Shattered Scepters

DISCLAIMER:
The Clan names, discipline names and structure, titles other such things are copyrighted to White Wolf Game Studio. Neither I, nor this story, are affiliated with White Wolf or any of their associates or subsidiaries, nor do I receive any monetary compensation from the publication of this narrative.

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CHAPTER 10: THE AFTERMATH

Stephan woke up almost an hour before sunset. Again, he had slept without the horrid nightmares that have plagued him for nearly half a century. Lolli was still curled next to him, resting her head on his chest. Tenderly Stephan brushed a few stray hairs from her face enjoying the moment. It was like a dream, holding her in his arms, the ghost of a smile upon her lips. Even now her body was warm and her skin soft. He did notice that she took one breath for every five of his and her heart had slowed considerably. His olive complexion seemed so dark compared to her milky pale flesh. This moment felt so right, he wished it would not end.

Reality soon set in, he needed to return to his Ventrue master and report on his whereabouts. Slowly and carefully he slipped out of bed, painfully aware of every movement. Muscles he did not know he had were screaming at him and his back still stung from last night. He worked past this discomfort to gather his clothes and take a quick shower. He was pleasantly surprised to find her bathroom as clean as her kitchen and decorated in blue and white with silver accents. The bathroom itself, the walls, tile, toilet and sink were white. Lolli had apparently taking it upon herself to replace the existing linoleum with royal blue tiles. She had also use a matching blue paint and white marble contact paper to improve the cabinets. Royal blue hand towels sat neatly on the counter to the right of the sink. He piled his clothes neatly on the back of the toilet and turned on the shower. While waiting for the shower to warm up he looked at his reflection in the mirror, and wondered what the Hell was happening to him?

Never had his loyalties felt so torn. In 50 years he had never once questioned his ability to complete an order. He took a small mouthful of her mouthwash as he tried to analyze his confusion. He could not recall the last time he felt so conflicted. How was she able to elicit such emotional responses? How could she trigger such memories with only the slightest of touch? How had she managed to convince him to ignore his Regnant’s commands?

He pushed aside the blue shower curtain and stepped into the warm water. His mind continued to race in ways he was not accustomed to. He ran his hand down his side, finding the small bump from a healed rib. Others had noticed it, and even questioned him about it ‘I broke a rib’ was always his emotionless response. How had she stimulated such a vivid memory? Was he loosing his mind? He had never tasted her vitae, was it possible that just being near her was affecting his sanity? Could the mere presence of a Malkavian drive those nearby insane?

After his brief shower he ruefully slipped into his wrinkled suit. Stephan slipped from the bathroom, silently gathering his belongings. In the living room he saw the shredded remains of the tee-shirt Lolli had slept in on Thursday. His mind recalled the sound of fabric tearing and upon closer examination he discovered that he had ripped the clothing off her body. A moment of guilt washed over him as he gathered the torn remains, but he reason quickly squashed any negative feelings. Lolli did not seem upset at the act, in fact quite the opposite. Stephan did make a mental note to replace the garment as he threw the remains into the garbage can.

He stole into her kitchen, remembering her earlier offer for food as his body reminded him that it have nearly 48 hours since he had last eaten. She didn’t have much in the way of food, but he was able to find enough to make a simple sandwich. His mind was thankfully silent as he quickly devoured sandwich. Stephan rinsed the dishes he use and set them neatly in the sink, then leaned against the counter, his Regnant would not be pleased and he was dreading the return. Suddenly he noticed three photographs affixed to the refrigerator with brightly colored flower magnets. He stepped closer to closely study the pictures. The first was a faded image from the 60’s, a woman with long dark blonde hair, small round sunglasses smiled at the camera. She was sitting on a large rock with a forest in the background. Her bare feet barely visible beneath her embroidered bell bottom jeans. She was wearing a white peasant style top and her right hand was throwing a Peace sign to the photographer.

