br There was no brightness, such a perfect vacuum of light that Rupa couldn't tell if her eyes were open or closed- though she felt perfectly safe, perfectly comfortable. She felt the motorcycle start to slow down, raising her head to peek over his shoulder. The shadows drifted away, staying at the gate, Rupa nearly gasping at the sight of the old house, surprised it was left abandoned. It wouldn't have taken much to make it 'livable'.
br Coming to a stop, Dorsey knocked down the kickstand before shutting off the machine. Rupa pulled herself off the large bike, tugging her bodice down. Offering his arm, Rupa eagerly took it as they walked inside.
br Rupa realized Michael had been right- a large portion of the city had taken refuge here, many of them scratched or scraped. She swallowed hard upon seeing Drayden, Jacen's associate- his left arm hung limply at his side, a few tendons and bone fragments peeking through grey skin. A sudden pang of guilt hit her stomach- while the whole city was being attacked, Rupa was keeping Michael away from the very thing she requested in the first place.
br She gripped his arm as they ascended the large maple steps, watching those around her. As she was lead into what looked like a large parlor, two large tables centered around a cleared area, she swore her heart skipped- there was Jacen, who did nothing more than raise a curious brow at her. Pressing her lips together, she thankfully followed Michael back into the hall, wondering what had just taken place between them. Had he just thought it an odd picture, the large shadow man with the tiny gypsy girl?
br Though it was none of her business, Rupa wondered who he was looking for. Though he looked the picture of calm as usual, she still worried. He was about to back from the Triumverant, release his power, pass it on to another.
br She didn't have to wait long when he set his eyes upon the only closed door, just a step or two further down the hallway. He pounded a fist upon the door, his deep voice booming, "Open up, Oz, it's Dorsey."
br After a moment the door snapped open a bit, Oz's face coming into view. "Who's she?" he asked, nodding towards Rupa.
br "She's with me," was all that was needed to allow her to follow inside. Natalie, a vampire Rupa remembered to be seen mostly with Queotyl, was in a chair in the center of the room, her face scratched and bruised. Rupa hid her face into his shoulder.
br "Is there anything I can help you with, Father Dorsey?" said the Nosferatu that hobbled to him. "My name is Thomas, I am at your disposal."
br "Who did this to you, Natalie? Just tell me..." Rupa heard Oz in the background, causing her to flinch.
br "Please, just Dorsey," he held up a hand. "I can no longer hold the title. I am releasing my place in the Triumverant."
br "What?!" the Brujah snapped from across the room before striding towards him. Rupa shrunk behind Michael, hoping Oz's eyes really didn't dart towards her, that it was just a figment of her imagination. "You can't, that leaves the a-"
br "Let us go speak of this in private," Michael said to him, before turning his cool eyes towards Rupa. "Will you be alright?"
br She nodded, not feeling as confident as she acted. She stepped out of the way, watching as they all walked out of the room. Thomas, the last one out of the room, nodded her a good-bye. She nodded back before he shut the door behind him, just before sinking to her knees on the barely carpeted floor.
br Had she just started something? Now wasn't the time, with the gargoyles here. Shaking her head, she stood again- now also wasn't a time to feel sorry about herself and ask questions that she'd not be able to answer yet.
br She marched straight through the door, surprised at the noise coming from the parlor. When she followed the voices, she saw that most of them had gathered there, including a few she hadn't met yet.
br But there was Drayden, grinning at her.
br "I don't suppose you can tell your master something for me, could you?"
br "It'll cost you," he smirked at her. "He's a very busy man."
br Rupa tilted her head down, glaring at him. "Go tell him I wish to speak with him. Now."
br Shrugging, the man turned and went off into the crowd. She assumed Jacen was there, and knew he would get ahold of her at some point in time in the night, so she walked back into the hallway.
br It wasn't that Drayden and her didn't get along, it was.... it was just jealousy, she supposed. Between the two of them, they competed to gain his favor, though also worked together for him. But while he would do that for all eternity, Rupa would be with Michael.
