NationStates Jolt Archive

I would never do anything that would cause you problems. Besides, she doesn't believe she's the chosen one anyway."

"Oh, I didn't feel that you would Harrow. I just realized that I sounded like I had a lot more 'in' than I did. I know theres a group, but really not much more. It's the need to keep others safe by keeping them in the dark sort of thing....I think" She smiled at him and dug into her own plate. "The do such good food her!" She sighed happily and turned the talk to other subjects.
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The code and alarm sounding through the upper floor of the hospital, even muffled as it was brought Sian awake. Achingly tired she never the less responded on automatic and struggled out of the bed, to focused on answering the code to realize that she had her sight back.

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"Why certainly I can kenn more for you. But I have no idea who his 'Da' is and honestly I am not sure it is safe to. I was also told that Sidhe attacked him.... I think he's of the Seiligh, but I could be wrong...his aura is too tangled about with the addiction for me to tell. And since he had to have ahd a Guardian at one point either the Guardian is dead,... or withdrawn." She abselntly kenned another cup of the heavenly brew and handed it to Red.

"And I can not stand responisble for him." Tindamerrell added before falling silent, seemingly lost in thought.

"I don't know about you but I could eat a horse and use a change of clothes." His, like Ryans, were spattered with the blood of others.

Ryan shook his head. "I'm fine for now," and he glanced back at the door he parked next to. "If you wanna eat and change, I ain't gonna stop you. I'm gonna get the hell outa here."

He yanked the door of the Ferrari open, and slid quickly into the car. He pushed the key into the igniton, and mashed the start button, the V12 barking to life. He slammed the car into reverse, matting the gas peddle, the car shooting out of hte spot. He yanked the wheel hard over, spining the car in a perfect one eighty, the stench of burnt rubber slowly filling the air. The passenger side door was right at Jackie's side, and Ryan had the window down.

"There are plenty of horses in Houston, get in!"

Harrow smiled, "So what was your childhood like?" he asked her.

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When she rose from her bed Godolkin got out of his, sword in hand. "You should rest Doctor Rhys. You built this establishment and have these people for a reason."

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Red to a slow, savioring sip and held up her hand. "Wait. Look. I don't have a clue what your talking about. Doc Rhys mentioned 'she' also. So what? He skipped on his wife? Left her at the alter? It don't matter to me. I was hired to do a job and I'll do it. Simple as that."

When they arrived at the zoo, Jessica wished now more than ever she had her tiger back. Her heightened lycanthrope sense could pick up danger and warn them before a lion, tiger, bear, or whatever got close to them. Now, it was gone. She bit her lip, wondering about other weres in the city...wondering if they had experianced anything like this.

When they pulled in near the gate, the pair got out and went to the trunk, retrieving the tranquilizer rifles and spare darts. Jessica smiled at Michael and did a fake British accent.

"Come Doctor Livingston...let us begin our safari in this metropolitan jungle."

"Why of course, dear lady, and perhaps afterwards we can have a spot of tea in the sunroom", he replied, grinning.

"There are plenty of horses in Houston, get in!"

Jackie raised an eyebrow but opened the door and slid in quickly.

"You sure seemed spooked Ryan, what gives?"

Jackie was used to the occassional attempt on his life. Thats why he prefered to drive, he hadn't wanted an entire plane load of corpses on his conscience. But he'd damn well wasn't going to drive a Ferrari across the south, not one that wasn't his anyway. And he'd wanted a chance to get a feel of how Cain ran his organization. It would make taking it over that much easier. His boss would see to the actual removal of the Vampire, but Jackie needed to be ready to step into the opening.

"So what was your childhood like?"

"Pretty normal, two brothers and a sister. Dad owns a small wrecker service, and mom was a legal secretary untill se 'retired' to help dad with the office work last year. Dad, sis and I all have gifts, but that didn't matter to momor my brothers - her mother had the Sight but it skipped a generation to my sister. All of them marrried within the Night Life. And it's mostly minor stuff any way. We did family camping trips, piano lessons, kept us kids busy doing the lawn and the garden to 'earn' a inground swimming pool. Private schools until high school when the folks figured we'd be disciplined enough to handle Mundanes."

The waitress brought Mexican custard, known as Flan, to the table as desert.

"Mundanes never realised that most private schools weren't for snoot rich folk, but for the Night Life," She chuckled "Most every one home schools these days." She finished off the flan and the last of her tea.

"so what was yours like?"

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"You should rest Doctor Rhys. You built this establishment and have these people for a reason."


Sian looked muzzily at Godolkin, then her eyes fastened on the sword. "You have a glowing sword. Did I miss something?"

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Simple as that."

Tindamerrell looked in askance at Red for a moment then smiled. "Oh not 'She', but Sidhe- s-i-d-h-e. The proper name for what you humans call elves. He's scarce more than a child though not that many centuries ago arranged marriages with long betrothals were very common."

Windra held up a hand silencing the side conversations Merry's statement had started.

"She's right, we Don't have the training for something like this. And as Alpha I'll contact the Council tonight. But I am going to have Merry, Heyoka, and Rivan, and the most directly affected be my representatives to the Council. I am willing to say that once their team is assembled, if any of you wish to approach them and volunteer...I don't think it's the best idea but you are all adults to weigh the factors of your cfhoices, and I won't forbid it."

She let that hang a moment. She didn't want any of her Pack hurt but she knew that some one the younger might see this as a way to attract a mate, or solidify a wavering self confidence.

She looked at the Prentiss questioningly and he nodded and spoke up once again. "Merry, I am going to advise you to stay elsewhere for a while. Your house here has too easy a way into it without being seen." He spoke of the bayou creek that her house backed up to and the Werewolves frequesntly uses to move about fourt footed.

"And you shouldn't be alone, especially after dark either."

"Heyoka, Rivan, Linda" She spoke of Heyokas on again off again girlfriend " and myself are flying to Flordia come Thurday evening to catch a cruise." She began

"But that leaves two days. I'd like you to stay at Marlenes condo."

"The one you're watching?" Merry looked rebellious for a long moment, then sighed gustily and sagged against Rivan slightly "It's only for two days, I guess I can bear it"

Rivan was studying Windra as she spoke. She was an excellent pack leader, someone who's style of leadership completely contrasted that he'd been raised in, and even many he'd seen in his travels.

When she got near the end, and mentioned the apartement, he mentally smiled. She had managed to do it in a more acceptable manner than he knew he would have if he'd tried to convince Merry to seek shelter.

When Merry sighed and leaned in against him, he gave her a one armed hug and whispered, "I'll be there to keep you company."

The Zoo was a discrete hot bed of activity as the additional personell needed to round up the many loose animals arrived, and the operation to contain the animals began. In the dark, it was nearly doomed to failure, for the Elvi had not only opened up interior fences but they had also removed laege swaths of the exterior fence as well. There were predators loose aswell, making the prey species skittish and unpredictable.

And on two sides, west and north, there was the wide open expanse of Hermann park, the Houston Golf Course to the east. Only the south side was realatively wasy to secure. Across the street was the myriad hospitals and medical professional buildings of the Texas Medical Center. Most directly- BenTaub Hospital and Trauma Center - but busiest Trauma Center in the nation. The constant lights and sirens of ambulances and the harsh buzzz of Life Flight helicopters would deter the animals from that direction, driving into the nighttime dark and quiet of the expansive park, or across a narrow stree to the gold course.

Michael and Jessica had not been able to park near the patron gates having to settle for which open lot they could find. And fortunately it put them close to one of the two employee lots and the privated gates into the zoo. They could see groups forming up and being directed out into the park and across into the golf course, some being ferried in electirc golf carts. At least one pick up loaded with capture nets and a barking dog left the zoo grounds for the far side of the park - Fannin ave, which formed the western boundry of Hermann Park was just too busy to risk any of the large mammals from getting to the thoroughfare, so they'd intended to establish a presence there as soon as possible.

The employee gates to the zoo grounds was wide opned and completely unmanned.

"I'll be there to keep you company."

Merry leaned back against him more, her lips close to his ear. She whispered for his ears alone "Good. Then you get to decide which new bathingsuit I look best in"

The rest of the Pack was standing, stretching, getting ready to go. They'd already helped Merry get the dinner cleaned up and only had to grab coats and comment on about how the wind was picking up as the front neared.

Windra excused herself to borrow the phone and call the Were's representaive on the Council. Detective Prentiss promised Merry that he'd stay intouch with her, and with the Council. He gathered up his things and made his goodbyes, heading for home and sleep for the first time in nearly forty eight hours.

Heyoka left, heading over to see Linda for a few hours, but told Rivan and Merry he'd call them first thing in the morning. He planned to stay at Windra's after they saw the council, and he and Linda would meet them for the limmo ride to the airport.

Windra cam back with the information that the Council would meet at eight the next evening at the informal council chambers, and would be expecting the three. "I am pretty sure that this is just a formality, but one can never be sure. " She commented as she gave Merry the keys to the condo and the address to the council chambers. "Now you two head on over there before the storm gets here and makes the roads icy." She gave both of them light hugs and left herself.

"Rivan could you put the fire out and close the damper while I gather some clothes and such." Merry requested as the last of the Pack left.

Rivan nodded, thought he blanched slightly when she mentioned clothes shopping. He was next to useless when it came to colours and styles. After the others had departed, Rivan saying his good-byes.

"Alright." He replied as he gave her a kiss and headed over to deal with the fire, spreading out the ashes and coals so they'd burn out naturally and quickly rather than dumping water on them. After the last embers finished, he shut the damper and headed over to see how Merry was getting on, smelling slightly smokey.

Jessica looked at Michael and nodded, the pair walked through the employee gates and into the zoo. She felt her heart pounding in her chest with each step they took, the cries of the animals resonating in the dark. She kept a tight grip on the rifle she held.

"Okay Michael...I guess the first thing is to look for the big cats and get them down first so we don't have to worry about being dinner. If I could still turn that could be dealt with easier...but...shit happens. Keep your eyes open, from the times I hunted deer in tiger form I liked attacking just as they reached me and slightly from the side...so try to stay away from bushes or shop windows."

"I went to a public school, skipped a grade here and there. Largely school and home. I studied even in the summer. I went to college as soon as I was out. Two years into my doctorate they found out I was a mutant and drummed me out. I would have stayed home, but the news spread that I was a mutant and my parents, both normal as far as I could tell, were inundated with threats and hate mail and calls. So I left." Though he tried to be matter of fact in his discourse, a touch of bitterness slipped in.

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"We had a visitor", Godolkin told her. "You were healed. I was shown a few things. The sword of given to me and I was told to name it carefully. I've appointed as a paladin in training by the angel who stopped by."

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"Meh, whatever. All I know is I'm supposed to watch over him for awhile. Guess he royally pissed somebody off", Red replied and then took another sip of the coffee.

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Michael pulled back the breech bolt and loaded a dart as he listened to her. He snapped it in place and flipped the safety off, "Any way of knowing ahead of time? Sound? Strong scent? Do they know to stay downwind?"

"Alright Mike," Dilana said as she leaned against the table, "I'll bring a jacket and of course my gift; see you in ten."
Dilana hung up the phone, going in to her room and after slipping on long pants and a sweater walked out of her bedroom and towards the closet where she kept her coats. Grabbing one and laying it across her arm, Dilana hurriedly walked downstairs in order to meet Mike. She had thought about inviting him up for a drink, however decided against it for knowing that her help was needed and most likely quickly.

Merry was just finishing packing up an overnight bag, with very large suitcase and heavy suit bag laid out on the bed. "I think it probably wouldn't be good to have to come back here later to get my stuff for the cruise, so we can just take it with us. I had it packed already any way."

She was very much looking forward to the cruise. She'd never been out on the ocean, or on any boat larger than a small cabin cruiser. The Sea Dream Yatch Club was considered the most luxurious commercial cruise around. Each of the two cruise ships carried only forty seven couples maximum. Merry had earned the cruise by being her companies top sales for three years running.

Merry had seen Rivan's blanche earlier when she'd mentioned shopping, and at last took pity on him. "A bathing suit is all I need to shop for, dear one. All you have to do is tell me which one you like the best."

She handed him the garmet bag and the house keys. "If you'll carry this and lock up the back door we're ready to go." She slung the overnight bag over her shoulder and set the suitcase on the floor, grabbing the pull handle. The built in rollers had it gliding easily over the carpet. "You know people in the past must have wrenched their shoulders out carrying all that heavy old fashioned luggage."

Stopping at the back door she took a good long sniff of the air. Not smelling anything out of the ordinary she moved quickly to the garage. She'd turned on the garage lights from inside the house but she took a moment to scent again and look about before entering. Once out in the garage Merry tossed the luggage in the trunk and started the car. She wouldn't raise the garage doors until Rivan was in and ready to go.

"That makes sense." He replied as he noticed her luggage being almost all already packed. Packing and shopping were two of his worst skills.

He blushed slightly at her faint teasing before commenting, "Then I'll do my best, but you should know I don't have much of a fashion sense. Nay it would be better to say no fashion sense whatsoever."

He took the bag and caught the keys. "I guess that's where the term packing light came from."

Rivan joined Merry in the garage, tasting the wind for scents of the abomination. Finding no trace of it, he put the garmet bag in the trunk and joined her in the vehicle.

You sure seemed spooked Ryan, what gives?

"Sorry, but I have an aversion to being shot at. I didn't loose all my natural survival instincts when I turned, and I sure as hell don't want to die again."

He slammed his foot down on the accelerator, fuel flodded the cylinders, mixed with air, compressed, detonated, and the Ferrari rocketed forward. The 599 screamed towards a garage retaining wall, and at this time, Ryan was glad Cain didn't skimp out and decided to go with the carbon ceramic brakes. He kept his foot down on the gas while pumping the brake, rotating the car around the turn, and towards the ramp that led towards the exit.

A quick flick of the downshift paddle, and the tail end swung out, the nose pointing towards the inside wall as the car went sideways down the corkscrew like exit, depositing the Ferrari onto the street, to the fright of a number of drunk college students. A twist of the wheel and a quick pump of the gas straigtend out the Ferrari, and sent them flying down the street.

"Plus, we're looking at people with claymores and very anti-Vampire specific weaponry. I don't give two shits who you know, that stuff isn't cheap these days. And I'm damn sure they got more than just five or six guys."

His claim was confirmed as a man standing on the street looked up at the Ferrari, and swung out something that looked rather menacing. A stream of lead spewed forth from the rifle, but the shots from the hip all missed the Ferrari, only coming close. Ryan swung the wheel over, aiming for the man, hoping instinct would take over. It did, and the shooter jumped from the path of the Ferrari. Right into the path of a trolley car.

Getting the car back into path, Ryan followed the signs that led to the highway, and quickly, the Ferrari was back en routé to Houston, cruising along at a sensible 170 miles per hour.

I've appointed as a paladin in training by the angel who stopped by."

"Oh good she did come. and..ah..yes, I am seeing again. And yes if they really need me they'll come get me." Sian trudged back over to the bed "Though I do wish she'd taken care of the tired." She sat on the edge of the bed for a moment looking at Godolkin and the sword, then nodded to herself. "Just about figures. You'll do a good job. Don't let me sleep more than four hours." She lay back down and was asleep as her head hit the pillow.

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were inundated with threats and hate mail and calls. So I left."

April could hear the bitterness in his voice. She'd seen similar happen to friends, fortunately not in Houston though. "How did they find out?" She asked gently not wanting to cause him more pain but curious to find out.

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Guess he royally pissed somebody off",

Tindamerrell shuddered faintly. "If he had angered the King of Light and Beauty or the Queen of Air and Darkness. " She refused to say their names, for that invited attention "Then he would be simply and thoroughly dead. They are the most powerful of our kind. Can you tell me about the attackers, what their armor was blazoned with, the colors and sigisl?"

"Claymores are Vampire specific? Hmmm, didn't know that. Then this could be aimed at you rather than at me." Jackie grinned and relaxed a little.

"And I can understand about not wanting to be dead again. Tried that once and didn't much care for hell at all. But I'm buying my way free of that small problem."

As they headed over the stretch of I-10 that was no more than the worlds longest not called a bridge bridge he looked over at Ryan and asked a little too casually. "What do you think of Cain."

The winds had calmed down, the air was almost dead still as the calm before the storm enveloped Houston. The barometer pressure dropped like the bottom had been broken out of the glass, the dense clouds formed an ominous barrier, licked with lighting along the northern skyline. Every where across the city any one who could get inside did so.

Merry drove quickly from the neighborhood and on to I-10 going east into downtown, then zig zagged across the one way streets of downtow to Houston House. The pricey lavish residential tower took up its own block along Fannin, between Pease and Leeland. She pulled into the drive that would take her into the parking garage and swiped the reader with the cared that Windra had left for her. That allowed her in to the secured area. The on duty security guard checked her drivers liscense against the list - Windra had had her freind call from Europe earlier - and with a nod he raised the last barricade. With that Merry drove into the brightly lit garage and found the assigned parking spot.

The elevators were near by and whisked them quickly up to the eleventh floor. The residential tower had been apartments at one time but when they had gone condo most of the apartments had been merged into larger units. Windra's friends was a two bedroom, two and a half baths with a large den that was over sixteen hundred square feet in size.

"Well she dow have a spectacular kitchen and the view isnt bad." Merry took her things into the master bedroom after turning on the lights. The unit was a corner one with view to the south and west. "Being mostly on the south side will give us some protection from that storm. Though I'd rather be at home with a roaring fire going." She sighed, as she turned and wrapped Rivan in a deep hug."

Rivan had brought in the overnight bag Merry had left in the trunk, and joined her in gazing around the appartment. "That is does." He commented as he took in the large domicile.

"I'd also prefere to be at your home, there's just something more conforting and homey about it." He replied as he enfolded her in a hug. "Don't sigh, we'll get through this and there's the cruise coming up."

Godolkin moved near to her bed and placed the sword point down, both hands resting on the hilt. There he stood, stock still, mentally keeping track of the time as he had been trained to do. After four hours he placed a hand gently on her shoulder, "Doctor Rhys, it's time."

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"The school announced my reason for dismissal. They were honest about it", Harrow replied. Most people either went along with it or didn't care. Only a handful were upset about it."

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It wasn't her fight as far she was concerned and so concentrated more on fighting than symbols. But she was very good at remembering things. She wasn't the smartest person or the wisest but she had a photographic memory.

Don't sigh, we'll get through this and there's the cruise coming up."

Merry let her head rest against Rivan's shoulder, welcoming his calmness and certainty. "I know , and I am looking forward to it. Sort of a 'once in a life time' thing."

She smiled up at him, and went to look through the wide sliding glass doors that let to the south facing balcony. "How can some one live suspended like this? Away from the land? Oh I hope the ranch turns out to be what we want. I'd give up malls, smog, and city lights in a heart beat."

Mike's truck pulled into the apartment parking lot just a few minutes later. He saw Dilana waiting in the safety of the security light and pulled up next to her, reaching over to unlock the passenger door for her.

"Boy it's going to be cold soon. I brought plenty of hot cocoa!" He exclaimed.

Once she was settled in and buckled up he wheeled the truck around and headed for the Zoo.

What do you think of Cain.

Ryan didn't like being pumped for information, but it was part of the job. He had known that it would happen, it was the SOP of just about every person he had driven anywhere. That didn't mean he had to like it. He continued glancing into the rearveiw mirrors, watching for helicopters or followers, not that much that could be used effectively in a hit would be able to keep up, but that wasn't the point.

"He's good at what he does," Ryan answered, knowing well that it didn't really answer the question. "He is ruthless, cold hearted, violent, and logical with out emotion. Not all that bad of a guy. Knows his shit, knows when he's getting double crossed, knows who is and isn't trying to fuck him. Of course, one wouldn't make it as long as he has on luck alone."

He soft tug of the wheel, and the Ferrari danced around an eighteen wheeler, the Louisiana Texas border screaming up quickly.

"He's pretty much the stereotypical vampire leader. He'll hug you one minute, rip your throat out the next, all to stay in power. My theory is that it isn't really power he wants, its just his vission of survival. Everyone's idea is different, he thinks he needs to have power to survive."

There was a silence, not an uncomfortable one, but a silence non the less. Before Jackie could interject, Ryan moved up for his question. "Why do ya wanna know?"

The zoo's lights painted bright splashes across the grounds, and teams of keepers spread out to look for their decamped charges.

Many carried the zoo's walkie talkies on them and someone was trying to keep track of what had been seen where, but it was taking time. Time they all knew they wouldn't have one the storm, which could be seen building along the norther horizon.

*The coons have all gone up the big pin oak near the duck pond"

*"But the ducks are not there*

*Al the elephants are accounted for, and intheir barn, but they are neverous as all get out and one of the giraffs is missing."* came the various radio chatter...

and some of the groups were talking fairly loudly among themselves as well...

"Every small cat is loose, but the lions aren't - they are in their snug and refusing to come out. Doctor Maus says to go ahead and give them an extra feeding if some one has the meat locker keys"

"Mine are at home, with my usual gear, you all caught me at a friends b-day party"

"Well the Okapi have gone out into the park. I think the leopards will follow them."

