A/N: Here's chapter thirty-two! More Chester? Sure! I need help. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bloodlines, but I do own my OCs. And, yeah. Chester. Again.
Having a naked girl strung across his lap, chugging bottles of beer would have made any man ecstatic, maybe if the girl was anyone but Nix.
She rested her head on the armrest of the couch, her eyes drearily meeting his, like she had never seen him before. Then her blue lips spread into a smile, "Hey."
Chester's eyes flicked down to hers. "Hey."
"Did'ja wanna go out somewhere…?"
"No." He looked back at the book he was reading in his other hand, the one that Nix wasn't playing with. It felt like sticking his hand in a tiger exhibit.
"No?" She asked, "Why not…?" She whined like a child.
"I'm not hungry."
Her eyes grew bitter, she brought his hand to her mouth and bit down, hard.
He yelped in pain, pulling his arm away and dropping the book. He looked at his hand, worry growing in his eyes as a few drops of blood pooled up.
"I wanna go out!" She smashed a fist in his lap, in a very inopportune spot. A silent scream flew from his mouth as he doubled over in agony. In her defense, she probably didn't mean to hurt him as much as she did, but at the same time, she didn't care.
She writhed out from under him and stood up, "You never take me anywhere anymore, what, am I not good enough for you?"
He caught his breath and sat up, a hand over his crotch, "No. I don't like being seen with you."
She scowled and groped for something. A beer bottle came up. He brought an arm over his head as he was clobbered.
When he left his apartment that night, Nix was screaming and throwing things out the door. He pulled his coat on tighter and got into his car, skidding out in the dusty parking lot and off into the streets.
In his reflection, his temple was oozing red. His hand was swollen, but the bleeding had stopped. He popped the center console open and grabbed some tissues, wiping the side of his face clean, then his hand. The blood left from Lumi's most recent gift was help enough to heal them over quickly.
He flipped his phone open to call the only person he wanted to see for the rest of the night when something flashed in front of the road. His reaction time was usually very good, but something about the timing was just off tonight, and he felt the car lurch.
The car still came to a halt, and he popped the door open. He never cared much for people or animals, but he did care for fines. He stepped towards the twitchy thing and was suddenly haunted by something he thought he'd put behind him years ago.
The air was cold and loud, the feeling under his shoes was uneven and jagged, not like those smooth floors. The sky was dim, his eyes felt weary just trying to see in the dark. Was this what it was like to be outside? And then he heard the snarl.
The mangled fox's spine was definitely shot, the upper portion still moving, the mouth open and panting, the eyes wide in shock. When his shadow fell over it, it started whining and trying to crawl away, only its upper legs able to move.
He stood there, his hands in his pockets, looking down at the miserable creature. He reached in his back pocket for a plain cigarette and lit it, watching the stream of smoke drift into the clouds. The bitter taste and lack of results reminded him why he hated them.
He got back into his car and drove off, leaving the thing there. It'd die in a few hours. There was just nothing he hated more than foxes.
It took him a few moments to regain his train of thought, remember where he was driving, before he picked up his phone and called her. As soon as he heard the line pick up, he asked, "Where do you live?"
"Ooh…" He heard Lizolette's deep voice on the other end, followed by a few slurping sounds, "Coming to give me a package?"
A smile crept onto his face as he snickered, "That's right."
"Cool. It's not that far away…"
It was a medium sized venue, very old. Once Chester pulled up the long driveway, he let himself in. He blinked a few times, almost mistaken the place for a library. Bookshelves lined the walls and in some cases were dotted around the room like an otherworldly maze. It was to the point where Chester couldn't see anything other than bookshelves. Most of the books looked old and dusty too, the house and the books in it looked at least a century old.
"Chester?" Lizolette called from another room, luckily she heard the front door creak open or else he'd be lost in the maze for a while, "Just follow the sound of my voice."
He was led eventually to a lounge, with, of course, more bookshelves lining the walls, and few pieces of dark, luxuriant furniture. Lizolette herself was laying on the couch reading a book, she smiled and set it on a small coffee table when he walked in, "Hi."
It finally all seemed to settle in, "You need to let me read all of these. Or, at least, the nonfiction. I don't read fiction."
She gave a small frown, "Sorry, it's all fiction."
A tiny pause, "All of it?"
She gave a small nod, "Sorry, cutie pie."
"That's alright. Maybe there's still something…worthwhile, somewhere." He took his coat off and looked for somewhere to hang it.
"I…uh…don't think it would be your cup of tea…"
"Oh? What makes you say that?" He settled for gently draping it over the back of the couch.
"I don't know…if you're…not into fiction…you're just not gonna like it."
"I've just never found it…helpful."
She smiled, "Of course not. So how's that girlfriend of yours?"
"Nix? She's fine." He sat back down, "I'm surprised you're asking. I didn't think you would want to think about her."
