A/N: Here's chapter thirty four! Finally, the event that Killian's been waiting for? Or, is it? I'm still leaving SigmaFang in suspense about it too, (honestly, I don't know either). Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bloodlines, but I do own my OCs. As before, the history Cedric is telling doesn't belong to me, it belongs to White Wolf.
If his fingers were a little thinner, Killian wondered what sorts of things he would have been able to get away with. But, as it was, he had more of his father's figure, and was therefore graced with fingers great for mashing too many buttons on cell phones, breaking door handles, getting stuck, and being unable to reach things.
It kind of hurt his sculpting, at times. His biggest issue was applying too much pressure, and having to scale down the whole thing, or leaving a little blemish that no one else noticed but him. It still drove him mad.
At least with those big hands came big fists.
He didn't like to hit women, but he did if they hit first. He knew this girl reeked of his father, especially when he saw the amount of money on her person. He couldn't have been that far away.
He wished he could have brought a dog with him, an actual bloodhound, so he didn't have to go sleuthing after his father like some sort of seventies detective. As it was, he couldn't exactly afford going around, knocking out hookers and expecting everything to be okay. Not when he was in enemy territory. He kept his hood down and licked off any of the blood on his fists. She tasted like his drugs too. He had to be somewhere.
Killian wanted to punch himself in the eye when he stood in front of Vesuvius. Where else would he be? But that wasn't what bothered him the most. His father could be in the hollow building all night long and Killian would be pissed, but what upset him the most was that it was packed.
It was opening night.
He was surprised Archie kept the name. He must've wanted to keep the popularity. Maybe spread rumors to the public that the place was still just like it was, just under different management. Whatever sort of concoction he summed up would have to be put on the backburner for now. Killian came for bloodshed, not business.
He stepped inside and was immediately greeted by a busty girl, holding out a tray of free samples. She looked delighted to see him, "Hey, free sample?" Her red lips curved up in a smile. He wanted to flip the platter into her face.
Instead he played it cool and took a drink, holding onto it. "Thanks." He looked around, "New manager?"
"Hmm? I'm not sure. Seems the same to me." She shrugged a shoulder, then continued looking him over.
Point was, she wasn't going to be of any use to him. He waded through more people and dancers and waitresses, wondering when the hell this place was ever so packed. On his way to another dancer, he lost his drink.
"Hey." He dusted himself off, still feeling hands accidentally groping him as he tried to pass by, "You know anything about the whole…grand opening thing?"
"Hmm?" Something about this stripper seemed a little more rational to him. Like maybe she'd be less of a ditz. He could only hope. "Grand opening?"
"Yeah, like…what happened?" He'd need a story if he wanted to get anywhere, "I usually always came by this place, I leave for a week and it's closed. All of a sudden, it's open again?"
"Oh. New manager. In fact, I think the entire chain had a change in scenery. I don't know. The music's different, drinks are different, girls are different. Rules are a lot different too, but the pay is better."
Killian was getting on the right track, but something about that disturbed him, "Rules?"
"Well, I mean…you said you came here a lot, right? So you knew about the no fucking rule? Yeah, new manager threw that out the window. Hey, but she's making a lot of money. And really, the girls hardly seem to care."
He backtracked yet again, "'She'?"
"Yeah…well, the last manager was a chick too. I wonder if this one knew Velour."
"She…" Killian repeated. His father's influence reeked of this place, but why was the manager a girl? He was going to be pissed if his handful of leads led him to another dead end. "Yeah, I knew Velour really well…is the VIP room still up there?"
"It's employees only now." She shrugged a shoulder, "Less of a VIP room and more of an office. I'm sure you could go knock."
He rolled his eyes, "Thanks." He turned away, through the massive crowd and up the stairs, knocking on the door. It was unorthodox, so it took a moment for anyone to actually respond.
The girl who stood there looked like she didn't belong at all. She hardly looked of age, let alone appropriate for a strip club. Her ladybug lingerie looked more like a bikini than anything else. He wouldn't be surprised if Archie ripped her away from the beach and plopped her in an office chair with a handful of cash and a stack of index cards with phrases to read off.
She was already terrified of him, so Killian knew squeezing answers out of her wouldn't be much of a challenge. "You the manager?"
"N-N-N-No…"
That came as a surprise, "Then who is?"
"S-She's o-o-o-out at the m-moment…..c-can I get you s-s-something?"
He tried not to roll his eyes too obviously. And then, he heard a voice, like the saints had heard his silent prayers. "Step aside, dear. In fact, head downstairs, go serve drinks. I'll handle this one."
"Are you sure, sir?"
"I'm sure." As the tiny girl slipped away from the door, who else held it open but Killian's father, "I'm afraid if it's Velour you're looking for, you've come to the wrong place." His grin was too wide for Killian's liking.
"Real funny." He stepped inside the old VIP room, surprised at the makeover. It was so much less now, the walls were darker, there was no décor. Just desks, chairs, a sofa, and a water cooler. Because his father needed water. Because he was just a ghoul.
Archie sensed his son's apprehension, "What's the matter, boy, don't like it?" He snickered, "Or perhaps you're just remembering all the fun times you had in this room with Susan."
"I've never been in this room before, I don't know what you're talking about." He said eventually.
"Well, what do you think of the grand opening?" Archie moved past it, "I don't think Velvet ever had this much of a turnout."
"No, she didn't. It was quality over quantity."
"Not when it comes to income."
"Right, I forgot you don't give a damn where your money comes from. I forgot how…fucking psychotic you are." Killian finally turned and looked up at his father. Archie had seen a lot of expressions on his son's face, but none of which were ever nearly as terrifying as the look he received now. "I'll just have to think about that when I put a bullet in that kidney-bean you call a heart."
Archie held his arms out, "Come now, Killian. You came all the way out here to talk to me? I must really mean a lot to you."
