Nettle's eyes flicker back to Veil, and take on a concerned look.
Cara looks worriedly to Aaron.
Aaron takes Cara's hand and squeezes it.
Nettle: "What do you mean, Veil?" she asks nervously, gripping her hands together.
Veil: "Aaron and Cara, do you want to talk a bit about what brought you here? Not everyone has heard your story. Take your time, and if anyone has any questions, please ask. We should all be as informed as we can about what may come."
Alec turns to Aaron.
Aaron looks at Cara.
Christy sits calm-faced.
Cara purses her lips.
Veil: "And if the two of you have any questions of us, dont' be afraid to ask. We're all a family, though we might not agree all the time. We protect each other."
Tania listens intently.

Aaron: "Well, its kind of a long story,"
Oswald listens to Aaron.
Aaron: "But to make it kind of short, there are some people who think that Cara is the future savior of the world."
Aaron: "Some very bad people..."
Aaron looks around.
Tania raises an eyebrow.
Aaron: "And they want to see her dead."
Nettle looks at Cara with worry on her face, but continues to listen.
Tania: "Why do they think she is the savior?"
Christy raises an eyebrow.
Aaron shrugs.
Nettle: "Yes, why? Although I'm sure you're about to get to that..." Nettle hushes.
Aaron: "There are a couple of old scrolls, that talk about an EverQueen,"
Aaron: "Who will rise in the last days to save the world from Armageddon."
Aaron: "One who will be born of three bloods,"
Aaron: "And they think it's Cara."
Aaron: "And needless to say..."
Nettle: "Three bloods...which bloods?" Nettle asks, leaning forward curiously.
Aaron: "A lot of those things that are chasing us, don't want her to ever achieve what she might."
Tania: "What exactly is chasing you?"
Aaron: "Cara is related by blood, to the Garou, the Fae, and the Verbena,"
Veil nods thoughtfully.
Alec: "That's three."
Nettle sits up straight and shifts her eyes to Cara's. "Really..."

Oswald raises his eyebrows.
Aaron: "Quite a few things, demons, at least one very old Vampire,"
Aaron: "And there's one other thing, but we don't say it's name out loud."
Veil grimaces at the mention of vampires.
Aaron: "Because we're afraid it will hear us,"
Nettle smiles at Cara, suddenly feeling more akin to her in some way after learning about her heritage.
Tania sighs and sits back.
Tania: "Just like old times, Jake."
Aaron: "But it's old, really old, and the nastiest thing I've ever seen."
Nettle's face falls again when she hears Aaron's words. Then she looks at Veil. "He's serious??"
Christy: "Its a wonder you are alive with all those things comin after you."
Oswald: "Because...it will hear you?"
Jacob smiles grimly. "Yeah..." he shakes his head.
Nettle looks at Alec with worry.
Aaron snorts...
Tania: "So what can we do to help, Aaron?"
Veil: "Yes Nettle, he's serious. Aaron was in really bad shape when he showed up here."
Aaron: "I don't know what we can do really,"
Veil: "I think that we should help them. We can't sit on the sidelines letting the world pass us by any longer. We've all had time to heal from our wounds...and rest up for what is to come."
Veil looks a bit sad, but at the same time, relieved.
Tania nods.
Aaron: "We've been running almost constantly for the last year."
Tania: "I agree, we do need to do something."

