Chapter Two - chaos.
By Richard LeBlanc
The Royal Palace - one of the most exclusive nightclubs in the entire city of Eco. Ironically, it was also a favorite haunt of the Prince of the city - a Brujah that called himself Axis. Well, at least it was. Just recently a bunch of anarchs decided to wash the place with fire. Everybody was able to get out in one piece, but not everyone will survive.
"Get the punk!" the self appointed leader of the small band yelled. For the past ten minutes he and his five friends were trying to take down the person that was trying to interfere with their fun, a vampire named Skamms.
"Do it yourself wimp!" Skamms retorted. He quickly threw a garbage can lid like a Frisbee. The shot soared by the three that were attacking him and nailed the loud one in the face. He was about to attack the stranger when he could feel his hands beginning to burn. He looked down and saw that Nenia was once again awake.
"Forget him! Kill the bitch!" he exclaimed. But the order came too late. His body was engulfed in flames. The light show distracted the others long enough for Skamms to take the advantage. He quietly stole their guns and aimed them at the backs of their heads.
"Is that a full bottle in front of me? Or is it a full frontal lobotomy?" he asked. Before they could move, both of their heads exploded. Skamms pushed the headless bodies aside and watched as they turned to ash.
"What the hell are you doing in this part of town princess?" Skamms demanded. The Tremere levitated herself and stormed towards the insolent person.
"I go where I please and I don't answer to you!" she retorted.
"Whatever. If you get yourself staked and drained as a midnight treat - don't expect me to drop everything to save your sorry ass - again." He said in a less than tolerant voice. He turned his back and began to walk away.
"I didn't say you could leave." She stated. He quickly turned around and held the two guns under her chin.
"I could turn you to ash." She threatened. She heard the safeties on the guns disengage. Skamms looked her in the eye and looked at her with a hatred that she had not seen in years.
"Hard to use those freaky fire powers without a head." He retorted. There was a moment of silence as the two stared each other down. Just then, several of the kindred that had scattered the fire rushed over to see what was going on.
"Is everything in order?" the prince asked seriously. Without averting her eyes she silently nodded. Everyone stepped back and gave her some space.
"Friends of yours?" Skamms asked.
"More or less. I would put the guns down if I were you." She replied. He pushed the tips of the guns closer. She could feel the heat from when the guns were fired.
"Apologize and I might - princess." He retorted.
"Fine - sorry." she muttered calmly. In a quick action he pulled the triggers - both guns went click. He stepped away and pointed the guns at the prince. Instantly over a dozen guns were aimed at the Mook.
"You - the one that spoke. I take it you run things here?" he asked.
"Indeed. Care to lower your guns?" he asked. Skamms looked at the guns and nodded. He then raised them up and fired them both straight up. He then looked over at the Tremere and smiled.
"Sure. Here." He replied calmly as he tossed the now empty guns to the prince. There was another moment of silence, but then the prince gestured for everyone to lower their weapons.
"I take it you were responsible for saving Nenia." He asked. Skamms looked over at the angry Tremere and snorted.
"Don't remind me. If I knew she was one of those moody witches I would have let them drink her like a cold beer." He retorted coldly. The comment pushed Nenia a little too far.
"That does it! Eat fire punk!" she shouted. She emitted a flame bolt at him. But with surprising quickness he ducked down. The shot singed his back a bit - but hit the Gangrel sheriff square in the chest.
"I'm surprised you have lived as long as you have with sloppiness like that." He taunted.
"ENOUGH! You are clearly not Brujah so who are you?" the prince asked sternly. Skamms scowled at the prince and gave him the finger. The prince was going to reply when Skamms drew a broken mirror on the ground.
"A mook? Great. Two in as many days. Is this your way of seeking acknowledgement?" the prince asked sternly. Skamms did a little dance to show how impressed he was with the prince.
"Save it! I have better things to do with my time than to worry about your city's backwater politics. I'm out of here." Skamms retorted. The lack of respect from the stranger was most unsettling. He was about to walk away when he heard several guns arm.
"I'm afraid it isn't as simple as all that. You see, this little display was a deliberate act of aggression towards me, my council and my city. I have no idea who was responsible for this fiasco or why. But I will get answers today." Axis stated calmly. Skamms looked over at the shadows in the alley a few feet away. He might be able to get there before they fired, but he knew the chances of making it were slim at best.
