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| Part two: return | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The next night - an emergency meeting was called at the Royal Palace. Many of the elitist sect was more than puzzled as to why the Ventrue Primogen was sitting at the desk where the prince usually sat - but kept quiet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "None else?" Esameul Banks asked as he looked around. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Who are you waiting for?" Slap Happy asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And while we are asking questions - why are you sitting in the prince's chair? Axis doesn't take kindly to people playing games behind his back," Man Basher warned. Several of her Brujah friends agreed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are unaware?" the Ventrue Primogen asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you playing at?" she retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You haven't? Oh dear. Late last night - some compatriots of mine were doing some business near the Warzone district. We saw the prince and a small hunting party on the warpath. We offered to help - but you know how proud old Axis could be," he began. In a blur of motion - Man Basher and every Brujah had weapons aimed at the Ventrue Primogen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are fucking with me Banks - you should know better," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is Elysium - weapons were not taken - as a show of respect - hint," he retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tell me something remotely useful - something I might believe - and maybe - I might," she stated coldly. Esameul merely smiled and looked at the others who were unsure as to how this drama would unfold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fair enough. We offered to help him - he told us to fuck off - his words. As he was leaving I heard him going on about Dr. Jest - the old Malkavian Primogen from Chamberlan - saying how he was alive and so forth - all of you must have heard a little of that over the past few weeks," he continued. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Wasting my time - to the point please," she interrupted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Impatience is a very unattractive trait for you my dear. His obsession for this long dead Malkavian began to cloud his judgement - severely. He got sloppy - as I am sure - even you - Man Basher would have to agree. We were about to depart when we heard military ordinance being discharged. We would have investigated - but sunrise was approaching. I sent retainers to investigate after sun up - but all evidence of any happening - was gone. I asked around - and heard that they were the target of a high profile assassination," he began. Man Basher glared at the calm looking Primogen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This - is what you bring to the table?" she asked in disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It is true," a voice said from the door. They looked over and saw - Toenail - the Nosforatu Primogen. Many were surprised by his presence - none more so than Banks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Toenail? You haven't been seen for over a month - you - you know something of what went down?" Banks asked hesitantly. Toenail walked over to where the Ventrue Primogen was and nodded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do - I was there," he replied - all color drained from the Ventrue's face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - were?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I was - but the men that took him down - they didn't look very high profile to me. They were raggedly dressed - had a stink of fish about them. One had a thick accent. Could barely understand a word he said. They were talking about some dock deal that they said he screwed them in. The prince said he didn't have time - was looking for some Doctor. When their backs were turned - one took out a forty-caliber - and blew them away," Toenail stated calmly. A half smile crept onto Esameul's face. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A witness? Does this appease your doubts?" he asked seriously. Man Basher looked over at the tired looking Nosforatu and reluctantly lowered her weapon. The others slowly did the same. "In his absence - our former prince Axis - I call a new vote for the title of prince of Eco - nominating of course - my self," he stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Those of you of status Primogen - the voices of your respective clans - say now how you chose to cast your vote," Glare stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This has been a Brujah city for almost three hundred years - no. If another must be prince - it will not be Ventrue," Man Basher stated seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Slap Happy?" Glare asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Abstain," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Harper - of clan Toreador?" Glare asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Brujah have run this city into the ground. It needs some culture - some room for us to show the world why Eco is the jewel of Canada. We think - the Ventrue can make this happen," he replied seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One against - one abstain - one for. Banks?" Glare asked sarcastically. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would vote yes," Esameul replied with a smirk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One against - one abstain - two for. Clan Tremere - your voice on this?" Glare asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For," the Primogen replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "One against - one abstain - three for. Clan Gangrel?" Glare asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You stinky bastard. One of ours was in that hunting party. We have a pact with the Brujah - we will honor it. And if Clan Ventrue had ANY hand - in that assassination - murder or whatever you want to call it - we will - wipe the streets clean with your broken carcasses," the largest of the Gangrels replied. Glare blinked and walked away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay - that would be against. Two against - one abstain - three for. You are the last vote Toenail - if you chose to abstain - or vote against - the election will be a draw and rendered void. In that - a call would be sent to the Justicar that adjudicates over this district. How do you vote?" Glare asked. Toenail looked around the room and slowly extended a fist - and slowly turned his thumb - down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hmm. Hung jury. How unfortunate. I will put in the call at once - uh - do try not to kill each other in my absence," Glare stated as he calmly left the room. The Ventrue Primogen slowly got up and placed his hands on the table before him and glared at Toenail. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I do not know what game you are hoping to play," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am not playing. I hear things and know things. And you are not the one that is supposed to be prince," Toenail stated calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Like hell I'm not," he retorted under his breath. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What does it matter what my opinion is or no? In such a situation - the position of prince would befall the one of highest status - as he or she would have the most political dealings and savvy to handle such a title. And after that failed coup by Sir - that would of course be you. Imagine that?" he stated calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - think I had a hand in that?" he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I never said that - but it was awfully good business for you - wasn't it?" he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Opportunity has many faces - you have to recognize them," the Ventrue remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is the price of one's soul - if it comes at the cost of such opportunity?" Toenail rebutted. A serious look crossed his face as he pointed an accusatory finger at the Nosforatu Primogen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You tread a thin line," he muttered. Toenail leaned forward. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do not threaten me - prince to be. I know of your dealings - all of them. I know of your strong-arm tactics in the asylums - I know of your secret pacts with Tremere - your wars - and your personal hunting expeditions. I know of how the assassination truly went down and who was the figure behind it. I just have no proof," he whispered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This going some where?" he asked coldly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Stay away from my sewers," he warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When I am prince - as you so eloquently pointed out - the right of domain - will be mine - and I will go where I please," he retorted. Toenail removed his hood and slowly moved his face until it was inches from the Ventrue. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If but one of my creatures tells me that anything of Ventrue blood - or has scent of Ventrue - no matter how faint. I will tell Brujah - and Gangrel of my true suspicions - and proof be damned - you would be ill suited to dealing with them - and the anarchs of the Warzone district. And if you think that by getting rid of me - you will be rid of the problem - don't be a fool. Just as you have insurance on your big deals - so too do I," he replied as he moved away from him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is this how you want it?" the Ventrue asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "To be honest - no. But unfortunately - this is how it must be. Good luck in your endeavors Esameul. I have no doubt - that all of your efforts will reach fruition. I just have no desire to see such a plant," he concluded as he slowly walked passed the others. As he left the room - Glare returned and looked at the departing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Leaving so soon? Oh well. Just finished the call - he wasn't pleased at being disturbed - but stated that the kindred with the highest status and standing in the community will attain the title of prince in view of this deadlock - which - as good fortune seems to favor - you Mr. Banks. Congratulations," Glare stated coolly. A smile crept across Esameul's face once more. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are too kind," he stated calmly as he looked over to the empty doorway that Toenail had exited through. "Now - that politics are out of the way - what is the first order of business today?" he asked curiously to the gathering. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||