br "Did you need something?"
br Snapped from her thoughts, Rupa glanced up to see Jacen standing there, looking at her expectantly. Swallowing hard, she nodded, wanting to get it over with, "Yeah.... I'm... I'm with Father Dorsey, now, Jacen...."
br He shrugged after a moment of pondering, "How does that change our current situation?"
br It hit her like a slap in the face. Rupa froze in shock for a moment, amazed at his words. Her thoughts raced, surprising herself she could find words as she took a few steps down the hall, Jacen following her, "N-no, Jacen... I mean I'm with him... "
br "Jacen," Queotyl called at the other end of the hall, Rupa suppressing the urge to jump. His shoulders were held high, as if ready to pounce someone, his eyes wild as he moved towards the Tremere. br Rupa slid behind him and started to take a step back before she felt her arm grabbed, once again holding back a surprised hop. Michael's voice soothed into her mind, "Are you alright, my dear?"
br "I'm fine," she nodded towards him, her mouth feeling dry. Jacen hadn't even cared? It didn't matter anymore anyway, but still a small twinge of pain crept through her. She'd been his servant for countless years, pulling dirty work for him, telling him every bit of information she'd gotten, giving him the upper edge to sail in the ranks.
br She'd even followed him to this damned city.
br Though betrayal rang through her mind, she pushed it away as she was lead back into the parlor by Michael. Just his touch, his voice, were enough to bring her back on the problem at hand. He sat her in a chair, and moved through the crowd, leaving Rupa to her thoughts again.
br "You're oddly dressed," a man said, Rupa looking up to see him standing to her side. His arms folded across his chest, raising a brow at her. "For a city such as this, I mean."
br She looked down at herself- Toyova scarves hung from her belt, which held a chain mail skirt, her underskirt a flaring red with a tear-drop pearl pattern. Her green bodice, white shirt and blue kerchief with beaded headdress seemed perfectly normal to her. She shrugged, "You look oddly dressed yourself. What makes this so odd?"
br "I didn't mean to offend you. Very Ravanos, is all." His tone was offensive, not the words.
br "No," she shook her head, shifting her weight as she watched Michael head back towards her. "Toreador."
br He raised a brow at her as if she was lying, but said nothing as she took Michael's outstretched hand. Quickly she latched onto him, hoping to get a chance to talk to him before he left.
br "Oz," Dorsey said quietly, causing the Brujah to glance up despite the noise of the room, glancing at Rupa. At least he didn't stare at her like the others. "She must stay safe. If she dies, my humanity dies as well."
br Oz nodded solemnly and held out his hand, Rupa only taking it when Michael led her to it. "Don't leave his line of sight," was all he said before walking off again. Oz lead her to one of the two long tables, sitting between her, and the man who was playing with the chess pieces- it only took a second to realize they were talking about a first wave of attack.
br Glancing at the door, she saw Michael heading out the door, a wave of urgency washing over her. She wanted to call out to him, scream his name and run over to him, force him to swear that he'd come back to her safe, that he'd....
br That he'd love her.
br Though Rupa was pained to be reminded of the fact that not one word of love had been spoken, only passion. She was sure he'd felt the same, wasn't she? It didn't matter anyway, she loved him and would follow him to the end of the Earth, if allowed, anything he would ever request of her would be granted.
br "....Rupa?"
br She shook her head for a moment, clearing her thoughts to see that Oz, as well as the rest of the table, was looking expectantly at her.
br "I asked if you can fight."
br "No, not a gargoyle," she shook her head quickly, glancing around the table.
br "Well.... Can you hide yourself?" asked the man playing with the chess pieces.
br "No."
br "Can you control other people?"
br "No."
br "Can you create illusions?"
br "Ah.... I can see and hear well," she nodded, dodging the question none-too-smoothly. She didn't want any of them knowing what powers she had, no matter what the reason. This wasn't total war, not yet, and would only put her un-life on the line for her nieces or Dorsey.