"I know she puts you through hell and back, that's all." She crossed her arms, "I wanted to make sure you're okay."
"Yes, I'm alright." A slight pause, "And how are you? You live here alone?"
"That's right." She said, "It isn't as lonely as it looks."
"I imagine it isn't." He said, "Where'd you get all the money? Gambling?"
"Eh, fifty percent."
"And the other half?"
She gave a shrug, closing her eyes and resting her head on the nearby cushion, as she laid back a bit further, "…just…things…" She said, "Things that aren't…sane…per se…"
He drummed his fingers on his leg, sitting back and looking into the distance. He'd snare her one way or another. "My regnant's a Malkavian as well, if that's what you're suggesting."
"Hmm?" Her eyes popped open, "Regnant?"
"I'd be dead if she didn't give me blood every time Nix almost killed me."
"You're in the Jyhad?" She rocketed up to a sitting position, "You one of Gideon's cronies?" She asked, "Wait…you said 'she'…never mind…"
"I take it he's your regnant then. I've met him before."
"Gideon? Ugh, no…" She hugged her knees close, like some paranoid girl at a slumber party. She played with her braid, "He's just been…forward…with wanting to get information out of me. Bugs me all the damn time…" She sighed, "Maybe I should just go play somewhere else. If I have to hear about his precious 'Sword' one more time…"
"I…I'm afraid you lost me."
"Sword? Sabbat? You don't know what that is?"
"I don't. My regnant…does her best to keep me out of it. She keeps herself out of it."
She started laughing, "Your master doesn't tell you what the vampire sects are?" She laughed for a bit, "Aw…what…does she not trust you or something?"
"I'm not sure. Possibly. I don't think she knows very much about them herself. She's a bit of a recluse."
"Oh, so I guess I wouldn't know her."
"No. Sorry."
"What's her name?"
He contemplated not telling her, but decided to anyway, "She goes by Lumi."
"Lumi? Don't hear that name too often." She said, playing with her braid again, "So what's she like…being a Malkavian and all, it must be interesting…"
"I'm…not entirely sure what you mean. I've never met another Kindred of a different clan, at least, none that I'm aware of."
"I mean you've met Gideon…and he's a Malkavian too."
"Yes, he was possibly the only other Kindred I've met."
"You've only met Malkavians?" Her eyes widened, "Jeez…you must think all Kindred are insane…"
He chuckled softly, "It's possible."
"Maybe I shouldn't tell you anything…I wouldn't want your master after me…"
"I'm bound to learn it eventually." He seemed intrigued.
"Well…for starters, there are thirteen clans of vampires…and tons of more offshoots." She said, "The fact that you only met one type is interesting, you have so many more kinds out there to meet."
He gazed up at the ceiling, "How did they come to be? These different branches? Some sort of natural selection?"
"Ever read the Bible?"
"Yes." Then he quickly added, "As supplementary material. Not…because I put…any sort of stock in it."
She put a hand over her mouth and giggled, "Well, Caine was the first vampire. When he killed Able, he was cursed by God."
He already seemed stumped, "Now, this is supposing…the tales of the Bible are correct. Because logic stands against the existence of these people altogether."
"Well, here we are." She shrugged, "Caine sired childer and his grand childer became the Antediluvians. Basically meaning the thirteen clan founders."
He crossed his legs, then reached into his jacket for a bottle of pills, swallowing a few before he stared at the ceiling, "So there's yet to be a scientific explanation behind their existence."
"I mean…the existence of vampires…could be considered an explanation." She said, "Unless you think they came about some other way."
"I do. I think it's possible, at least. It'll give me something to look into. I've been bored lately."
"Well…those books I was talking about?" She asked, "It's actually scraps of Cainite lore that I've been searching for." She said, "Lots of Kindred would kill me if they knew I had this much information. That's how I know so much for simply being a ghoul."
"…all of them?"
"Yes." She nodded, "They're all little pieces or documents I've found doing my jobs. It helps me learn." She said, "So, if you ever have questions about the Jyhad, I'll likely have the answer."
He turned his gaze towards her. It was like she was a missing puzzle piece he had been looking for. But he'd already jammed another piece that didn't fit in her place. All that escaped was a distant, "…thanks."
"Hmm? You okay?"
"Yeah." He turned away, "Sorry. Just…getting a little high." It was a half lie. Why was she making him think so much? He rarely pondered his situation, or the likelihood of certain things, or even the existence of things. Why was that changing?
"Oh, yeah, right." She laughed and laughed, "What did you take, anyway?"
He shook his head, "Didn't check the label."
"You should be careful. Vampire blood helps but it can't take that shit back to back."
"I've always had a high tolerance to it. Unless it's morphine." He snickered. "But I don't carry that."
"Whatever gets rid of the pain your girlfriend gave you, I guess."
