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 22: A LIFE FOR A LIFE

Emma paused the second she opens her bedroom door and sees a dark room before her. She is a creature of habit, among other things, and her biggest habit is leaving her bedroom light on. She never did like the dark, even as a child. A foolish fear she knows and a comical one for a Vampire. She has no fear of the night, but entering a dark room just about terrifies her.

“This is stupid.” she mutters to herself, mustering her courage. “I’m in my haven, with my Sire downstairs. I am perfectly safe.”

Cautiously she takes a step into the darkened room and reaches out for the wall and the nearby light switch. She quickly flips the switch repeatedly hoping for light. She jumps with a small gasp when the door closes, trapping her in the dark room. Again she tries the switch.

“Do you know the definition of insanity?” A familiar voice asks.

“Lolli?” Emma spins to face the shadows behind her.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”

“Lolli, I tried to find them, I did. To undo what I did. But they aren’t answering their phones and they aren’t at their apartments. I tried Lolli, I did.” Emma protests as she backs away from the talking shadows. She bumps into her bed and lands heavily on her backside.

“I know. I have them…all of them.” Lolli says, reaching out and screwing in the light bulb in the lamp closest to the door.

“Why do you have them?” Emma asks nervously.

“They’ve been tortured. I’m seeing to their recovery.” When the light fails to illuminate, Lolli flicks the switch. Emma takes a measure of comfort in the light, but not in the Malkavian’s attire.

“Lolli?” Emma asks, not comfortable with the dangerous look in the normally happy woman’s eyes. “You’re dressed to kill.” She adds, not sure what to make of Lolli’s black on black ensemble. “Who?” Emma bravely asks.

“I have information.” Lolli says, dancing around Emma’s question, as she casually walks about the room, tightening all of the light bulbs she loosened.

“And?”

“And I want Stephan in exchange.”

“I can’t do that.”

“You are his Regnant. You can do anything you want for, to and with him.” Lolli continues to move in the brightly lit room like a caged predator.

“Stephan and the other ghouls are living beings, not commodities. I will not treat them as such.”

“I’m glad you feel that way. But I was thinking more for a life for a life.”

“What are you talking about?” Emma asks, not liking the dark turn this conversation has taken.

“An assassin is coming for Peltier. You give me Stephan and I’ll give you the assassin.”

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

Something is telling Isabella that his is bad idea, but she ignores this feeling after all the Malkavian is right; it will feel so much better killing Peltier with her own hands. Lolli had tracked Isabella to one of the Ventrue properties and promised to meet Isabella there. She climbs into her favorite car and pulls out of the garage and down driveway, just as her would be assassins are sneaking in the front door.

“Where the Hell is she going?” Brandon asks, seeing the headlights leave.

“Damn. Come on, we need hurry if we’re going to keep up with her.” Jess says, leaving the manor and quickly making her way towards their hidden vehicle.


It took some serious manipulation and a touch of negotiations on Lolli’s part to get Isabella to agree to killing Peltier herself. Of course part of the agreement is that Lolli meet up with Isabella to present her with the intel she managed to ‘gather’ in the couple of hours she’s had the job.

“She’s on her way.” Lolli reports smugly.

“Really?!” Emma sounds shocked. “I mean I thought she’d be smarter than that.” Emma adds.

“She assumes I’m an idiot, and her pride will not allow her to think a one of my brethren is capable of a coherent thought.”

“So what are you planning?”

“I’m going to calmly point out her mistake and then open a whole can of whoop ass on her; after all ignorance should be painful.”

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

Stephan and the other ghouls were just beginning to come around when Jeremiah walks into the recovery room. Eyeing everyone in the room he calmly locks the door.

“Evenin’ gents…” Jeremiah then turns to address Elise with a tip of his hat “…ma’am. For those you who don’t know, my name is Jeremiah Conway. As you may have gathered you are in a hospital, y’all got two doctors tending to your injuries. Dr. Mike, as y’all know is Kindred. The other doctor is Dr. Mike’s ghoul, Dr. Jane Watson. Yes that is her real, and she would appreciate y’all keeping all jokes to yourselves. Any nurses who come in are kine, and we would appreciate y’all observing the Masquerade. In a few days you may be well enough to get and walk around. We’d appreciate y’all not wondering out of this room. Y’all understand the rules?” He asks, his southern accent making everything sound friendly.

