|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chapter Three: Serpent Fist | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The conclave moved to the warehouse next door. All of the kindred and ghoul retainers formed a large circle around Calloway Louis and Thunder. The prince made her way through the crowd and motioned for everyone to silence. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tonight - was going to be dull - but luckily - thanks to our buddy Calloway - things just picked up," Man Basher - began. A couple voices laughed at the jest but quickly filtered back into silence. "This night - promises to be a double feature - if - he doesn't or should I say - when he doesn't win. Because then - we get to play that fun game of - what can we shove up that Ventrue's tight ass," she added. The Brujah present cheered. Calloway looked over and saw Tamina - the Ventrue in question being guarded by four large Brujah. He then returned his attention to his opponents. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Any last words?" Thunder taunted cracking his knuckles. Calloway smiled as he slowly removed his jacket and shirt. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Last words? Those won't be spoken for a while," he rebutted as he took on a martial arts stance. The Brujah were not impressed and pulled out their firearms. "Do the Brujah fear the touch of the serpent? Is that why they chose to use such - spineless - weapons?" he taunted. The crowd tensed up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You just like to push that button don't you? Boys - any weapon - but guns please. I want this lesson to be - personal," Man Basher began as she walked over to where Tamina was. "Much like how we are going to be with you when he gets taken down," she added smugly to the Ventrue captive. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I feel it only fair to warn you," Tamina began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - warn me?" she repeated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Calloway - is said to be among the best when it comes to fighting," she explained. Man Basher studied the girl and then looked over and watched as her Brujah champions slowly made their way towards the serpent warrior. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calloway closed his eyes and began to chant to himself. He knew that the Brujah would be faster and could match strength with him or more so. He had to rely on his agility and power to take his enemies down. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| He opened his eyes and looked over at his foes. One was armed with two long machetes. The other was armed with a sledgehammer coiled with barbwire. Around him he could hear the crowd wagering on how long it would take them to finish him off. Slowly he focused on only his enemies. The crowd became silent to him. All he could hear - was his foes. How they walked - how their grip on their weapon's shifted ever so slightly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am going to enjoy breaking you!" Thunder shouted. Like a blur of motion he raced from where he was and brought the hammer down! It smashed into the floor where Calloway had been standing - but the vampire wasn't there. He looked up and saw the vampire almost hovering. He rolled out of the way as Calloway landed with the grace of a jungle cat. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The boy is quick," Louis stated - slipping the knives under his belt. "How about we use a little - teamwork to slow his ass down?" he suggested. Calloway strategically backed away as the two prepared to attack him together. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| These hams are playing it up for the crowd. They aren't taking me seriously. Calloway thought. Don't get cocky - Snake is counting on you. He reminded himself as took on a defensive stance. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The two Brujah charged in. Calloway leaped to the right to avoid Louis and was rewarded for his efforts by receiving a powerful blow to the chest by the hammer of Thunder. The crowd cheered as Calloway rolled to the center of the large circle. He concentrated on the wounds - slowly they healed. He balanced himself on his fingers and toes and kept low to the ground - like a waiting serpent. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| His foes mocked the posture and brazenly charged towards him. He growled lowly as he pounced. Thunder tried to level him with another devastating blow - but the attack missed as Calloway landed a powerful punch to the side of the vampire's head. He was going to follow up the attack when Louis grabbed him from behind - pinning his arms. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are an arrogant little fuck you know that?" Louis remarked. Calloway watched as Thunder slowly got up - rubbing his jaw. Calloway blinked as he felt something touching his hands - the touch of cold steel. The fool pinned his arms by his weapons. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Just hold him like that Louis," Thunder requested as he punched Calloway in the stomach. The Setite didn't flinch. "Tough guy huh? Ever hear of Brujah T-Ball?" Thunder asked as he picked up his hammer. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - but I got me that feeling that you are just dying to tell me," Calloway remarked as his fingers slipped up and managed to grip the handles of the machetes. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - it goes something like this. A mouthy kindred - that would be you - is restrained much like you are now. Then the batter - that would be me - punts your ugly fucking head into lower earth orbit," he stated as he wound up and prepared to knock Calloway's head off. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Setite watched the Brujah's movements as if in slow motion. It was a few moments before the swing would have connected that Calloway reacted. Louis tightened his grip thinking the vampire sought to escape. Calloway hopped up. He kicked his leg up - blocking the swing. Before Thunder could try again - the Setite coiled his leg around the weapon. Thunder looked at Calloway - his eyes were like those of a serpent. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "T-Ball you call it? Never heard of it. That kind of sport was never much my thing. I always preferred soccer," Calloway hissed. In a blur of motion he drove his knee into Thunder's face again and again. Louis - stunned by the restrained vampire's actions finally released him. Louis rolled away and watched as Calloway and Thunder fell to the ground. He went for his weapons - but they were gone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where are?" he began. Calloway looked over at him and hissed. His eyes locked onto his. Beneath the Setite he could see the faint glimmer from the flat of his weapons. Slowly Calloway got up and kicked the machetes up to his hands. The Brujah watched as the vampire masterfully moved the bladed weapons around as though they were a part of him. He then spun around and flung them up - impaling them into the room two stories above. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This bores me. Time to finish this," Calloway hissed as he stormed towards Louis. Louis backed away from the stalking vampire that was glaring at him. Thunder - dazed from the hits he had taken began to slowly get up. He looked over and saw Calloway going after Louis. He concentrated on his wounds until he was able to get up. Calloway stopped. He looked over his shoulder and saw that Thunder was up. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Over her snake man!" Louis taunted. Calloway smiled at Thunder as he returned his attention to Louis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Weapon!" Louis called out. Calloway smiled as an axe was tossed from the crowd to the fighter. "I underestimated you. You are a cold blooded son of a bitch," Louis remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Stop it. You'll hurt my feelings," he rebutted. In the back of his mind he knew that Louis was stalling for time - buying his ally time to heal. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am going to chop you into seven uneven pieces," Louis shouted as he raced at him at superhuman speed. Calloway dodged to the side - avoiding one swing. From the corner of his eye - he could see Thunder heading their way. Calloway leaped up. As he did - his skin shifted from flesh to scales. His body arched over the swinging weapon. He landed - punched his fist through the handle of the axe - severing the head of the weapon from its shaft. Then in one fluid motion - he spun around - gripped the head of the axe before it could fall - spun around and flung it into Thunder's chest. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| The metal object made a sickening thud as it smashed into the Brujah's chest. Louis and the crowd watched Thunder staggered back and fell over. Calloway hopped back and landed on his fingertips and toes - staying low to the ground. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your boyfriend can't help you now son - it's just you - and me," Calloway hissed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I need another fucking weapon now!" he shouted. A motor revved up as a chainsaw was tossed to the Brujah. "Oh yeah - this is what I needed," Louis said with a demented smile. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Only a fool puts his faith in a weapon. It is not the weapon that gives the power - but the knowledge of its user," Calloway hissed as he spun back up to his feet. Louis tried to attack Calloway with the weapon - but his enemy seemed to be able to stay one step ahead of him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hold still and die already!" Louis shouted. Calloway hissed as he spun around and drove his fist into the flat part of the chainsaw. The chain snapped and shot back cutting up Louis's arm. "Damn it!" he screamed as he backed away from Calloway. His eyes blinked and became like that of a serpent. He froze. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Pathetic," Calloway hissed as he stalked closer. He hissed as his tongue lashed out - cutting the vampire's face. He tensed up - Thunder was up again. From the corner of his eye he could see the other Brujah getting ready to throw the object that had knocked him down. "Must time this right," he muttered as he positioned himself in front of Louis. "Time to finish you off," he hissed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Finish this off snake!" Thunder shouted as he used all his strength to fling the axe head at Calloway. Calloway listened and could hear the projectile coming. He dropped to the ground and watched as the metal object exploded into Louis's chest. "Fuck!" he cursed as he charged. Calloway used the incapacitated vampire's body to grip the axe handle. He flipped himself towards Thunder - tripped him - causing the Brujah to impale himself through the chest on the axe handle. Calloway slowly got up and stalked his way over to where the paralyzed vampire was. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I want you to ask yourself - a scholarly question - what is the last thought - that goes through the mind of the mouse - as the serpent - kills it," he hissed to his prey. Before Thunder could reply. Calloway did a quick punch breaking his neck. He then spun around and kicked the vampire's head clean from its shoulders. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| A hush fell over the crowd as Calloway turned and faced the less than pleased prince. He concentrated - his flesh shifted from scales back to normal skin. He looked to the side and stomped his foot into the floor. The two weapons that were stuck in the roof fell down into his hands. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do you think this impresses me?" Man Basher asked lowly. Calloway walked over to where she was - a few Brujah stood ready in case the assassin tried anything against the prince. Calloway smiled as he bowed politely before her and presented the weapons to her. She quietly laughed as she took the machetes. "I underestimated you," she admitted. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Most people do," Calloway replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bring the bitch over here," she ordered. The Brujah guarding Tamina escorted her over to where the prince was. "A deal - is a deal. Let it not be said - that Clan Brujah - is not as good as its word. You Calloway - impressed me. You - are acknowledged in my city - and are now bound - by my rules and my laws. The rules of your elder - your boy Snake - they don't apply here. This is my house. Understand?" she asked sternly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes," he replied calmly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The charges levied against you by Grater," she began as she motioned for the Primogen to step forward. A smug look crossed the face of the deformed kindred. "You want a piece of him - go ahead," she stated. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I want - his hands," Grater hissed - showing his wounded hand. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Go ahead," she offered stepping aside. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are too kind. Restrain him boys!" Grater hissed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Stay! You want him - you take him. That is my word - that is my law," she stated seriously. The Nosforatu glared at Calloway who was holding a hand out - as if daring him to try to claim what he sought. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But," Grater began. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But what? I heard you going on and on about how much you wanted him. There he is - sick him," Man Basher taunted. "You told me that he got the drop on you. That he attacked you from behind. And that - you would have been able to deal with him - if he chose to face you like a man," she added as she towered over the Primogen. "Now - there he is - out in the open - awaiting your divine justice," she added stepping aside. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "In the spirit of fair play - as you seem off - Gimpy - I'll only use one hand. Come on. You want my hands so bad? Come and take them - if you can," Calloway challenged holding one arm behind his back. Grater fumed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Take your chance now Grater - or lose it. What will it be?" Man Basher demanded. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You will fuck up Calloway. The anvil will fall - and I will be there - waiting. My memory is quite long - and I can be - very - patient," Grater hissed as he stormed his way through the crowd. Man Basher watched as the other Nosforatu followed their clan leader. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That would leave you Glare. You have a beef with Calloway?" she asked. The Harpy took a deep breath and sighed as he looked at the Setite assassin. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A fight against him - is a sentence of death. Trusting him - is the biggest mistake you could make. It cost other Setites their lives - and if you aren't careful - it could cost you yours," Glare stated eloquently. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Does that mean that you don't want a piece of him?" she asked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No - not in that sense. I've got my eye on you Calloway. Whatever you are up to - whatever you are planning - I will be there. And like Grater so eloquently stated - when the anvil falls - I will be there also. To light a candle for every Setite you murdered," the harpy stated as he walked away. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You make friends wherever you go," Luther stated. Calloway smiled - not looking at the spirit that was behind him. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I guess that settles that," Man Basher remarked clapping her hands together. "I like your spirit Calloway. I respect people that can fight for what they believe in and want. Eco here - is like a fine buffet. Take what you want - but keep your fucking hands - off my plate. Got it?" she asked seriously. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I understand," Calloway replied. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Now - I want you to understand something about Eco here. You have your ideals - you have your issues and baggage - so what? It doesn't concern me - so long - as it doesn't hurt me - or my city," she said placing her hand on his shoulder. "Now - as I said before - I am a woman of my word. Your little uptight bitch - I will hear her out - tomorrow. You - my dear Tamina - are not acknowledged and will be until such time as I deem your value worth - such a reward," she stated - not hiding her clear disgust. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She is still under my protection," Calloway pointed out. Man basher smiled and took in a deep breath and sighed. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know. Something to think about - isn't it?" the prince said with a sinister smile as the crowd began to filter out until only Calloway, Tamina and the spirit of Luther remained. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That went well," Tamina remarked. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The battle has just begun. She isn't happy. Come - we have to keep you alive until tomorrow," he began as he looked around the seemingly empty room. "And something tells me - that won't be an easy run," he added as they too left the room. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | |||||||||||||||||||||||