"No, you don't." Killian spat, "You mean nothing!" He was sure his voice could be heard from downstairs, but he didn't care. "You've never cared about me, or mom, or Lark, or anyone! It's only always been you, you, you, hasn't it?"
Archie chuckled, "You talk about your family like it was so perfect. You didn't even know your mother, why do you talk about her like you miss her? You two wouldn't have gotten along for a second."
Killian would have lashed out, but it was the only thing he had ever heard about his mother. He tried to calm himself down before he asked, "What makes you say that?"
"Not the way I raised you. You two wouldn't have been able to see eye to eye."
He bared his teeth, "Don't you see…you ruined us…you ruined all of us!" He spat, "You ruined her life, and then you made two more people, and ruined their lives too! Do you see how fucked up that is, or is it still sinking in? You had two kids, you fuck, two! Did you ever even think about us? Did you ever reflect on the fact that you're a goddamn father, for at least one second? Did you even see her give birth to us? Were you there for any of it?"
Archie's eyes narrowed, "A shame you never learned to think before you opened that mouth of yours."
"Fuck this." Killian pulled out a pistol. It was all it would take. "I'm not taking any more of your bullshit!"
Archie was unflinching. It pissed Killian off even more. "They're blanks. Don't play with me, boy, you—"
Killian's grimace was ugly as he shot his father in the knee, "Does that feel like a fucking blank?"
Archie's eyes were wide as he fell to his knees, hissing with pain. Screams were heard downstairs as the patrons of the club fled. "Now you've done it…" His wiry voice sounded strangled.
"What, are the cops gonna come? You'll be dead before that."
"You wouldn't shoot me." Archie looked up at his son, looking right up at the barrel of the gun, "You don't have the balls."
"I do."
"Then do it." His eyes narrowed as he sneered, "Go ahead, spray my brains all over Susan's club. She'd love it!" Archie grabbed onto Killian's gut and tore him apart from the inside out, "She'll die with me, Susan, Winnie…your entire bloodline…"
Killian grit his teeth. His eyes twitched and fat tears rolled down his cheeks without him even realizing they were there. "You're not doing yourself any favors by begging, old man. Say your last words and shut the hell up!"
Archie tore his pained gaze away from the floor and locked his eyes with Killian. "That apartment of yours is getting destroyed as we speak."
"…what?" The change in topic was absolutely jarring, "What the hell…?"
"You must be staying there with that…putrid brat who stole the place from me…she's dead by now, I'm sure of it…"
"What…?" Killian's gaze hardened, "You sent an assassin?"
Sirens were heard outside.
"Of course I did. I needed the place more than she does, and I needed the money."
"You son of a bitch!" Killian roared.
"L.A.P.D.!" The door was busted open, "Hands up or we will fire."
Killian looked at the police officers behind him. Surely Archie would end up in jail? Surely he'd get put up to the death sentence if they aired out all his dirty laundry? He was in absolutely no position to get in a fight with the L.A.P.D. He had enough of a tail as it was, he didn't need to be a red and blue peacock, dancing in front of the red tower. He raised his hands and dropped the gun as an emergency crew rushed in and tended to his father. How dramatic. Killian watched as they put him on a stretcher and Archie acted like he was on the verge of unconsciousness. He grinned as he passed by his son who was being handcuffed. Oh he would pay. That shit-eating grin stained itself to the inside of Killian's eyelids.
He didn't fight with the authorities when they pushed him down the stairs, and out the building. The car was right up against the curb. He looked down, a foggy memory gliding into his head of something similar, at least ten years ago. The cops behind him, his hands cuffed. Only he was much less sober. It was the night before his birthday, and he remembered the officer lecturing him about acting like child. He just couldn't believe he was turning thirty.
He never knew who bailed him out. The bill was paid on a silent account and Killian just assumed it was one of his richer flings. It crossed his mind that maybe it was his father.
His father kept things around like that photo Harper found. He cared somewhere, didn't he? As he sat in the squeaky seat of the cop car, he overheard the EMTs, talking about his father's ruptured femoral and popliteal artery. He overheard them say death in less than an hour.
His head clogged with a medley of emotions Killian had never felt before. But that evil grin on his face…
"Dad, Lark has a field trip…but she needs five dollars to go—"
"Take it." Archie thrust a ten dollar bill in his son's face, "Use the rest to buy yourself some shaving cream for pity's sake."
He burned down an entire apartment complex just to piss Killian off, just to kill VV and fly in the face of the Anarchs, to prove his worth to the Sabbat…
His fingers nervously pushed the key in the ignition, listening to the engine roar. He looked over at his father, his face so unfamiliar to him.
"Go ahead. Press on the gas." The Jeep didn't budge, "Put it in drive, pinhead." Killian tugged at the lever and slowly accelerated. "She'll like it, right?"
"Huh?" Killian's heart was racing as he drove a car for the first time, "What? Who?"
"Never mind. Just drive us home."
His mother died because of him…
Lark took a deep breath, her earrings making a pleasant wind-chime like sound as she turned and looked up at her big brother, "It's quiet."
The apartment was big and spacious, too spacious. Empty. It was almost scary. He flicked the lights on and stepped inside, admiring the naked walls, the smooth floors. "Yeah. This is perfect."
"But it's way too expensive."
The tenant scratched the back of his neck, "Pardon?"
"We just can't afford…we can't afford it. We only have a few thousand." Lark said.
"It's been completely covered." He said, "Fitzroy is the last name, right?"
"Yeah, that's right…" Killian turned around, "What do you mean it's been covered?"
"Well…someone paid five years rent for you two…I'd assumed it was a relative…but…maybe it was a mix-up…"
Killian opened his mouth to dismiss the cash, but Lark slapped her hand over his mouth, "Nope. That was our old man. Pleasure doing business." She grinned as she shook the man's hand.
