Chapter Five: Wuthering Eyes
Disclaimer: All the characters and places belong to their respective creators and owners. I only own my OC and make no money whatsoever out of this.
"Right at the next intersection."
I followed the GPS navigator's instructions, inwardly cursing LA's streets which were a bedlam 24/7. I managed to carry the inconspicuous Ford that Strauss had asked me to drive through the Downtown traffic, gradually reaching less and less hectic streets, until I left the city completely.
Finally, after some miles on little secondary roads, the metallic voice made me stop the car near a cliff by the Ocean. It was just me and the key of the Ankaran Sarcophagus. Or better, me, the key and LaCroix's accusing eyes: they seemed to be following me everywhere I looked and for once I cursed my humanity. Turning into a remorseless monster was bad, but having so many scruples wasn't very convenient either. In medio stat virtus, I guessed.
I stepped out of the Ford and headed to the top of the cliff, the strong wind buzzing in my ears and lashing my tired face. I hoped it would at least help in clearing my head.
I looked down at the black, tumultuous water, crashing in foam upon razor-sharp rocks. This was one of the locations of the nearby coast where the current was fiercest; I remembered reading of quite a few suicides and many more incidents occurring in this area.
I gathered my strength and threw the key as far as I could. For a few seconds the metal cylinder shone, reflecting the moonlight, and then there was a clang and a splash, as it disappeared from view.
"Not a moment of hesitation… Not many Kindred would have so easily given up on that key, Irene. I am glad your former mentor's greed hasn't touched you."
I almost jumped and, as I turned, there stood the Regent, red mantel billowing as if it had a life of its own, his eyes focused on my face. So this was a test, well, fair enough, I guessed: he had a right to be prudent. But at the same time I knew it was a double-edged sign of trust: I was the only one besides him to know of where the key had been disposed of, with all of its implications, good and (mostly) bad.
"Thank you, but I am not a Saint. First of all I do not believe that Sarcophagus contains anything even potentially advantageous, and, besides, I think that relying on material objects is very dangerous. The only real power is the one that we cultivate each day and that comes from within, since it cannot perish or be taken away."
"It is ironic that LaCroix could not comprehend this essential truth in two hundred years, and someone with a tenth of his age can. We are quite akin in many aspects, Irene, much more so than it would appear at first glance. A part of me regrets not having you as a Childe, but perhaps it will be for the best…" he trailed off, and I couldn't help but wonder what he had in store for me.
His praise made me strangely nervous: on one hand it seemed sincere (I too had to admit that we seemed to see eye to eye on most matters), on the other, flattery had always made my internal alarms rise up, particularly since I had become a Kindred and most especially when it came from an Elder.
Without words, he started walking towards the car, and I trailed behind him. We got in and I was about to start the engine when he spoke up again.
"Tomorrow night, two hours after sunset, the Primogen will meet to discuss the fate of LaCroix and reach a common position before calling the Conclave. Your presence will be required, considering the role you have played in the last few nights. Tonight's raid at the tower and the dethronement of the Prince is considered classified information, not to be divulged until the Conclave is called. Only a select few Kindred besides the Primogen know the truth of what has happened, and it is essential that it remains this way."
"I understand and I assure you that you can count on my discretion."
The Primogen were clearly afraid of the upcoming scandal, and I couldn't blame them. Once LaCroix was brought to trial and his misdeeds proclaimed before the whole Kindred populace, the consequences could be disastrous and threaten the very existence of the Camarilla in the city. This execution may bring much more troubles than it could solve and, suddenly, I had an illumination: maybe there was still a way for me to "have it all" and with the blessing of the Primogen, no less. But there might be long-term side effects, especially for me, and I had to think about it very carefully, before even trying to suggest it.
On the other hand, I knew I didn't have much time: the one person that might actually listen to me and consider my words was the Regent, and, after this trip was over, I may not have another chance to talk to him before the meeting. The only other Primogen I knew, Gary Golden, was shiftiness incarnated and relying on him would be insanity. And, although I had never been invited to a Council of the Primogen, it did not take a rocket scientist to anticipate that they would see me as little more than a bumbling two year old. If I attempted to propose anything to them directly, it might either amuse them as a childish joke, in the most optimistic of hypothesis, or be taken as an intolerable offence, to be punished severely. Besides, if I circumvented Strauss, he might take it personally, and right now I could not afford to alienate him.
"You are pensive, and perturbed, like the other night in my Chantry, before we were interrupted. If there is anything on your mind, I pray you to share it. Unlike your former mentor, I appreciate your acumen, and I do not seek external reassurances of my grandeur, but an honest opinion."
So he had been eavesdropping on my outburst before revealing his presence in the Penthouse, not that it surprised me… The way he said "grandeur" almost made me laugh: he really couldn't resist throwing jibes at the younger Frenchman. Nevertheless, being more open than I used to be with LaCroix was something I could agree with (and not much of an effort), while being completely honest was another: in the Kindred world, it mostly meant suicide, and I did not feel that Strauss was an exception. Still, he had given me a great opening: would I take it?