Slowly everyone in the room nods, Jeremiah flashes a warm smile and unlocks the door, allowing a short heavy set woman, with wavy auburn hair to enter the room whom Jeremiah introduces as Dr. Watson. The plump woman goes around the room, checking on each person and answering any questions they have.

Jeremiah takes a seat beside Stephan’s bed. “I reckon you got some questions.”

“Where is Lolli?” Stephan asks, surprised by her absence.

“Out.”

Stephan represses the urge to sigh. “What is she doing?”

“Stuff.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“Malkavian stuff.” Jeremiah answers with a wide grin on his face. He’s rather amused by the conversation so far.

“You are not very helpful.” Stephan grumbles.

“Nope, but I am sure am amused.” Jeremiah counters grinning from ear to ear.

“I am worried about her, please.”

“She got a message about a job and is out seeing to it, that’s all. You ain’t got nuthin’ to worry about.”

“Why do I have the feeling you are not telling me everything?”

“Cuz I ain’t. Listen son whatever she’s doing now, she’s doing for you. She’s got her mind set on somethin’ and God himself can’t sway her.”

“Please tell me she is not going after Emma.”

“She ain’t goin’ after Emma.”

“Oh my God!” Stephan gasps, his mind working through the drug induced haze. Jeremiah knows what Stephan is planning and makes no move to stop him. “She’s going after Isabella. I need to stop her; Isabella is going to kill her.” Stephan tries to get out of bed, only to be stopped by an intense stabbing pain moving through his core. With a groan he lays back in his bed.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s gonna happen.” Jeremiah says with a chuckle. “All you’re gonna do is get in her way.”

“This is no game. Isabella is a trained assassin.” Stephan protests as he gasps through the pain.

“Son, haven’t you figured it out...Lolli is always two steps ahead of everyone else.”

Stephan leans his head back and sighs heavily, worry settles in his stomach like a rock. “What were you before you became a ghoul?” Stephan asks, hoping a new topic would take his mind off Lolli.

“I assume you mean other than human?” Jeremiah chuckles without humor. “I was a law dog ‘til I found myself facing the gallows. Night before my hangin’ this man comes to my cell with an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

“What happened? How did you go from defending the law to breaking it?”

Now it’s Jeremiah’s turn to sigh heavily. “I had a wife and daughter once, ‘til a stranger came callin’…Brujah I later found out. He went after my daughter first, I jumped him and he threw me across the room. When I came to the next morning I saw the remains. I don’t remember much after that; but apparently I went hunting. But I only found the bastard’s associates…ghouls as we call ‘em.”

“When did this happen?”

“March 5, 1835. It took me 72 years, but I found that som’bitch and I made him pay.”

“I am surprised you deal so easily with Chris and Frank.”

“The Brujah who took my family is dead and gone. It ain’t right…blaming the whole for the sins of one. What about you? Since we’re sharing life stories ‘n all.”

“Nothing as dramatic as you, I am afraid. I was an executive assistant. My employer had a meeting with Vincent Bruno, who was impressed with my skills. The next night Mr. Bruno offered me a position with him, when I refused he forced the matter and here I am today.”

“Son, I suspect your life is about to take a drastic turn.”

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

Isabella creeps through the dark house with practice ease, carefully she peers around the corner and a set of stairs set against the wall. Next to the stairs is a walkway leading towards a formal dining room. She also sees two guards on the ground. One of which is being pulled into a small adjacent room by a familiar figure. Isabella quickly rushes over and helps pull the second body into the room.

“Where’s Peltier?” Isabella whispers.

“She’s upstairs at the far end of the house, in the library.” Lolli whispers, then pauses and listens carefully to the footsteps overhead.

“Sounds like three more.” Lolli says, still looking at the ceiling.

“Let’s go.”

