((Written on notepaper, tucked into the journal..))
Does NOTHING ever go as planned? I suppose I should be used to it, but damn.
I woke up this evening with a semi-brilliant idea... Get Diana to impersonate me when we met the hunters, and I could sneak around behind to make sure they’re on the up and up. Diana was all for it, and she sounded just like me over the phone! I told her I’d need an hour, and to meet me at St. Sarkis’..
I was ready to head out, when Bill showed up at my room, and said Hepzibah wanted to see me. She was in the conservatory, and she was pissed off. She was working with one of the books Miss Emily gave me, and not having much success with it. She is still suspicious of me, but Alister was right. They need me.
She said in a month or so, everything would be in place for the cage to open.. She claims that she wants to keep it shut, and she wants to use the thing under the Chantry as epoxy to hold the cage together. She said she did not want to destroy the world, since the Tremere need time to rule it...
She gave me permission to go get Katrine, but she would not let me take Jenny, and said Xerxes was “on Assignment”. I don’t like that. I need to find out where he is. He’s supposed to keep me safe, but I have an obligation to him too. I also don’t like that she’s using Jenny like a hostage. I am still not certain that Hepzibah isn’t looking into her head, like Wundt has...
After I left the Chantry, I called Father Mesrob. He aid he had time to meet with me, and said he’d meet me right outside, since he saw me. CRAP! Hepzibah had kept me too long, and Diana had already gotten there... I called her, and got her to leave, but damage was done. By the time I got there, Vartan had arrived and was talking with the Father. I apologized, and said that Roxxie had been sick, and I needed to run back, but I knew they both knew I was lying. Father Mesrob indicated that he was going to SC to help with the churches that have burned, and asked for Daddy’s information....
We went inside, and sat in his office, where he basically told us he knew what was up. He never said the word, but he did not have to. He said he could tell we both were trying to stay good, moral people, but that some of the Parishioners could tell, and that if something happened to him, his deacon Vikan, was not as understanding.. He also said Wundt had been there. Father Mesrob said that he’d been seen a few times (though the old devil does not know it..), and the Father has seen him watching me... Father said to tell Wundt that he was welcome to the church if he respected God and the community, but otherwise, to stay away.
I did give Father Mesrob Daddy’s contact info, and begged him not to mention me when he called. I told him to say Annie gave him the number. He was also willing to drop the journal in the mail to her, if he did not hear from me in a few days. Before we left, he kindly prayed with us, and wished us luck.
We met with Diana, and Roxxie was anxious to go. I’d asked her to see if she could find Luci, and boy she was good! She led us to a sandhog tunnel near the bridge. I’d called Terry and Penny, but they were gonna be a while. Diana went on forward to scout, and Vartan and I waited for them. When they arrived we headed in (deja vu, much??), and we hit water fairly soon. There was a huge metal door in the way, but Terry and Vartan managed to open it. We were in Nos territory, which made me nervous, but we pressed on. After a while, there was some light, and we could hear noises, like a machine shop. We’d found a dock of some kind in the tunnel, and there were about 2 dozen folks working on weapons and assorted vehicles. We also saw a big cage, and poor Luci was in it, thrashing around.
That old bull gator was PISSED. I wouldn’t wanna be within 5 feet of him, but he managed to smell us out, and was able to tell me that Katrine was alive, but on another level of the tunnel. Meanwhile some folks were talking about shooting Luci with something, so he’d cause a “distraction for the vampires.” One of those MiB types was hanging around threatening to shoot him, while Clay was arguing against it. Seems like Clay had had enough of his friend Jamal’s antics.
We finally got a good look at Jamal.. He appeared to be taking something that the Technocratic boys had come up with. His veins were almost glowing to my sight, and then the bastard shot Luci with it. That poor old Gator fought whatever it was they pumped him full of. He told me he did not want to hurt me, but soon enough he was gone, and all I could feel from him was hunger.
About that point, Vartan pulled his Superman act. He jumped up almost 30 feet, and damn near destroyed the scaffolding Clay and Jamal were on. Jamal almost fell off, but the bastard managed to keep standing and held on to his gun. Terry, not to be outdone, managed to get to Luci’s cage, and used his magic to knock him on out. Roxxie was pretty intent on getting to Jamal, and went running for him. Penny had hidden herself in the Shadowlands, and was using her magic to throw off our foes’ aim somehow. Good thing too! Right about then, they all opened fire on Vartan and Terry.
Luckily they weren’t hurt, but I was over it. I managed to get up and used the Flame spells Alistair taught me to get Jamal to drop his gun. Of course the two of them took off running. Once the bosses had left, it was every man for himself, and we were pretty much left alone.. Vartan and I realized if Clay and Jamal got away, we’d have to deal with them another night, so we gave chase.
