Chapter Six: Royal Pain
By Richard LeBlanc
At the Bloody Thorn, all of the members of the Bleeding Rose coterie were watching a heated argument between Sir and his new protege, Vincent.
"You - did - what?" Sir exploded.
"I was trying to get the kid like you said." Vincent replied - the scars on his face not fully healed.
"I see - and you thought tangling with the sheriff would be a means to an end?" Sir asked.
"I told her to come alone." He retorted.
";Are you that - thick? Did you really believe that everyone would have forgotten about the little bond the two of you shared? Did you really think - that they would let one of your brood walk the prince's pride and joy into my waiting hands?" Sir asked on the brink of rage.
"They had forgotten." He replied. A hard backhand sent Vincent to the floor.
"I had high hopes for you. But you are too dangerous. I want you to ask yourself this scholarly question - if they had forgotten - like you believe they had - why did the prince appoint another chaperone?" Sir asked seriously.
"To make sure that nothing happened to the brat." He replied as he slowly got up.
"So - you see all of this as what? Just a coincidence?" Sir asked.
"Personally - I don't believe in them." Vincent replied.
"Well, we agree on one thing at least. I am on the verge - of taking this city - to heights undreamed of. To do this - I need to rip it from the hands of the two bit street thug that calls himself its master. And to do that - I need people with vision - understanding - and competence. Tell me - Vincent - were our roles reversed - what would you do?" he asked seriously.
"I am already judged it seems - why waste my breath?" he retorted. In a blur of motion Sir spun around. When he stopped the cold sharp blade of his saber was touching the neck of Vincent. There was no expression of fear in the former Primogen's eyes. Sir quietly laughed and put the saber away.
"You're a good man Vinny. Those are hard to find in this day and age. The true key to power - is to learn from your mistakes - and to know them - recognize them - when you have made them. There is only one road to the future - and that road - is through me. Understand?" he asked seriously. Vincent nodded.
"Good - because if you fuck up again like you did last night - I will take your head clean off your shoulders - we clear on that?" Sir asked seriously.
"Crystal clear - Sir." Vincent replied.
"Good. Now - now that we have that out of the way - tell me something promising." Sir requested. Vincent looked at the others and sighed.
"We weren't able to get the brat - but word on the street is that Claws wasn't able to get him either. We lucked out on the situation. For now - the boy is out of your hair." Vincent replied.
"Don't ya mean - you lucked out?" a harsh voice asked. Vincent looked over and saw the Archon heading towards him. When he saw the damage that was done to his face - the Archon almost fell over laughing.
"Who's the Nos?" he remarked. Sir raced over and held his saber to the Archon's neck.
"Be civil - this is not a joking matter." Sir warned. The Archon snorted and batted the saber aside. He walked over and sat down on the bar.
"Spare the threats for the peasants. I got some interesting news about our current Mook friends." He began. Sir walked over to the Archon and placed his saber on the bar.
"What did you find?" he asked.
"Nothing." He replied.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"Absolutely - nothing." He replied calmly.
"On Snapps?" he asked.
"And the other ones too." The Archon pointed out.
"Skamms and this boy - Skitts?" Sir asked.
"You got it. I figured I could at least get some dirt on that Snapps brat from the prince he pied - but some fucked up politics have happened there. The good prince - had an'accident'. His computer 'miraculously'caught a virus - and all of his paperwork - went up in flames. As of today - everyone knows of Snapps - but no one knows anything about him." The Archon replied.
"A cover up. A big one at that. Someone knows I'm hunting - what about his sire?" he asked.
"Went traveling abroad - rumors of course. No one is really talking - even to me." he replied.
"Huh. And I suppose that the same holds true for Skamms and Skitts?" he asked.
"As much as I found on Snapps - I came back squared with them. Someone is pulling strings here - ones higher than you can reach highness." He replied seriously. Sir walked away and began to pace back and forth. If what he was implying was remotely true - this game could be very dangerous to him in more ways than one.
"This is most unpleasant - and puzzling." Sir mumbled to himself.
"This could complicate matters." He added.
At that moment back at the Royal Palace - another heated exchange was underway.
"You lost him?" the prince shouted.
"It was a trap. I was off my game." Claws replied.
