a moment he picked up the scent of two other vampires. Edge growled his fangs elongating in rage, he'd know the stench that was Malice and Entropy anywhere.
Edge shouted for his brother and sire knowing that they would hear him with their sensitive hearing. When his Sire and brother had reached his side Edge stood and handed Gangrel Nemesis' duster. Gangrel sniffed the air and snarled, "Entropy and her whelp."
Christian's eyes flashed a sparkling blue, "If they've hurt her . . ." he trailed off as anger choked his voice.
"This is my fault," Edge whispered trying to fight back the fear that threatened to overwhelm him.
Gangrel turned to Edge, "What do you mean this is your fault?" he asked his childe confused.
Edge sighed, "Nemesis and I had a fight tonight. That's why she wouldn't go out to feed with you and most likely why she wondered off tonight.
"Edge," Gangrel replied gently, "You couldn't have known this would happen and I know how much you care about Nemesis. Blaming yourself won't help things right now. What you need to do right now is concentrate on getting her back home."
Edge nodded and followed Gangrel back towards the house. Christian came up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault, Edge," Christian told him softly.
Edge shook his head, "No, Christian, you were right. I almost lost her once but I was too stupid to realize what I had. Now I might loose her without being able to tell her how much I love her."
"We're not going to loose her," Christian told him trying to feel as confident as he sounded, "We're going to find her, and then we're going to kick Entropy and Malice's sorry ass and we're going to bring her back home," Christian put his arm around his brother's shoulders, "And then you're going to yell at her for running off by herself, after I've had my turn of course and then you're going to tell her how much you love her."
Edge nodded forcing a weak grin, "You're right," he said, "Nemesis is a fighter she'll hang on until we can get to her. She knows we'll come for her."
Christian looked worriedly at the sky, "Gangrel, it's awfully close to sunrise," the younger brother called to his sire, "We don't have much time left tonight."
Gangrel sighed knowing that his two eldest were not going to like what he was about to say, "We're going to have to wait until tomorrow night. It's too big of a risk to go after her now."
"What!?" Edge burst out, "We can't leave her with those psycho's for a day! Who knows what they'll do in that amount of time?"
Gangrel stopped and turned to face his eldest, "Edge . . . Adam, I don't like it either but use your head, Entropy and Malice are vampires, they're going to sleep during the day. I'm going to go into the house and call Eternity, she has mortals working for her that can track Nemesis down," Gangrel laid a fatherly hand on Edge's shoulder, "When the sun sets tomorrow hopefully we'll know where she's at and then we can retrieve her."
"What about Malice and Entropy," Christian asked bitterly, "If we don't do something they'll just pull another stunt like this."
"No they won't," Gangrel promised, "They're not getting away with this one, I'll speak to Eternity and have formal sanctions filed . . . if I don't kill them myself that is."
Edge nodded slightly and Gangrel led his family back to the house. He could feel Edge's guilt and fear coming off the boy in waves and the elder vampire's eyes flashed in rage. This would be the last time that those to riff-raff messed with his brood.
When they reached the house Gangrel sighed as Edge headed straight up the stairs and gestured for Christian to follow his brother. Edge would need his brother's loving presence. Gangrel headed towards his study and picked up the phone waiting until one of Eternity's lackeys picked up and he was transferred to the Elder.
"Hello?" Eternity's soft voice inquired from the other end.
"Eternity, it's Gangrel, "Gangrel replied, "I need your help very badly."
"What's wrong?" Eternity asked hearing the anger and worry in Gangrel's voice.
"Entropy and Malice have taken Nemesis," Gangrel informed her, "I need to know where they've taken her. It's too close to the sunrise for the boys and I to search ourselves."
"I'll send out my people," Eternity promised immediately, "And I'm going with you to get her. I told Entropy and Malice to stay away from the girl and they've completely crossed the line. This time there will be no mercy."
Gangrel closed his eyes in relief and listened quietly as he heard Eternity issuing orders to someone. After a moment Eternity spoke to him again, "I've sent my people out, Gangrel. I promise you that we'll find her."
"Thank you, Eternity," Gangrel told her, "I appreciate your help more than you could possibly know."
"We're friends, Grel," Eternity admonished gently, "And I like that girl, I would have been upset if you hadn't come to me. Now," she continued, "Tell me, how are Edge and Christian holding up? They seemed very close to their sister."
