Friends
Sasha marched up to the ornate wooden door and felt her courage falter a moment. She may appear to be strong, but there were times when she was cold with fear. This was one of those times. Her hand was half raised to knock when the door swung open and she stared into pale blue eyes. Cash stood directly in front her within touching distance. Once upon a time she would have thrown herself into his arms and kissed him, now it took effort not to rip him apart.
"I have to speak to Julian." She said plainly. Her voice was cold and hard deceiving her lover once again. There was no waiting for a reply, Sasha pushed by him, her body warmed by the touch they shared for a few seconds. " Julian."
Her uncle sat at his desk with papers about and a dark look on his handsome face. He stood as she entered, echoing back to a time long since dead. " Sasha, where have you been?"
She bit her tongue and forced her tone to remain cold. " Haven't you got bigger things to worry about?"
It hurt to see the pain in his eyes as he waved her to a seat. He sat after she had and waved Cash out of the room. " What brings you here?"
Sasha went into the load of bullshit she had been working on for the past ten hours. Never in a million years would she tell him the truth. Never ever, would he ever know why she appeared spontaneously and disappeared just as fast. The truth be told, she just wanted to sit with him and talk, but that wasn't allowed anymore.
"I see." Julian said carefully and sighed. " Have you spoken to Cameron about this?"
Sasha shook her head, " I wanted to pass it by you first."
There was a ghost of a smile, " Sasha, he is your Primogen, all decisions pertaining to the Clan are his to make."
Anger washed through her, " So you really don't give a damn!" Coming to her feet she turned to the door and stopped coldly. " I will do what I please, regardless of what you or Cameron decide!" She slammed the door shut and ran to her bike. The growl of the engine drowned out the sound of her sobs as she bolted toward downtown.
**
"What the hell am I doing here?" Ember snarled to herself as she glared out at the San Francisco skyline.
Stars gleamed like diamond eyes that stared down at a throbbing city full of life. Turning away from her vista, Ember shut the patio door and stalked to the phone. Tossing the local directory down, she flipped it open to the correct page and dialed. She frowned at the overly happy woman on the other end.
"I am looking for a Sasha Luna," Ember twined the cord around her hands, " That's right, yes, she lives with her uncle." Hanging up she flopped back against the bed and found sleep was impossible.
She had been a real bitch toward Sasha only hours before and now she was laying awake in a city hotel. Sitting up she pulled on her sweater pulled back her hair and stepped out. Despite the gleaming gold and polished marble of the hotel, Ember felt sick and wanted out. The only trouble was, there was no out, not in the city. It was like a huge mouse trap and everywhere you looked there was cheese. She ran along the crowded too bright streets until she found a patch of shadow. Sinking back against the wall she closed her eyes a moment. The smells were putrid and made her head ache. The sounds were constant and brash, there was no stopping them. Pushing away from the wall she took a deep breath and forced her self to carry on. Finding Sasha was what she came here for, not to become bogged down.
Surprisingly everyone she asked had heard of Julian Luna, but no one knew where to find him. They recommended she try some of his enterprises; the newspaper, the docks and a night club not far from here. Judging the time of night she opted for the nightclub.
It wasn't hard to find all she had to do was follow the migration of limousines and there she was; standing a few meters from the doors of The Haven. Jazz/Blues music floated out like a seductive invitation to enter. Ember eyed the leather clad bunch that hovered around entrance, their scruffy nature didn't bother her, it was the look in their eyes. Shivers that could set off the Richter scale went through her. If that wasn't bad enough, a limousine pulled up beside her and she went numb. After a moment's pause out stepped a drop dead gorgeous man who was completely comfortable with his place in the world. He was dressed in a tailored suit and looked about like a King over his land. The aura around him was a physical weight that pulled you along with him as he walked into the club.
Ember shook herself and backed away from the glamorous place. The last time she had been effected like that, her life had been the price. Turning she ran into the darkness and decided to try somewhere else for her friend.
**
Sasha pulled up in front of The Haven and stared at the Gangrel across from her. There had been a time when she would have walked up and said hi. Now she glared at them and wanted to knock their heads off. Swinging off her bike Sasha spotted Cameron as he stepped out and felt something rush through her. It could have been his looks or the aura around him. But chances were good it was the blood in her veins. It recognized what she refused to accept, that he was master and she was his to rule over.
Tossing her head she marched passed the line and moved to enter the club. Her hand froze on the door as a sharp tingle went through her. It was a warning. Her head turned as her body threw itself to the ground while the echo of shots sent the crowd into chaos. More shots and screaming followed. Sasha felt someone grab her and was shocked for find Cash hauling her out of the stampede. He and the his people were crouched behind Cameron's limousine. The arrogant Brujah was not stupid, and the bullet proof exterior was clearly a wise idea.