br "Better that way, anyway," Oz said, giving a short nod towards her. "She stays in the back line, she needs to be guarded."
br Rupa glanced back at the door, a twinge of worry hitting her. She'd never really worried about a man before, not like this- at least not without personal interests, and never this deeply. She had no reason to worry, he was Father Dorsey- once was, she supposed- and as far as she knew seemed to lay law to everyone else in the city, mostly out of respect. He was a strong man of great power, but Rupa's heart sank whenever he was out of sight.
br Again she was torn from her thoughts as she saw the room starting to file outside. She followed, staying as close to Oz as possible. The crowd moved outside and down the road..... and suddenly, started moving into the formation that was planned, all in a quick blur of movement. Vaguely she heard Oz tell another not to leave her side, to stay in the back, and next a man- - was standing next to her.
br They were all cloaked, slowly walking forward. Ahead Rupa could see nothing but a big blur, a fog-like mist that settled before them. She couldn't hear what was being said, only something along the lines that they should leave, it wasn't their city any longer.
br The other man she was forced to stay with pushed her back, standing protectively before her. She wondered what could cause such unbidden loyalty to Oz- she hadn't known the Cainite very well, but knew she could trust him as Michael could. There was a large portal- Michael- what?......
br
centerbr~*~
brleft
br "Is that okay?"
br Rupa shook her head in confusion, her eyes wild at mortal in front of her. "What?"
br "He's my friend, it's okay," Logan tilted his head at her, his hand reaching towards her arm before gently stroking the wrapped wound. "I asked if he could go over to your house for some blood, he's wounded badly. Are you sure you're okay?"
br She nodded slowly, glancing down at her arm. For some reason she had no clue what had happened, only that there was a short gash behind her left arm, a blood-soaked bandage of yellowed cloth wrapped tightly around it. She was cloaked, there was... there was.... "Dorsey?"
br Logan narrowed his eyes at her in worry, shaking his head slowly, "Rupa, he went into the portal, with Queotyl. The portal closed..... No one knows how to open it."
br Finally noticing what reality she was in, she took a quick glance over her mortal ally. Outside, she was sitting on the edge of the van, the large door opened. On the floor inside was another vampire, who occasionally moaned. Logan hadn't a scratch on him, but Rupa wondered how long it'd been since she'd been back from Oz's house. He'd even dropped her off at her home for blood, and offered to go in with her, but she didn't feel the urge to tell him it was nearly impossible for even a gargoyle to enter the yard unwanted. Anyone or anything that wasn't okayed ahead of time would more than likely be burned to a crisp, since inside were controls to shoot high-powered streams of fire across all points of the yard. It was completely self-contained, and if an intruder didn't stop when the warning went off, or then didn't answer the questions through the speakers properly, they'd be toast. Logan had finished up the work while Rupa was with Dorsey, she could tell as she walked up her sidewalk to her front door and the cameras and motion sensors had been moved- and were all new. She also didn't bother telling Oz that her nieces lived here, actually lived here. Not that she didn't trust him.
br Grief struck her heart as a sudden welt of information rose in her mind- such pain- it took nearly all of her humanity to focus upon her nieces and not unleash her beastial side upon Logan, remembrances of Michael being pushed away. "Yeah... go ahead and take him.... make sure the girls are okay, and be sure to check on Dritta, she had classes earlier..."
br "Okay," he nodded, holding out a hand to help her. "You better get inside, Oz has been looking for you. Besides that, the Tories and Malkavs are hiding in one of the rooms downstairs."
br "Yeah, I figured he'd be worried," Rupa took his hand, pulling herself up with her good arm. "Thanks, Logan, I owe you."
br The man grinned at her, offering a shrug, "Actually, that's... five you owe me, now, but hey, who's counting?"
br "Cute, cute," she barely faked a chuckled as she moved towards the house for the second time of the night. A few vampires were sitting outside, and as she moved back inside, she saw that more seemed to be inside, lining the halls with their wounds. Though none of them were Oz, he must of been upstairs. How many had died, she wondered?