"I think we can find Thunderpaws in the Cheetah pen, if there was a gap made. He knows he can stretch a bit in there."

"Gods don't ever let the paying public know that we let the tiger run loose from time to time...even if it is when they aren't allowed in..." A female voice mock gasped

"Lets check there first. He'd be the easiest to spot and catch. The leopards are going to be a screaming bitch, they'll take to the trees, and none of them come when called anyway."

The nearest voices, half seen shadowy figures headed off in a different direction from Jessica and Michael

"Why do ya wanna know?"

"Because my boss is going to take out your boss....and I want to see both of them gone. I'm tired of being used...I know a little bit more about this Sian lady ...I know she's some sort of pawn to Cain, just something to be used for his power base. Well I know what thats like, seeing how my 'boss' is doing me the same. Figure maybe she and me team up and kick his butt after he takes out Cain."

Jackie had decided that being honest was what was called for. Ryan was mostly too occupied driving to try anything wild and crazy. And Jackie hadn't gotten any vibes that said that Ryan was some sort of fanatical follower of Cain.

The young woman smiled at Mike as she opened the door and slid in to the passenger seat, "So, what can I do to help?"
Dilana asked, liking the direct aproach so as she could get as much information before they would arrive at their destanation.

"Well, I guess that works for you then. I'm just the shooter and wheel man. Hell, most of the time, I stay outa politics. At least when a lycan or hunter tries to kill you, he does it from the front."

The border came and went, and soon the car would be arriving in Houston. Ryan fiddled with the radio, finding a station he liked that played a decent mix of the new music, and followed the road.

"Shouldn't be to much further out now. But the big question is, what do you plan to do if you get Cain. Houston is different that way. Loyalties don't just swap at the drop of a hammer. You'd have a lot of people after you, ones that could cause very big problems becuase they have very big friends."

The Ferrari slid around the highway again, this time around a set of cruiser style motorcycles. Ryan waved to the lead bike, he knew the man, and soon the group surrounded the Ferrari, and Ryan slowed. He rolled down the window as the lead bike, a heavily customized chopper, slid back.

"Hey Ryan, my man, what is up?"

"Not much Mitch, hows about you?"

"Not a whole hell of a lot, just heading back to H Town from a bike week down in Miami. Nice ride!"

"Thanks, its a delivery for the boss man."

"Gotcha. We saw you movin up pretty fast back there, best watch out, smokey is all over the place."

"Yeah I feel that. We had a, uh, confrontation back in Louissiana, needed to get clear."

"Ah, well no worries then, your on our turf now. We'll give ya an escort! Oh by the way, someone is looking for ya, from outa town. And I mean outa town. I don't know how far out, but a big ole transport plane was involved, and some guys at the cassino said he was tossin out cash on the tables, and looking for info on ya!"

"Gotcha, thanks," Ryan shouted back over the roar of the motors, rolling up his window. The bikes, mostly Harley's with a few Star's and a custom bike here and there, formed around the Ferrari, and they settled in at a nice pace, near the one ten mark. With the bike escort, the cops would leave them alone.

"Mitch is a good guy, hell of a go to man, can get anything ya want. Guns, drugs, information, women, men, you name your vice, he has it on hand. He served in both Gulf Wars, and Panama. Vietnam and Korea too. Worked a bit durring the second World War, but sat World War One out, recovering from the Civil War and the Revolution."

He noticed Jackie's look, and explined. "He's imortal. Not a vampire or demon or anything, he's just, ya know, imortal. Most of the guys he rides with are too, but with good account. Mostly vampires with some demons. Hell of a guy."

Jessica was about to respond to Micheal when they heard the voices of the zoo keepers. Taking cover behind a bench, they listened to their conversation about the animals as they moved off away from them. At the mention of the leopards, Jessica's eyes immediatly flashed upwards, she squinted, hating her human sight. She didn't understand how Michael could operate with these pitiful excuse for eyeballs. Jessica looked over at him and sighed.

"Lets cover where the humans...uhh..." Jessica paused, being as how she had lost her lycanism, she realised she too was a mere human. Thier job could be a lot easier with her as a tiger, she act as Michael's eyes and ears and she could pin the animals down while he tranqed them. She had also toyed with the idea of biting him and making him a tiger if things devloped between them. "...I mean, lets go the other way."

Jessica slowly rose and cracked her neck. "Christ I feel like I am in a God damn Vietnam movie looking for VC."

"Ancient history", Michael told her, following her as she lead where she wanted to go. "But effective enough. I know what you mean, all to well."

Jackie nodded, filing the information Ryan had given him about the bikers away. He then returned to what Ryan had said just before they met up with the bikes.

"I'm not looking to take their place. I'm tired of it all. I hate the politics myself. I started life as a simple hit man for my 'Family' no hassle about right, wrong, why..just when and where...the how got left up to me. Then I found out I'd been lied too all along...and things went to 'not good' for a time and then to utterly insane." The look on his face showing that the 'utterly insane' was not in any way a good sort of insane. "Then I died, went to hell, made a deal to get out and thats the 'boss' I'm talking about."

He thought a moment, and made a more difficult decission. "Look my Boss can take Cain in a heart beat. But he's going to be weak and on uncertain ground at first. I'm supposed to be there as his protector while he recoups. If a group took him on, we might not be able to destroy him but we could force him back to Hell."

"Then let's hope the council is quick and deals with it so we don't have to worry about it on the cruise." He replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, enjoying her head rested against his shoulder.

Following her to the balcony, he nodded. "I don't think I could live like this either. It's too spartan."

OOC:
Some one out there rolled triple zeros and landed a crit on the DM...

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Before Ryan could respond to Jackie's statement the cycles around them parted to let a familiar Hayabusa ease up next to the Ferrari. 'Busa looked over at Ryan and gave the hand signal to pull over. The green and white sign of a rest stop advertised one some two miles ahead.

Tindamerrell had left, after listening carefully to Red recounting of what the Sidhe had worn, their weapons and their actions. She promised to investigate, but admitted that becasue she had been banished from the Courts some time ago she might not have much luck. Her admission of having been banished was obviously not something she enjoyed making, but she was obviously trying hard to fulfull her duties as the Sidhe representative. "I'm sorry but we... the Sidhe...generally have so little to do with any one else that I am unsure how to proceed in certain areas. Is a thousand dollars a day suffecient?" She whipped out a check book and had a check for ten thousand dollars in Red's hands before any answer could be made. She promised to check in on Cyrian daily as she left to begin her research.

The medical team had eventaully gotten Cyrian restabilized, but they were unsure as to what had caused the relapse, as the caffine wsa almost completely gone from his system. He was resting quitely.

**************************************
"Not those that spread the word, Harrow, but what happened that told them you were a mutant? " April asked hesitantly as they walked back out to her car carrying bags laden with food for Red, Godolkin and others. She had never asked him what his mutancy was, it was generally a private thing , though there were those that shared the information openly.

************************

Sian woke, much refreshed when Godolkin woke her. "Thank you Godolkin, I'm much better now." She sat on the edge of the bed stretching widely. "And have you come up with a name for your blade. And if that is what I think it is, it will be here only when you want it to be here.

"I don't think I could live like this either. It's too spartan."

Merry leaned against him as they enjoyed the view that really wasn't what they wanted, but would have to do for a few days.

"I wonder why the zoo's all lit up, that has to be it, those lights are at about the right spot."

The Houston House was situated just that no taller buildings were between them and Herman Park where the zoo was.

"Maybe they're getting ready for the storm." Merry answered her own question as she turned to Rivan and traced her fingers up the front of his shirt to the collar, then up his neck to ruffle his hair.

"What would you like to do now?" Her eyes were twinkling.

"George has the blanket the Tamarind was useing as his bed. They need some one who can use that to track him. The Zoo is in Herman park but it has busy roads on two sides, and minor roads on the other two. He's zoo born and bred so he has no experience in the wild and cetainly none with traffic. He's very small, he only weights a couple of pounds. (http://www.worldwildlife.org/forests/images/glt.jpg)" Mike explained. He tapped a magazine laying open on the bench seat, and turned on the over head.

"Thats a picture of one. They are nocturnal, so he's up and active right now."

Mike pulled into the zoo's secondary parking lot, found a parking spot, and waved to a older man who approached at a limping trot. George had been waiting for them. His face was a study in worry.

"Mike I'm so glad you could come! I've got the blanket" He held it up were they could see the small but fluffy blanket.

"Good. Mike this is my friend Dilana. She is an excellent person to find him, don't you worry. Let us do it and you go back to the others, I know they must be confused and scared."

George nodded to Dilana, too worried to be very polite. "Yes, yes,I must get back to the others. The storm building is making them crazy. Here's his carrier as well." With that he hurried off as fast as his lame leg would allow.

Rivan slightly disagreed with Merry about the reason for the lights, but didn't have any better explaination as he looked out at the zoo and the city in general.

"I think we could figure something out." He replied suggestively as he faced her and gave her a kiss, his eyes returning her twinkle.

Red returned to Cyrian's room once she was able to and sat down, watching the window and door.

**************************************

"Oh, well that was partially my fault", Harrow admitted. "We were working on reading scans and I volunteered for one without thinking. That's when they found out I was a mutant."

************************

Godolkin was still considering the name. "How do I call it. What do I do with it?"

Before Ryan could respond to Jackie's statement the cycles around them parted to let a familiar Hayabusa ease up next to the Ferrari. 'Busa looked over at Ryan and gave the hand signal to pull over. The green and white sign of a rest stop advertised one some two miles ahead.

Ryan nodded, and made his way over. "Looks like we are making a quick stop, see whats up."

He piloted the car over to the exit lane, sliding into the rest stop, and killed the ignition. He placed his hand on the door latch, but looked over at Jackie.

"Listen, what ever you wanna do in Houston is your call. You wanna take over, you want your boss to come up, whatever, is your deal. I stay outa politics, I don't play games. I do whatever my boss tells me to do, and I stay outa the mess. I would recomend you do the same. Get to Houston, do what you need to do, and get the hell out."

He paused, and saw Busa parking the bike. "You got plans, your welcome to them. But if I were you, I'd keep out of politics."

He unclicked the door, and stepped out, walking over to the Oni.

"Whats up?"

Dilana's eyes flickered over the picture that Mike was showing her, than up at the older man that was coming up to the car. She listened and watched the conversation, her nose quickly picking up the scent on the little blanket.
"Hmmm," Dilana thought as she placed a hand on her chin, "I've smelled that scent before, however I can't think where at the moment. I believe that you're right Mike, I think I can find him."
She unclipped her seatbelt, taking the blanket in her hand.

"Whats up?"

"Bad Shit man." 'Busa was scowling firecely. "Cain has somehting bad up his sleeve. We've got more high level blood leaches." And that showed just how upset he was and how little he thought of the new arrivals. "Showing up than we have mosquitos."

"One flew in the night you flew out. Name of Davos Santari, went directly to Cain. Less then five hours later a foreign flagged monster cargo touched down and some dude drives out and he's tossing money about like it's no object, looking for you. He's not Night Life- well didn't drop a dime- but a couple who got close enought to size him up don't think he's Mundane either. Both of these came in through Intercontinental."

"Hard on his heels a private jet touched down at Hobby and out came a veritable cadre of vamps, packing lots of serious trouble. Scared the shit out of my friend Tommy who works the refueling service down there."

He gave Ryan long look and then looked at Jackie who'd gotten quietly out of the car and was listening intently. "It's the last two you might not be too happy about. Remember last month? The AV? ah... one got away and sired...sired an AV Lycan. It hit last night. Six dead so far, two of them cops. Cains pissed that you didn't finish the clean up."

He didn't wait for Ryan to respond to that- he wanted to give him the last part of the information and then get the hell out of the way.

"The 'word to the wise' is get the hell out of the way. Cain is going to take back the Council, shut it down and take over for good. Where I've been?" 'Bussa had been gone on a run for nearly a week "I brough back enough SK-Xxtra to do in an army of psi's. He's going to take down Sian and any other psi who gets in his way...and he's got some fancy hit man coming in if the SK' doesn't do it." He looked at Jackie, his eyes hard.

The chauffer closed the door gently but firmly behind Lauralin once she had seated herself in the plushness of the limmo's back seat. The drive was short and just minutes later she was being escorted up to Cain's office via the priavate entrance.

The elevator slid open to reveal the plushly decored room, looking no different than it had several weks ago save for a difference of occupants and some faint sounds coming though the thick glass that over looked the combat arena.

"Ah, Lady Silverleif, forgive me for starting our meeting so late. Unfortuantely I was unavoidably detained. I will be happy to put my private jet at your disposal in recompense." Cain spoke up from the massive throne like chair he had been sitting in the last time she had been here. However it had been moved so that it over looked the arena- obviously Cain had been watching some combats. There were four other vampires with him, one that rivaled Cain in power, possibly. Cain's Second, was there, but then again she had the strong impression that he was seldom far from his master. And other two were the ones that had been doing guard duties the last time ( and were again ).

How do I call it. What do I do with it?"

"I don't know, Godolkin. As I understand it each is unique, with it's own powers, limitations and intellengence..but as to how a piece of ...what ever has intellegence I frankly don't know." Sian replied. "Perhaps you need to ask it?" Her voice was dubious.

***************************

That's when they found out I was a mutant."

"So you knew you were a mutant, but your parent's didn't. That must have been very hard on you." April said sympathetically as they pulled up at the Hospital. She looked at the northern horizon, frowning at the mass of dark clouds building up there. "Lets get this food in." But her frown turned to a smile "I shouldn't have lingered over dinner so, but I was having such a good time chatting with you Harrow. Thanks for coming with me."

She trunded towards the back entry, her arms full of the bags of take out.

"It's going to be a rough night tonight. There are a number of Night Life who are homeless and they should start showing up soon for shelter."

"Well fuck me with a torch," Ryan swore. He waved back towards Jackie, motioning for him to stay in the car. "We got some issues, might be a bit before we head into Houston."

Ryan searched his mental database, runing through all the names he knew. "Davos, sounds familiar. I knew of one guy, while back, kindred who went by Davos. Not sure if it is the same guy, but this dude could scare most justicars. He was one bad ass SOB, theoretically a second gen, could control shadows and shit. If its the same guy, it could be bad. He was one of those types that could rip up a fucking master lycan and not think twice."

He paused again, trying to think if anyone would be after him specifically. "I dunno if anyone is after me more than anyone else, I can't think. Any other info?"

"Yeah, one of our tails said he pulled in with one bad ass bimmer, blue, sounded hella mean. I know your fast, one of the fastest, but I don't think Cain likes the atention your bringing in. Rumor has it that the private plane that landed afterward might have to do with him, we dunno."

Ryan nodded. "Well, Cain can kiss my ass if he thinks I'm gonna let him be pissed off for that whole AV thing. He wants to get shit done his way, he can do it himself."

Ryan was tempted to admit to 'Busa Jackie's secret, but passed it over, waiting. Sian seemed to be the center of his worl these past nights, bringing some guy into her, and finding out Cain was after her.

"Fucking Christ, I have no clue man. I got this hot cargo, the car and the guy, supposed to get in tonight, and he's supposed to be marrying Sian. We can thank her later for telling us ahead of time," he said, sarcastically, and then continued. "I don't wanna say we go premptive, Cain would rip us up. I dunno what the deal is, he didn't let me in on anything, but I never really get a heads up anyway. I say we try to get in, keep low, and run some recon. What do you think?"
___

The man standing nearest Cain looked on at Silverlief, sizing her up. He walked his eyes over her body, then relaxed, fully convinced she was little threat. But then again, with one as old and powerfull as Cain, chances were rarely taken. Instead, he just kept his place, standing behind and to the right of Cain, ready to move at any notice.

His stare was piercing, and anyone who took notice would note an air of discomfort from the other two lower vampires in the room. Davos Santari was not one to be taken any more lightly than Cain. He had age, generation, and expierience on his side, and rarely took any form of bribe or offer that he felt beneath him. He was here as a personal favor for Cain, and no one else. One of the other vampires turned to look at him, and Davos glared back. The other vampire snapped his head around quickly, his eyes moving back to Lauralin.
___

"Listen, I don't care if he's busy, or what the hell else excuse you have. I wanna know where this guy is. If he's as fast as you say, I doub't he'd be afraid to meet up."

"Listen mister, I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but we run shit differently here in Houston. I don't know where the hell your from," a rough looking man standing next to a black Camaro asked. He was cut off.

"I'm from Imitora. I drive a BMW. I know your red neck ass can figure that much out. I want to race Ryan Hammond. If he wants to go for cash, I'll go for cash. If he wants to run for slips, fine, I could use a new ride. Just tell him to call me, ASAP. I'm tired of fucking around with you punks who think you can run. I've heard good shit about this city, seen some good vids, but its starting to look a whole hell of a lot like play."

He shoved a piece of paper into the Camaro driver's hand, with his cell phone and hotel room number on it, and then walked off towards his car. The Houstonian had half a mind to fly over, and use his fangs to rip this guys throat out, but he didn't. Cain was already pissed enough from the activity popping up all over Houston, and was sure that the elder vampire wouldn't want another incident. That, and the man had something about him, something that just reaked of bad news for any attacker, regardless of species. Instead, he pulled out his cell phone, and dialed the number of a contact at the Houston Police Department.

"I need you to tell me what ya can about some guy. Outa nation. Yeah, yeah I know its gonna be hard, but you owe me. Ok, he's from Imitora, his name is Robert Fortier. Thanks."

Jessica and Michael gently navigated through the zoo, the woman jumped when an andaconda slithered across the path. The snake ignored them and continued on its way and Jessica shuddered. She hated snakes.

So far there was no sign of any big cats as they entered an outdoor eating area, but that was shattered within a few seconds. Jessica saw the shadow a second too late and she spun as a leopard jumped from a tree down at her. She pulled the trigger on her gun, the dark flying out with a hiss of air and missing the animal by an inch.

The cat crashed on her, the rifle keeping the beast off her throat as it tried to bury its fangs into her. Jessica held the barrel with one hand and the stock with the other as she tried to keep it off her.

"Shoot it Michael!"

'Busa's eyes went wide as Ryan said Sian was getting married

"No way man. She wouldn't just up and marry some stranger" 'Busa protested though he knew Ryan was being sarcastic.

I say we try to get in, keep low, and run some recon. What do you think?"

"Sounds good." The Oni nodded and pulled out a celphone. "Clean, unconnected with you and ready to use. Ryan..." He paused a long moment, looking down.

"Listen man, if the Vamps try to take over, do away with the Council, I'm not going to be on their side. The Council makes Houston damn near a paradise. I don't know if you realize how bad it's gotten outside, in other cities and such. There are a lot of us who aren't going to let Cain effing get away with it becoming some sort of Vampire empire. I know that there are over two thousand Vamps in Houston, but I also know that there are those who won't side with can, won't bow to him."

He looked Ryan in the eyes "If I have to fight you I will, but I'd rather not brother." The Oni turned away and kicked the Hayabusa to rumbling life. "I'll get you all the information I can as fast as I can. I'll catch up with Mitch and get him to check into things from his contacts."

He looked at the Ferrari with a wistfull gleam in his eye. "That looks to be one cool ride. I'd take a long detour, come into H from a different direction. When you get to Beaumont, run north on 105 for a couple of hours then cut over to 59 and come in that way. Going in on 10 just puts you in gunsights."

"I already have a flight booked, but I do appreciate the offer", Lauralin replied. She kept her mind protected, allowing thoughts to flow around it as she had been taught to do. It didn't stop probing so much as make the tendrils of thought pass her mind by. Only those highly trained could even sense she was near, aside from those like the ones in this room who could sense her other powers. She could feel Anestia close by, in the other realm, awaiting her chance to fulfill her oath and knew whatever may occur she would come out on top. Either of them could easily take caine or his bodyguard by themselves. Both had fought demons and won. The other vampires weren't of any consequence. Laura, however, wanted to avoid killing them. Nature abhors a vacuum and killing Caine would open up a power struggle that Houston didn't need right now.

"Now", she said, "you had some questions concerning the incident at the station?"

****************

Godolkin eyed the sword dubiously. "Adoreum Fulmen speak", he said to it. He had chosen the sword's name. Adoreum Fulmen. Valor's might. But no answer was forthcoming. Godolkin looked at Sian and the back to the sword. "Adoreum Fulmen, begone." He told it, and the sword vanished. He looked about and then held out his hand in a way that he would hold the blade. "Adoreum Fulmen. Come to me." And the sword was there again. He turned the blade around, examing it. "Convenient", he stated and then looked at Sian, "I suppose you are prepared to leave this room."

****************

Harrow nodded and took several of the bags from her. "I wasn't sure at first. But later, when I began my studies I realized it. I never told them. I wasn't sure how they would react. Early on, though, I knew I was different."