He thought about that for a moment, "No. I've always used drugs…I can't…really think of a time where I wasn't doped up on something."
"Really? That messed up, huh? I feel like I'd be on a lot of drugs too…but…then my work would suffer. I'd be killed…blah, blah, blah…"
"Work, huh? Where do you work?"
"Well…I'm sort of a spy…hunter…hybrid. I'm just doing some snooping around…for now. Until I'm needed for something else."
"Hmm. My regnant does similar work. Bounty hunter."
"Is that right?" She asked, "Who does she hunt for?"
"Whoever's wanted that night. General criminals. I probably shouldn't tell you this but…" He couldn't help but smile, "I take the bodies, disassemble them, sell them to black market. Organs sell fast, usually. Leftovers go to Gideon."
"Gideon…why?" She wondered, "Oh…I know why…"
"I never really bothered to ask why he wanted it. He pays well."
"It's because he's in the Sabbat. So he most likely works for a Tzimisce."
"…Tzimisce?"
She nodded, "They're the leaders of the Sabbat." She said, "They have the power to control flesh and bend it to whatever shape they want. All parts of human anatomy are just, sculpting materials for them. If I were a Tzimisce and I wanted to twist your arms out of your sockets or make your ribs puncture your heart, I could raise a hand, and it would be done."
"Interesting…" He mused, honestly unable to believe that a vampire would be able to have such powers.
"That's why they want the flesh so badly." She said, "Because the Tzimisce can reanimate flesh into these giant creatures at will. You're practically giving them soldiers."
"Well…" He seemed unsure about it now, "Lumi would be upset if I stopped."
"I'm not telling you to stop." She said, "I'm just stating the intentions behind the sale."
"I understand, it's good to know. Thank you."
"You're welcome." She smiled, "I honestly wish I could help you more."
"Help me? I don't need help."
"You need help with Nix at least." She said, "How can you go on and on about her nearly killing you and then go and say that you don't need help?"
"Because it's under control." He said, "Besides, you are helping me. I get to spend the night with you and…that's a lot better than spending the night with Nix."
"Where does she think you are?"
"I don't know. I didn't tell her. She was drunk when I left, she hardly cares."
"I suppose that's a relief." She said.
He closed his eyes and just laid back on the couch, enjoying the sound of a clock in the distance somewhere, ticking away. He reached over and grabbed her hand without looking, just holding onto it.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
He nodded his head, sitting for another moment or two before his eyes peeled open. He glimpsed over her, "I suppose you've been waiting for the delivery I promised."
"I mean, if you feel like this…then you can just rest…I don't want to force anything."
"Force? Of course not. I've been waiting for this."
She looked excited, "Well, it's about damn time." She unbuttoned her shorts, "Seeing a half-naked girl laying on a couch and your first instinct isn't to fuck her?"
He chuckled modestly, "Well, I do have some decency. I'm not an animal."
"Oh, I wouldn't mind." She took her top off.
"I should have known." He smiled, watching the show unfold. As soon as the top was off, he leaned in and latched one hand around her waist. The other pushed against the couch as he started making out with her.
She sighed, wrapping her arms around him and returning his kisses. His slender fingers slid down past the seam of her shorts, slowly wedging them away from her body and down her legs.
She snickered, "You know what you want, don't you." She slid her panties off next, invading his mouth a bit further.
He sighed into her mouth, taking his glasses off, as he didn't even realize he was wearing them until they bumped against her face. He scooped her up, or at least, enough so she could slide into his lap. She kept kissing him, futzing around with his shirt and unbuttoning his pants whenever she had time to.
He broke the kiss, but kept his forehead pressed against hers, his hands smoothing over her back, "You don't have to worry about me." He said softly.
"Hmm?"
"I don't want to be your priority." He left a wet kiss at her neck.
"But…don't you need…like…release?"
He smirked, "Let's just worry about you first."
She smiled back, "Does it get you off…seeing me come?"
"Of course. I don't know who wouldn't get off seeing that."
She shuddered, "I'm soaked just thinking about it…"
"Thinking about…what?" He asked, his hand slowly creeping down her stomach, lower and lower until it slipped towards her sex, "…this?"
Her face turned bright red, "A-Ah…" She collapsed in his lap, her hips focused on nothing but shaking erratically in some attempt to start a rhythm.
He snickered, pushing her back onto the couch so she was facing up. He licked his fingers clean, despite the fact that not much got on them, then grabbed onto her thighs. He moved in quickly, before she could fully process what he was doing, licking at her sex before he dove in with his tongue.
She groaned towards the ceiling, doing what she could to not get his face too wet as a climax quickly approached. Her hips moved at a much more rapid pace now. He chuckled again, smoothing his hands over her rear and grabbing on relentlessly as he pulled himself in deeper, moaning into her depths to stir some sort of vibration.
