Chapter three - the hunt
By Richard LeBlanc
Common Ground - a complex meeting point where the Nosforatu would meet. It was a series of pipes and tunnels that were several meters below the sewer pipes that the humans knew of and connected to an abandoned subway line that no one knew existed - even other more knowledgeable kindred.
"Rumor has it that this is about the toys that have been troubling the streets." One of them stated calmly.
"Indeed it does. I need all information we have on this Fay known as Geddon. What can you tell me?" Toenail asked. The odd collection of kindred looked from face to face. No one seemed willing to talk.
"Why is everyone so quiet?" Toenail asked suspiciously.
"Because we haven't heard much. Our pets lead us all to the place the Fay was at - but then in a second we would be somewhere else. Our pets tried to lead us there again - but they couldn't do it." Grater commented.
"It's true. I was hiding in the alley when this huge raven soared down from the sky. It saw through my unseen presence and forced me to flee. As I did - I bumped into him. He grabbed my arm - I vanished. I was in some forest - and then I was in the opera house on the other side of town." Another stated.
"Most unfortunate. How many of the items have been dealt with?" Toenail asked seriously. The group began to recount numbers but couldn't agree.
"Not many." One replied.
"Not good. Do any here possess such items?" he asked.
"I - I didn't get it directly from Geddon - I stole it from a human that did. It was a monocle that could show true forms and things that could not be seen. It is a pity that such an item must be destroyed." another of them pointed out.
"I know - but if even one of the items lives - all of the city will be destroyed - including our sewers. What is the value of secrets and exposing them compared to that?" Toenail asked seriously. All agreed. The monocle was placed on the ground and smashed with a piece of pipe.
***
In another part of the city, Snapps was still on his little quest to find Nenia. He checked all of his favorite locations - the arcade - the amusement park - the psyche ward at the local hospitals - oddly enough though she was in none of these places.
"Man - this is hopeless. I've checked everywhere." He muttered. Just then he heard the sound of people talking in the alley behind him. He quietly crawled around and saw the Fay Geddon talking to some anarch dressed in biker leathers.
"I don't know. Word on the street is that anyone that touches your shit gets killed real quick." The anarch stated.
"Buddy - amigo - what is life - or in your case unlife - without a little risk? Besides, you don't strike me as the type that looks before he crosses the road. You hear what I'm saying?" Geddon stated.
"I'm hearing." The anarch replied.
"I knew you were. Here's the low down and the big score all wrapped into one. I made this especially for YOU. This trinket I've created will make you immune to certain powers of the mind and of - oh what do you blood-suckers call it - oh yes Presence. Plus it makes you twice as strong - and if that isn't enough - the damn thing comes with a built in Majesty." Geddon pitched. The anarch was noticeably impressed with the sale's pitch.
"Wow. What is it?" he asked. Geddon pointed to a dumpster beside him. The anarch looked inside but only saw an empty box.
"Uhm - are you sure it's here?" the anarch asked. Geddon quickly looked in and saw that the box was empty. While the two were talking - someone must have slipped by and nabbed the item.
"Someone stole it." He pouted.
"Stole it? Are you for real?" the anarch protested.
"He couldn't have gotten far." Geddon stated. Just then Snapps hopped out of the shadows at the end of the alley and stuck his tongue out at the two.
"Do me a favor little thief -." Geddon began. With a wave of his hand, a knife appeared. The Malkavian ran - Geddon threw the blade with lethal accuracy. It hit the Mook in the shoulder before he disappeared around the corner.
" - die." Geddon concluded. The two hurried over and saw the item that Snapps attempted to steal on the ground. What puzzled him was where the Malkavian could have disappeared to. The blade hit its mark - by all rights he should have been spasming on the ground.
"How odd." He muttered. The anarch bent down and picked up the item that was wrapped in newspaper. As he unwrapped it his eyes widened in disbelief at what he saw.
***
Several city blocks away, Snapps finally stopped running. For some odd reason his back was itching like crazy. After a few attempts he managed to dislodge the knife that was in his shoulder.
"This is weird." He commented. He thrusted the blade into the concrete and shattered it. The weapon vanished like the talisman he destroyed before.
"Hmph. That Fey guy thinks he's so smart. Just wait until that idiot puts that thing on. All those ticks will drive him crazy. Hee-hee." Snapps stated as he got a mental image of the effect of the prank.
