Greetings o soon to be dictated to person. As I am ever a bit of a nutjob when it comes to my titles I feel obligated to mention something when it comes to this chapter (as I'm particularly proud of this chapter name) If you'd read 'Of Monsters And Men' you would know that Harris and Marv are friends and Marv actually sort of aided Harris in finding his own personal freedom. (Does this make Marv a crusading wise man rather then a mean drunk? You be the judge) Just mentioning this so his appearance doesn't seem *too* arbritary. Thus the title ties in with Harris & Marv, Marv & The Anarchs, The Anarchs & Harris, Harris & The Sabbat, The Sabbat & Blue, and Blue & Harris. (Wow, does Thor spend a little too much time on titles?) In any case, now that that's out of the way, read on!

The Thief Who Came In From The Cold: A Tale of Detroit

Chapter Three: With Friends Like These...

Marv sat in Gurdy's. The massive figure was draped in a ratty trench coat, his scarred face was intently watching the stage. The bar just seemed different somehow, he would have asked Gurdy about it, but couldn't find him. He wasn't sure when all of the flashing lights had been installed, or when they had redone the western theme into the techno one. But Marv was willing to try new things. Gurdy had also apparently brought in a new type of entertainment for the night, and Marv was enjoying it. He clutched a small dark bottle with one gloved hand as he watched the dancer strip on the stage. He grinned as the sweet young thing actually bothered to smile in his general direction. A figure stepped into his path. Marv glanced up at Nelson and Sam, two of the anarchs of the neighborhood. Both large men scowled down at him.

"Hey Sam, how's the arm?" Sam scowled and took a step back from the fearsome bruiser. He unconsciously shifted so that the arm that Marv had broken a month or so ago was as far from the brute as was possible. Nelson frowned at Sam's cowardice. He cracked his knuckles with a scowl and leaned in. He poked Marv in the chest a few times.

"Why weren't you at the meeting asshole?" Marv looked down at the finger poking him in the chest, then back up at Nelson. Slowly the anarch stopped poking him and stepped back. Marv blinked and scratched his head.

"What meeting?"

"The one Belle called."

"Oh, sorry, was that tonight?"

"It was called tonight to be held tonight! How the fuck couldn't you have managed to make it?"

"Oh..."

"Well?"

"I forgot, gotta concentrate on that," he muttered quietly. Marv shifted in his seat to again get a clear view of the dancer. Nelson muttered and pointed at Marv in annoyance. Sam reached over and gripped Nelson's shoulder.

"Don't worry about it man, this asshole ain't worth shit," growled Sam. Nelson shook his head, refusing to let it go.

"Hey," he poked Marv again, "we were asked to scour the 'hoods for some sign of Eric." Marv watched the dancer, she was cute. "He's been kidnapped," Nelson snorted in rage as Marv continued to ignore him. "We need everyone on the streets looking for him."

"Bummer." Marv took a swig of the bottle. He smacked his lips in appreciation. It was a lucky thing he had brought his own supply. For some reason the bartender hadn't known about Gurdy's special blood/alcohol brew. Good thing he had brought his own flask...he wondered where he'd gotten it. He watched as the dancer twirled around on stage.

"What the hell is your fucking problem," hissed Nelson, specks of spittle bouncing off his thick lips. Sam muttered something about useless assholes under his breath. Marv's eyes blinked and he nodded his head a few times.

"Sorry, gotta concentrate. I heard ya, Eric, Sabbat, got it. If the dweeb comes in here I'll tell ya."

"Look you idiot, either you start looking or we kick your ass!" One more poke to his chest. Marv blinked, he'd already agreed, what the hell was this guy's problem? Marv turned to look Nelson dead in the eye, Nelson swallowed as he caught a flash of the wild terror lurking below Marv's semi-pleasant attitude.

"Wrong, either you buzz off, or there'll be two less guys ta go looking." Nelson and Sam nearly tripped over themselves to flee. "Buncha pansies," Marv muttered to himself as he leaned back in his chair and took a swig of the bottle again. The dancer swirled over near him, she swayed and looked at him expectantly. He nodded and reached into his pocket to pull out some cash. He pulled out a set of keys instead. Marv looked at them curiously as the dancer spit in annoyance and headed off to another table. Marv looked down at the pieces of metal in his hand. "Where'd I get these keys? For the life of me I can't remember."