Killian felt his chest tighten as a sob consumed him. The officer that was driving the car looked back in the mirror. Then he just looked back at the road, flicking his glasses down over his eyes. Killian bit his lip and tried to mute his crying. It'd take at least an hour to get his father to the nearest hospital, let alone fix an entire artery.
Figured it was blood that kept him alive, and blood that would kill him.
When the car stopped at the nearest station, Killian had enough playing human. He stepped out of the car and head-butted the nearest officer, using Potence to snap his handcuffs and Celerity to disappear into the nearest alleyway. He hailed a cab as soon as one drove by and ordered them to floor it for an extra twenty. He needed to get back to Hollywood, grab his car and go.
But first he needed to make sure his dad didn't kill Vanderbilt's ghoul. Because then he'd really be fucked.
For some reason, Killian didn't actually think his father sent an assassin. With all the fat lies that man told, it didn't dawn on him that he might be telling the truth for once. The door was broken down and he heard screams inside. Bystanders stood around, but nobody did a thing. He didn't have time to dwell on it, he just pushed his way inside. His hand flew for the light switch to unveil the situation.
Sure enough, there was an assassin, dressed in all black, a machine gun on her back, a sword in her arms. Unusual gear for an assassin, regardless, it seemed to do the trick for Harper.
The room was beyond ransacked. The furniture upheaved, the windows broken, blood on the floor that reeked of Harper and Cadmus. She cowered, crumpled beneath a desk, a deep gash visible in her shoulder. She yelped as the assassin destroyed the desk that protected her.
"Enough!" Killian boomed. The assassin was unaware of his presence, until now. But her heart was beating. She wouldn't be an issue. His fists lit up with Potence as he reared back to punch her.
She cowered back, holding her sword in front of her chest, "You look familiar…" She said, unaware just how dangerous that fist of his was until she was smashed into the floor like a spider.
Harper let out another scream. Killian had no clue why, it just seemed unnecessary, but he supposed the poor ghoul just wasn't used to so much violence. He could see Cadmus spoiling her and keeping her safe and sound indoors, telling her stories about all the brave fights he was in. He imagined she never once saw real bloodshed.
The assassin peeled herself from the floor, her crystal blue eyes glistened with pain, her long sleek black hair tied back on the crown of her head still looking composed. He was sure he broke something on that pretty face of hers. "B-B-But…" She stammered, he could tell her tongue was swollen, "You're dead!"
He sneered, "Enough!" He reared his foot back, lightning flickering over it. But she caught it, her wrists crackling like rice cereal exposed to milk.
"You're hiz son?" She asked, "Yer…alive…?"
"Who the hell are you?" He spat, "How do you know me?"
"He had…de pictures…." She grunted under the weight of him, "De pictures of you…"
"What?" His eyes widened and he stepped back, "Of me?"
Her head dropped and she stopped responding. He rolled his eyes and rushed over towards Harper, who was still shivering in a corner. He held a hand out for her. Her tiny hands reached out and took his, feeling dwarfed in his. He gently held onto her, feeling her shaking. She was likely in shock.
He let go of her and moved quickly. The couch was in two but the coffee table wasn't. He lifted it up and laid a pillow down on it, urging her quietly to sit on it. He grabbed a blanket, shook the splinters off of it, then slung it around her shoulders.
The door and windows were still open to the outside world. He hung sheets over the windows, covering them up. The front door was shut and locked. The building was secure enough.
His attention was turned to Harper again, still sitting there, frozen. He held her chin and tugged her head up a little to look in his eyes. Her eyes were unfocused, shaky. But they met his after a second. So she wasn't totally lost. He let go and pat her head, "Relax." He said, "I got everything under control."
A silence filled the room for a whole minute, but it felt a lot shorter. She looked up at him, her tiny fingers grasping onto the blanket, tugging it around herself just a little closer, "Who was that?" She asked softly.
"An assassin sent by the guy who had this place before you did."
"Your father?"
He cleared his throat, not feeling up to that answer. "Are you thirsty?" He didn't care if she answered, he went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife, "Here, you need to drink something before you bleed out."
"T-That's okay, I wouldn't want Cadmus to—"
"He'd be more pissed if you were dead than if you drank some of my blood." He slit his wrist without hesitation, it must not have hurt him at all. Too much going on in his head for him to focus on that. She gently took his hand, two of hers fit in one of his, bringing his wrist to her mouth and drinking.
He was content to see her wound close up, her pale cheeks blushed a little with the rush of hormones. He moved his wrist away and licked it closed, looking around at the destruction in the apartment. "We need to get you a new place to live."
"But…I paid so much…"
"You'll get it back. This was a robbery."
Harper stared at the floor, then offered a tiny nod.
The assassin started to stir. Harper and Killian looked over at her with an equal amount of disturbance. Only after a second, Killian strode towards her with a vengeance.
She got up onto her hands and knees, but Killian grabbed her by the neck. Harper gasped, "Wait, Killian…"
"What?" He spat.
"Don't kill her…look how young she is…"
Killian made a face, then turned back to the assassin. She was young. He dropped her again, then crossed his arms, "You have ten seconds. If I ever see you again, you're dead."
She weakly got to her feet, looked him over once more, then jumped out the window and ran. Killian felt on edge letting her go. Something in the back of his head screamed at him, telling him that she would be back.
Harper gripped the blanket tighter. He knew she was feeling the same thing. He turned back towards her, "Why did he leave you here alone?"
"…who, Cadmus?" She asked, her bright blue eyes meeting his dull gray ones.
"You're in no condition to be living alone."
"I'm fine living alone, I'm not a child—"
"Yes, you are." He insisted, "I don't care what you say. There are people who want him dead, who would gladly kill you to get his attention. And you're a fucking hazard to yourself. You shouldn't be here alone. I don't care if you're not in the Camarilla or not, but you need to be staying there until he comes back."
She looked extremely irritated, "If I'm going back in the Camarilla, you're coming with me."
"What, so I can get my head lobbed off? The hell kind of solution is that?"
