A/N: Here's chapter thirty! (horns, lasers, disco balls) If I could marry my characters…I'd have a lot of wedding rings. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bloodlines, but I do own my OCs. Also Chester.
"Gary!"
"When you scream my name like that, you make me wish I had earplugs…" Gary sat back, away from the book he was skimming through. Cressida stomped in, looking furious. "What is it, darling?" He asked with a heinous grin.
"Why the hell is there the sound of screaming in my room?"
"…what?" Gary was honestly confounded.
"Just come here." She started walking down the hallway. He grumbled something under his breath and followed after her.
"Is there a rat-trap in there somewhere? A dead animal? What kind of screaming?"
"Hear for yourself." Cressida stepped into her bedroom and crossed her arms, glaring daggers at the Primogen.
Sure enough, through the wall, there were muffled cries. Muffled both through many layers of dirt and rock, but also as if the person's mouth was duct-taped.
What concerned Gary wasn't the fact that someone was trapped, or even that anyone was screaming through the walls. It was the fact that there was no part of the warrens on this side of Cressida's room. He stepped closer, leaning against the wall, then tapped his knuckles against it. "Listen to that…" He said, astounded, "It's hollow."
"That's because there's a person in there, genius."
He stepped back, "But how…" He brought a hand to his chin, "How did someone perfect the trajectory of digging a hole right to the very same level of our warrens while staying just…a few inches away from them?"
"You mean, that room…wasn't always there?"
"No." He moved back, "There's no…secret cavern system there either. A well, sewer system. Nothing. Your room was up against rock and nothing else. So then…why…?" He listened to the screams a little more. "And even better. It's Iggy."
"What?"
"Those screams. Iggy's stuck in there." He grumbled, now he was irritated, stepping out from her room, "Go get Edgar and Barabus to dig her out."
"What, through my room? I don't want a giant hole into my room leading to god-knows-what!"
"Get over it. We'll patch it up later."
It was only hours until the wall caved away, shining light into the small little pocket that Cressida had reported. And that was all it really was, too. A small pocket of earth, smaller than the rooms Gary had dug out for his Nosferatu.
Sure enough, there was Iphigenia. She was tied to a wooden cross in the middle of the room, well, not exactly tied, but fastened. Nails through her wrists and ankles, but her head was tied, rope snagged in her mouth that secured her head to the top of the cross. A normal human probably would have choked on it. Her fangs were covered in blood, as were her nails and hands. There were some faint bruises left here and there on her body. She closed her eyes as the light poured in, then slowly opened them when they adapted to it.
"Well I'll be a monkey's uncle." Gary crossed his arms, "Looks like there's a new lord to pray to tonight, eh?" He elbowed Cressida.
"Get her down and patch up my room in the next four hours or I'll stuff that cross up your ass." She stormed off.
Gary couldn't help but grin, "Well, how'd you get there Iggy?" She glared at him, "What, not in the mood for talking? Or, maybe, is there something in the way of that?" He snickered, "Untie her, Edgar. Oh, but leave her up there. We don't want her running away yet." Edgar quickly gave a feeble nod and undid the ropes around her mouth.
She slowly closed her mouth, readjusting the feeling of having a movable jaw and tongue. She grimaced at the taste of foreign blood on her fangs as well.
"Well?" Gary raised a brow, "You're trespassing, after all."
"Silence." She said quietly, her voice sounding exhausted, "Get me down."
"That's awfully demanding of someone who's at my mercy. Maybe I'll keep you up there. Maybe I'll have you covered in wax. You'll be the new centerpiece of the warrens. What happens when you fuck with the Tremere."
"Please, get me down."
"We're not children. Adding 'please' isn't going to get you anywhere. But the manners are appreciated." He grinned.
"Then what will get me out?" She asked, "I need to get home." Her tone was urgent.
"Get home? Why? To see those bratty sisters of yours? Hmmph. Ever think your life would be a lot easier without them?"
"Gary."
"I'd say they're long dead. With how long you've been gone. And before you go blaming someone else for putting you here, let's just remember you ended up down here for a reason. You did something to someone, probably a damn mage, and they wanted to get rid of you." He crossed his arms, "And that's Mister Golden to you."
"I hate to argue with you, but when was the last time she probably fed?" Barabus asked.
"Oh, I hope she frenzies. I'd love to see that pretty face twisted with all sorts of hate."
She grit her teeth, dark tears leaking down her cheeks, but she still looked beyond pissed, "Get me off of this cross now…" She growled.
"I believe I'm owed some answers." Gary grabbed Cressida's chair and pulled it in, taking a seat. "Finders keepers."
"Then we'll talk alone. Get them out of here."
"Are you going to confess your undying love for me?"
"Golden…" She seethed.
