A/N: Here's chapter twenty-five! Did you really think we would get rid of a sect? Really? I know I've used this like eight times but really, who do you think you're dealing with, boss? Kinda a shorty. (like Angelique!)

Dislcaimer: I do not own Bloodlines, but I do own my OCs.

Hawaii was supposed to be one of the most scenic locations in the world. Perfect for vacations and travelers to visit and explorer, a huge tourist trap that was often successful in snaring its prey.

Jyhad had a funny way of reducing every chunk of land to a simple piece of territory, like dogs.

Even in terms of vampirism, Hawaii was seldom a topic they liked to discuss. Why? Well, it's one of the easiest pickings for their Kuei-Jin opponents to snatch up, given how close it is to the Asian territories. Because of this, direct control of Hawaii was at the very least speculated, if not, given to the Kuei-Jin.

It was for that reason that Jun Oshiro decided it would be a good idea to stake out here until his plans came to fruition. Clearly the Kindred in the westernmost coast were going to be more problematic than he thought. Every time he attacked vital parts of their land, his forces would be reduced to rubble. For the time being, all that was left was himself and Tsubasa, but he would have to rebuild, regrow. He was going to strike back one day, it may not have been soon, but it would be with a vengeance.

"Alright, pointless as it may be that I ask this…" He heard a feminine voice, "But are you sure we shouldn't just cut our losses and go back to Japan?"

He was sitting cross-legged in a meditative stance. His eyes darted to Tsubasa, "No." He said, "These matters will take time. We will destroy the Kindred. Heading back to Japan won't solve any of our problems, especially if we're to return to California anyway."

"Ugh…" She rolled her eyes, "Why do you have such a fixation of avoiding Japan? Isn't that where you grew up? How long has it been since you've last been back there?"

"At least a century."

"A century? Why? It's your home, don't you care? There are plenty of courts there we could reside in, rather than staying all the way out here."

Jun figured giving her a lecturing, or worse, making an example out of her would be a waste of time. He picked up a nearby stick, beginning to draw a few images in the sand. "What can you tell me about these?"

She did everything she could not to laugh, "That you should leave your artistic work to kindergarteners…"

He rolled his eyes. "These are the two foes we've fought the most." He said, pointing to a picture of a bear and a snake with the wooden stick he was holding, "And yet we know so little about either of them."

"Well, that's because we don't know what their clans are." She said. "Clearly, it's like some animal clan or something. There must be a Cainite power that allows them to transform into animals."

Jun narrowed his eyes at the sand, "Every time the bear was almost bested, the snake came…out of nowhere…to save him…"

"I didn't think the bear ever gave you trouble."

"He didn't." He said, "Though he killed my triad. And I want revenge…" He said, "This serpentine menace is what we really need to worry about. Sirius, his name is. He has the ability to turn invincible."

"You think I'd forget that?" She asked, "That's one of the biggest reasons why we left."

"Yes." He said, "I'll have to find a way around his abilities."

"Pfft, well, good luck, cause I'm going home."

His eyes hardened, "You will come with me." He said.

She swallowed hard, "Damn it…I hate when you use your authority of a bodhisattva over me…"

"It isn't a title earned lightly." He said, "You also need to work on fighting the Tzimisce."

"The Tzimisce?"

He nodded, "Lafayette nearly turned you into a puddle of flesh. Were there a rematch, and I wasn't around, he would destroy you."

She crossed her arms, "So, what's your point, o wise and powerful Jun? What's your great advice to avoid being flesh-crafted?"

"Stay away from his touch." He said, "A common misconception about the Tzimisce is that their Vicissitude is long-range. It isn't. They need to get up close. Use your speed to prevent that."

She blinked a few times, again, surprised at Jun's knowledge to the foreign Kindred.

"As for Sirius, we won't have to worry about him for long."

"We…we won't…?"

"No. I've been around since the days of the samurai. I'm not going to let a little serpent get in my way of domination."

She thought for a moment or two, "There's also that Assamite dog…and her friend, the clown. I thought they went extinct."

"Said 'Assamite dog' also almost killed you…"

She growled, "That's only because of her stupid clown friend and her weird illusions! I would have killed them both had it not been for that!"

"They are of no concern to us." He said, "They are weak in comparison to the larger Cainite enemies of the state. But there's no need for fear. I will soon be backed by power the likes of which the Kindred have never seen."

"What…what do you mean…what are you talking about."