"You have to come with me."
"Harper, I can't. I'm an Anarch."
She looked so hurt, tears welling in her eyes. She looked away from him, "I don't want to be alone…" She whimpered.
"You won't. There are people in the Camarilla who would gladly take care of you, I'm sure." He really wasn't. If she was a nuisance to him, he didn't want to think about how the Camarilla felt about her. "I can't do this, I have to get back to my movement."
"Then let me come with you." She looked up at him.
"The situation we're in is no place for ghouls. Besides, we already talked about this. You're in the Camarilla."
"I am not!"
"Jesus Christ." He held his forehead, "Look, I have to fucking go! I'm not your babysitter, but I'm not going to stand around and let you get fucking killed. I'll take you to L.A., drop you off, then I'm gone. Understood?"
"You can't go to L.A.!" She scoffed, "You'll get killed!"
Someone tried the doorknob, and when that didn't work, the door was busted open. Killian instinctively stepped in front of Harper, ready for Archie's 'round two'.
The laughter immediately gave away that this had nothing to do with Archie at all, or even the Sabbat. Although it was debatable as to whether this bettered Killian's situation. He strode in like a demon, eyes narrowed at the two in front of him. He was watching them like targets, like he was a primed supercomputer ready to fire the finishing shot.
The second Killian moved even a little bit to presumably protectively stand in front of Harper, Victor raised a hand. There was a small delay to the attack, but nonetheless the sink not too far away gushed out a suitable amount of water. Victor controlled the water as it poured out of the sink, splitting it into a pair of whips which quickly bound Killian's wrists together. It wasn't long before more streams of water trapped Killian's other limbs too. Victor gave a bored sigh as he maintained the water, his prey already caught.
"Fucking hell…" Killian looked down at his bound limbs, then scowled at Victor. But it wasn't an angry scowl of vengeance, or even a look of contempt. He knew he had been caught and knew it was all over. He was just angry that he'd never be able to help his allies get anywhere with the movement.
Archie was more right than Killian could have thought when he said his entire bloodline would be finished.
Harper ran forward towards Victor, "Wait, you can't! He wasn't doing anything wrong, I promise! He was protecting me and killing someone in the Sabbat! Please, just this once, make an exception!"
With his free hand, Victor pulled out his luxuriously expensive pistol, aiming it at Harper's head, "Deserters will be shot."
She gasped, then stumbled back and raised her hands.
"Don't shoot her." Killian said, "Last thing you want is a pissed off Vanderbilt. Besides, she's…she's hardly a deserter. She's just mental. Like…seriously fucked in the head. She told me to join the Camarilla. Whatever the hell happened to her made her crazier than a Malk."
"…t-that isn't true…" Harper stammered, "I'm not crazy…"
Killian shook his head, "Whatever. Just…kill me or, whatever…I did what I needed to do."
"No, you can't kill him!" Harper screamed, "You can't!"
As usual, the pure misery unfolding made Victor chuckle giddily. "I'm quite surprised you returned, Killian Fitzroy." The Tremere said, "Were you not the one who recited that you surrendered to the glorious Camarilla?"
"Yeah, yeah, that was me." He bowed his head, "Look, I didn't exactly want to come back. I came here to get rid of someone. Someone not related to any sect or clan or anything." He looked back up at Victor, "But I get it, I was trespassing, I know, I know. I deserve to die. I'm fine with that, I'm not gonna put up a fight."
"A young rebellious Brujah…" He sighed, "There are many whispers of your name in our courts…but…I need to snuff you out. You're out here making messes. I'm not going to let you be…the next Nines Rodriguez."
Killian snickered, "Dude…I'm four…"
"Please, Mister Madison, have mercy on him, just this once…" Harper begged.
"Harper, your whimpering isn't doing me any good." Killian said, "Just be quiet and try not to get shot, alright?"
Harper swallowed hard and looked away, "I don't want you to die…"
"Yeah, yeah…" He sighed listlessly, "Guess that's how the cookie crumbles."
Victor turned around, "Perhaps getting to that Gangrel woman will…reveal the rest of your pathetic forces out of the woodworks." He smirked, facing him again with a dark look on his face, "After all, I couldn't help by notice the look on your face when I was burning her alive."
"Tch." He looked away, "She's a nice girl when you don't piss her the fuck off. Don't know what else you want me to say."
"Ever since the failed assassination attempt on my life…I have been plotting a wonderful vengeance for her." He said, "I know the one Skelter…is your figurehead. She is your hope. And you…you are the newborn purpose for the Anarchs. Once I crush all pieces of the puzzle, there won't be any hope for your resurrection."
"Pfft. Okay, I hate to break it, but I am not the newborn purpose for the Anarchs. Those two fucking hate me. They would not be okay with me going out here if they had an ounce of respect for me. Just think about it."
"Nevertheless, you three carry more prominence than the other survivors." He said, "That Assamite girl is of little concern to me. I nearly burned her to death too, without her even putting up a fight in return. I don't even bother to recall the other wretch."
"Those two have more potential than I do." He said, about to go on, before he decided to shut the fuck up about the Anarchs and maybe give them less of a reason to hate him. "All of them do considering the position we're in now."
Harper sniffed, "If you kill him, I'll tell Cadmus…"
"Harper, shut up." Killian snapped urgently.
"And he'll be livid!"
"No, he won't." Killian said, "I'm an Anarch, he hates me. The hell are you thinking?"
Harper's chest heaved with an overflow of panic and anxiety, "Let him go!"
Killian closed his eyes, scowling, a headache setting in.
Victor's eyes boiled with rage, "Who's side are you on?!" His voice thundered around the whole room as his gaze flickered to Harper. He took a deep breath, "If you are loyal to the Camarilla…as you claim…then this oaf's death should not matter…is that understood?"
"But I love him!" She professed.
"Christ." Killian snapped, "Harper, for the love of god, you do not love me! You met me two days ago!"