“We should be able to make it without any more unnecessary confrontation.” Lolli suggests, heading towards stairs.

“Let’s go.” Isabella said, taking the lead and heading towards the stairs. Carefully and quietly the pair ascends the stairs and navigates their way through the shadows of the darkened house. Occasionally they would have to hide in one of the shadows to avoid a passing guard.

Once they reach the library Lolli quickly peeks in and informs Isabella that Peltier is in the center of the room with her back to the door. Isabella signals for Lolli to stay behind and keep watch. Lolli nods and watches the Ventrue creep into the library and behind the figure of Lady Peltier who is totally engrossed in the small book she’s holding.

Isabella wastes no time in what should have been a quick clean kill, going for Peltier’s heart. But two things prevent the kill from being the victory Isabella sought; the first being that her victim’s heart does not seem to be in the correct place. The second fact is that she did not attack Peltier.

“It would seem as if you were telling the truth Malkavian.” Peltier says.

“Why are people always surprised by that?” Lolli asks, almost offended.

Isabella spins quickly, standing to the left of the open door and Lolli casually leaning against the wall to the right of the open door. It took only a second for Isabella to realize she’s been set up and less than that much time for her surprise to be replaced by rage.

Blinded by fury Isabella lunged at the lithe Malkavian, grabbing her and throwing her across the room. Lolli hit one of the built in bookshelves with a loud thud. She crumples to the floor, but quickly recovered with just enough time side step Isabella’s next attack. With amazing speed and grace, Lolli spins and elbowed Isabella in the kidneys; Isabella cries out and spins, hoping to catch the lunatic with a back fist. Lolli blocks the attack and counters with her own, a fist to the solar plexus. Isabella stumbles back into the shelves.

Lolli stands back and balances herself, ready for Isabella’s next attack. Isabella recovers and studies her prey, pulling a butterfly knife from her back pocket. The grin on Lolli’s face was one of pure excitement.

“Come dance with me and let’s see who bleeds.” Lolli says as the two women circle each other.

Peltier’s guards rush to the room as Isabella lunges at Lolli. Peltier orders one to grab Isabella. “As soon as she’s done playing with the Malkavian.” She adds, she then orders the other three to attack Lolli.

“My lady?” Peltier’s stand in asks, shocked by Peltier’s order.

“Only Frank has seen her fight. I’m curious.” Peltier steps back and carefully studies the Malkavian.

“But, my Lady…” her protests are cut short by Peltier’s scathing glare.

“There are no further requirement of you tonight.” Peltier curtly dismisses, watching the younger woman bow her head and quickly leave the room. A loud crash pulled Peltier’s attention back to the brawling women. Apparently Lolli had kicked Isabella with such force that she not only hit one of the freestanding bookshelves, but had knocked it over as well.

Isabella is surprised when one of the guards she thought Lolli had killed grab her and begin dragging her from the room.

“Isabella Bruno you have been found guilty of crimes against the Ventrue Clan of Las Vegas, against your Primogen and the Primogen of clan Brujah. I, Lady Amadora Peltier the Ventrue Primogen of Las Vegas, sentence to 50 years and 2 months of reeducation with Vreneli Rorschach. Get her out of here.”

Isabella screams obscenities at Peltier as she is being dragged away. Peltier dismisses the profanity with a disinterested flick of her wrist and returns her attention to ensuing battle at hand.

Lolli moved with the grace of a dancer and the deadly intent of a stone cold killer. Her moves are so fluid they could have entranced a Toreador. Lolli easily dodges one blow and swings her body around to deliver a counter strike which most likely cracked several of his ribs. As the first man stumbled back a second wrapped his arms about her tiny frame, pinning her arms. She reaches up and grabs the man’s arm, attempting to claw her way out. When the third man rushed her she kicked her legs up, wrapping her legs about his neck. With a twist she breaks the man’s neck. Not a fatal wound to a vampire, but it will take him time to recover.

