A click of the tongue. "And why not?"
Clarion looked up from her search as she gave Riley a look that made the man take a seat. "Because-- it's long, complicated, and I'm not sure how to explain it." She returned to her search.
Riley sucked his teeth like a spoiled child and rolled his eyes. He then reached into the side pocket of his jacket and pulled out a chrome cigarette case, tossing it to Clarion. She snatched it out of the air. "Are you going to tell me this is a case of mistaken identity or something?"
Clarion looked up from the cigarette she was tapping on the case and smirked. "Ri have I ever lied to you?" It was a welcome change to hear his laugh even if it was indignant. Clarion nodded and lit two cigarettes handing one to a slightly less angry Riley. "Well see, I'm willing to tell the truth here, but it's so convoluted at this point I'm confused."
He didn't say anything for a moment as they both pulled on their cigarettes. He watched the tension release from his friends' face as he leaned forward on the desk. "You in trouble Claire?" He watched as she raked a hand through her straight hair and blew out a funnel of smoke. "Am I to assume she's helping you?"
Clarion sighed. "Sort of. I mean, yes she is. Ugh! It's just complicated, but for all intense purposes yes, she is helping me." She turned sweet green eyes on Riley and batted her lashes.
"What?" His voice held a playful whine of expectation.
She spoke in a mock-whimper. "Will you walk me home?"
Riley smiled at her playful gesture. "As long as you kiss me good night." Clarion smiled. "And by the way, I don't do tongue on the first date." Laughter filled Clarion's office, as the two friends sat, smoked, and talked of other things.
- - - - - - - - -
Clarion's phone rang four times before she picked it up, clearly out of breath. Yoshi smiled in relief as she sat atop the hospital building with her legs dangling over the side.
"Speak."
"Just checking."
Clarion smiled and ran a towel over her damp hair. "I was in the shower."
"Got a hot date or something?"
"Oh yeah, tall, dark, and absolutely delicious."
Yoshi felt the shiver run up her spine as she listened to Clarion lick her lips. "You're a tease."
Clarion let out a laugh. "Do your work and I'll give you a new appreciation of that word."
Yoshi shook her head as a familiar pulling began in her stomach. "You're going to be the death of me."
"Well you do know what it means to ‘die' right?"
"It means something other than die?" A light chuckle crackled through the phone.
"Well Samurai you better figure that out cause that's the password to get in."
Yoshi groaned. "A little help?"
Clarion let out a light chuckle and then drew in a small breath before she spoke. "Heavy heart's lead, melt at mine eyes' red fire, So shall I die by drops of hot desire." Clarion heard the woman on the other end take a deep breath and then she hung up.
----
Yoshi let out a groan of frustration as she stood and walked towards the steps. "You boys better be ready." she mumbled into the wind. After a change into hospital scrubs Yoshima walked into the two policemen guarded room, belonging to Colin. He waited until she sat down on the bed to open his eyes.
"Top of the evenin' to ya Yosh." A thick Irish accent gave his words a melodic quality. "I'd shake your hand, but I'm afraid I'll damage the wires."
Yoshi grinned. "I think I can live without your touch for one night, you ass."
The sandy haired man smiled. "Love your outfit."
She glanced down at the sea green uniform and shrugged. "It's not my color, but you know I'm a slave to fashion." He winced as he attempted to laugh. Yoshi shook her head and patted his shoulder. "Take it easy you fool, you need to heal first."
"Isn't that what you're here for?"
"Well yes, but it comes at a price."
Colin grinned. "Get to work you shit and I'll start spilling the beans."
Yoshi rubbed her hands together just for the sake of doing it as she stood from the bed and began placing her palms on Colin's feet and working her way up. She closed her eyes to concentrate, but that would not keep her from hearing his story.
Colin closed his eyes as he felt the warm tingles of healing spread through his body. "Did you get the books from Gregor?" Yoshi grunted in reply. "Any luck in translating?"
"Nothing more than what we all ready have. The translations not the problem it's what it means."
"I'll agree there, but I do have a piece of the pie that's makes everything make sense." Yoshi opened her eyes and glanced at the man. "Just keep those hands moving." Yoshi grinned. "Apparently the blood suckers have a few things they've managed to keep hidden, but me and Aswan got them."