Gary sighed, "Tsk, tsk. Once a brute, always a brute. Well, you heard her, boys." He said, swatting a hand as the other two left. "So. Let's start with who."
"Dragomir."
He narrowed his eyes, "Dragomir…" He hummed, "Sounds familiar. Not quite bringing up any faces…"
"The Malkavian…diablerist. Lockwood and Perry's ally."
"Ah. Right. So it was someone in the Camarilla, and wasn't me this time? How exciting. Looks like I'm rubbing off on people." He stood up and paced as she hung her head and tried to pull herself away from the nails, only drawing more blood, "So then tell me. Why?"
"He prattled all sorts of things, none of them made any sense…"
"I'm sure they made perfect sense, you just weren't listening. I find the Malkavian tend to make more sense than any other Kindred on the face of this planet."
"I don't know how he dug this hole or when…he just…clubbed me over the head and I woke up down here. I tried to kill the bastard but I hardly had any blood left…he must've drained me or something, that demon…"
Gary snorted, "What did he have to say?"
She shook her head, her cheeks still stained with tears, "I…I-I can't remember…"
"Sure you can, you're just not thinking hard enough." He stood up and snapped his fingers in her face, "Focus. I'm reporting everything you say to the Prince, got it? What'd he say?"
"I can't remember, alright?" Her voice dropped again, hoarse again.
He sighed through his nose, "A shame. That'll give him the edge, I'm sure."
"What…?" Her eyes glistened as she looked up at him, "You're not…implying he'll have a say?"
"I am. Of course I am! He had to have a reason to do this. Maybe he was put up to it. Who knows? Maybe he's not guilty at all. Maybe you are. Maybe you're lying to me. I wouldn't be surprised."
"I'm not lying!" She spat, baring her fangs, "What reason would I have to lie!?"
"Because you don't want to admit how pathetic you are…you're not a loser. You're a winner, aren't you Iggy?" He snickered, "You'll dress yourself up like a man to win, who's to say you won't tie yourself to the cross to do the same?"
She looked away, "I should have known you wouldn't be any help."
"Let's see, what else did you do? Sell your sister to the Nosferatu? Get in fights with your Magister? I'd kill to hear what those arguments were about. Probably something absolutely pointless, hmm? But you wanted to win. Huh? Am I, getting closer?"
"Get me off of this, please…" She hung her head, sniffling.
"Look at that." He snorted, "You really are pathetic." He stepped forward, "Now, gee, I wonder what'll hurt more…left arm or right? Hmm, I have an even better idea." He grinned as he grabbed the nail at her ankles and yanked it off.
She gasped, all her weight suspended on her two wrists. Blood leaked down her arms, she was silenced in agony.
He grinned, watching her hang, "The saddest part is, I don't even think you've learned your lesson yet." He leaned in and whispered, "I suppose that'll be left to me."
"H-H-How much blood is o-on the car seat?"
"I really don't think that should be a priority of yours."
"It's…difficult to get off the seats…"
"I'll clean it off for you. Hold still."
Chester grunted with pain as his regnant pushed his radius back into place, the dusty soil beneath his face clouding up around him and causing him to cough. Lumi grit her teeth and sat back, "Didn't I tell you to hold still?"
"S-Sorry…"
Lumi pushed one hand against his chest, holding the roll of bandages in her teeth as the other wrapped them around his arm, "Who is doing this to you?"
"God, you look so very…very nice up there…"
"Chester. I can help you if you let me."
"Y-You are helping me…" He panted a bit, giving a soft whine when she grasped his arm with urgency rather than care, wrapping the bandages tighter than he would have liked.
Lumi was never a mother. It was something she dreamed of ever since she was little, but never had the time to live out. Chester was the closest thing to a son to her, and just seeing his usually stoic face twisted in agony was absolutely heart wrenching. He could feel, under there, somewhere, and she hated the mystery of it. She sat up, "Was that the only thing actually broken?" She licked her thumb and smothered some blood from his forehead.
"Y-Yeah, I think so." He sat up weakly, his other hand grasping for hers.
She held his hand and met his eyes, "I can stop this."
"It's under control." He weakly tried to get to his feet, clinging to her desperately, his body still trembling from blood loss.
She gently held his shoulders and pulled him up, "I should set that for you. In a real cast."
"Your blood will do better than any sort of tourniquet."
She rolled her eyes, then bit her wrist, "Fine."
"What, are you afraid I won't learn my lesson if I don't suffer a little?"
"No…" She sighed, "Just…drink." She handed him her wrist, which he drank from deeply. She pulled it away and licked it after a handful of seconds, "There."
"Thank you…" Chester's mind whirled as the pain he was feeling ebbed away at a rapid pace, "I'll be going now."
"Take care. Please." She gave him a worried look as he got back into his sedan and drove.