***
Hours later, at the Chantry, the Tremere elders were researching all documentation that had to deal with the Fay and more specifically - the Fay known as Geddon.
"Have you discerned anything?" the Regent asked.
"Nothing that isn't already known. So far all I have found was that all of his items have rather severe side effects." One of the others pointed out. The Regent closed his book and sighed.
"That comes as little surprise. That would be the insurance policy to ensure that set item wouldn't - or couldn't be used against him. There must be something we have overlooked." The Regent replied.
"Has Nenia learned of anything new?" he asked.
"Not that I can recall. Last I heard - Skamms has gone underground again. She has been doing her best to track him - but I doubt that she would be able to find a Malkavian that wants to play hide and seek so to speak." Another elder answered.
"Gone - again? This is bad. He is our secret weapon for dealing with this accursed Fay. Send all of the retainers out at once! Skamms must be found before all of the items are dealt with." The Regent ordered. The elder nodded and left the room to relay the order.
That damn nut! I swear he is doing this just to tax my tolerance. The Regent thought to himself.
***
Near the port district, Nenia was making her way through the alleys. Through various connections and rumormongers, she discerned that an arms deal was going down in this area. She wasn't one hundred percent sure that it had anything to do with the trinkets she was looking for - or if the nutcase Skamms was anywhere near here.
"Oh what a waste of time." she muttered. From what she could make out from her hiding spot - most of the people in the area were human. There were a small handful of ghouls and about six kindred.
That dumb Mook is more trouble than he is worth. He has been nothing but a bane since I met the freak. She thought. Her mind flashed back to their first encounter and each meeting after that.
"Argh! Why am I thinking about him?" she cursed. She shook her head in a vain attempt to shake out the Malkavian's influence on her. She knew that she had no one to blame but herself - she let the Malkavian into her mind - and that was a place where they were most dangerous.
"This is pointless." She stated. She got up and got ready to walk away. Just then a chill went down her spine. She slowly turned around and saw that all of the people partaking in the transaction had stopped everything. They were helplessly staring at a kindred that was standing a hundred meters away. He was average height - but wore a black cape that went down to his feet. Nenia studied the kindred and then the group. Why did they stop everything?
"Who the hell is that supposed to be?" one of the ghouls asked.
"I've never seen him in this part of town. He must be some new punk trying to muscle in on our turf. Ambition is one thing - lunacy is another." One of the vampires stated. The kindred that was causing all of this stared at the gathering and said nothing. The tension that was mounting was so thick that Nenia could feel it from where she was watching.
"Strong silent type huh? No problem. Boys - girls - let's show this upstart why we run the gun trade in this part of town." One of the other kindred commented. All of the humans and ghouls under his command drew their weapons and fired. A silver hand reached out from within the cloak and ripped it off. Everyone stopped firing when they saw how the light reflected from the medieval armor. It was elegantly sculpted and appeared to be made of pure polished silver. The fingers were six-inch claws that were stained with blood.
"Yes - by all means show me." the stranger muttered. He pumped his Celerity and charged at the people that attacked him. Nenia watched a the humans crumbled at his merest touch. The ghouls were all but paralyzed with a single hit. The vampire that initiated the confrontation was punched with such force that he was sent soaring into the air and vanished from sight. Everyone stepped away from the stranger.
"I - run things here - does anyone object?" he growled. Everyone quickly stated that they had no problem with the new power shift. In this moment of peace, Nenia studied the aura around the armor. It was at least twice as bright as any of the magical items she had seen.
"No Potence could have sent that kindred that far up. This could be more serious than I thought." she muttered. She quickly made her way away from this dangerous place.
***
Some time later, she was back among friendlier surroundings. Her mind was haunted by the images of the fight she witnessed. She knew that the magical items would be trouble - but that armor would be more trouble than anything she had ever seen.
A weapon like that in the hands of that anarch could be disastrous. Plus Skamms has gone missing - plus there are still dozens of items that need to be dealt with. How could this day get any worse? Nenia thought to herself.
"Nenia!" a familiar voice commented. She froze in her tracks. She slowly turned around and saw Snapps hurrying across the busy road to talk to her. She groaned and shook her head. It wasn't fair - she didn't say it out loud. Why him and why now?
"Snapps. What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Me? I was looking for you. I have been having the weirdest dreams. Seeing spritey things - messed up looking trees - and freaky looking people. I mean wow." He said happily.