****************

Michael raised the rifle with a bizarre sort of calm air. As though what was happening was normal. He aimed quickly, not wanting to hit Jessica, and pulled the trigger. The dart flew true, taking it in the neck. Within a second or two it simply stood swaying. Another second or two and it was down.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Ryan nodded, watching 'Busa ride off. He rubbed his eyes, releaving the pressure, and 'sighed'. "This figures," he said quietly to himself. He walked back over to the Ferrari, gunned the engine, and slid back out onto the highway.

"Hate to do this to ya man, but certain shit has to happen a certain way," Ryan commented to no one in particular. He didn't put it past Cain to have a tracking device on the Ferrari, nor that he would have underlings in the area observing. Instead of following the advised detour, Ryan took the Ferrari right into the city. He had a job to do, well, three in reality. The first was to drop Jackie of where he wanted, and be done with it. He would dispose of the vehicle with him, his job was to get him into Houston and nothing else.

The other job he had was to figure out who in the hell was looking for him. As much as one could, he had done his best to keep a low profile in Houston and else where, and he had no idea why anyone from out of Texas, or more accurately out of the nation, would come looking for him with a transport plane.

However, that would be taking a back burner. After disposing of the vehicle, he would recon, find Sian, and figure out what in the hell was going on. He had his own contacts, as well as sources, and knew he could count on Mitch to also get him some info. He pulled out the cell phone, punched in a number, and let it ring.

"Hey Mitch. Yeah its Ryan. Listen, I need you to do me some favors. Get in contact with your boys at the airport, and figure out who in the hell was looking for me. Good. Then I need ya to find out what the hell is going on with everything." He didn't want to say anything specific or arouse Jackie's interests, although he knew at this point, it was a bit to late. "Also, I need you to get me a ride, new set of wheels. Nah the Supra is to overt. Something fast but quiet, ya know? Sounds good, yeah I can ride. Have it for me at the usual spot. Thanks." Ryan clicked the phone shut, and then pocketed it.

"Listen, I'm gonna drop ya off in Downtown, club I used to go to has a pretty big open parking lot. Keep the Ferrari, you can do what you want with it, Cain's isn't that hard to find. I have other buisness I need to take care of, and my pay says I just need to get you into Houston. After that, your on your own."

Ryan didn't care what Jackie's response would be, he had much more important things on his mind, like loyalties. He knew where his lay, and he knew what he would be up against. He also knew whose support he would have. It was time's like these he was glad he didn't play politics.

Jackie had slid back into the car when Ryan waved him back in but he'd heard some of it. When Ryan returned he listend to what Ryan had to say.

After that, your on your own."

"Ryan, do you need some one to watch your back? We worked pretty good together back there in the hotel. And blow the Ferrari, hell I can pay for it out of chump change if Cain gets a hair up his ass." He offered, sincereity evident in his voice.

*******************

As Fortier turned away, the racer geared off with a roar, leaving him alone in the parking lot save of one other vehicle parked a bit away directly under one of the few lights working...and it's driver standing by it...

"I hear you're looking for Ryan" the lanky woman in faded jeans and a dark tee looked Fortier up and down and chuffed under her breath. "Doing 'shit on the locals' isn't going to get him here any faster, or make you any friends either. Money don't mean shit in the end rich man. It's who you are."

She leaned back against the hood of a classic piece of forgotten american muscle, a custom painted black AMX3 and smirked. "And no I don't know where his private hide is. And he doesn't hang anypace in particular, but you could always try Cains."

you had some questions concerning the incident at the station?"

"Lady Silverleif, please have a seat" Cain made a small gesture towards an empty chair. It was smaller than his.

The subtle odors of testosterone and estrogen warfare...or was that Vamp dominanace that was nearly overwhelming...or it would be to any less powerful than the four primarily involved. NONE of the four should be taken lightly by any of the other four. Especially as it was arrayed three against one. But every one here was too civilized for overt moves, or so one hopes.

"And not so much questions, as a reminder. You, and your company are here on my...the Councils sufferance. And part of the understanding and sufferance was that you not make waves among the Mundanes, that you keep the Mundane organizations out of your investigations, and clear interaction and contact with them before making such."

""I suppose you are prepared to leave this room."

Sian smiled as she crossed over to him, and going up on tip toe laid a kiss on his cheek "Yes I am but you aren't I don't think you want to be wandering about the corridors in those ruined clothes and with dried blood all over you. There's a shower in there" She nodded towards the bathroom attached to the room "Go shower and I'll send some one up with some scrubs..and" Her nose twitched and a pang of hunger assaulted her "I smell some of the Spanish Roses's excellent food coming up. You need to eat too."

When he looked like he might object, she gently turned him toward the bathroom door. "Shower and eat. Doctors orders!" She said firmly. "Or make that eat and shower" She smiled at April who stepped in with heavy bags in her hands.

April had let Harrow carry some, she was certainly willing to accept help. Some had been left downstairs but she know that if Sian had finally woken that she would be starved. "Harrow why don't you take the bag you've got left on to your friend Red. I've got enough for Sian and your other friend, Godolkin you said his name was?"

Merry slid her arm about Rivan's waist as they turned to go back inside, then she suddenly flinched as something shadowy dark and wide hurtled past the couple to crash into the glass of the sliding doors. Startled she screamed and started to do more than just flinch.

However the balcony's lights showed clearly that what had impaced against the glass then dropped to the floor was nothing more than a very large bird. One wing was splayed out an a bad angle, and it did not seem to be moving.

"Oh Rivan, look...is that a black eagle? It looks too big to be a hawk, or a falcon. Is it still alive?"

Rivan began sniffing, quite strongly in fact. He was worried that it might be the beastial monstrocity who'd some how managed to shape-shift. "I'm not sure what it is but we should check it out." He replied

"But we should be careful, just in case."

"But we should be careful, just in case."

Merry nodded and eased down into a crouch. Gingerly she reached out and touched an extended finger to the nearest bit of the bird.

"Look it's bleeding, there on the wing, where it looks all wrong." She pointed to the compound fracture barely visable among the dark glossy feathers.

"Do you know what to do about wing damage?" He asked as he crouched beside her. "I'm afraid my medical knowladge isn't well suited to the avian world."

Merry shook her head. "I don't know a darn thing, maybe we ought to call the zoo. Maybe thats why all the lights are on? What if PETA has gotten in there?"

There wasn't a Were in Houston that didn't loathe the the group.

"If this w3ere a person my first aid training would say to keep them warm, and support the arm..er..wing. Could you go get a large towel from the bathroom? Wrapping it up should keep it warm." She asked as she inched closed to the stunned avian.

"Ryan, do you need some one to watch your back? We worked pretty good together back there in the hotel.

"Nah, this is a local issue. Something we gotta deal with in here."

The rest of the drive in was quiet, Ryan keeping the car moving well over the posted limit, making the rest of the drive in quick. He slowed the car on the outskirts of the city, comming to a stop at a truck stop just on the outskirts of downtown. He parked the car, and clicked his door open.

"I dunno where your headed, but if your looking for Cain, try his club. Its named after him and pretty hard to miss. Good luck with whatever your in for, keep it chill."

He and Jackie had worked well, that was without question. However, with the knowledge that there was an out of town shooter after Sian, he was more than cautious. He had feelings that Jackie was indeed the shooter, and even if he wasn't, Ryan wasn't going to lead him into Houston to Sian. He pulled the cell phone from 'Busa out of his pocket, and punched in a quick text message.

Keep eyes open, red pony with possible shooter, plus more, will update later

He closed the door, and started walking off towards a small group of bikers, one of them obviously Big Mitch Baker, the leader of the group. He walked over to Ryan, and handed him a jacket. "Well, ya know I'm not a huge fan of the crotch rocket, but this one has a V twin, so it can't be all that bad."

Baker led Ryan over to a black Honda RC51 sport bike, with a helmet sitting on the seat. "We've been looking for this fella looking for you, all we know is his name, Robert Fortier. Not to much else. That, and someone found out the hard way his car is fast. Real fast. We think he wants to run you."

"Right," Ryan shook his head, climbing onto the bike. "Who ya got thats quiet?"

Baker laughed. "Well, not a whole lot of people, why?"

"Screw it. Make sure that Ferrari heads to Cain's, and no where else. Good?"

"Hmm, I dunno, I got a bad vibe from him."

"I got five grand for ya."

"Deal. Good luck buddy, call me if ya need me."

"Will do," Ryan replied, and gunned the bike to life. He popped on the helmet, and pulled out of the truck stop, heading towards downtown Houston.
_______
It's who you are.

"Yeah, thats nice. But when your as fast as me, you can shit on whoever you want. And your wrong, it doesn't matter shit who you are. Only thing that matter's out here is whose in your rearveiw. Thanks for the advice," Fortier replied, sliding into the driver's seat of the M3. He kicked the engine over, and pulled out of the parking lot, punching the location into the GPS system.

"We could, or maybe a vet?" He suggested as he went to get a towel. His knowladge of first-aid was limited to patching himself up, so he was happy to know she knew what to do.

Thanks for the advice,"

Charli shook her head in disgust. "What an a-hole!" She pulled out her cel and hit the speed dial.

"Busa, sent the Big Money to Cains. Yah, he is looking for Ryan and talking all sort of macho crap. Hold my share of the run money, I'm heading out-country for awhile. Where the ass came from- Imitora."

'You be careful too. I may be new in town realatively speaking, but there's too much shit going down..." Charli listened intently to the Oni "What?...Okay I'll stay a few days then, but I need to take a few to find a place to crash. That storm coming down is a bad one and I want to get the Phoenix under cover...Where? You'll cover it?" She laughed and clicked the AMX3's door opened "Right next to Cains? oh thanks! Make me a reservation and I'll be there in twentyish."
*************

Jackie watched Ryan leave and he was worried behind a relaxed face. He was beginning to like Ryan and didn't want to see him get killed or caught in the coming crossfire.

Once Ryan had ridden off he leaned back in the passenger seat and sighed. He'd never driven a a car like this and would need one of what his boss laughingly called 'small lessons'. Jackie hated them, they hurt, but more to the point left him feeling covered in acid, ever nerve and neuron afire from the invasion. He closed his eyes and after carefully shielding his thoughts - a hard learned lesson - and opened the contact between himself and the Boss.

Three minutes later he was climbing in the drivers side door, managing to hide the shakes and the nausea. He now knew the layout of Houston intimately. And he had every bit of skill equal to Ryans in handling the Ferrari.

Lauralin didn't have time for Caine's idiosincracies and didn't bother to sit down. Especially since it would give him and his chronies a distinct advantage that she wasn't about to allow.

"Had you bothered", she began as she pulled two sheet from the papers she carried and tossed them into his lap, "to check the mundanes records then you would clearly see that 911 calls were made to the local authorities 45 minutes before my people even became involved. In fact, calls were being made on cellular phones even as my people arrived. Mundane interaction was already in progress by the time my people became involved. Furthermore, had you checked the agreement", and here she tossed the rest of the papers in his lap, "you would see that in the event that actual crimes are committed in the course of a supernatural investigation then I am required to include the local authorities in said investigation as a matter of course, and considering the fact that purses and wallets were being stolen as well as vandalism, then contact was clearly indicated, per my agreement. Now, did you really bring me here to discuss matters that you could have cleared up without me? If so then you have wasted my time as I have far more pressing matters to which to attend."

****************

Godolkin nodded to Harrow as entered and then looked at April. "Aye, Lady, Godolkin.

"I'll meet you in the E.R.", Harrow told April and then nodded to Sian, "Lady". He then went to give Red her dinner.

Godolkin moved the tables to the beds and accepted a small portion of the food. Far to small for someone his size. Then he pulled out half of a bar what looked like a power bar. The bar contained everything an Iconoclast needed and could survive on them alone. He often ate small amounts with it since he was taking only half rations and had no way replacing his supply, which was almost exhausted.

Harrow was almost to the room when Red stuck her head out of the door. Upon seeing him with the food she grinned, "I thought I smelled something good. Did you get me coffee?"

"Yes, Holy One. Black and strong, as you like it."

"Cool. I'm nominating you to sainthood", she replied and took the food and coffee into the room and began to devour it with gusto.

"I see Godolkin has a new toy", Harrow commented.

"Oh? Who's cat is he torturing now?"

Harrow stood and stared at her for a moment before replying, "I'm not sure I understand."

Red sighed, "I meant what toy are you talking about?"

"Oh. A new sword."

"Huh. Well happened to his old one, I thought he still had it."

"As far as I know he does", Harrow answered, shaking his head as she gestured toward a seat. "I need to get to the E.R. I volunteered to help."

"Alright", Red replied, "At least you know that I won't be sending you any business. Well .... unless someone gets stupid."

Harrow was about to ask her to stay out of trouble but figured it would be pointless and headed to the E.R.

Jessica gasped as the leopard was moved from her and was sleeping next to her. She took Micahel's hand in getting up. "Yeah, thanks. Guess we must travel extra careful now."

"We also need to know who to contact in order to have them gather up thier leopard", Michael replied, his tone completely changed with no emotion at all. He was locked into his fighting mode now. No emotional consideratiions, only problems and resolutions.

Sian looked at what Godolkin served himself and shook her head. "No, you need far more than that." She stepped over and quadrupled his portion. "And what ever they had..and yes I do say HAD...you addicted to in that bar. If the Angel trusted you with that sword then you are no longer an addict, and it might well make you ill."

She watched that strike home and nodded grimly. "Aye another way for them to keep you under their thumb."

Once he was eating she left and headed to her office, taking some of the food with her, to eat while she played her voice mail and checked other messsages.

She knew that she had to go meeet with Cain, he'd left a message last night that he needed to see her tonight over Council concerns. She didn't really feel like dealing with him, but other messages waiting in her voice mail convinced her that she needed to. Most noteably that the Green Water Clan Werewolves would be sending representaves to a requested Council meeting tomorrow. Other information, concerning the AV Lycan was unnerving.

Quickly she showered and changed into clothes she kept on hand, glad that she had left a heavy winter outfit out. The weather report said that the artic front was almost upon them.

"We could, or maybe a vet?"

"I think only the twentyfour hour emergency clinics are open this late." Merry took the towel he brought and set it on her lap. "Lets see a chickens wing lays like this..." She tentatively folded the wind into place along side the big birds body, wincing as she felt bones shift under her fingers.

"Does that look right to you?" With equal care she scooped her hands under the eagles body, lifted and swiveled so that it lay in the center of the towel. Then dhe folded the four corners over, so that it ws wrapped gently but securely.

"Those claws are aweful big, and that beak is nothing to ignore. I think we need to keep it wrapped for our safety as much as its" She commented. She held out the bundle to Rivan. "You carry I'll drive" She said as she rose from her crouch.

Rivan watched Merry tentatively care for the bird, hoping that they weren't furthering the injury, but with no way to tell either way.

"It looks like the other one." He replied as she folded it in the towel to provide a sling and a safeguard against it's claws and beak. "Alright, but while we drive, I'd advise calling your aunt or another member of the pack, just in case."

Godolkin looked at the huge portion dubiously but proceeded to eat. He would find out if she was right or not, but he would keep the bar just in case.

The black RC51 roared down the open highway, moving gracefully through traffic. Ryan was in full tuck, his body hugging the frame of the motorcycle, making as small a cross section as possible, the bike slipping easily through the air. He slowed as he neared downtown, keeping himself a low target for police. He manuvered easily through the traffic, and found the above ground parking lot not to far from Cain's. He slid off the bike, and pulled off his helmet, hooking it on the handle bar, and pulled out the cell phone. He dialed Sian's number, and waited for her to answer.

As he looked around the parking lot, he noticed a glint that caught his eye, a blue BMW. Someone was standing next to it, talking to a few others, most likely locals. One was handing the man a wad of cash, looking less than pleased with himself. He made a note of this, the BMW wasn't wearing local plates, and was no one he had seen before. The person from out of town after him had been in a blue BMW. Christ, Ryan thought, I don't have time for this.

"God damnit Sian, pick up your phone," Ryan swore.

Sian nearly let voice mail get it, but stopped as she was leaving her office and dug in her purse for her cellphone. She didn't recognise the number..

"Yes?"

**********************
Ryan wasn't the only one watching the action around the blue BMW with interest. The third through sixth levels of Bayou Place - the east section of the multi block long structure that Cains fromed the western end of - were a luxury hotel, The Armand. The fifth and sixth floor were reserved for special guests. Charli appreciated the view, since it made binoculars almost unnecessary- she had a ring side seat for her targets arrival. Knowing what your opponent can do was always a good thing.

She was almost certain he had no idea about the Night Life, he'd not reacted properly to any of the cues, but she was pretty sure he wasn't a Mundane either. She wondered how he'd react to discovering the Strange Folk. Well she'd be in Cains before him, and get situated to take it all in, discretely of course.

She didn't have any fancy club wear, she'd never been to a night cub in her life - the few bars she occcassioned didn't qualify as such. However she knew she looked good in the new midnight blue leather pants and soft deeply plunging sweater. Even if I'm not that busty, it shows me off pretty good. She appraised herself as she tucked room card, car keys and cash into the secure inner pocket of her duster. It was the one thing she knew looked absolutely killer on her. Of supple, soft leather, brain tanned elk hide - the ankle length caped duster had been hand made, custom tailored to her height and long legged stride. If she hadn't been given it as a gift, she never could have afforded it.

Checking the teltales on the Phoenix one last time she closed the laptop and headed out the door. Nor more than five minutes later she ws ensconsed at one of the tables on the upper catwalk, giving her a near perfect view of the main floor below.

*****************************************

"Alright, but while we drive, I'd advise calling your aunt or another member of the pack, just in case."

"Thats a good idea Rivan, thanks for thinking of it." Merry smiled as she slid the balcony door shut. She grabbed her handbag from where she tossed it and wen to the condo's phone. "I'm going to call her now, rather than after we're on the road."

Not much later they were down in the underground garage, and Merry was opening the car door for Rivan. "So you don't have to try and hold the bird one handed.

Rivan could feel the bird beginning to stir , within the cocoon of the towel, but due to the dark and the disorientation the movements were tenative and weak. She shut the door behind him once he had gotten situated. The security guard raised the gate and soon they were headed south on Main street towards the zoo.

"Alright and thanks." He replied with a grin as she went to the phone and called someone. A little later, they headed down to the garage. "Thank you." He replied as she opened the door and the bird began to stir as he got in.

"I think our feathered patient is waking up." He commented as they headed to the zoo.

Now, did you really bring me here to discuss matters that you could have cleared up without me? If so then you have wasted my time as I have far more pressing matters to which to attend."


"Lady Silverleif, do you really expect me to believe that purse snatching and minor vandalism needed to be turned into a massive police response? I sincerely doubt that it needed to. Since you and your people have shown no sense of proper porportion, I am rescending Defenders Inc's invitation. With the international attention that has been brought to all of this Defenders Inc is not welcome to involve itself in Houstons affairs for at least a year."

Cain had risen from his chair, and now smilled coldly at her. "Of course your offices may stay open but no more cases in the Houston area, are to be accepted." His tone brooked no arguement. And it was clear that the interview was over.

The sudden heavy feeling that draped over Lauralin told her that high level antimajic shells had been invoked. None of her majics would work within the area they covered.

My driver stands ready to escort you to the airport, Lady Silverleif. I am certain in a year we can meet again and come to some sort of agreement." Cain's smile was hollow, never reaching his eyes.

Jessica didn't feel like contacting anyone, that would just bring a lot of questions down on them. Instead, she marched over to a golf cart carrying various utlity items and removed some extension cord. In a few minutes, she had it wrapped around the leopard's legs. Now, he couldn't get up and move around when the drugs wore off.

"Lets go Michael." Jessica said with a scan of nearby rooftops and trees. "Let the humans find the damn cat when they come this way."

Lauralin shrugged, "I really don't care what you want to believe. That is what happened. I shall inform my people and I have no need for your vehicle. Good night." With that she turned and walked away, skewing and stretching for a moment before vanishing.

Once at the office she contacted her staff. No further investigations were to be carried out. Only personal, home and business security, nothing more until further notice. No, she assured them, it was nothing they did wrong.

She then contacted the airport to verify her reservations. She had no intentions of making the flight. She would teleport instead. She didn't like doing that as it brought up questions but she didn't trust cain and wasn't about to be where he expected her to be. She then proceeded to write up the appropriate paperwork.

****************

Michael nodded and followed Jessica, scanning trees and shrubs as they worked thier way through the zoo.

Mike hefted the small carrier and looked expectantly at Dilana.

"Did you want to start at the Small Mammal House? Thats where the Tamarin exhibit is."

He looked around at the patchily lit zoo grounds and wished it were day where the tinyl animals bright golden fur would show up easily. He'd never worked with some one who could track by scent, and was unsure of exactly how it worked for Dilana.

"I think our feathered patient is waking up."

"The zoo is less than three miles away as the eagle flies, a bit longer with stop lights and such for us land bound folks." Merry commented as she waited at one such light, then gave the small car gas as the light changed.

It wasn't too long before she was slowing and searching for a open gate. The zoos activity was clearly visable now. She drove past the many patron parking lots, closed and dark.