He couldn't go back home. Not with the mood Nix was in. Lumi mentioned something about Kipper being a little upset, so that was out too. He could go to the pharmacy, but what would he do there, loiter? He turned on the radio and chewed on his tongue as he contemplated where to go.
He supposed the casino would at least provide some sort of entertainment. He might not have been able to partake in any of those girls, but at least he could look.
It was a long drive. He didn't mind it. By the time he pulled in, he was able to take his bandages off and see that there was nothing there. No more bone jutting out of his skin. Lumi was really a saint.
He entered the building and looked around, his hands in the pockets of his lab coat. Maybe he could play a game. He had some cash on him. He was never very good with them, however, since his luck was 'bad'. Or at least, that's what the others would tell him.
"Late night out, hmm?" He heard Gideon's voice behind him, "The siren struck with a vengeance, did she not?"
Chester turned to face Gideon, "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Do you enjoy hiding in LeBlanc's shadow?"
His eyes narrowed, "In a manner of speaking."
Ruckus caught both their attention at the nearest table.
"Aw, come on! You cheated girlie!"
"Gimme my fucking money back!"
"Damn skank, played us for fools!"
"The cards don't lie." An extremely low-pitched voice said. The commotion came from a few tables over. Everyone's attention was on the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl who had won the most recent game.
"Bullshit, they sure do here! That shouldn't have counted!" One of the men snapped.
The girl with the scorpion braid sighed, looking at her pink nails, "Look, enough of this crying. You all owe me. What were the bets again? A-million?"
All the players complained as they began shelling out their losses.
One man, however, was adamant, "No, fuck you! Nobody makes a fool out of me!" He reared a fist back.
The girl's eyes sharpened, she pulled a pistol out of one of her tall, black boots and fired. An instant headshot, the man crumpled on the ground immediately. She then gave a dark snicker, "Finders keepers." She said, as people dove for the man's belongings like savage animals.
"Uh…master Gideon…" One of the casino employees approached Chester and Gideon, "She…she just killed someone."
Gideon snickered, "I'll allow it. She puts on a good show." He said. Once the attendant left, he said, "That woman is a mystery. She's been in and out of my place for quite some time now. She wins…fairly consistently…although not enough to suggest foul play." He crossed his arms, "I know she has something to do with the Jyhad…but…every question I ask…she evades it." He said, "This cracked mind…I cannot even gain my answers through insight."
Chester found what he was looking for, at least. A new game. "I've never been very good with gambling myself. I wouldn't have any advice to offer."
"I wonder who she belongs to…"
"Who she belongs to?" He asked, "How are you sure she belongs to anyone?"
"She breathes, yet she is too talented to be a mere human." He said, "When you're my age, things like that add up much quicker, trust me, boy."
Chester looked up at Gideon, then turned back to the girl, "I could ask some questions if you wanted."
"Don't bother. She's an iron box…getting in there won't be possible." He tapped his forehead.
"You doubt me." He said without an ounce of hesitation.
He snickered and adjusted his goggles, "I don't recall you being so interested in the Jyhad…" He said, "Or…it's not really the Jyhad you're interested in…is it?"
"Not at all." He eyed over her figure a few more times as her attention was averted.
"I should have figured." Gideon turned away, "Ignoring the ascension to our immortal greatness is foolish. Soon you will learn that yourself, if the siren does not kill you first." He said, starting to walk off.
Chester watched him walk away, then turned back to the girl at the table, who turned around and spotted him looking over her as she headed to another table. He feigned innocence to the best of his ability, turning his head and looking away.
The first thing he noticed when she stood up was how tiny she was. Lucky to reach five feet, and extremely thin, she strutted over to him, "You wanna play me next?"
He turned to face her, "Oh, I wouldn't be much of a challenge for you. I'll just watch."
Her thin pink lips curved into a smile, "I was actually just leaving, sorry hun." She walked past him, "But I think over a-million is good time to call it a night, don't you think?"
"Can't say I've ever seen so much money at once." He then added, "And I work in a pharmacy."
She paused and turned her head at a fleeting attempt at eye contact, "Should've figured with the whole lab coat thing you've got going on there."
He looked down at himself, then the blood all over the left sleeve from earlier in the evening. She hadn't seemed to notice yet, but in her defense, the lighting was shoddy at best, "You come here often, right?"
"When I need cash."
"Cash, for what?"
She stifled a chuckle, "You're asking me what money is for?"
He crossed his arms, "It…came out strange, I suppose. Never mind."
She gave a small wave, the fishnet gloves further accenting her charm, "Kay, bye."
"Are you hungry?"
"Hmm?" She stopped again, "Maybe."
He hadn't expected it to work. "I could take you out to eat somewhere. If you were interested."
She smiled and turned to face him. "Cute." She said, "Sounds fun."