"That's nice. Look, I am sort of busy right now okay?" she stated.
"Uhm. Okay - but I wanted to talk to you about something I just saw. I saw this guy - he was wearing a cool jacket. Leather with a painted raven on it - I mean awesome." Snapps began. Nenia quickly turned around.
"You saw Geddon in the city?" she asked seriously.
"I dunno." He replied. Nenia could feel her hands beginning to twitch.
"Look. I know you are nuts. I can respect that - but please do not play with me about this. What did you see?" she requested as calmly as she could Snapps sighed and tried to recall the exact details.
"Well, like I said - I was looking for you. I mean I searched everywhere - but nothing. I was taking a break from my search when I heard some people talking in an alley." Snapps recounted.
"One of them was Geddon?" Nenia asked.
"I guess so. He was going on and on about some new toy he wanted to give some anarch." He continued.
"New? Hold on. You mean just recently?" she asked.
"Well - yeah." He replied.
"That dirty little cheat." She muttered.
"Please - tell me everything he said - as best you can remember." She requested. Snapps sat down on the sidewalk and tried to remember back. So many random thoughts made sifting the details difficult.
"I - can't see it." He stated. Nenia knelt down behind him and placed her fingertips on various parts of Snapps' head.
"I will help you sift through the confusion - just close your eyes. Think back. Tell me - all you know - of Geddon." She whispered. Just then a deep fog enveloped the two. Moments later, Skamms could her unintelligible ramblings.
Think of Geddon. Nenia whispered telepathically. Just then - the fog began to clear. Snapps found himself back in the alley. Nenia stepped away from Snapps and walked over to where the Anarch and the Fey were talking.
"I don't know. Word on the street is that anyone that touches your shit gets killed real quick." The anarch stated. Nenia looked carefully at the anarch. He was the one that was wearing the armor down at the docks.
"Buddy - amigo - what is life - or in your case unlife - without a little risk? Besides, you don't strike me as the type that looks before he crosses the road. You hear what I'm saying?" Geddon stated. Nenia looked at the Fey Geddon and scowled.
"I'm hearing." The anarch replied.
"I knew you were. Here's the low down and the big score all wrapped into one. I made this especially for YOU. This trinket I've created will make you immune to certain powers of the mind and of - oh what do you blood-suckers call it - oh yes Presence. Plus it makes you twice as strong - and if that isn't enough - the damn thing comes with a built in Majesty." Geddon pitched. The anarch was noticeably impressed with the sale's pitch.
"Wow. What is it?" he asked. Geddon pointed to a dumpster beside him. The anarch looked inside but only saw an empty box.
"Uhm - are you sure it's here?" the anarch asked. Geddon quickly looked in and saw that the box was empty. While the two were talking - someone must have slipped by and nabbed the item.
"Someone stole it." He pouted.
"Stole it? Are you for real?" the anarch protested.
"He couldn't have gotten far." Geddon stated. Just then Snapps hopped out of the shadows at the end of the alley and stuck his tongue out at the two.
"Do me a favor little thief -." Geddon began. With a wave of his hand, a knife appeared. The Malkavian ran - Geddon threw the blade with lethal accuracy. It hit the Mook in the shoulder before he disappeared around the corner. Just then - the two were back on the street and Snapps was noticeably shaken by the experience.
"That toy will be trouble." Nenia stated. It was then that she remembered something that happened. The Fey threw a knife at the Mook. If the knife was anything like the rest of his weapons and items - how was it that Snapps was still alive?
"Snapps - did you get hit by that knife he threw?" she asked.
"I think so - why? Is that important?" he replied. Nenia studied the innocent looking Mook and shook her head.
"It's nothing." In a quick action she spun around and threw a dart at him. It stabbed into his shoulder - but caused no noticeable result. Snapps was visibly shaken by the act and tried to step away. But Nenia stepped forward and scowled at the trembling Malkavian.
"That dart has a modified ward versus kindred on it. If it hits its mark - the target usually dies. How is it that you are still here?" she asked seriously.
"I don't know. Maybe when that Fey guy's knife hit me it did something to me. I don't know nothing about magic stuff." He muttered. By the color of his aura she could see that he was being truthful.
"Are you going to kill me?" he asked nervously. Nenia quickly removed the dart and put it back in her pocket. The Fey Geddon was a crafty foe - the knife could have done something to Malkavian that wasn't obvious.
