There were rabbits all over the park, feasting on the fresh spring grass and generally bolting around like vermin. Paul kicked at one that had not noticed him and it jumped away quickly before he could touch it. They were weak and it annoyed him that they were not more afraid. He looked around quickly and picked out a bench, wiping some of the moisture away before sitting.
Jesse had wanted to come with when he had declared the need for an outing, but he had no intention of letting his Sire know what he was doing in the park. Jesse would pick out some jerk to feed on and that would be it; he'd want to go dance at the club or something equally boring. Paul had other intentions and they were meeting him shortly, he checked his watch briefly and stood again. He walked around the bench a few times before sitting and looking at the time again. They were going to be late if they didn't show up soon. He snorted, if they showed up at all.
A hand jerked him back against the seat of the bench and he stiffened, "Looks like a young critter out on his own might not be so safe after all, eh?" The hand remained as a tall lanky man walked around to face him.
"He doesn't look like much Scout, are you sure we want to keep him? I thought that this place had a catch and release law for the little ones."
There was a derisive snort, "Eh, he's the one who set up the meeting, Jox. We've gotta talk to him at least. Daphyd wants us to and ya know how he gets when we get creative with the desires of the pack." The hand released his shoulder and Paul jerked forward. "So what do ya want, Gangrel?"
Paul flashed a small smile, "That depends on what you have to offer, Sabbat. Want to talk trade or do you just want to get on with business?"
*
She had never heard a ghoul complain about the length of their lives. Sure there were bitch and moan sessions about everything else; how their Kindred treated them, the classes the family forced them to take, the way elder ghouls looked down upon younger ones, even the way that other creatures like the Garou attacked them without allowing them to prove they might not be such bad sorts. Selene huffed, some poor kid with an uncommon skill gets kidnapped and blood bound to a creepy Kindred and suddenly it's the kid's fault? Totally unfair. Just like her life. Sure, she was part of one of the powerful ghoul families, but she was ordered around as if this were some sort of boot camp and Sasha had skipped out on her weeks ago.
She half listened to Synneve as she played with her hair, and twirled in the desk chair until the Gangrel finally stopped yapping about the latest problem. "Okay, whatever. I take care of the building and the kiddies and you stop by every week or so to see that they aren't dealing dope or knocking down walls. Gotcha. Can I go now?"
She flashed a grin to counter Synneve's frown. "I'll see ya around then." The night was young and she had clubs to dance in, people to play with and hopefully a connection to make. There were rumors floating around Gothik, unusual events and people like always, but these caught her attention. When that little Gangrel punk Paul started asking questions at the club she knew there was something more to them. The kid was a subtle as a mack truck and it was gonna get him in a whole lotta trouble one day, but she did appreciate the inadvertent tip-off. Something was happening in town and she was gonna be a part of it. Selene grinned at the people she passed on the street, it was her duty to be a part of this.
*
Paul moved through the alleys with the two Sabbat, letting them lead as he paid careful attention to street names and abandoned buildings. This was definitely not the good part of town, but it wasn't that far from it either. He smirked and almost tripped over a brick as his thoughts spun away from his surroundings.
"Real smooth Gangrel, they teach ya those tricks in doggy obedience?" The one called Scout was a real charmer, in his own mind anyway. He was starting to annoy Paul, but it wasn't enough to make him want to back down. He was convinced that this was the best option, and screw the consequences. He had to get something more out of this city and following Jesse around wasn't gonna do it.
"Oh, you snare me with your wit. I'm sure you keep everyone so amused." Paul snorted, and caught a small smile from Joxer. "Are we almost there? I don't have a lot of time tonight."
The buildings were spaced further apart as they moved away from the city center, and small abandoned lots were more frequent. Joxer nodded and pointed ahead a short distance. "Over there, that church."
"You guys live in a church? Isn't that a little... I don't know, wannabe... isn't that what the little Kine do?"
"It's empty, there isn't anyone around the neighborhood and there are plenty of nice juicy rats. Plus, it was a temporary solution and our Abbot has a new place lined up already. We wouldn't want to take you there, you know, in case anything goes wrong."
*
He was waiting for her in the regular spot, elbow planted firmly on the bar and sardonic smile in place. Once she had thought he was smirking at her, those tell-tale eyes betraying a warmth and humor she wasn't accustomed to. Years later she had come to appreciate that he just had a very odd, one might say quirky, sense of irony. He appreciated her in a way none of her Childer had. Perhaps that was why she had kept him around and in such good business for so long.
"It seems that we just did this such a short time ago. Whatever happened to secret meetings near dawn and tires spinning helplessly on gravel?" His smile broadened into a grin and he made a small gesture to the bar stool next to his own. "I'll buy you a drink, you look like you need one or four."