He nodded and turned towards the door with her, heading outside with her. He unlocked his car and opened the door for her.
Nothing, not even a pretty girl, attracted Chester's attention like a good puzzle.
She smiled and thanked him, taking her seat. Her black denim shorts were extremely skimpy, and the only other thing that covered her legs were her tall black boots. Around her chest and some of her abdomen was a crop top, but it hardly left anything to the imagination either.
He got in and revved up the engine, "Any requests?"
"Mmm…somewhere nice." She said, "Really nice." She said, then her deep blue eyes met his. They resembled pools of fountain water, "Why are you doing this?"
He met her gaze, something he didn't typically do. "Because I find you very attractive."
She gave a dry snicker, facing ahead, "At least you're honest about it…" She sighed.
"I don't plan on…making any advancements. I can't afford that." He started driving.
"Wait…you don't want to plow me?" She looked confused, "Huh…I predicted at least a quick fuck in the bathroom. Or your car…inside or outside…" She licked her lips.
An involuntary chill coursed through him, and his knuckles went white as he gripped the steering wheel. But it wasn't lust that made him feel this way, it was like some sort of anger. "Maybe I could take a chance."
"Take a chance?" She raised a brow, "What? Am I too skanky for your standards? I don't get it…"
"Not at all. I have a girlfriend."
Her eyes shrunk, then a creepy grin went on her face, "I get it. So I'm the mistress. Kinky."
"She'll kill me if she finds out about this." Maybe it was just the tone of his voice, but the way he said it conveyed he was not exaggerating at all.
Her smile faded, she crossed her arms, "We don't have to do anything, then."
He took a deep sigh and flicked a turn signal on, "We'll see."
She rested her head on her fist, "Alright, I'll bite. What…is she not keeping you happy or something?"
"I've expressed to her multiple times I'd like to leave her. She doesn't agree."
She turned to face him, "So she isn't even your girlfriend then…you're like, trapped?"
"Trapped? That's…one way of putting it."
She was quiet for a moment or two, "So is that blood on your coat her?"
He glanced at the coat, "Well, it…it isn't hers. I would never hurt her."
"But it's yours." She said, "Same with the blood in the car."
"It's under control."
She crossed her arms, "So she's abusing you."
"Abusing me? No. No, it's under control."
"So I guess you were serious when you said she'd kill you."
"Yes. But I could shower at a friend's house. She wouldn't notice if I don't smell. She's probably high anyway."
"But…what kind of a life is that…?" She asked herself.
"What do you mean?" He seemed confused.
"Nothing."
He looked over at her briefly, then pulled into the parking lot of a nice restaurant and took off his lab coat to make himself somewhat more presentable, "We don't have a reservation." His voice was more of a muttered note-to-self than any sort of apprehension.
"We don't have to go here then…" She said, "They're not going to let us in…"
"They might be willing to make an exception. You'd be surprised." He adjusted his tie and held the door open for her.
"I doubt it, especially if I'm dressed like this…"
"Just watch." He stepped in with her.
The host looked over them, "Good evening…do you have a reservation?"
"No." Chester said, taking out a card from his back pocket, "I'm sure you're willing to make an exception."
"Oh. I see. Very well. This way." She guided them over to a secluded table in the corner. "You'll be served briefly." She said before departing.
Chester tucked his card away, then opened the menu and skimmed over it. The girl with the scorpion braid looked dubious, "How'd you do that?"
"Many people are daunted by a PhD from a twenty-two year old."
"That's it? She fell for that?"
"The establishment must not be doing well."
She sighed, "That's depressing…"
He looked out the window, then peered over at her, trying to be subtle about it. Then he seemed to give up, "Did you want to go to the restroom?"
"Wow, that was quick." She stood up, "Alright."
He stood up and paused, "Men's or women's?"
"Whichever one we don't get caught in…"
"I think there's an equal chance of getting caught in either."
"Then just pick one."
He opened the doors to the girl's room and followed her in. "Stall or not?" He asked.
"Well…if we don't use a stall…we'd be easily noticed…"
He pushed open the door to a handicap stall, "After you."
She smiled and took her top off as she entered, sighing now that her breasts were a bit less restricted.
He stared at them with hunger, then shut and locked the door behind himself. He held a hand out to take hers before he leaned in to kiss her. Her smile grew as she kissed him back, lightly sighing into his mouth.
It took him a moment to adapt to her style of kissing, what she liked and didn't, but as soon as he pinpointed it, he went from a decent kisser to an amazing one.
She unbuttoned her shorts, bringing a leg up and embracing him a bit closer, kissing him harder. He moved his lips down and kissed her neck, one hand grasping her rear, the other firmly held one of her breasts.