The next picture seemed to be from the 70’s and showed a dark haired man with 5 year old twin girls on either side sitting in front of a generic brown back drop. He had poofy hair, a loud button down shirt and tight white pants. The twins were stereotypically dressed in matching outfits. The girls’ long, dark hair fell freely over their shoulders, which almost seemed to accent their emerald green eyes. The pair was dressed in painfully dated sailor style dresses as they looked at the camera. The only difference between the two was the facial expression. The one on the left smiled, while the one on the right did not.

The final photo he studied was that of a female ballerina standing on stage before a dropped red curtain. She was dressed in all white from her sating slippers to her small feathery headpiece. Her hair, even though pulled back looked to be an amazing shade of platinum blonde. Her heavy stage makeup made her pale blue eyes stand out. She smiled proudly and waved at the camera, a large bouquet of red and white roses in the crook of her left arm.

“My family.” Lolli said.

Stephan turned to see her leaning against the hallway wall. She was wearing a light pink man’s undershirt, with no bra, and matching panties, her black cherry hair neatly brushed and face naked of makeup.

“Excuse me?”

“The pictures.” She said, pushing off the wall and approaching him. “They’re my family.”

“This one is my mom.” She pointed to the hippy. “This is me, my sister, Sydney, and dad. That’s me on the left. And the ballerina is my cousin Taylor.”

She had done it yet again, he was completely speechless. He had no response. He did not think the photos would be actual documentation of her family, but it did verify her earlier claim of her age.

“I know. I’m full of surprises.” She said, correctly reading his silence.

“I need to leave. I was to have a meeting with my Regnant, and will need to account for my absence.”

“I know. Will you be ok?” she asked, again expressing genuine concern for well being.

“Isabella has never punished any of her ghouls. I should be fine.” He answered, heading toward the door.

“Stephan…” she called as he opened the door. “My name…my birth name…is Lolli Ann Popps. I thought you might like to know who you’re sleeping with.” She said with a coy little grin upon her lips.

Stephan paused for a moment; he had an overwhelming urge to tell her about the tracking device in his car. If Isabella was angry enough she may kill the Malkavian.

“Lolli, I need to tell you something.” Stephan began heavily. “My Regnant more than likely knows this building is your haven. There is a GPS unit in my vehicle, which Isabella can access to learn my location.” It was another betrayal, but for some reason he felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Her smile didn’t even flicker as she thanked him for the information.

--------------------~*~--------------------

Stephan drove home without turning on the radio, contemplating serious thoughts. How did she remind him the horrors of his former Regnant while at the same time making him feel safe? How did she manage to distract him…seduce him to the point he disobeyed his Regnant?

She is not the first woman, Kindred or Kine; he’d been assigned to watch. Nor is she the first woman he’d been ordered to ‘keep happy.’ She is; however, the first woman who managed to convince him to defy his master. He knew Isabella would be…upset…about his unexplained absence. He also knew that Isabella is not as brutal as her father, but then again he’d never been this defiant. No Bruno ghoul had ever been this willful and lived to repeat their independent notions.

Stephan was so apprehensive about meeting his Regnant that his knuckles were white as he gripped the steering. He had to loosen his grip in order to make his freeway exit. At the red light he leaned his back and sighed heavily. The gentle scent of honey and brown sugar tenderly aroused memories of the Malkavian’s pleasures. He forced these pleasant thoughts back and focused on the report he would present. But thoughts of Lolli refused to remain dormant in the back of his mind, as they pushed themselves to the forefront. The feel of her deep red hair in his hands refused to be ignored as the sweet familiar scent of her flesh dancing along his skin. Stephan ran a hand through his still damp hair, as memories of her soft passionate cries echoed in his ears. He could almost taste her sweet kisses and feel those soft talented hands as they…

The blaring horn from the car behind him, pulled back into reality. Stephan cleared his throat and put the car in gear and continued his drive home. He was feeling twinges of guilt he knew he had betrayed Isabella, and yet it was she who issued the orders he “keep her happy.”

He quickly realized that his thoughts were disjointed and random; he took a deep breath and slowly exhaled in an attempted to organize his thoughts. Stephan pulled into his parking space and shut off the engine.