She grunted, letting out a small chorus of screams as she held onto his head and felt another climax consume her from the inside out.
He pulled himself away, wiping a hand over his face. He smoothed his hands over her knees and grinned, "I'm gonna have to take one hell of a shower…"
"S-S-Sorry…"
"Don't be." He gently took her hand and pulled her up into a sitting position, at least so she could kiss him and taste herself in his mouth.
"Alright…let me…" She panted, "Let me show you the bedroom."
"The bedroom? I…I can't stay the night."
"Oh…" She said slowly, "Right…I knew that…I…I guess this is where we part ways, then."
He smirked, "You weren't going to…what was it, 'massage one out of me'?"
"Are you going to let me take your pants off, or not?"
He took his belt off, slowly placing it over his jacket. A brief memory of Nix whacking him with the buckle and cracking his temple flashed over him before he unfastened his pants and slid down the zipper, "I only ask one thing."
"Hmm?"
"I…don't like blowjobs."
"Oh, you don't?" She asked, then she smiled, "You could just plow me then."
His eyes grazed over her. "I can't. I don't have any condoms on me."
"You're right." She crouched down, "Hand job it is." She pulled his pants and underwear away, rubbing her hands up and down his already aroused shaft.
"Sh-Shit…" He hissed, not at all prepared for the advancement. He knew she had experience, and knew he wasn't the most impressive guy a girl like her could easily hook up with.
He wasn't nervous, but he was a little worried she would lose interest after this.
His hands grabbed for something and found a wall, leaning against it when his legs failed him. "I got you." She put on hand on one of his hips, and one hand was still rubbing at his shaft. She sighed and increased her grip to promote its growth.
He bit his lip and shut his eyes, his heart pounding in his ears, faster and faster the faster she went and tighter she squeezed. His breathing grew shallower as she experimented on him, testing his waters.
"Come on…out you come…" She coaxed quietly, "Just…picture me covered in your substance." She smirked, "Think it would look good on my breasts?"
That was really all it took.
At first, he almost felt bad about it, like she would be upset. But then he knew how much she'd love it if he came without warning. So he did.
He grit his teeth to try and mute his grunt as much as possible, keeping his eyes shut until the fire that danced all over his body finally died down. He peered them open and looked at her, and couldn't help but laugh at what he saw, "Christ, I'd apologize, but I think you like it…"
She licked her lips off, a faint pink blush on her face, "There you go…feel better?"
"Of course." He took her hand to help her up, admiring his 'handiwork'. "Did you want to shower together?"
"I would love to."
Goddard crossed his arms, "Try again."
She stepped back, rolling one of her ankles before she dashed forward with Celerity to swing her katana down on a training dummy.
"Hmm…" He was watching her like a hawk. What for, seemed to be a mystery, "Perhaps one more time, and then we'll head inside."
She nodded, readjusting her footing as she dashed forward to slash the dummy one last time.
When the wooden dummy finally exploded into shards, Goddard smiled, "Impressive." He said, "Why don't I fetch you some blood once we're inside?"
"Oh, I would love that…" She sheathed her blade and followed after him closely.
She took a seat at his table after coming in from his backyard. Goddard was quick to supply her with a tall glass of blood. "I've said this before, but you show a lot of promise, for being so young."
"Your compliments are to die for." She said with a smirk, taking a sip from her glass, "Tell me more."
"Your speed nearly matches my own. We just need to work on your power, though it is formidable in its own right."
"Power, hmm…?" She hummed, "Alright. More muscle, then?"
"I was referring to your Disciplines." He said, "We'll work on your Presence…and eventually Auspex. After all, you'll need a sharp eye, to aim, as well."
"Yes, that was one of the last Disciplines I focused on."
"It is the ultimate perfection and unity of the three Disciplines that make a Toreador so effective." He said, "We will hone your skills together with time."
She finished the rest of her glass, drinking slowly, "I can't wait." Her voice came out smooth and deep, her smile sinful for, whatever reason.
"Although if you rather wouldn't, I think you would be an apt political figure as well, in the coming decades."
"Ooh, I don't know." She tapped her nails on the countertop, "I'd like to do both."
"You certainly have charisma, and the looks, and personality."
She almost grinned, leaning her entire upper body on the counter, "Tell me more about those three things."
"I think, given enough time, you could become an influential figure in the Camarilla. Especially given how cool and intellectual you are. Not to mention your looks. It's hard to look away from your dazzling, violet eyes."
"Is it…?" She asked, "Then, I challenge you." She sat back and crossed her legs, "And if I lose this deal, hmm…what should I owe you? A month's worth of blood?"
"A challenge?" He asked, "What are the terms?"
She stood up and stretched, "You look away from my eyes, and you lose. If you retain eye contact, you win. I think it's pretty simple." She looked over at him with a mischievous smile.