She grunted, an ecstatic grin on her face as she blushed, "Careful…" She said quietly as she took her gloves off, "They get sore easily…"
He traced his thumbs around her nipples over and over, "Of course." He whispered against the skin, licking and biting there as he grinded against her so she could feel the bulge in his pants.
She bit back a groan, somewhat interested in keeping quiet given that they were in a public bathroom. She held onto him the best she could, one hand was on his back, while the other rubbed towards his rear.
He smiled, grinned actually, running a hand down her stomach to cup her sex. It was the first time she saw him actually smile, and it was surprisingly attractive on him.
Her jaw fell open. This time she couldn't fight back the scream, instead of merely holding onto him, her nails dug into him as she shuddered. Her face grew a bit redder as she began to build up a climax, letting out one airy groan after another.
He chuckled softly, "Shh…shh…" He whispered into her ear as he eased two fingers into her, his thumb dancing over her clit. She bit into his shoulder like a fiendish animal, her rhythm exceptionally fast as she grabbed his arms with a white-knuckled grip.
He did his best to hold her steady, but he sooner had to lean her against the wall to ground himself. His other hand rubbed the small of her back, occasionally reaching down to squeeze an ass cheek.
She was giving off mutant swears occasionally. But unlike Nix, these were whispered in bliss, rather than shouted with deathly intentions. Chester's hand was gradually getting more and more soaked as she let yet another orgasm consumed her, her breathing getting quite strained.
When his hand grew painstakingly sore, he pulled it away and licked up whatever was left on it, humming in contentment. She sighed, "You just fucking tasted me…" She fell on her knees, her mouth watering as she moved her panties down a bit to avoid drenching them.
He watched her fall, "Did you need a break? Did you want to order something?" He asked, his hands very gently taking hers and guiding her to her feet.
"That…that did work up an appetite…" She panted.
He washed his hands at the sink briefly, then adjusted his tie and hair, "I'll pay. Whatever you'd like."
"I can cover it…I did just win big at the casino…"
"But…that isn't very gentlemanly."
"It's fine…" She started reaching for her clothes to put them back on, "I mean…after that…I think I should pay."
"That? It was nothing. I haven't learned much of your body yet." He rolled his sleeves up just past his elbows. "When I do, it'll be much better."
"Maybe when we're in a more…private area…I could massage out an orgasm from you. Or suck one down, whichever you prefer."
Another chill rolled down his spine, "We'll have to see." He stepped outside with her as soon as she was dressed, "What was your name again?"
"Lizolette." She said, "You?"
"Chester."
"Chester." She repeated, "I like it." She smiled.
"I like yours too, I've never heard it before."
"No, it's not heard much, I like it, I think it suits me." She snickered.
"I agree." He sat at the table, "I'll order you a lobster."
"You don't have to do that…" She said, "I…don't really eat much…"
"Perfect. Neither do I. We'll split it." He decided, smirking at her briefly before he called for the waitress's attention.
It had been a long time since a puzzle was this interesting to him. And he had a good feeling this one would take a long time to crack.
If humanity didn't think vampires were real after this, then he didn't know what to tell them.
Reports of strange activity in New York led them down to these sewers, this hellhole. There was a strange fungal infection that reeked through the caverns, making breathing extremely difficult, but, Gavin and his men gradually learned the sections where the gases weren't so bad and they indeed could breathe.
"I'm not sure I like this…" One of Gavin's soldiers said.
"Me either." Another said, "Who would like being stuck under here…? It's gross…they're monsters…and devils all around, and it only gets worse the further we traverse!"
"Not only that…" The first soldier said, "This new…servant of Satan…on our side."
"Yeah, I don't know what Gavin was thinking."
"I can hear you." Gavin said, causing both soldiers to go silent immediately. "I am the last general in the Society of Leopold. We cannot let our ranks thin to the point where the demons can just run rampant all over the country."
"Yeah…but…" A third soldier searched for words, "Isn't it strange to team up with a vampire?"
Gavin sighed, "I would agree with you…hell, Vance would cringe in his grave if he knew I was doing this. But…this vampire seems a bit more…level-headed, than the power hungry lunatics who we hunt for sport." He looked ahead, at the one other man sharing his spot in the front lines, "Don't take what they say to heart…Arthur…"
Arthur smiled, scanning the area ahead with his dark blue eyes. His blonde hair was shaved, military style. In fact, he was dressed in heavy coats and armor just like a typical soldier of Leopold. Only he lacked the insane amount of firearms.
Also as a side note, he didn't have to breathe either.
"Nonsense." Arthur said, in a rich British accent, "I need to earn their respect…perhaps eliminating some of the vampires wandering aimlessly through these tunnels will change their spirits."
"Christ…it's about time you guys wake up…" Sirius crossed his arms, "Talk about lame…you all dropped in five seconds flat."
