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| Chapter Three: The Heroic Sendoff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The party of four rested in Calloway's haven as they healed. Early the next night - mere minutes after sunset - the gathering was gearing up for what each knew was going to be one of the toughest fights any of them had faced up to date. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I hope you don't mind - but I stole some of the clothes from the closet," Catrina remarked - dressed in something far less showy then her dancer's outfit. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Fashion is not the reason we are going out tonight," Calloway began. "Besides - this isn't my place - the people are just on vacation. They should invest in better locks or a security system or something," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Security is just a flashing light that screams I have stuff worth taking," Corwin rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "True," Calloway admitted as he put on his belts of throwing knives - then put on his coat. "Does anyone need anything before we leave?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm okay," Catrina answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Same here," Corwin added - looking at the sword. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'll be fine - will you? Your arm looks messed up," Cathy answered and asked. Calloway closed his eyes and concentrated. as he did - the wounds on his arm began to slowly heal. Once it looked normal he motioned for her to come over. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You mind?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - no," she replied hesitantly as he sunk his fangs into her neck and began to feed. Corwin sighed and leaned against the wall. Catrina rolled her eyes and made her way over to the window. When she got there she instantly backed away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hate to interrupt your snack and her fun - but there is a small party of ugly things outside," she stated. Calloway pulled away and wiped his mouth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Looks like you were right Corwin," Calloway stated as he sheathed his knives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Try not to sound too shocked - it does happen every now and so often," he rebutted. Calloway walked over and peeked out the corner of the window and smirked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Grater and his crew. They are up to something," he stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There a back way out?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Not that he doesn't have something guarding," Calloway stated as he watched some of them talking to Grater. He couldn't make out what they were saying but he could tell by the smug look on Grater's face that it had to be something big. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We fighting through them?" Corwin asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Let's see what they want - this could prove amusing," Calloway suggested as he motioned for Corwin to hide the sword. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moments later - the doors to the place opened and Calloway and company exited. Grater tensed up. it was clear that he was expecting and was prepared for Calloway - but his friends were clearly not part of the deal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Grater - what brings a pile of stink like you into this neck of the woods?" Calloway asked. Grater smirked - shifting his gaze from Calloway to the others and then back to him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It - is my distinct pleasure to inform you that - the prince has demanded your presence in her conclave," the Nosforatu Primogen stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If he refuses?" Catrina asked. One of the other Nosforatu snickered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - in the event of your - inappropriate absence - it would be my delight to inform you that - your acknowledged status would be revoked and that a bloodhunt would be called on you - as you would be found guilty in absentia," he added sweetly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - that is a pickle of a situation," Corwin stated as he stepped forward and stood before Grater. "You see - he is sort of needed and - well we intend to take him with us," he added with a friendly smile. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't know who you are - but I do know that you have no idea who you are fucking with. So back off pretty boy - unless you want to share what Calloway has got due," Grater warned. Corwin blinked and looked over at Calloway. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He always like this?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "More or less. He's a Primogen no less," Calloway answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Imagine that," Corwin mused. In the time it would take to blink an eye - the sword was drawn. Cut in a large arching motion and was held behind his back. So quick and perfect was the strike that none - save Calloway saw it. Corwin leaned forward and smiled by the ear of the puzzled Nosforatu Primogen. "When you stand in the presence of a viper - expect to get bitten," he whispered. The others watched as Corwin head-butted Grater - causing him to fall into two uneven pieces. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You seem to be in hot water as is here - want us to deal with this?" Catrina asked as she took out a small gun she found in the house. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "By all means," he replied. The moment of stunned bewilderment faded and an all out brawl ensued. But good though the sewer dwelling kindred were - good though their small army of ghoul retainers were - they were no match for the skill and fury of those in the service of Snake. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That," Corwin began as he looked at his bloodstained blade. "Was almost therapeutic," he added with a smile as he sheathed the weapon. They tensed up when they heard someone clear his throat. Calloway and the others looked over and saw Slap Happy applauding. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Quite the show you kids put on," the Primogen remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You come to play the game Grater did?" Calloway asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You mean that bloodhunt thing? Yeah - like I would try to take you in," he sarcastically replied as he walked over to where they were. "The prince - she didn't want it to be this way. This situation - it got seriously and politically fucked," he replied seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That would be why there was no hunting party - they knew you were established here," Catrina stated as she looted what weapons she could from the dead bodies. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are the alleged charges?" Calloway asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Supposedly - you are an agent of the Sabbat," the Malkavian answered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Any basis for the accusation?" Corwin asked - hand on the hilt of the sword. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Hearsay - some rumors. The prince would have said fuck it - but - an Archon came rolling in and said that the matter had to be put to trial immediately," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "An Archon? I got the attention of an Archon too," Calloway remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Must it always be a competition?" Corwin rebutted with a smirk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Look - I know that the Camerella is a fucking joke at times - but it is a necessary evil. I mean the Sabbat - they are inches away from being at the end of a Templar's lance if you know what I mean," he began as he walked over and stood before the alleged Sabbat member. "Are you what they say?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The only cause I am loyal to - is the war. I follow the banner of my mentor Snake and serve him in whatever way strengthens the cause," Calloway answered calmly. "So - the answer - would be no," he answered. Slap Happy studied him - blinked and then backed away. "Satisfied?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I believe you - no one else might - but I do. I also know that - you have more important things to deal with than some trumped up political smear job,' the Malkavian stated as he turned his back to Calloway. "Just so you know - he is still alive - but - is that a good thing?" the lunatic asked as he began to walk away. Cathy raised a gun - but Calloway motioned for her to lower it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He could bring the prince and the others after us," she pointed out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Our business is elsewhere," he stated calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your call big guy. Any idea who started the rumor?" Corwin asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't know - and I don't care. I will devote mental energy to the task after - Snake is free and the invaders have been sent back into the ether," he replied seriously as he looked to the west. "We have a long journey ahead of us and it won't get shorter by standing here," he pointed out as they headed away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To Be Continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||