"I just don't remember where I saw...There" She exclaimed with relief as she caught sight of an open gate and a large, but discretely placed sign stating Employee Parking Only.

Turning in she she drove slowly down a narrow road nearly fifty feet before it opened into a lot nearly filled with a variety of vehicles, and more than a few people moving about.

"If only we were Were birds." He commented with a chuckle and a grin, knowing he'd want to be nothing else than he was.

"I wonder what's going on?" He asked as they noticed all the cars and people doing stuff. "Hopefully one is qualified as a vet."

"Did you want to start at the Small Mammal House? Thats where the Tamarin exhibit is."


Dilana thought a moment before replying, "Yes, I think the Mammal House would be a good place to start. It'll give me more insite to the animal."
The young woman raised her head and her eyes opened wider in order for her sight to become more kean in the darkness. She was blessed with the eye sight of the big cats that had attacked her, and all of her sences; her hearing, sight, taste and smell were on full alert.
'Like a lioness hunting her prey.'
Dilana thought as she knew in a way, it was like hunting with out the eating part of it. Dilana followed Mike in to the exhibit where the Tamarin was kept, gazing around at the many trees and things for the cat to climb on.
"Oh yes he lives here," Dilana said as she breathed his scent and stored it in her memory. The young woman didn't forget things that smelled, and especially such a unique one.

Jessica and Michael continued through the zoo, most of the small animals were too small for the darts, the tranq would end up killing them so they had to be left alone. They were able to bring down a second leopard munching away on apparently a dead chimp or something or other, they couldn't tell.

Jessica paused as she thought she saw people enter the Mammal House. Motioning to Michael, they moved into the Mammal House, Jessica thought it might be zoo keepers. They could inform them of two down leopards to pick up.

"Hello? Anyone in here?" She called out into the house.

Michael moved in slightly ahead of her and shifted the rifle to under one arm. He pulled out his .44, just in case and waited for an answer.

"I certainly wouldn't want to be a Werebird" Merry laughed as she came around and opened the door for Rivan. "And it does look like they are doing more than just getting ready for the storm. I hope there hasn't been some sort of attack on the zoo. It's just the sort of thing PETA would do."

She looked about but didn't see any one close enough to call out too. "Lets take him over to that building there. It's brightly lit and there seems to be a fair number of people headed that way."

Merry pointed to one of the two story garages that had huge roll up doors open at both ends and appeared to be the hub of current acitvity.

He chuckled as well as Merry opened the door for him. "Thank you." He replied as he got out, "And I agree, most, if not all of these animals would die or be at very low odds in the wild."

"Alright." He replied as he cradled the bird and they headed to the brightly lit building.

"Someone is coming," Dilana said as her sharp hearing picked up movement from outside the door. Her body tense, she waited as the door opened on the other side of the house. She heard a female's voice ring out, and Dilana relaxed herself somewhat before calling out, "Who's there?"
Raising her head more, her vision picked up two people from across the room; although she did not know who they were. However, in her mind surfaced an old memory of the woman's voice, one that she had heard just a few days after she had arived in Houston.

Jessica paused as she heard a woman's voice and she moved a little more to see the speaker and she lowered the rifle. Something scratched at the back of her mind, like she had seen her before.

"I should be asking you the same question of who you are."

"Listen, Sian, it's Ryan. I don't have a ton of time, but you need to look out."

He paused, looking up. The driver of the BMW, the one he assumed was Fortier, was walking over to him. "I dunno whats going on and why, but I need you to stay where you are, not go out. There are shooters after you. Lots of them. One of them I know, creepy guy driving a Ferrari, he's looking for ya. That, and some from outa town, brought in by who knows. I can't explain whats going on because I don't know."

There was genuine concern in Ryan's voice, not quite fear, but not quite fright. "I need you to stay inside with protection. I'm gonna try and send someone your way to help with lookout, and I'm gonna talk to Cain to, try to figure out what is going on. I don't have any more time to talk, just trust me on this. And don't go to any churches."

He clicked the phone shut, and pocketed it, walking forward to meet Fortier half way. "Listen buddy, I know you wanna race but I don't have time for this shit right now."

"Why not," Fortier cut him off, stoping his movment. "We got plenty of time till sun up, and I'll make sure your in bed by then." Robert watched Ryan's face jump for a second, then return to normal. His movement wasn't fast enough, the vampire had already given away to much with the simple grimace.

"Think I don't come to school with my homework done? Listen, I know your little secret, hell, I know all about it, and the game you play around here. I didn't respond to any of your tells or signs because I'm not here for that. I don't want to get involved in your little world of hide and go seek with a group of people that you fear for no real reason. I have no idea why you guys fear being discovered, shit, you and that Cain chump could take on a damn brigade of troops without breaking a sweat. I just wanna take that Supra of your hands."

"Listen, later, maybe, I don't..."

"Have time for this? I know. You just said it. What, does it have something to do with this Sian chick?"

"Damn, you are good." Ryan was getting worried. He couldn't approach the man, he didn't know if it was magic, fear, or someting else. He wasn't strange folk or night life, that was for sure. But he wasn't mundane either. An aura reader would get mixed signals as well, showing both signs of good and evil. A psy would find a mind of conflict: love and hate, war and peace, violence and inaction. Ryan wasn't sure what to see or feel, he just new that this was not one to be screwed with.

"You were shouting into the telephone for Christ's sake. Anyone with in fifty feet could hear you. Listen. Ryan, right? All I wanna do is race you. The competition back home is starting to lower the bar and back down, and I heard you had a fast car, and could drive."

"I have other things to take care of first, maybe we can set something up later."

"If I help ya out, can we speed up the process?"

"This isn't a fight you can handle."

"A fight I can't handle? Listen bro, I've been on the giving and recieving end of more ass whipings in my short 42 years then you've even seen in your 300. Humans, vampires, mutants, whatever, I can kill it if it can be killed. You said you wanna meet up with Cain, but this Sian chick needs protection. I'll head to her hide out, give over watch, and you go ahead and meet up with Cain, and we can get this all sorted out. Work?"

Ryan was hesitant. This Fortier character knew far to much. Sure, he may have done his homework, but at this point, it wasn't a risk he wanted to take. He didn't want to put Sian in any cross hairs with his back turned. He wasn't sure if it was love, or some small reminant of the human feeling, or if he just trusted Sian more than anyone else, seeing as she was one of few friends. It was an offer he wanted, but one he would be forced to turn down.

"I can't take that offer. Here's what I'll do. I'm about to go into that club, and square off with some people I would really rather not. You take overwatch there, keep my back clean, and then I trust you. Once I trust you, I let you help out with the big thing. Once we get the big thing out of the way, I take the BMW off your hands. Capiche?"

Fortier paused, thinking the situation over. "Fine. Works for me. Let me go grab some things out of my car, I'll meet you inside."

"Fine," Ryan responded, and walked off into the club.
____

Ryan entered the club, walking over to his usual contact. "I need to see Cain."

"He's busy right now in another meeting."

"I don't care, I need to see him."

"And I need a better paying job. Sit your ass down and wait."

Ryan was about to act, when a soft hand came down on his shoulder. It wasn't rough, nor was it harsh, but it simply pulled him back. Ryan turned, seeing a man near his height. He had a skin that was darker than most, but not olive or darker, and eyes that were soft, yet piercing.

His features (http://www.cinemagia.ro/getimg.php?id=5476&size=s) were older and sharp, he appeared to be in his mid sixties, with jet black hair left to its own fallings. His suit was visably expensive, looking as if it had a price range in the mid thousands, a jet black coat and pants worn over a white shirt. The tie was blood red, done in a windsor knot. And his smile was enough to make any girl yeild to him, his age only adding a ruged handsomeness. His scowl would scare even the best trained soldier into submission. He didn't look evil, but anyone observing his aura knew he was nothing but.

"C'mon," he said, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the pulsing music, "let me buy you a drink."

"Listen mister, I don't know who you think you are, but you better get your damned hand off me," Ryan swore, trying to pull away. The old man was supprisingly strong, holding Ryan in place.

"Cain is busy, and your not gonna get in there to see them till he's done. Let me buy you a drink," he smiled.

"Fine." Ryan followed the man to a booth, where he ordered his usual.

"And I will have," the man said, glancing over the menu, "a very dirty vodka martini." He winked at the young waitress who smiled and returned with their drinks promptly, her phone number scrawled on the napkin under the martini.

"I am sure you must know who I am," the man asked, placing his hands down on the table.

"Not a fucking clue."

"Well, you just transported one of my, I guess we shal call him, employees, down from New Jersey."

Ryan paused, his glass to his lips, his eyes on the other man. He put it down, and glared. "Thats impossible."

"Is it? I mean, I'm sitting right here. Now, don't you talk young man, I have a bit to say, and I'm gonna say it." He took a sip from the drink, and then continued. "I'm not gonna ask you to do anything drastic. I know you have plenty on your plate already, and to much to worry about."

"Things you probably put there," Ryan cut back, taking a long pull from the glass. It looked like a bloody mary; at least part of the title was right.

"What did I say about talking? And no, it wasn't me that put all this shit on your plate. Free will is an amazing thin Ryan. An amazing thing. The problem is, I'm seen as the bad guy when I'm the only one following the rules. The big man tells me not to interfere, so I don't. However, He sees something he doesn't like, and destroys it. I knew I was getting a bum rap when He took out Soddom and Gammora, but wouldn't let me fix the 2005 World Serries. Anyways. Jackie, as you know, has a big head. He thinks I'm up here, trying to take over Houston."

He stopped taking a sip of the martini. "Damn that is good. That is good. Listen. Lets look at this logically Ryan. Why the hell would I want to take over Houston? It's to fucking humid for one, and the beach isn't all that great. I think Cain has a good thing going here, so I'm gonna leave him to it. No. What Jackie wanted to do was to kill Cain and take over. Then I'd have to flex my musscles, come on up here, take him out, and deal with whatever side effects we had. Thats the point when all his newly loyal followers would jump me, and I would, at least he thinks, go down. But its not going to happen like that. Not tonight."

"I'm going to ask you to do me a favor Ryan. I want you to go ahead up into that room, and do two things. The first thing I want you to do is forget everything about Jackie, and if you see him again, take a good long drink. He's a nobody, a nothing man. A thug who thinks he's special because he 'made a deal' with the Devil. I have hundreds of people up here just like him. Hell, maybe even thousands. People think that comming back to life is worth their eternal soul. Its like trading in your Rolls Royce for a Honda. Pretty dumb. After that, I want you to go into that office, look Cain straight in the eye, and tell him that he can go fuck himself if he thinks he can use one of my guys to do his dirty work. If he wants to kill Sian, he can do it himself."

Ryan looked up, his eyes meeting the other man's. He hadn't believed 'Busa when he gave him the news, he knew 'Busa didn't like Cain, and wouldn't put it past him to make up the story in order to turn Ryan. Ryan was ready to fight the Oni if need be, in order to keep the council together and in peace.

"Oops, I wasn't supposed to say that," the other man said with mock sincerity. His sarcastic tone accompanied a brilliant smile. "Listen Ryan, I follow the rules the big man put out. I don't jump in the middle of anything, I just plant seeds and let you people up here do what you want with them. Free will is a beautiful thing."

"Whats in it for me?" Ryan asked, taking another long pull of the drink.

"Well I'll be damned. Wait, I already am. Ha! You can take the vampire out of politics but you can't take politics out of the vamp. Ryan my boy, I can make it anything you want. You want to gain power beyond your wildist dream? No problem. You want to have a fast car that can beat anything? You name it. Want to be the next Cain? I can do it."

"I want you to make sure Sian doesn't die. Not tonight."

"Oh, thats one of those things that is usually out of my hands. Self sacrifice and selflessness usually goes up to the big man. But then again, he doesn't really deal with you types. Calls you an abomonation. So much for hate the sin, love the sinner, know what I mean?" he smiled. The gleam of his perfect teeth caught the eye of another twenty something wearing nothing but a bunny suit. He waved and winked, and she returned the gesture.

Ryan watched as a door opened, a tall, sophisticated lady stepping out and leaving the club. Not to far behind her, a vampire followed, one that demanded respect and authority from his look alone. His sharp angular features were strangely handsome, and his walk powerfull. He glanced over, seeing the man sitting across from Ryan, and offered him a slight bow.

"He's a good one, guy I'm glad is on my side. Anyways, in this case, I can make an exception. But it'll be a big one. I would ask for your soul in return, but I already know I'm getting it. HA! And enter stage right, looks like your boy is in the house. New body gaurd? Ryan, I'm disappointed. I was hoping for a bit more from you. Oh, its him, isn't it?"

He watched as Fortier walked into the bar, comming towards the table. The walk he had was typical of one who was very sure of himself, and not over confident. It was a simple, low key walk, one that, despite keeping you out of sight, screamed I don't think I'm a bad ass, I know I am. He was dressed normaly, a blue Lucky tshirt and a pair of jeans hanging over his black Converse All Stars. A leather jack was drapped over his shoulders, nothing fancy or special, it had cost him thirty bucks at a cheap department store in Imitora. He had fancier and nicer clothes, but he saved those for fancier and nicer occasions.

"You are lucky Ryan. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to get him on my team. Well, take care of yourself," he said smiling. Ryan turned away to see Fortier, and when he came back around, the seat was empty, the drink and napkin gone. The man he had been talking to was no where to be seen.

"Bout time you got here," Ryan quipped, standing.

"Who was that guy?"

"No one. Lets go."

He walked over to the door gaurd, who eyed the two up, and then stepped aside by no more than an inch. "Mr. Cain can see you now."

Ryan glanced over his shoulder, the Kindred who had left behind the female of Cain's previous meeting sitting at the bar, looking right back at him. A chill ran down Ryan's back, and he looked away, towards the door.

"After you," Fortier said, letting Ryan step first. They began the walk to Cain's office.

OOC: Just have to remember that he IS the father of all lies...and I have Running with the Devil playing right now, and Sympathy for the Devillined up...
***************

I don't have any more time to talk, just trust me on this. And don't go to any churches."

Sian could hear, could practically taste the upset in Ryan voice. But she wasn't going to stay at the hopsital, possibly bring down trouble on a building full of sick and injured people, and those caring for them.

No she'd lost her husband to assassins- oh he'd been but colatteral damange, but that made her even more determined not to stay there.

She did trust Ryan, trusted him with her life, and she'd stay away from churches, though for the life of her she couldn't understand what churches had to do with any thing. Creepy guys in Ferrari's, well that che could handle. She didn't have a vehicle at the Hospital, but teleporting home and grabbing the Sagaris would be no trouble.

However thoughts of her long dead husband brought her back to a part of her heart she thought she had left behind. She had been about to leave her husband, tired of his lies, his manipulations, his immoral activities, but his death along side a notorious mob figure had freed her. It had been no gift as it had never allowed her to confront him, to gain closure on many levels. It left behind a wound that had never quite healed. She'd left that part of her life behind, loseing good friends as she did so in her run home to Houston. Leaving her married name and identity behind as well, with more than a little money paid out to seal the records of her taking back her 'old' name - as suggested by a friend with more reason to know about such things than most.

She shook her thoughts free of the past. No one in Houston knew about her more than occassional activites that would have shocked most. Her cover as dedicated doctor was very thorough, and the best sort - as it was who she really was. But there was more to her than just Doctor Sian...

Merry kept a look out for some one who didn't seem overwhelmingly busy as she and Rivan headed into the oversized garage.

"I could love working at a zoo, but most of the exotics get too roused" She didn't say any more for fear of being overheard. However it was fact that most of the non predator exotics became stressed in the presence of predator based Were's. And the predators became aggressive more often than not.

"That makes sense." He replied as he likewise looked for someone. "I've never thought of working at a zoo thought it might be interesting."

"And I'm damn well not going to let Ryan face Cain alone over this. Cain'll will kill him." Sian growled to herself as she teleported to the basement that few houses in Houston had. She shucked her clothes quickly and slid on a body suit that fit like a second skin and was as flexible and thin. It would also protect her from many attacks, bith ranged and hand to hand. It was mix of high tech and sorcerery, custom made for her. Her clothes went back on over it, there was no sense in advertising it. Certain weapons were pulled off of thir racks and stashed in holsters and belt pouched and she pulled her vintage trench coat back on.

Out to the Sagaris- she didn't want to end up without Mundane transportation- and she was inside - Fortuantely she knew just where to aport the Sagaris. Then she was stepping out and heading to the tunnels. For she had simply aported the car and herself to the third underlevel of the parking garage for Cains.

She didn't notice the tall man parking a bright red Ferrari on the other side of the garage and stepping hesitantly out, looking for the small signs that would direct him to the tunnels and thence to Cains.

Dilana thought a moment before replying, "I am Dilana, who are you?"
The young woman didn't relax intirely, however her expression wasn't cold and unwavering.

"Jessica and this is my associate Michael."

Jessica stared at Dilana. She knew she had seen the woman somewhere but she couldn't figure out where.

"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

Michael kept the .44 in hand until he had some sort of idea of who he was dealing with, eyeing Dilana and Mike and moving a bit in front of Jessica now. The tranq rifle was still under one arm and he scanned the interior in a quick flick of his eyes to make sure there was nothing else and no else around.

Dilana's eyes shifted towards the man that had stepped in front of Jessica, "I've seen you both somewhere..."
She placed a hand upon her chin, "Cains, I remember I saw you at that club called Cains. This is my coleg Mike."

Jessica took notice of the man with a bit of suprise next to Dilana. She had been so occpied trying to remember where she had seen her, she didn't see the man.

"Hello." Dilana mentioned Cains and Jessica slapped herself on the forehead. "That is where I saw you. I was a wearing a white tiger latex catsuit that night. Well this is certainly strange...small world."

Jessica was thinking that Dilana might be a Night Life like herself...well, at least till twenty-four hours ago when her immortality and tiger was ripped from her. She didn't want to ask and find out Dilana was oblivious to the whole other side of the world, she would wait till the other woman mentioned it.

"So, do you mind if I ask why are you here now?"

Dilana smiled, "I remember that outfit, you looked nice in that if you don't mind me saying. As for why I'm here, Mike called and asked for my help in coming down to the zoo and helping out find some animals that got lose."
After a pause she aded, "Well, come to find out one particular animal that I'm needed to find."

"I've never thought of working at a zoo thought it might be interesting."

Merry gave him an understanding smile, then pointed to an open door, where several people had just gone in. Most of the room was visable, for half of the wall was window, and it seemed that there were a number of recaptured animals in various size cages within.

"I think they should be able to help us." Heading over to the door she stuck her head in, catching the eyes of a near by staffer.

"Excuse me but we have one of your birds here. He flew into a window and broke a wing." She indicated the towel wrapped bundle that Rivan was holding carefully.

The woman called over to an older man who seemed to be in charge. "Sam, we have one of the big birds here." She guessed, looking at the size of the bundle. The man nodded and after saying a last comment to the other person he'd been speaking to joined them by the door.

"I think it's an eagle. It looked way to big to be a hawk or a falcon, and it was black, or mostly so." Merry advised them.

"Well the avain group did report the Mexican Black Eagle cage had been sabotaged. I'm Dr. Sam Goodwine." He introduced himself "Let me get one of their people here and we'll get your towel back to you. That was smart thinking. Birds quite down when they cant see." He gave the staffer a glance and she headed over to a phone sitting on a table cluttered with carriers.

Another person called for his attention, from behind them out in the garage. A slightly built man with a pockmarked face was struggling to keep a young camel from getting away from him. Dr. Goodwine headed that way with a "Please just wait and some one will be here soon to take the eagle" called over his shoulder.

Seeing that things seemed to be in order Michael holstered the big handgun and took the tranq rifle in hand again. He opened the breech, slid in another dart and closed it again, then waited for the hunt. He eyed Dilana carefully and the man. She was night life of some kind, the eyes in the dark gave it away. He didn't think the man was. At the mention of the club he chose to remain silent. With Jessica there he hadn't noticed much of anything or anyone else.

"Hopefully." Rivan agreed as the bird was waking up mre and seemed to be beginning to squirm a little in the blanket.

He listened as the two workers talked, glad to have a name to go with the bundled bird.

"Alright." Rivan replied as he leaned up against the wall. He then leaned over to Merry and commented, "It looks like you were right about PETA."

Mike noticed Michael reloading the rifle. "Please be careful what you shoot with that. The Tamarin that we're helping look for weights only two pounds, less than a human infant." He pulled the rolled up magazine out of his jacket pocket and showed them what the tiny South American Moneky (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/a/z/azh112/ph_goldlion.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/a/z/azh112/Index.html&h=720&w=700&sz=64&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=caSpb9wSuoK9WM:&tbnh=139&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgolden%2Blion%2Btamarin%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN) looked like.

