Tabetha couldn't quite find the right way to describe how she felt. En route to returning to her body, she started to process all she saw while watching Marko.
First he talked to Ox in his shop. Ox spun some parable about a farmer; a kind of riddle, really. Not that it was a particularly difficult one, but she was mildly impressed that Marko solved it in the manner he did; it was as if Ox had spoken plainly to him. That fact made her wonder if perhaps Ox was also Malkavian. No, he wasn't. Tabetha wasn't sure what Ox was, but he wasn't Kindred and sure was not human. He wasn't Kuei-Jin either; but then perhaps there are other variations of those kinds of creatures in the Orient, much as there are in the West. In any case, Mr. Ox wanted him to be what he called a 'Bad Luck Farmer'; to do that, Marko had to plant an item cursed to bring bad luck to a specific person at the Fu Syndicate building. Marko left Ox's shop and made his way towards his target. At around the same time, none other than Ajax should creep out of the alley right behind the shop. He was obfuscated, of course, but his bleach-like stench is always a dead giveaway. She was a little surprised that Marko seemed oblivious to it. The only way she could explain it was that the Malkavian had eschewed the habit of respiration whenever mortals were not present.
At the Fu Syndicate, Marko tarried around the front for some reason, raked some hedges and collected cigarette butts; likely to avoid any undue suspicion from mortals who might see him there. Then he went around back, fed on a janitor and went inside. Meanwhile, Ajax ducked away and contacted somebody- most likely either the wunderkind or Imalia – and eventually Barabbas showed up. Barabbas indicated, speaking in Nadsat, that he knew a better way into the building. Then Ajax left; presumably downtown, possibly to try and spy on her based on what she overheard him and the wunderkind talking about.
She followed Marko in and witnessed him placing an object in a locker, then get into a fight with a female samurai. She fought well, but the Malkavian had more tricks up his sleeve than she could handle. Their battle ended with her death, and Marko turning on the showers they were in to wash the blood down the drain. How could he be so wasteful? Madness is no excuse! He then went back to the janitor, whispered something in his ear, and left him gibbering like a lunatic.
Once back with Ox, Marko reported the seed was planted and apparently took root. It turned out the janitor was Ox's target, and was now probably going to be blamed for the death of the samurai. Ox was elated. He gave Marko a small item wrapped in cloth. Even before they discussed what it was, Tabetha knew; it was the same mirror she retrieved for him from that ditz daughter of that restaurant owner. It was the soul-stealing mirror.
It didn't take a genius level IQ to figure out what Marko was planning to do with that. Obviously he was going to try to lure the Founder into him so he could look into the mirror and trap the Founder behind the glass. This was his attempt at an exorcism. Theoretically, it could work.
Even before her embrace, emotions were difficult for Tabetha to define and describe. It wasn't that she didn't feel them; it was more like she had a hard time keeping them apart or responding to stimuli appropriately. Even at a very young age she found it easier to disengage altogether and focus exclusively on empirical evidence. Academically she excelled; she was tested and found to have an IQ of 173. She was jumped ahead in school and still often topped all her classes. Of course, she didn't have many friends; but she had her books and labs. Though she never really took much interest in religion or theology, she did find a great fascination in the occult and things like alchemy and what is often thought of as 'magic' or 'sorcery'. These were things she thought of more like primitive – or more accurately archaic – science. Though her family was well-heeled, she didn't really need their money to get into an excellent university in New York; her scholarships practically let her choose.
It was on Campus that she first encountered Tyler DeFaulte. He was a jock football player that seemed bound and determined to 'break her out of her shell'. He seemed convinced that she fancied him. At first she thought he was an arrogant buffoon, but later came to see that he really meant well by her. He was from a very poor part of the City, but immensely popular; partly due to his talents on the field, but largely due to his drive to live as fully as possible. On campus, they ended up being civil with each other. He never did quite crack her shell.
On campus, she delved deeper into her occult studies, and found something of a mentor on line From Los Angeles. At the time, she didn't think anything of the fact he only seemed available during the night on Pacific time; she just presumed that kind of went with the territory of taking interest in the unknown and some would think unknowable. The name he gave her was Perniculus De Faustus, and he was real fount of knowledge. She started spending more and more time with him on the internet, and eventually he invited her to come visit him in LA. She had on off semester coming up, so she agreed to go meet him. She never got back to New York; that was ten years ago...
The rest was well documented in Clan and Kindred history. Perniculus, her sire, was one of many slaughtered by Prince LaCroix that night. Among those who also lost their sire was none other than Tyler DeFaulte, who was being scouted for an NFL contract. It was that night she met the others in what is known by many as the 'Super Seven', of which of course both Marko and Ajax were part.
As a member of House and Clan Tremere, she adjusted quite quickly. It was really like school to her, an environment she knew how to thrive in. She was even encouraged to continue to detach from emotions as a means of staving off the beast. At least, that is what her former mentor Strauss told her.
Now her emotions were all muddled and bubbling to the surface all at once. She was glad to now know what Marko was up to. Angered that Ox would so easily sell her out. Worried that Marko's plan could work. Terrified at the implications of the investigation that Ajax and the wunderkind were doing. Amused at how reluctant Ajax was to go through with the investigation. Elated at how well her plans regarding Velvet and Jeanette were going. Oddly aroused at the idea of pursuing Jeanette. All of these feelings, or ideas of feelings were overshadowed by one thing; the prospect of the kind of absolute power she has now had access to through the Founder. Marko posed a very real threat to that. Now she had to get back to her body and decide the best way to deal with him. That was her first priority. Her second priority would be the damned Nosferatu.
Back in her body, she needed time to sort everything out. She needed a chance to strategize. As far as Marko was concerned, the best she could think of was avoidance for the time being. Her biggest concern was the Founder; if He decided to take over Marko, there was no telling for sure if His control would be complete.
I am aware of the perils of the minds of Malkav, child. We must retrieve this mirror you speak of.
"Yes, Founder; I know." Tabetha said in the empty room of the elaborate parlor. She found speaking was helpful in keeping the thoughts of the Founder and her own separate. "We'll have to work out a plan to locate it first. I have a few ideas where he might hide it."
That's very good. It's a start. We shall work out a means to locate and retrieve based on what you know already.
"What about the Nosferatu, Founder?" She asked. "It appears one of them can see signs in auras and can detect diablerie. How do we silence them?"
They are easy enough to buy off, Child. You will learn this in time. Even if they cannot be, there are ways in Camarilla Law to circumvent anything. Now, to obtain this mirror; you must listen very carefully, child. This will be a delicate operation.
Tabetha Toussaint, neonate yet Regent and Primogen of the Los Angeles Chantry of House and Clan Tremere; evidently chosen and favored by the Clan Founder Himself, smiled thinly as the Founder described his plan to her. Surging with such power, she was certain she could not fail.