When her feet the floor she swung her fist back and hit her jailor in the crotch. But he does not release her as she had intended, instead he focuses his pain into gripping her tighter. As a plan B she grips that tender part of him tightly and began squeeze and twist. He cried out, but refused to release her. With a cry of frustration Lolli quickly brings down her heel on the man’s toes and throws her head back, connecting with this face. Finally he releases her and she savagely back kicks him in the chest with enough force to send him into the opposite wall, cracking the plaster. Quickly Lolli spins in time to deliver a vicious punch into the throat of the man whose riin defensebs she had broken.

With all three men down the Malkavian turns her dark and dangerous gaze towards the only other person in the room, Lady Peltier.

“Who are you?” Peltier asks, immediately recognizing that she is no longer dealing with Lolli.

“I am Carnage. I am goddess of war and violence.” The Malkavian says through clenched teeth, her hands forming into tight fists, ready for the next attack.

“I apologize; my guards thought you meant me harm. They were not under any order to attack you.” Peltier says, raising her hands in defense.

“Then why do you smell of treachery?”

“I am Ventrue.” Peltier says, as if that answers everything.

“A sister goddess, I see. I shall leave your temple and return to mine. Mayhap our paths will cross again.”

“Not if I’m careful.” Peltier says to herself as she watches the Malkavian disappear down the hall.

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

It was two hours until dawn when Lolli quietly crept into the hospital room Stephan shared with his fellow ghouls. Her eyes scanned the darkened room and quickly find him and a brilliant smile lights up her face when she sees that he is still awake. She quickly makes her way to him, a slight spring in her step.

“Hi.” She says in a soft voice so as not to wake the others.

“Hello Lolli. Emma came by earlier.” He says, also in a quiet voice.

“And?” she prompts.

“She kept her promise. Undoing what she did in mine and John’s mind.”

“I knew she would. I’m surprised you’re still up.”

“I was worried about you. Jeremiah was not forthcoming with the details of your activities tonight.”

“No, I mean, you’re on some powerful pain killers.”

“I would not let them administer anymore until I knew you were safe…And if you press that damn button I will tickle you until you pee your pants.”

Lolli smiles sweetly and takes his hand in hers. “I have something to tell you…” she begins, looking at their hands. After a moment her incredible green eyes find his. “You’re free. You future is yours again.” She says with a slight smile.

“I confess, I never thought I’d hear those words. I…I am uncertain how to react.” He admits, his eyes dancing about the room, as his mind tries to process the meaning behind her words. “So I am Malkavian now?”

“Maybe.”

“I want to be with you.”

“You do not have to be a ghoul or kindred to be my lover. You can be human, if you wish.” She says, presenting him all of the options available.

“Human?” his mind plays with word as if it is foreign concept. “I don’t think I remember how to be human anymore.”

“Stephan, you’re more human than I; it wouldn’t take long for you to remember. You could also be ghoul or Kindred, the choice is yours. Your fate and your destiny are your own again.”

After a moment of thought Stephan speaks again. “I don’t want to be human. I want to be with you…be your ghoul.”

“Before I take you as my ghoul you must answer one question; how you answer this question dictates if I take you or not. Do you understand?” she asks her eyes and tone are serious, and carefully he nods, almost dreading her question.

“Who are you?” she asks.

He can only hold her gaze for a heartbeat before his eyes began dancing, searching internally for the answer. After several moments he looks at her again, his hand tightening around hers.

“I don’t know who I am, but I want you there when I find out.”

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

Three Months Later…

Lolli lays curled beside Stephan, her head resting on his shoulder while the fingers of her right hand absent-mindedly trace the scepter scar branded into his chest. Casually Stephan reaches up and gently grasps her hand, stilling her fingers. He honestly cannot recall the last time he knew such contentment and peace. Every evening when the sun sets he’s terrified he’ll wake up and find that this has all been a dream. He holds her tighter, assuring himself that this is real.

“Oh! I almost forgot!” Lolli says suddenly, propping herself up on her elbow to look down at Stephan. “I got a message from my Sire. He wants us to come home.”

“You haven’t been released from your Sire?” He asks, unable to keep the shock from his voice. She smiles and shakes her head. “But, you’re Primogen. How can you hold Primogen and not be released?”