br Her numbness slid into easy denial. She knew there had to be a way to get Dorsey back. The only one besides Oz that she could ask, though, probably wouldn't wish to talk to her. Knocking on one door, it was opened- and her heart would of leapt into her throat, if she were still mortal.
br "May I help you?" Thomas Bell asked.
br "I heard there were Toreador and Malkavians in here... I just came to see if I was needed."
br He glanced inside the room for a moment before lining his eyes back at her, "That depends- would it bother you if Oz took control of the city?"
br "I wouldn't mind who took control."
br "Okay, goodbye then," the door was slammed in her face.
br Grinning, she headed up the stairs, having the hammer she needed to drive the nail at Jacen. Michael wasn't gone permanently, she just had to find the right person or write or whatever it took to get him back- and she knew who could help her. She just had to get back on his good side. It was luck he happened to be standing in the front doorway, causing her to spin around to face him at the call of her name.
br "Jacen..... I'm surprised my name can be said on those lips."
br "I admit I was slightly worried when I heard of your.... injury," his hand waved towards her arm before shoving it back into his pocket. "Though I see that you are nearly in perfect health."
br "Yeah, Logan to the rescue," she muttered, moving down the stairs towards him. "I'm glad you're still alright. People seem to be rising from the dead more than once around here, it seems."
br "Meaning?"
br "Thomas," she frowned as she followed him outside. The van was gone. "He's in a room with a bunch of other Toreador and Malkavians, and when I went to see what was going on, he asked if I would mind of Oz ran the city. I told him no... and he slammed the door on me."
br "Is this habitual?" he raised a brow at her, the moonlight splashing around them. "Or are you telling me this for a reason?"
br She looked down at the wooden steps beneath her, moving into the helpless look she wore so well. "I'm sorry, Jacen- I took our business deals too far, and I should of known better."
br "Are you asking me to take you back?" he crossed his arms across his chest.
br She merely sighed, "Please, Jacen.... I'd hate to be alone, you know how I am...."
br "Business as usual, then, I suppose," a few moments of silence passed. The wind blew through the nearly bare trees overhead, somewhere inside a cough was heard. He moved to walk back inside, but stopped when he was parallel with her- facing towards the house, opposite of her. "I'm sorry I can't be the man you want me to be, Rupa."
br He walked inside, and when she was sure he was out of earshot, she sighed, whispering to herself, "I was too, once..... But not anymore."
br He was going to help her, somehow.
br
centerbr~*~
brleft
br She pushed open the door to the parlor, seeing a few of the more honored members among them inside. Fredrick leaned against a wall towards the south, Jacen seated by him. Thomas Bell glanced over at her, Rupa wondering for a moment if he glared at her. She sat in the corner, listening carefully to the conversation going around the room- they were voting for new members of the Triumverant.
br Oz looked over at her, his eyes and face unmoving, locked onto her for a painful moment. Did he really think that Dorsey can't make it back? She'd prove him wrong, of course, but then again, she might even have her help her. Rupa walked over and sat next to Jacen as the room chattered and bickered on.
br As she thought about it, those were looks she got from everyone seemed to be so saddening- on the other side of the token, though, every look she got from them radiated cheerless and heartbreaking loss of lives and homes lost. She felt so numb- had Jacen not once teased her humanity? It was so hard to remember. Michael had said......
br What did he say? Rupa held her thoughts chained to her nieces again, wondering how mad she was becoming. Almost funny, she started to surprise herself of fact she hadn't slipped into Romanian again; muttering curses and hexes of the old tongue as she normally did when in odd moods.
br "Rupa."