Nettle grips Alec's arm and looks at him, activating their mind-link. "Great timing...what should we do??"
Veil: "There must be something we can do. If there is a dark prophecy which these creatures have been following, there must be a counterpart light prophecy. That is the way things like this work."
Oswald: "Okay, so what would you suggest?"
Alec shrugs and leans into Nettle whispering.
Aaron chuckles.
Aaron: "There's no good guys comin' to save us."
Aaron looks grim.
Tania smiles.
Tania: "Yeah cause you just ran into them."
Veil: "Right now, I think that we should ready ourselves. Be prepared for anything. No more wandering about and disappearing without letting us know where you're at. Brush up your combat, and reinforce the wards around the Chantry."
Nettle looks at Alec for a moment. "But I don't want to abandon them...I..." Nettle falls silent on the mind-link.
Oswald mutters, "more robots."
Aaron smiles.
Veil: "I have already alerted Dalthania and the other Guardians of the Realm, they are always vigilant, but now they will be doubly so."
Nettle listens silently as Veil and the others talk, feeling dread spreading through her.
Aaron: "I won't lie to you, we're glad that you're all here to help us, but what is chasing us could put you all in terrible danger."
Aaron trails off...
Veil: "We need to get a hold of these prophecies that speak of the EverQueen. Does anyone have any resources that would help them locate something?"
Cara: "Uh...I have a copy."
Tania: "We've been there before and gotten out, we can do it again."
Nettle looks at Aaron with a hint of a tear in her eyes. "The ancient vampire...I supposed it's trying to kill you, too..."
Oswald: "I'm sure I can dig up something."
Aaron smiles, "Everyone is trying to kill us..."
Veil: "You do, Cara? Can we please see it?"
Veil: "Thanks Ozzie," Veil smiles at Oswald.
Cara nods, "It's in my bag."
Cara runs off to get her bag.
Cara returns in a moment, backpack in hand.
Nettle holds her head in her hands, her eyes staring at the floor as she thinks.
Veil looks at Nettle. "Hey, are you OK?"
Cara pulls out an old withered scroll, sealed in plastic.
Nettle looks up at Veil, and suddenly her eyes fill with tears. "Maybe I...better tell you after the meeting..."
Cara hands the scroll to Veil.
Veil gives a worried look to Nettle, then carefully takes the scroll from Cara.
Nettle quickly wipes her eyes and tries to compose herself in front of the group.

The scroll was old, and much of it was missing. But it said, "During the end times, when the world itself shall be in peril, shall arise a Queen who will be born of three bloods, and she will be as a beacon of light unto the world. And around her shall arise a kingdom to which all those of good heart will flock in the end times, and it will be a bastion against the coming Winter."
Nettle thinks.
Nettle: "It sounds to me like Cara is the good guy who's going to save us."
Veil looks thoughtful.
Cara looks doubtful.
Nettle: "And, if I'm translating right, she can do it with the help of a lot of strong people...her kingdom, as it were. Is that what you guys are getting from this?"
Christy: "Why do you seem to doubt this prophesy, Cara?"
Veil: "Well, whatever the case, they need our help. Tania, you're the Chantry leader, what's your opinion on all this?"
Cara looks at Christy.
Tania considers a moment and nods.
Cara: "I'm no queen, I can barely make a cake. And I'm supposed to fight ancient evils?"
Oswald: "Woah then, if it's from her 'kingdom', then it would be Fae, Garou, and us?"
Nettle: "How have you made it this long without being killed, though?" Nettle asks, looking at Cara intently.
Christy: "Well, the cake is merely ingredients, if you can know magic, you can know how to make a cake..."
Christy: "Your prophesy is a different matter."
Cara: "Aaron," Cara looked at Aaron and smiled, "And a lot of luck."
Nettle: "The Goddess has obviously chosen you..."
Veil nods.
Veil: "None of us were meant to fight alone. In numbers we are stronger."
Tania: "We should help them. This is serious, more serious than we have ever faced. I'll help, and if anyone thinks they aren't up for it, well no hard feelings. We will all understand."
Nettle: "What do we know about the powers of those who are trying to kill you?" Nettle asks, trying to keep the nervous edge out of her voice.
Aaron laughs.
Aaron: "As near as we can tell, the thing that is chasing us can do anything."
Aaron: "And the Vampire that we ran into, was tougher than any I've seen, and I've seen a few."
Nettle listens and tics the enemies off on her fingers. "So we have a vampire, a demon who's name we can't speak..."
Nettle looks up at Aaron again for assistance.
Aaron: "Ah, actually, the demons seem to be WITH the vampire,"
Nettle raises her eyebrows.