He looked perplexed, yet interested, "Kindred have no need for blinking, unless I'm mistaken. This challenge could go on forever."
"Your confidence is invigorating." She said, picking up her glass and bringing it to the sink as she washed it, "Of course, in moments like this, where I'm not watching, you could get away with anything. Because I can't see your eyes."
"I wouldn't cheat you, dear."
"It's not cheating. It's impossible to meet my eyes when they're not there." She said, turning back around and drying her hands off. "Hmm. It's a little warm in here." She started unbuttoning her top.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, "I always thought that Kindred were less susceptible to temperature than our living counterparts."
"Maybe it's all in my head then." She said, sitting down and blowing the hair away from her forehead, meeting his gaze. Her chest was more than visible, practically bursting from her shirt. But he didn't crack. She moved on to the next level. "I don't think you ever showed me your bedroom."
"They're rather simple quarters. Did you really want to see it?"
"I would like that."
He stood up and led her in, keeping his eye on her, "See? Rather simple. This whole cottage is almost superfluous…seeing that the Prince has a room for me in the red tower."
"Mmm, I think it's wonderful." She took her heels off and briefly rubbed her feet, then sat on the edge of the bed.
"I appreciate the sentiment." He smiled and crossed his arms, his eyes laser-focused on hers.
Her lips twitched as she smirked, unbuttoning all of her shirt. "It's warm in here, too."
"Yes, very 'hot'…I assume."
"Mmm hmm. Don't you think so? Is it just me?" She shed the thin layer of fabric.
"Mmm…how long did you intend on continuing this game?"
"Until you lose."
He gave a rich chuckle, "I have no intention of that."
"I'm offended." She decided, standing up and taking her skirt off.
"I suppose it's rather foolish. Choosing a game over your pride."
"What do you mean?"
"I've insulted your pride by choosing to look at your eyes when my goal was to instead bolster it."
"You did. You bolstered it. Because I know I chose the right man." She smirked, "You're too good to me."
"That's simply because I'm enamored with you."
She chuckled softly, then stepped forward to kiss his cheek, one hand holding his, the other slipping through his dark locks.
He smiled and gave her a big squeeze, "I lose…but…I want to spoil you with free blood anyway."
She giggled, "You spoil me enough as it is…"
"That's alright." He held her closer.
She giggled, kissing his temple, "I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Oh, you'd be alright. You're very mature and thoughtful, you would make a comeback with or without my help."
"No, I don't think so. I think you pin me down so I don't…blow away in the wind."
He chuckled at her artistic comment, kissing her on the lips, "I won't let you go."
His screams echoed in the underground as he fell. Until Cadmus finally hit the ground, staring at the hole he just fell through. He felt the ground, still gross and fleshy. "Damn it…" He said to himself, "What the hell am I supposed to do now?"
He heard a loud grunt as someone else fell down the same area he did. He looked up, his eyes getting wider and wider as a familiar red rump headed his way. He screamed and tried to scurry out of the way, but it was too late. He was momentarily crushed.
When Phaedra finally decided to move, Cadmus felt his head, "Jesus…I think my skull is broken…"
A third figure fell through next. And the one, bloodthirsty eye pretty much gave away who it was. With new founded rage, he flew at Phaedra with a knife drawn.
Cadmus dove in for her aid. Ignoring his minor headache, he pulled his axe out and their weapons met. Cadmus narrowed his eyes, while Sirius's smirk couldn't be any bigger.
"Boys." Phaedra said, getting to her feet, "Enough. We are all on the Camarilla. Let's save this for after the Antediluvian is vanquished."
Sirius chuckled, "Outta the way, Vanderbilt. Unless you want Strauss to know everything, you'll let me finish things with the Nagaraja…"
Cadmus narrowed his eyes. The trio fell into a pit, more or less. The size of maybe a small classroom. Meaning that any conflict was most likely going to be decided quickly. He pressed his axe against Sirius's knife with a growl. Then he finally surrendered and moved away to the sidelines. Sirius twirled his knife around, sprinting at Phaedra for a frontal assault.
Phaedra was honestly surprised Cadmus submitted. So surprised, she was stabbed right in the chest. She grunted and fell back to the floor, getting stabbed again. Her eyes lit up with fury as she reached forward to grab Sirius with a chokehold and pin him to the floor.
Sirius struggled, rearing back the knife to stab her again, "This is it!" He screamed, "This is the end, filthy Nagaraja! This is gonna be where you'll be buried, and there won't be a witness to even see it!"
"Hello?" Cadmus snapped. Then he sighed, he knew what Sirius really meant. Even if he could fight back, even if he wasn't bound to the blackmail, there was no way he could defeat Sirius in a straight fight.
One of her hands fought for the knife, the other sought out his eye with her claws. His eye boiled with an uncontrollable amount of anger. Like every passing second of Phaedra's existence was a grandiose offense to him. Bones snapped in his body as he rearranged himself into his snake form on top of her. At point blank range. He bit into her midsection with his giant jaws. She cried out, then held a hand out to put him to sleep.