"Fine. Where are we going oh mister high and mighty princy pants?" Skamms retorted sarcastically.
"Sheriff. Escort our new 'friend' to the sanctuary. The rest of you listen up. We have to find out who was behind this - the reason for the attack and if there are any people that are missing." The prince called out.
"I know one that poofed. That other mook Snapps." Nenia commented. The prince nodded.
"Then he is on our list of priorities then. Pack up and get going. The authorities will be here shortly. When they do - I want no one near here. Now move it!" the prince ordered. All of the kindred scattered into the shadows.
"What a pompous blow hard. Why do you people put up with him?" Skamms asked curiously. The sheriff shook his head and allowed himself to laugh at the question.
"That pompous 'blow hard' as you call him has saved the city on numerous occasions with his quick thinking. He also has a rather short fuse. You are lucky he didn't just let everyone turn you into Swiss cheese." He replied seriously.
"Hmph. If I had my choice - I would have chosen Cheddar." Skamms retorted. The sheriff was going to say something when he realized that the comment was a joke.
"Good one. So what's your beef with Nenia?" the sheriff asked curiously. Skamms looked around the streets that they were walking down.
"I don't take shit from no one. I don't care if it is a pack of Brujah - a lupine - a blow hard prince - or a snotty Tremere. She called the dance - not me." He replied coldly.
"Tough guy huh?" he asked.
"I wouldn't say so. The assholes that get on my bad side wouldn't say that either." He answered.
"Really? Why?" he asked.
"All of my enemies have smiled and touched their god." He replied. Skamms allowed himself to smile at the analogy. The sheriff looked over at the Malkavian and realized that there was a darker side to his insanity than there was in most people.
"By the look of you. I would be inclined to agree. Just watch what you say about the prince. Consider it a friendly warning - rather than a threat." The sheriff added. The Malkavian shook his head.
"Whatever." He replied. The two walked through the back alleys and vanished into the shadows.
***
Roughly a half an hour later, the group was reassembled at a secret meeting place. It was found by one of the Nosforatu when doing some errands. Ever since the old section of abandoned tunnels was labeled the Sanctuary.
"Tell me something useful people." The prince requested seriously.
"From what I was able to get out of my people, some anarchs have stepped in from out of town and have been causing all this fuss. I don't know if the display at the Palace was an attack on you sire. I believe that it was just a hit on an influential place." One of the Nosforatu replied.
"Out of town? Great. We must be the only city that imports our trouble makers. What of the local anarch sects? I thought they hated people muscling in on their turf." The prince asked.
"Uh, from what I was able to learn - most of them are dead." one of the Brujah replied. The answer didn't sit well with the prince. There were at least twenty renowned anarch sects that thrived in Eco.
"Most - dead? By my records there had to be over three hundred kindred that classed themselves as anarchs. How is it that most of them are dead?" the prince asked.
"Wish I could tell you more. But the streets went dry of information shortly after I was told what I was. What did get my attention was when I heard that whatever was going on was just beginning." The Brujah concluded.
"What about under the streets?" the prince asked.
"All of the scouts we had posted were killed. There were apparently several random bombings. All of them hit our watch points." A Nosforatu elder answered. This answer did not sit well with the prince. This was starting to look a little larger than just an anarch revolt.
"That's just marvelous. What else? I just know there is more good news." The prince asked sarcastically. There was a moment of silence before a Toreador stepped forward.
"By my count, about six kindred have gone missing - not counting Snapps." He added. Nenia groaned at hearing that her only possible clue to finding the stolen talisman was missing.
"I don't like this." The prince began.
"Neither do I!" Skamms interrupted. All eyes turned to the Malkavian and the sheriff.
"I was told that the prince was quick on his feet and how his quick thinking saved the city - Oooo - so where is this mythical prince?" he asked intolerantly. Anyone that was near the Malkavian quickly scattered.
"Skamms - you are trying to get on my bad side. That is not a smart thing to do." The prince warned. Skamms shook his head and threw his hands in the air.
"What - and - ever! I am gone. You can have your pets shoot me if you want - otherwise I'm heading out." He retorted.
"To where?" he demanded.