"We can't stay her all night!" One of Cameron's men shouted.
"Then you go out there and get shot!" One of the Gangrel retorted. Bickering followed as the two clans renewed their age old quarrel.
Sasha looked over at her Primogen and found he was busy trying to find a way out of here. Cash was whispering to him as the two of them were plotting to get free. Lifting her head slightly Sasha gazed at the shooter in solid black and felt a prickle go up her spine. As the shooter paused to reload their clip there came a motion of black against the night. Sasha looked to the left and gasped. Moving up behind them was Ember. She moved with a silent grace that was inhuman and struck with a bone breaking strength. The shoot went to their knees with a grunt while Ember planted more viscous blows. The combat that followed was astounding and Sasha could only watch as her friend battled with the strength of Kindred.
"Who the hell is that?" Cameron asked as he stood up to join the gawking crowd.
Sasha grinned as her friend struck the winning blow and the shooter dropped to the ground. When they didn't move she ran out from behind the car. " I knew you would do it."
Ember lifted her head, " No Sasha."
She stopped and frowned, " What do you call what you just did?"
"A mistake."
Ember kicked at the body with a glare and snatched up the gun. Expert hands dismantled the thing and tossed the pieces into the street. She turned and Sasha grabbed her arm.
"Ember please!" Sasha kept hold as her friend took two steps. " Just talk to him!"
"Why!?!" Her friend turned and snarled with enough anger that her eyes blazed for a second. " Why should I do this? When you can't even sit in the same room as him?"
Not long ago Sasha would have backed down and started crying but not now. " Because you don't have a choice! I won't let you leave until you settle this!"
"Look who is giving me advice." Ember snarled and shoved Sasha hard enough that it would leave a bruise. " Leave me the fuck alone Sasha, I bloody well mean it!" Ember turned away and all together disappeared before Sasha's eyes.
Cash came jogging up behind her, "Who was that?"
"A friend." Sasha rubbed the spot where Ember had touched her. It was burning and she felt tired. " No one you should worry about." Crossing her arms she felt her head spin and the world blacked out as she tumbled into her own misery and fell away.
Sasha marched up to the ornate wooden door and felt her courage falter a moment. She may appear to be strong, but there were times when she was cold with fear. This was one of those times. Her hand was half raised to knock when the door swung open and she stared into pale blue eyes. Cash stood directly in front her within touching distance. Once upon a time she would have thrown herself into his arms and kissed him, now it took effort not to rip him apart.
"I have to speak to Julian." She said plainly. Her voice was cold and hard deceiving her lover once again. There was no waiting for a reply, Sasha pushed by him, her body warmed by the touch they shared for a few seconds. " Julian."
Her uncle sat at his desk with papers about and a dark look on his handsome face. He stood as she entered, echoing back to a time long since dead. " Sasha, where have you been?"
She bit her tongue and forced her tone to remain cold. " Haven't you got bigger things to worry about?"
It hurt to see the pain in his eyes as he waved her to a seat. He sat after she had and waved Cash out of the room. " What brings you here?"
Sasha went into the load of bullshit she had been working on for the past ten hours. Never in a million years would she tell him the truth. Never ever, would he ever know why she appeared spontaneously and disappeared just as fast. The truth be told, she just wanted to sit with him and talk, but that wasn't allowed anymore.
"I see." Julian said carefully and sighed. " Have you spoken to Cameron about this?"
Sasha shook her head, " I wanted to pass it by you first."
There was a ghost of a smile, " Sasha, he is your Primogen, all decisions pertaining to the Clan are his to make."
Anger washed through her, " So you really don't give a damn!" Coming to her feet she turned to the door and stopped coldly. " I will do what I please, regardless of what you or Cameron decide!" She slammed the door shut and ran to her bike. The growl of the engine drowned out the sound of her sobs as she bolted toward downtown.
**
"What the hell am I doing here?" Ember snarled to herself as she glared out at the San Francisco skyline.
Stars gleamed like diamond eyes that stared down at a throbbing city full of life. Turning away from her vista, Ember shut the patio door and stalked to the phone. Tossing the local directory down, she flipped it open to the correct page and dialed. She frowned at the overly happy woman on the other end.
"I am looking for a Sasha Luna," Ember twined the cord around her hands, " That's right, yes, she lives with her uncle." Hanging up she flopped back against the bed and found sleep was impossible.