But, nothing happened.
She jammed a thumb in his eye and writhed out from under him before any poison could sink in. Her chest heaved, her dress now soaked in blood.
Sirius regrouped on the other side of the pit, blinking his only other eye a few times as he hissed and watched her. He dove at her again, his jaws out wide.
She hardly swerved out of the way. As soon as she gained the distance, she tried to summon a specter, but just didn't have the energy. She fell to one knee and held her aching stomach.
He wrapped himself around her with his long, scaly body. It could have been the size of the room, but it made Sirius look even larger. He bit her head, his teeth digging into her flesh worse than any knife Sirius had on his person.
She screamed, a sound that was actually jarring to Cadmus. Maybe because it was high pitched and grating, or just maybe because he'd never heard her really scream before. She caught his eye just once, to try and use Dominate again.
Sirius's eye got tired. He slowly shifted into his regular form and fell asleep on the ground in front of them.
Cadmus was backed to the wall, shivering. He looked at his hands, like he was some kind of monster, before he more or less slid down to a sitting position.
Phaedra hardly looked any better. She looked around at the room they were stuck in. "Very well…" She scooped Sirius up and slung him over her shoulder, "We need to find a way out."
"There is no way out…" Cadmus shuddered, "We're going to die down here…"
She looked up, "Could we climb?"
He looked up as well, "Maybe you could…"
"We could use my scarf as a rope, then. To pull you up."
"I doubt it'll reach."
"It's worth a try."
"So what?" He asked, crossing his legs, "We don't even know what happened to the others. It's just the three of us and when Sirius wakes up he'll just try to kill you again."
"Then it will be your turn."
"Don't you get it? He wants to kill you." He said, "Not me…you. Sure, he doesn't like me, but…he's after you…"
"Then you'll be the one who fights him. I don't care what sort of blackmail he has set up. I'll argue it with the Prince, I don't give a damn."
He scowled, "You don't understand. It'll get me killed." He said, "Completely nonnegotiable."
Her eyes narrowed, "What? How is that possible?"
"Because it's something the Prince really wouldn't like." He said, "Honestly, it's a miracle enough you got Poe and Gottfried in this organization, because that entire trial was down to the wire as it was." He said, "Don't get me wrong, I'll fight your battles for you, if you want. But I'd die. This would be my last mission."
"No. The Prince would never force you to leave. What is it?"
He closed his eyes, "It's too dangerous to let other Kindred know. You saw how giddy Sirius was when he figured it out. I'm lucky I didn't get as screwed over as Derek when Dragomir was framed."
Her eyes narrowed, "Then why did you do it?"
"Because in the end, all I really care about is my family."
Her eyes narrowed, "Then I'm sure he'll be willing to make an exception."
"He won't."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Enough." His eyes snapped open, "I'll fight him when he wakes up." He said, "…Camarilla doesn't need me anymore anyway…"
"Ugh." She rolled her eyes, "Che drammatico…"
He looked annoyed, "There is a third option, you know."
"Kill him? No."
"I was gonna say tie his arms up and leave him relatively incapacitated." He said, "You did compare your scarf to a rope earlier."
"No. We don't need a reason for him to hate us any more than he does."
"And yet killing me is just a-okay?"
"I never said I wanted you dead."
"But I will die, if I fight Sirius." He said, "If I do anything he doesn't approve of, I'll die." He said, "And you'll die if you fight him again. So we're screwed."
"Then let's stop thinking about it and get out of here."
He seethed, "There isn't a way to get out of here."
She ignored him, then gently laid Sirius down on the ground and started trying to crawl the walls, really struggling, especially with her heels.
Cadmus sighed, "Phaedra…"
She grit her teeth, "Hold my ass and push me up."
"Yeah, no."
She growled and tried one last feeble attempt to get up to the ceiling. When her footing slipped, she fell and landed on her ankle with a painful snap. She laid there, sprawled out on the ground, closing her eyes. She took off her scarf and handed it his way, "Tie him up…"
His eyes opened, he picked the scarf up and moved Sirius to a sitting position, tying his arms up. Then he walked back to where he was sitting, freezing mid-step, "Actually…if he uses Serpentis…he could probably break out of that…"
"It's the best we can do…" She said softly, "I'm starving…"
"Eat Sirius."
She chuckled softly, "I can't."
He sat back against the fleshy wall, closing his eyes, "Don't you guys like…rot or something…or wilt…after a while…?"
"Yes…we wither away…literally…I have another few days before that starts but…it's still uncomfortable…"
"We might be in here for another few days." He said. "I…still don't get why you don't just kill Sirius. We could both cover it up when we get back, and no one would notice the difference. It'd be our little secret."