Veil: "This Chantry and the Ivory Cross were created to help combat demons. Perhaps some of our spirit-guardians will have some helpful information."
Aaron: "The other thing...we're not sure what it is..."
Tania nods.
Oswald: "So, we have a Vampire, some demons, an unmentionable, and probably more to deal with then. Now, what exactly do we know about killing this stuff?"
Nettle: "Has it spoken to you?"
Aaron shakes his head, "I've never really seen it. Except for in dreams."
Cara looks frightened..."I've seen it. And talked to it."
Tania: "Well if we get the drop on the vampire, things could go our way."
Veil: "If we're to be fighting demons, Nettle, it's time for you to learn Spirit." Veil says firmly to her student.
Nettle's eyes shift to Veil and she gives her an unsteady smile, talking to her for a second through the mind-link. "How about after this??"
Veil: "Perfect," Veil responds mentally.
Nettle shifts her eyes back to Veil's for a second. "Thanks Veil!" she thinks with relief. Nettle turns to Cara. "What does it want?? What does it say??"
Oswald: "It's time most of us learn Spirit, and then some."
Cara: "I don't know...all I know is that it's evil, and you can't reason with it, and you can't fight it. Because it will win."
Christy: "I could stand to improve my learning of spirits."
Tania: "The demons are the problem, but I'm sure Father Lawrence could enlighten us."
Cara looks grim.
Nettle: "But Cara! You can't say that if the prophesy says you can win! You have to believe you can do it!" Nettle says, almost desperately.
Aaron: "And as for that vampire, well, I've killed a lot of leeches, but that one almost dropped us both in the space of about 5 seconds."
Tania: "I'll speak to him after this."
Oswald: "So essentially, our two main problems are the vamp and his demon pals, and the unmentionable."
Aaron: "Yeah, thats about it."

Nettle thinks for a moment. "So what does the prophesy say will happen if these creatures win?"
Tania: "Ok Aaron, so the vampire is the one that hurt you. So he is more of an immediate problem."
Aaron smiles.
Aaron: "We all die."
Oswald: "Perhaps we each find a way to tackle the problems. I could research on vamps with someone, and the others can figure out the demons, and so on.
Tania: "Since he probably chased you down, he may be close."
Nettle blinks away her tears quickly. "But what do they want?? To rule over a dead planet?? What do they want??" Nettle shouts, and then finds that she's standing up.
Oswald: "Wait, who IS this vampire anyway?"
Alec puts a hand on Nettle's shoulder and helps her back to her seat.
Cara eyes grow distant, and her voice sounds different as she speaks...
Alec: "Relax, love. Relax."
Cara: "You cannot know the unknowable...
Cara: "Nor understand that which is not of this world, that which hunts us is not as you, and needs no motivation."
Cara shakes her head, and looks suddenly confused.
Nettle shrugs off Alec's hand and faces him. "Why?? I can't relax now! And how can we think of doing...how can we feel safe now?? What kind of world is this?" Nettle cries, hitting her hand against the bench, hard.
Veil studies Cara intently.
Alec wraps his arm around her shoulder.
Oswald: "So, the vamp is Mr. Unmentionable? This is getting to damn confusing now."
Veil: "Nettle! Don't be so frightened. You're among friends. You'll be alright. We will fight together and we will win against this. Don't give up hope before anything has begun, you will leach the energy from our bonds."
Alec: "Relax love, relax it will be alright, you'll see."
Aaron: "No, I don't know who the vampire is, but he has golden skin, and a scar around his neck."
Veil looks up.
Veil: "Golden skin?"
Oswald: "Hmmmmmm."
Nettle: "But not even the chosen one believes she can do it! I..." Nettle holds her head again. "I'm sorry..." Nettle rummages around in her bag.
Tania looks at Veil.
Tania: "You know something?"
Veil: "Hmm? No, I just find that interesting. A powerful vampire with golden skin. You'd think someone like that would stick out, but I've never heard of him."
Tania: "He must have been hiding waiting for Cara to be born."
Veil: "Yes, he must have...a creature like that wouldn't be able to get around without being noticed."
Nettle thinks hard about what she knows of vampires...why one might have golden skin.
Aaron: "Either that or no one walked away from him to tell the tale of a golden-skinned vampire."