"Yeah, no thanks to you." Cadmus snarled as he got up. "This is really bad…how much of a lead does Lafayette have on us?"
Sirius shrugged, "Not a very big one." He said, "I woke you guys up pretty quickly after he used Dominate."
Cadmus shook his head, as everyone began moving forward again, "How much longer?"
"Don't know…could be another week or two."
"Are you shitting me?" He asked, "We're not going to last that much longer down here."
Angelique's eyes were extremely bleary, but she tried to scrabble to her feet, coughing into her elbow.
Cissy rubbed one of her eyes, then moaned at the sight of Angelique, "Aw…come here, sweet-pea." She held Angelique in a tight hug, which she despised, "Hang in there, cutie."
Cadmus jealously faced ahead, while Sirius smiled, "I don't think she likes that."
Cissy broke the hug, "Look, if you can't make it any longer, I'll carry you. No questions asked. M'kay?"
"I'll be fine." She spat, her voice a bit raspy.
Cadmus slowed his pace, so he was walking in tandem with her, "You're sure you're going to be okay?" He asked gently.
"Yeah." She said quietly, "I'm just…tired…and a little hungry…"
He looked at the ground for a few moments, then he asked, "So…uh…how does Cedric know you?"
"Jeez, thank god someone asked that…cause its killing me." Sirius said.
"No fucking clue." She said, "I've never even seen him until now."
"That doesn't make sense." Cadmus looked ahead, "He didn't give a damn about the battle until he noticed Angelique…why would he care? What is he…even…?"
Sirius shrugged, "Well…he's a Harbinger…so…that basically means that he's a bitter survivor. The Giovanni wiped out all the Cappadocians…but, I guess there were a handful of survivors. That's what the Harbingers are. Hell, some Kindred think the Samedi are survivors too…"
"What else do you know about him?"
"Shit, I don't know…what, am I supposed to know everything?"
"Well I mean, you are in the Sabbat and all…"
He sighed, "I don't know. Cedric's a…quiet guy…really keeps to himself. Older than most of our great grandparents, at least…jeez…he doesn't really…make waves. I mean…Remus and Lafayette, they're just evil…but…I don't know…feels like Cedric is just along for the ride. Pretty sure the only time I've ever seen him excited was right then when he was chasing Angelique. She like a hundred year old ghoul or something? Well-known?"
"I haven't been around that long." Angelique said, "I've done some assassinating for dozens of different regnant though…I'm not sure, maybe someone I worked for knew him?"
Sirius shrugged for the umpteenth time, "Or he just wanted to Embrace you. Didn't he actually do that? With that Ella chick?"
"If he just wanted to Embrace her, why was her name so important?" Cadmus asked.
"Beats me."
Catalina crossed her arms, "Let's just call it a creepy obsession and move on."
Cadmus narrowed his eyes at her vague answer, "That doesn't help though…we're clearly going to fight them again…we'll just…need to make sure Angelique's safe…because Cedric was almost willing to disobey Lafayette's orders to get to her."
"You guys are gonna have to shape up for next time." Sirius said.
"Please…it's your fault…honestly…how fun can it be…being on all the sides?" Cadmus asked.
"I'm not on all the sides." Sirius said, "Kuei-Jin obviously wouldn't take me…neither would the Society of Leopold…"
"You're on all the sides you can be, then. Which would almost be admirable, if not for your attitude towards it." Phaedra said.
"Who the hell says I need your admiration?" He snapped, "I have the Prince's…which is way more important than a dirty Nagaraja like yourself."
"Ah, so you're nothing but a bootlicker. As I'd figured." Phaedra mused.
"Tch…you'll pay for that…" He said quietly, clenching his fists.
Cadmus looked up, "Someone's coming…"
"Lafayette again?" Catalina guessed, "Why would he keep turning back to fight us when his goal is up ahead?"
"It ain't Lafayette." Sirius said, "I fell heartbeats…and I hear breathing…" He said, then he looked at Angelique, "Aside from hers."
"It's the Society of Leopold." Cadmus said, as Gavin and a formation of soldiers appeared in front of them.
"Shit…what the hell are they doing down here?"
Cadmus pulled his axe out, clenching a grip around it, "I bet they have food."
"Food indeed." Phaedra grinned.
"Ew…" Sirius muttered, "Whatever…let's get this over with…"
"Kindred." Arthur held his hands out, braver than the other soldiers in terms of stepping out and conversing with the enemy, "And ghouls…why don't you surrender now, and save us a bit of trouble?"
"To be honest, and I think I can speak for all of us," Phaedra looked back over her shoulder, then turned back to Arthur. She looked absolutely exhausted, blood stains all over her, most of which wasn't hers. Her dress was tattered and torn, her hair frizzy, her makeup smudged. But she still smiled, she still presented herself as always, "When I say I have no idea why you'd want us to stop. Vampires hunting other vampires. It doesn't seem like a logical setting in which you should intervene…"
"I am not here for idle chat. I am here to dispose of the lot of you." Arthur said, "Though…by the looks of things…it seems as though your travels through the tunnels have already taken its toll on you all."