**What is done is done and cannot be changed.** he mentally told himself as he listened to the engine cool. He climbed from his car and made his way to his apartment, he needed to change into clean, neatly pressed clothes before returning to his Ventrue master. Stripping out of his rumpled clothes he became aware of the sweet subtle scent of his lunatic lover. He would have to shower before going to Isabella, but it would have to be quick.

--------------------~*~--------------------

“Has he checked in yet?” Isabella demanded, growling through clenched teeth.

“No ma’am. Not yet.” John hastily answered. Rising to his feet as the pissed off Kindred stormed into the lavish library. David watched with fear evident in his wide eyes, as Isabella grabbed John’s blazer. The fury flicker across her face like a bon fire, she closed her eyes and counted to ten, releasing the crippled ghoul in the process.

“John, you and I had some expenditure reports to go over, correct?” she asked in a much calmer tone.

“Yes ma’am.”

“I will meet you in my office after I feed. David, wait for Stephan, when he gets here send him to me.” Isabella calmly continued, successfully managing her anger.

“What if he doesn’t return tonight?” David asked catching a glimpse of John’s shocked face. Isabella's control over her rage was delicate at best, and easily shattered by the breath of a question. Her dangerous eyes narrowed as she quickly closed the gap between herself and David, who was quickly retreating. Isabella's hand lashed out like a deadly viper, grabbing David's shirt and jerking him close.

"Then. You. Will. Wait." she growled. "I don’t care if you are waiting for an hour or a week. You do not leave that door until you send Stephan to me. Do. You. Understand?"

"Y-y-yes ma'am." David stammered. Isabella's head snapped towards John. "Why are you still here?!" she loudly demanded. John hastily apologized and left the room as quickly as he could. Isabella released David, who wisely ran from the room. Isabella remained in the room, her hands clenched into tight fists as she closed her eyes and counted to ten, eleven times, before she felt calm enough the leave the room without killing the first person she saw.

Why did no one understand? She really did not want to be her father. She tried treating her ghouls like employees. She allowed them 2 nights a week off, and even personal time to be used at their discretion, and her approval of course. She provides them residences away from the Bruno Estate so that they had the feeling of privacy. Isabella paid all of their living and medical expenses...and even giving them a monthly wage of $3,000. She thought she was being exceedingly generous, so why would any of them, especially Stephan, jeopardize the freedom she offered. She sighed softly as she made her way to her 'buffet' as she tried to make sense Stephan's actions.

**Perhaps Lady Peltier is right and the Malkavian was having an adverse affect on Stephan.** Isabella thought, immediately following that thought with **He'd better have a damn good excuse for missing two nights.** She was almost to her Harem's door when she realized she had not decided who would be the chosen meal. She treated her herd different from her ghouls; after all they weren't human they were food. And there is a fine, fine line between human and food. No one puts a cow into a 5 star hotel, they’re kept in barns, why should she treat her ‘cows’ any differently.

She paused at the door, mentally running through her menu. She smiled as she chooses the young brunette. Yes, he was not easy to scare and tonight she wanted the challenge. For Isabella the only way to drink vitae is if it’s rich in fear. Occasionally there were nights, like tonight, when her herd’s screams echoed through out the huge house.

----------~*~----------

God himself would not have been able to pry David out of the chair by the main door. His hands fidgeted, his feet tapped, and his eyes danced about the room, yet his butt remained securely glued to the uncomfortable redwood chair. He wished Stephan would hurry up and get here; sitting still was never one of his strong points. David had momentarily thought about getting up to stretch his legs when heard the dreadful, blood chilling scream of Isabella feeding. Nearly two hours had passed before Stephan appeared, David quickly leapt to his feet to relay Isabella's message. Stephan merely nodded and calmly headed off towards Isabella's office.

Stephan lightly knocked on the door, waiting to be granted permission to enter before walking into Isabella's large office.

"Enter." was the muffled response.

"You wanted to see me." Stephan said.

"Yes I did." Isabella confirmed, “Close the door.” She said, not looking up from the plethora of papers scattered before her. She waved for Stephan to approach as she recapped the pen she was using and calmly set it down on her desk. Anger was thick in the room, like the calm before a hurricane.

"WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?!" she screamed. Mentally Stephan prepared for a beating, but outwardly he gave no indication. John froze, doing his best to be invisible.

“I was with the Malkavian.” He calmly answered.

“For two fucking nights?! Why?!” She slammed her hands on the desk and rose to her feet. John, who was now in arms reach, was doing his best to blend in with the furniture. Desk, chair, ghoul, bookshelf…yep, nothing worth hitting over here.

“The Malkavian was attacked and had accidentally killed her assailant. Not knowing what else to do she called me. I arranged for a clean up and sent her o her haven. Afterwards I stopped by her haven to check on her and she requested I stay the night and watch movies with her. When the dawn came I had planned on taking a brief nap on her couch, but inadvertently slept through the day. Still traumatized by the previous night’s events she again requested I stay the night. When the sun rose I again slept through the day.” Stephan reported, leaving out the more intimate particulars and hoping that Isabella would not ask for more detail.

“We were to have a meeting Friday night.” She growled, moving from behind her desk like a predator stalking its prey. “You and I were to have a meeting Saturday night.” Rage continued to dance in her eyes as her anger filled the room as she closed the distance.

Stephan did not know about the Saturday meeting as he did not have access to his e-mail since Thursday. Stephan stood his ground; there was no point in backing away Isabella is both stronger and faster than he. “I know, ma’am, my sincerest…”

“Lady Pelletier believes the Malk is having an ‘adverse affect’ on you.” She interrupted. “She has also ordered I ‘discourage your association with the Malkavian.’ And right now….I agree with her!”

“Ms. Bruno, I….”

“What the FUCK were you thinking?” She shouted.

“I…”

“Shut up!! Just shut the fuck up!!” She screamed. She paced the room with angry, echoing step, trying to regain her composure. Her hands repeatedly clenched and unclenched as she did her best the wrangle in her anger. Isabella’s fury was so intense she counted to a thousand before she felt calm enough to look at her ghoul without wanting to kill him.

She stopped pacing and calmly approached Stephan. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, in an exaggerated attempt to show how calm she had become.

“You worried me; that’s all.” She said sincerely, not realizing her father often used such phrases to assert his ownership over his ghouls. She placed a hand on his shoulder, inadvertently slapping the bruise Lolli had left. Stephan gasped in pain before he could stop himself.

Isabella’s eyes narrowed as her anger slowly began to seep through her calm façade. She grabbed his shirt and ripped it open to inspect his shoulder, angered by the blossoming bruise.

“Explain.” She slowly ordered her words hot with anger.

“The Malkavian wanted to make certain she had my undivided attention.”

“Why did the kook wound my ghoul?” she asked.

“I am not...”

She moved quickly, grabbing his ripped shirt and pulling him closer, lifting him off the ground. “You are not her property to be marked.” Isabella snarled. “Why did she mark you?”

“I…”

“Shut up!” She snapped, feeling her grip over her anger slipping. She tossed him towards the door, again forgetting her own strength. Stephan hit the closed door with a loud hollow thud, knocking the wind from him as he crumpled to the floor.

“John, get him out of here, before I tear him apart!” Isabella said, fearing for Stephan’s safety.

“Yes, Ms. Bruno.” John said, hobbling quickly over to Stephan who was trying desperately to catch his breath. Stephan stumbled to his feet and leaned on John for support until his breath returned.

“Stephan.” Isabella growled, not looking at him as her body trembled with rage.

“Yes, ma’am.” Stephan responded.

“Tell me the location of Kook’s haven.” She demanded her back still to him. She could not look at him without feeling the overwhelming urge to hurt him.

Stephan hesitated before speaking; he knew this was a test. And it was a test he needed to pass. “She is at the Budget Suites on Boulder Highway and Flamingo, near the Sam’s Town Casino.”

“Your answers are normally more complete than that, Stephan.” She commented through tightly clenched teeth, her fists clenched into tight angry balls. She did not dare look at him. She knew that if she looked at him her anger would explode into a single violent storm, catching Stephan and possibly John in its path.

“Yes ma’am, please forgive me. The Malkavian is staying in suite 10-215 and keeps a spare key on top of the door frame.” He added, standing under his own power. He suddenly felt sick with worry. If Isabella destroyed Lolli, it would be Stephan’s fault and he knew it.