"But you're the only person who listens…"
"Listens to what, you're drunken ramblings? You're going to get yourself killed at this point, just shut up and sit still until this is over."
"But that means—"
"I don't give a damn what it means, just shut up and be quiet!" He boomed, one of his eyes twitching with irritation. An orange aura covered his form as he clenched his fists.
His Presence did absolutely nothing to Victor – he didn't intend for it to. Harper on the other hand was silenced, absolutely mortified. It took her back to a time that felt like only yesterday.
"You've always wore humanity so well…but I know you'll wear Kindred even better." He said with a smirk as he looked her in the eye, "A shame we never saw eye to eye, but perhaps…now, you will understand." His hands were as cold as ice, one firmly gripping her waist, the other clasped around her back as his head tucked in between her head and shoulder, his canines grazing across the skin of her neck.
It was possible for ghouls to frenzy, after all. She let out a hellish shriek and lunged forward, tackling Killian to the ground and clawing at him like a diseased cat. Killian was completely taken by surprise, trying to cover his face with his arms and kick her away. Victor merely watched on with a bored expression on his face.
Finally, with a good kick to the gut, Harper was knocked back onto the floor. She hit her head on a broken chair and was knocked out. Killian was covered in little red scratches from her nails, a few bite marks. He sat up and shook his head, "So uh…yeah…guess this would be as good a time as any to kill me…I've embarrassed myself enough for one night."
"Strauss is going to have quite a field day with all of this information that I've gained." Victor chuckled for a good long while.
"Like what?" Killian asked, "I didn't tell you much, did I?" Guilt started nibbling at him.
"I wasn't referring to that."
He looked over to Harper, "You mean that? Her? Strauss really cares about her?"
He gave another small chuckle, crossing his arms. He no longer had to aim his gun at a target anymore, "I'm surprised you fools have never noticed this. But we're always one step ahead of you. Even if you were to come back in full-force, with hundreds and hundreds of more soldiers…your fate would be exactly the same as that fateful night where Armando lost his life."
His eyes narrowed, "So, what are you saying then? You know where we are? I'm not surprised…"
"Don't pretend California isn't an endgame for you." He smiled, "You may not know it, but Skelter was more than…forward…with his plans once you all attain greater numbers." He said, "It was during his…lovely little assassination attempt. Did he ever tell you? He tried to kill this mighty Tremere with metal barbs and pieces of wood, ha! Practically gave away that you all would be back for revenge one day."
"Yeah, I'm…not surprised. He's not the brightest bulb in the pack…" He muttered, "Tried to assassinate me the same way. What, did he tie you up to a chair in the attic?"
"Yes, in his crude basement." He said, "You will fail, if you ever try to attack us. We will always outsmart you." He started giving a bitter laugh, "How did you enjoy the show with Sirius, hmm? Did you find it bitter and ironic? Would you be prepared to face something similar again?"
Nothing Victor said seemed to get to Killian the same way Sirius's name did. "Are you implying there's another spy?"
"Of course not. Do you really think that Assamite girl or her friend would work for us? I'm merely saying your entire movement is braindead and gullible. Your only victories were won by dumb luck and even Smiling Jack was put down by one of Strauss's meager assassins."
Killian looked away, "So are you going to kill me or what?"
He started pacing around him chuckling, "I have to say…I was rather doubtful of the Follower of Set's true intentions. It seemed too good to be true…that he would be effective as he boasted himself to be. But then he reported us locations. And every single waking mission you ever plotted. He forged a faulty 'alliance' with you lot and you believed every little word that came out of his mouth." He stopped because he was snickering so much, "And now you're nothing but scraps."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it, we suck!" He spat out, "What, are you waiting for the sun to rise or something?"
He hoisted Harper up, like she was some kind of trophy, "I suggest you attack us sooner rather than later…as we are hopelessly distracted by the Sabbat." He let out a stray chuckle, "But…that wouldn't leave you that much time to get new members, would it?" He added, teleporting away with her. Killian was immediately freed, the water binds splashing all around him.
His eyes shrunk as everything stopped. Everything stayed stagnant for what felt like hours as he sat there on his knees. Then it started to sink in.
His family had all been killed. His movement was running face first into a concrete wall, and everything he stood for was worth nothing.
That didn't even hurt the most. He knew it should, his passionate Brujah blood should have been boiling. He should have been furious, ready to set their movement alight and turn them around. But he wasn't.
Because everyone who ever loved him or had the chance to love him was dead.
What even were his last words?
"I needed the money."
"You son of a bitch!"
And that grin. At least Killian could say his father smiled. He saw him smile one last time.
He pounded his fists on the ground and screamed in agony. How he wished Victor would have killed him. He sure as hell didn't want to be around to watch every last member of the Anarchs be tortured to death and killed by the Tremere. Maybe they didn't give a damn about him, but he cared about them, because they were the only people left to him. He wished they could realize that.
Relationships were too insignificant to Skelter now. Anastasia had Cadmus, and she didn't need any other men in her life, she likely wouldn't ever again, after what he did to her. Cissy had glued herself to her adoptive sire and would tease Killian, but would never feel anything for him. Catalina saw him as a dog, a tool, an annoyance, and nothing else.
Was it worth going back? Could he even go back to them without an ounce of guilt and tell them he got caught, but was released so he could live to tell them they were fucked?
"So…I'm the clan of the dead?" Ella asked.
"Yes. Necromancers…grave robbers…that sort of thing." Victor waved his hands around, "Until your near extinction, you were quite a respectable clan…it's…a shame…things unfolded as they did."
"We were all killed by the Giovanni…all of us…?"
"Well…either that or the Feast of Folly."
"The what?"
"Long story short…Cappadocius didn't like what became of his clan…he locked them all in a cave, those he deemed worthy were let out, while those he didn't find worthy were sealed away forever. They most likely cannibalized each other until the cave was empty once more. The mass diablerie led by Augustus Giovanni covered the rest."