She had been a real bitch toward Sasha only hours before and now she was laying awake in a city hotel. Sitting up she pulled on her sweater pulled back her hair and stepped out. Despite the gleaming gold and polished marble of the hotel, Ember felt sick and wanted out. The only trouble was, there was no out, not in the city. It was like a huge mouse trap and everywhere you looked there was cheese. She ran along the crowded too bright streets until she found a patch of shadow. Sinking back against the wall she closed her eyes a moment. The smells were putrid and made her head ache. The sounds were constant and brash, there was no stopping them. Pushing away from the wall she took a deep breath and forced her self to carry on. Finding Sasha was what she came here for, not to become bogged down.
Surprisingly everyone she asked had heard of Julian Luna, but no one knew where to find him. They recommended she try some of his enterprises; the newspaper, the docks and a night club not far from here. Judging the time of night she opted for the nightclub.
It wasn't hard to find all she had to do was follow the migration of limousines and there she was; standing a few meters from the doors of The Haven. Jazz/Blues music floated out like a seductive invitation to enter. Ember eyed the leather clad bunch that hovered around entrance, their scruffy nature didn't bother her, it was the look in their eyes. Shivers that could set off the Richter scale went through her. If that wasn't bad enough, a limousine pulled up beside her and she went numb. After a moment's pause out stepped a drop dead gorgeous man who was completely comfortable with his place in the world. He was dressed in a tailored suit and looked about like a King over his land. The aura around him was a physical weight that pulled you along with him as he walked into the club.
Ember shook herself and backed away from the glamorous place. The last time she had been effected like that, her life had been the price. Turning she ran into the darkness and decided to try somewhere else for her friend.
**
Sasha pulled up in front of The Haven and stared at the Gangrel across from her. There had been a time when she would have walked up and said hi. Now she glared at them and wanted to knock their heads off. Swinging off her bike Sasha spotted Cameron as he stepped out and felt something rush through her. It could have been his looks or the aura around him. But chances were good it was the blood in her veins. It recognized what she refused to accept, that he was master and she was his to rule over.
Tossing her head she marched passed the line and moved to enter the club. Her hand froze on the door as a sharp tingle went through her. It was a warning. Her head turned as her body threw itself to the ground while the echo of shots sent the crowd into chaos. More shots and screaming followed. Sasha felt someone grab her and was shocked for find Cash hauling her out of the stampede. He and the his people were crouched behind Cameron's limousine. The arrogant Brujah was not stupid, and the bullet proof exterior was clearly a wise idea.
"We can't stay her all night!" One of Cameron's men shouted.
"Then you go out there and get shot!" One of the Gangrel retorted. Bickering followed as the two clans renewed their age old quarrel.
Sasha looked over at her Primogen and found he was busy trying to find a way out of here. Cash was whispering to him as the two of them were plotting to get free. Lifting her head slightly Sasha gazed at the shooter in solid black and felt a prickle go up her spine. As the shooter paused to reload their clip there came a motion of black against the night. Sasha looked to the left and gasped. Moving up behind them was Ember. She moved with a silent grace that was inhuman and struck with a bone breaking strength. The shoot went to their knees with a grunt while Ember planted more viscous blows. The combat that followed was astounding and Sasha could only watch as her friend battled with the strength of Kindred.
"Who the hell is that?" Cameron asked as he stood up to join the gawking crowd.
Sasha grinned as her friend struck the winning blow and the shooter dropped to the ground. When they didn't move she ran out from behind the car. " I knew you would do it."
Ember lifted her head, " No Sasha."
She stopped and frowned, " What do you call what you just did?"
"A mistake."
Ember kicked at the body with a glare and snatched up the gun. Expert hands dismantled the thing and tossed the pieces into the street. She turned and Sasha grabbed her arm.
"Ember please!" Sasha kept hold as her friend took two steps. " Just talk to him!"
"Why!?!" Her friend turned and snarled with enough anger that her eyes blazed for a second. " Why should I do this? When you can't even sit in the same room as him?"
Not long ago Sasha would have backed down and started crying but not now. " Because you don't have a choice! I won't let you leave until you settle this!"
"Look who is giving me advice." Ember snarled and shoved Sasha hard enough that it would leave a bruise. " Leave me the fuck alone Sasha, I bloody well mean it!" Ember turned away and all together disappeared before Sasha's eyes.
Cash came jogging up behind her, "Who was that?"
"A friend." Sasha rubbed the spot where Ember had touched her. It was burning and she felt tired. " No one you should worry about." Crossing her arms she felt her head spin and the world blacked out as she tumbled into her own misery and fell away.