“No one asked?” she answers with a shrug. “When a lone Kindred introduces themselves to the Prince, everyone assumes they’ve been released.”

“When are we expected back?” he asks, placing a gently kiss on the palm of her right hand. Her scars still haven’t healed completely and while she hides them from the world, she is comfortable enough around Stephan that she doesn’t need to.

She rolls her eyes, trying to remember the message and finally rattles off a date. Stephan thinks about this, his mind doing the math.

“Ten weeks? We have Ten weeks to train a new Primogen, pack two Havens and move? Lolli, we need to get started now!” He exclaims, all but leaping from bed. Lolli throws herself across the bed, landing on her belly while grabbing Stephan’s wrist.

“Wait!” she exclaims as she lands. Still holding him she makes her way to her knees and looks him in the eyes.

“Tomorrow.” She says.

“You’re procrastinating.” He accuses.

“There are no demands of my time tonight, and as far as I know, there are no demands for your time tonight. I am suggesting we enjoy this last quiet before the storm.” She pulls him close, draping her arms about his shoulders.

“We can stay in bed.” She suggests, and then kisses his lips. “Watch movies.” She kisses his neck as he wraps an arm about her waist. “Order delivery.” She nuzzles at his neck, teasing him with her teeth. “I can bite you...” She tempts in her bedroom voice. A thrill shoots him at the memory of her bite.

“Who am I to refuse my Regnant?” he playfully asks, lowering her back onto the bed, claiming her lips.


It’s the rich, alluring smell of coffee that first begins to interrupt Stephan’s slumber. Warm and inviting it tries to tempt him into consciousness, and succeeds to a point, but it’s the rhythmic sound of water hitting the covered bedroom window forces him to open one bleary eye and peek at the clock. One o’clock in the afternoon. He rolls onto his back, trying to figure out if he really wants to be awake this early in the afternoon. Begrudgingly he sits up and runs a hand through his shoulder length hair. He stumbles into the small kitchen, bewildered by the coffee; after all he knows he did not set the timer on it last night.

Next to the small coffee maker is a piece of lavender paper wishing him a good day complete with several little smiley faces and a kiss mark in Lolli’s shade of lipstick. Smiling he sets the paper back down, deciding to take a shower while the coffee finishes brewing.

This apartment is much smaller than the one he had when he was Ventrue, one bedroom, one bathroom, vertically no dining room, but a decent sized living room…considering. He did find it annoying that the unit has no washer or dryer, forcing them to go to the Laundromat, but that is his only complaint about their apartment. When he left the Ventrue he was forced to leave behind everything they had given him, clothes and all. Lolli; however, was clever enough to make a copy of Stephan’s hard drive before calling one of her ‘sisters’ to send a virus to Stephan’s computer…a virus which would, when activated, wipe everything off the system.

Stephan opens the closet he shares with Lolli and pulls out a black dress shirt with burgundy and charcoal grey pin stripes and a pair of jeans. It has taken Lolli almost a month to convince him that an untucked dress shirt looks good with jeans. While he did manage to convince her to buy him a couple of slacks, she keeps hiding them forcing him to wear the jeans. Stephan helps himself to a cup of coffee before leaving for the day; there are great many things that need to be done before they leave many of which must be done in during the day.

He peeks in on Lolli one last time before slipping into his thick leather jacket. It’s 1:45 by the time Stephan leaves, that’s when he notices that the rain sound he heard earlier is actually a broken sprinkler. He heads towards the 1996 gunmetal silver and black Harley Davidson Fatboy Lolli had purchased for him a month and a half ago when he got out of the hospital. He allows a slight grin to play across his lips as the engine roars to life. Lolli and Stephan have managed to work out their finances to the point that Stephan could purchase vintage pieces and build his own bike.

It was a culture shock, leaving the Ventrue for Lolli. Her sire provides her with a modest stipend each month, a huge change from the nearly unlimited resources of the Brunos. He use to shop at Nordstrom’s for his clothing, now, they have to budget to go to Macy’s. He had to move out of his 1,019 square foot apartment into a much smaller 660 square foot. Yet despite it all he felt a sense of freedom, like everything was new. He pulled to stop at the main office, to notify them of the broken sprinkler and to find out about breaking their lease.