The simple whispered name caused her to look up and follow Jacen's nod, once again giving her attention to the topic of conversation. No representation for the Sabbat? Rupa stood up, getting a glance from Oz.
br "There are still Sabbat in this city," she said simply, causing the attention of a few of the debaters to raise a brow at her. It shouldn't be a surprise, she screamed in her mind, they all saw I was with the one who ruled the Sabbat.
br "You're sure of this?" Oz looked at her. Surely, he knew she'd changed her mind.
br "I am," she nodded, now standing beside the Brujah. Her fist was slightly balled. This was all she needed.
br
To Be Continued......
br Coming to a stop, Dorsey knocked down the kickstand before shutting off the machine. Rupa pulled herself off the large bike, tugging her bodice down. Offering his arm, Rupa eagerly took it as they walked inside.
br Rupa realized Michael had been right- a large portion of the city had taken refuge here, many of them scratched or scraped. She swallowed hard upon seeing Drayden, Jacen's associate- his left arm hung limply at his side, a few tendons and bone fragments peeking through grey skin. A sudden pang of guilt hit her stomach- while the whole city was being attacked, Rupa was keeping Michael away from the very thing she requested in the first place.
br She gripped his arm as they ascended the large maple steps, watching those around her. As she was lead into what looked like a large parlor, two large tables centered around a cleared area, she swore her heart skipped- there was Jacen, who did nothing more than raise a curious brow at her. Pressing her lips together, she thankfully followed Michael back into the hall, wondering what had just taken place between them. Had he just thought it an odd picture, the large shadow man with the tiny gypsy girl?
br Though it was none of her business, Rupa wondered who he was looking for. Though he looked the picture of calm as usual, she still worried. He was about to back from the Triumverant, release his power, pass it on to another.
br She didn't have to wait long when he set his eyes upon the only closed door, just a step or two further down the hallway. He pounded a fist upon the door, his deep voice booming, "Open up, Oz, it's Dorsey."
br After a moment the door snapped open a bit, Oz's face coming into view. "Who's she?" he asked, nodding towards Rupa.
br "She's with me," was all that was needed to allow her to follow inside. Natalie, a vampire Rupa remembered to be seen mostly with Queotyl, was in a chair in the center of the room, her face scratched and bruised. Rupa hid her face into his shoulder.
br "Is there anything I can help you with, Father Dorsey?" said the Nosferatu that hobbled to him. "My name is Thomas, I am at your disposal."
br "Who did this to you, Natalie? Just tell me..." Rupa heard Oz in the background, causing her to flinch.
br "Please, just Dorsey," he held up a hand. "I can no longer hold the title. I am releasing my place in the Triumverant."
br "What?!" the Brujah snapped from across the room before striding towards him. Rupa shrunk behind Michael, hoping Oz's eyes really didn't dart towards her, that it was just a figment of her imagination. "You can't, that leaves the a-"
br "Let us go speak of this in private," Michael said to him, before turning his cool eyes towards Rupa. "Will you be alright?"
br She nodded, not feeling as confident as she acted. She stepped out of the way, watching as they all walked out of the room. Thomas, the last one out of the room, nodded her a good-bye. She nodded back before he shut the door behind him, just before sinking to her knees on the barely carpeted floor.
br Had she just started something? Now wasn't the time, with the gargoyles here. Shaking her head, she stood again- now also wasn't a time to feel sorry about herself and ask questions that she'd not be able to answer yet.
br She marched straight through the door, surprised at the noise coming from the parlor. When she followed the voices, she saw that most of them had gathered there, including a few she hadn't met yet.
br But there was Drayden, grinning at her.
br "I don't suppose you can tell your master something for me, could you?"
br "It'll cost you," he smirked at her. "He's a very busy man."
br Rupa tilted her head down, glaring at him. "Go tell him I wish to speak with him. Now."
br Shrugging, the man turned and went off into the crowd. She assumed Jacen was there, and knew he would get ahold of her at some point in time in the night, so she walked back into the hallway.
br It wasn't that Drayden and her didn't get along, it was.... it was just jealousy, she supposed. Between the two of them, they competed to gain his favor, though also worked together for him. But while he would do that for all eternity, Rupa would be with Michael.
br "Did you need something?"
br Snapped from her thoughts, Rupa glanced up to see Jacen standing there, looking at her expectantly. Swallowing hard, she nodded, wanting to get it over with, "Yeah.... I'm... I'm with Father Dorsey, now, Jacen...."
