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| Part five: of gods and man | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the Warzone - the brother of Glare had rounded up several rogue anarchs and had them assembled before the kindred - named Thor. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "These ruffians - this trash - deems themselves worthy to walk in my shadow?" Thor asked lowly. His hammer raised to strike - when a seductive woman stepped before the Setite - instantly getting Thor's attention. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My lord - this - is an odd time and place. Worthy people - they can be found where even sharp eyes such as yours might least expect. Our good friend Dreven - he has never let us down before - has he my lord?" she asked - placing her hand on his chest. A smile crept across Thor's face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Glitter - at times your wisdom amazes even me," he commented as he lightly patted her on the cheek. "Dreven - these - ruffians - you are accountable for them - all of them," Thor concluded as he walked away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He's in an uncharacteristically bad mood," Dreven commented. Glitter turned and glared at him. Before either of them could speak - a glowing sword was between them. They looked over and saw the fourth among their elite group. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Save the energy for when we do battle. Such is the way - both of you know this - as does Thor," he stated seriously as the blade was skillfully sheathed in one fluid action. "Glitter - while I was scouting the area - I noticed something," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then what do you need me for - deal with it," she retorted curtly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The something I noticed - was a Brujah rant. I believe we might be able to learn where the pretender is - through them. But to do so - I would need a Brujah - sound like anyone familiar?" he asked. In a blur of motion she had two guns up - he had his sword to her neck. This time - the Setite stepped between them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Save the energy for the battle - remember?" he asked calmly. He placed his hands on both parties' weapons and slowly moved them down. "This matter of a pretender - it is stressful under the most ideal circumstances - but killing ourselves - will hardly make the matter any more resolved. Go with him Glitter - I have matters to deal with here," he reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But what of Thor? What if he needs us?" Glitter asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Thor - is most capable of taking care of himself. He is probably meditating - or praying to Odin as we speak. Trust me," he said hypnotically. Glitter smirked and shook her head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would sooner trust Loki - but you are right. Raven - lead me to this rant - then return. Thor may be able to take care of himself - but if he gets into a deep enough trance - he might be vulnerable to some treachery," she stated seriously - putting her pistols away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You starting to trust the thief now?" Raven sarcastically remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Let's just say - I trust you - more than I do him. Now enough talk - lead," she ordered. Raven chuckled and led her out of the building they were in. Dreven quietly laughed and returned his attention to the forgotten and down trodden he had assembled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In a room nearby - Thor was sitting by a fire. He was quietly chanting - and was staring deeply into the dancing flames. So many things were unclear - so many things didn't add up - why was his memory so garbled? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lord Odin - I call to thee," he began. Just then - a wind blew through the room - and made the flames before him dance. At first he believed Odin had heard him - but when he heard a cackling laugh - he knew all too well who it was. "Loki - what are you doing here?" Thor hissed - a slender figure - dressed similar to him hopped over him and sat across from him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I need a reason Odin son?" he mocked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Every waking moment - yes - you do," he retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My dear sweet - loving brother - so long as you live - draw breath - we will be as one. After all - if daddy dearest wanted me to go - surely - in his infinite might - would have surely whisked me away," he began - but looked mockingly from side to side. "But as you see - here I am," he said mockingly - eyes glowing green. Energy cackled in Thor's hammer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Brother or no - my tolerance is not as great as the All Father's. Push me - and I will push back. And Odin help me - if I have to drag you to the gates of hell myself - I will," he warned - his eyes glowing silver. Instead of being scared though - all Loki seemed to do was laugh. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fool! Have we not gone through this ten thousand times before? Have you learned nothing yet O Great and Mighty Thor? For all your prowess - for all your vaunted might - for all your godly power - you - cannot - hurt - me. Only he who sent me here can harm me - and he - is not you," he stated as he hopped up to his feet and steeped forward and stood in the heart of the fire. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We shall see!" Thor hissed. He savagely swung his hammer at his brother. Loki watched amused as the massive warhammer arched at him - and then passed harmlessly through him. With a wave of his hand - he knocked Thor off balance. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I guess we shall. They saw a man is in this place - a man with the power of Thor - a power over storm and lightning - perhaps - he is not the pretender - perhaps - the pretender - is before me," he goaded. Thor leaped up to his feet to attack the insolent attacker - but he was gone. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is not over deceiver! By the blood of Odin - you will face my judgement!" he shouted out. The skies above cackled as a dark storm began to slowly brew in the sky above. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| On the other side of the city - Skamms was talking with the caitiff bartender where the rest of the patrons frequented. He looked to see if any of the locals were taking an unhealthy interest in them - none were. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He thinks - I'm posing as him? Trying to pass myself off as a god? Kids these days," he muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It gets better - his crew - they are forming some sort of cult in the Warzone. If you don't go to him soon - I have a feeling they are going to start hunting for you," the bartender stated. Skamms quietly laughed and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I've had fools try to find me before. You should know that better than anyone," he retorted. It was then that he noticed that his host was casually noticing someone that had just entered the bar. "Hmm. Someone I know?" he asked seriously. He nodded as he took a sip. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Which side?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Keeper - prince's crew. You want him ejected?" he asked. Skamms quietly laughed and placed his hand on his shoulder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't want you getting into trouble over this. Besides - I can take care of myself," he reassured as he slowly got up and looked over at the Setite. "Hey! Snake Eyes! Looking for something?" he called out. All eyes were instantly on him and the person by the door. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Skamms - you are here - what good fortune," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Save it. I know that a bunch of you people have been playing seek out the lunatic," Skamms interrupted. Glare sighed and walked over to where the angry Malkavian was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fair enough. May I speak to you privately? I am not here on behalf of the prince - my reason for being here is solely mine. Will you at least hear me out?" he asked quietly. Skamms smirked and motioned for him to leave. Glare nodded and the two calmly left the bar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How did you know where I was?" he asked lowly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Truthfully - believe me or no - I didn't. I will be quite honest though - I was looking for you. It seems we have a common friend - something I will not disclose," Glare answered as they began to walk down the street. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Smart choice. So what is this about? The rumors - the prince - or that mad god I have to kill?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your sense of humor hasn't changed a bit. Shall we say the last?" he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Talk on," Skamms muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What will it take to keep you from going after him?" he asked. Skamms stopped and looked over at the Setite. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do - do I look Ventrue?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I never said you did," Glare retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Good. I am an easy going kind of guy unless you get up in my face - which this punk caitiff has done. Now - you come here - asking what it will take to get me to back off?" he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My brother - he is with him," Glare interrupted. Skamms studied the look on the Keeper's face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Wow - a brother - what a trip," he muttered. "He a snake too?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is the one that sired me," he answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Huh - I've been on ice for about a week - fending off some inner demons and so forth. You want your brother clear of ground zero - you have two days. After that - the lunatic - is going down. And if he has punk friends that want to try to stop me - they will go down too," he stated calmly as he began to walk away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "May I ask why you are doing this?" Glare asked. Skamms stopped and looked up at the sky. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Never had family - brothers or sisters. And mommy and daddy," Skamms began - but stopped himself. "You seem to care about that snake brother of yours - let's just leave it at that," he concluded as he hurried away. Glare watched until the Malkavian vanished from sight. For some reason - the lunatic was going to open up to him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I held up my end of the bargain brother - you are on your own now," he said to himself as he headed back towards the caitiff bar. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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