Disclaimer: I own Jessie Renard and a few minor characters. Other than that, nothing. Enjoy.
Chapter 6
This is a Very bad idea.
The thought kept repeating itself in Nigel's mind as he was tossed around in the passenger's seat of his girlfriend's jeep. After Peter's outburst, Lily had been upset and worried. Bug, like Nigel himself, had been stunned. Garrett had been angry. Jordan's overriding emotions had been agitation and curiosity. That was never a good combo for her. It had taken Jordan all of three seconds to decide to follow Peter under the guise of "for his own good."
Usually, when Jordan Cavanaugh got it into her head that she wanted to get to the bottom of something, she was like a dog with a bone. This time was no different in that respect. But on those occasions when getting to the bottom of something meant imminent danger to Jordan herself, or those around her, her friends and loved ones usually tried to step in. This time, the only one to object to Jordan's rash decision was Nigel. And somehow, Nigel was the one elected to chaperone Jordan's little rescue excursion. One of the drawbacks to being her significant other, he supposed.
Not that he minded following Jordan around on her adventures...most of the time. But right now it was giving him whiplash. What with all the breakneck turns she was taking. "Um, luv. Do you want to slow down a bit? I haven't got a chance to buckle my seatbelt yet, and I do so loathe diving through windshields."
"Very funny, Nige." Jordan said, keeping her eyes on the road and the motorcycle that was speeding several cars ahead. "If I slow down, we'll lose 'em. We were lucky enough that they stopped at those red lights in the first place."
"Not to be a nudge, but has it occurred to you that they may have noticed us following them?"
"Yes, luv. That thought had occurred to me." Jordan hissed condescendingly as she quickly passed a honking driver on the dark highway.
"Then, it may have also occurred to you that they may not want us going with them to where ever they are going. Hence the god-awful speeds."
"Nigel, I love you, but are you going to come to a point any time soon?"
Nigel finally managed to fasten his seatbelt and rolled his eyes heavenward as if looking for help. "My point is Jordan, that maybe we should just let them go. Maybe Jessie's right and Peter just needs some time away from us to cool off."
"And maybe Jessie's just going to get him into even more trouble. He wasn't acting this bad until she showed up. And really, Nige, how much do you actually know about the woman?"
It occurred to Nigel then to tell Jordan exactly how much he knew about his ex. He didn't like lying to his beloved, even if only by omission. But then he remembered the vows he'd taken upon joining the Herd. The face of Kerby Harris flashed in his mind. The Kindred would do whatever it took to keep their existence a secret from the world. For the safety of all concerned, he decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Damn it." Jordan growled, "Where the hell are they going? We can't even be in Boston anymore. What the hell could they be doing way out here in the boonies?"
A look out the window confirmed that they'd left the city limits and entered the Massachusetts countryside. Though not entirely unpopulated, the coastal terrain was still dotted with farmland and the occasional speckling of woods. Currently the jeep was being jarred over a gravel road just off the major road they'd exited. The landscape could only be described as more untamed than the city, more wild. A thought clicked in Nigel's brain. Wilderness. He should remember something significant about the wilderness. Jessie had told him that Gangrels liked the wilderness. They thrived under the moonlight, immersed in the elements. They were gypsies, her clan, and tended to congregate in wild places to commune with nature and each other.
That's when Nigel realized what Jessie and Peter's conversation in the bar had meant. Peter wanted to rejoin the family he had given up. The family he had given up was Clan Gangrel. When Jessie had asked Peter if he was sure, no one had known what they were talking about. Nigel got a sinking feeling in his gut as he realized her meaning. Peter was still a member of the Herd and Jessie had been offering to Embrace him. But from what Nigel knew of Kindred and Gangrel custom in particular, Jessie would have to claim Peter as hers in front of her Clan before that could happen. That's where they were going, to meet up with other Gangrels.
"Oh, this just keeps getting better and better." Jordan grumbled sarcastically as the ground under her wheels turned from gravel to dirt upon entering what looked to be the drive way to an abandoned farmhouse. Nigel couldn't have agreed more.
When the Indian rolled to a stop behind the large barn at the end of the property, Peter was very confused. Not just because of the events in the Pogue, the farm that Jessie had brought them to looked utterly deserted. He removed his helmet and dismounted from behind his lover. "We're meeting them here?"
Jessie smiled, taking off her own helmet. "They're not far. Listen."
Peter closed his eyes and took in the sounds around him. In the distance, he could hear dozens of voices. He heard raucous music and the roar of several bonfires. With both of them pushing, it didn't take much effort to get the motorcycle around the barn.