He rose from where he was seated, a dark grin over his face, "The Kindred think that they have we Kuei-Jin all figured out. But I'll show them, I'll show them that there are darkened, frightening parts of the Kuei-Jin just as there are with Kindred."

Archie was pissed.

It was one thing to be evicted. Another to be evicted on account of fraud. And another to be out-paid by someone else. Some bimbo was wandering around in this city with more money than him.

He gave her a week.

A hotel seemed to be his only option, but he'd have to purchase property as soon as he could. Hotels were easy to pinpoint and even easier to attack. But he was in no mood to make calls or sign any paperwork. He needed money, and he needed it fast.

His thumb smothered a quarter into the slot as the payphone rang a few times. Then he heard the line pick up, "Hello, this is—"

"Is there a girl named Aschat there?" He didn't have time to mess around.

He knew she could make him a lot of money, despite their strange history. He had no idea where she was, or where she was staying, but he'd have to string her out as his only real option until he could afford something else.

"Aschat? Um…no…" He hung up. Another few quarters.

"Hello, welcome to—"

"Is there a girl named Aschat there?"

"…no, sorry, but we do have—"

He went at this until his pockets were empty of change. He moved on to bills.

"Is there a girl named Aschat there?"

"Aschat?" He was just about to hang up, then he stopped himself, "She's backstage. Would you like me to redirect you?"

"Yes."

"Very well." A pause, then the line picked up, "'ello?"

"There you are." Archie grinned like a fool, "I've been waiting for you. Don't you dare hang up."

"Who is dis?"

"…you have to be kidding me…"

"No. I don't recognize da voice."

"It's Archie."

"Archie…Archie…Archie…oh! Archie!" A muffled pause, "Oh…Archie…"

"You thought you could run away from me, you spoiled little brat?"

"I'm gonna hang up now—"

"Let's say we pretend everything that happened didn't. You work for me, I pay, and we both get fuller wallets."

"Mmm…."

"You can't tell me you've been feeling just fine after that drink I fixed you."

"Huh? Dat was you? Son of a bitch, did you poison me?"

"No. Come back and I'll tell you what it is and get you as much as you could ever imagine."

Lucky enough, Aschat wasn't quite smart enough to figure that he was begging for her return. "Yeah, okay."

"Excellent. Where have you been staying?"

"An apartment, down de road…"

"An address would be great."

"I don't remember. Vegas, somewhere."

He sighed through his nose, "You're hopeless. Call me back when you find it."

"Yeah. Okay. Dis is only for that drink."

"Uh huh. Ta-ta." He hung the phone back up and put his hands in his pockets, heading down the street towards a parked taxi. He popped the door open and sat down.

"Where to?"

"Hollywood. Vesuvius."

"Very well." The man started driving and Archie watched the streets fly by. If he was going to be living wherever the hell Aschat was, he needed to at least check up on the place one last time.

The car slid in some gravel as it eased to a stop, then Archie got out, paid the man, and headed inside his club.

Other than a few custodians cleaning the bottom floor, the place was empty. It was odd to be in there without the music. He headed up to the old VIP room which had been renovated, or at least cleaned out. He gutted all the furniture and installed a desk and chair. There sat a representative he hired for a week. "Well?" Archie crossed his arms.

"Here." The man handed him a folder of papers, "These are the girls who expressed some sort of interest."

Archie flipped through them, "Not a bad turnout."

"Not at all. Your name wasn't mentioned once."

"Excellent." He tucked the folder into his coat, "I'll sort through them. You're dismissed."

"Very well, sir." He stood up, then held a hand out. Archie looked up at him for only a second before he forked over a handful of bills. The rep flipped through them, "More."

Archie narrowed his eyes, "A night with one of my new ones."

He tucked the money in his pocket, "Fair enough."

"She'll be at your room at two."

"Alright." The rep seemed content enough to leave the building.

Archie peered around the room briefly before he headed downstairs and took a brief stroll around the place. It seemed no matter how much cleaning was done, it was impossible to get rid of that Velvet Velour stench.

"This club is my pride, Archie. Not my breasts, not my new family, not my dancing. This club. It means to the world to me. I'm not giving it up."

The flowery perfume, the silk and satin, the blood and alcohol.

His fingers grazed over his beard, "So…you're asking, what if you decline my offer?" She didn't respond, she just stifled one of her sobs, "I put you and the boy out of your misery."