**Please, if you still listen to me, do not let any harm come to Lolli.** he mentally prayed.

“You hesitated, Stephan. That is also not like you. And if you say anything I swear to God I will rip your tongue out.” She snarled. Her threat was empty, but Stephan was willing to test her. If it were Vincent Bruno speaking, the threat would not have been hollow.

“John, get him out of here before I loose my temper. Take him to The Room and chain him. I will deal with him later.”

“Yes ma’am.” John said softly.

“You and I are done for tonight, John; cancel all my other appointments for tonight. I need to go out.” She said her voice low and treacherous.

----------~*~----------

Lolli found the meeting site at Lorenzi Park with little problem. She was over an hour early for her meeting with the Nosferatu, but it took her nearly two and a half hours by bus. First she caught the Westbound 107 and took it all the way to the Downtown Transportation Center or DTC for short. The DTC is the main hub for the CAT busses, situated in a part of town that most try to avoid after dark. From there it was a long 45 minute wait for the 208 to take her to the bus stop nearest the park. Lolli was able to sneak into the park undetected; she made her way to the lake thankful she opted to wear her sneakers as many a gofer hole tried to surprise her.

She stared at the dark glassy water; a small island sat in the center of the lake and was home to make ducks and geese. They squawked occasionally but for the most part slept silently. She cocked her head and continued to watch them, random and unrelated thoughts would visit her, wave hello and then disappear behind whispering molecule.

“You’re early.” A voice said from behind her.

“The buses ran on time. Who would’ve guessed!” she retorted, keeping her eyes on the lake.

“You said in your e-mail that my clan is in danger.

“Technically I typed it in an e-mail, I never really said anything.”

“Either way would you care to elaborate?”

“That monster that was hunting you last time; isn’t gone. It’s still here in Vegas, and by now it would have healed.” She turned from the lake to face the deep shadows Kit was speaking from.

“This is nothing we do not all ready know.” Kit said.

“Kindred are coming into town, never seen again, but not leaving.”

“Again, you have not told me anything new.”

“The monster that monsters fear is not alone. It has a following, and is growing strong. Little shadows blindly follow, obeying, killing, drinking the blood of the missing. The discarded and abused are a hungry vengeful mob. They will swarm, drinking all in their path, turning the masters into slaves.”

“You say my clan is in danger, and now you speak in riddles.” Kit said, anger beginning to creep into his words. “You say you are not a typical lunatic, yet you are not forth coming with the promised information.”

“I can only describe the images as I see them.”

“So you are a soothsayer?!” Kit snapped, more upset with himself for wasting his time, than he was with her. “You want me to return to my clan with prophecies spewed from a daughter of Malkav?!”

“The future I cannot see, only the plans hidden within a little shadow as I danced.”

“Malkavian, you try my patients.” Kit said with a sigh as he turned to leave, the rustling of leaves betraying his movements.

“It’s returned, hasn’t it? The monster from the past, it’s hunting your clansmen, isn’t it? Only this time you aren’t finding the bodies are you?”

Kit stopped; no one outside of the Nosferatu knew this.

“How do you know?” he asked in a whisper.

“I saw it in the mind of a little shadow who wondered into my club.”

“What else did you see?” Kit asked.

“Would you be opposed to an exchange of information? I’m willing to go first.” She said, locking her hands behind her back and rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet.

“I will only give you information as valuable as what you surrender.”

“Okey dokey smokey.”

“Tell me what you saw?”

“I saw a figure from the past, cloaked in the rags of shadows and leading a horde of the abandoned, abused and neglected. I saw little shadows raining down upon the hunters in the night like a firestorm. I watched these little shadows fill the underground with blood and pain. I saw the shadow cloaked in rags hovering over the city clutching the moon in his bloody hand. I saw the cloaked shadow’s time of vengeance and purification by fire close at hand.”

“When can we expect the time of vengeance?”

“Five moons will pass before the purification by fire. Two have come…two have gone, the third rises, now.” She said, pointing to the fat moon climbing to its zenith.

