Shattered Scepters

DISCLAIMER:
I own nothing. The Clan names, discipline names and structure, titles and 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 19: ACCUSATIONS

Jeremiah stands behind Lolli as she approaches Lord Duncan Caperilli. Her body trembling with pain, but her face remains calm.

“So…” She starts “About Malkavian feeding rites?” She all ready knows she has the upper hand, Frank had told her that Duncan’s fate was in her hands.

“I am listening.”

“Grant us feeding rites, and Haven rites within the predestinated area. Malkavian keeps all Business rites of our designated area, and gets 5% of Tremere business profits. Any Malkavian outside the designated area forfeits their existence be it by Tremere means or Malkavian. In return I will ask the charges be dropped against you.”

It is not a fair deal, but Duncan has no other options if he wants to keep both his position and life intact. Duncan agrees, and offers his hand to seal the deal when Jeremiah steps in.

“That’s close enough wizard.”

“And you are?”

“Name’s Jeremiah Conway, I’m the little lady’s ghoul. And I would appreciate you taking a couple steps back.”

“Have you presented him to Chris yet?”

“Chris all ready knows and approves. The meeting is about to start.” Frank says, walking past the group leading the way down a long hallway to the meeting room.

“You sure about this?” Jeremiah asks quietly as they walk deliberately lagging behind.

“Not really.”

“You know your sire ain’t going be too pleased to hear you’ve taken the Primogen seat.” Jeremiah, gently places a hand on Lolli’s back when stumbled.

“I know, but I had to do something. I’m not planning on keeping the seat. I just need it to get some things in place that will help my successor.”

“Kindred politics are deadly and cruel.” Jeremiah warns. His voice soft, but his tone stern, like a parent scolding a child. “What are you playing at?”

At that moment, Stephan, John and Emma walk past making their way to the waiting room set adjacent to the meeting hall. Jeremiah follows her eyes, as she speaks. “This isn’t a game to me anymore.”

“Girl! You can’t be serious! He’s Ventrue!” Jeremiah grabs her chin, pulling her gaze to meet his.

“He has my heart.” Her green eyes conveying all the emotion she feels.

“Does he feel the same for you?” he asks, his tone softening. Quietly she nods.

“Well, shit!” he says with feeling. “Don’t this just muck things up.” He sighs. “After this meeting, you need to fill me in. He’s probably the reason Sydney’s in town.”

Lolli’s eyes widen. “Sydney!”

“Later. We’re going to be late.”

..~~~**~~~..

“How are you feeling, John?” Emma asks.

“Better, thank you.” He comments, although he was still feeling a little weak.

“You’re still pale. I think after this meeting you should go home and get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Emma says, her attention and concern for John’s health is uncharacteristic of many Ventrue and much appreciated by both John and Stephan.

“How long have we been waiting?” Emma asks.

“Just over an hour.” Stephan responds, barely glancing at the clock on the mantle.

Emma sighed, and mutters something under her breath.

“Ma’am, did Lady Peltier give any indication what this is regarding?” John asks.

“No, she just said the two of you were witnesses to an incident, but I don’t know what that incident would be.”

The door opened quietly and a well dressed man steps in. “Ms. Marks…The council is ready for you now.” He says, gesturing to the door he’d just come through. The trio rise and follow the man to the meeting.

“Your witnesses have entered the room.” They hear Chris announce, a touch of frustration in his tone. “What is this crime you wish to bring before this council?”

Lady Peltier, casually glances about the table. “The crime is attempted poaching, and the perpetrator is the Malkavian Primogen.” She says locking eyes with Lolli. A surge of panic shoots through Stephan, the penalty for Poaching in death.

“They are still Ventrue; I have poached no one.” Lolli argues calmly, Jeremiah standing stoically behind her. Lolli’s wounded arm carefully hidden beneath the table, but her pain evident on her face and in her body’s trembling.

“Not for lack of effort. John before going to Emma who was it who provided you and Stephan with vitea?”

“Lollipop, my lady.” John answers quietly.

“My turn.” Lolli whispers her tone determined. “John, did I force this upon you or did you come to me?”

“I approached you, ma’am.”

“Why me?” Lolli is struggling to keep her composure, her mangled limb screaming.

“Ms. Bruno was missing, and while I could approach Ms. Marks, her sire has made no secret of his opinion that that mine and Stephan’s lives should be forfeit for the sins of our former Regnant.”

“And did you actually feed from my veins? Have you tasted my blood?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Stephan.” Peltier quickly interrupts. “Have you tasted the Malkavian’s blood?”