Ella looked at her hands, they were shaking, "Why…why would Cappadocius do that?! Aren't Antediluvians supposed to be like are great grandfathers? Why would he send the rest of our people out in a cave to starve to death then eat each other alive?"
Victor paused, realizing that Ella was barely hardened to the darkness and the sorrows of the Jyhad, "There are…many speculations…for that…"
"So…my clan founder…was just…was just this senseless old maniac…is that it?"
"Perhaps…further research should be conducted on that." Derek said, leaning in the doorway for who-knows how long, "Before such…hasty conclusions are made."
"Well…there was one childe of Cappadocius…who survived both perils. Lazarus…I believe his name was." Victor said, "He seemed like a rather sensible Cainite…if the accounts were true. He sired three childer…Lamia…Angelique…and perhaps Baron Samedi himself…two of which went on to make bloodlines of their own."
This did little to improve Ella's mood, tears welled up in her eyes.
Derek stepped forward, "Uh…perhaps it would be best if I…took her to the tower for the night…I believe the introduction to the Chantry and all this new information about her clan might be a bit overwhelming." He reached out to take her hands and help her stand.
"Yes, quite right. Good evening, Mister Parker." Victor said.
"Wait…" Ella sniffed, "My sire…why does he dress like that…why does he look like…such a monster?"
"He's a Harbinger of Skulls, dear." Victor said, "It is rumored that they gained unimaginable powers of Necromancy…in exchange for their appearances…it seems…as a final gambit to escape the ward Cappadocius set up."
Derek waited a moment in case she had any other questions, but she seemed too shaken for any more. He gently guided her out of the Chantry and headed towards the red tower, "You weren't in the mood for the graveyard tonight, were you?"
She stared at the sidewalk, "My clan is a joke…"
"That isn't true, dear. Even if it were, you are not defined by your clan."
"Would you say that if it were you?" She yelled, causing a few passerby's to stare at them, "Would you say it if it was your clan? What if your clan was all dead? What if they didn't have a respectable history, and you had to live with that? What if it wasn't even your choice?"
He swallowed hard, adjusting his tie, "Why don't we chat inside?" His eyes drifted to the passersby who watched on.
"Fine…" She brooded.
It was silent until they made it back to Derek's room, "I'm not sure whether or not you know this, but the Ventrue don't always have the best reputation. Especially in this city. There is a reason there are only a handful of us left here." He swatted a hand, strutting around the room, "It hardly matters. Would it be accurate for me to say you…feel abandoned?"
"Whatever…it doesn't even matter…" She sat on the couch, "I just hate all of this…vampires are so depressing…"
He sat next to her, gently placing a hand on her knee, "I've been here with you the entire time." He looked up to meet her eye, "I understand we're a different clan, but…I hardly think clan ties matter nearly as much as you're suggesting."
After the words came out, Derek took a moment to reflect them. What had he actually said? Was he dismissing clan differences in general? What was it about this girl that made him think so radically?
"They do to me…" Ella said quietly, "I had a group…a form of comradery…with the hunters…now that I know that they're no more Cappadocians…" She sniffed.
"You have the Camarilla here…and…as much as I despise that brat, she…made a valuable point. We can be seen in a…family-like way, an alliance. A dependable and trustworthy group of mismatching clans. Miss Kokinos is the only member of her clan to ever be in the Camarilla, yet, she feels at home with Ventrue and Tremere…I think you should look deeper into the personalities your heart is seeking out, rather than the bloodlines."
She looked at the floor, "I still wish there were more Cappadocians alive…"
"Perhaps they are. Perhaps one day soon, we can find them." He gently looped her arm around her shoulders, "Just know that you are not alone."
She sniffed, turning towards him and giving him a hug.
He held onto her, one hand tangled in her hair, wondering how it managed to be so vibrant and red. The color brought the question to mind, "Would you like a drink?"
"Sure, thanks."
He stood up and poured two glasses, handing one over to her. When he sat beside her again, he drank half of his, then rubbed a temple, "I have no clue where my sire is now. I'm not even sure why she…bothered wasting as much time as she did with me." He sat back and crossed his legs, "After the Agoge, she…more or less disappeared. I was no longer a part of her, I was no longer necessary for her ascent to power." He stirred his drink gently, "I've contemplated doing the same but…" He shook his head, "I just have no interest tampering in the lives of mortals. They bore me."
Her eyes darted over to him, "Well, you at least turned out as a skillful Kindred."
"Hardly." He took another sip, "Unlike any other Ventrue here, I'm hardly asked to perform any duties…and that was long before I was assigned to monitor your progress. My skillset is…just not ideal for this type of Camarilla."
"I mean…if you wanted to increase the number of Ventrue here…you could Embrace someone…"
He shook his head, "Humans disgust me."
"The hell?"
He raised a brow, "What?"
"You hate humans? You were one."
"It was the weakest moment of my life."
"The…weakest moment of your life…huh?"
"That's right." He looked down at her, a challenging look in his eye.
"Care to explain?"
"I don't see what there is to explain."
"There's plenty to explain!"
He just took a sip of his glass and scowled. Finally he said, "Humans are glorified apes. They sweat and urinate and defecate and make a mess of everything with their…hormones and lack of intellect."
She made a face and scooted back from him, swallowing hard, "…oh my god…"
"What?" He narrowed his eyes and looked over at her, "What, what is it? What is this?"
"I feel like you could just say you hate poop, pee, and sweat. No use blaming humanity for it…"
"That…certainly doesn't help." He rested a face in his palm, his elbow leaned up against his knee, "But…humans heckle and jeer and poke and prod and shout and throw fists…" He rolled his eyes, "They're glorified apes, dear. Just hairless monkeys. They belong in zoo exhibits."
"That's messed up."
"Be that as it may." He sat up, "We are higher than they on the food chain. It's hardly a matter of discussion."
