Chapter five: we meet again
By Richard LeBlanc
City Block Plaza - the biggest mall in all of Ontario that encompasses two city-blocks and goes up at least ten stories. Every imaginable kind of store that could exist could be found here. Oddly enough, tonight, a certain prankster was shopping.
"A bubble machine? I don't think we have one. Did you check the back shelves?" a sales person asked. Snapps sighed and shook his head. He could debate with her, but what would be the point.
"Never mind." He muttered as he skipped out of the store. Ever since his conversation with Pretty he had been desperately trying to obtain all of the other ingredients necessary for their prank of all pranks. By clever use of mind games, he was able to get the tickets for the big concert - for free, but the bubble machine was proving to be a harder find.
"Man, I'll never find one of those things." He muttered downly.
"Oh, cheer up - I'm sure one will turn up somewhere." A familiar voice commented. His eyes lit up. He quickly turned around and saw Pretty standing behind him.
"I hope you weren't going to play our prank without me." she added.
"Uh-uh. I just wanted to get the remaining stuff. I didn't think I would see you until the concert. What brings you here?" he asked curiously.
"Well, I'm going to be in town for a little while longer and since I was I figured that I would check out this place. I mean - wow, look at all the colors." She said with a giggle.
"Yeah, it is pretty intense. Oh! Here. I got you something." He admitted as he handed her a ticket to the upcoming Kiss concert.
"Wow - how much did this set you back?" she asked.
"I sort of conditioned him - and he sort of gave me them for free." He replied modestly. The answer made her laugh.
"I am so glad that I came here." She said as she admired the ticket as though it was a great work of art.
"Because of the ticket?" he asked.
"No silly - because I hooked up with you again. I mean - think of the odds of just meeting by chance in a city like this. I mean wow. Oh! About last time - I hope you weren't too upset that I kissed you." She replied. Snapps lowered his eyes. Were he alive, he would be blushing.
"Oh - that - no." he replied quietly.
"Good. I wouldn't want you upset or mad at me. You're my bestest friend and all." She stated with a smile. The comment made him look up. By the color of her aura he could see that she was telling the truth.
"Wow - I don't think I've had a bestest friend before." He replied.
"You do now - if that's okay with you that is." She stated hesitantly.
"I-I'd like that a lot." He replied shyly.
"Cool. How high are we?" she asked as she looked over the railing. Snapps looked over and counted the floors by ones. He lost count twice and had to start over, but the third time he got it.
"Five stories." He answered.
"Wow - think we could survive if we jumped?" she asked curiously.
"Don't know - it would probably really hurt." He answered.
"You chicken?" she taunted.
"Am not!" he retorted.
"Oh yeah, how about a dare then?" she replied.
"What kind of dare you got in mind?" he asked suspiciously.
"Well, if you do what I dare - I'll do what you dare - mine is - hop the banister here and try to land on that sculpture that is suspended by those thin-thin wire thingies." She stated with a giggle.
"Hmm." Snapps began. He looked down at the birdlike stature that was propped up three floors down. If he missed - he would be in a serious world of hurt.
"Okay - if I do that..." he began as he looked around the huge place. Up one level he saw a family that was out for the night. He smiled an evil smile.
"You have to get her to throw him over that banister." He replied.
"Does he have to go all the way down?" she asked.
"Nah, one floor will do." He replied.
"I'll go first then." She concluded as she hurried away.
***
A few moments later, on that floor, the family had stopped because one of the three kids was acting up.
"Stop that or we are going home!" the mother warned.
"Don't be so hard on Alice." The husband requested.
"Not here please." She retorted.
"Well when? You've been working days and I've been on nights. This is the first time in as many weeks that we've had a chance to talk." The husband stated.
"Sweetie! There you are!" a high pitched voice shrieked. He turned around just in time to get a flying hug from Pretty. Everyone was surprised when the young looking Pretty began to passionately kiss him. The kids were surprised by the action. The husband was in shock - the wife was seeing red.
"Who - is she?" she hissed.