Cadmus frowned and ran at him with his axe out, going to slash him. Arthur drew the one thin blade he had, immediately combusting into flames. He outmaneuvered Cadmus and slashed through him.
Cadmus grunted and fell back, "His body can light on fire?!"
At the sight of fire, Poe started to slowly back away from the battlefield. Perhaps cowering was a better verb, as he completely froze up.
"If that is the best you have, this shall be quite quick." Arthur said.
A shining bright light lit up behind the Hunters. When they turned to look at it, the entire hallway was basked in sudden warmth. It brought a strange feeling as the blinding light faded away to a vision of what appeared to be God, looking down almost scornfully.
"The hell…?" Cadmus's eyes shrunk.
Catalina sighed, looking over at Cissy momentarily, before looking ahead.
"They're distracted." Sirius grinned, seeing all the hunters bow before their deity.
"The Lord himself has finally arrived, ready to take his divine vengeance against the servants of Satan!" Gavin said, as he and his men began to bow.
"Fools!" Arthur snapped. He held a hand out, spraying fire everywhere. It didn't hit anyone, but it more or less sealed an escape route.
Poe trembled at seeing all the fire around. He drew his sword and sped at Arthur, dueling with him. But it wasn't long before Arthur's body was coated in shadow, in addition to fire.
"Obtenebration?" Cadmus asked, "How many Disciplines does this guy have?"
Catalina briefly powered up Auspex, "Three. He's not a diablerist…"
"But a Kindred working with the Society of Leopold…that's a thing?" Sirius asked.
"Swear to god…don't get any funny ideas…" Cadmus muttered.
The vision gave one last scowl before he 'turned away' and disappeared, dark smoke covering the ground by their feet.
But this vision wasn't frowning at the Kindred. He seemed to be upset with the Hunters.
"My Lord…where are you going?" The hunters began to chase after where 'God' went.
"No matter…I'll have to continue the fight by myself." Arthur frowned.
Cadmus laughed, "Yeah, right! You can't take all nine of us by yourself! You can't even get past Poe!"
Arthur narrowed his eyes, "I wouldn't doubt my capabilities." He said, "I am immune to conventional damage…not only that, but I also hold the Kindred's very weakness in my hands." He said, grinning at the fear in Poe's eyes, "Something the matter? A warrior doesn't flee from battle…"
"Why are you with them?" Phaedra asked, "You cannot trust them…"
Arthur narrowed his eyes at her. Fed up with the duel, he eventually grabbed Poe with his burning body, singing him. Poe fell back with a scream. He then looked for a new opponent. He held a hand out, blasting fire at the two Salubri women at point-blank range.
"Crap…" Cadmus said, he leapt in the way, holding his arms out. The bright green glow of Fortitude came to his aid. But it was obvious that it only partially shielded the attack, giving how much Cadmus was grunting as he fell to his knees.
Arthur chuckled, "I had no idea you had a penchant for being burned alive."
"This attack is foolish and a waste of time. The world as we know it will end if you don't allow us passageway." Raven said.
"What a pointless bluff to try to avoid battle." Arthur said, "Are you a platoon of cowards? Where's the honor? The bravery? Are you too weary for that?"
Cadmus thudded to the ground, covered in mild burns, "She's telling the truth…" He said, "You're Kindred, you know what Antediluvians are and stuff, right? Well…there's one down here…we swear."
"I should believe that, because?"
"Why would I lie?!" He snapped, "Look at all this crap down here! Is it really that hard to believe that it's related to an Antediluvian?!"
"Are you alright…?" Rainy looked at Cadmus.
Cadmus smiled and nodded, "You saved me from my flesh-craft wounds when I fought Lafayette for the first time…I…wanted to pay you back…"
Sirius frowned, "If he ain't gonna listen to reason…" He morphed into a giant snake, taking Poe's place in battle.
"A Follower of Set." Arthur smiled, "Such an amusing development."
"The Sabbat is behind all of this. You could help us, you know." Phaedra said, "The time for war between sects is long gone."
"I don't help vampires." Arthur growled.
"Okay…but you are one…" Cadmus said, getting up, "Look…I know how you feel…even when I was Embraced, I hated being a vampire—"
"Silence." He blasted fire at Cadmus, but this time he was able to avoid it. Arthur didn't have time to do much else, provided he had to avoid Sirius's venomous bites.
"We don't have time to be screwing around with him…" Angelique muttered, "Someone just knock this clown out so we can move on! Our food just ran away, there's no point!"