"So what?" She frowned, "Phaedra eats humans and she probably looks upon them better than you do."
He scowled again at the mention of that name, "That is why she is below us on the ladder. I should clarify that Ventrue are at the very top." He sat up taller, then looked down at her, "And…yes, um…Cappadocians as well."
She scowled right back, "This is what I was talking about!" She rose, "All I hear is talk about you and your stupid Ventrue! All my people are dead, and then I have to hear about the intricacies and weaknesses of this clan, or that bloodline!" She clenched her hands into fists, "Well, I got a simple question for you, then…if Ventrue are so great, then why is the Prince of this city a Tremere?"
"As I said before, the Ventrue aren't always the 'best.' They're just at the top of the food chain due none other to our clan weakness." He clarified, and of course, being that she had stood up, he took the chance to eye her over.
"Top of the food chain, huh? What even is your clan weakness anyway?"
"We cannot drink the blood of…the less than desirable."
"Huh? The what?"
"For instance…we would…make ourselves ill if we consumed the blood of…courtesans or vagrants…"
"So you're a spoiled brat." She gave a small, pixie-like smile, suppressing a laugh, "Ha, ha…can only have rich people blood…oh, that's precious."
He raised a brow and finished his glass, "If you'd like, I can reserve the bottles of blood for myself, and instead serve you lovely Santa-Monica Hospital quality blood…"
"Aw… the spoiled brat and the grave robber…how cute…" She snickered, "We really are a dynamic duo, aren't we?"
His scowl melted away into the slightest smirk before he stood up and gently took her hands, setting them up in a ballroom dancing sort of position. She was confused, since there was no music or anything, and more confused when he just lunged in for a kiss.
She made a muffled noise as he kissed her, "Ugh…you remind me of a little kid who gets to hang out with the big kids for once." She squirmed, "Once you're with them…you diss the little kids for this and that…"
His grip tightened around her waist and her hand respectively, "This conversation is over, dear." He said, his lips just a hair away from hers as he claimed them in another kiss.
"No…not after you dropped that…freaking bombshell on me…you're crazy…"
He moved his hand away from hers, gently lacing his fingers through her hair and cupping the back of her head, "Don't you think we're all a little twisted in some way or another?" Another kiss.
"Not…not like this…"
"Come now, darling…"
"You can't just, wipe away what he just talked about!" She struggled a bit more, "I can only take so much of your…you…in one night…"
She could sense the disappointment in his eyes as he gently released his grasp, "Ella, darling, I do hope you know it was mostly playful banter." He said, then added, "…for the most part."
"You don't even know what playful banter is." She deadpanned.
He smirked, "Perhaps you're right. I was hoping you could teach me."
She sighed, relaxing a little, "I just don't know what to do with you sometimes…"
"Are you sure? I think you do." He crossed his arms, that smirk on his lips growing, "Deep in that head of yours somewhere I think you know exactly what you want to do with me."
"Oh yeah…?" She asked dryly, "What's that?"
"Well, I'm not sure." He raised a hand thoughtfully, "I'd like to hear it from you. I clearly have no idea what goes in your mind."
"You really enjoy putting these shows on, don't you?"
"Mmm."
She growled, "Oh, just say yes you little twerp!"
He chuckled as he wandered over to the couch, then lifted her glass, "You didn't take a sip from this yet, have you?"
"No…I was too busy…" She walked over and drank it in one gulp, putting it back down, "Dealing with your antics."
"Come now. You should be appreciative of what you've been given."
Her eyebrow twitched, "Oh yeah?"
"Mmm." He hummed, then he placed her empty glass on the counter, near the sink, tracing the lipstick marks with a thumb, "Or, should I say, 'yes'."
She smacked her face, "I'm going to bed…"
"I'm coming with you." It left his mouth before he could process it. There was a bit of a silence. He adjusted his tie and added, "I hadn't intended for that to come out the way it did."
"Really? I thought you were going to research for like…seven hours…"
He turned away from the dishware and stepped towards her, trying to hold her in the same position he was before, "Just one more kiss?"
She gave a small smile, "Okay." She kissed him on the lips for a while.
He held her tightly, "Thank you, Ella." He pressed a light kiss against her cheek, "For…teaching me to become more human."
"Uh-huh." She said, "Anytime."
He rubbed a thumb along her jawline, kissing her nose, "Do you know what would…really teach me?"
"…what would that be…pray tell?"
He smiled and kissed her again, one of his hands slowly drifting down towards dangerous territory as it ran from her shoulder blades, down her spine, past the small of her back.
She held him firmly, "Derek…"
"One of these days I'm not going to listen to you…" He said against her lips. She could read the frustration in his eyes.
"You know, for someone who prides himself on being such a classy man on top of the food chain…your actions and words don't match at all…"
The comment seemed to fly over his head, "I think you're a classy woman suited for a classy man…I see no problems with it…"
She squirmed away, "Vampires don't succumb to their hormones like humans do, mister."
He sighed and stepped back, "Yes…well…" He adjusted his collar, "Have a restful night's sleep, then." He headed for his bedroom and closed the door, leaving it ajar just an inch 'in case of an emergency'. As was the case the past few nights, since whenever their relationship started.
Ella was seriously debating a real conversation about his attitude, as soon as he was willing to fess up about it.
"Alas…I have finally found the infidel."
Lazarus looked up from the sandy temple he was in, with a look on his face that suggested he really didn't want to be interrupted while reading. He eyed his brother curiosity, his sword already unsheathed from its scabbard.
"Tell me, why have you spent all your nights…toiling away in Egypt…you missed the feast! You're a faithless son to Cappadocius, you pompous brat!"
Lazarus gave a deep chuckle as he rose from his seat, his purple robes billowing around him. He reached for his staff, holding it protectively close to himself. "You make a sudden appearance…brother. What brings you to the Setites domain?"