"I was simply pondering over the Primogen's predicament… If LaCroix undergoes a trial and is sentenced for treason, it may either set an example and prove that the Camarilla does not condone corruption, or it may undermine us, leading Kindred to believe that the organisation is crooked to the core and unworthy of salvage. It could be an enormous scandal: the Camarilla comes back in California after decades and the very first Prince turns out to be maddened by lust for power and cavorting with the Kuei-Jin. It would seem as if we have backed Xiao and her troops from day one, helping them run amok over LA so that we could reinstall ourselves in the city. This is what I meant the other night, when I said I was afraid that it would backfire. If we hadn't deposed the Prince, we would have been doomed because of his recklessness, but even after he is gone, we might still be ruined, it's a lose-lose situation."
"I wish I could disprove your line of reasoning, but, alas, I cannot. Indeed, we are treading on very thin ice: one false move and we are all bound to sink. If in your pondering you have come across a potential solution, I would like to hear it. Any suggestion at this point could be vital."
"Well, it is only something that had occurred to me a few minutes ago. But I haven't had time to really think it through, so I would rather wait and consider every possible consequence before embarrassing myself," I replied, cursing my eternal indecision, but it wasn't far from the truth and I hoped it was something he could relate with. Besides, better to stay on the humble side, with people like the Regent it usually paid off.
"Prudence is commendable, but in this particular occasion time is of the essence. So, I invite you to elucidate your idea, and let me play the devil's advocate. According to LaCroix, I am very apt at covering this role," he smiled and I chuckled. I could imagine the infinite power-struggle between them at Councils, like a game of chess between pros: it must have been quite an entertaining sight.
"Very well…" I took a calming breath and prepared myself for my speech: I had to use all of my persuasion, it was now or never. "My proposal is this: let him retrace the steps of his beloved Napoleon. Let's send him to his own Saint Helena, after he 'voluntarily' resigns from his position. People will talk, sure, but, with Xiao and her minions gone, they will have no proof and it will be considerably quieter, since there will not be a trial and the subsequent declamation of his sins."
There, it was out in the open. I spied the Regent's expression and, from what little I knew of him, it looked like he was seriously considering the possibility. But I could sense it wouldn't be that easy.
"How could we justify a Prince willingly giving up his throne?"
"That is the part I have the most doubts about, I know that it is extremely unlikely, to use an euphemism. First of all, if we really cannot find a sound excuse, as far as I know there is not a rule that forces us to disclose a motivation, we could just claim it is a strictly personal reason, following some grave events. Surely rumours would abound, but as long as nobody has definite proof, simple allegations cannot damage us, since the Camarilla has been surrounded by terrible legends for centuries, and yet it still stands. Besides, most people will be quite pleased with LaCroix's departure, and therefore won't ask many questions. If an excuse must be produced, the closest to the truth would be claiming he was severely damaged, either physically or psychically by the last events, the demands of the different factions and the battle with the Kuei-Jin, and that he prefers to retire, since he feels he is not anymore up to the task. We could exploit Xiao and the Sheriff's demise, as if a big battle involving the Prince took place, and him and I got out by a scratch, but he has been shaken to the core and is unable to continue performing his duty. Something of that sort…"
I held my breath: I wasn't very confident about this point, but the Regent merely continued his musings, without apparent reaction.
"What if LaCroix refuses to comply? Or if he tries to come back?" he finally asked, and I was reassured it wasn't over yet.
"It is that or death, right? If he is not completely insane, and has a modicum of good sense and survival instinct left, he will choose Saint Helena and try to avoid fulfilling Napoleon's destiny to the end. If he tries to come back undercover, first of all I think that he will not have a very warm welcome: once he is not the Prince anymore, I honestly doubt he will have any genuine supporters left. As an insurance measure, we could force him to give a full confession, to be recorded and stored by you personally, Regent, in a safe location, so that it cannot be exploited by your enemies, but it may be brought to light if LaCroix tries to claim back power, in order to completely burn his reputation on a global scale. I know that this second option would mean the possibility of just postponing the scandal, and that LaCroix will know it, but in the meantime a lot things can change. Now that the Kuei-Jin and the Sabbat have been almost wiped out, and with Nines gone, if the new Prince is up to the task, in a few years the Camarilla may gain strong credibility and represent the only sound option for the Kindred of this city. After all, it is just a matter of them getting used to the idea: having met the Anarch Barons, it's not as if they gave much more freedom to their subordinates, in practice it is more of a nominative thing than a real tangible difference, revolutionary claims notwithstanding."
Silence enveloped the small compartment, so thick it could almost be touched. The Regent was deeply absorbed, almost in a trance, and apprehension started creeping up my spine.
"You are more adroit with politics than I expected, despite LaCroix's inadequate guidance," he proclaimed at last, but his tone did not betray his conclusions.