"I'm friends with the main handler of the Tamarins, and I got to help when they flew him in two months ago. There are less than two thousand left in the wild.[/i] He showed them the spacious exhibit enclosure, and pointed up at the top where the large skylight was missing "That's how he got out I'd guess, but I wonder how the skylight panel vanished. It's just gone completely." Mike further explained that it was a domed skylight of lightly frosted special plastic "It's the same sort of stuff they make bullet proof windos from, very sturdy stuff...." Mikes voice trailed off as he took a good look at Jessica.

"I know you, I saw you at the Hospital. I'm Mike, one of the ER techs. Sorry that I didn't recognise you. Could this be more Elvis work?" He looked worried at that thought.

"It looks like you were right about PETA."

Merry nodded, though she wanted to growl. There wree too manyMundanes about, though she had a feeling they felt the same way about PETA that she did.

The avain specialist arrived at a near run,just a few minutes later, dodging past the men trying to hang on to the young camel that was still mollering and fighting his lead rope.

"Thank you for finding him!" the small man excalimed a he reached gor the bundled up bird. " Just don't get to close now he warned every one." Working quickly with the help of others from the staff he got the big and now incensed bird free from the towel. The hood and jesses, items of long standing familarity quited the bird once they were on. He wrapped the body and the broken wing with wide soft strips of gauze holding the wing in place. It took nearly thrity minutes but he finally turned and handed the couple back their towel.

"You did excellently in wrapping him up like that. I can't thank you enough. I have to get him to the infirmary now but could you give Cindy your names and addresses? I know the Zoo would like to send you all a Thank You for bringing him back to us."

Cindy the woman whom they'd first taled to brought out a small notebook and a pen and took their names with a smile "He'll probably send you all zoo passes and a membership in the Zoological Society. He lives for those birds and tonight..." She shook her head. "Those sorry Elvis hoods broke the skylights in the tropical birds exhibit."

She was speaking of the four story building that the patrons walked through on an elevated enclosed walk way while the birds flew free in a rain forest setting.

"It wasn't PETA?" Merry asked wide eyed.

"Well it might be but our night man saw a gamg dressed up like Elvis. Maybe it's PETA's latest trick" Cindy frowned angrily. "But who ever it was, a lot of our animals are going to suffer becasue of their doings and thats just cruel!"

Michael looked at the man who spoke. "Son, I've never killed anyone or anything ... accidently. This", he continued, holding up the tranq rifle, "is for bigger game. Like the three big cats that we've already put down, resting peacefully and bound, just waiting for pickup."

"Actually he found us." Rivan commented as the man took and worked on the bird, getting it hooded and suchnot.

He took the towel from the bird-man as he took the bird to the infirmery.
"Elvis hoods?" He asked, before looking over at Merry, the unspoken question of whether they could help track the animals, the land ones at least.

"Hopefully whoever did this gets caught and punished." He added

Dilana listened to the two men's conversation before cutting in, "I don't exactly know what's going on, nor have I heard of any Elvis doings in recent memory. Could they be the things that have groosomely killed several people?"

Michael glanced at Jessica then took out his cell. He had turned it off so as not to alert any creatures that might be around and told Jessie to do the same.

"This is Michael Gassington, special investigator. What's the news on the Elvi? Any deaths?"

"Complication?"

"Oh? How so?"

"Halted?"

"Fucking asshole."

"Put me through to her."

"Lady Silverlief. What the fuck?"

"You take it right, Lady, but what the hell is going on?"

"Well why don't you just kill the asshole?"

Michael took his phone from his ear and looked at it as though it was something he had never seen before then put it back up to his ear.

"That's an answer? Nature abhor's a vacuum? What the hell does that mean?"

Michael sighed, "Yeah, that sounds about right. But what about Jessie?"

Michael seemed about to say something and then stopped.

Michael glanced at Jessica and then moved his eyes away, "Lady, I ..."
He glanced at Jessie again and away, "Yes, Lady, I care about her."
"I will."

"Of course."

"Very well, Lady, be safe."

"What do you .... Hello? Hello?" He slapped the flip closed and looked at Jessica. "We need to talk", he told her with a quick glance at the other two.

Jessica looked at Dilana and smiled at her complement to her outfit in Cain's. "Thank you."

She gave a nod at the man named Mike and then at Dilana as she mentioned Elvis. With Mike's mention of the Elvi, it was safe to assume that she was a Night Life or a friend of one.

"Apparently some ghosts or something has taken the form of Elvis to terrorize the city. They are very aggressive, I know because I was attacked by a large number of them. I am a werewhitetiger, that was up until the attack. They somehow entered my body and stole it from me."

Jessica paused as Michael began to talk on his cell phone. This was odd considering his was off, at least she thought and hers was too. When he asked to speak to her privately, she looked at the other two. "One second."

She and Michael moved down the hallway and into a small room. "Michael what is it? Something gone wrong?"

"I'll say", Michael replied. "Cain has issued an order that the Defender's are forbidden from investigations for at least one year. Then our charter's will be reviewed. We can't, in an official capacity, continue to investigate the Elvi." Before Jessica could respond he held up a hand. "Lady Silverlief has deposited a substantial amount into my account so we can continue our investigation on our own. But we can't use Defender resources or intelligence."

"God damn him." Jessica muttered angerily. Stuck up son of a bitch Cain, probably doing it to save face so it wouldn't look like he was having trouble over his domain. She grinned, she would just love a whole group of Elvi flying into Cain's place and tearing it up. That would give her a good laugh.

She looked at Michael. "I guess you and I have become private investigators then."

They returned to Dilana and Mike. "Sorry about that, just a bit of trouble at the office. Getting back to Elvis Dilana, like I said something has taken the form of Elvis to terroize Huston. Most likely this is it's work. I don't see a bunch of high school kids doing this for thier senior prank. Mind if I ask if you have heard anything unusal going on in the Night Life community within the last week or so?"

The young woman said nor did nothing as Michial talked on his cell phone. When he pulled Jessica aside Dilana turned to Mike, "I don't know much about these Elvie coming around, do you?"
As the couple returned and Jessica addressed them both Dilana thought a moment.
"Well," she began as the memories returned to her, "The sidhe attack. Do you remember Mike? The night a lot of us came to the hospital, we got beat up by these things called sidhes."
Dilana purposefully didn't mention any names, not wanting to put anyone in danger; nor not wanting to give to much information away at one time.

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Sidhe? I have never heard of such a thing. Then again until going to Cain's a few weeks ago I have stayed out of the Night Life circle of things. Preferring to keep to myself and not get meddled in vampire controled politics. But...tell me, what is a sidhe? Some kind of a poltergeist?"

"I'm not exactly sure myself what they are," Dilana stated, "However, I do know somethings about them. First of all, iron is the only thing that can kill them. The ones that I had seen were big and tall, powerful creatures both physically and mentally. I never got envaulved with the night life myself, however I was with a friend of mine and a person that they knew needed help fighting these things."

"They're fey creatures. Often associated to elves, at least to non-elves. They can be rather viscious", Michael replied.

"Listen, when we go in here, just let me do the talking. I don't think he's in any position to see us, nor does he want to. He's a vicous fuck, and he'll tear your throat out in a heart beat if he feels the need," Ryan warned Fortier, putting his hand on the door handle. He twisted, pushed forward, and stepped in.

"Whatever you say home boy," Fortier commented, and stepped in behind him, closing the door.

"Cain," Ryan started, showing no fear, or doing his best not to, "we need to talk. I've heard some things, and seen some things that I need to ask you about. I also must deliver a message."

Cain was furious at the way Lauralin had left, and at her general presence. No, he was in a thoroughly foul mood, and Ryan's appearance without the person he'd been flown to Atlantic City to bring worsened his mood. The only thing that he was half way pleased with was the just recieved up date that four of the tagets he'd sent teams after had been taken care of. That and he now had in his possession the drug that would take care of Sian and any other psionic that might be a hindrance to his plans. However he'd never show any indication of unrest to enter his tones or cross his features. Not before Ryan, who'd be just as dead as he could make him soon enough. He'd caused more problems than he'd solved. Too expensive to maintainnot enough return.

And his Second agreed with him. But then again the Second had plans that Cain didn't know about, and more back up than any might guess.

we need to talk. I've heard some things, and seen some things that I need to ask you about. I also must deliver a message."

"Ryan I agree we need to talk." Cain replied mildly but frimly "I sent you to Atlantic City to bering a guest here. And the gentleman with you is not that guest. Is there a problem that I should know about?" He most certainly not going to let Ryan call the shots. Cain settled himself more comfortabley in his throne like chair.

Silently the two guard vampires moved a step out from their posts on either side of the door that Ryan and Fortier had entered through.

"They're fey creatures. Often associated to elves, at least to non-elves. They can be rather viscious",

Mike looked at Michael and gently corrected him "The Sidhe ARE elves. The most powerful and dangerous of all the Fae. Forutnately they don't pay much attention to the Mundane world."

He chuckled at Dilana asking if he remembered . "Dilana, that was just last night, of course I remember. Jessica was brought in last night as well after the Elvi, or what ever they are stole her Lycanthropy."

He looked up again at the missing skylight "I'm certain thats how the little guy got out. Would you two be willing to help us look? I'd like to find him soon. That artic storm is going to hit us any minute now and he's a hot country creature."

"Hopefully whoever did this gets caught and punished."

There were plenty of nods of agreement from the others in the room. The zoo staff and friends brought in to help were of the unamimous opinion that the creeps who dressed up like Elvis and put the zoo's lovingly tended animals in danger ought to be dealt with violently. And they said so loudly.

Merry looked at Rivan and nodded her head very slightly, then made their farewells and headed out of the garage. Once they were near her car she moved very close to Rivan and spoke very low. "We could help, but we can't change here, it's too busy right now. We could go park in one of the outer lots where its private and then we could take a sniff around, say out in the park itself where they'll have trouble finding animals that have wandered so far away."

"Alright." He replied as they got in the car. As they drove to another parking lot, he commented, "They were a bit savage thought I can understand thier reasoning. I know I'd pulverize anyone that harmed you."

The young woman laughed at her mistake of remembering, "Honestly, I don't know where my mind goes sometimes. However, I'm glad I got that out of the way."
She chuckled again, having a disbelieving look upon her face.

Michael seemed about to say something then let it go. There was no point in arguing with the man. At his request he looked over at Jessica. He would follow her lead, whereever she felt she needed to go.

"Excuse me, Ma'am." Jackie stopped far enough so that the lady wouldn't feel endangered. He found the tunnels a bit confuseing and wasn't certain if he'd turned the right direction. Hopefully the lady waiting for an elevator cab to chime open would be of help. He made sure he looked as unthreatening as a man as big built as he could.

The woman turned around, and in a heart beat Jackie found his own skipping some. He knew those green eyes, that face. And easiest of all the trench coat with the small broach, delicate antique gold filigree with a jade cabachon, a rare 'cats eye' pattern created by milky swirls and shades of green.

He'd spent hours, long ago, looking at it before committing it to a box with festive christmas wrapping.

"Elaine...Lainy?" His voice was tenative questioning.

Jessica looked at Mike as he asked for their aid bringing back some kind of monkey or some small critter. She would have originaly said 'no', but knowing that Mike and Dilana could prove useful allies later on, she had little choice in the matter.

"Alright, we'll help ya look for your animal."

"They were a bit savage thought I can understand thier reasoning. I know I'd pulverize anyone that harmed you."

Merry gave his hand a squeeze as she found a far dark corner and pulled the car in close to the curb, then turned it off. "As I would savage any one who hurt you. I love you Rivan, too much to stand the thought of you getting hurt, but I also know that you are so very capable of taking care of yourself." Opening the car door she stepped out and looked at Rivan across the roof of the car as he exited as well. She dropped her eyes for a moment then raised them back and spoke very softly. "Maybe it's not very 'modern' of me but I feel safe when I'm with you, I know that you would protect me no matter what. I wouldn't be happy living without you."

Dilana smiled as Jessica somewhat agreed to help locate the monkey. She could sence that the other woman wasn't thrilled with the idea, however said nothing about her feeling.
"Great," Dilana said as she looked at her friend Mike.
"I think we should walk on foot," Dilana began, "I know the front is coming soon, and that it may not be as fast however I feel with any kind of veacle it could be to dangerous and we'd miss the animal."

He returned her hand squeeze and through the partial darkness gave her a smile.

Hearing her words, he leaned over and gave her quick kiss before joining her outside the car.

"I guess it isn't very 'modern', but that's not important. I can't think of anything that would be able to keep me away from you, I love you too much." He replied as he walked round to join her.

"Shall we now go looking for some of the missing animals?"

Ryan I agree we need to talk." Cain replied mildly but frimly "I sent you to Atlantic City to bering a guest here. And the gentleman with you is not that guest. Is there a problem that I should know about?" He most certainly not going to let Ryan call the shots. Cain settled himself more comfortabley in his throne like chair.

Ryab shifted his weight slightly, moving more onto his weaker back leg. "Listen, you know as damn well as I do that the contract said get Jackie to Houston. I did, problem solved. He kept on talking about some damned Church, I dunno. All I am is a driver. I got him to Houston, and let him on his way. He has your car."

Fortier was in defense mode, wishing that he had grabbed the twelve gauge pump action from his car. He was out numbered, and most likely outgunned. It was the dagger like object stuffed into a sheath on the inside of his pants that gave him the little bit of security he had.

"Listen Cain," Ryan started again. "I'm not gonna play anymore games for you." He had no idea where this new bought of bravery was comming from, at many times, even he had buckled before Cain's power and might, but now, was a different situation. "First off, I, and every one else in this room knows the bloodline, and I'm tired of being your fucking cabana boy. We can deal with that later. Here's the deal. There are rumors floating around Houston, and I'll be damned if they aren't true. Well, I already am damned, but you get the drift, right? I know that your moving on the Council, and trying to take over."

He paused, checking the location of the two gaurds and Fortier, and continued. "We both know how bad shit is gonna get when you do. The nightlife isn't the 1700 British Army. They can operate without officers. You think that knocking off the heads of the different sects and clans is gonna make them bow down to you? We both know it wont. So I'm putting this out now. Back off the assault, let it all go, and leave things be. I know your after a number of people, people who have been loyal to you. Your also going after people I am loyal to. Don't make me choose Cain, it will be the last decison you ever make me, or any one else make."

Before Cain could reply he turned, and waved Fortier out of the room. After he had left, he turned back around. "And before you say I can't do anything about it, I have a person downstairs in the club right now that can do something about, and will. He knows you, and I know you know him. So why don't we settle this right, and all just walk out friends?"

"And before you say I can't do anything about it, I have a person downstairs in the club right now that can do something about, and will. He knows you, and I know you know him. So why don't we settle this right, and all just walk out friends?"

Cain regarded Ryan with the look a parent might give a wayward child. Ryan didn't have the power to stop him, even if he was showing more bravado than was his usual wont. But for him to to dump a guest some where and leave him. That was an insubordination that all but ensured a most fatal punishment. It would have to be defered, but Cain mentally signed Ryan's death warrant as he smiled at the younger vampire. The last foolish threat clinched the issue.

"Certainly Ryan" Cain said smoothly. "I never thought that taking down the heads of the various factions would solve all my problems, but I have other plans that will. So lets indeed all stay friends, and you run along now. I'm sure theres a race you have to lose just waiting for you."

"Shall we now go looking for some of the missing animals?"

"A four footed romp though the park at night with you? Of course, what bitch could ask for more." Merry teased as she quickly stripped, folding her clothes neatly and willing the change.

Moments later a large, dark amber furred wolf (http://www.atddm.com/m4.jpg) shook herself out and began scenting the wind.

He chuckled as she teased him, and with a large smile on his face at her quip, he likewise disrobed, but he took both thier sets of clothes and put them in the car to make sure they didn't get blown away, before joining her in canine form.

"I still can't get over how beautiful you are." He commented as he likewise shook himself out and began seeking the scents of missing animals.

Jessica nodded to Dilana. "We'll let you and Mike lead. Michael and I will cover with our rifles if an animal decides to have a snack."

As they departed the building, Jessica's head began to feel like she had just come out of a pool with gentle brushes pushing and pulling her. She felt it gently nudging her northward, out of the zoo. Her feet felt compelled to move, but she refused to let them. There was a slight tingling sensation under nose, she wiped it with a finger, finding some blood. She looked back northward, feeling that nudge, away from the group.

Without a word, Jessica let her legs move and they moved smoothly as she moved slowly away from everyone else.

Michael began to follow Dilana and Mike as Jessica had said. When she began to walk away he turned to follow her. "What's up?", he asked her.

Jessica stopped and looked at Michael. "I dunno. Something is pulling me this way. I don't know what it is...but I feel like I gotta follow it."

When they departed the building, Dilana was about to inquire as to where they should start when she noticed Jessica start to leave the group.
"Jessica?"
The woman spoke softly as with in a few short strides Dilana was at the other woman's side.

Michael nodded, "Fair enough. Lead on McDuff", he told her and scanned the area.

but I have other plans that will. So lets indeed all stay friends, and you run along now. I'm sure theres a race you have to lose just waiting for you.

Ryan stepped forward, moving towards on of the couches in the room, and dropped onto it, crossing his right leg over his left. He put his arms out over the head rest, and shook his head.

"Not tonight Cain. We're gonna change things around a bit. You're gonna call of the hit squad, and send them back to where ever the hell they came from. Your gonna back down from your little coup, and then your gonna appologize to all the night life. Then, you are gonna step down from the council, and leave Houston."
___

Outside the room, Robert waited. The hallway was empty, and he leaned against a wall, his hand resting on the handle of the dagger he carried in his jeans.

The dagger (http://www.enjoydiary.com/no/Lukritzia/files/public/dagger-loyalvorpal.jpg) was not a dagger at all, but a spear head that had a handle fashioned to it by an Imitoran Swordsmith. The metal, despite looking as if it had been folded and turned recently, was well over a thousand years old, and had once seen blood turn to water. It had pierced all sorts of flesh in its time, from that of the Holy to the Unholy, and it still held its edge and sheen, as well its powers.
___

In the bar, Davos sat quietly contemplating his recent mission. The man that had spoken to Ryan earlier now sat at his side, nurising his own drink.

"You did well Davos, damned good. Hell, you lie better than I do. And that takes tallant. HA!" He paused, taking a deep pull from the dirty martini. "You know how I like them dirty," he said, smiling at the bar maid. He returned his attention to the vampire, and classped a hand on his shoulder.

"Now Davos, tell me exactly how the lay out is set up. All of it. I want to make this one scary. Real scary."

Davos began to speak, pouring fourth all the information he had garnered in his silent entry into Cain's lair. He had turned his back on clan war long ago, after being betrayed one to many times. He now longed simply to help the true Prince of Darkness complete his will, and return to his love.

Your gonna back down from your little coup, and then your gonna appologize to all the night life. Then, you are gonna step down from the council, and leave Houston."

The door into Cain's private office flew shut with a heavy thud. Cain threw back his heqad and let his acid laughter pour forth, a sound that became a physical punishment, pounding at the thick solid walls of the room, making the four inch thick glass that over looked the arena vibrate. It lashed at Ryan, beating at him relentlessly, a battering that left the younger vampire fighting vertigo and nausea.

***

"What the hell?" Sian exclaimed as she came to the first landing in the stairs up to Cain's office.The pain inducing laughter was scare attenuated by the walls and distance. She looked at the man behind her. "I'm not sure if you should come with me. It doesn't sound good."

"Lainy..Sian..." Jackie shook his head "Sorry you'll always be Lainy to me. Don't worry about mem, I can take care of myself And I'm here as Cain's guest, safe passport. I know what he is. I need to talk to Cain." He reached up and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Go on, trust me."

Sian frowned but turned and trotted up the rest of the way to the mid level were Cains office was. She was concerned about Jackie's casual assurance that he could handle things. They hadn't had a chance to talk much since they had met down below in the tunnels. Fifteen years would take a lot of catching up on.

But that would have to wait. The call she'd taken as she'd left the Sagaris had brought disasterous news. Assassinations of four of the seven Council members, by persons or beings unknown. And Cain's lines weren't working, every line into the club, his other businesses, every safe house and elysia in the city. She needed to see Cain and get some sort of explaination, or war strategy in place.

The details of Jackie's totaly unexpected reappearance into her life would just have to wait.

She stopped short as she came where the stairs ended in the broad hallway that led to Cain's office, as she saw a man she did not recognise just outside.

Jessica looked at Dilana and Michael. "I don't know what it is. Something is making me want to go this way. There is something out there that is...well, calling to me. Pulling me to it. I don't know what it is, but I feel like I must go that way. You can come if ya want."

I still can't get over how beautiful you are."

Merry bumped shoulders with Rivan as they moved out, the lupine grin and the high flagging of her brushy tail letting him know better than words how much she appreciated the compliment.

The wind, now bearing the heaviness of rain and cold had intensified. Thrunder growled and lightning prowled along the leading edge of the storm as it swallowed the north side of Houston in it's dark fury.

The scent of herbivors, but not the familiar north american species led them to a small group of Waterbuck (http://sailfish.exis.net/~spook/3wat18.htm), a stag and three does. Frightened and disoriented they had taken shelter in a pocket copse of trees and brush, less than a foot ball field from where their enclosure, which lay along the outer edge of the northern arc of the zoo, was mising a section of its protective fence.