“Tell me what you saw about this ‘shadow cloaked in rags’.”

“I have told you all I saw in the mind of the little shadow.”

Kit had heard other Malkavians speak as she just had; he had also seen many such predictions come to pass. He would take her words back to his clan he and his clan would need to decipher the visions of a lunatic. She was true to her word. Lollipop was not like her Primogen. Raven had merely succumbed to madness of her blood; Lolli on the other hand had embraced her insanity and in doing so shared in the wisdom of the clan progenitor. If this crazy little stripper had any sort of ambition or interest in Kindred politics she would indeed be a force to be reckoned with. Her clan would be better served is Lolli took the Primogen seat; unfortunately, Raven had many supporters and is not known for relinquishing her power.

“You have told me all you know?” Kit asked.

“Yes.”

“Then what should we talk about?” Kit asked, keeping his part of bargain.

“Let’s talk about the Brunos…especially Isabella.” There was a manic evil gleam in her eyes. She was planning something, and Kit was pleased he was not the victim.

----------~*~----------

Patriarch sat in the shadows, plotting and planning with the others from the Retirement Plan. Plans solidified and futures decided as pictures circulated and information freely exchanged. The fate of the Kindred in Vegas was coming to an end; transients were caught, catalogued and kept on tap for those in need. Patriarch had promised that no one would ever have to beg for the vitae they needed and he kept his promise. He swore that careless Regnants would be made to suffer and he delivered a dozen of those needing punishment. He had earned their trust, regaling them with tales of his own mistreatment to ensure a common bond. Some spoke impatiently, urging action to be taken now. Patriarch would preach patience, soothing fiery tempers with his cool demeanor and silver tongue. He reminded them of the promises he made and kept, asking any if he were wrong, none could refute his claim. He promised the time of vengeance would come and would come soon, but everyone needed to wait. Contacts were almost secured, needed supplies and weapons were on their way. When they attacked it would be in unison, and it would take the Kindred by surprise. Patriarch vowed that their storm was on the horizon. Once tempers were calmed and doubts reassured the crowd scattered, going their separate ways, completing their dream of revenge.

“Patriarch.” Spoke one of his loyal bodyguards.

“Yes?” Patriarch responded, slowly lowering himself into a nearby chair, moving like a stiff old man.

“I have news on Stephan Villos. It would appear that he ‘disappeared for two nights.” Nomad reported, holding a manila envelope with his report and photos. Patriarch’s head snapped up.

“What do you mean…’disappeared’?”

“He did not contact or return to his Regnant for two nights. He was with the Malkavian.”

Patriarch took the offered envelope and reviewed the contents, quickly flipping through the grainy black and white photos of Stephan walking towards the Budget Suites and entering a room on the second floor.

“Have we found a suitable hunter for Lollipop?” Patriarch asked, calmly slipping the documents and photos back into the envelope.

“Yes, we think Random would be best. He has all ready made contact, but does not have anything to report yet.”

“Excellent. I need you to gather a small group of my loyal friends; I have a special project for you.” Patriarch said, pulling Nomad in closer.

“Isabella Bruno, I want you to collect her and bring her to me. But no one else is to know.”

“I understand, it will take me two weeks to get the best and most trusted.”

“Good.”

----------~*~----------

Samarina, dressed in a white turtleneck over which she wore a blue button down shirt with an apartment’s logo sewed on the left breast. The breeze toyed with the bangs of her short blonde wig as the little pony tail bounced happily in time with her steps. Sunglasses covered the green contacts she uses to hide her naturally blue eyes. A little makeup and some light prosthetic work completed her disguise. She walked with confident strides down the sidewalk toward Stephan Villo’s apartment, her face emotionless, after all no one really smiles when their heading off to fix toilets. In her right hand she carried a large plastic bucket which had several wireless cameras, covered with a scrap of piece burlap. On top of the Burlap was a variety of items one would expect a maintenance worker to carry. She used a master key and nonchalantly entered Stephan’s apartment. Within two hours she would have all the cameras set up, allowing her and her father to watch the wayward ghoul’s every movement.