"I-I never saw her before!" he replied as he pushed her off of him. Pretty fell before the kids and did her best to look hurt. A few people stopped what they were doing to watch.
"But-but I thought you loved me." she pouted.
"I don't even know you!" he retorted. A small crowd began to stop to watch what was happening.
"Is this because of her? I thought we were supposed to meet here. Who is she?" Pretty demanded. The wife stepped forward and glared at her.
"I happen to be his wife." She hissed.
"You never told me you had a wife. All those nights we spent together at the factory you said that it was only me! How could you do this to me!" Pretty emotionally exclaimed. More people began to watch.
"I will tell you now and for the last time - I have never seen you before - ever! Go away!" he protested. Pretty began to tremble.
"Is it because I'm fourteen? You said that my age didn't matter." She continued. The wife glared at her husband. The kids began to argue. The husband glared at Pretty.
"This is not funny! Tell them that you are lying!" he shouted.
"But you were my first time." She continued. He lunged forward and grabbed her by the collar of her jacket and lifted her up and began to shake her. Again, he could hear what people were whispering.
"Stop it!" he shouted. The people in the crowd began to murmur.
"But I think I'm pregnant." She added. Instantly he dropped her.
"I swear she's lying!" he exclaimed.
"Girl - if you have been with him as you claim - where is his birthmark?" she asked seriously - trying her best to hide the sense of hurt and betrayal she was feeling. Pretty looked at her for a moment and shook her head.
"Birthmark? I never saw one - and I looked pretty thoroughly when he made me do those degrading things." She replied. The wife began to tremble with rage. She lashed out and punched her husband in the side of the head. Everyone watched as he staggered off balance towards the banister. The kids watched as their father fell over the edge. Everyone hurried over to see if he was alright. As they did, Pretty walked over to the wife.
"He was telling the truth honey - forget me." Pretty whispered. She then vanished into the crowd.
***
Down one level, Snapps watched as people swarmed over to where the man had fallen. He had heard the whole episode and was clearly impressed. She definitely had a knack for pranking.
"I showed you mine - now you show me yours." Pretty teased.
"A deal's a deal." He commented. Without giving it a second thought he hopped up onto the banister and leaped outwards. People began to shout as they saw him fall.
Have to time this right. He thought. his body slammed into the statue. The wires gave out. The statue began to fall. Everyone scattered as the statue shattered into the floor. Snapps quickly rolled away and quickly hid in the shadows. The fall into the statue hurt him - the fall to the floor hurt him, but he survived.
"What a rush." He whispered. He slinked out of the shadows and mingled his way through the crowd. Everyone was looking at the shattered statue. He looked up and saw paramedics taking the poor sap away. He then noticed Pretty smiling and waving at him.
We have to do this again some time - it was really fun! A voice whispered in his head. He looked up and noticed her winking. He gave her the okay gesture and watched as she vanished from the scene.
"What a gal." He said to himself.
***
A short while later, Snapps was whistling to himself.
"What an interesting day." He said to himself.
"Ahem." A voice commented. He looked over his shoulder and saw Vincent and two of his retainers.
"Vinny! How ya doing?" he asked curiously.
"Two matters - one, you owe me for a new tire - two, I saw your little display back at the City Block Plaza. Personally, I don't care what you do to Nosforatu Princes, yourself or your friends - but when you destroy a priceless work of art - you make me angry." He stated seriously.
"Boo - Hiss - no appreciation or what." Snapps retorted.
"I - am quiet serious. What you did could be conceived as being a breach of the Masquerade. I am taking you to see the prince. Resist and I will make you regret it." Vincent retorted. Snapps looked at one ghoul then the other and then over at the bossy Toreador.
"Hmm. Send the bill to my sire for the tire." Snapps began. The ghouls reached into their pockets in anticipation of a sneak attack of some kind. Snapps noticed the tension and smiled. He sighed and took a deep breath.