Tania looks at Cara, "So what is it exactly that you have to do? The prophecy sounded a little vague."
Nettle finally shakes her head, and her hand fastens around what she's been looking for. She looks back at the group and listens distractedly.
Oswald: "I can do some more research, cause, from what I know, Golden-skinned would be a blatant dude out there."
Cara: "I wish I knew."
Tania: "I think we should research this prophecy."
Christy: "I agree."
Oswald: "We got a lot to research. Sitting here ain't doing it though."
Tania: "That will be priority number one."
Veil nods.
Nettle hunches down, and after a moment she sighs and her face looks a little calmer.
Veil: "We should gather again in a week to discuss what we've found."
Tania: "We can't be fishing in the dark if this golden skin knows exactly what he's supposed to do."
Oswald: "But we don't know that."
Tania: "If he's hidden himself all this time and just came out now, I bet he does know something, and whatever it is it's more than we know."
Oswald: "We should probably all stick to one thing we're good at, like me, Nettle and Veil can see what we can come up with on the vampire, and the others can research the propecy, or the demons."
Tania: "Alright then, Oswald I agree."
Veil nods to Nettle.
Tania: "You, Nettle and Veil will handle that."
Tania: "Alec, Jake, Cara and I will research the prophecy."
Tania turns to the Broken.
Nettle thinks for a moment, and then her face brightens. "Didn't you say Cara walked right into the chantry-- past the wards?" she asks, pointing her dagger absent-mindedly in the air...little drops of blood flying. She quickly cover the dagger in the folds of her skirt.
Veil: "yes, I think she could have subcionsiously countered them..."
Nettle smiles. "Cara...perhaps you'd like Veil here as a teacher. I think you've been more than just chosen by the Goddess."
Veil: Jeanette sits up straighter when Tania turns to her.
Nettle: "...not to mention it's an excuse to all go shopping together!"
Tania: "I want you all to go onto the BBS. See if you can dig up any reports of this golden-skinned man. You know the BBS I mean, right?"
Cara: "Well, I don't know about any Goddess, but I'll learn whatever I can."

Tania turns to Christy.
Veil: Jeannette nods and grins.
Christy: "Yes?"
Tania: "Christy, can you try some visionquest to see if you can learn anything?"
Christy: "I would be glad to do that."
Nettle smiles and goes back to "playing" with her dagger as she watches Tania take control.
Tania turns to Aaron.
Tania: "How are you feeling?"
Aaron shrugs. "Like I'm dead."
Tania chuckles.
Tania: "You feel good enough to help train a few people in combat?"
Oswald: "Also, since Cara and Aaron have all ready dealt with these things, we need some idea of their powers. I know it's pretty powerful, but what we know about them will help."
Aaron: "Yeah, even dead I'm still one of the best walkin'"
Tania nods.
Tania: "Alright we research until nightfall, after that everyone attends Aaron's combat training."
Tania: "That ok Aaron?"
Oswald: "Also, I should probably make a few new types of mechanica, at least with magical aspects to help fight the vampire and demons."
Tania nods.
Tania: "That's a better idea, Oswald. Instead of researching I want you to make those."
Nettle pats the saber sheathed on her back. "Oswald modified my saber years ago-- it can become electrified or burst into flame. Maybe we need more of these."
Oswald: "I can do both. I got a team of... helpers for that. Course, when I get them done, I'll need some of you guys to help with the Magicks."
Tania: "Ok, then we all set?"

Nettle turns to Aaron. "How...what exactly ARE you-- forgive my bluntness."
Aaron: "I'm a walking corpse. In a word, I'm Risen."
Nettle looks back at Aaron. "How...how did you come back from the dead??" Suddenly Nettle looks intensely interested.
Christy: "Perhaps we could also make some fetishes."
Veil cringes, thinking of the Paradox those little mechanoids will incur.
Oswald: "You should see my hydro-electic shock cannons."
Aaron: "Sheer mean I guess..."
Tania nods and stands up.
Aaron: "And too stubborn to die."
Nettle sighs in frustration, and then calms down. "Is it something anyone could do? Any dead person, I mean."
Aaron shakes his head, "I really don't know. I know that others have."
Nettle nods at Aaron, and sits back in thought.
Tania: "Alright everyone, let's get going, we have alot of researching and work to do and it's already 2 pm."
Christy frowns.
Christy looks in thought, then wanders off.
Alec nods at Jake then joins the others.
Veil stands back up, brushing her hair back from her face.
Oswald: "Well, if there is anything else, I'll hit the books and the bots."
Nettle stands quickly and walks over to Tania. "Can I ask you something, Tania?"
Tania nods at Jake then joins the others.
Tania looks at Nettle.
Tania: "Sure."
Alec looks at the floor and shakes his head.
Oswald gets up and walks out.
Nettle: "What about Sarah? Aren't you terrified for her safety??"
Tania sighs.
Christy tells Veil, "Whenever you and Nettle want to study the ways of spirit, let me know. I would like to study as well."
Tania: "That's why I have to help."
Veil: "Of course, Christy! We can begin our lessons first thing tomorrow morning if you wish to join us."
Veil: "Have you had any experience with Spirit before?"
Nettle: "But...if these things come here, is there anyplace safe for Sarah??" Nettle's eyes are filled with emotion.
Christy: "Sounds great. Uhm...yes, a bit of experience..."
Tania shrugs.
Christy: "My father was a Theurge in the Uktena."
Veil: "Oh, wonderful...I'd love to help teach you more understanding of Spirit. I have been studying it more myself..."
Tania: "I don't know. But we have to do something."