Blue sauntered down the narrow back alley, behind her she heard the catcalls and whistles of the three Sabbat goons she had picked out in the club. It had been so easy to spot them. Each had worn something purple as though it were really some secret method of identifying themselves. They hadn't done anything to their faces, looking far to pale and feral amongst the kine. They had all been playing at being invincible warriors of the night. It made her want to laugh. The Sabbat almost always made her laugh. It had also been so simple to lure them out here. A few hurried glances, a few smiles, a few glimpses of skin. She slowly ran her hands down her back and over the smooth curves of her rear, pulling the tight satin even tauter over her flesh. She smiled as she heard them clomp down the alley after her.

"Hey baby, after a show like that ya can't just run off."

"Oh good, cause I'm so hungry for you."

"That's great, cause I'm ready ta make your dreams come true." The voice was the loud and self-assured voice of the leader of the group. He had been the one most interested in her, she could almost taste his desire. It was sweet, but not as sweet as what else he offered her.

"Really?" asked Blue, she turned and placed one delicate finger on her pouting red lips as she batted her eyes. "So what should I do for three big strong men like you?" The Sabbat chuckled as they moved in around her. She watched them come, a long lock of her blonde hair falling across her face, her eyes gleaming in the darkness of the alley. Their teeth flashed as they puffed out their chests. Confident, sure, strong, they knew they were the hunters.

"I bet I could think of a couple of things."

"I bet you could." Blue's eyes shined as she watched them with a slow smile on her face. They didn't know what the hunt even was. The leader grinned as he walked up in front of her. Another circled off to her side. The last hung back. "But, you better think fast."

"Why," asked the leader as he leaned in towards her, "you hot to trot honey?" She continued to smile shyly, her left hand reached up to brush the hair away from her face and tuck it behind her ear.

"In a manner of speaking." She lifted her other slender arm, her finger curled as she beckoned him to her. He grinned and reached out his hand for her again. She smiled and reached up to grip his wrist, she slowly pulled his arm in towards her chest. All three of them had their eyes glued to her hand and chest. Her left hand, now forgotten, finished pushing her hair back and then slipped behind her neck. Delicate fingers gripping the hilt of the knife that was strapped there, hidden under her thick hair.

With a slight flick of her wrist she sent it plunging into the eye of the goon standing next to her. He howled and dropped to the ground. She twisted the first goon's wrist and pulled him in towards her, at the same instant lashing her foot up to snap out under his chin. The sharp crack of his neck reverberated off the walls of the back alley. As he collapsed she spun in a tight circle and caught him across the side of the head with the metal heel of her shoe. There was a crunch as he was tossed to the ground.

"Fuck this!" His eyes wide with fear the last goon turned and ran for it. Blue calmly pulled out a second knife from under her jacket and sliced her finger tip with it. Just as the slimebag reached the end of the alley and dove for cover the knife slammed into the back of his head, killing him instantly. Blue shook her head in amusement of his pathetic flight. Some brave hunter he had been. She heard the low groan of the leader and glanced at him. Blue reached down and grabbed his shirt, she easily pulled him up so that his scared eyes were locked with her flashing bright blue stare.

"Be good for Blue now," she whispered as her fangs lengthened. "Cause I'm so hungry for you, baby." His scream was sweet. Almost as sweet as his blood.

Harris knocked on the door again. Belle and Doc stood a few feet behind him, their arms crossed and skeptical looks on their faces. Cars hissed by on the street as Harris again knocked on the door to the small office. There was no sign announcing what business used the office, the windows were taped up to prevent anyone from simply peeking in. Harris growled in annoyance as he kicked the door.

"You are sure this is the address, right?" Harris frowned and glanced over his shoulder slowly to look at Doc. The anarch grinned at him and shrugged. "Just making an observation. Seems to me he should have answered the door by now." Harris' eye narrowed as he continued to frown. Doc shook his head and glanced back out into the street. "Just saying was all." Harris turned back to look at the silent door. His fists clenched in annoyance. He reached up and knocked, then waited, then knocked, then waited, then knocked...

"What if we went around and tried the back," offered Belle. She too received a slow glance and a deep frown. She shoved her hands on her hips and glared back. "Look, we've been standing around this stinking street for almost a half hour. All because you may or may not have a friend who may or may not be able to help us. All I'm thinking is we should try to speed things up. The less time we spend in Windsor, the better!"