"Only because I do. Things are not going so well these days, as you know. First... well, I guess it is hard to say when it started." Synneve's laugh turned into a short cough. "Well the latest was with Daesha. I don't know who did it, some Kine gang wanting to influence the neighborhood or supernatural creature trying to piss me off. Selene is in charge of the club and building now. She can handle herself much better and if anyone messes with her the Rafastio family will all be after them." She glanced at the drink set in front of her for a moment before grabbing it and gulping it down. It was refilled quickly, and she nodded her thanks. "Something is happening in other regions, I have been cut off from some of my sources, but I am not the only one who has been lost in this way. Sasha is gone, to the Carolinas again. She has work there, but will be back soon I think. The others? I have no idea anymore." "And what will be the plan for this, there is one right?" He jerked his head towards the back of the club and she grabbed the drink, motioning to the bartender to have more brought over to their table. "We could go somewhere else. This isn't exactly the place to be dealing in these things, is it?" The grin surfaced again and she couldn't resist briefly returning it.
"Hide in plain sight, it works sometimes and I know most of these people, not dangerous types at all. Unless they want to read you their latest poem." Synneve sat with a small grunt and finished her second drink before sliding further into the booth. "There is no formal plan. The idea would be to create troops, those that are strong and can replace the ones who have been lost to the group. I would take you, if you would agree. You know enough of what is going on already. There are two or three others in the city that might do, but there are even more in the further regions of the state. Susan... you know which one, she would be strong. But I am uncertain of her loyalties. Her clan and her sibling could be an issue and I am not quite willing to extend the invitation to him yet, if at all. She is a good choice but for those two problems. The others, well, I will wait and observe for a while longer."
He nodded, "I will reconsider my position if it becomes necessary, but I don't think that it is that bad yet. If it becomes so I will seek you out first." He pushed a third drink towards her, "But until then perhaps I can distract you instead."
She snorted softly and took the alcohol, "Does this need to become one of our talks about who is and is not my 'type' or can that wait for one more week." She brushed some loose hair away from her forehead, "Though I have no doubt that we both enjoy such a distraction if it should occur one day, Jack. It would be memorable."
"Exactly." He waved a hand in front of her eyes briefly. "You need another of those? I was thinking we were done for the night, but if you want to hang around with me for a bit, I can take you somewhere. There was another little issue; thought it could wait but if you have the time why now not now?"
Synneve grinned, "I have had enough of this tonight, take me to this place and we can talk about this new issue." She downed the last of her drink and stood. "I always have time for you."
*
Paul had followed the Sabbat pack members into the abandoned church, the haven they claimed to be leaving soon. It stood derelict in the midst of apartment buildings and overgrown yards, its own cemetery hidden in weeds and small trees. He was on guard as always, but this was a meeting of mutual benefit and they had agreed to let him carry a weapon. Of course, he was alone and there were many of them so a weapon was not all that useful, but it gave him a feeling of confidence in his quest.
"Daphyd is probably in his study again," Sport gestured to a dirty pew, "Sit down and I'll bring him in a few moments." He smirked again and disappeared through one of the doors near the alter.
Joxer sat on the alter itself, swinging his feet as he studied the young Gangrel. "You're really young ain't ya? For something like this. Why didn't she send the other one, or that tough chick that was always around?"
"Suneyva has her reasons, but I suppose it's because Jesse is away and Julianna is busy." He smiled and flashed a little fang, "Young doesn't mean weak, or stupid, not always anyway."
"A belief of the Sabbat, we have often used the younglings to further our causes. Too bad that is often brings them to their Final Deaths so soon after their Embrace." Both Kindred turned to watch as Daphyd crossed the room, Joxer pushed himself to his feet and Paul remained seated. Daphyd nodded, "No need to rise for me, I'm just here to listen. So talk."
"She wants to meet you, sometime soon if possible. Somewhere outside of the city. The whole pack, and she will bring her Childer. She has a proposal, but I do not know the details. Acceptable so far?"
"I am willing to talk with her, for curiosity if nothing else." The presence of this pack was supposed to remain secret for some time yet, how the Gangrel Primogen had found them and what she had planned for this chat would be quite interesting. "So where and when do we have this little tea party?"
Paul blinked, "Three nights from now, there is a small park four miles to the south of the city. We have some ghouls who will discourage anyone from loitering in the area, but it has been abandoned for some time. There is shelter nearby and the ghouls will guard if the meeting runs close to dawn, but she doesn't believe it will." This was easier than he had expected, but the pack seemed eager and more curious than aggressive. It would please Suneyva. "If you need any further information or need to contact us before then, she would like you to give the message to Selene at the Iron Cage, a club downtown."
Daphyd closed his eyes for several minutes, "Yes. That should do. Scout will escort you out of our neighborhood. Do give my regards to your mistress when you tell her of our visit, I look forward to meeting her face to face." He waved Scout over and departed from the room again, pulling Joxer along behind him. The anti-tribu Malkavian grinned and flipped off a short wave before they were gone and Paul found himself grinning at an empty doorway.
*
<