Christy: "He and my grandmother taught me a think or two. I always want to learn more, though."
Nettle looks at Tania incredulously for a moment, and then turns away and walks around, pacing.
Tania looks at Nettle and her eyes widen.
Christy says good evening to Veil, and leaves to gather some peyote for a vision quest.
Tania strides over to Nettle and puts her hands on her shoulders and forces her to sit.
Tania pulls up her dress a bit and looks at the cuts.
Veil says goodbye to Christy, then turns, waiting for Nettle to finish speaking to Tania.
Nettle looks at Tania in surprise. "Tania...what...?"
Alec looks at the wounds.
Nettle sighs and rolls her eyes. "Damn it...I forgot to heal them again..."
Nettle notices the blood-drops all around wherever she walked.
Veil frowns and walks closer to Nettle and Tania.
Tania: "what's the problem?"
Nettle throws her hands up. "How long have you known me? It relieves stress..."
Tania nods.
Nettle looks sheepishly at Veil.
Veil smiles reassuringly.
Tania: "I need you to be strong with me, ok Nettle?"
Alec puts his hand on Nettle's back.
Alec: "Yeah love, I'm here with you. Nothing will happen."
Tania: "Alright now go help Veil ok?"
Nettle exhales a long breath. "The future...everything seems so black...choices are suddenly so important..." Nettle murmurs.
Veil: "Nettle! Why are you so pessimistic all of a sudden! The future looks black? Since when?"
Tania: "We've gone through alot before Nettle. We can handle this, if we are strong."
Veil: "Now there might finally be a chance to set things right. To heal the breach between Gaia and the Umbra.
Cara eyes glaze over again, and from aross the room, she speaks in a distant voice. "The future is never set, the strong, those who will, may triumph."
Nettle looks between Tania and Veil and hangs her head. "Because...Alec and I were going to get pregnant in a few days...that's why..."
Tania smiles and looks to Alec.
Alec shrugs.
Alec: "Yeah, we've been practicing long enough. I think we have it down."
Tania shakes her head.
Alec's jokes don't seem to have their desires effect on Nettle.
Tania: "Well you go ahead and get yourself that baby. Cause the world is gonna be alright. I'll make sure of it. And I don't lie now do I?"
Tania helps Nettle to her feet.
Tania: "Now go help Veil research this," Tania says with a wink and a nod.
Nettle bends down and examines her legs. "Hmmm...that one's kind of pretty..." she sighs and runs her hands slowly over the wounds, healing the cuts, and then stands. Suddenly she feels dizzy as a tiny amount of paradox surges through her. She closes her eyes until the dizziness passes, and then turns to Tania.
Nettle: "All right. Vampires, is it?" she asks with a small grin.
Tania: "That's right."
Nettle turns and kisses Alec quickly. "Sorry if I embarrassed you...I'll try to calm down."
Alec nods and hugs her.
Alec: "S'alright love."
Tania heads to the chantry library to look up the prophecy.
Alec gives Nettle the peace frog and smiles.
Nettle smiles at Alec. "Have fun trying to learn about this unnamed-thing..."
Alec: "Later love, be good."
Alec joins Tania and the others.
Nettle nods and turns to smile at Veil.