“Yes, my lady, I approached her before Ms. Marks.”

“Why feed one from the vein and not the other?” Duncan asks.

“We all know that ghouls can and often do begin to display traits common to their Regnant’s clan after a period of time.” Lolli begins, pausing as a surge of pain shoots through her. Jeremiah places a gentle hand on her shoulder in an unspoken question. Lolli breathes heavily and waves off his concern. “Both Stephan and John have been among the Ventrue long enough that it stands to reason that their preferences are set.” Lolli argues.

“And what preferences might that be?” Peltier asks.

“Stephan prefers fresh, John prefers Vintage and clan.” Not entirely true, but neither Stephan nor John were going to say anything to the contrary.

“Vintage?” Frank asks.

“He is accustomed to the potency of Isabella’s vitea. I had to dive into my stash for him.”

“Wait? You happened to have Ventrue vitea on hand with you?” Frank asks.

“My Sire collects Vitea. I was in the position where I could collect the blood from a 7th generation Venture. As I have not seen my Sire, I still had it with me so I gave it to John.”

“How did you acquire that?” Peltier asks more out of curiosity than relevance.

“It was giving to me willingly and as payment for a job. A job which was not in this state and has no bearing on this council.” Lolli adds, indicating she is not going to give any more detail.

From the corner of his eye Stephan can see John’s shocked expression; inwardly he smiles as he sees the same expression on many of the Primogen surrounding the table. She is finally showing them what lies beyond her façade.

“Why did you return to Ventrue?” Chris asks, redirecting his attention to Stephan and John.

“It was Lolli’s insistence that we attempt to locate Ms. Bruno. She would not claim us until we had made every effort to discover our Regnant, which meant returning to the Ventrue so that we could us their resources.” Stephan volunteers.

“Lady Peltier, this is doesn’t sound like poaching, or even an attempt at it.” Starkweather comments. “They approached her; their Regnant was and is still missing; and Lolli insisted that they attempt to locate Isabella. I don’t see a crime.”

“Lolli has also cashed in favors and made negotiations with the Nosferatu to obtain information about Isabella’s possible location.” Kit adds.

Peltier struggles to keep her fury from her face, and succeeded to a point. Frank smiles at the Ventrue’s rage; it amuses him to see the master manipulator out thought by a Malkavian. Frank catches a quick smug smile on Lolli’s face before it is replaced with a wince of pain.

“I must agree.” Chris says, careful to keep his expression neutral. “There is not enough evidence of an attempt to poach these Ventrue ghouls.”

Peltier acknowledges Chris’ decision with a tight lip smile and a nod of her head. As there is no other business, Chris called the meeting to order. Emma pulls, Stephan and John aside to allow the Primogen to exit first.

Peltier’s fury becomes a tangible force when she approaches the trio. “Emma, I would have a word with you in private.” Peltier growls, and then turned to John and Stephan. “I do not want to see either of you before the month’s end.” Peltier warns, leading Emma back to the waiting room.

Stephan tries to keep a casual eye on Lolli, who accepts Jeremiah’s help to stand. Her strength spent she caves in to the pain, her legs buckling. Jeremiah catches her, and gathers her up in his arms.

“If you gents don’t mind, I’m going to take the little lady here, some place safe.” He says, noticing that Stephan’s eyes did not leave Lolli.

“Warn him.” Lolli’s voice barely a whisper, her eyes still closed.

Jeremiah sighs heavily. “Listen to me son…” he speaks directly to Stephan. “Do you know of Lolli’s sister? Sydney?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Well, she’s in town, looking for blood. And I think it might be yours. Watch yourself.” Jeremiah says, excusing himself as he carried Lolli out the room and down the hall.

..~~~**~~~..

True to his words, the Nosferatu soon find Isabella and by Kit’s order remove the cursed stake that kept her immobile. It was probably amusement for them when Kit ordered she be escorted out and released to find her way home. She is certain the sneaky bastards were watching a proud Ventrue walk the streets in dirty, wrinkled clothes no shoes, no cell phone and no money make her way back to her estate.

Isabella walks into her empty manor and a rage began to fill her. Where were her ghouls? She reaches into her pocket and fingers the folded paper her father had placed there, hot determination and cold rage setting in. She decides she will shower, feed, and then call Vreneli Rorschach.

..~~~**~~~..

It is nearly 4 in the morning when Stephan finally finishes the list of errands he has to run, a few were for Emma, but a bulk his. He was running through which errands have to be done during the days as he pulls into the parking space for his apartment. Uncharacteristically, Stephan is lost in thought, as he locks his car and begins making his way to his apartment. He was wishing he could find a 24 hour dry cleaner, when he is struck from behind.

