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| Chapter Nine: Rumors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Almost two days and three nights had passed since the fight between the visiting Assamites and Calloway had gone down. Since then - no one knew if any of the three combatants survived. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At the conclave - which was being held at one of Man Basher's new clubs - many of the locals were arguing as to who won the wagers in the local betting pools - although - those that bet the most seemed to care the least. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Over where the prince was - Tamina - Primogen to clan Ventrue approached and politely bowed. Man Basher smiled and motioned for her to have a seat. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I understand that you wished to speak with me?" she stated politely. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You could say that. You people - have not said much about the fight," the prince remarked calmly - stirring her crimson drink with her finger. "That tells me - you know a lot," she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You wish to know what I know?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You catch on quick honey," the prince admitted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know the fight began four nights ago. It dragged into the wee hours of the day," she began. Man Basher's eyebrow raised with interest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The snake saw the sun?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Unknown. When we exited to attend your conclave the following night - there was no sign of his remains. Later - when we returned - there was a fire burning outside the tower. In it the remains of two charred bodies could be seen," she continued. The prince scowled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That is all you know?" she asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That is all I saw and was told," she answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You had no surveillance?" she asked untrustingly. Tamina smiled. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If you are asking if I aided him. The answer is yes. I did so before the fight began. I offered him haven for the night and provided him with - some old style weapons. I did so out of a sense of debt to him - for what he did for me and my clan," she answered politically. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You dodged the issue," Man Basher pointed out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I did have the surrounding area under heavy surveillance - until the fight began. Then I called everyone in. I know that Calloway would not have been pleased had my people intervened in his fight - as well - I knew that you would not want me interfering - as you had money invested in the fight," she replied seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You had no cameras?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "None covering that exact area - unfortunately. They found the one blind spot in out security net," she answered politely. Man Basher sighed and shook her head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Slap Happy - get over here please," she called out. The Malkavian Primogen leap-frogged over everyone he encountered until he finally landed beside the prince. "Have you heard anything about Calloway or those Assamites?" she asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slap Happy sighed and looked to be in deep thought. He looked to the side and thought some more. He looked up at the roof and admired one of the lights that was flickering a bit. He then shook his head and smiled at the prince. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The answer is - forty-two," he answered triumphantly. Man Basher and Tamina blinked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Huh?" Man Basher muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know that - the outcome - is not what people think - but what they know. You know how it went down - everyone does," Slap Happy answered as he spun around. Man Basher blinked and shook her head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Go away please," she requested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Have you asked the Nosforatu? They tend to hear much," Tamina asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I asked them two nights ago - I heard lots of bitching but not much answering," she replied with a sigh. "I guess it is time to set a few things straight," she said as she got up and stood on the table. "Your attention please!" the prince shouted. All of the voices died down as all eyes turned to the prince. "There - has been a lot of - discussing and - negotiating in the matter of the betting pool. As - no one seems to have any plausible input on the subject - I guess I will have to make - an unbiased choice," she continued. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Out of curiosity," a familiar voice interrupted. All eyes looked to the front of the club. There stood a confident looking Calloway! "Did I miss much?" he asked with a smile as he entered the club. All eyes were now on him as he made his way over to where the prince was. "Hey there - miss me?" he said with a wink. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - survived," Man Basher remarked as she hopped down from the table. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Try not to sound too shocked," he said as he plucked a wineglass full of blood from the tray of a kindred waitress. "I am what many call a survivor," he mused. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So it would seem," she admitted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I would imagine as much," a disgusted voice rebutted. The prince and Calloway looked over and saw Grater glaring in their direction. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I presume he is bitching about me? Hey grasshopper! What is the sound of one hand clapping?" Calloway mocked - fidgeting around one of his hands. Many in the room laughed - the prince repressed a smirk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Highness - on the night of the - duel - as it were. A foul tempered bastard violated my domain and slaughtered many of my ghouls," Grater hissed as he walked over and glared at Calloway. "And if that wasn't enough - the fucker attacked me from behind like a god damned fucked in the head coward," he almost spat. Calloway closed his eyes as he hopped up onto the table and stood beside Man Basher. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If I might steal your spotlight - if for just a moment," he requested. The prince smiled as she hopped down and stood beside Grater. "I have been accused - of a great many things. Some crimes - hey - I will admit to and when the time comes - I will answer for them. But here - before all of you - before the prince and her council," Calloway began as he raised a hand up to the roof. "Before my lord god - Set - I do so swear - that I did not - act against your Primogen that night," he said confidently. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "As much as I hate - agreeing with the snake - he's telling the truth," Palaseen of clan Tremere stated. Man Basher looked over and saw many of the other warlocks nodding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "His aura isn't lying - neither is he," one of the Toreador added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Damn me if he ain't telling the truth," Slap Happy muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is a fucking snake - no disrespect Glare," Grater began - the harpy nodded and wrote something down. "Lying - is what he does. It is in his blood. Lies - deception - manipulation. These are their credo!" he retorted as he pointed a finger at Calloway. "Tell to my fucking face you lying sack of shit - tell me that it wasn't you seeking sanctuary in my domain that night," he challenged. Calloway smiled as he squatted down and looked Grater in the eye. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I feel for you Grater. There is no greater - get it? Greater - Grater? Anyway - there is no greater sense of violation - then having your domain violated and to be attacked in a place you know to be safe and secure - but the unfortunate truth here is - I was never in your domain - not on that day at least," he answered seriously. Grater scowled at him and shook his head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You may have them fooled you back-stabbing snake - but not me. You will fuck up - and I will be there waiting," Grater said in disgust as he and the others from his clan left the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think - he can handle the truth," Calloway mused. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Few can. The Assamites that you faced?" Man Basher asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They - well - they put up a good fight - but - how could they fare - against one of Snake's best?' he rebutted as he sat down on the table and smiled at the prince. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I lost a lot of money because of you," she stated seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Like you won't make it back in a week or two? You went to the track and bet on the wrong horse," he rebutted with a smile. The prince quietly laughed as she put her hand on his shoulder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am going to have to keep an eye on you. You are just full of surprises - and I don't like that," she remarked as she patted him on the cheek. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I will keep that in mind. Now - if you will excuse me - I have some - business to take care of out of town. I want to make sure that Snake knows what has happened and that I am okay," he said as he hopped from the table. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When will you return?" the prince asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where would the fun be in telling you that? Rest assured - sooner than you think - and much sooner than you or most would like," he replied politely as he bowed to her. "Until the next?" he concluded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You may leave," she replied calmly. The others watched as the serpent warrior calmly left the club. "This is far - far from over little serpent," she mused with a smile. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In Chamberlan later that same night... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tanya was standing guard in a small room - as if waiting for something to happen - or someone to happen by. It was then that there was a knock on the door. Instantly she had a crossbow up and ready to fire. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Who is it?" she asked in a soft voice. The door slowly opened as Calloway poked his head in. "How did it go?" she asked seriously. Calloway smiled as he dropped his mask - revealing the kindred that had been masquerading as Calloway - Doctor Jest! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The fools never caught on. I might have been a little over the top though," he began as he took out a tape recorder and tossed it to her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What is this?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - if he goes in and is asked something about what I said and comes up with the educated answer - huh? What thinkist thou will happen?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I see," she replied as she looked at the recorder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is our friend awake yet?" he asked. Tanya put the crossbow down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Barely," she answered. Doctor Jest walked over and patted her on the shoulder as he walked into the other room. There on the bed was Calloway - all of his wounds had almost completely healed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My, my - you stepped in it deep my friend - didn't you?" he asked with a smile. Calloway lolled his head over and saw the Malkavian he had dealt with before. Slowly he sat up and glared at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you doing here?" he asked seriously. Jest smiled as he sat down on the bed beside him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "For one that does what you do - you sure take a lot of things for granted. Those assassins - they did their research on you. If I didn't step in - you wouldn't be here today," Jest stated contemplatively. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You think - I will owe a lunatic like you?" Calloway began as the doctor quietly laughed. "What's so funny?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "My being here - isn't about you owing me a debt - it was about me owing a debt," he rebutted as he looked over his shoulder and saw Tanya. "Just between the two of us - keep your friends close and your enemies closer," he whispered with a smile as he got up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Problem Jest?" Tanya asked - cradling the crossbow in her hands. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh no - nothing dear," the doctor said with a soft chuckle. "I presume that you have - everything under control here?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I try my best," she answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I bet you do. With someone like you at his back - I don't think anything will be able to touch him - or will that be the case?" Doctor Jest contemplated. Tanya scowled. Jest smiled and laughed. "Forgive me - I ramble and I have been in character for too long. Stay as long as you desire. I rarely use this place anymore," he concluded as he left the room. Tanya shook her head and walked into the room where Calloway was. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What was that all about?" he asked tiredly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Malkavians - they fuck with your mind every chance they get," she rationalized as she curled up next to him. "You feeling better today honey?" she asked seriously. He sighed as he laid back down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm still in bad shape. I suppose I should be grateful," he answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How so?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When I last saw Jest - he said he owed me for something. At least now I don't have to worry about that nutcase or the fucked up games he plays," he answered. Tanya smiled as she rested her head on his chest. "One thing puzzles me," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What's that?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "How did he get mixed up in this? How did he know that - I would be fighting or might need help?" he asked. Tanya sighed as she traced her fingers over his chest. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Slap Happy is his eyes and ears in Eco," she pointed out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They wagered against me," he rationalized. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are thinking logically while talking about those lunatics? I am sure it made perfect sense to him," she said as she sighed. "I am just grateful that you pulled through. You had me worried," she said quietly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That wasn't my intent," he reassured - running his fingers through her hair. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you going to do? You know - about Snake?" she asked hesitantly. Calloway sighed as he closed his eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "When I am one hundred percent - I will - talk to him about this. I am sure you are wrong about this," he replied confidently. Tanya sighed as she almost instantly fell asleep. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope so," she said on almost a subconscious level. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The End? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||