As it turned out, this Walker kid had his own idea; or rather some preconceived idea based on proper protocol in regards to whom he wanted to meet first. He insisted that I introduce him to our Primogen, who would in turn present me to the appropriate officers. What surprised me a little was that he wasn't the least bit phased that Bertram wasn't Primogen; apparently it's fairly commonplace for Camarilla Elders to have someone else represent the Clans, and they themselves sort of run the show behind the scenes. I guess it made sense, in a Cammie sort of way.
Getting to Imalia wasn't a problem; I already knew she wasn't in our Downtown haven, and she wasn't exactly a social butterfly, that meant she'd probably be in her Warren quarters. I led Walker through the Warrens to her door, the one lined with Christmas lights. I knocked three times on the door.
"What the hell do you want?" She shouted raspy voiced from the other side. Before Walker could comment I waved her apparent hostility off. She's pretty much always like that. Then I opened the door and stepped in.
"Oh, it's you." She said, calming down. "Sorry about that. What can I do for you, babe?"
"We got a new kid in the Warren." I said, stepping aside to let Walker in. "He wanted to meet you. Primogen Imalia, meet Adam Walker."
Imalia looked him over and scoffed.
"So what brings you to LA?" she asked.
I had to hand it to the kid; he didn't seem the least bit phased by Imalia's demeanor. He stepped forward, his oddly elegant hand extended. "Good evening Primogen," he said. "I am here on official Camarilla business."
"Well, good for you," she shot back, disregarding his hand. "Care to be a little more specific, newbie?"
Still unphased, the Walker kid lowered his hand. "Khemintiri has been tracked to this city, and I'm going to track her and take her down; one way or the other."
Imalia blanched at that, and then laughed derisively. "You've got more balls than brains, then, newbie." She commented. "Even if she were here, what makes you think you have a chance at catching her? She's been on the run longer than most of us have been alive." The kid didn't know Imalia like I did, so he might have missed it, but I didn't. She was terrified at the notion that that Setite bitch might be here.
"She's here alright" Walker insisted, "or at least she was. Whichever the case, I want to seek acknowledgement of your Prince for the duration of my investigation; and I wish to speak to your Sherriff and Scourge in order coordinate our activities." He glanced over his soldier at me. "You are welcome to join the hunt as an extension of my reach, of course."
"Well, aren't you just the perfect little Cammie soldier-boy?" Imalia grumbled. "Fine; I'll set up a meet with the Queen Bitch. I should advise you that chances are good the closest you'll get to her Lunatic Highness is her power-tripping candy-ass Seneschal Hastings, though."
Walker shot his attention at Imalia, staring at her intently.
"Did you say Hastings?" He asked sharply. "As in, of the Hastings line of Clan Ventrue?"
"Yeah, that's right" Imalia concurred. "Why is that a big deal; other than the fact that the Hastings line basically owns pretty much the whole West Coast? Are you in bed with them, too? Would you rather deal with him?"
"No" Walker replied, a hint of panic in his voice. "In fact the opposite is true for now. I'd want to keep him as far out of the loop as possible."
Imalia looked n my direction. "Maybe you can learn something from this kid, babe." She said to me. "At least he has the sense to not trust those bastards." She spoke to Walker; "There might be hope for you yet." Speaking to me again; "You're supposed to watch Elysium activities. Where is Therese?"
"Tonight she's at the Nocturne." I answered. "She's overseeing preparations for some kind of charity benefit; Public Relations for the Club Partners."
"I'm surprised it's not Jeanette dealing with that."
"Her Highness wanted to make sure it was all right and proper." I explained.
She scoffed again, grumbling about how that just figures and taking some consolation that at least she wouldn't have to go into either the whorehouse VV calls a bar or the aptly named Asylum.
"Follow me, both of you." She ordered. We both stepped aside and let our Primogen lead the way through the Warrens, through the sewer systems into the Downtown core and to where the Clan is officially supposed to enter the Nocturne theatre.