OBSCURA
Somewhere in Paris

"Esteemed Cabal Members," Eckhardt glanced around the room, well, Cabal members, yes, but not necessarily 'esteemed'. He looked at each one of them in turn. Muller has done nothing aside from ride the glory of his plant serums, Boaz has failed to create a proper proto several times, resulting only in that disgraceful pet (she better have killed it already). Karel, admittedly, has contributed significantly, financing the project as well as other substantiations. And then there is his whore. "The hour of your reward grows ever closer" Eckhardt looked at the woman, a feeling of utter hatred, and uncontrollable jealousy (towards Karel) stemmed from the lust he felt for her. Her piercing gray eyes, classic nose, and ample lips marked her with undeniable beauty, earning her the attention of members of both sexes. And Karel gets her, bastard. Karel worked for him, but the rushed and hurried process of their purpose left him with little time for such frivolity.

"As you know, we already posses three of the Obscura Paintings." He watched in stifled horror as the woman whispered into Karel's ear, visibly distracting him from Eckhardt. The woman wasn't truly a member of the Cabal, her blood too freshly incorporated into the organization for membership. But in some way she had wooed Karel, and rarely would he go without her by his side, not even the privy Cabal meetings were without her presence. She was not evenly placed around the table, as the other members were seated, instead she was positioned directly aside Karel, her chair no where near as elaborate as the other member's, but her presence no less noticed. She made eye contact with Eckhardt as he stared at her, her steely gray eyes piercing through his glasses. As if to vex him, she trailed her hand intimately across Karel's chest. Eckhardt averted his eyes.

"Our contact Professor Von Croy located the fourth one for us here in Paris. When we have this, we will reassemble in Prague." He moved his eyes to each of the members, his temper rising when Karel's were absent, focusing on the words she whispered in his ear. Eckhardt shook his head. He despised this woman. And yet Karel was too integral to the operation to defy him. But Eckhardt's time will come. And then he will dispose of this woman, who, in contrast to his 500 years of imprisonment, has contributed so little to the cause. And that time was so near.

"It is time to reawaken THE SLEEPER. Hopefully we will be more successful this time." Boaz's guilty expression distracted Eckhardt and Karel. So he is paying attention, despite that incompetent whore at his side. "We are also closer to the fifth and last Obscura Painting in Prague. We will gather at the Strahov." Eckhardt glanced maliciously one last time at the woman. He didn't trust her, but could tell she shared the same silent revelry that they were closer to completing their operation. But not until he retrieved that last painting.

"Gunderson."

"Master Eckhardt" At least some of my subordinates maintain respect.

"Dispatch your team for the fourth painting."

"Immediately."


A/N:Thanks to everyone who's read it and reviewed...

in order to change it alittle, i added a new character (i'm trying to avoid makingthe same mistake i made in my other fic about not introducing the OC's early enough, so hopefully everyone will apporve) hopefully everyone will still enjoy reading!

thanks, as always, and please review! (if i dont get any reviews (even negative ones) then i'll think no one is reading...and if no one is reading, whats the use in writing?) SO please, please, please review!

and...Happy New Year!