br He shrugged after a moment of pondering, "How does that change our current situation?"
br It hit her like a slap in the face. Rupa froze in shock for a moment, amazed at his words. Her thoughts raced, surprising herself she could find words as she took a few steps down the hall, Jacen following her, "N-no, Jacen... I mean I'm with him... "
br "Jacen," Queotyl called at the other end of the hall, Rupa suppressing the urge to jump. His shoulders were held high, as if ready to pounce someone, his eyes wild as he moved towards the Tremere. br Rupa slid behind him and started to take a step back before she felt her arm grabbed, once again holding back a surprised hop. Michael's voice soothed into her mind, "Are you alright, my dear?"
br "I'm fine," she nodded towards him, her mouth feeling dry. Jacen hadn't even cared? It didn't matter anymore anyway, but still a small twinge of pain crept through her. She'd been his servant for countless years, pulling dirty work for him, telling him every bit of information she'd gotten, giving him the upper edge to sail in the ranks.
br She'd even followed him to this damned city.
br Though betrayal rang through her mind, she pushed it away as she was lead back into the parlor by Michael. Just his touch, his voice, were enough to bring her back on the problem at hand. He sat her in a chair, and moved through the crowd, leaving Rupa to her thoughts again.
br "You're oddly dressed," a man said, Rupa looking up to see him standing to her side. His arms folded across his chest, raising a brow at her. "For a city such as this, I mean."
br She looked down at herself- Toyova scarves hung from her belt, which held a chain mail skirt, her underskirt a flaring red with a tear-drop pearl pattern. Her green bodice, white shirt and blue kerchief with beaded headdress seemed perfectly normal to her. She shrugged, "You look oddly dressed yourself. What makes this so odd?"
br "I didn't mean to offend you. Very Ravanos, is all." His tone was offensive, not the words.
br "No," she shook her head, shifting her weight as she watched Michael head back towards her. "Toreador."
br He raised a brow at her as if she was lying, but said nothing as she took Michael's outstretched hand. Quickly she latched onto him, hoping to get a chance to talk to him before he left.
br "Oz," Dorsey said quietly, causing the Brujah to glance up despite the noise of the room, glancing at Rupa. At least he didn't stare at her like the others. "She must stay safe. If she dies, my humanity dies as well."
br Oz nodded solemnly and held out his hand, Rupa only taking it when Michael led her to it. "Don't leave his line of sight," was all he said before walking off again. Oz lead her to one of the two long tables, sitting between her, and the man who was playing with the chess pieces- it only took a second to realize they were talking about a first wave of attack.
br Glancing at the door, she saw Michael heading out the door, a wave of urgency washing over her. She wanted to call out to him, scream his name and run over to him, force him to swear that he'd come back to her safe, that he'd....
br That he'd love her.
br Though Rupa was pained to be reminded of the fact that not one word of love had been spoken, only passion. She was sure he'd felt the same, wasn't she? It didn't matter anyway, she loved him and would follow him to the end of the Earth, if allowed, anything he would ever request of her would be granted.
br "....Rupa?"
br She shook her head for a moment, clearing her thoughts to see that Oz, as well as the rest of the table, was looking expectantly at her.
br "I asked if you can fight."
br "No, not a gargoyle," she shook her head quickly, glancing around the table.
br "Well.... Can you hide yourself?" asked the man playing with the chess pieces.
br "No."
br "Can you control other people?"
br "No."
br "Can you create illusions?"
br "Ah.... I can see and hear well," she nodded, dodging the question none-too-smoothly. She didn't want any of them knowing what powers she had, no matter what the reason. This wasn't total war, not yet, and would only put her un-life on the line for her nieces or Dorsey.
br "Better that way, anyway," Oz said, giving a short nod towards her. "She stays in the back line, she needs to be guarded."