“You fucking bastard!” She screams, shoving him to the ground. Stephan immediately rolls onto his back, his hands all ready going to the guns under his jacket.

“How could you talk her into it!” she grabs him by his jacket and hauls him to his feet, his weapons still holstered by the sudden movement. “How could talk her into Primogen?” She demands, slamming him into the hood of his car.

“I did not talk her into anything.” He protests, gripping her wrists. “This is all her idea.” His instincts were screaming he fight back, she has left herself open. He could reach his gun and fire a dragon round into her heart, but this isn’t not just another Kindred, this is Sydney… she’s the identical twin of the woman he loves.

“Liar!” she screams jumping off the car, throwing Stephan into the concrete wall separating his complex from the quiet street. He hits the wall with enough force to knock the wind out of him. He collapses to his knees, trying desperately to remember how to breathe.

“I knew you were using her! I fucking knew it!!” She shouts, closing the distance between them. Stephan scrambles back, reaching into his jacket for his weapon, still trying to catch his breath.

Stephan manages to free the gun from the holster, but Sydney quickly kicks his wrist sending the weapon flying. “You’re just another Ventrue!” she growls, grabbing him again and tossing him across the parking lot, into another car. Sydney was again upon Stephan before he collapsed to the ground. “You’re using her as your fuck toy.” She pins him to the ground. “And now you’re using her to control my clan.” She snarls through tightly clenched teeth. “MY clan. Malkavian. And you are not welcome here.” Her tone as dangerous as the murderous gleam in her emerald eyes.

“I swear to you, Sydney, I do not want her to be Primogen any more then you.” He says through the pain of possibly broken ribs. “However, in doing so she has secured the protection from not only the Brujah, but also from the Sheriff, Frank.”

“You’re manipulating her…controlling her.”

“No, Sydney, I am not, I am only- -“

“LIAR!!” She shouts, locking eyes with Stephan. His eyes widened under her hate-filled gaze, he feels something cool brush against and through his mind, like a ghost dancing among tombstones.

Sydney’s lips curl into a cruel grin “They’re coming for you.” She whispers in a tone as nasty as her grin. From the corner of his eye Stephan can see Kindred, blendin in and out of the shadows approach them, an unmistakable look of hunger in their eyes. He shouts, and pushes Sydney away, scrambling to his feet in the process. Sydney laughs and watches him spin to confront the nearest threat only to find that it gone. He knows they are there, blending into the shadows, surrounding him all wanting to turn him. He knows they want to Embrace them, it’s evident in their eyes when the closed in. He momentarily forgets about Sydney until she shoves him, causing him to stumble. He spins to face her, but she’s no longer there. He pulls out the second gun, the one loaded with Dragon Breath rounds, he spins to face the nearest threat, but the vampire was not there. Panic begins to settle in as his targets continually melded into the shadows only to reappear when he isn’t looking directly at them.

Sydney trips him, bringing him to the ground where she pins him with her weight. Quickly she pulls the gun from his hand and tosses it aside with one hand while her other hand pulls a butterfly knife from her back pocket. Stephan grabs her wrists to prevent her from stabbing him, all the while a mob of hungry kindred are slowly closing in. She giggles as she carves deep gashes into Stephan’s chest.

He somehow manages to push Sydney off as a one of the vampires slowly reaches a hand down towards him. Stephan swings a fist at the attacker, only to have it pass through air. Dark, malicious giggles escaped Sydney’s naked lips as she grabs Stephan and violently throws him onto the hood of a small black car. The hood dents from the force and the windshield cracks when Stephan’s head strikes. His ears ring from the impact and his vision blurs and grays. He’s too stunned to scream as Sydney’s teeth tear into his throat and then his world goes black.

..~~~**~~~..

Isabella gave into her rage and decimated her heard, not a single person survives. She had hoped that the slaughter would calm her anger, but instead it had the opposite effect. She closes her hands into tight trembling fists as the shower continued to wash away the blood. She finally turns off the water, dries off and glares at her reflection in the mirror. Could she really do this? Could she really be this cruel to her ghouls?

She looks at her left arm which until recently had a needle in it, allowing her blood to fill one small bag after another. Her ghouls must’ve known she where she was being held and yet not a single one had made any kind of attempt to rescue her. For nearly 30 nights she was held captive.

Can she be this cruel?

Oh. Hell. Yes.

