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Talking to Adrian was pleasant. He has some experiences in common with
me, experiences that few people understand. Few Kindred have undertaken
real moral crusades; it's not conducive to prolonged survival, and most of
us want to become ancients. There's something that changes in a person's
head once he realizes that he doesn't have to die. Ever. For
most mortals, death is a reality, an inevitability. They may not look
at it or acknowledge it, but it's always walking with them. It always
walks with us, but we can pretend otherwise. Self deceit somehow comes
easier to the undead.
I hope that Adrian and I have other opportunities to speak. I'd like
to bounce some ideas off of him about what the Setites might want in Las
Vegas. Hathor is after something, and I can't frustrate her unless
I figure out what. Still, Henderson isn't all that far away.
Pity I look too young to drive. Maybe it would be worth establishing
credentials as an adult so that I don't have to depend on the guys to get
back and forth. I want to build some real ties with the LaSombra; I
think that could be useful later.
The whole evening was very pleasant up to a point. That point came
when Severance called me for help with Stephen. I found him without
trouble where he was waiting to watch the conflagration. Sadly, he
noticed that I was watching him after I climbed down closer. I wonder
what would have happened if I'd jumped him then… But I didn't.
I tried to stall him in hopes that Severance would arrive quickly.
He ran through an odd string of logic that I couldn't derail which led eventually
to the correct conclusion. He then tried to do something to me, ordering
me to "go away." I felt an almost uncontrollable urge to let go of
the side of the building and wander away. I stifled the impulse because
falling that far would have hurt a lot.
That's when I popped my claws. I'm still not used to having celerity,
or I'd have used it to try to attack. A look of absolute amazement
crossed his face, and he vanished. A few seconds later, Severance arrived
carrying Ginny. None of us could track him.
Since Stephen had confessed to me that the potential Masquerade breach the
local Malkavians were attempting was "his party," I thought I'd better share
that bit of gossip with our new Prince quickly. Stephen has never seemed
to me like someone who'd leave a loose end (aka a witness) around, so I wanted
to testify and be done with it. Fortunately, Rafaella made reporting
easy by pulling up in front of me as I crossed the parking lot.
The more I saw and heard of the mess Stephen had created, the more I wished
I hadn't decided to wait for Severance. I thought I had no particular
quarrel with him, but if I'd known what he'd done to Ezekiel… I don't
like letting people who play that way stay in the game. I'd have had
to leave Las Vegas afterward, most likely, but I think the satisfaction would
have been worth that price.
At any rate, by the time it was clear we weren't going to find Stephen unless
he was willing to be found, we were all pretty jumpy. Nick was plainly
pissed as hell. He sees, I suspect, the long term repercussions for
Ezekiel in this. His anger wasn't just the standard "how dare anyone
make fools of the Tremere?" foolishness that might be expected. I think
there was some flavor of that in it; few Tremere could avoid it and certainly
none who'd ever held clan authority (different from power, I know…).
He didn't even comment when I gave him a copy of the report on Stephen that
Krista and I had compiled. The notion that I'd already used his fax
machine to send a copy to my people scarcely seemed to register.
Elizabeth was wise to fear Ezekiel. She'd be wiser to fear me as well.
I expect that I pose a greater long term threat since Ezekiel can now be
distracted to focus on other conspiracies and dangers. I don't intend
to harm her, but that's not from kindness on my part. She's the closest
thing we've got to a line on Stephen. He loves her. He's
hurt her horribly, but he loves her. She's his weakness and one he
can't give up. If I'm going to find him on my terms, she'll be the
key. From what she says, we won't be able to track Stephen's history
easily. In fact, I'd be surprised if we can track him at all.
Elizabeth on the other hand…
It won't be easy. She'll never have had a very high profile.
Well, perhaps if we're lucky she'll have been well known very early in her
life, but… Stephen used my methods to obfuscate her, changing her appearance,
tweaking her behavior, making sure no one would look who could see.
I need images of Elizabeth as she is, was and might be. Hopefully I
can persuade Ginny to provide them. Then I need to get them to Europe
for distribution. I wonder if I am now considered such a bird of ill
omen that a young Toreador of respectable lineage with letters of introduction
from me might be viewed with suspicion in Paris.
A few weeks in Europe could do wonders for Aaron.
I hate being dependent on others for information. If my clan has an
archive or repository for history, gossip, etc. that isn't simply in the
heads of the elders, no one has chosen to make me privy to that fact.
Such records are power, and I want them. Tangible records are vulnerable
to theft; I know that. But they are also of use after their creators
are dead. Or insane. Or in torpor. Or even simply no longer
wanting to talk.
As things now stand, I have to always consider what I need to know and cast
it as something that it's advantageous for my informant to tell me.
I get sick of that dance sometimes. I'm good at it, but every once
in a while I'd like to use my own weapons. I think that's why I feel
so much less satisfaction at ruining Stephen's impersonation with a phone
call than I'd feel if I'd gotten him with claw and fang. Personal weapons.
There's a bit of pleasure in knowing that the Toreador will hunt him as they
can, but… It's not my hunt.
And I need to start another dance soon. If I'm to stay in Las Vegas,
I must build a power base. I have no idea where to start, and I regret
that since there seem to be so many opportunities at the moment. I
simply haven't the skills to see them nor the allies to direct me.
I offered alliance to Rachel, but she has chosen her clan and a certain peace.
I understand, I think. The bigger coalition doesn't appeal to her at
the moment, and I think she'll return to what she sees as her own business
every time.
I'll speak to Rafaella. The Giovanni might find my talents, my potential,
useful enough to risk my holding more than they expect. Meanwhile,
I'll look for allies with long term potential. I don't yet fully see
the shape of what I want to build, but it will take form for me. Soon.
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