"Help me! This bastard is trying to kidnap me!" he screamed. People stopped and looked over to where they were. The ghouls removed their hands from their pockets to avoid attracting more unwanted attention.
"He took me away from my mommy and daddy! Help me! Help me! Help me!" he screamed as he ran away from the Toreador. Vincent could feel a rage building inside of him as dozens of innocent bystanders began to mob the three. His eyes searched for the Malkavian but he had vanished amidst the confusion.
"Away from me!" Vincent ordered. He concentrated and leaped up and away from the crowd. The ghouls he had brought with him were being lynched. There was nothing he could do for them short of breaching the Masquerade himself.
You think you've escaped - but you have only delayed the inevitable. I will find you brat - and I will make you pay! Vincent thought. He cautiously slipped away, unnoticed, from the crowd of people that were still beating on the ghouls.
***
A short while later, Vincent was back at the entrance to the Royal Palace. If he couldn't bring the brat to the prince - he would tell the prince of the situation and let him bring the brat in.
"Vinny - why so steamed?" Claws asked.
"Personal reasons. Is the prince in?" Vincent asked.
"Yeah, been here for most of the night." He answered.
"May I see him?" he asked.
"Got any weapons?" he replied. Vincent sighed and handed over his guns. Claws stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. As he did, he noticed that there was a small crowd formed in the far corner. When he made his way through, his eyes widened when he saw Snapps talking to the prince.
"You!?" Vincent exclaimed. Snapps saw him and hid behind the prince. All eyes then turned to face the Toreador Primogen. Axis looked over his shoulder at Snapps and then over at Vincent.
"Vincent. Talk to me. I've heard his side of it - I would like to hear yours." He stated calmly. Vincent focused his thoughts and managed to clam himself down.
"I was at the City Block Plaza entertaining some of my peers when some chaos happened. We hurried over to the banister and witnessed - him - leaping from the fifth floor. He smashed into a ten thousand dollar sculpture that I myself commissioned and then walked away and then walked away as though nothing had happened." He protested as he pointed at Snapps.
"Snapps, explain yourself." Axis requested calmly.
"I was playing with my cool new friend and she dared me to jump the statue so I did." He replied honestly. Axis studied the youth and then looked over at the complaining Primogen.
"This is all that was bothering you? The destroyed statue?" he asked.
"Destroyed statue? What he did was a direct compromise of the Masquerade. Nothing human could walk away from a five-story free fall." He retorted seriously.
"I see. Care to respond to that Snapps?" he asked.
"Well, the statue broke my fall - so technically, a human could survive a fall like that. Falling down is fun. But in reference to that Masquerade stuff, most everyone nearby was looking up a floor at the display that was happening there. Some wife type decked her hubby and knocked him over the edge. Hordes of people were gawking and staring - there were paramedics, reporters, police the works. By the time everyone even noticed what I did - I was in among the crowd gawking at the shattered remains of that thingy." He replied calmly.
"In his defense sire - I was there and saw the whole display. What the Mook says is true only a select few actually noticed him and they quickly forgot when they saw the mob of people on level six." Toenail commented.
"You - I will remember this!" Vincent hissed. Axis cleared his throat.
"I'd have to throw my vote in with the kid. I was on level two buying some parts for my bike. I saw him veer into that ugly thing and saw as he and the statue hit the floor. He rolled into the shadows and Obfuscated or something. Everyone was so focused on the rubble that they had forgotten him. nice dive kid. Speaking as a person that dislikes eyesores, well done." Man Basher added.
"I, would have to side with Vincent sire. Be it an eyesore or no, the action was too risky. As the child admitted, there were police and reporters everywhere." Esamual Banks added.
"You were there?" Axis asked.
"Of course. Through an anonymous source of mine I heard a rumor that a certain Toreador was trying to weasel in on one of my lucrative monopolies." He replied seriously.
"Two Primogens for - two against." Axis stated.
"I'd have to throw my hand in with the kid. Back when those Baali things were running amok, an embraced hellhound almost had me. If it hadn't been for him - I wouldn't have seen it coming." Claws commented.