"Christian is understandably upset," Gangrel replied with a sigh, "And Edge . . . well, Edge is blaming himself. It seems they had a fight the last time he saw her and that's why she wouldn't go hunting tonight. She wondered into the woods and we found her duster lying on the ground. The boy is guilt ridden."
"Go to your childer, Gangrel," Eternity urged, " They need reassurance right now. They're still so young."
Gangrel took an unneeded breath, "You're right, thank you again, my friend."
"I promise to call the second I hear something," Eternity promised before hanging up.
Gangrel set the phone down and walked out of the room and down the hallway pausing at the bottom of the steps. What was he to tell Edge and Christian? How could he possibly comfort them? Slowly Gangrel began to ascend the stairs walking down the hall to Edge's room knowing that the distraught young vampire would have sought refuge there.
Quietly opening the door his heart was consumed by sympathy as he took in the sight of Edge sobbing quietly on his younger brother's shoulder. The younger brothers face was also streaked with tears and Gangrel could fully understand how helpless they must have been feeling at that moment.
Gangrel walked into the room and Christian looked up at the sound of his footsteps. Edge seemed oblivious to his presence never moving his head from his brother's shoulder. Gangrel had never seen the boy so vulnerable, and he could tell that Christian was shocked at the role reversal as well. Normally Edge was the strong one, the one to never say die, and determined to fight to the end.
Christian continued to stroke his brother's hair looking desperately to Gangrel for guidance. Not knowing what else to do Gangrel sat down on the bed wrapping his arms around both of his childer. Gangrel allowed them to cry, he did not have the heart to deny them this emotional release.
When the two had finally quieted Gangrel stroked Edge's hair and then Christian's. "I've spoken to Eternity," he told them softly, "She has people out looking for Nemesis as we speak. Eternity has promised to personally aide us in retrieving your sister."
Christian ran a hand through his hair, "What about Entropy and Malice?" he asked his voice hoarse from crying.
"Eternity has promised that they will pay dearly for what they've done," Gangrel told him, "Now," he continued gently, "I want both of you to try and get some sleep. I'll wait for Eternity's phone call."
"No," Edge's voice came out in barely a whisper, "I'm not sleeping until she's home."
Gangrel sighed, "Edge you're a wreck right now. Your mind needs the sleep as much as your body does. You won't be of any help when we find her if we're not rested."
Edge shook his head stubbornly and Gangrel sighed. He hated to do this but it was for the boy's own good. Gangrel's hand lashed out grabbing Edge by the chin forcing the younger vampire to meet his gaze. "Sleep, Edge," Gangrel whispered his voice commanding, "Just rest."
Edge fought the hypnosis for a moment but Gangrel was more powerful and the blonde slowly slumped forward into his brother's arms unconscious. Christian looked at Gangrel slightly alarmed but his sire smiled reassuringly, "It was for his own good, Christian. You know that. You both need to rest. I promise to wake both of you the moment I hear anything."
After a moment Christian nodded before gathering his older brother into his arms and then laying him out on the bed. Christian stretched out next to him, his head resting on Edge's shoulder his arm across his brother's waist.
Gangrel smiled gently as he stood. He had not seen the brothers do this for many years. Gangrel pulled the covers up over his childer and turned and left the room shutting the light off before closing the door.
Edge paused and listened; he couldn't hear any signs of others in the house. Gangrel, Christian and Nemesis must have gone out to feed. Edge closed his eyes and sighed the memory of the hurt on Nemesis' face as he had walked out the door appearing in his mind's eye.
Walking further into the house Edge tossed his coat onto a nearby chair too weary to bother hanging it in a closet. He plopped onto the couch in the living room to wait until the others got home. He would talk to Nemesis then.
Edge sat in lost in thought for almost an hour before he heard the front door open. Edge got to his feet and walked into the hallway only to find that Nemesis wasn't with Gangrel and Christian. "Where's Nemesis?" Edge asked confused.
Gangrel raised an eyebrow, "She should be here," Gangrel paused a moment extending his senses and connection to his child. When he didn't sense her in the house he turned to Christian, "Go see if she's in her room, hurry." As Christian ran up the stairs Gangrel turned to Edge. "She knows better than to leave the house by herself."