We’d almost caught up with them when chaos broke loose. The damn floor came out from under us, and we fell. I don’t know how far, but it was a drop. Clay and Jamal had gotten caught as well, which meant this *wasn’t* their trap. I was untangling myself, when Clay decided to help me up. (How chivalrous..) When I told him not to call me baby, he actually said he could not believe that I was *still* holding his infidelity against him. I really did not wanna get into it right then, but my mouth got away from me.. Before we could really get ugly, I heard Diana’s voice. I had made contact with her earlier since my senses have improved enough to encompass telepathy (!),, She’d been fighting another Vampire, so I was unsuprised to Sabbat surrounding us.
We were really fucked. From what they said, I could tell they were what Diana had called Paladins. Terry said they were major bad news, and from what I could gather, we’d die without too much effort on their part. Of course Vartan was more than willing to give it the old college try. But suddenly one of the more powerful Sabbat said we had the Ephemera, and we could not be killed. Several of his subordinates started to argue loud and long, and under that cover, who did we hear, but Mr. Wundt.
That old troll managed to find us AGAIN. He said that he did not care about Katrine, but since she was dear to *me* why.., *UGH* He suggested we give the Sabbat what they wanted. I was in confusion, until Terry cleared it up for me. The books Emily gave me. I told them that I did not have them, and in any case, I certainly did not have a copy HERE. Terry asked to take my hand, and he said there was a copy in my head. When I said he was mad, Penny pointed out that the books Emily gave me were like a bomb set to go off. The Sabbat would have as hard a time as Hepzibah. Especially if we only gave them *one* book. I finally agreed, and Terry was able to create a copy from what I remembered..
In the meantime, Clay and Jamal were rather flustered by Mr. Wundt’s sudden arrival. I was actually fairly amused by Jamal and Wundt facing off against each other. I’d be willing to pay money to watch that fight, short as it would be... He also confirmed my worst fears. He plans on making one of them his newest child. When I showed anger at this, he mocked me, saying he had no idea I had feelings for Jamal...
The Sabbat finally stopped arguing amongst themselves, and we arranged a trade. Katrine AND safe passage out, for the book. The leader, who asked to correspond with me, (!!) said his name was Ruthven of Tzimice, and he agreed to the deal. He sent someone to bring us Katrine, as my phone buzzed. Jeff Armsley was there, and told us to move to a certain point of the room, and that travel was being arranged. Katrine was brought to us, and she was a mess. She’d been staked, and was naked. Terry pulled out a spare shirt he’d brought, that fit Katrine like a dress, and we got the stake out of her. Our transport arrived, and suddenly... We were in Chicago!
Apparently Robert Armsley decided we were worth helping, since that’s who pulled out fat from the fire. They got us some fresh clothes, and had some pig Bblood for Katrine. I was just ready to collapse, but we still had issues to deal with... First off we had to deal with Clay, Jamal and Lee Ann. Penny said they should turn Lee Ann over to some mages that deal with the dead. She said they would be fair, and possibly help her get Justice. As for Jamal and Clay... Jamal they locked up, but said that they cold not hold him forever. As to Clay, they let him go along with us. He admitted he’d helped kill Dacosta, The Turk and Vega, but Katrine said that he would not let Jamal torture her, so there is some humanity in him...
While we were talking, I called Alistair to let him know what had gone on. He and Armsley have had some history, to put it mildly, and there were some verbal fireworks, but mostly everyone was too tired to fight. I told Alistair what Hepzibah was up to with Xerxes and Jenny, and he was not pleased. I also told him we’d had to give a copy of one of the books to the Sabbat, and he was FURIOUS. He was also pissed off that Wundt had stepped in. He told us to report directly to him from now on. Armsley asked about the books, and when I explained, he asked permission to get in my head. Since Alistair trusted him, I allowed it. Holy Crap!! He said Miss Emily had put an entire mystic library in my head!! I was shocked to say the least. He said Miss Emily’s put a damn big bet down that when (if) I become mortal again, I’ll be awakened, and she was seeing to my education. Hell he said the library in my head was bigger than HIS!
Since it was getting closer and closer to dawn, he kindly sent us back to New York, and we popped out in the cellar at the Gallery. Since I have spare room, I saw to it that Vartan and Katrine were tucked in safe and sound, and I was gonna try to make it back to the chantry, but I really doubted the time would work. Terry and Clay were also getting some sleep before they left. I think Terry is afraid that I’ll kill Clay if he’s not here. And to be honest.... I am not sure if I would or not. I mean, I would not kill him here, in William’s home, but to save him from Wundt’s attentions... I’d damn well consider it.
And I don’t think he’d get that it wasn’t from anger, or vengance. Yeah, he blew up my life. I gave up Paris, and my dream job, and.... But still and all, I loved him. I loved him for a long time. Maybe I still do in some way. Even though I love William more, and he’s the only one I’d go through this insanity for, Clay still has a piece of me.. So could I kill him? Would I? I mean I tried to start a fight with him earlier, so it would make me mad, and be easier, but it just made me sad instead...
Dawn’s coming. Guess I’ll pull the shutters, lock the door, and get some sleep. I’ll shoot Father Mesrob an e-mail to let him know I’ll be by tomorrow to pick up the package, and then call Jenny so she can tell Hepzibah I’ll be back in the chantry first thing tomorrow night... Good Lord help me....