After dressing in a pair of ripped jeans and a black tank top she stalks into her office and sits behind her desk. Without any hesitation or second thoughts she picks up the receiver and dials the phone number her father had given her. For once in her existence she follows her father’s instructions to the letter and without any questions.

It is time her ghouls are reminded who their master is, and the penalty for betraying their master.

..~~~**~~~..

Stephan knows he is in a bed, his senses tell him that much. The mattress is soft but lumpy beneath his back; the pillow firm and supportive. The blankets draped over him smell clean but are scratchy and of a low quality. His eyes still close he feels the pressure of someone straddling him, their weight pushing him further into the mattress. What he finds most disturbing is the taste of blood in his mouth. His eyes snapped open and he finds himself gazing into hate filled emeralds. Sydney.

“Welcome to the clan, my childe.” She sneers.

Stephan wakes up violently and screaming.

“Stephan, you’re safe.” She is beside him in a second, trying to calm his fear. He cringes from her touch and quickly sits up. An action his head and stomach both protest.

“I’m going to be sick.” He warns as his stomach continues to move in waves and circles. Using her supernatural speed she grabs a trashcan and offers it to him just as his stomach rejects its contents. He has few memories from the attack. He remembers being bit, and tasting blood. Wait, was the taste of blood real or a dream. Vampires cannot eat human food, he’d just thrown up everything he’d eaten that night…is he still human? Had he been embraced? Panic was beginning to creep back into him.

“Feel better?” she asks softly. Stephan looks at her with suspicion. Is this Lolli or is this Sydney pretending to be Lolli. Slowly she takes the waste can with her left hand and sets it on the floor.

“Stephan, it’s me. It’s Lolli.” She sooths as if she read his mind. Can a Sire read the mind of their newly turned childer?

“Prove it…” he challenges “…tell me something I can believe.”

Her eyes hold a combination of understanding and pain as she shows him her burnt right arm.

“That could be an illusion. Mask of a thousand faces could easily show that.”

“Our first kiss was in the driver seat of your car.”

“Ok…and you didn’t get this information from your ‘twin link’ with Lolli?” his eyes wild as he tries to focus on this information.

“Sydney does not know everything about my life.” She argues, but even to her ears these words sounded weak and unconvincing. She thinks for a moment, and then it occurs to her, the perfect way to prove her identity.

“Your blood…” she whispers “…your blood is poison to all except me.” She concluds in a stronger voice, holding out her left hand in a non-threatening manner. Stephan pulls away from her hand, staring at it with great suspicion.

“And how do I know this is not a way to feed from me and possibly Sire me?”

“I would never feed from or Sire you without your consent, my dearest. If you are concerned, spill your blood into a cup and I will drink from the cup.” She offers.

Desperately he looks around for a container. Lolli quickly goes to the bathroom and returns with a cheap plastic cup still wrapped in plastic. “Here.” She says, offering him the container. He fumbles with the plastic wrap, but manages to pull it off, he then uses one of his unnaturally strong nails he makes a small cut on his wrist and bleeds into the cup. She takes the cup from him and without hesitation drinks the crimson liquid. He watches her intently as she winces from a single stomach cramp, but gives no further sign of pain in either her eyes or face.

“Believe me, my love, I am Lolli.” She affirms, setting the empty container on the nightstand.

He clutches onto those words and holds them tightly, using their meaning to fight away the darkness…the madness. Hesitantly he whispers her name.

“Yes, my love. I’m here. You’re safe.” She assures, gently using her good arm to encourage him to lay back down. “Can you tell me what happened?” she asks.

“I…I am not sure. Everything is all jumbled. I…lost control.” For the first time since waking up he looks directly into her eyes. “Are you all right?”

She chuckles without humor and looks at her right arm as if its mere existence offends her. “I’m sure there are better questions you could ask.”

“Am I human?” he asks suddenly, his voice holding a tinge of panic he could not stop.

“You’re still a ghoul, if that is what you are asking.” Lolli answers. Stephan visibly relaxes, his mind trying to sort out the events on the attack.

“How did I escape?”

The door to room opens then and Jeremiah casually walks in carrying a large paper bag in one hand and a black and grey backpack slung over his shoulder.

Stephan jumps at the sound, and Lolli again uses her good arm to calm him.

“It’s Jeremiah.” She speaks softly and calmly “He’s the one who found you and brought you here.” She explains. The pair watches the older man set the paper bag on the pressboard dresser and drop the backpack onto the floor. His back to them the entire time.

“Any luck?” she asks, turning her attention to Jeremiah.

“I lost her trail around Jones.” He reports, slipping out of his dark duster, revealing a plethora of guns, including a rifle strapped to his back. Silently Stephan wonders how the man moves without anyone noticing that he could arm a small third world nation.