Phaedra seemed frustrated. Not because she lost the potential meals, but because she just didn't understand why Arthur was fighting them. She also wasn't so sure Sirius would be able to incapacitate him with as much ease as Angelique had anticipated.
Arthur chuckled, "I'm most likely older than all of you. A simple Dominate won't end the battle."
"We'll just have to outnumber him then." Cadmus said.
"But his Obtenebration is too strong." Catalina said, "He won't be hurt by anything we attack him with…" When Cadmus ran in to attack him anyway with Sirius, she smacked her forehead.
Arthur grinned, "These frontal assaults are getting rather pesky." He waved a hand, in addition to the fire razing the battlefield, shadowy tentacles joined them, immobilizing or grabbing at least a good chunk of them.
Cadmus tripped and fell over as a tentacle grabbed him, "Damn it…not this…this brings me back to when I fought Caesar…"
Rainy swallowed hard, "The fire's getting out of control…"
Sirius hissed, trying to bite Arthur at least once so at least poison could set in, but with his huge size, he was at a speed disadvantage.
Phaedra wafted her hands about, summoning a specter to chase after Arthur, which was especially difficult to avoid in the close quarters. Arthur frowned, a defensive stance wouldn't do against a giant snake and a specter, "I'll see you all in hell!" He sprayed a large volley of fire, before retreating.
Poe looked like he was going to take the brunt of it, giving how the tentacles were holding him. His eyes shrunk as the fire got closer and closer towards him.
Cadmus leapt in the way again, expecting Fortitude to protect him. He grunted as the flames consumed him, until he let out a piercing scream. The only upside to this ordeal was that Arthur had retreated.
Sirius turned back to normal, "I'll get rid of all the fire." He said, "It's a waste of blood…but…we got enough problems with the monsters and fungus…"
"Please…" Phaedra edged back out of the way, desperately looking out for Poe.
Sirius took a deep breath, blowing a sandstorm to quell the flames etching closer and closer to them. When Cadmus collapsed on the ground, Sirius turned to him, "You freaking idiot…what the hell were you thinking?"
Cadmus sat up, feeling the many burn marks all over him, "I was keeping them safe."
"So what? No matter how great you think your Fortitude is…Kindred can't take a lot of fire…"
"I know what I can and can't handle." He stood up, wobbling briefly before he kept walking, "I was LaCroix's slave for twenty years…all he had me do was one senseless battle after another. I know my capabilities."
"Suit yourself."
The cave suddenly went pitch black. "Sorry guys. She told me to." Cissy said.
Before anyone had the chance to use Auspex, Cadmus and Poe felt gentle hands on their arms, brushing up and down, and all their wounds disappeared. By the time the darkness cleared, Cadmus and Poe were healed.
Cadmus looked surprised, "I guess it's impossible to be even with you guys…isn't it?" He looked at Rainy and Raven.
Rainy smiled, "It may some time for the secondary pain to go away…but soon you'll be fine."
"Yeah, it's called aggravated damage…" Sirius looked at Cadmus with disdain, "Numb-nuts." Cadmus simply rolled his eyes and kept walking.
"I'm just surprised Sirius actually helped us with something without there being some twisted back-stab in the end…" Catalina said.
"Fuck you too." Sirius growled.
"I think it goes without saying soon we'll all need sustenance." Raven said. "In one form or another."
"I call first dibs on Angelique." Sirius said.
"Shut up!" Cadmus snapped.
"What?" He shrugged, "She did offer her services to us…"
"So what? You'd probably drain her…I don't trust you at all…"
Angelique looked on edge. "What the hell are you getting so jealous about…Vanderbilt?" Sirius smirked, "We'll all share her…"
Cadmus clenched his fists, seething with rage. But he couldn't push Sirius's buttons too much, or else. Or maybe it was his feelings for Angelique that was getting him so flustered.
"Only if she's eaten first." Phaedra said, "She's likely on the brink of starvation. It's almost been three days."
"Don't look at me." Cadmus said, "I was gonna kill all those soldiers and take their rations…until discount-Phaedra decided to throw God at them."
Sirius snickered, then burst out laughing, "Discount-Phaedra!"
Cissy rolled her eyes, "C'mon, it was much easier to fight them all when it was one on eight."
"But now we don't have food." Cadmus said, "Honestly, is that how the Anarchs solve all their problems? Figures they wouldn't fight straightforwardly."
"Uh…if I recall…I nearly killed you…with my 'Anarch tactics'." Catalina said.
"Can't wait to pay you back for that."
"Let's worry about that later." Phaedra said, "If we keep pushing forward, maybe we'll bump into them again."
"A flimsy hope…but…now, it's all we got…" Sirius said.
A/N: We've been waiting to crack that discount-Phaedra joke for ages now…Thanks for reading!