"Right now, anywhere would be more productive than here. Stay here highness. Plan your little games highness. Hide in the shadows highness. I'm going out to amuse myself. Ta-ta." Skamms said bluntly. His two bodyguards raised their weapons at the Malkavian that was walking away.
"No. I have a better idea." The prince interrupted. He took out a cell phone and called up an old friend.
"Hey. I've got a job for you. There's a punk of a Malkavian that is around the Sanctuary area. Find him and initiate Plan A - yes. That one. Understand? Good." The prince concluded as he put the phone away.
"Sire? Plan A?" one of his bodyguards hissed.
"It's a surprise. Listen up people we have a lot of shit to deal with. So let's get things done right the first time." the prince called out. Everyone gathered round the prince and got ready to learn the plan of action.
***
A fair distance away and out of the tunnels, Skamms was leaning against what was left of a wall. He was collecting his thoughts when a youthful looking group of anarchs made their way over to where he was.
Great, just what I need. He thought. He slowly got up and prepared for the worst. Much to his surprise, they walked by him as though he wasn't even there.
"I must be missing something." He muttered. Just then the group stopped and looked over at him.
"He must be a new guy." One of them stated.
"I've been called worse." He retorted.
"Hey, he's got spunk." Another of them added.
"Yeah. Hey, you feeling lucky punk?" the leader of the group asked.
"Always." Skamms retorted calmly.
"Cool. You want to hang with us? We were going to mess up a mall a little north of here." the leader continued.
"Why me?" he asked untrustingly.
"Cause you look like a no bullshit kind of guy. So you want to stay or go? Either way is cool with us." the leader offered. Skamms let out a sigh. A little chaos and senseless destruction might clear his clouded thoughts.
"Why not? Lead the way." He replied coolly.
"Great. The place is this way." The leader began. The group began to walk down one of the streets. The area appeared to be a slum, but it looked like it was hit by several bombs.
Something isn't adding up. Everything in this area is already trashed. Time to test a theory. Skamms thought. He quickly dived into the shadows of an alley and vanished. Around two or three seconds later the group learned that their guest was missing.
"Where did he go?" the leader asked.
"I don't know. He was here a moment ago." Another replied.
"Shit. The prince won't be happy that he gave us the slip. Okay, plan B. Find the Mook and give him the Sixth Tradition." The leader reluctantly stated. The gang of anarchs split up and began to look for their intended target.
Where one of the anarchs went was a condemned, abandoned building. Nothing with a working brain would risk going in there - which is why it would be the perfect place for a psychotic Malkavian.
"Come on out Skamms. We just want to play a game." The anarch called out. Just then, Skamms stepped out of the shadows and whacked him upside the head with a metal pipe.
"Let's play punk!" Skamms hissed. The anarch tried to get up but every time he was knocked down. The anarch threw a wild punch in the hopes of getting the psycho off of him, but he missed. Within a few minutes, the anarch was unconscious and the floor and Skamms was covered in blood.
"I love it when they play rough." Skamms muttered. He walked over and picked up a shovel. He spun it around and skipped over to where the body was. Once there he bent over and looked at the empty look in the other vampire's eyes.
"I just want you to know - this is the most fun I have had in ages. Tell your god that Skamms sent you!" he hissed madly. He raised the shovel and slammed it down through the anarchs neck. He then removed the shovel and watched as the lifeless body deteriorated into a pile of ash.
"One down more to go." He muttered.
In another area of the slum. Two anarchs were searching the area but were having no luck. One was going to say something when something imbedded itself into the back of his neck.
"What's wrong?" the anarch asked as his friend began to twitch. Just then, his head exploded. The startled anarch looked down and saw a weird looking dart with some sort of rune on it.
"What the hell is this?" he asked.
"Hey! Over here!" a voice called out. The anarch looked up just in time to catch a similar dart right in the eye. He screamed out in pain. His eye began to sizzle and like the fate his friend suffered - his head exploded. Seconds later, Skamms stepped out of the shadows and collected the darts.
"Cute toys. They must have belonged to that Tremere bitch Nenia." He said to himself as he carefully put them back in the compartments he found them in.
"This is getting interesting. By my count there should be at least six left." He said to himself. He looked at the fabric that held all of Nenia's weapons and smiled.