"Well, I come from the Academic world and it is quite a warfare: there are the Elders, the Clans, even the Sects. They just miss the fangs and immortality, and they could be a small scale replica of the vampire Society," I half joked, making the Regent laugh, but it was actually the truth. The experience gained while dealing with the bigwig Professor and the various strata of the scholarly environment had been crucial for my survival after the Embrace: I was already used to the snobbism, the flattering, the internal feuds between the "barons" and to having to accept to be used as a tool, until I raised to a position where I, in turn, could exploit others.
"It appears that humanity has not changed much in these last few centuries. I used to be a scholar myself, an alchemist to be precise," he explained with a trace of nostalgia. Yet another thing we had in common, and maybe the primary cause of this weird feeling of familiarity. Still, in many other aspects we were extremely different, and it would be in my best interest never to forget it.
"Your proposal is not devoid of merit, although, as you correctly inferred, it poses several long-term implications that it would be unwise for me to underestimate."
"Yes, I understand," I meekly replied, trying to conceal my disappointment. I cursed myself for even daring to hope that my idea would be suitable: if the Primogen were racking their brains over this dilemma, it was surely above my grasp.
"Still, it is the best alternative that has been brought to my attention so far," he resumed with a smile and I simply could not believe my ears. "Therefore, I shall analyze it carefully in the hours that separate us from the Council."
"Thank you," I breathed out, unable to find my voice. It was much more than I had expected.
"No, Irene, you should not thank me. If you know what is good for you, you would better pray that LaCroix meets his final death as soon as possible."
"I know that, Max. Still, if the Camarilla sinks, so do I: we are on the same boat now. So I will take my chances, I do not have much of a choice either." It was a lie, and some part of me couldn't deny it: rationality had little to do with my current decision. Against my better sense, I just wanted LaCroix to live, and his eyes to stop haunting me. If once he went on "Saint Helena" he got himself killed, I would hardly shed a tear, what really mattered to me was that it wasn't my doing.
"Very well… Allow me to give you a final warning, as if I were your Sire. Your wisdom exceeds your years, Irene, but such a gift comes not without a cost. I advise you to be particularly mindful of whom you choose to share it with. Most of my peers will be ready and willing to exploit your ability on the field, but, as for your brain, they will see it as a threat, not an asset."
"And you do not share their vision?" I asked, once again nervous about all this praise. If it weren't sincere, it was a terribly bad signal.
"It is foolhardiness that frightens me, Irene, not intelligence. The decisions of a rational mind I can understand and predict, those of a dimwit or a madman are predominantly random and therefore much more potentially dangerous."
It made sense, but I did not know if I could fully believe him: dumb people rarely got far in the un-life. The truth laid in between, as far as I was concerned. Still, it wasn't as if I had much of a choice.
"I will take heed of your words, thank you for your concern."
"We should head back to the Chantry now, tomorrow night is going to be a very long one, and we must be adequately prepared."
As I turned the key and started the engine, a part of me couldn't believe that a night could be any longer than the one that was now coming to an end: it felt like a geological era had passed since I left Mercurio's apartment. But if there was one thing I had learnt in my un-life, it was that you could always count on things to get worse.
I drove to Downtown surrounded by perfect silence, Strauss was again lost in his own world, and I had to focus on the streets. I parked the car near the Chantry, and he hastily went inside the building after announcing to me that I could now safely go back to my haven.
I slammed the door of my apartment shut: I had never hoped to see it again and it almost felt surreal. I crawled up the stairs with the few energies I had left: there was only one thing I craved for more than my bed, and it was my shower.
I quickly got rid of my ruined clothes and stepped under the warm stream of water, taking my time to wash away the accumulated dirt and allowing my knotted muscles to relax. Finally, as I felt my eyes drooping closed, I forced myself to put on a bathrobe and stumbled towards the bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, torpor overtook my senses.
A/N: A small, transitional chapter, that should have been part of a longer chapter, but… I guess you know me by now, I like to go into detail, and these are really crucial parts to set the foundations for the story. The next chapter will be quite long, and it is already half done, more or less. Once the "crisis" is over, I'll go at a faster pace later, I promise, otherwise this would be a Neverending Story. I hope it doesn't get boring, if so I'll try to make amends and be more condensed in my writing.
Thanks, thanks and thanks to all the reviewers: I have never dreamt for such a warm reception, I am so glad you are enjoying this and I hope I won't let you down.
Kizzy – I am honoured to receive your first review! I have been visiting this site for years, as a reader, and until I started publishing my work, I couldn't realize just how important reviews of any kind are to support writers and motivating them to endure through writer's blocks or busy periods when you just have to squeeze writing in a very tight schedule. I'll try to keep the frequent updates (but that depends on real life, I am afraid) and as for abandoning the story, I have no intentions to. About the past, it is only in the literary sense, but she is narrating events of her present. She may have some suspicions about how things are likely going to evolve, but she doesn't have an insight in the future that would be there if she were narrating past events (things like "little did I know"…). I hope I was able to explain myself clearly.
Least but never last, an enormous thank you to Loving Companion Cube for helping me with the workings of the World of Darkness, for all the support, motivation and well, for everything!