"I know that," sighed Harris as he turned fully around to talk to her. "But it would be damn silly of us to try to scour all the possible places she could be holed up by ourselves. I just need to get a little update on how things are going in some of the neighborhoods. It will really help, trust me. This is the place to get that information, and this is the way to talk to the owner. Just trust me, I know what I'm doing." Belle nodded a little and returned to waiting. Harris knocked again. Suddenly he was bathed in the bright gleam of some headlights. He spun around and raised his arm to shade his eyes as he looked at the truck that had just pulled up onto the sidewalk and angled towards them. Its brakes squealed as it slammed to a stop.

"What the hell," said Belle in surprise as she stepped back a few feet. Harris groaned as the doors of the truck swung open and disgorged five figures. If they weren't Sabbat he was a nun. Doc grinned, Belle slowly slipped one hand behind her back.

"Let me do the talking," Harris said as he turned towards the approaching Sabbat. "And whatever you do, don't do anything unless I tell you to. No matter what happens. Or else we could all be dead."

"But," said Belle.

"No matter what," snapped Harris as he stepped away from the door and towards the approaching pack. He breathed a sigh of relief when he didn't recognize the pack leader. That meant there was a good chance the pack leader didn't know him. The ductus walked ahead of his men and stopped only a few feet from the three anarchs. He grinned at them, his fangs flashing as he eyed them from behind his sunglasses. Harris nodded at him, "hello."

"Hey," replied the ductus stiffly, "So...buddy, watcha guys doing here?"

"Looking to find some info," said Harris with a casual shrug. The ductus cocked an eyebrow and glanced back at his men. The pack had spread out so that all of them had clean shots on any of the anarchs.

"Really? Who're you with?"

"Nomads, just back in town. I was hoping to catch Zeke for a little update on the situation locally."

"Riiiight," snickered the ductus. The other pack members muttered and pulled out some guns. Two of them even pointed them at Harris. He ignored them. The pack leader glanced Harris up and down, then looked at Belle and Doc. "Funny, but you and the thin geek look a little too well dressed to be nomads." Doc frowned and placed his cigarette in his mouth, freeing his hands. "And that girl seems awfully jumpy," the ductus suddenly twisted to shout at her, "watcha so scared of sweet pea?"

"She's a Malk, I wouldn't press her," Harris cut in. The pack leader glanced at the wide eyed Belle. She stared right back at him. The ductus suddenly grinned and turned back to Harris.

"So you're here for info huh?" The pack leader took a step in closer to Harris and glared down at him. "I'm guessing then you didn't know that Ol' Zeke met final death just last night?" Harris forced himself to remain calm. This might have just become more complicated...

"Oh?" Harris forced himself to act nonchalant as he looked up at the Sabbat. "How'd that happen."

"Forgot his keys, got locked out to greet the sun." Harris' hand was a flash as he pulled out his gun and held it up to the Sabbat's face. Both Belle and Doc tensed as the other Sabbat eyed him dangerously. Harris knew that if he so much as whispered the wrong thing he'd be dead, but he knew what he was doing.

"Who the fuck are you," growled Harris, "and why shouldn't I blow your fucking head off?" Harris could only pray that Doc and Belle followed his orders and didn't do anything. "There's no way that Zeke would ever let himself get locked out. He's as scared of being caught in the sun as a mouse is of an owl." A short silence seemed to stretch into infinity. The Sabbat glared at them with cold menace, Doc and Belle shifted in uncertainty, Harris and the ductus locked eyes. Then the ductus nodded his head and waved his hand at his men, they relaxed their guard.

"Sorry man, just having to be careful. We are at war with the Camarilla, and I've never seen you in my turf before. Relax, Zeke ain't dead, he's just off running some errands." Harris nodded as he stepped back and slipped his gun back under his coat.

"When will he be back?"

"Dunno, probably late."

"Damn."

"Hey, don't sweat it man. Here, I'll give you the skinny on the streets if you want." Harris nodded, he did want. After a few minutes of conversation, including another odd test or two by the ductus, Harris had what he needed. He thanked the pack and their leader as they leaped into their truck and quickly roared off. Belle let out a small breath.

"That was close."

"Not really, that was about standard patrol technique."

"You mean Sabbat treat each other like that all the time?"

"More or less."

"No wonder you all have such bad attitudes." Harris cocked an eyebrow as he glanced over at her. Belle shrugged and smirked back. "So, do you think you know where we should be looking now?"