Merry and Rivan had worked well together when they'd taken down the mule deer at Bear Creek Park, and they could use much the same tactics here. Though they have to scare the african antelopes first - they would not be overly nervous over the scent of a predator that in their native habitat was not known- and there was the added difficulty that these particular animals, zoo bred and raised had never been stalked before in any fashion.

The first thing necessary was to get up wind of them, letting the wind carry the scent to them and then guage their reaction to that.

Merry veered away from Rivan, making a wide arc around where the Waterbuck shelterd to get upwind, moving at a silent lope.

Rivan gave Merry a wolfish grin, both in the literal and figurative sense. He followed, catching the scents of strange animals and listened as she communicated her plan. He gave himself a mental 'D'oh' as he realized that his expected idea of finding out where the animals were then telling the zoo staff was problematic.

It would lead to far more questions than they had ready answers, and her plan of spooking the creatures home made so much more sense. Shaking his head at his sillyness, he likewise circled round, thought going the opposite direction of Merry so they could herd the Waterbucks.

Dilana grinned, "Of course I'm going, you following Mike?"
The woman looked at her friend who hadn't said much lately, "Are you alright?"

Ryan collapsed to the floor, fighting the feeling of vertigo. He pushed himself to his feet, the world reeling around him, spinning. He had trouble focusing, and he knew there were more than he, Cain, and the other two in the room, but he couldn't see them.

He clumsily moved to a large coffee table, placing his hands down on the edge to ballance himself. Shaking his head, he tried to find focus, curling his fingers around the edge of the table. He blinked, and with a sudden flash, he swung himself upwards from the hips, bringing the table with him, flinging it at Cain.
___

Fortier watched the doors slam shut, and he instinctively dropped his shoulder charging in. He knew the door wouldn't budge much, but he expected a little give. It didn't, and he simply bounced off the door, falling back to the floor. His hand went to his waste, and he pulled the spear head dagger, spinning it to hold it blade down.

He jumped back to his feet, hearing the massive crash of the table being tossed across the room. He began to kick at the door, just below the handle, trying to smash the lock open. He never noticed Sian or Jackie comming up the stairs, his focus on the obstacle in front of him.
___

After the explination, Davos stood, bowed, and sliped out of the club quietly. His contact, the man known by many names, all evil, stood, and smiled. He dropped a hundred dollar bill onto the bar and walked towards the entrance to Cain's lair. A large, well muscled individual blocked the door. His natural strength and prowress only adding to his vampiric strengths. "Yo not going in mon," a deep accented voice booming over the music.

"Move. Trust me. Or I'll send ya home."

The vampire swung his hand out in lightning fast speed, the movement invisable to the naked eye. His arm came to halt a hair's length from the man's face, the vampire suddenly drained of all strength to fight. Blood began to pour from his nose and ears and mouth, and he dropped to his knees. In the busy club, no one noticed him fall over onto his side, convulsing violently.

The man stepped over him, his dark smile sadistic and burning in the darkness. He brushed his hand across a decorative flower display, the pedals going black and lifeless. He moved towards Cain's office, not fully aware of what was to happen, but aware that he would get what is his.

"It won't do you any good" Sian voice crackeled with authority as she briskly covered the distance from the top of the stairs to the door, her telekensis gently pushing the stranger away. 'You'll just break your ankle."

The blade the stranger held in his hand screamed at Jackie. He knew the feel of that Power. Then he swung back around the way they had come, for he knew the malefecient power that was approaching even better.

"Lainy we have trouble with a capitol T. and it's here - not in River City." He rumbled, his hackles rising and Darkness began to ever so faintly writhe around him.

His gaze was pulled back to the stranger, and one could see some sort of mental connection being made. Then a small sphere of darkness was tossed toward Fortier. "Here I was told to hold this for some one and I think that some one was you. But don't trust Him, he IS the Master of Lies."

As it landed in Fortiers hands the cloaking blackness dissapated and he held either his own custom built 1911 or it's perfect duplicate in 'feel'. Though this one show faintly with an inner light. The grips were of an unknown substance, perhaps a form of ivory, with an inlaid gold cross, a ruby inset in the center. A ruby that, like the pistol gleamed with an inner light, and pulsed like a heartbeat as Fortier's hand wrapped around it.

Sian's telekensis blew the door into so much sawdust...

************************

Cain's laughter died, but with a commanding gesture - the heavy solid wood coffee table never touched him as it was deflected and smashed against the heavy bullet proof glass that over looked the fighting arena.

His Second jumped from where he sat, in a vampire's eye blur of moment and sprang toward Ryan, bearing him to the ground. "You are so dead, you motor oil covered street trash!" His fangs and claws were out and his eyes gone blood red as he began calling on his vampiric abilities. Though not as old as Cain, he was older and possibly far more powerful than Ryan, though not as strong physically. Nor had he ever fed from Sian - but not being of Cain's line he might not have gained the changes her blood wrought in the antediluvian's blood lineage.

Red had sat for a full fifteen minutes counting the beeps on Cyrian’s monitor until finally she lunged up and stepped to the door. She asked a nurse to watch him while she went to see her friend up the hall.

Upon entering Godolkin’s room she looked at the sword that lay on the bed and knocked on the bathroom door that was open.

“What’s with the pigsticker?” she asked him.

He turned and looked at her, his face expressionless, “Pigsticker?”

She got the sword and brought it in, showing it to him.

“It’s mine”, he told her.

“Okay. So you stopped at Swords R Us with nothing better to do?” she asked him.

“No, nothing like that. It was given to me”, he replied simply and took a towel from the door and dried his head, having just taken a shower and gotten dressed. “I was visited by an angel and made a Paladin in training. I call it Adoreum Fulmen. Valor’s might.”

Red just looked at him for a moment and then leaned the sword against the wall in the bathroom. “Yeah, well, I want to check on Harrow and then I need to bet back to Cyrian.”

“Of course, Mistress”, he replied.

Red made her way back to Cyrian to check on the nurse there. “I’ll be just another minute, I want to check with my other friend. Can you tell me how bad the head injury is for Godolkin though? Will he recover? Do you handle his room or someone else?”

****************

Harrow was working in the E.R. and showed proficiency, patience and kindness. Always taking the time to comfort a family member or loved one and never to busy to compliment a nurse for her work or even a clerk for the fine work on the chart. A joke here, and a word of wisdom there. He seemed tireless in his pursuit of assisting others. Running his own bloodwork, taking his own x-rays if people were too busy.

****************

Michael stood patiently by, waiting for them to get moving. If he had a choice he would have gone with Jessica anyway. As it was he had been assigned to watch over her by Lauralin and therefore didn’t have a choice in the matter.

****************

Lauralin finished up everything she needed to do and began gathering her things in preparation for her trip.

Once Merry was upwind she stopped and waited for a moment to allow the heavy wind to carry her scent to the Waterbucks, but while they stamped their hooves nervously and jostled one another none moved from the shelter they had found.

She gave Rivan, who had circled wide in the opposite direction before he joined her, a clearly exasperated look. Any north american antelope species would be moving away by now, especially with it being acarnivores scent. The zoo raised animals just were attuned to thir races instincts she guessed. Dropping to her belly she crawled closser. Maybe popping up and lunging into the thicket would spook them suffeciently.

Fortier didn't have time to say anything, he nodded as he caught the handgun. It didn't look at all like his own personal weapon, but it was similar in wieght in feel, and he could tell it would be easy to control. He sheathed the dagger, and snapped the forty five into a ready position, a stance that mixed isocolese and weaver, his own personal style that he had developed in the IMC.

There was a loud crack, and he made a mental note to question the disolving of the door later, thinking that a hand grenade and been tossed. It never crossed his mind that, if that had been the case, the shrapnel would have wounded him heavily at the range. He also made a mental note to wonder what had pulled him away from the door as the other man tossed the handgun. The explosion had the same effect as a breaching charge, the two vampires he remeberd standing behind he and Ryan durring the meeting stunned from the blast.

He snapped the forty five up, and squeezed off three quick shots, two into the one closest to him, and one into the farther of the two. Ryan was standing in the middle of the room, another vampire below him on the ground. He moved forward into the room, sliding towards a wall, moving to cover the room
___

You are so dead, you motor oil covered street trash!

Ryan was younger than his attacker, and when it came to power, he was also weaker. However, he had the fighting skill, and strength, to make up for lack of abilities. He also had speed, and as Cain's second lunged at him, he moved with a celerity that would put the fastest, most agile cat to shame.

He bent at the knees, the lunger going over him, and with the force of a bullet, he lunged up, his hands leading, go straight to the face of the other vampire. There was a sickening tearing noise, one that could make even the most combat hardend veteran cringe, and the lunger came crashing down to the floor. In each hand, Ryan held a long, sharp white object, the fangs of Cain's second. He held them by the roots, blood dripping from his fingers.

"I think these are yours," he said, tossing them down. As the teeth hit the ground, the door exploded open, and gun fire rang out.

Jessica looked at Michael and at Dilana before she allowed the force to pull her. It was strange in a way, a kinda butterflies in the chest experiance for part way. It was that or the nervousness she felt as she was carried northward. She didn't know what to expect and it was this nervousness that kept her holding the rifle.

Still, Jessica continued on the path the power had set for her to follow.

Rivan gave Merry a slightly abashed look as he caught sight of her exasperated look. Since she was the one with the plan, he joined her in creeping closer to the thicket, crawling on his belly, hopping there weren't any patches of burs anywhere nearby as they were beastly in fur.

Dilana silently followed Jessica, feeling the force pulling her as well, although not as strongly as Jessica. The young woman raised her head, sniffing the air for any sign of the monkey. As they continued to walk, she could tell that the scent of the animal was getting more powerful.

The two that Fortier's new rounds hit dissolved into nothingness in less than a blink of the eye, no time to scream, or move. And every vampire in the room cringed at the Power that washed over them. The pain from the Divine power temporarily over loaded all of their senses.

Even Jackie flinched, and his Darkness solidified around him. That was why he'd kept the weapon wrapped in Darkness, it hurt him too much, even though his redemption had begun. "Save it for the one coming up the stairs - it may take the entire clip" Jackie growled as he folloed the rapidly moving Sian.

It only took her a few seconds to cross the remaining distance and stride, now furious, into Cain's private office.

"What in the Hells is goiing down Cain? I have reports of Council members being killed and you all are fighting among yourselves?!"

She glanced at Ryan, glad to see he was unharmed, and ignored the Second as she turned her glare to Cain.

"Now Sian, I see you've met Mr. Santini" Cain began, stalling. He had been the least affected by the rounds and he knew he had to give the invisible others stationed around the room time to recover and carry out their orders.

"I've known Mr. Santini for years." She snapped, as Jack laid a gentle hand on her shoulder and moved her aside.

"Cain, you are a lieing bs artist" Jackie growled " and by the way I'm not taking your commission on my new friend here" He gestured at Ryan. "and my Boss is coming for you." And there ws the unspoken addition of I'm just going to stand aside and watch

Merry stopped her crawl forward, and gave Rivan a lick on the nose, nufging up under his chin. She was in no way exasperated with him, but with the stubbornly stupid antelope.

She moved from a stretched out crawl postion into crouch to spring from. She watched as Rivan mirrored her. When he was beside her she let loose a snarling growl and pounced into the midst of the small herd, being careful not to land on any of them.

If she'd been in human for she'd have screamed in further frustration, as the four african antelops exploded into four different directions, though none leapt north, the direction she and Rivan had come from.

Rivan's tail waged at Merry's actions. He did share her annoyance with the antelope, but her presence was more than enought to make up for the recalcitrance of the antelop.

He joined her in growling and pouncing among the herd. Except for the fact that they were trying to help the animals, he was on the verge of taking a bite out of the haunch of one of them. He looked at Merry with an exasperated look at the actions of the antelop.

Can you tell me how bad the head injury is for Godolkin though? Will he recover? Do you handle his room or someone else?”

There are three of us on tonight, we're splitting the floor among us. I don't remember that his chart saying anything about a head injury and I'll be glad to watch the young man for a while. He's calmed down greatly now." The nurse replied to Red.

************

April made Harrow take a break. "It's gotten quiet now. All those who were going to make it before the storm hits have made it I think. We have the Hummer ambulance for any serious calls."

She was correct. The waiting room and two of the small confence rooms were filled to overflowing with an odd assortment of homeless Strange Folk.

Mike hadn't been saying much, as having been in the small mammal house's warmth for even a short time had left him on the verge of a sting of explosive sneezes and he was concentreating on not sneezing. His sinus's had run amok and he could bareely hear as well, so he was trusting Dilana and Jessica to lead the way. They were heading north and given that the bulk of the park was north of the zoo, the Tamarin having headed that way was very likely.

Merry shared his exasperation with a yip and then turned, bounding after the two does, leaving the buck, and the doe that stayed with him, to Rivan. Stretching into a full out sprint she managed to get past the pair of does and stop in front of them.

Frotunately now they turned toward the zoo, but heistated. Merry darted into nip at their heels. One kicked inexpertly at her and she dodged it with ease, moving back in to urge it on.

Red quirked an eyebrow but said only, "Alright. Maybe I'll have Harrow look at him. He's fairly familiar with Iconoclast physiology at least. I won't be long", then she walked out and headed down to the ER.

Harrow nodded. "I guess we've done what we can. It just never seems enough does it?"

"What doesn't seem enough", Red asked as she strode up with a decisevly seductive stride which came unconsciously to her.

"What little help we can give others", he replied and gestured toward April. "This is April. April, this is Durham Red."

"The Scarlett Huntress, The Blood Queen, Strontium Bitch or any number of other names I've had", she said, sticking her hand out to shake with April.

Then she turned to Harrow. "I think you need to look at Godolkin. He might have some kind of head injury."

Harrow frowned. He hadn't seen anything in the scans. "Why do you say that?"

"He's having some kind of delusions. Says he was visited by an angel and made a paladin in training."

"What if he was?", Harrow replied.

"Now see. Coming from you I would expect that non-sense. Coming from him I think theres something wrong."

Rivan likewise headed out to herd in the other two antelop. With a shake of his head and a mental chuckle he realized they'd been temporarily turned into sheep dogs, at least to an extent.

Quickly loping over the ground, he managed to get in front, and with a growl and bark, he managed to get them turned around, thought he likewise had to dodge one of the beasts hooves, thought it felt like it grazed his shoulder. With a bit of a snarl, the buck and doe got the message and got herded.

Dilana followed Jessica still, making sure to glance back at Mike to see that he was doing well. She knew about his alergies, and felt bad that he had to be subjected to this.

Mike trailed the group, moving slowly as he tried to keep his attention on the trees, for the small Tamarin wouldn't be on the ground but up in the trees, even if they were species the animal from Brazil's south-east coastal tropical forests would be unfamiliar with.

He ws concentrating to the point that he never realized when the foursome moved out of the zoo proper and into Herman Park. Dilana still following the scent, and Jessica the pull of her new sensitivity.

The sounds of something, he couldn't tell what finally pulled his attention back.

"Was that a wolf howl?" He asked, uncertain. The sound of hooved movement, and more noises came from their right, off to the east some what, but the winds sweeping in before the front crowding down from the north distorted the sounds badly.

Jessica stopped dead in her tracks as Mike mentioned a wolf. She got the tranquilzer ready but she also felt her jacket for the Walther P99. She smiled as she felt it before returning both hands to the tranquilzer rifle. She cursed, she wished she had her powers back. Now she was just a damn human, but she did hear a faint call.

"I hope to God that it isn't a werewolf. I don't know if these things would work on them and I only got lead bullets. Then again we are equally screwed if it is a pack of regular wolves."

Fortier kicked his stance back into the ready position, the .45 held low and close, ready to snap back up at any other targets. He would have to remeber this situation next time someone argued about the truthfulness of the claim that firearms were often the great equalizer. He looked around the room, and saw Ryan still standing over the target.

"Shoot him!" Ryan shouted, refering to Cain, but before he could get the weapon up, Sian was already into him. He could make the shot, at the range it would be an easy one, but he decided to let the woman air out her grievinces before puting one of the forty five slugs inbetween the prince's eyes.

Ryan had felt the effect from the hand gun, as all the other vampires had in the room, and had no idea why it had hurt so much. He had to fight to keep up, to not show weekness, and simply placed his foot on the throat of Cain's second. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach, but was hesitant to do anything irrational.

Fortier suddenly found that he could care less about the Prince, there was something far, far ...worse? coming, and he had a sudden feeling that what ever approached was what the big man with the angry woman was talking about.

If ever he had disbelieved in the Adversary now he was certain that he's been wrong...

Cain's second unexpectedly jackknifed to his feet throwing Ryan aside, as an fresh pair of fangls clicked, like those of a great white replacing ones lost, into position. "You know scum, after what, twenty years you never bothered to find ou just what kind of vampire I am!" and he launched himself at Ryan, burying said fangs into Ryan shoulder, tearing at him like some great beast.

'Now!" Cain howled while every one was distracted.

The four invisibles had excellent shots at their target and all four hit. Four highpowered hypodermic rounds struck home. Two failed to penetrate the skin tight armor that Sian had worn under her clothes, the other two, each containing enough SK-Xxtra to take down an elephant, nearly one hundred times the does necesssary to kill a psionic of her weight and mass.

Sian gasped in shock and pain as the darts hit and she started to crumple.

"Don't worry", Michael told Jessica, breaking his silence with a calm voice. He was in full 'combat mode'. Stealthy, surprising so for a mundane. His eyes sharper than most of his kind and his hearing acute. He patted the big .44 in his shoulder holster. "If worse comes to worst these are explosive tips. Wolves won't survive and, though it won't kill a werewolf, one would have a hard time moving until it's blown off leg regenerates."

His voice was dead calm. Not amused jokester or even bashful and loving man she knew. It was the voice of a man who had fought and survived a great deal more than a man should have had to in his life.

Ryan snapped back as the second dug his fangs into his shoulder, pulling back. His short effort to pull away was futile, and instead, he countered. His finger nails extended into inch long razor sharp claws, and he drove them up into the second's throat, grabbing a handfull of windpipe, throat, and vocal cords, ripping down as hard as he could.

"Fortier!" he shouted, kicking the second away. Robert snapped up the forty five, and squeezed once, sending out the finger of instant death towards Cain's second. He didn't stop to see if it hit, instead working the forty five across the room, and double tapping one of the shooters. He wasn't sure if the weapon was one of the highcapacity forty fives, or if the man who tossed the weapon had any extra ammo, so He quickly shoved the handgun into his waste band, pulling out the dagger like weapon. He started moving towards one of the shooter, his weapon ready to strike.

He was about to move when a voice boomed out. It wasn't deep or dark, but it was full of evil. It was somewhat raspy, with a hint of sandpaper. The voice stung Fortier, he wasn't aware of why, but he knew it belonged to an evil that made Cain look like nothing more than a neighborhood bully.

"Cain, pal. You haven't been returning my calls, I'm hurt." The smile was there too, the dark, sinister, yet oddly sexy smile.

Jackie didn't have time to send Fortier an evil look for wasteing time shooting a mere vampire while the Devil himself strolled in unopposed. He was too busy catching Sian as she fell, tearing the hypodermic rounds from her neck - his hands blurring but too late the lethal drug had been injected into her system at the moment of impact.

Sian tried to fight the effects of the toxin designed specifically to take down psionics, but the first effects, physical paralysis was already taking hold, keeping her from breathing, and starting to still her heart.

Her mnind swimming she forced her thickest shields inplace, sealing her mind off for her body. And behind those shields power gathered, and condensed. She had no way of knowing how long those shields would last as her body turned uponitself, but she knew that other than the three she had marked, none in the room would survive her death. She didn't believe in the Devil, but she knew power when she felt it, but even that great a power couldn't resist being dissolved into component atoms. I guess I get to play JG2 after all...

Jessica felt the pull grow stronger by the foot. As they moved down the streets, she slung the rifle around her should and zipped up her jacket against a harsh wind. Christ who knew Texas could be cold? I swear I am going to the Bahamas or Cancun for some warmth after this. She didn't notice it for a while, but there were fewer and fewer cars on the streets. Her breath came out in long white clouds from her mouth, blocking her view for a second before disappearing.

Jessica felt her skin tingle and itch, she sneezed and scratched. What is going on? It was then she remembered what the doctor said. She was allergic to Elvi.

"They are close."

They rounded a corner to be faced by a tall condominum building. It looked like a rich person's place, guards, fences, the kind of thing movie stars or businessmen had. Stuff the average person would never get to buy. Jessica stared at it.

"The Elvi...are there."

Rivan had driven his two of the antelops forward and into the open near by a couple of the Zoo's workers, stopping just short enought to avoid being spotted. He gave the two beasts one final howl to send them on thier merry way. With a shake of his furred head, he bounded out to join back up with Merry and help her speed her herded animals along.