Veil moves closer to Nettle and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Veil: "Don't worry Nettle, things are going to work out."
Nettle: "So...Vampire-studying we go!" Nettle looks a little too eager.
Veil: "So Nettle, are you feeling up to a little reading?"
Nettle looks at Veil with disappointment. "Aaaw, but I thought we were going to go learn from actual Vampires!" Nettle winks.
Veil laughs.
Veil: "Now I know you're kidding about that, Alec would be more furious than I if you were to start dabbling among that kind."
Nettle blows some hair out of her face in frustration. "Fine, fine...let's start reading..." Nettle says in a resigned tone.
Veil walks with Nettle back to the library, the two women nodding to the others of the cabal looking up information on their own projects.
Veil pulls out some large tomes and hands one to Nettle.
Veil: "Take it easy on the reading, we have a lot of books to cover. Just skim for anything about a gold-skinned man."
Nettle nods and quickly starts selecting books to skim.

Meanwhile...

Christy sits in the middle of the glade, and sips at the peyote-brewed tea.
After a few moments, the drug takes effect, and the scenery before Christy fades and swirls away.
Roadrunner stands before her, looking regal and strong in this new environment.
"Greetings, Daughter," he begins.
Christy: "Greetings, Great Roadrunner."
"You are filled with many questions, and worry fills your heart. Speak of that which troubles you."
Christy: "Visitors have come to our realm to ask our assistance. They inquire about a gold-skinned man who seems entwined in our purpose, perhaps the purpose for which brought me here..."
Christy: "Roadrunner, Intelligent Spirit, do you know what may be the roles I and my friends here have to play in the fate of our visitors, Cara and Aaron?"
The Roadrunner stares at Christy with its deep liquid eyes, and his voice seems to come from all around her.
"Your purpose is to protect the girl. Lend her your strength until she has gained her own. The fate of all the worlds is entwined upon hers."
Christy: "And what of this gold-skinned man, O Patient One?" "He is but one of many who seek to destroy her," the great bird replies. "An ancient being who would destroy the light of day."
"Guard well against his treachery." The Roadrunner intones.
Christy: "Thank you Great Roadrunner."
The bird bends his head to the young Dreamspeaker. "Return to your folk, and remember that I am with you. Call on me if you have need."

Meanwhile...

Tania pulls down another book.
Alec shakes his head.
Alec: "Nothin."
Alec thinks a moment raising his head from the book. He looks to Tania and smiles.
Alec snaps his fingers!
Alec: "Winter! Crikeys!!! That's a Fae-term!"
Tania looks at Alec.
Tania: "What?"
Alec: "That's a Fae-term! And I know just where to find a Fae to ask!!"
Alec gets up and runs out of the library and down the hall to the church.
Tania: "What are you talking about?!" she calls after him and runs after him.
Alec runs out to the church and down the stairs. He opens the door and scans the road. His eyes finally settle upon a beat up taxi.
Alec: "I knew it."
Alec runs out to the taxi.
Tania runs down the stairs to see Alec bolt out the door.
Alec runs up to the taxi. The driver takes a toke from his stogie and looks over seeing Alec.
Cabbie: "Gah!" he says nearly losing his cigar. He turns the key just as Alec reaches inside and grabs his collar.
Cabbie: "Woah! Buddy hey! What the fuck!"
Alec: "I need your help."
Cabbie: "Hey! It's your kid so I can't help with any of that. So gets inside and make with the nooky!"
Tania reaches the taxi, seeing Alec grab the driver.
Tania: "What are you doing?"
Alec: "He's a Fae and he's going to answer some questions."
Cabbie looks past Alec and sees Tania.
Cabbie: "Holy shit!"
Alec: "Ok what can you tell me about Winter?"
Cabbie: "Woah there bud! Let's see here. Winter is the end days. You know what I'm saying. The nuke, eos, end of story, the big bang. Hey, speakin of bangin', she preggers yet? There's your kid who's gonna lead us all to Arcadia an all that."
Alec: "I see," Alec says, ingnoring the Cabbie's questions. "Anything else about this Winter, cabbie?"
Cabbie: "Well let's see here..."
Cabbie: "See this king-- not your son, another king-- is supposed to get with this queen-chick right and get it on and that's supposed to do something but I got no idea there." he says taking a drag from the cigar.
Tania nods.
Alec: "Thanks Cabbie, promise you we'll start soon, me old china."
Alec watches Cabbie drive off and turns to Tania.
Alec: "A king and Cara, hmmm that could cause problems."
Tania nods.
Alec and Tania walk back into the church and down to the library.

Meanwhile...