The guy at the counter was extremely helpful and even provided Stephan with a pamphlet which contained, among numerous ads, a checklist for what to do when moving. Stephan had just made it back to his bike when his phone rang.

“Hello John.” He says, recognizing the phone number.

“Stephan, hi. Can you join me for lunch? Captiol Grille?”

“I have a great many errands today.”

“My treat? I haven’t seen you in almost 3 months.”

“All right, I’ll be there around 3.” Stephan concedes. John has never been good at subterfuge


“Mr. Villos! We haven’t seen you in months.” Stephan is immediately greeted by the Maître d upon walking in to the lavish 5 start steak house.

“Yes, I am with a new employer now.” Stephan says, moving his helmet to the other hand in order to shake the older man’s hand.

“Oh, better pay?”

“No, better opportunities for personal growth. I have decided to do something for myself for a change. See where my own decisions take me.” Stephan says pleasantly.

“That is always important. Mr. Michaelson is all ready here at your usual table.” The silver haired Maître d says his arm out gesturing for Stephan to follow him.

“I can find my way. Thank you.” Stephan says. The Capitol Grille is renowned for its steaks and service, ideal for dinner, but slow during the lunch hours. As he approaches the table Stephan notices the forearm crutch leaning against the table next to John.

“John.”

“Stephan! I’m glad you could join me.” John says, gesturing to the empty chair across from him. Stephan had just set the helmet in the empty chair to his left when a server came up, removed the white napkin from the table and draped a black one across Stephan’s lap and taking Stephan’s drink order.

“Water?” John asks.

“Lolli’s rule.” He said, gesturing to the motorcycle helmet in the empty seat. “When I ride the bike, I wear a full face helmet and restrain from alcohol.”

“Ah.”

“I noticed the crutch…” Stephan says.

“Yes. Thanks to Rorschach I lost 20 years of physical therapy, I must start all over to get back to where I was.” John said barely hiding the bitterness. The waiter returns, setting down Stephan’s water before excusing himself to give the men time to review the menu.

“I have to ask. What did you do that would cause them to give you to a Malkavian?”

“This was a decision on my part, not a punishment.”

“You chose? You chose to be a Malk ghoul? How did you get to choose? And why Malk?” John asks in hushed disbelief.

“As is common with Ventrue, it was the result of a business deal. As for the reason my choice, Lolli has been the only Kindred to not treat me as property. The other reasons are more personal.”

“Isabella suspected you two were lovers. Are the rumors true?”

“Isabella suspected a great many things, and a great many of her assumptions were incorrect.”

“I suspect you are lovers.”

“You have always been perceptive.” Stephan says after a moment of holding John’s gaze.

“I did have another motive for asking you to lunch.” John begins, changing topics. “I have questions about Lolli?”

Stephan chuckles without humor. “Peltier still looking for ways to manipulate the Malkavian Primogen?”

“No…well, yes, but that’s not the reason behind my next question. You got out of the hospital after what a month and a half? The rest of us got out two weeks ago. What gen is your Regnant?”

“Lolli has only ever claimed 10th when I have questioned her beyond this she claims not to know. I will not press the topic any further with her.”

“Fair enough. No need to get defensive.” John holds up his hand in surrender. He then flags the waiter over and places a lunch order and encourages Stephan do to the same.

“There is something else.” John says once the waiter leaves. “Watch your back. Peltier wants to make you Ventrue again.”

“Why?”

“Apparently have either you or I is something of a status symbol among the Ventrue in Vegas. Emma is doing everything she can to hold me, she’s a great Regnant, but she could not manage 6 of us. She found David a good Toreador Regnant and Antonio has gone to Mr. Marks. But, I can see the strain the remaining 4 of us are putting on her…I suspect Elise will be next to leave.”

“What of Isabella? I have not heard anything about our former Regnant.”

“You’re going to love this!” John says cheerfully and then relays Isabella sentence, raising his glass to toast karma.