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| Chapter Four: new beginnings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the dark unfamiliar place, Skamms once again found himself wandering. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is this place?" he quietly asked. His voice echoed in the emptiness. He looked around in the slim hope of finding anything remotely familiar, but all he saw was a pale darkness. Just then, a bright light exploded. He fell to the ground holding his eyes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You came back." A familiar voice commented. Skamms slowly looked over and saw Nenia standing before him. He shook off the effects of the blinding light and slowly got up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I-I guess so." He replied hesitantly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My god - the big bad Skamms is scared." She taunted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fuck you!" he retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh calm down - I was just teasing. I just wanted to thank you." She began. Skamms shook his head and tried to make sense of what she was talking about. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Come again?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That bastard Ace - his power over me ended when you killed him." she clarified. Skamms remembered the fight in question - a lot of that was still unclear. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is it over?" he asked hesitantly. She reached forward and held his hands. Skamms wanted to move, but he felt as though he was paralyzed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm afraid not. There are others that seek to do me harm. It is they that keep me trapped here in this dark place." She softly spoke. Skamms' hands began to twitch. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Iron - Fist..." he stated as though in a trance. Nenia tensed up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That-that is what they are called - how did you know?" she asked hesitantly. Skamms snapped out of the trance he was in. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Huh?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nothing - there is also the matter of a dangerous child. He is helping them to keep me here. I beg of you find him - kill him - it is the only way that I can be free." She whispered. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Who?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is of your clan - a child that calls himself Skitts." She answered. Before he could utter another word or think of another question - darkness swallowed him whole. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Back at the Wealthy Traveler, Mother awoke and sat up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What a fool." She commented with a chuckle. She clapped her hands, four women hurried into the room and bowed before her. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes Mother?" the four asked as one. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have found that elusive Skamms again. I told him to seek out that child that Julia so thoughtfully brought to us. Princess willing, that issue has been dealt with. Bring Julia to me." Mother ordered. One left the room to do her bidding. Moments later, she and Julia returned. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have sent a person to deal with the loose end that you created. Anything to say before you receive punishment?" she asked coldly. Julia looked at her and the others and lowered her eyes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I did what I believed I had to Mother. The child seemed to know of us. I feared that he would endanger us and our - your plans. I admit my fault in bringing him here and humbly beg for your forgiveness." She replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Normally - I would not care about such a thing. But things are in motion - big things. The dark one's bastard is here - Samson. That means that we have to concern ourselves with his mongrel line - that damnable Archon that is following us - that deranged childer of mine that ran off - and that child Skitts." Mother stated. Julia closed her eyes and knelt down before Mother. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Please forgive my imperfection Mother. Please." She quietly begged. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'll never forget you. You were my favorite." Mother replied coldly. She gestured for two of them to remove her. Julia made no sound as those she had known for years as friends took her away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How big will this confrontation be Mother?" one of the others asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Either Samson or I will walk away from this one - there shall be no compromise - there shall be no retreat - there shall be no escape - there shall be no surrender. At all cost - this feud between us will be settled." Mother answered. The woman nodded and hurried away leaving only one. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Mother - did you mean what you said to Julia - about being her being your favorite?" she asked self-consciously. Mother smiled at the insecure vampire and lightly kissed her on the cheek. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course not dear - you know that you are my favorite." She answered with a reassuring smile. The vampire relaxed and sighed with relief. She bowed and hurried out of the room. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Dance little pawn - dance." Mother said to herself with a giggle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In another area of the city, Skamms slowly crawled out of the alley he was resting in. both of his hands had burn marks on them where Nenia had touched him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Something about this isn't adding up. He thought. Just then a couple of Nosforatu emerged from the shadows. The Malkavian studied the pair of familiar ugly faces. They were friends or associates of the Prince. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Whatever you're selling - I ain't buying." He stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hold up! We don't want any trouble." Grater began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yeah right." He retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seriously - we just want to talk." Toenail continued. Skamms studied the auras of the vampires before him. Oddly enough - they seemed to be telling the truth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So talk." He replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The prince needs to talk to you - and before you interrupt please let me finish! This has nothing to do with the feud between the two of you or the incident that happened at the Palace." Toenail stated. Skamms almost laughed but leaned against the wall behind him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Really? Mr. Big bad blowhard just wants to shoot the shit? Suppose I ain't in the mood? This might surprise you boys, but there isn't exactly a lot of trust between us you know." he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We would prefer it if you came peacefully." Toenail stated seriously. Skamms was going to comment when he noticed dozens of dog sized rats slinking out from the shadows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I take it that they helped you find me?" he commented. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They helped." Grater stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Riddle me this - do you really think that they scare me?" he asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Knowing you and what you've done - probably not." Toenail stated he turned his head to look at the swarm of ghouled rats. He made several rat sounds. Skamms watched as they scurried away back into the shadows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you are not willing to go to him - state a place where the two of you can meet. This is important." Toenail requested sincerely. Skamms looked up and shook his head. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No dice - sorry." he replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What about the sheriff Claws? Would that be acceptable?" Grater asked curiously. Skamms looked over at the two untrustingly. He believed that something wasn't right before - now he knew. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Leave." He suggested. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It has to do with Nenia." Grater stated. Skamms could feel his hands beginning to twitch. Rage began to well inside him. It was something that wasn't going unnoticed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Leave - now." He repeated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay - we didn't come here to fight. Calm down." Toenail began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Skamms - glad I could finally hook up with you again." A familiar voice stated. The Malkavian slowly looked over his shoulder and saw the prince and his bodyguards and the sheriff Claws. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You were stalling for time - I didn't think you worms had it in you. Remind me to thank you both properly at some future time." Skamms stated. The two Nosforatu vanished back into the shadows. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They aren't important." Axis stated. Skamms slowly turned to face the prince and smiled. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why are you wasting my time jackass?" he asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lose the tone. I'm here on business." Axis retorted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What a Ventrue." Skamms retorted with a smirk. One of the bodyguards reached for a weapon but was held back by the prince. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Dagger, Jonus, return to the Royal Palace. I will return shortly." He ordered. The Assimites did not like the order, but bowed politely and walked away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Claws." Axis stated as he extended a hand over to him. Skamms prepared for some sort of sneak attack. But when Claws handed two folders to the prince, Skamms was seriously confused. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't care what little mind games you want to try to play with me - that's politics, it comes with the power. The friendly little vendetta that is building between us - I can deal with that and I can deal with you." Axis began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I love you too." Skamms retorted sarcastically. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Even though you are a pain in the ass - I don't want you to end up like that. I have special plans for you." Axis stated with a snarl. He tossed the two folders at Skamms' feet. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Read them - don't - the choice is yours. But if you want to be around long enough to deal with me, I'd do some reading. Let's go Claws - I have more important things to deal with right now." Axis stated coldly. Skamms watched as he and Claws walked away. He was going to reply when he looked down at the folders. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If he thinks?" Skamms began as he took a few steps away. He stopped and looked over at the folders. He let out a reluctant sigh and walked over to where they were and picked them up. Unknown to him, the pictures of Mother fell out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What could be so important that he would actually move his ass to find me?" he asked himself as he opened the folder that was labeled Mother. As he read, his thoughts began to wander and he remembered all of his talks with Nenia as of late. He shook his head and focused on the folder. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fuck - I'm letting the prince mess with me." he muttered as he tossed the folder into the garbage can. He then opened the folder labeled Samson. After he finished reading, he remembered his fight with Ace. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Shit - I'm lucky I came out on top." He muttered. He looked at the pictures of Samson and his weapons of choice. Shotguns and axes - the guy had excellent taste in weapons. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sounds like my kind of guy. Wonder why there weren't any pictures of Mother. Hmm. Ah well - time to find my new friends - and a fast bite to eat." He said to himself. He tossed the folder into the garbage can with the other one. As he walked away he stepped on the picture of Mother. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Several hours later, by some amazing luck, Skamms managed to hook up with his new younger friends. In the short time that they got reunited, he had told them of whom they were dealing with, what he wanted to do and what he needed them to do. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "At all times? I don't think we even have that kind of stuff." one asked. Skamms looked at the other. The response was clearly the same. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then get it. When things turn sour - and fuck - sour things will turn, that is what must be done and that is what I will need." Skamms replied. The two neonates were having difficulty absorbing what was explained, but they understood his request clear enough. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No problem. I don't understand half of that story you said, personally I'd like to keep it that way. But as for the stuff, we'll track down that shit right now if you want." The other added with a smile. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That would be great - and remember - keep alert. When you hear that the insanity has reached its peak - find the source - I'll be there waiting." Skamms concluded. The two hurried away. He began to walk away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Kids - heh." He mumbled. He tensed up and he stopped dead in his tracks. He slowly looked around, but nothing seemed to jump out at him. He shrugged his shoulders and continued on his way. In the distance, among the skyline that was dotted with buildings, the high rise hotel known as the Wealthy Traveler could be seen. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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