"I have an idea or two. But I'm not promising anything, trying to think like Blue is a risky game. However, it seems like another old friend of mine may be ab-"

"Whatever, let's just get moving," cut in Belle as she brushed by him. Harris glanced at Doc, who shrugged apologetically before following. Harris muttered as he trailed along in the rear. Belle kicked a piece of litter in annoyance as they walked, it skittered over the frozen sidewalk. "I wish to hell we'd brought a car."

"It would never have fit in the sewers," pointed out Harris as he walked behind her.

"I could arrange for us to get one now..."

"No stealing, we don't want to arouse suspicion."

"Oh c'mon, just look at that sweet red one over..."

"No cars, walking will do just fine."

"But..."

"No cars!"

There was a click from above, the front door had been opened. Roulda quickly moved so that he lurked in the open space underneath the stairs. His fists clenched as he watched through the open gaps between the steps. The door into the basement swung open. Roulda's eyes narrowed in preparation. But then he saw the delicate and sensuous white legs that moved gracefully down the dusty steps. He stepped out from under the stairs as Blue returned. Her pale face was slightly flushed from the fresh infusion of blood. Her long hair had been blown into disarray by the wind of the city. She grinned at him as she pulled her blue gloves off.

"Hey big guy, how's our guest?" Roulda turned and nodded his head towards the limp figure hung from the ceiling.

"He is too injured to be much aware. He began to refuse to utilize his blood to heal. Thus I elected to stop any further efforts until I learned how you'd like to deal with this new tactic." Roulda watched her carefully, still trying to come to terms with how he was feeling. It was strange. So much of his life had belonged to the master. When that had been taken from him his life had simply become anger. But now...now there was that fire in her eyes. The way she looked at him. The way she seemed to be so strong, yet so delicate and needful of his help. So vicious, and yet so helplessly childlike.

"Stopped healing?" Blue walked over and looked down at Eric's slack face, she shook her head and grinned. "Such a common and obvious strategy. I had expected more from him." She turned around and started to pull off her coat. "It's not a problem, we'll just slit him open and drain out the blood. This is nothing but a minor delay."

"As you say, so it shall be done," rumbled Roulda as he stepped towards Eric. He was paused when a slim hand reached up and pressed against his chest. He looked down into her flashing blue eyes, they seemed to swirl with mysteries and promises. Smoldering like the bright blue flames of a fire.

"No need to rush things. Let him stew inside his own head and think he's won, it will make snatching the victory from him all the more effective." Roulda nodded slowly, he still looked into her deep azure eyes. She grinned at him, her white teeth flashing. "So, big man. What's your story?"

"I do not tell stories."

"Aw c'mon, who's it going to hurt." She raised one of her hands and struck a mock serious pose. "I swear I won't tell nobody nothing," she paused and glanced over at Eric, "hey, you keep quiet too, okay?" She smirked as she looked back at Roulda. "See, all secret now, so why not tell Blue?" Her eyes burned into his, she pressed closer again. Roulda shook his head, but was amazed to realize he had started to speak. It was as though she burned through the outer shells of himself, to get to the true him underneath.

"I am Tzimisce. My sire...the master, he was loyal to the Sabbat. I was one of his childer, we were who he trusted to care for him." Blue nodded, apparently eager for him to go on. "For a long time it was just me. The master loved me above all others, and I served him before anything else. Then Harris returned..."

"Harris?" There was a note of surprise to her musical voice as she spoke the word. Blue leaned forward, her eyes seeming to almost glow eagerly in the dim light. "Tell me about Harris."

"He was the master's other childe. He had left to join The Black Hand, to gain glory in the master's name. But he was dishonored, disgraced, forced out of the organization." Roulda felt a stab of anger pass through him. His hands clenched tightly, his eyes burned with fury. "It was he that did it all. He decided the life of a kine...a mortal dog! Was superior to that of the master. He slew him. Destroyed the master, ruined my life, removed my goal" He sank to the dirty floor and sat down, unable to stand while speaking of the horror. She leaned against him, and cooed soft comforts as he shook with repressed anger and loss. "I failed my master," concluded Roulda darkly. "I failed him and now I am nothing. All that is left to me is to serve Cooler and to die." He felt her arm slip around him. Her flesh wasn't cold like a dead thing, it burned with heat. Heat from the fire of her eyes.

"It's okay," she whispered, her voice soft and silky. "I understand what you went through. But you're no good to me like this. I need you to help me finish this job. I want you to find a new cause Roulda, I want you to find a new master. I want you to be strong again, be strong for me." He turned to look at her, the fire consumed him whole. He knew that he could never love another. He had found his master, he was hers, mind, body, and soul.