"I wonder what some of these other gizmos do." He muttered as he hurried away into the shadows.
At another spot, the leader of the gang was discussing the situation with the prince on his cell phone.
"I'm saying I don't like this. The guy rabbited before the trap could be set. I have my guys looking for him, but the place is getting quiet if you get my meaning." The anarch stated. Just then he heard a scream. He tensed up.
"I got to let you go. One of my friends is in trouble." He concluded. He put the phone away. He and his friend hurried towards the source of the scream. Within a few moments they were there. And what they saw almost turned their stomachs. The friend that cried out was cut open with a chainsaw and hung with his own intestines.
"What kind of animal are we dealing with?" the leader asked in disgust. Just then the door shut behind them. The two slowly turned around and saw a blood splattered Skamms wielding a blood soaked chainsaw.
"I had a hunch that might get your attention." Skamms stated as he revved the chainsaw. The two anarchs instinctively stepped back. Skamms seeing the intimidation factor stepped forward.
"You might ask yourself 'where are the others?' well, I can answer that for you. You see, one lost his head at the condemned building a few blocks north of here. Two had a taste of some Tremere weapons. One had an unfortunate accident by the peer and of course your friend here who is of course still hanging around." Skamms stated madly as he revved the chainsaw again.
"You are fucking insane!" the leader muttered.
"All of my line are. Only some of us use the insanity instead of the other way around. This is your end loser. I will not tolerate an anarch that has his lips on the ass of a prince!" Skamms muttered in disgust. The anarchs were going to say something, but Skamms attacked them in a fit of savage fury. When he was done, both of them were dead. He then walked over to the barely living anarch that was still hanging.
"I want you to give this little message to whatever finds you. Anyone, anything - that chooses to try a pathetic stunt like this will meet a similar fate." He warned. He then turned around and sighed. In a quick action he spun around and beheaded the last anarch near him.
"Never mind. I'll tell him myself." He muttered. He picked up the cell phone that the leader had and used the speed dial function.
"Back already? What happened?" the prince's voice asked. Skamms allowed himself to laugh. He merely dropped the phone and began to walk away.
Let the prince wonder what happened here. It will be more fun that way. He thought to himself as he vanished into the shadows. Within seconds he emerged from the shadows and found himself surrounded.
"What do you boys want?" he asked unimpressed.
"Did you boys see what he did back there? What a savage bastard. I thought some of you pussies were cold but this man is made of ice!" one of them said in awe. Skamms looked at the person as though he had two heads.
"Anything that calls itself an anarch and kisses up to the prince will be handed over to this mean ass mother fucker!" he shouted out as he gestured at Skamms. There were several murmurs in the group of anarchists.
"Hold up. Why would I do anything for you?" Skamms asked seriously.
"I could make it well worth your while. Money, chicks, drugs. You name it I can hook you up. Just stick with me kid and we will tear this city out of the ground and shred whatever falls loose. What do you say?" the eager anarch asked. Skamms allowed himself to smile.
"No promises. But I'll stick around for a little while. Lead the way." Skamms replied with a calm smile. He tossed the bloody chainsaw aside and yawned.
"Hey. What more can I ask? Look, the boys and me will be attending a rally tomorrow. All of the others will be there. You can come with us if you want." The leader offered. Skamms put his arm around the guys neck and smiled. The leader was mildly intimidated by the action but kept any insecurities to himself.
"I would like that a lot. I just hope you aren't scamming me. That last bunch of bitches tried to and it made me really mad. If it were to happen twice in a row - I would be really-really mad. And I don't think either of us wants to see that - do we?" he asked coldly. The leader smiled and began to laugh.
"You are a cold bastard. I wish I could have a hundred of you! Look. You have nothing to worry about. I am the least liked person in the city. The prince wants me dead but he can't risk it. You and me buddy - this whole damn city will see Armageddon before we stop." The leader said madly.
"I like you. You're a crazy mother fucker." Skamms stated seriously.
"Coming from a Mook? I'll take that as a compliment. Come on boys! Let's head back to the haven. The sun will be coming up shortly and I don't want to see it!" the leader called out. The group of anarchs made their way through the destroyed part of the city and made their way towards their communal haven.
To Be Continued...
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