br Rupa glanced back at the door, a twinge of worry hitting her. She'd never really worried about a man before, not like this- at least not without personal interests, and never this deeply. She had no reason to worry, he was Father Dorsey- once was, she supposed- and as far as she knew seemed to lay law to everyone else in the city, mostly out of respect. He was a strong man of great power, but Rupa's heart sank whenever he was out of sight.
br Again she was torn from her thoughts as she saw the room starting to file outside. She followed, staying as close to Oz as possible. The crowd moved outside and down the road..... and suddenly, started moving into the formation that was planned, all in a quick blur of movement. Vaguely she heard Oz tell another not to leave her side, to stay in the back, and next a man- - was standing next to her.
br They were all cloaked, slowly walking forward. Ahead Rupa could see nothing but a big blur, a fog-like mist that settled before them. She couldn't hear what was being said, only something along the lines that they should leave, it wasn't their city any longer.
br The other man she was forced to stay with pushed her back, standing protectively before her. She wondered what could cause such unbidden loyalty to Oz- she hadn't known the Cainite very well, but knew she could trust him as Michael could. There was a large portal- Michael- what?......
br
centerbr~*~
brleft
br "Is that okay?"
br Rupa shook her head in confusion, her eyes wild at mortal in front of her. "What?"
br "He's my friend, it's okay," Logan tilted his head at her, his hand reaching towards her arm before gently stroking the wrapped wound. "I asked if he could go over to your house for some blood, he's wounded badly. Are you sure you're okay?"
br She nodded slowly, glancing down at her arm. For some reason she had no clue what had happened, only that there was a short gash behind her left arm, a blood-soaked bandage of yellowed cloth wrapped tightly around it. She was cloaked, there was... there was.... "Dorsey?"
br Logan narrowed his eyes at her in worry, shaking his head slowly, "Rupa, he went into the portal, with Queotyl. The portal closed..... No one knows how to open it."
br Finally noticing what reality she was in, she took a quick glance over her mortal ally. Outside, she was sitting on the edge of the van, the large door opened. On the floor inside was another vampire, who occasionally moaned. Logan hadn't a scratch on him, but Rupa wondered how long it'd been since she'd been back from Oz's house. He'd even dropped her off at her home for blood, and offered to go in with her, but she didn't feel the urge to tell him it was nearly impossible for even a gargoyle to enter the yard unwanted. Anyone or anything that wasn't okayed ahead of time would more than likely be burned to a crisp, since inside were controls to shoot high-powered streams of fire across all points of the yard. It was completely self-contained, and if an intruder didn't stop when the warning went off, or then didn't answer the questions through the speakers properly, they'd be toast. Logan had finished up the work while Rupa was with Dorsey, she could tell as she walked up her sidewalk to her front door and the cameras and motion sensors had been moved- and were all new. She also didn't bother telling Oz that her nieces lived here, actually lived here. Not that she didn't trust him.
br Grief struck her heart as a sudden welt of information rose in her mind- such pain- it took nearly all of her humanity to focus upon her nieces and not unleash her beastial side upon Logan, remembrances of Michael being pushed away. "Yeah... go ahead and take him.... make sure the girls are okay, and be sure to check on Dritta, she had classes earlier..."
br "Okay," he nodded, holding out a hand to help her. "You better get inside, Oz has been looking for you. Besides that, the Tories and Malkavs are hiding in one of the rooms downstairs."
br "Yeah, I figured he'd be worried," Rupa took his hand, pulling herself up with her good arm. "Thanks, Logan, I owe you."
br The man grinned at her, offering a shrug, "Actually, that's... five you owe me, now, but hey, who's counting?"
br "Cute, cute," she barely faked a chuckled as she moved towards the house for the second time of the night. A few vampires were sitting outside, and as she moved back inside, she saw that more seemed to be inside, lining the halls with their wounds. Though none of them were Oz, he must of been upstairs. How many had died, she wondered?
br Her numbness slid into easy denial. She knew there had to be a way to get Dorsey back. The only one besides Oz that she could ask, though, probably wouldn't wish to talk to her. Knocking on one door, it was opened- and her heart would of leapt into her throat, if she were still mortal.