Immediately, Peter could see what all the fuss had been about. The barn apparently sat on a hill which dropped off into a vast field. Normally, there probably would have been a crop of some sort growing there. But presently, it housed what looked to be hundreds of people who'd come in cars, on bikes, with campers; a huge caravan of gypsies celebrating together under the stars.
"Where did they all come from?"
"From all over. Looks like a lot of Outlanders, but there have got to be some city Licks in there somewhere." Jessie smiled at her companions' wonder.
"They're all Kindred? Gangrels?" Peter breathed.
"Eh, there might be some Warm gypsies here, and there are prolly some Herd. I doubt any Garou showed. Massachusetts isn't exactly werewolf territory."
"Why...?"
"Why are they here? I'm surprised at you Rocky. I'd have thought you remembered the Feast of Enoia. Stevie always threw parties on this night."
Peter shrugged. "I guess I always thought they were birthday parties. I shoulda paid more attention."
"Well it's just another thing I'll have to teach you," Jessie whispered into his ear with a wolfish grin. "In the meantime, let's join the party. I wanna show you off."
Peter felt a wave of nervousness consume him as they wheeled the Indian down the slope toward the gathering. Now, he remembered that they weren't just here for entertainment. He had to be re-accepted into the fold if he wanted to survive in Gangrel Clan after his Embrace. And, seeing that he was the one who'd abandoned them, the odds were not in his favor. Gangrels were very big on loyalty. He just had to hope that no one here had heard about his past.
The soil of the valley had been plowed under to make way for a main gathering space on which stood a stage. A live band was playing. Several winding dirt roads ran off the main area and the path from the barn. Peter could see cars and motorcycles being raced around various tracks to the enjoyment of cheering spectators. After they'd safely parked the Indian among a group of bikes, Jessie took Peter's hand and they lost themselves in the throng.
"This is insane!" Jordan yelled over the music coming from the stage. Everywhere she looked, people were giving her and Nigel strange, almost hostile glances.
"You don't know the half of it." he muttered.
"What?" she yelled, holding a finger in one ear and leaning toward Nigel with the other.
"Jordan, I really don't think we should be here!" Nigel paused, sparing a glance for a rather burly, tattooed biker brushing past him. He nearly jumped a foot when the man flashed him a set of glowing golden eyes and growled. Grabbing Jordan, he pulled them into one of the quieter areas of the valley, away from prying ears. "We do stand out a bit if you haven't noticed."
"I hadn't noticed." Jordan replied in all seriousness. She'd been to her share of raves back in college and this didn't look to be much different. It was just on a grander scale. The panicked look on Nigel's face however, told her that he felt like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. "Look, we'll just find Peter, talk some sense into him, and then we can be on our way."
Nigel grunted in frustration as Jordan dragged him back into the mass of people. There were so many things wrong with this scenario, and all of them were running through his head. First off, they were two ordinary humans, wandering through a gathering of people who ate ordinary humans for breakfast, literally. Second, while Nigel was reasonably sure he could protect himself by simply removing his shirt and displaying his Herd tattoo, that might raise an eyebrow with Jordan. And finally, Jordan was on a mission that could very likely get them killed if a Kindred decided she was asking too many questions, and Nigel couldn't manage to talk her out of it.
Luckily, …or not, depending on your point of view, it didn't take Jordan much longer to track down her query. Peter and Jessie had joined one of the many congregations sitting around the bonfires that littered the valley. Peter sat on the ground in front of Jessie, who sat on a log with several others, holding her boyfriend's shoulders possessively. They were listening to a long haired man in a Guns 'N Roses t-shirt tell an animated story.
Jordan wasted no time approaching them, though she did have the grace to quietly come up from behind them. She didn't want to draw too much attention to what could turn out to be a heated debate. She grabbed Jessie's shoulder, getting both her and Peter's attention. "We need to talk."
Meanwhile, another set of people had joined the party. The leader of the small band of Gangrels was the first to dismount from his parked motorcycle and head into join the celebration. The others wordlessly followed suit.
It had been some time since the blond Ancillae had been to a Feast of Enoia celebration. There hadn't been one in his home city since his Sire was killed. He almost wished he'd just come to enjoy the festivities. The real reason for his attendance of a gathering, so far from home, was to drum up support amongst his brethren.