Koine snarled, "I am here to remind you of your true heritage! Night after night, the great Cappadocius is discovering all the secrets and mysterious to death and our gracious spirituality, while you're out here…playing with serpents." His frown grew, "Don't you have any loyalty…any faith to your true lineage?"
"Yes, I suppose we were merely brethren in blood, weren't we? Cursed blood, that is." Lazarus said, "I have no attachment to you, nor to this old oaf Cappadocius."
Koine gasped, "How dare you…say such things. For that, I will smite you at the highest and loftiest of authorities!"
Lazarus chuckled, "As if you were not here to kill me, yes of course."
Koine growled, "Prepare yourself!" He held a hand out.
Lazarus held a cautionary hand out, "Brother…let us dispense with the usage of Mortis in this sacred temple. It won't solve anything."
He snickered, "You would like it if I respected your sacred temple, now wouldn't you?" A purple glow of skulls went around his hand as a chime went off and countless zombies rose from the dead, as well as countless spirits too.
Lazarus frowned, summoning hordes of undead of his own. The creatures quickly began battle, making their tight quarters all the more apparent. The two Kindred of the dead eventually relocated in another room due to the sheer amount of zombies polluting the other one.
Koine didn't let the change in scenery affect his instincts at all. He roared and dove at Lazarus with his sword. Lazarus only had a quick time to react, blocking the blow with his staff. The duo clashed in the tiny stone room for what felt like ages.
"You're a…a disgrace to our clan…" Koine said through clenched teeth, "You have shunned the Cappadocian ways…"
Lazarus smirked, as his eyes glowed red, "I have no desire to follow that old fool or his idiotic path. The sooner you see him for a deranged old bastard, the better."
"How dare you!" Koine snarled, diving at him once again. "I am merely trying to lead you back to the true path!"
"Lamia had long since warned me against following Cappadocius too closely. She opened my eyes."
"It's always about those whores, isn't it?" Koine snapped, "You follow the words of women like a dog. Angelique and Lamia have more say in your dead existence than you do! What sort of fool listens to a gorgon so?"
Lazarus held a hand out. Koine froze in place. Lazarus moved his hand outward, and Koine was telekinetically thrown against the wall.
Koine flinched, as debris and pebbles poured over his face. He got up quickly, his eyes glowing red. He held a hand out. Lazarus floated up in the air, then smacked against the ground, in a complete and flagrant ignorance of gravity.
The two childer of Cappadocius kept throwing each other around with telekinesis for a long while. Lazarus frowned, "Did you know…brother…that blind faith…is clearly worse than no faith."
Koine roared, "You will pay dearly for that, scoundrel!" He picked up a nearby torch and threw it at Lazarus.
Lazarus's body glowed a bright green, and the torch clacked off of him, only causing him to mildly flinch. Koine followed up with a sword thrust, but his sword instantly broke into pieces.
Lazarus chuckled, "It's pointless…brother. This battle is at an impasse."
"Quite right." Koine smirked, gaining a green glow in addition to his red eyes, "Then if we cannot defeat each other…perhaps I could slay your little followers. The Setites, and what little Cappadocians still admire you…I could kill them all, and we could all start over from the beginning. Back to when you followed Cappadocius."
A deadly frown crossed Lazarus's face. He marched towards his brother, giving him hardly an inch of space.
"What…what are you doing…brother?" Koine snapped, "None of our powers will affect the other…this battle is pointless, remember?"
Koine made a horrible choking sound. Lazarus stuffed his gauntlet into Koine's chest, and Koine gargled and coughed in pain. Blood began to spill on the stony ground from Koine's chest, as Lazarus dug around in his brother's body.
He pulled out the dead heart of his brothers. The organ in question was soaked in blood and still beating lazily. Koine's eyes nearly bugged out of his head when he spotted what Lazarus had done.
He was much paler now, due to the large hole in his chest, "S-Serpentis…?"
Lazarus chuckled, squeezing the heart ever so slightly.
"So…you consumed some Followers of Set to gain their power…did you…?"
He shook his head, "They were delighted to teach me their Discipline almost as one of their own."
Koine's eyes shrunk. He shuddered out of fear and blood loss. "No…Lazarus…don't…please don't kill me." He pleaded, seeing as how his life was literally in his despondent brother's hands. "We're…we're of the same blood…aren't we…you cannot leave me. If you kill me…you'll never earn Cappadocius's respect again. Haven't you thought about that? Don't you want father's love?"
Lazarus squeezed the heart until he crushed it in his gauntlet. Koine's eyes shrunk to the size of dots. He gave a piercing scream, one the entire temple could hear, until he finally turned to dust.
Cedric's purple eyes met Angelique's pink ones. "It is stated that Lazarus is in torpor, being closely guarded by Angelique."
"…I didn't know Kindred could survive without a heart in their body…"
"It is not ideal." He said, "If it were not for Serpentis…Lazarus would not have emerged victorious…for some reason or another, his unity with the Followers of Set is something Natalia constantly reminds me about…"
"How did he get so close to them? I thought they were secretive…"
"Attitudes were much different back then. Vampires were more…independent…less bound to their clans…sects weren't really prevalent yet back then."
She nodded, then her stomach growled and she grit her teeth, "We need to get the hell out of here."
He rose back to a standing position, "We both may not make it out…but…if I were to loft you high enough, you could escape."
"And what about you?"
He didn't respond for a moment or two. He held his arms out, "Come. I will reunite you with your allies."
She gave him a hard stare, "I'll get you out of here too, somehow." She stood up and stepped towards Cedric.
"I'm sure if you ever change your mind…you'll make a fine Ventrue."
She gave him a nervous look, wondering if his words had any merit. If he saw more of her future than she could.
"Come here, child." He gently lifted her up. He then forced up Blood Buff to increase the strength in his arms. With a huge throw, Angelique was rocketed back up to safety.
A/N: He just called her 'child', c'mon. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed that little taste of ye olden times too!