The girl was held in the chair with heavy iron chains. She looked to be the farthest thing from a threat you could ever find, but the vampire standing guard behind her, the one with the severely dislocated shoulder, had learned how wrong that assumption was. The woman coming in through the door had survived to reach her position by being cautious, so she didn't mind the chains.
The woman motioned briskly with one hand and the guards turned and left by the other door. After she heard the door lock from the outside, she picked up the folder on the desk. As the Primogen of the Tremere Clan in St. Louis, Cynthia Deevers had access to information from around the world. She also knew how to make the best use of that information.
"Katherine Alexandra Ramsey," she read aloud with a faint British accent. "Born in Hollywood, California. Embraced at age 19, sire unknown. Sister of Verena Alexis Ramsey. How interesting. Let's talk about your sister, Katherine, shall we?"
"Katherine's dead," was the only response.
"Ah…ah, yes, there is a note here. Alyxandra, then. May I call you Alyx?"
"I don't think so. That's what my friends call me."
"You sister took something very valuable to me, Alyxandra, and I want it back."
Alyx looked uninterested as she looked up, studying her captor.
"Well, did you ask her for it?" she asked. "If you didn't ask nicely, Verena can get very grumpy and stubborn. Personally, I don't think she's all there in the head, but you could try asking again. Maybe if you say 'pretty please with…'"
Alyx was cut off by the vicious backhand across her mouth.
"Your sister is dead, you stupid little bint. How am I supposed to ask her anything?"
Alyx looked at the Tremere as though that were the stupidest question she'd ever heard. She didn't say anything, though, since her tongue was busy checking for loose teeth and tasting the blood she let trickle from her split lip onto the floor.
"No," Deevers continued, "I believe your sister gave you my property. So, Ms. Ramsey, either you can tell me what I want to know or you can get comfortable, because you won't be leaving until I get what belongs to me."
"Hrmph… we'll just have to see what my big puppy has to say about that."
Deevers glanced at the girl, trying to tell if she really thought some stray mutt would help here. She shrugged, disregarding the lunatic's ravings.
"As threats go, Ms. Ramsey, puppies are about the least thing I'd be afraid of."
"Really?" Alyx said, sincerely intrigued. "Huh…"