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| Chapter Five: The Road to Hell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In the haven - Tamina was standing by the corner looking at the person that was hired to keep her alive. Just recently she had seen him in action - taking on two of the prince's fighters - putting some of her fears to rest. But in the moments just before - she saw another side of him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can I have some answers? I believe I am entitled," she requested calmly. Calloway sighed as he sat down on his bed. He looked over at the Ventrue and shook his head. "Am I safe around you? Do I have to worry that you might finish me off before some of the prince's people get the chance?' she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "No one will get to you unless they first get through me," he reassured. She walked over to the boarded up window - Luther - his annoying spirit that haunted him was where she had been. "Just perfect," he muttered under his breath. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Picking them a little young aren't we?" Luther remarked. Calloway shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are you going to be able to protect me?" she asked. Luther fell to the floor laughing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You? Protect? Oh this is rich," Luther mocked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Ask the Brujah that I took down,' he rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't question your ability. I was told you were the best fighter Snake had - and I can believe that. But I need to stay focused so that I can do what I was sent here to do. And if I can't sleep because you are screaming like the Inquisition is in town and - because I am afraid that you will polish me off like a milkshake," she began but stopped when he got up and walked over to where she was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you don't want my protection - by all means - leave. You wanted an audience with the prince - I got you that. All you have to do - is cross the city - find the location of the conclave - and do so without anyone realizing what clan you are," he stated seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You know that I can't do that," she stated flatly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then where does that leave you?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My clan - is counting on me. I know that means precious little to you. I know that my success or failure will not cause you much loss of sleep," she began as he bent over and stared her in the eye. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know your clan is counting on you - mine - is counting on me - to ensure your success. I have not yet - failed in any task that has been given to me. I do not - intend for you - to be the first," he rebutted seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My apologies. I - questioned your dedication and professionalism. This mission - it is just so important. It could make me - seriously," she replied respectfully. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I understand," he admitted as he walked over to another boarded up window. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So - will you tell me the score with your screaming - your arm - and why you almost drained me dry?" she asked politely. Calloway quietly laughed as he picked up two daggers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For as long as I can remember - I have had - visions - dreams - very apocalyptic. The one I saw this morning - it showed the awakening," he stated grimly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "As - in the elders?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Antediluvians?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The people - my people are preparing to fight. The vision I had - my god - the elders - the guards - all of the soldiers had fallen. It was so real," he stated calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fuck - no wonder you were messed up," she admitted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Boo-hoo - the murderer is having bad dreams," Luther mocked. Calloway smirked but did his best to ignore the annoying spirit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The dream - it changes - but the faces and places always remain the same," he replied with a smirk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And - the arm?" she asked. Calloway looked down at his arm that was healed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Little incident that happened before my embrace. It never fully healed," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If I hear that fucking story one more time I swear I will puke," Luther remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So - you fed off me - because - of your wounds - and - that dream?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Something like that. Oh - one thing I should explain. Everything that has been said here - goes no further. If I find out you have loose lips - I will remove them and several other body parts. We clear?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Crystal,' she replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That being said - exactly what do you hope to establish here? Other than putting yourself in harm's way?" he asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope to establish a Ventrue presence in Eco. Others have tried - none have succeeded. If I can succeed," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When," he corrected. She smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When I succeed - the clan can work on rebuilding the network that was lost when Banks was taken down. You have gotten me to the first door. I don't think I have ever seen anyone - or anything fight quite like you," she remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have my moments," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I think the blue blood is developing a crush on you," Luther remarked. Calloway frowned and moved a hand to his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Headache?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Big one," he muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So when do we head out to find the prince?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not yet," he replied as he walked over to the window and looked down at the street below - one of the manhole covers was askew. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We were followed," he answered as he stretched out his arms and took out his preferred knives. Tamina blinked as she looked at the kindred that appeared to be getting ready for a fight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Followed? You must be mistaken," she rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nope - if I had to hazard a guess. I would say they were with us since we left that makeshift arena," he stated calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "But the way we took," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Lost them a few blocks back - I would be willing to wager that they had ghouls casing the block trying to find us. Process of elimination dear. Trust me - trouble is on route," he reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Trust me says the assassin,' Luther remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay - then - what am I supposed to do?" she asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What you came here to do - stay alive and get ready to pitch your cause to the prince," he stated as he rushed over - grabbed her and leaped through the window. As he jumped out - a flaming bottle smashed onto the floor filling the room with fire. Tamina looked down at the concrete that was fast approaching them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not good," she muttered. He landed gracefully. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You were saying?" he remarked. Just then the road caved in. the two fell into the sewers and found themselves surrounded by outrageously oversized sewer dwelling beasts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not good?" she repeated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Time for someone to pay for his arrogant acts against clan Nosforatu," a voice from the darkness hissed as the monstrous beasts slowly stalked towards the two. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||