Michael looked at Jessica a moment then said, "Remember what I said about not worrying? Well you can start now. I don't have anything that will touch these things. My rounds are explosive tips but standard explosive tips." He looked at the condiminium and muttered, "Maybe they'll give back your form if we threaten to burn down Graceland."

"But why would a bunch of ghosts need a place, heck any place to live?" Mike sneezed explosively and nuttered an apology as he pulled a crumpled handkerchief. Once he'd blown his nose he took a good look at the building, though watery eyes.

'Whats the address here, that building looks familiar, but I'm kind turned around as to where we are."

Mewrry appreciated Rivan's help, the two does had prived to be very skittery and she was trying, perhaps to hard not to scare them any more than she had to. However with his help she got her two back close to the buck and the doe he'd managed to get back close to their enclosure.

The zoo workers looked a little frightened as they heard the wolf howls - they knew that the zoo's small pack wasn't loose...or so they'd been told. But they put it aside and as Merry and Rivan watched from the dark they coaxed the waterbucks back inside and hurriedly strung up a temproary fence.

"Cain, pal. You haven't been returning my calls, I'm hurt."

Cain's look of victory froze on his face for a split second then he was his usual collected, urbane self.

"And there is a reason I should be? Your boy here wasn't very polite, he refused to take the contract I offered him, and he certainly hadn't made much of an impression of the late and lamented Ms. Rhys. I'm not going to need him now, so you can just remove him."

He gave her a wolfish grin that spoke volumes as they watched the zoo staff put the waterbucks into the cage and strung up the fence. Resting on his side, his tail thumping against the ground as he was in excellent spirits, he looked up at her and asked in the canine tounge, "Should we return to the appartment, or stay to help round up some more animals?"

He'd considered adding the option of going for a walk, but knew that Windra would both have kittens and his hide if he suggested it and she ever found out.

The man chuckled. It was an evil, yet soft chuckle, one that sent chills through the bone. He smiled, and waved off the psuedo insult.

"Fortier, boy, go ahead and take out these other shooters."

Robert didn't pause, he didn't question how this man knew who he was or where he came from. He didn't stop to question the man, thinking that the forty five was empty. No. He simply felt, deep inside, it was the right thing to do, and without remorse, without pause, or even breath, he moved faster than he ever had before, pointing and clicking with east, the hand gun very managable. He worked it across the room, the weapon destroying whomever it was pointed at. With each pull, Ryan felt the shockwave of the weapon being fired, the pain that it yielded. It was no tool of the Devil, that was for sure.

Robert, after clicking away the last shooter, looked towards the new man, and had the sudden urge to fire at him. He didn't know where the little voice came from, what part of his conscious was telling him to do so, but it simply said shoot him. Shoot him dead. He raised the weapon, but couldn't fire. Why was beyond him. Maybe it was that he knew it wouldn't work, maybe he knew it would, but the results would be devistating. Maybe he couldn't pull the trigger out of curiosity, wanting to know what the hell was going on.

And there is a reason I should be? Your boy here wasn't very polite, he refused to take the contract I offered him, and he certainly hadn't made much of an impression of the late and lamented Ms. Rhys. I'm not going to need him now, so you can just remove him.

"Don't give me orders Cain," the Devil retorted, his voice deep and booming. "That isn't how we do this."

Ryan jumped from the last shock of the weapon being fired, and rushed to Sian's side. "Oh fuck me," he muttered under his breath, looking at her. He was no medic, no psionic assistant. He had no skills to help her. Instead, he just held her hand, hoping that someone could do something to help.

"Stop this shit and help her out. We had a deal. You know it. Now keep up your end."

The Devil just laughed, and looked at Ryan. "Just when you thought you found someone who would know you cant trust evil, he turns around and pulls this. HA! Son, I simply asked what you wanted. I didn't say I would do it."

Merry turned around three times, an old lupine tradition and flopped down next to Rivan. She sighed when he mentioned going back to the apartment but a blast of freezing air heavy with the first needles of sleet ha dher one her feet. "Back" she replied and took off for the car at a fast trot. She wasn't that good a driver on icey streets and getting caught out in such wouldn't be a good idea.

Dilana had felt the pull as well, following Jessica and not saying much.
"Burning down Graceland," she commented, "That sounds crazy enough to perhaps work. However, I find it odd but I can't smell the Elvie's scent."

Jessica raised and eyebrow and looked at Michael. "Burn down Elvis's home? Michael, we wouldn't have to worry about the Elvi...we would have to worry about the millions of Elvis fans who would want our blood."

Jessica looked at Dilana as she scratched herself and sneezed. "I can. After my attack I am kinda allergic to them. They're in there. They are very aggressive and thier attacks feel like millions of hot needles stabbing into you. Question is how do we get in there?"

When the blash of icy winds and assault of sleet hit his flank where he was laying causing Rivan to yelp in startlment as he quickly got to his four feet. He joined Merry at the rapid trot back to the car as she didn't like getting soaked in freezing water anymore than anyone else did.

At Jessica's question Michael slipped the strap of the tranq rifle over his shoulder and trotted forward in a crouch. Old habits died hard, especially when ones life had depended on them and his eyes searched the wall for cameras and tell tale signs of laser sentry beams and motion detector boxes. At the same time he listened for sounds of guard dogs or sentries, moving closer to the wall to inspect it for hand holds like cracks, ornamentation, trees to close to the property line.

Jessica watched as Michael trotted off. She turned and looked at Mike and Dilana. "Wait here."

She moved off. As she skirted around the building, she began to see how big it was. It was about twenty stories with room for a few, large condos per floor. She guessed that one side of the compound was a few hundred meters long, so she didn't bother going to any other side. She did however see a driveway that broke the sidewalk. She smiled, thier entrance through teh underground parking.

As Jessica trotted back, she took note of the name on the front of the building. She found Michael and gave him a pat on the shoulder and a grin with a motion to follow her. The pair moved back to Dilana and Mike.

"The joint is called Waldorf Tower. It has an underground car entrance. Maybe we can sneak in through there. Storm is coming on fast and I am freezing my ass off."

"Well", Michael said, leaning back to give Jessica's ass a once over, and then another, "We certainly can't have that", he said grinning. "Problem is most underground garages have cameras throughout the places." He looked at the coming storm, feeling the cold himself. "Course with that storm it might be worth the risk."

Jackie was screaming inside as he watched Sian's breathing become slower and more labored. "Lainy, don't you dare check out on me. Fight!" He whispered.

He didn't see the vampires fade to nothingness as the unique rounds impacted, he didn't give a damn wether they ever existed. And his attention was on Sian, not the Devil or Cain or the stranger with the gun. 'Fight" his voice was a harsh near sob.

Then Ryan was kneeling on Sian's other side, taking her hand.

"Stop this shit and help her out. We had a deal. You know it. Now keep up your end."

and the Devils laughter....

"What did he shoot her with? Is there any remedy?" Jackie asked. "Take care of her, Ryan" He didn't wait for an answer. The room flash filled with impentarable darkness for the merest second. Then it was concentrated into a palpable substance that enwraped the combatants as he and Cain fought. Jackie was intent of forcing the information needed to save Sian out of the Vampire.

Merry shifted and dressed as quickly as she could but with the first assault of the rain she was drenched and shivvering by the time she got behind the wheel. Leaning over she quickly unlocked the door for Rivan, pushing it open as best she could.

"Lets get back and make some hot chocolate"

The drive back to the condo was made very slowly as Merry had a hard time seeing out of the car. The raging storm whited out everything more than a few feet beyond the windshield.

Mike suddenly laughed and pointed. "Our quarry is found, and it'd be best to leave him safe with them"

One could clearly see, now the golden lion tamarin sitting on a security guards shoulder, safe and warm in the guard booth.

"Waldorf towers? I thought this looked familiar. One of the Strange Folk life here. I helped bring up an supplemental oxygent rig for him. I don't remember noticing any security cameras in the load dock portion of the underground garage. but then again I wasn't really looking." Mike shrugged as he shivered as an icy gust flattened his coat against him.

Fortier took his standard job as overwatch, paying attention to the exchange between the two masters of darkness. He wondered how easy it would be to just shoot both and call it a day.

Ryan looked at Sian.

Take care of her, Ryan.

Take care of her? Ryan thought. Take care of her? I'm a killer, not a doctor.

As Jackie went after Cain, Ryan just looked down at Sian with worry. The Devil stepped back, if Jackie wanted to do the dirty work, then he was welcome to it. He smoothed out his suit, and watched the battle. He glanced down at Ryan, and chuckled. "Just like the good old days, playing snake to Adam and Eve. I'll tell you, humans are so easy to play."

Ryan was about to demand something, but two things hit him at once. The first was, unless you were God, you don't demand anything of the Devil. Second was snake

Snake-Venom. Venom-Poison. Poison-Suck it Out

Ryan turned his back, fangs extended, and drove them down hard onto Sian's throat, taking long drinks of blood, looking to suck out all the poison he could.

Dilana shrugged as she watched the couple go and then return. The young woman listened to the conversation between the three before she spoke up.
"I'm glad he was found; that's very good! Now to this tower I've never been here before," she stated, "However, if you need me to I can go down there first to check it out. I can make myself be very sneaky, if you know what I mean."
She was speaking of the powers that had been given to her by the lioness attack many years ago, and they hadn't failed her once. However, looking at Jessica and knowing that the elvi had stolen her tiger form did make Dilana feel a bit uneasy.

Rivan had only dressed in his shorts, using his body to keep his clothes somewhat dry as he ended up shivering like Merry by the time he got in as well.

"That sounds like a splendid idea." He commented as his teeth chattered for a second as they drove slowly back to the condo. "If this keeps up, it might be better to just pull onto the side of the road and keep each other warm."

"If this keeps up, it might be better to just pull onto the side of the road and keep each other warm."

Merry gave him an apologetic look and turned up the heater full blast. "We both need to get warm, and dinner into us. I didn't eat much earlier and I'm starving."

She actually hadn't had any dinner at all, being too busy serving up the chili for others, and her stomach knotting in worry over the abomination. Now however she knew she could eat, once they got back.

The short drive, less that five miles and all along the same street too far longer than it had earlier but eventually they pulled into the shelter of the Houstonian's underground parking and hurried to the elevator.

Ryan turned his back, fangs extended, and drove them down hard onto Sian's throat, taking long drinks of blood, looking to suck out all the poison he could.

Sian's line had been manipulated to be not just especially potent for Cain and his bloodline, but to be a mutagen, making him more than he had been . The taste of Sian's blood, even filled with the poison was intoxicating to Ryan, filling him with a heady sense of invulnerability. As her life poured down his throat, being absorbed and filtered by his own altered body, it began finishing the changes that had started with the first drink taken a month ago.

Her own body had been acting to save itself, but the SK-Xxtra was an insidious mixture of potent neuro toxins and chemicals designed specifically against psionics. Sian could feel the wall crumbling as her body systems failed even more rapidly as Ryan pulled the blood out of her, leaving her body gasping for the nurishment that the red blood cells should have provided...

"Ah, that feels nice." He commented as the air started to blow, "Then we must get food into you before you pass out and Windra comes my hide." He said affectionately, but with a hint of teasing as well.

Once they'd gotten to the car-park, he gathered up his clothes and with Merry hurried to the elevator.

Jessica looked over at the guard booth and smiled as she saw the little creature safe inside. One objective down, one to go. Jessica thought, Mike would want to get the tamarin from the guard and in the booth most likely there would be cameras showing the enterances to the complex, if there were any.

"I got a crazy idea. Mike, you walk up to that guy and start talking and producing whatever stuff you need to prove you are there to collect the animal for the zoo. Keep him occupied and his eyes away from any TV screens if there are cameras around the complex for us to sneak in with Dilana leading the way. Sound good?"

Mike nodded, not exactly the way he'd do it, and he half suspeced that any monitor screens in the guard shack were only back ups for a full secutity office else where in the building.

"I'll try it, but I don't have any paperwork, or anything official, save his carry crate. But I can have them call the zoo, I do a lot of vlounteer work there, most every one knows me."

Mike took the blanket for Dilana and strode towards the guard station like he knew what he was doing

Lillian sat back in her own chair in her own apartment with her feet up on her own handworked footstool.

It wasn't something she'd had a chance to do in ... ah, too long. With Jim and Seklh released from the hospital but still in need of nursing, she'd spent her nights on the couch in Jim's living-room, Seklh parked in a basket in front of his fireplace.

It was a relief to be able to admit to him that Seklh was her cat. Turned out that the little devil had quite a friendship going with the big man; turned out also that he'd known from the start that she was keeping a cat. Funny, she couldn't remember why she'd been so suspicious of him. She knew she had, she could remember how she used to act, but it didn't seem to be her.

You're getting better, said the creaky old voice from the corner of the room. Soon you'll be able to think about what you don't think about.

You again? Lillian demanded. Stop pushing. I'll think about whatever I like, and not think, too, so there.

You'd better think about Me, though. Are you going nuts, old woman? Voices in your head?

It was an option that Lillian had considered. But the events at the hospital -- and, even more, what had led up to them -- reassured her. She really was sane. It was just that humankind didn't trully know about the other inhabitants of the planet. Every time someone blew the gaff, it got turned into a story, a movie or a song. She was perfectly sane.

All the same, she'd been careful to shield Jim from the Night Life. He didn't remember much of the battle with the Sidhe, and she'd convinced him that anything he did was the effects of anaesthetic or medicine. He was on the mend; soon she'd have to move back to her own space. That was why she was up here now. She knew Jim would want to come with her, just to check it out, make sure she was safe. So she'd waited until he was asleep and nipped up to see for herself that there were no signs left of the fight. That nice doctor Sian had promised her everything had been looked after, but she had to make sure ...

And to light the candles in front of the tacky statue of Bastet. She didn't believe, exactly, but she'd seen. Candles seemed a fair compromise.

I don't care if you do believe -- the word dripped sarcasm -- but it's about time you acted, chickie-babe.

Into her resisting head squeezed a picture of the Steed she'd seen in the far corner of the hotrodders' playground. It was the ultimate abandoned car. Flat tyres, cracked windows, flaky paint.

"But I saw it a week ago, before all this started!" she protested. "It was fine!"

You'd given it some hope. You said there was someone alive who needed it. You said you'd bring him.

"Yes, but Cyrian's not well. He's still in ..."

... trouble. Yes.

"Well, his people are looking after him now. He doesn't need me."

Maybe not. But you need him.

Lillian sighed and gathered her things. She'd leave a note for Jim. She'd leave food for him to give Seklh. It was time she went out again.

But, ye gods, how she hated hospital visits.

Merry got the door to the condo open and turned on the foyer light. "You go grab a hot shower and I'll see if there is anything to eat tucked away in the fridge. She shivered slightly, they hadn't changed the thermostat before they left.

She started looking to see where it was, as she wandered towards the kitchen, not noticing that the the curtains in front of the sliding glass doors were waving ever so slightly. "I don't think that we'll be able to order take out" She commented over her shoulder as thunder crashed over the building, and the heavy sounds of pounding sleet created a near white noise effect.

"Yeah," Dilana said as she cleared her throat, "It sounds good to me."
Looking up at Mike it was like she could read his thoughts, "Although I'm sure they most likely have camras and other guards astablished through out the building."
She looked towards Jessica, "Can you think of any way around that? Cause if not, I'm most likely going to throw coshon to the winds and go for it."
Nerves began to creep up Dilana, the young woman knew it wasn't just the chill of the air. She knew the risk she was taking, she knew they could take her powers as well. Then she would feel like Jessica, she knew she would.

Jessica sighed. Dilana had a good point. Jessica's desire to get her powers back were clogging her judgement. She leaned against a building and cursed angerily. She didn't want Dilana to lose her powers just so she could get hers back. Jessica pulled her jacket closer as the wind came harder. Steam began to gather around her feet, she cocked her head to steaming manhole cover. She grinned.

"The sewer. Can't we go down there to sneak in? They might have one hidden on the grounds in the bushes if there is a leak or a problem with septic or plumbing. If it is in the bushes...we have cover...if not...the steam should cloak us."

Rivan nodded as he headed to the bathroom and began getting the water running. While the water was warming up, he headed back into the main section of the condo, "I'd actually prefere if you took the shower first, or," He paused and then added slightly hesitantly, "We could have a shower together."

He heard the crash of thunder as he went back to double-check on the water's temperature as he waited for her answer.

Dilana grinned at Jessica, "You know, that sounds just crazy enough to work."

"Worth a shot", Michael said, moving over to the cover and straining to get it moved, forgetting that the Ladies he was with were both stronger than he was. "Need a bar or something", he muttered looking around.

Jessica smiled and walked over to the manhole cover, tapping her rifle. "Might as well make them useful."

Using the rifle as a crude crowbar and with Dilana's and Michael's help, they were able to move it out of the way. There was a great plume of steam that rocketed up and struck the group with the most foul of odors. Jessica gagged and had to move back to the wall to cleanse her raped nostrils and lungs.

She came back and climbed down into the poorly lit tunnels. The light from above only extended a few feet into the darkness. Jessica waited till Dilana and Michael were down.

"Dilana...you best lead. Your eyes are more acute than ours."

Dilana helped Michial and Jessica to lift the cover, gasping and choking as she stept back from the file smelling steam.
"Damn," Dilana said as she coffed.
When the three of them went down in to the tunnels, it only took Dilana's eyes to adjust to the darkness and the limmated light. She began to walk through out the muck in the tunnel, her eyes picking up strange lights ahead.
"Light ahead," she whispered.

"Oh .. my .. ", Michael muttered as the manhole cover was moved away. "Okay. I've finally found something worse than my refridgerator after a power outage", he muttered, blinking his eyes rapidly to clear the tearing. "So much for my theory of spirits being the ones who's shit don't stink."

He followed them down and thought about getting one of the weapons out, but he figured it would only be more dangerous since he couldn't see his hand in front of his face.

"Light ahead," she whispered.

"I can't see a blessed thing", he murmured, "which, for the record, really sucks with two women walking in front of me."

"We could have a shower together."

Merry turned back before she got to the kitchen at Rivan's hesitant suggestion. Catching up with him as he tested the water she slid her arms about his waist from behind. "That sounds wonderful." She nuzzeled his neck gently, drinking in the smell of him, the softness of the fine hairs on his neck.

"You smell so good, I could just eat you up!" She teased as she traced her hands up and down his chest.

The tiny streams of light ahead proved to ber coming from a place that smelled heavily of vehicle exhaust, the the covering was more of a strom grate rather than a manhole cover. A thin trickle of not too dirty water splashed down entermittently, and there were only distant sounds, nothing close by, nothing loud. Dilana couldn't smell or see any one close by either.

Mike did his best to keep the guard occupied. It wasn't hard, the man was interested in the small exotic creture that had come bounding into the guard booth earlier. He even offered to let Mike call the zoo to come and get him and the Tamarin rather than venture out in the leading edge of the storm.

Dilana still crept forward, her feet not making a sound against the ground. She was in her hunting mode as she called it, the human with lioness like qualities coming out in full swing. She could hear sounds of trichling water up ahead, however couldn't see nor hear anything else.
"Hear water," she whispered trying to keep her words as few as possible so as not to be detected.

Jessica looked back at the black shape that was Michael. "Oh you poor baby. Don't worry, we girls won't cause you any trouble."

She turned back and squinted, trying to see the light. Jessica leaned forward and she thought she saw a faint change in the darkness. "I think I see something."

Water movment? Maybe it is from a different section of the sewer. Hopefully the direction we want to go. Jessica carefully followed Dilana, keeping her eyes on the other woman ahead of her. She didn't know how long they traveled before she felt her hand on the wall slip around a corner.

"Hang on."

Jessica stopped and looked with squinted eyes, she looked up and saw what looked to be a dark navy blue color compared to the black around them.

"Is that the exit Dilana? I can't see too well."

He smiled at her agreeing to join him in the shower, not just for the pleasure of her presense in such an intimate manner, or the fact that he derived pleasure from her simple presence but by the fact that she'd be warmed up as well.

"As long as you leave me enought to love you, you can eat all you want." He replied with a grin as he twisted slightly in her clasp to kiss her.

Dilana stopped when Jessica did, moving so as she stood next to the other woman, "Could be to something above us, where the water is coming from perhaps? Or, the sound of it..."

Ryan continued to drink, taking in longs pulls of the blood. The intoxicating effect slowly pulled him into a light stupor, a fuzzy, tipsy feeling. He could feel the power from the blood as well, the inherint strength it carried with it. He almost forgot that Shal was not kindred, and with the amount of blood he was pulling out, she was going to need some back.

He grabbed a shard of glass, and with a smooth, swift motion, he made a small cut on his wrist, allowing his own blood, mixed with her transformed blood, to fall into her mouth. When he confirmed she was actually drinking, not just letting the blood pool in her mouth, he licked the wound on her neck shut, and pressed his wrist against her lips.

"Smart kid," the Devil chuckled, watching intently.