He had come to Boston on the tail of a pack of Ravnos. The leader of the pack in question had attacked the Prince of his City. Months had gone by after the Ravnos had narrowly escaped the Ventrue Prince's wrath, until a week ago. A call had come in from the Prince of Boston, requesting aid from her brood-brother and fellow Prince to defeat the very same Ravnos Pack. Being a loyal subject, as well as the Prince's personal bodyguard, the Gangrel had agreed immediately when his Prince had asked him to track the Pack down in Boston and bring back the head of their leader.
"Who are we looking for?" asked a small brunette Gangrel girl trailing obediently behind him.
"A big Indian guy, name of Redwind. He's the Primogen of the Boston Gangrels. Teeg tells me you can't miss him." the blond man replied.
"Whoa, man." commented a scruffy looking Asian teen, walking nearby.
"What is it, Jake?"
"Check it out." Jake drew his superior's attention to a group of four people standing nearby arguing. "I didn't know J.J. was in town."
The group of half a dozen Gangrels regarded the woman. Nobody recognized the lanky, black haired man, or the slender brunette with her. However, the blond Gangrel's eyes flared angrily when he glimpsed a tall man on J.J.'s arm wearing a Gangrel insignia jacket.
Jake let out a whistle when he saw the man. "I'm seein ghosts, bro. I thought he was dead!"
"You guys should not be here!" Peter said for the third time in as many minutes.
"And you should?" Jordan scoffed folding her arms over her chest. "Look around. It looks like you stepped into a bad re-enactment of Roadhouse! You scared the crap out of all of us back there. And now you've decided to what?...Join a caravan?"
"Goddamnit! This is none of your business!" Peter grunted under his breath. The light squeeze that Jessie was giving his arm reminded him that they were surrounded by people who were judging every move he made. "Go home Jordan."
Jessie tried to appeal to the more logical of the pair at that moment. "Nigel, you need to get her out of here, now."
"I'm trying, luv. Believe me. She's absolutely unreachable when she gets like this."
"Why do I feel like there's something big going on here, and everybody's in on it but me?" Jordan said, glaring at Nigel and Peter.
"Look, I'll explain anything you want later. But right now you have to..."
Peter never got to finish his sentence as he was tackled from behind. He struggled for a few seconds with his assailant, aware that they were drawing a crowd. Then, Jessie stepped in, hauling the two apart by their collars, and Peter got a good look at his attacker. "Oh shit."
Jordan was about to start another interrogation but Nigel pre-empted her by clamping a hand over her mouth. She was about to yank it away when she saw what might have been the most commanding look she'd ever seen in her lover's eyes, directed at her. His gaze clearly said, keep your mouth shut.
Jessie finally got both men set on their feet, just far enough apart for comfort. She briefly glanced over Peter, looking for bruises and scratches, before turning on the blond man. "Cash, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
The Primogen of the San Francisco Gangrels adjusted his jacket, trying to regain some dignity in the eyes of his clanmates, who had gathered around during the scuffle. It wasn't everyday he got put in his place by his brood-sister, his younger brood-sister no less.
"That can wait. Right now, I wanna know what the hell you're doing hanging out with this grease-stain." Cash grumbled.
"What did you call me?"
Peter drew himself up to his full height on the other side of Jessie, upon hearing the insult. The two men painted a comical picture to the casual observer. They were trying to get in each other's faces to spite the woman in the middle holding them apart. Peter stood at least a head taller than Cash, if not two. But any Kindred observer knew that the shorter man was, by far, the bigger threat.
Jessie ignored both their barbs and turned to her brother. "What I'm doing with Rocky is really none of your business. But since you asked, he's mine now. We're together."
Cash's eyes nearly bugged out at this. Only the pointed glances Jessie was sending toward the two human's she'd been talking to tipped Cash off that he needed to be discreet. Instead of lashing out like he so wanted to, he calmly scrutinized the man who had once been his best friend.
"So you're back to wanting to be one of us huh? You wanna join the family? What makes you think you're worthy? Of us or of her?" Cash nodded toward his sister.
Peter decided not to rise to the bait...too much. "Nothing. That's not really my call, nor is it yours, Cash. It's for Jessie to decide."
"And I've already made my decision." Jessie insisted, looking at her brother pointedly.
Cash's scowl slowly morphed into a sly smile as an idea occurred to him. "Well, you know just cause you join the family, doesn't make you one of us, Rocky. You gotta prove yourself."
Peter began to worry. If "proving himself" meant going a round or two with Cash, he knew he didn't have a chance in hell. Cash was Kindred, as well as being a Primogen of a band of Gangrels. Add to that the fact that Cash had brought at least five of his loyal brethren from San Francisco, and that the entire valley was filled with Gangrels, and things did not look good. But luckily, a fight wasn't what Cash had in mind.