“How’s the boy?” he asks, setting his hat on the dresser and running a hand through his shoulder length silver hair.

“I have not been a boy since 1948.” Stephan hears himself say before he could stop the words.

“Well, look who’s rejoined the land of the living.”

“Jeremiah, Stephan…please.” Lolli says, not wanting the two to fight.

“I’ll play nice.” Jeremiah concedes. “You best get to bed little girl, sun’ll be up any second.” Lolli eyes him suspiciously.

“Lolli, I swear no harm will come to him or you while I’m here.”

Satisfied Lolli returns her attention to Stephan, an apologetic look in her eyes. “I understand.” He says in a soft voice, gently cupping her face. She smiles and slips into the other bed, pulling the covers up to her chin she curls up on her side. The instant the sun crested the horizon; Lolli is dead to the world.

“I suppose I should thank you for the rescue.” Stephan says, watching Jeremiah close the distance.

“Yes, I reckon you should.” He agrees, carefully removing the bloodied bandages and examining Stephan’s wounds. “Looks like Sydney carved the Ventrue scepter into your chest here.” Jeremiah repeats the process with the injury on Stephan’s neck. “It also looks as if she never got her feeders.”

“Bein’ ghouls we heal faster than other humans plus you got some of Lolli’s blood in ya. That’ll help the healing process too. Still I’d wager the chest will take some time to heal…it’ll probably scar. Seems like your concussion has healed.” Jeremiah says after a quick examination of Stephan’s head wound. “Ribs too, lucky for you they were just bruised.”

With extreme tenderness and care, Jeremiah applies some antibacterial ointment and then covers the wounds with clean bandages. “Damn, she did cut you good boy.”

“Will you please stop calling me boy?”

“Probably not.”

Stephan sighs, and tries to sit up, only to be stopped by Jeremiah’s steely grip.

“Easy son. You need rest. Sydney’s mind game took a lot out of you.” He explains as he gently pushes Stephan back down onto the bed.

“What happened?”

“Don’t rightly know. Lolli ask I find you, make sure you got home safe. When I found you, you were a bloody mess and Sydney was screaming in pain. I gathered you up and brought you here. What did you do to her?”

“I...” Stephan pauses, not sure if should reveal the abnormality of his blood or not “…it is all jumbled. I do not know.”

“Well, I guess it don’t make no never mind.”

“Where am I?” Stephan asks looking about the room which could have been a hospital room, except that it had no window.

“Safe.”

“That does not tell me anything.”

“Ain’t suppose to.”

“Here, take this.” Jeremiah offers Stephan a single pill. Explaining that it is Lortab as well explaining the side effects.

“Thank you but no.”

“I ain’t asking.” Jeremiah gaze uncompromising. “You need to sleep without pain. Your body will heal faster. Take it.”

“How did Sydney know my fear?” Stephan asks, looking at the pill now resting in the palm of his hand.

“She doesn’t. She just knows how to trigger it.” Jeremiah explains, watching Stephan intently…waiting for him to take the pill.

With a sigh Jeremiah adds “You’re in a Malkavian safe-house, owned by Lolli’s Sire. Now take the damn pill, you stubborn Ventrue.” Jeremiah growls in frustration. “I’m keeping guard.”

..~~~**~~~..

John knew something was wrong the instant he walked into the Bruno’s estate. For starters, the lights are on when they should not have been. The second thing he noticed was the silence, it’s almost unnatural. Hesitantly he calls out and is greeted by a whoosh of air and a pissed off Ventrue slamming him into a wall.

“Ms. Bruno!” John exclaims his words strangled by the hand wrapped tightly about his throat. Effortlessly she lifts him off his feet and holds him up at arm’s length. She growls through tightly clenched fangs, her eyes glowing with fury.

“Ms Bruno…please…I can’t breathe.”

With a roar of anger she tosses him across the room. He hits the wall hard enough to crack the plaster. Landing on his bad leg John crumples to the floor crying out in pain. Isabella stalks towards him, using his good leg John tries to scurry away. Isabella never hastened her pace as she closed in on her prey.

“Please...” John whimpers, raising a hand to fend off any incoming blows. She grabs him and hauls him back onto his feet, slamming him back into the wall.

“Hello John.” She growls in an unpleasant tone. “You’re going to call a meeting for me, for tomorrow night.” She orders.

“Yes, ma’am.” He stammers.

“Also, my heard needs to be replaced by nightfall.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“And John…Do. Not. Fail. Me.”