The janitors looked up at him uneasily before he turned and left as well, headed to Aschat's apartment.

"Good. I'm so glad you didn't doubt my power, Susan." He grinned, "A very wise choice. Very civil. But, I suppose you know the Sabbat. They can make a mess of things, can't they?"

Vegas would be safe enough for him, surrounded by his Sabbat allies. And soon enough, he'd have a whole new crew of girls to work for him, Aschat as well.

And he was sure as hell this 'Harper Rivers' was going to be hunted as well.

The fact that everyone was disgruntled before the plane took off made the hours creeping by all the worse. Their flight was about halfway finished and for the most part it was still dominated by silence. It was clear that there was a lot of turmoil on everyone's minds, especially between themselves.

Phaedra's deep voice in her native tongue broke the silence, just barely. It was soft enough for people to tune out entirely. "Sei mai stato a New York?"

He nodded, his head thudding against the seat in front of him as he sunk in despair, "Yeah…" He said, "Worked there for about twenty years…give or take…"

"So che è una città…" She mused, "Ma ci sono dei vicoli?" She then added, "Vicoli bui? Ci sono molti agenti di polizia?"

"Jeez…you're hungry already?" He asked, "What's the point in worrying? You have Dominate."

She seemed confused, "No, non uccido mai le persone. C'è molto suicidio?"

"I mean, the homeless rate is probably as bad there as it is in L.A."

She sat back, crossing her legs in thought, "I remember Pisha lived in New York for a little while." She said softly, rubbing one of her canines with her thumb, a tiny prick of blood welled up there, "When I couldn't speak, she comforted me with tales of her travels. And of course, ways of the Jyhad."

"Must be nice to have a sire who at least gives a fuck about you…"

She laughed, "L'ultima volta che la vidi, mi ha detto che voleva che fossi morto!" She crossed her arms and rested them against her stomach, "E lascia che te lo dica, caro, lei lo intendeva. Non esiste esagerazione per lei."

He closed his eyes, "Then kill her first. That's what I did."

Phaedra's jaw dropped with just the thought, "No, no, no. Non vorrei mai! È una dea. Io non sono semplicemente abbastanza per lei. Non sono mai stato."

He finally lifted his head from the seat, only to smack his forehead, "Do me a favor and try not to fall in love with the Tzimisce Antediluvian when we get there…"

She gave him a bit of a glare, "Non essere insensibile. È Angelique?"

Angelique's head perked up and she looked over, but didn't say anything.

He crossed his arms as he looked ahead, "Tch."

"Voi due siete petardi. Quello che è successo?"

"Era stanca di me essere un eremita."

She seemed doubtful. "Questo è tutto?"

"Piuttosto."

She raised a brow.

"Voleva la libertà, così gliel'ho dato. Che è stupido perché era schiava di tutti quando l'ho incontrata per la prima volta. Non lo so, è venuto fuori dal nulla."

"C'è una ragione per tutto. Qualcosa deve averla ispirata."

"Cosa diavolo l'avrebbe ispirata a farlo?"

"Non ho tutte le risposte."

"There isn't one. Not to something like this." He said, "So I'm done."

"That's all?" She asked, "You're done?"

"Non hai notato come ci siamo parlati?"

"C'è una differenza tra un argomento e una rottura."

"Not in this case."

"Mi dispiace."

He paused, "È anche follemente gelosa di te. Non importa quello che dico lei non ascolta mai."

"Me? Deve sentirsi sola. Deve invidiare le nostre conversazioni."

"Non mi interessa Ognuno ti tratta come lo sporco tranne me. Se alla gente non piace, questo è il loro problema."

She seemed touched, but at the same time, concerned. "Non penso che mi odia. Penso che odia l'attenzione che mi dai."

"Ma perché?"

"Perché parliamo molto. E parliamo in italiano. Lei si sente abbandonata."

"Questo non può essere l'unico motivo per cui siamo caduti a pezzi…"

"I don't think it is." She decided, "I'll help. Don't worry. We'll figure this out."

"If it can't be helped, I don't want you to worry about it."

"It will be helped."

A/N: Not gonna lie, it was kinda fun watching SigmaFang try and guess the real (and yes, it was mentioned eons ago) reason Angelique lost her spark with Cadmus. And yeah, you can bet your buns Cadmus isn't gonna figure it out until someone slaps some sense into him. Thanks for reading!