"That's - that's all you have to say? You knew of the relationship between Tina and this traitor - and at no point did it register that it might have been a set up?" he asked seriously.
"Why's he busting your chops? You did your best right? You said the kid got away right?" Snapps asked curiously. Axis looked over at the teen and sighed.
"Is this true?" he asked.
"I have people out on the streets sire. They've been looking trough the day and since we came back here. No one has found any trace of the kid yet - but my people tell me that Vincent's cronies are still hunting too. There is a good chance that Skitts is still alive." Claws replied.
"Good chance - is not good enough." The prince replied.
"Sire? I got some - interesting news." A familiar voice stated. Axis looked over and saw Toenail heading his way.
"You have the dirt on Sir?" he asked.
"All I could get was what is on and under the streets. It wasn't easy getting all of that - but there it is." He replied as he handed a dirty looking folder to the prince. Axis began to skim through the pages and saw nothing that merited any real attention.
"All I see is a bunch of rumors and guesses." He replied.
"That is all there is to go on." Toenail replied.
"This was the interesting news?" he asked.
"No. I just got a word in from Chamberlan - the old prince had an accident a couple nights ago. There's also been a lock down on some files and information." Toenail began.
"Really? What got locked up?" Snapps asked.
"Ironically enough - you." He replied.
"Me? You're joking right?" he replied in modest disbelief.
"No. I'm not. All files - data - gone. You are almost a shadow in Chamberlan." Toenail replied.
"Really?" Axis stated as all eyes turned to face the teen.
"Hey - I don't like the way you all are looking at me." Snapps muttered.
"Can you explain this?" Axis asked suspiciously.
"Explain what? I left there because I splatted the prince with a pie. I haven't said a word to anyone from there since I set up shop here." He replied timidly.
"So you had nothing to do with this cover up?" Axis asked.
"Why would I? Secrecy ain't my gig. If I do something I like it documented. Remember? I like to take pictures of the stuff I do? That the sort of thing to do if you are trying to hide?" He replied.
"Sire? I would be inclined to agree with him. I may not be overly fond of him - but whoever did the purge in Chamberlan - was a professional. Very much a surgical strike." Grater added. Axis looked over at the timid looking teen and shook his head. Secrets - the one thing he had little tolerance for - and they were piling up around him faster than he could decode them.
"Great - more puzzles. So what have we got so far? A mad prince trying to take over my city - a  Primogen betrayer - a missing Malkavian child - and a cover up in Chamberlan. I don't like this people - what is the common ground?" he asked seriously. Axis looked around the silent room and shook his head.
"This - I don't need. I want answers. And I want them before this situation with Sir reaches a boiling point. Go. Go!" the prince shouted. Slap Happy hurried over and grabbed Snapps by the wrist and led him away from the prince.
"Why's he so steamed?" Snapps asked.
"He doesn't see things normal like us. By the way - heard about the termites - cute trick." Slap Happy replied and commented. Snapps smiled and looked back at the serious looking prince.
"Thanks. Slaps, why would someone erase everything about me?" he asked seriously.
"If I knew - you would be the first to know kid. Besides - they didn't get everything." He replied.
"What did they miss?" he asked. Slap Happy lightly knocked on Snapps' forehead.
"That - everything is still up there. That's all that rally matters right?" he asked.
"I guess you're right. Is it true what the prince said about Vinny? Is he really a traitor?" he asked.
"If he had his way - we would all be dead - especially you." He replied.
"Really? That's too bad. I kinda liked him." he replied casually.
"I know. Claws said you scribbled something down when you hooked up. You planning something?" he asked. Snapps smiled and looked over at the Primogen.
"I might. Help me get some supplies and I'll fill you in." he offered.
"Oh, this sounds big." Slap Happy replied.
"Not as big as the concert - but big enough. You in?" Snapps replied.
"Now what kind of a question is that? Will we get into trouble for doing this?" Slap Happy replied.
"We shouldn't - but things can happen." He replied.
"Hmm. That's a tough one. Oh well - Count me in." he replied with a lunatic smile.
"I thought you might see the light my child. Come - there is much that needs to be gathered - prepared and so forth - and if this is going to work - time will be of the essence." Snapps stated with another smile.
"Lead on my brother." Slap Happy replied as the two vanished into the shadows of an alley.
To be continued...
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