"If he's annoying, we will…otherwise…I don't know…I'm not the biggest fan of violence…"
"You killed that Tremere bitch."
"Yes. For work."
"And for Poe."
"Yes. Well, at the time, I didn't know those two were connected."
"But he's hunted you like a dog. Even now, when the fate of the world is at stake." He said, "Don't you want revenge?"
"Yes. I would love it. But I can recognize his importance in the world. It's like spiders. They can be disturbing but they belong here for a reason."
"I still think knocking him off would be easier."
"I know. It would. But he will be very helpful in slaying the Antediluvian."
"We're not even going to survive long enough to make it to the Antediluvian if he wakes up." He said, "If all three of us are going to survive, then this conflict needs to end tonight."
Her head started aching. She rubbed one of her temples in hopes it would help, "And what do you suggest?"
"That this needs to be solved so we can work together and save the world."
"How do we solve it?"
"I don't know. I think we should kill him, because clearly he'll take his hatred of the Nagaraja to the grave."
"He must live for now…"
"So what do we do when he wakes up?"
"I don't know…" She moaned softly.
His shoulders sunk a bit with her answer. They were silent for a bit after that. At least until Sirius squirmed awake. "Hey…hey…" His eye darted around. His arms tried to jerk free, but they couldn't, "What the fuck is this? What is this nonsense?"
Phaedra was already half asleep. At the sound of the commotion, she stirred, remembering the pain she was in. "Oh…he woke up…"
"Who the hell thought it was a good idea to tie me up?" Sirius growled, "Did you do this?" His head snapped to Cadmus, when Cadmus didn't even open his eyes, his head whipped over to Phaedra, "Nagaraja bitch…I swear to god…hope you enjoyed your little fun…"
"I sure did." She sat up, reaching forward to rub her ankle, which was still tender, "Tell me about her. I want to hear what she's like."
He narrowed his eye, "What?"
"Your wife." She said, staring at the floor, "If we're going to die down here, I at least need to hear something nice. I need a good story."
He chuckled, then laughed briefly, "Don't know what you're talking about, Nagaraja."
"Your wife. I know you have one. I just want to hear about her. I want to hear what you think of her. It warms my heart to hear about that sort of thing."
"Don't know what you mean."
She shook her head, "Never mind." She looked up at the ceiling, "Can you think of any ways for us to get out?"
"Yeah, I'll tell ya after you die of your injuries. Or starvation. Guess it sucks to be a Nagaraja, huh?"
She sighed and laid back on the floor.
He smiled, "If you want, I can give you a quicker death."
"I'll pass for now. Just wait until I frenzy."
He laughed, "If it's anything like your other frenzies, I don't have anything to be worried about!"
"Mmm…" She grunted, trying to doze off.
"If you want, I can make you frenzy, too. Just thought I'd offer."
"No. I'd rather not be forced to think about you like that ever again."
He laughed louder, "I bet you wish you got powers like that…too bad you're stuck with the most crippling weakness known to man, but it serves you right."
"It could be worse…"
"Pfft, I'd say that too if I were in your shitty position."
"I'm sorry for what my people did to you…in all honesty, I look back at my clan and…I really despise them for what they've done and what they do…"
That shut him up, for at least a minute. Now he just looked ahead, still looking bitter as ever.
"There just isn't anything I can do about it. When I was Embraced, she asked me to join her. But…what she wanted…it was just too much for me. She wanted to hunt and kill like an animal…to establish a safe domain and engage in war with the Kuei-Jin…I didn't want that, so I left. I assumed there might be others of my clan that would…share a similar lifestyle to mine but…there aren't…I tried to persuade her to…to settle down, the world isn't nearly as violent as she sees it…but…she's too committed to the Beast…they all are…"
"So you were jerked around by your sire too, huh?" Sirius asked.
"We all were." Cadmus said, making the other two Kindred jump, as they had assumed that he was asleep, "What's your story?" He opened his eyes.
Sirius sighed, fidgeting his bound wrists every so often as he stared at the ground, "You guys know Natalia, right? Kemintiri's childe? My sire?"
"Yes, I remember her." Phaedra said.
"Well, before she ditched me. We worked together, more or less as Setite lovers…I…uh…I was naïve back then…and she took advantage of that." He said, "It was a little after the Second World War." He said, "Before your time, kid." He eyed Cadmus.
"Jeez…" Cadmus rolled his eyes, "I was born in the sixties…you guys aren't that much older than me."
"I mean, it's kinda sad, but…she taught me everything I know. Of course, back then…we were following Kemintiri's will. I was never taught that there were other sects or viewpoints. It was just…find this research for immortality…mummify this…find clues about Kemintiri's last known whereabouts. I think the most important thing that I learned from her was that stealth is just as important as strength."