"Did you destroy the knife or keep it?" she asked seriously.
"Uhm, I broke it against the curb. It went poof. Want to play?" he asked curiously. By the look in his eye she could tell that he was already gone. She looked away and shook her head. She was so sure that the prankster was Skamms in disguise - apparently she was mistaken. Just then Snapps hopped up and stared her in the eye.
"Cluck like a chicken!" he stated. Nenia strained against it but found herself making chicken sounds. She focused her will power and broke the effect. She reached forward and grabbed the Malkavian by the neck.
"If you ever try a stunt like that again I will kill you!" she hissed.
"Not allowed - not allowed - princey boy won't let you." He sang.
"He won't know." she retorted.
"Yes he will." He sang.
"No he won't" she retorted.
"He will he will he will." He repeated.
"If he does I'll say you had one of Geddon's toys." She retorted.
"Liar-liar pants on fire - prince will hang you on a wire." He sang.
"How would he know?" she retorted.
"Because I'm behind you?" a voice stated. She slowly turned around and saw the prince standing behind her. She dropped the Malkavian and glared at the prince.
"Acknowledgement be damned! This Boy has been pissing me off ever since I had the misfortune of meeting him. Every time I think he has gone as low as he can go - he brings out a shovel and digs to new depths!" she shouted angrily.
"I think she likes him." one of the bodyguards stated. Nenia almost went cross eyed at the statement.
"Like him? I'd like to stake the little bastard!" she retorted.
"She likes me?" Snapps asked star eyed.
"Grrr. Shut up Mook." She hissed. Snapps slumped back down to the street. Nenia returned her attention to the prince who was finding this whole display extremely amusing.
"Sire - Axis. I have never asked for anything of myself in your city. I can't take him anymore. Keep the lunatic away from me or give me sanction to deal with him accordingly." She requested. Axis looked down and saw that Snapps was once again in his own little world.
"Snapps?" Axis stated. The Malkavian looked up and smiled.
"Do you have any idea as to what is going on?" he asked.
"Nenia likes me." he answered happily.
"Nenia - walk with me." the prince requested. The Tremere didn't like how this was going. The two walked away from the Malkavian and the bodyguards.
"Don't think for an instant that I don't know what you are going though. When I was a Primogen in Chamberlan - there was this god-awful pest of a Malkavian that called herself Scarlet. I swear - it was her life and mission to make sure that my life was a living hell. She played pranks on me - sabotaged almost everything I tried to do - got me in trouble with my prince and elders. But then - one day - one of my rivals tried to take me out. They put a bomb in my haven. I was knocked aside as she rushed in. Scarlet died in the blast. I was only mildly burned." He stated seriously.
"If he does anything to seriously harm you or the city - I promise, he is yours. If he doesn't he isn't to be touched. The little freak is barely aware of what is going on here. Do we understand each other?" he asked.
"Yes - sire." She answered reluctantly.
"Look, I know that this won't be easy for you - but even a lunatic like him has the right to exist if he abides by the rules." He added seriously. Nenia silently fumed at how this situation had turned.
"Whatever." She muttered.
"Now that we got that out of the way - what exactly were you doing to him a few moments ago?" he asked.
"I needed some information. He was having some difficulty recalling the details so I helped him." she answered.
"He let you look into his mind?" he asked.
"Yes. As you said - most of the time he isn't remotely aware of what is going on. Why do you sound so shocked?" she asked seriously.
"More often than not - a Malkavian will share a taste of his insanity with people that open the door. Yet you came out as you entered. Remember the child you found in the Warzone? Without his insight - we might have lost the city. But enough of that - what were you looking for?" he asked.
"Geddon put out another weapon. He did it just recently - well after I delivered the message to you." She answered.
"He lied. This doesn't surprise me." he replied.
"Nor me. But the weapon did. It was a piece of armor that covered the anarch's arm. From what I was able to hear from Snapps' memory - the thing makes the user immune to the powers of Dominate and Presence, doubles the strength of the person and gives the user a Majesty. I seen the anarch use the weapon - Geddon didn't lie or exaggerate." She answered.
"This is serious. Come, we have to warn the others of this turn of events." Axis stated. The two walked over to where the Malkavian and the two Assimites were. Geddon had just raised the ante for this little game - and they had to find a way to match it.
To be continued...
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