"Hey," a voice brought his line of sight back up, staring at Robert. He was a short distance away, three feet at most, with the 1911 focused on the Devil's head. "You don't look away, you just sit nice and tight right now. I'm sure people will have some questions for you, so we're all just gonna stay right here, and if you do anything stupid, I'll kill you."

There was a crack of displaced as as the pool of darkness that surrounded Jackie and Cain struggled disappeared. Jackie had felt too constrained and had taken both combatants elsewhere...

Sian's body didn't, couldn't swallow at first, but neither could any other body hovering at the brink of death. So she wasn't drinking so much as absorbing the blood directly into her. The virus, the curse, the substance that made one a vampire didn't care if it made it into the stomach, it made sure that it was absorbed by, or maybe it was forced itself into, the cells directly. And it changed those cells with ruthless abandon, invading the dna and completely modifying it to it's template...or that is what it would have done to a normal human. Sian wasn't a normal human, nor was she even a normal mutant.

But life said drink and drink she did, her lips closing around the small wound that Ryan had made in his arm.

A faint glow, a vague nimbus of light began to surround her body and for long seconds it was still the laxness of death. Then she drew a deep whooping breath, spraying out a fine mist of blood, that fell back against the aura and was instantly absorbed.


Ryan what have you done? Her mind cried out

The power she had been building behind her shields erupted with in the confines of her body and that power met her newly altered body. Her back bowed upwards in an impossible arc, as the seizure threw her body upwards, only her head and heels still against the floor. The blink of an eye movement threw Ryan to the side, a fortuante thing as suddenly claw tipped hand lashed out blindly.

Michael just followed, relying on the senses of the women which were much sharper than his own. One thing struck him though, a scent all to familiar, "Exhaust fumes", he stated. "We might be under parking garage. By the way, is this a bad time to mention I'm claustrophobic?"

Jessica looked back at Michael. "Yes...it is a very bad time. Should have told us sooner. Shit...come on."

Jessica did not pick up the faint exhaust fumes, but she picked up some noises near the dull color. As they neared, the light grew slowly brighter and into the shape of a rectangle in the wall a few feet above the floor where light shone through. Jessica licked her lips and took off her jacket and grabbed the edge of rectangle and pulled herself up.

She grunted as she scraped along the concrete for a few feet before smiling. Jessica wiggled her way out and tumbled into Michael's arms. She gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"It's like some kind of a drain in what looks to be the car park. Must be during the times it rains or a hurricane roars through the park doesn't collect water and flood. Its very tight. We'll have to ditch the rifles and coats to fit through. So...who wants to go first?"

Michael smiled at the kiss, holding Jessica a bit longer than really necessary. He moved his lips close to her ear, "Your still beautiful you know", he whispered, "I just thought you should know that." Then he looked into her eyes and finally at the grate, taking off his jacket, "I'll go first and let you know if it's safe to come up."

Jessica blushed in the darkness as Michael whispered to her. She hoped that after this whole mess was over they could spend a quiet day together, in the park, drive out to the beach, relaxing in her apartment...just as long as they were together. She had a lot of promises to fullfill from the night they first met. Jessica also thought that once she was a tiger again...she would ask Michael if he wanted her to bite him and so that they would be together...getting ahead of myself. Think of the present.

"Alright Michael....good luck and be careful."

Dilana watched as Jessica crawled up in to the crawl space, not saying anything to Michael's remark.
She blushed a bit as she heard what he had whispered to her, thinking that she'd like to find a man like that someday. Pushing that from her mind, she spoke as the man volunteered to go first.
"Well," Dilana said, "If I may, suggest something? I think that I can help more in this situation. I can fit my body in to all kinds of posisions, my sight is very keen even in the dark, and I have the strength and speed of the lioness."
She let out her breath and then continued, "However, they took Jessica's tiger form and I'm no fool in knowing that they could take my form as well. So, perhaps I can go up and if any of you hear anything amiss you come and get me."
Many thoughts were wirling in the woman's mind as her eyes connected with all three of them.
"I know it's a risk however I honestly want to help. I'm just trying to think of some kind of stragity to get past them and help you and all that these things have affected."
Dilana gazed at them, willing them to see what she was saying and feeling in her mind as the seconds ticked bye.
"I'm open to anything that the two of you can suggest."

Michael wanted to say no. Chivalry forbade him letting a lady go first, no matter what she was. His claustrophobia wanted him to go first because he was beginning to feel closed in. Something else told him to go first because he was feeling watched. But common sense told him that she was the better choice. He chewed his lip a moment, an old habit, and then simply dropped his eyes in acknowledgement.

Dilana walked over to him, "Come on, can you try and look a little happy for me?"
She smiled, trying to lighten the mood. She wanted Jessica's thoughts, not wanting to cause a rift between the three of them however wanting to help.

"I'll be happy when you're safe and when Jessie has her form back and we're grabbing some drinks back at the club", he replied. "Oh, and a shower and change of clothes too, because I'm beginning to offend myself."

Dilana laughed, "Yeah, I understand what you're talking about. However, we need to get in that building somehow; and then what? I don't honestly know."

Merry loosened her hold on Rivan just enough so he could turn in her arms.

"As long as you leave me enought to love you, you can eat all you want."

She couldn't help but giggle at that and replied with a grin "Practise makes perfect, and I think I need to practise!" Carefully she pushed him into the shower and followed quickly, rolling her shoulders and torso as the warm water sluiced over her.

Letting her head fall back she was practically purring in bliss.

Jessica had been thinking. She at first didn't like Dilana approaching Michael, but she kept her tongue. Once they got into the building...where would they go? She felt a slight itch, very faint but she was unsure if it was Elvi or just the situtation of being in the sewer.

"You follow me." Jessica said. "I can sense the Elvi's presence. Dilana...you can use your skills to keep us out of sight of humans and I can use my new sense to bring us closer to the Elvi or whomever it is. You can slitHer out first and check and see if the coast is clear...then Michael and I can follow. Sound good?"

As she loosened her grasp so he could turn, he gave Merry a light kiss. When she made her comment about practice making perfect, he faux winced before giving her a more lingering kiss as she guided him to the shower where the water cut through the faint chill from the cold night.

As the shower window began to steam slightly, he broke the kiss while Merry let out an almost felinic purr at the effects of the water. "I never thought I'd ever meet anyone like you."

Michael looked up at the grate and then at Jessica, then at himself and then back to the grate again. "One thing", he said, still eyeing the grate as though it was about to bite him, "If it's tight for you ...."

Jessica looked at Michael and arched an eyebrow. Needless to say, if it was any other man she would have shot him right in his groin with her rifle. Still, it was rather a tempting idea. Simply because to her, Jessica believed he might imply she was fat.

"I can squeeze through Michael. Its you we should be worried about."

Fortier and Ryan both jumped back, moving away from Sain.

Fortier looked on in awe, the angle, the shape of the body bent, it had to hurt. If not hurt, then sting. He had seen contortionists who weren't able to bend as such. It was one of those moments where he could feel the pain himself, in his back, just thinking about it.

Ryan too, moved away. He was scared that he had hurt her in a way that none could repair. He had only been trying to save her life, and now, he didn't know. Fear grasped him, and he back stepped slowly, puting space between himself and Sian, waiting for something, anything, good to happen.

And high above the Elvi sang about blue suede shoes, as hundreds of them stood in three concentric circles, facing inward toward the one who'd summoned them. Almost burried beneathe the chorus of Elvi was a fant chant that droned on and on seemingly in a never ending loop.

Suddenly there was a sharp click and the subliminal drone stopped instantly. Slwoly the Elvi turned away and began in groups of two and three to leave, vanishing from the sight of no one there to see...

The tight arc that Sian's body had bowed in lasted only a few seconds, but ones that seemed like lifetimes, as her body seemed to shivver, shimmer and the claws were gone and her body slumped back, unconscious but breathing. Erratic and shallowly but as it hadn't before it was a noticable improvement.

Elsewhere the Dark and the Vampire battled.

"I can sense the Elvi's presence. Dilana...you can use your skills to keep us out of sight of humans and I can use my new sense to bring us closer to the Elvi or whomever it is. You can slitHer out first and check and see if the coast is clear...then Michael and I can follow.
Sound good?"
Dilana nodded at Jessica as she spoke, moving ahead the couple as to make ready to climb in the space, "It doesn't look to bad in there."

Michael looked at Jessica in surprise at her tone. "That's what I meant", he told her. "I was trying to say that I'm stocky without sounding arrogant."

Jessica went to Dilana as she prepared to climb up the incline to the grate. "Good luck...give us an update as soon as you are up there."

Jessica blinked and instantly her faced turned red in the darkness. She quickly wrapped her arms around Michael's neck and kissed him. "Oh I am so sorry Michael. I couldn't see you that well in the dark and...oh forgive me."

It was then, Jessica twitched and let go of Michael. She blinked and scratched herself. "Yes...the Elvi are here. We must move quickly and quietly."

Michael smiled and nodded, "It's okay, forgiven. And yes, if they're here then we have to move quickly." He looked toward Dilana and low, but load enough for her to hear he said, "Good luck, be sure to yell if you get into trouble."

Lillian battled the wind, her trolley, her coat, her hat; all of them were conspiring against her, trying to go in every direction except the one she planned. Nonetheless, she was sure she was going more quickly than she used to. Ever since the battle in her apartment, she had noticed a new smoothness in her movements: as if her muscles, having been reminded, while they were in cat form, what it was like to be young, were practising the lessons they'd learnt.

On this trip, too, she noticed a new atmosphere as she fed her kitties. Almost respectful (as if cats ever were!). There was less squabbling as they mobbed the food, a certain mannerliness about the way they approached both it and her, a grace that had been lacking before as each one twined politely in thanks about her ankles.

But all too soon her rounds were done, and she was approaching the lot where the Steed had parked itself. She dreaded finding the jalopy that had been pictured in her mind; it was, if anything, worse.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, patting the dull, crazed paintwork. "I couldn't come before. There was a battle. But there's still someone who needs you. I'm going to see him now. He's in the hospital, but when he's better, he'll come, I'm sure of it."

There may have been a flicker from the headlights. There was possibly a sudden gleam of sunlight off chrome that had been clouded seconds before. Lillian wasn't certain, but she'd done her best.

Yeah, right. Crazy old lady talks to cars. Lillian sighed. Somehow the rightness that had sung through her in battle against the Sidhe seemed to have faded. But she would carry on as if it were all true, because the alternative was that she was totally, irretrievably crazy. She was almost certain she wasn't, but then, you would be, wouldn't you?

Dismissing the thought, she trotted on to the little shop opposite the hospital. It made a fair living selling gifts for the patients. In the numbness caused by illness, people who would never have dreamed of such behaviour bought fluffy pink teddy-bears for women whose homes were a tribute to minimalism; frustrating, huge jigsaws for children whose attention span was a minus number; flowers for the allergic.

Lillian, not entirely bereft of sense, found a jar of crystallised pineapple for Cyrian. "My nephew just adores fresh pineapple, so perhaps these will remind him," she trilled to the totally uninterested shopkeeper. Remind him of what? Lillian didn't know, so it was just as well the man didn't ask.

Eventually, though, she could put it off no longer. Head down against the wind, she dashed across the street and straight up to Admissions before she had time to think.

Glennis, the volenteer currently manning what passed as Admitting, Information, Pharmacy, and Patient Check Out greeted Lillian with surprize. "Wow I can't believe that you came out with the weather that's about to hit. Is that coat going to be warm enough for when you leave?"

She looked worriedly out the front window. It didn't face north but the night sky to the west was also dark with the Artic storm advancing over the city.

"Oh and just to let you know, Doctor Rhys has a bodyguard on Cyrian, just incase."

The Elvi spread out, moving quicker than thought as they got further and further from their summoning point. The needed to find a purple prancing pony and that would be a harder thing to find than a white tiger skin. They couldn't question the list however, the filling of the list was the reason they had been sommoned. And none of the minor demons would be free until the list ws filled to thyeir summoners satisfaction. They couldn't do anything but sing the summoners favorite songs over and over either. It had alrady driven some of the Imps quite mad, but then again was any for a Hell Universe ever quite sane?

"I will," Dilana said just as softly as she began her climb and within seconds was inside the grate. Looking around, she saw a hole up top and began to make her way towards it, her keen eyes picking up the light and heading towards it. Before she realized it, the top of her head was sticking out of the hole to where she could see perfectly in to the room above and around her. There wasn't anyone around her that she could see, nor could she smell anything. She got herself out of the hole after making sure the way was clear and she stood upon the ground.
She could hear something, so faint that she had to strane her hearing power to the max to hear it, however nevertheless she did hear it. It was a very faint singing, the words she could not figure out but she did hear a collective singing of ghostly voices.
Dilana bent down, tapping on the grate 3 times very softly before standing up, hoping that Jessica and Michael got the signal that all was well and that they were close.

The parking garage that Dilana found herself looking about was empty of life, and any sound save for the bellowing of the chill wind. The cars that werew parked in various places had been parked long enough ago that even the ping of cooling engines had ceased. However the roas of the fierce wind could be heard as many things.

The underground garage was well lit, and the storm drain that Dilana had climbed was locataed near the elevators up into the building.

***********************

Far and away some of the ghostly Elvi stood in a loose circle about the exotic car dealership on Richmond Avenue.

"It's purple." One of them wailed in harmony to Love Me Tender

"But it's rear'in' not prancing?" Another argued as it tried to make the overall tune Heartbreak Hotel. It turned about so the others could see the rearing black stallion that covered the back of it's deep fringed and heavily studded carnary yellow jumpsuit. "See, rearing!"

Slowly, with frustration evident they vanished, to try and find a more exact match to The List.

The singing that Dilana had heard was gone in an instant, and now she heard was the chilling wind outside.
'Damn, I knew I heard something.'
She thought as she gazed more around her. The place was well lit, and she saw elevators that she asumed that they go through out the building.

Jessica waited in the darkness, waiting anxiously for Dilana to give a signal. Tap-Tap-Tap came so softly she originally took it to be a rat scurrying around, but since it didn't continue, she knew it was Dilana. Giving Michael a brief kiss, she placed her rife against the wall and climbed into the drain.

Jessica grunted as she clawed her way up to the surface. She saw the light, dimmed slightly by Dilana's shawdow. The woman stuck her head out of the hole, sucking in a deep breath of cold night air, rinising her lungs of the smell of sewer.

With Dilana's help, Jessica climbed out and looked around the car park, the elevators were close and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She put her hand in her pocket and checked her pistol was there.

Jessica moved up next to the wall near the elevators and looked around, she didn't see any cameras...so all was going well. The itch from the Elvi was also gone, a good sign.

Michael watched Jessica go up and then waited a moment. He looked down the tunnel and back up again.

'Fuck me', he muttered and climbed up, he couldn't let two ladies go on without him.

He climbed upward, moving slowly.

"The captain touched his swagger stick, up to his golden eye", he sang softly. "No, the rescuers and rescuees died in that song."

"The itsy, bitsy spider ... oh fuck that, I AM in a waterspout. Blue skies and open fields, blue skies and open fields. Or a big tavern and scotch, either will do."

'Michael' came a voice from behind him. He stopped, banging his head as he tried to turn and look. It was her voice. The voice of the child in the graveyard.

"Shit, shit, shit, shit", he kept saying, like a mantra as she scrabbled and clawed his way up, almost bursting from the opening and standing, tugging at his gun. For a second her face was there, but it was gone by the time he got his gun out, his body quivering.

He looked at the two Ladies and told them with enreasoning anger, "I am NOT going back in there", then ran a quivering hand through his hair and gave brief look of pain before looking around.

Jessica looked in shock at Micahel as he burst forth from below, his gun drawn and he looked like he had seen a ghost. She cautiously walked up to him and placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"Michael, its okay. We don't have to go back down there. Calm yourself." Biting her lip, she leaned in close and whispered gently into his ear. "I promised to do so many wonderful things to you back when we first met...I promise I will get right on it when we are done."

She leaned back and smiled at him, hoping with her words he would calm down.

As far as calming him went, it depended on her definition. He certainly forgot about his fear, but he started envisioning her in her suit again and tried working his mouth to say something that never came out.

Jessica paused for a second, Michael seemed to be less on the fritz about the experiance in the tight confines of the drain. He did say he was claustrophobic, so all he needed was some air, a little wider rooom and something else on his mind. Jessica smiled at him as his face moved like he wanted to say or do something. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"Come on big boy. We got work to do before we get to the fun." Jessica looked behind herself at the elevators. "So what do y'all think? Elvators or find the stairs?"

He smiled at the brief kiss on the cheek. "Stairs might be better, if there are any. If the find out we're here then they can shut down the elevators. But I'll admit that I don't know how much of that is reason and how much of it is just plain paranoia. And no, I don't typically have to much trouble with elevators", he said, a fact that he had proven in the defender's building and at Cains.

There were two sets of stairs, but like all such in modern buildings they were fire stairs that were locked from the outside. One could enter at a higher level, come down and open the bottom, exit door, yes, but none of the doors would open from within the stairwell save the bottom, exit door. THis was so you could come down and exit due to a fire above, but some one could not enter and walk up to gain entry into the upper floors - a precaution against theives and others who might break into apartments or lay way residents in the halls.

There were a pair of elevators to the right of the glass double doors.

A pair of ornately frosted in a leaf and vine pattern glass doors led into the foyer and main lobby where a large u shaped security console could be seen though the clear areas of the glass doors. It was manned by a pair of security personell in tidy blazers and navy slacks. The flicker of multiple closed circuit monitors could be seen just a little, but there was no direct viewing angle though the glass doors.

Parked cars were scattered through out the garage as the ladies had noted earlier. They could now also see that there were probably other levels down, as broad driveways spiraled around and down.

No cameras could be seen, but the opening of the garage to the oustide was protected by a currently lowered mesh grille, that blocked off the driveway. Any one coming in either on foot or by car either had to use a card key or a code into the intercom box that stood just outside the driveway entry to the garage.

Merry found herself feeling very playfull and did her best to get Rivan to relax and give into her mood. Eventually the couple tumbled into the bed happily exhausted, very pleased with themselves and each other.

"We still haven't eaten, but I don't feel like getting up and fixing anything." Merry whispered as she cuddled up with Rivan.

"I don't really want to get up either." He replied as he cuddled Merry as well. He was as happy as could be with Merry. As he held her his stomach began growling. "It appears my stomach wants food at the moment." He commented as it rumbled again.

Merry kissed him on his belly button and slid out of bed, and began diggin through her over nigh bag for a robe. "I thik it's gottn too chilly in here. I never found the thremostat earlier. Could you find it and see if it needs turning on. I can here the sleet coming down hard."

Indeed the weather was absolutely foul now that the artic front had hit. Peering out the wid bedroom window showed a dense grey sleet falling heavily and blocking any sight past a few feet.

"Alright Merry." He replied as he got out of bed as well, before shivering slightly at the change between nice and warm to cool. Heading into the living room, he began looking for the thermostat.

The thermostat was easy to find if one was really trying to find it. And yes it had been turned off. Though there was an even chillier trickle of a breeze comeing from some where.

Merry had the lights on in the kitchen and could be heard moving round as she found what little her aunt had stocked the fridge with and decided what to do with what there was. Omeletts she decided, three egg omletts with cheese and bacon. As she set the bacon to cooking she noticed the reason her aunt had been condo sitting.

The extremely large cage filled the entirity of the breakfast nook. It's resident, a magnificant Hyacynth Maccaw that gave her a gimlet eye and announced in tones of utter distain, and a fine British accent, that "James wanted a water cracker thank you very much!"

Merry laughed and looked about for the requested water cracker. The box of premium crackers and other treats was easy to spot and she smiled.

"Rivan, want to meet the ruler of the condo?"

Rivan found the thermostat after a few minutes of looking and turned it one, but not before shivering again as he walked through a cold breeze. Maybe a crack in the insulation or something.

He raised an eyebrow when he heard a british accented voice as he didn't think there was anyone present and the tv was off. Hearing Merry asking if he wanted to meet the condo's ruler made him wonder why they were house sitting then but he replied, "Sure thing." As he headed over to the kitchen.

The big richly purple blue bird (http://www.pbase.com/lejun/image/50897757) gave Rivan an imperious glance as he entered the kitchedn and again demanded a treat. A note on the table holding his provissions stated that he could have half a dozen a day, besides his normal diet. Clearly the Macaw, who was over a yard long from head to tip of tail feathers, felt that he had been unjustly ignored.

"Could you feed him some while I finish this bacon?" Merry asked as she turned the sizzling bacon and set about beating the eggs into a pale yellow froth.

"Alright." He replied as he picked up a couple of the treat. "So is he the one that you wanted me to meet?"

He looked at the Macaw wondering if it was a 'familiar' or something else more unusual.

Jessica pulled back from the doors as she saw the two figures inside. They had not seen them or else they would already be here toting whatever weapons they had. The woman cursed silently, seeing there was no way in via the doors at this level.

She looked back at Michael and Dilana. "Looks like we have to use the elevators to get a floor or two up before continuing up the stairs inside the building."