Cadmus's eyes widened, "So the Anarchs—"
"Oh yeah, that's why Strauss didn't waste a second thought once I applied to his Camarilla. He knew that I had the talent to finish off the Anarchs. Soon the Sabbat will follow. Every battle plan they make up, I immediately tell Strauss, and then they counterattack. I learned that shit from Natalia."
"It makes sense…" Phaedra said, "I learned how to hunt from Pisha. I think the initial Embrace is just such a vulnerable time…we just follow them around like saints…unless you're Vanderbilt…"
"I mean, I already hated vampires from the beginning by the time I was Embraced." Cadmus said.
"You guys wanna know who I practiced those skills on?" Sirius asked, "The Nagaraja."
"So…Natalia threw you at prominent Nagaraja…sort of like a guinea pig."
"More or less…" He shrugged, "Infiltrating their ranks wasn't easy."
"Your teeth weren't pointy, how did you even fool them?"
"Shit like teeth are easy to dress up with, especially with Obfuscate."
"You…you have Mask of a-Thousand Faces?" Cadmus asked, when Sirius nodded, he muttered, "I think I'm going to have a nightmare or two next time I go to sleep."
"You found a group of Nagaraja?" Phaedra asked, "I've…never really met many besides my sire…"
"I met tons of them…" Sirius gave a dry snicker, "Tons and tons of them." He said, "First one I ever met…had to have been like…six-hundred pounds. It was obvious he didn't really like the Kindred life because he couldn't…I don't know…fucking gorge himself. But he adjusted to the Nagaraja clan weakness pretty well. He…he had this network of followers…that I infiltrated my way into. The bad ones were eaten. The good ones were ghouled, and then eaten." He clenched his bound hands into fists, "Waking up every day to that fat bastard…watching him…parade around like it was his damn paradise. I didn't have Natalia with me…she insisted this was to be done on my own, to test me." He seethed, his eye darting around, like this man would pop out of the wall at any moment. "And since they were ghouls…they wanted to be eaten. They wanted attention from their divine master. He was worshipped, even though he was more fucked up than any Kindred ought to be."
"Second Nagaraja I ever met was a chick, thin one too. So…I thought, what the hell, can't be any worse than the first." He said, "I think the idiot fledgling I was flirted with her a lot too, but she was never interested." He sighed, "Luckily it was just the two of us…she just hunted like any other Nagaraja would, I guess."
He sighed again, "Only…she would…collect dead bodies…a lot more than whatever she needed to eat." His tiny eye shrunk and bulged with a rampant anger, "She was a necrophiliac…so…she needed to play with her food before…you know. And me…playing the part of her hunter more often than not…I usually got to watch. They were people…once upon a time…good…honest people…not…goddamn tissues to spray all over…or fucking blow up dolls."
He stood up, "Third one I ever met had this…fucked up underground slave ring. But by then I was done asking questions. I was done wondering. I was done with naivety bullshit, I just wanted to rush in and get the fuck out of there." He gave a deranged look above, laughing, "I fucking killed them all! Anything that had to do with that…stupid, rancid clan…died. I killed every Nagaraja I've ever met. And not in simple ways…no…in my earlier days…I burned them, I wanted them to suffer!"
Phaedra and Cadmus watched on, mildly disturbed at the fact that he was laughing to the sky. The latter's scowl even faded away to a look of shock.
"I came to the conclusion that there's no such thing as a good Nagaraja! That they're all the foulest reaches of society! Even if they act all nice and good at first, they're bound to show their true colors eventually! You never trust a Nagaraja, or else you'll be trapped in their little games forever. As food. As bait. As a plaything."
Phaedra watched on with a jaded look. She averted her eyes to the floor, "When she taught me how to hunt, she'd always smile. And it was hard to get her to smile. She's a pessimist, at the best. But not when she was hunting. Fresh kills to her were like a drug. I never understood. But…she was…somewhat cognizant of good and bad…she never hunted mothers or fathers or children…she never hunted workers or fishermen or farmers…it was the dumb, the weak…but…" She shook her head, "No matter how much convincing she pushed onto me, I could never kill. The only person I ever killed and ate was my husband. But he'd been abusing me for…too many years for my liking. He was worthless…a sack of lard and cash." She turned back up to Sirius, "I'm not sure if that soothes you at all, and I understand if it doesn't."
Sirius pulled at the scarf, "Let me go so we can get out of this shithole."
Cadmus and Phaedra exchanged a glance. The former with a look that suggested that this would be as dangerous as letting a tiger out of its exhibit.
"Go ahead." Phaedra urged, "I'm not in the state to stand yet."
Cadmus rose from his spot, gingerly untying the scarf and handing it back to Phaedra.
Sirius felt his wrists, "Alright, now let's make a plan on getting outta here."
A/N: Interesting how at the end of that scene, Sirius didn't seem all that intent on killing Phaedra…thanks for reading!