Oswald goes to his phone in the warehouse and dials up Veil's cell phone number frantically, mis-dialing twice, but the third time finally reaches to Veil.
Nettle looks at the book in confusion. "Whoever wrote this must not have been a native English-speaker..." Nettle mutters, and selects a different book.
Veil sighs, rubbing at her eyes, and picks up the phone. "Hello?"
Oswald hyperventilates into the phone, "Gold...Five...Gold...Five..."
Veil: "What?! Ozzie, calm down! What did you discover?"
Veil: "Five what!!"
Nettle glances up from her book and listens to Veil.
Oswald breathes a little more. "Gold skinned...Five thousand...old...real old."
Veil: "Five thousand...five thousand years?"
Oswald: "Yes..."
Veil's skin becomes more pale.
Nettle looks at Veil in fear. "What about 5,000 years??" she whispers.
Veil smiles what she hopes is a reassuring smile at Nettle.
Oswald: "I'll look...more and...AHHHHHHHHH!"
Veil: "Okay, did you find out anything else Ozzie?"
Veil: "What! What is it!!!"
Nettle completely ignores her book and turns to face Veil.
Oswald: "Cold water.... went down my pants! Scared the hell out of me!"
Veil chuckles, then busts out laughing.
Nettle looks at Veil in surprise. "What?? What are you two talking about?? I'm dying here!"
Veil: "Don't do that to me, Ozz!!" she says, laughing and turns to Nettle motioning for her to get back to her book.
Nettle raises her eyebrows at Veil. "How can she expect me to read at a time like this??" she thinks.
Nettle looks down at the book, pretending to read.
Veil finally hangs up the phone and turns to Nettle.
Veil: "Oswald really needs to learn that there is a time and a place for jokes, and now is not one of them!!!"
Nettle drops the book with a loud thwap and turns to Veil grinning.
Veil sighs with frustration.
Oswald goes back to reading, incredibly worried.
Nettle: "OK, NOW tell me what you were talking about!" Nettle says, folding her arms.
Veil: "The golden man is powerful, but there are those more powerful still. The King shall rise again, implore him for his help, for he shall be your salvation."
Veil: "Well Ozzie found something out about the gold-skinned man," Veil says to Nettle.
Nettle: "Oh??" Nettle asks, all ears.
Veil: "Well, he's at least 5,000 years old," Veil answers.
Nettle looks at Veil for a moment-- her eyes getting huge-- and then she slumps in her chair. "Just great...just great...and how does one kill a vampire-god??"
Nettle starts to sound like she's going to panic again.
Veil: "We need to find out what kinds of powers he exhibited, and see if we can research on them, find out what exactly he can do, maybe we can find out how to counter it."
Veil: "Nettle, the goddess is with us. She has placed her trust in us. Do not forsake her belief in you, in all of us," Veil says gently.
Nettle stands and walks over to a book and brings it back. "This one has listed a lot of the Vampire...Disciplines, were they called?"
Veil: "Yes, I think that's the term..."
Aaron approaches Veil and Nettle and says. "Well, I saw him useing the shadows like whips, and he was tough, I ran Tatsuko Sayo right through him, and he just kept coming."
Veil: "Oh, thank you Aaron! Nettle, see what you can find out about shadows..."
Nettle sits down next to Veil and looks in her eyes. "I'm terrified, Veil...just when we were finally stable with our lives and jobs...we're going to start a band..." Nettle laughs bitterly, and then clears her throat.
Veil: "Oh, honey..." Veil puts her arm around Nettle and hugs her. "Don't worry, please. Promise me you'll keep your optomism and good spirits about you! You don't know how much it helps the rest of us..."
Nettle looks at Veil in surprise. "It does??"
Veil smiles.
Veil: "You know it does, girl. If it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't be here. You kept me hanging on to life, when I thought there was nothing left to live for."
Nettle: "Aaaw Veil!!" Nettle starts sniffling and hugs Veil tightly.
Nettle grins happily to herself, and opens the book, scanning for anything about shadows.
Veil puts away her book and sighs, rubbing her neck.
Nettle sighs and pulls out the book again-- skimming through about everything on shadows.
Nettle thinks for a moment. "I know! We need to make this place glow with light if the vampire comes here! Then there will be no shadows for him to control!" she thinks to herself.
Nettle continues to flip around in the Vampire book excitedly.

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