Edge looked down at the ground, knowing that if Nemesis had left the house it was because of him. The blonde looked up as his brother ran back down the stairs looking worried. "She's not there," Christian said stating what they had already known.
"Dammit," Gangrel swore turning towards the door, "Let's go find her. There's only a few more hours until dawn."
The trio hurried outside and Gangrel pointed towards the woods, "Let's starts there. I am hoping that the girl was not foolhardy enough to venture into the city alone. Hopefully she has simply gone for a walk."
When they reached the woods Gangrel broke off from his childer, "Split up. We should find her faster that way." Edge and Christian nodded and headed off in different directions calling their sister's name.
Edge moved quickly through the trees coming to a halt when he picked up her scent. Using her scent to track her he followed her through the woods until he stopped suddenly a chill running up his spine.
Kneeling down he picked up the leather duster that he and Christian had given to Nemesis on the day of her presentation. Checking the ground he could see signs of a struggle and after a moment he picked up the scent of two other vampires. Edge growled his fangs elongating in rage, he'd know the stench that was Malice and Entropy anywhere.
Edge shouted for his brother and sire knowing that they would hear him with their sensitive hearing. When his Sire and brother had reached his side Edge stood and handed Gangrel Nemesis' duster. Gangrel sniffed the air and snarled, "Entropy and her whelp."
Christian's eyes flashed a sparkling blue, "If they've hurt her . . ." he trailed off as anger choked his voice.
"This is my fault," Edge whispered trying to fight back the fear that threatened to overwhelm him.
Gangrel turned to Edge, "What do you mean this is your fault?" he asked his childe confused.
Edge sighed, "Nemesis and I had a fight tonight. That's why she wouldn't go out to feed with you and most likely why she wondered off tonight.
"Edge," Gangrel replied gently, "You couldn't have known this would happen and I know how much you care about Nemesis. Blaming yourself won't help things right now. What you need to do right now is concentrate on getting her back home."
Edge nodded and followed Gangrel back towards the house. Christian came up beside him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "It's not your fault, Edge," Christian told him softly.
Edge shook his head, "No, Christian, you were right. I almost lost her once but I was too stupid to realize what I had. Now I might loose her without being able to tell her how much I love her."
"We're not going to loose her," Christian told him trying to feel as confident as he sounded, "We're going to find her, and then we're going to kick Entropy and Malice's sorry ass and we're going to bring her back home," Christian put his arm around his brother's shoulders, "And then you're going to yell at her for running off by herself, after I've had my turn of course and then you're going to tell her how much you love her."
Edge nodded forcing a weak grin, "You're right," he said, "Nemesis is a fighter she'll hang on until we can get to her. She knows we'll come for her."
Christian looked worriedly at the sky, "Gangrel, it's awfully close to sunrise," the younger brother called to his sire, "We don't have much time left tonight."
Gangrel sighed knowing that his two eldest were not going to like what he was about to say, "We're going to have to wait until tomorrow night. It's too big of a risk to go after her now."
"What!?" Edge burst out, "We can't leave her with those psycho's for a day! Who knows what they'll do in that amount of time?"
Gangrel stopped and turned to face his eldest, "Edge . . . Adam, I don't like it either but use your head, Entropy and Malice are vampires, they're going to sleep during the day. I'm going to go into the house and call Eternity, she has mortals working for her that can track Nemesis down," Gangrel laid a fatherly hand on Edge's shoulder, "When the sun sets tomorrow hopefully we'll know where she's at and then we can retrieve her."
"What about Malice and Entropy," Christian asked bitterly, "If we don't do something they'll just pull another stunt like this."
"No they won't," Gangrel promised, "They're not getting away with this one, I'll speak to Eternity and have formal sanctions filed . . . if I don't kill them myself that is."
Edge nodded slightly and Gangrel led his family back to the house. He could feel Edge's guilt and fear coming off the boy in waves and the elder vampire's eyes flashed in rage. This would be the last time that those to riff-raff messed with his brood.
When they reached the house Gangrel sighed as Edge headed straight up the stairs and gestured for Christian to follow his brother. Edge would need his brother's loving presence. Gangrel headed towards his study and picked up the phone waiting until one of Eternity's lackeys picked up and he was transferred to the Elder.
"Hello?" Eternity's soft voice inquired from the other end.