The blond Gangrel nodded toward a row of racing bikes. "That is, if you can remember how."
"Cash." Jessie growled in a warning tone.
Nigel had removed his hand from Jordan's mouth during the course of the discussion and her curiosity got the better of her. "Peter, what's he talking about?"
"He's talking about racing." Jessie replied, watching the staring match going on between the two men, intensely. "And the answer is no, Cash."
Peter glared hard at the Kindred man. He knew when he'd arrived at the celebration that he would have to prove himself in the eyes of Gangrel Clan. He just hadn't anticipated this particular challenge from this particular Gangrel. Peter took a deep breath and matched Cash's cocky grin with one of his own.
"You're on."
A cheer went up in the crowd surrounding them. Cash's wolfish grin grew. Jessie shook her head in defeat. Peter looked determined. Jordan looked confused. Nigel looked ready to throw in the towel completely.
It didn't take long for them to set up the race. They had to find appropriate racing bikes for both Peter and Cash. Cash had no problem finding one, but Peter's long legs required that he find a racer fit to accommodate a taller rider. Finally, a hard looking Gypsy woman who stood an inch above Peter offered hers up.
Jessie had the job of standing on the side lines with Nigel and Jordan. Peter gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You don't need to do this."
"Sure I do," Peter insisted, zipping up his jacket. "Don't worry, baby. All I have to do is keep up."
With that, he went to line his bike up with Cash's at the starting line. When a shot rang out, signaling the beginning of the race, only Nigel and Jordan were paying enough attention to see Jessie wince. Nigel put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Now what was that all about, luv?"
"We'd better get to the top of the hill with the others. The view of the race will be better up there." Jessie replied.
Jordan looked shocked. She couldn't believe that Nigel was actually moving to follow Jessie up the hill. He turned and smiled at her and motioned for her to follow. That broke Jordan out of her reverie. She ran up the hill next to Jessie, her anger flaring. "Does it concern you at all that you've got Peter doing something that could get him killed?"
Jessie finally turned to face Jordan. "You know, I tried to humor you for Nigel's sake, and for Peter's. But you are really starting to get on my nerves. Rocky says he needs to do this...he needs to."
"He needs to race around on a motorcycle at ungodly speeds?" Jordan asked incredulously. Jessie started to walk away but Jordan caught her around the shoulders just as she got t to the top of the hill, where the rest of the crowd had gathered. "Peter has been acting strange ever since you got to town. I know you two used to have a thing, but what makes you think you know what he needs now? I'm sure his friends know better than you."
Jessie's eyes flared. "You know better than me, do you? You don't know anything about me or Rocky. We used to race like this after breakfast every morning. You and his other 'friends' have him hacking up half a dozen bodies before lunch!"
"Ladies, if I may say.." Nigel broke in, having been silent up until then.
"What?" both women shouted, turning their attention from each other to Nigel.
"Well, it seems the man in question has things quite in hand."
Jordan and Jessie followed Nigel's line of site to where the race was winding down. In their fight with each other, they hadn't noticed the cheers and hollers going up around them. At present, Cash was in the lead... but not by much. As the two riders were rounding the final turn in the track, Peter was able to make a jump that allowed him to cross the finish line at just the same time as his opponent. However, as he landed the bike he was riding tipped over, throwing Peter several feet into the dust.
Jessie led the crowd running down the hill. When she reached the two men, Cash was dismounting while Peter lay prone in the dirt. She stopped only long enough to look Cash over briefly and slap him in the back of the head before running over to her lover. "Are you happy now? If anything's happened to him I will kill you!"
Peter lay on his back in the dirt. As Jessie gently pulled off his helmet, he looked to be unconscious. She shook him gingerly and murmured, "Baby?"
First, he peeked one eye open and then a smile spread slowly over his features. Jessie glared at him, then hit him in the stomach with the helmet. "You are an ass!"
Peter was laughing hysterically by the time Jordan and Nigel pushed their way through the crowd. "Did you see that?" he asked his girlfriend, who'd pushed herself up to stand. "Did you?"
"You could've been killed, you jackass!"
"Nah, he can take it." Cash smiled, giving Peter a hand up to stand. "He's one of us."
Jordan looked around at the various people patting Peter on the back, Jessie glaring at him, and Nigel's humorous grin and threw her hands in the air. "I give up."