br "May I help you?" Thomas Bell asked.
br "I heard there were Toreador and Malkavians in here... I just came to see if I was needed."
br He glanced inside the room for a moment before lining his eyes back at her, "That depends- would it bother you if Oz took control of the city?"
br "I wouldn't mind who took control."
br "Okay, goodbye then," the door was slammed in her face.
br Grinning, she headed up the stairs, having the hammer she needed to drive the nail at Jacen. Michael wasn't gone permanently, she just had to find the right person or write or whatever it took to get him back- and she knew who could help her. She just had to get back on his good side. It was luck he happened to be standing in the front doorway, causing her to spin around to face him at the call of her name.
br "Jacen..... I'm surprised my name can be said on those lips."
br "I admit I was slightly worried when I heard of your.... injury," his hand waved towards her arm before shoving it back into his pocket. "Though I see that you are nearly in perfect health."
br "Yeah, Logan to the rescue," she muttered, moving down the stairs towards him. "I'm glad you're still alright. People seem to be rising from the dead more than once around here, it seems."
br "Meaning?"
br "Thomas," she frowned as she followed him outside. The van was gone. "He's in a room with a bunch of other Toreador and Malkavians, and when I went to see what was going on, he asked if I would mind of Oz ran the city. I told him no... and he slammed the door on me."
br "Is this habitual?" he raised a brow at her, the moonlight splashing around them. "Or are you telling me this for a reason?"
br She looked down at the wooden steps beneath her, moving into the helpless look she wore so well. "I'm sorry, Jacen- I took our business deals too far, and I should of known better."
br "Are you asking me to take you back?" he crossed his arms across his chest.
br She merely sighed, "Please, Jacen.... I'd hate to be alone, you know how I am...."
br "Business as usual, then, I suppose," a few moments of silence passed. The wind blew through the nearly bare trees overhead, somewhere inside a cough was heard. He moved to walk back inside, but stopped when he was parallel with her- facing towards the house, opposite of her. "I'm sorry I can't be the man you want me to be, Rupa."
br He walked inside, and when she was sure he was out of earshot, she sighed, whispering to herself, "I was too, once..... But not anymore."
br He was going to help her, somehow.
br
centerbr~*~
brleft
br She pushed open the door to the parlor, seeing a few of the more honored members among them inside. Fredrick leaned against a wall towards the south, Jacen seated by him. Thomas Bell glanced over at her, Rupa wondering for a moment if he glared at her. She sat in the corner, listening carefully to the conversation going around the room- they were voting for new members of the Triumverant.
br Oz looked over at her, his eyes and face unmoving, locked onto her for a painful moment. Did he really think that Dorsey can't make it back? She'd prove him wrong, of course, but then again, she might even have her help her. Rupa walked over and sat next to Jacen as the room chattered and bickered on.
br As she thought about it, those were looks she got from everyone seemed to be so saddening- on the other side of the token, though, every look she got from them radiated cheerless and heartbreaking loss of lives and homes lost. She felt so numb- had Jacen not once teased her humanity? It was so hard to remember. Michael had said......
br What did he say? Rupa held her thoughts chained to her nieces again, wondering how mad she was becoming. Almost funny, she started to surprise herself of fact she hadn't slipped into Romanian again; muttering curses and hexes of the old tongue as she normally did when in odd moods.
br "Rupa."
The simple whispered name caused her to look up and follow Jacen's nod, once again giving her attention to the topic of conversation. No representation for the Sabbat? Rupa stood up, getting a glance from Oz.
br "There are still Sabbat in this city," she said simply, causing the attention of a few of the debaters to raise a brow at her. It shouldn't be a surprise, she screamed in her mind, they all saw I was with the one who ruled the Sabbat.
br "You're sure of this?" Oz looked at her. Surely, he knew she'd changed her mind.
br "I am," she nodded, now standing beside the Brujah. Her fist was slightly balled. This was all she needed.
br
To Be Continued......