"Shits sakes alive man! He's the greatest thing since the invention of the rubber chicken! End him? I say thee nay!" the Malkavian Primogen known as Slap Happy exclaimed.
"Okay - is that it?" Axis asked. Everyone was silent as his eyes scanned the crowd. Vincent turned and faced the crowd in disbelief.
"You - can't be serious!" he protested.
"Vincent - enough. The issue has been brought to me. I have heard both sides and have come to my decision. As to the matter of if the Malkavian used questionable judgement when he stage-dived from the fifth floor - that's obvious, but his line is not exactly known for deep moments of sanity." Axis began.
"Hey! Hey-hey-hey-hey! We resemble that!" Slap Happy protested.
"Anyway, having heard the testimony of all of the parties that were there, we now move to the second element - the more serious one. Was the act a breach of the Masquerade? The act was stupid - the reasoning was dumb - but a breach? No. Snapps - step forward." Axis continued. The Malkavian walked over so that he was not behind Axis.
"I would urge you to be more cautious when you chose to play such dangerous games. You were most fortunate that your peers here stood up for you. Had they not - things would have been much different. As it is, your acknowledgement stands. Apologize to Vincent." Axis stated. Snapps smiled and faced the angry Primogen.
"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings." He said happily.
"But sire..." Vincent began.
"The issue is resolved Vincent. As soon as you informed him that his actions could be perceived as a breach to the Masquerade - he came straight to me to ask for clarification. Accept the apology - and move - on." Axis sternly suggested.
"Apology accepted." The Toreador threw the Malkavian a nasty look as he stormed away.
"So! Now that all of that stuff is out of the way, where is Nenia? I wanted to tell her about my new friend." Snapps asked curiously. He was somewhat intimidated when everyone looked at him.
"When did you last see her?" Axis asked seriously.
"Me? I don't remember too well. Everything is real cloudy and stuff. I think it was when she was really mad at you over something involving the Tremere and toys or something." He replied.
"Sire - I believe he is referring to the fight you had with her before she went missing." Dagger whispered. Axis sighed and shook his head. A possible lead - gone.
"That was over a month ago. Nenia perished at the hands of Geddon. Where have you been all this time?" Axis asked seriously. Snapps shrugged his shoulders.
"Don't know - I black out from time to time." he replied.
"Who is this friend you speak of?" Glare asked curiously.
"She is soooo cool. And I think she likes me." Snapps replied.
"Did she tell you her name?" he asked.
"Yeah - Pretty!" he replied.
"What's pretty?" Glare asked.
"Her name." He answered.
"What's her name?" he repeated.
"Pretty." He replied with a smile.
"I - think, what he is trying to say - is that the woman's name is in fact Pretty." Toenail suggested. Snapps nodded.
"Is this going somewhere?" Axis asked.
"Perhaps - perhaps not." Glare answered as he walked away.
"Then, allow me to bring you up to speed. Something big is going to be going down in the city soon - I've put out selective warnings to most of the trust worthy kindred and now I am warning you. Two clans are going to start a fight here - we don't know when or where - but we know that there is at least a hundred of them - perhaps more. We will be receiving reinforcements, but they could arrive a day late or not at all. If you see anything out of the ordinary - report it to me at once." Axis stated seriously.
"Okay." Snapps stated as he began to walk away.
"Oh - one more thing." He continued. Snapps stopped. He looked over and saw the prince reach behind his back. He then removed his hand to reveal the note he had placed there.
"I appreciate a good joke as much as the next man - but this is not the way to get on my good side - especially when you are on trial for a potential breach of Traditions." Axis stated calmly.
"You good - my bad." Snapps replied as he skipped through the crowd.
"There's more to him that he seems." Axis stated calmly.
"That is true of most of us sire." Claws replied.
"True enough. Now let's review the precautions that must be in order in the event that the cavalry doesn't get here in time." Axis stated calmly. Everyone listened as he began to tell everyone present of his plan.
To be continued...
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