"Eternity, it's Gangrel, "Gangrel replied, "I need your help very badly."
"What's wrong?" Eternity asked hearing the anger and worry in Gangrel's voice.
"Entropy and Malice have taken Nemesis," Gangrel informed her, "I need to know where they've taken her. It's too close to the sunrise for the boys and I to search ourselves."
"I'll send out my people," Eternity promised immediately, "And I'm going with you to get her. I told Entropy and Malice to stay away from the girl and they've completely crossed the line. This time there will be no mercy."
Gangrel closed his eyes in relief and listened quietly as he heard Eternity issuing orders to someone. After a moment Eternity spoke to him again, "I've sent my people out, Gangrel. I promise you that we'll find her."
"Thank you, Eternity," Gangrel told her, "I appreciate your help more than you could possibly know."
"We're friends, Grel," Eternity admonished gently, "And I like that girl, I would have been upset if you hadn't come to me. Now," she continued, "Tell me, how are Edge and Christian holding up? They seemed very close to their sister."
"Christian is understandably upset," Gangrel replied with a sigh, "And Edge . . . well, Edge is blaming himself. It seems they had a fight the last time he saw her and that's why she wouldn't go hunting tonight. She wondered into the woods and we found her duster lying on the ground. The boy is guilt ridden."
"Go to your childer, Gangrel," Eternity urged, " They need reassurance right now. They're still so young."
Gangrel took an unneeded breath, "You're right, thank you again, my friend."
"I promise to call the second I hear something," Eternity promised before hanging up.
Gangrel set the phone down and walked out of the room and down the hallway pausing at the bottom of the steps. What was he to tell Edge and Christian? How could he possibly comfort them? Slowly Gangrel began to ascend the stairs walking down the hall to Edge's room knowing that the distraught young vampire would have sought refuge there.
Quietly opening the door his heart was consumed by sympathy as he took in the sight of Edge sobbing quietly on his younger brother's shoulder. The younger brothers face was also streaked with tears and Gangrel could fully understand how helpless they must have been feeling at that moment.
Gangrel walked into the room and Christian looked up at the sound of his footsteps. Edge seemed oblivious to his presence never moving his head from his brother's shoulder. Gangrel had never seen the boy so vulnerable, and he could tell that Christian was shocked at the role reversal as well. Normally Edge was the strong one, the one to never say die, and determined to fight to the end.
Christian continued to stroke his brother's hair looking desperately to Gangrel for guidance. Not knowing what else to do Gangrel sat down on the bed wrapping his arms around both of his childer. Gangrel allowed them to cry, he did not have the heart to deny them this emotional release.
When the two had finally quieted Gangrel stroked Edge's hair and then Christian's. "I've spoken to Eternity," he told them softly, "She has people out looking for Nemesis as we speak. Eternity has promised to personally aide us in retrieving your sister."
Christian ran a hand through his hair, "What about Entropy and Malice?" he asked his voice hoarse from crying.
"Eternity has promised that they will pay dearly for what they've done," Gangrel told him, "Now," he continued gently, "I want both of you to try and get some sleep. I'll wait for Eternity's phone call."
"No," Edge's voice came out in barely a whisper, "I'm not sleeping until she's home."
Gangrel sighed, "Edge you're a wreck right now. Your mind needs the sleep as much as your body does. You won't be of any help when we find her if we're not rested."
Edge shook his head stubbornly and Gangrel sighed. He hated to do this but it was for the boy's own good. Gangrel's hand lashed out grabbing Edge by the chin forcing the younger vampire to meet his gaze. "Sleep, Edge," Gangrel whispered his voice commanding, "Just rest."
Edge fought the hypnosis for a moment but Gangrel was more powerful and the blonde slowly slumped forward into his brother's arms unconscious. Christian looked at Gangrel slightly alarmed but his sire smiled reassuringly, "It was for his own good, Christian. You know that. You both need to rest. I promise to wake both of you the moment I hear anything."
After a moment Christian nodded before gathering his older brother into his arms and then laying him out on the bed. Christian stretched out next to him, his head resting on Edge's shoulder his arm across his brother's waist.
Gangrel smiled gently as he stood. He had not seen the brothers do this for many years. Gangrel pulled the covers up over his childer and turned and left the room shutting the light off before closing the door.