"It's a scroll that's older than the Aramis books, but it's gotten lost in a few translations and for good reason. We've always known Daywalkers were useful especially in the early stages, but apparently every now and then one special one comes along."
"How special?" Yoshi laid her hands on Colin's chest and watched him smile in relaxation.
"The Daywalker can kill the Master."
"I kind of figured that part out."
"Well ya smart ass, didja know that the Vamp in question needs the Daywalker to ascend?"
Yoshi creased her brow and stilled her hands for a moment. "No I didn't."
"But the cherry on top, is that the Daywalker can replenish the council."
Yoshi stopped and stepped back. Ice blue eyes bored into dark brown. "Are you sure?"
Colin nodded. "Of all the things I'm sure of that's it. Don't ask me how it's to be done, but the Daywalker can do it. I know you've always thought the Daywalker was something special enough to warrant our study, and clearly you were dead on."
"But I don't understand, how? What's supposed to happen to her?" Wide brown eyes tried to connect with frantic blue. Yoshi walked to the other side of the room and looked out of the window.
"Something you not telling me Yosh?" Colin raised his head as he regarded the woman on the window sill."
"Does the scroll describe the Daywalker?" Her voice was quiet with apprehension at his answer.
"No. That still doesn't answer my question, what do you know?"
Yoshi groaned and then took a seat next to the bed. "For the past three months Vamps in this area have been targeting blonde hair green eyed girls."
"And?"
"And…and," Yoshi shrugged and then spoke in a blur. "I'm kind of dating a blonde hair green eyed girl." Colin disregarded the pain as he laughed out loud. Yoshi stared at her hands in shame.
"You're dating?"
" I know, I know. My job is to protect not to get involved I -
"You're dating!"
Yoshi snapped her head up and looked at her smirking friend. "What?"
"Yoshi when's the last time you had a date?"
Dark hair spilled over the chair as she leaned back and moaned. "Not you too."
"Hey you can't blame me. I'm just surprised that's all. I mean after-
She held up a hand and frowned. "Don't say that name."
"Wasn't planning on it. But whatever, you found the Daywalker?"
Yoshi pushed away from the bed and cradled her head in her hands. "I hope not, oh for the love of Izanami, I hope not." She looked up from her hands and sighed. "Assuming, and just assuming, I have found the Daywalker what do I do with her?"
Colin shrugged. "Well I know law states you to kill her where she stands, but in this case I think you might want to hold off until we can figure out the ritual or what have you."
"Oh man. Do we kill her, do we hand her over, sacrifice her, or what? What does the scroll say?"
Colin let out a huff of hair. "It says, and I quote, ‘the Hunter is unto the Daywalker as the Daywalker is unto the Hunter. Balance must reign in the houses of East and West for there to be life.' Then it goes into shit about planet alignments, zephyrs, tsunamis, and all this crazy phenomenon. There's some more stuff about purity, truth, virtue, faith and it goes on. The last line repeats the Hunter unto the Daywalker stuff."
Yoshi threw up her hands in frustration. "What the hell does that mean? Do I kill her, does she kill me, we kill each other? Balance, what the…ahh!"
"I've got no clue, but you need to calm yourself or one of us is going to have a heart attack." He waited until her breathing evened. "Now are you going to tell me the whole story."
"Last week I saved a woman. A green eyed blonde haired woman who was being chased through the park near St. Francis. She's been attacked at least five times in the last three months, but she manages to escape." As Yoshi began to speak, her tale became less of an information session for Colin and more of a reality check for herself. "Um, she knows about Hunters, she knows about Vampires. Her book cases are filled with books on folklore from all over the world. Rare books, old books, you name it, she's got it. Nothing in her apartment was made in the last century. She's got a 67' Stingray that looked like it just came off the show room floor." Suddenly Yoshi stood and began to pace about the room. It was clear she was no longer really talking to Colin, but he listened none the less. "All though she does work in a museum which could account for the antiques. She was born in New Orleans, which accounts for, well a lot of stuff, and she has a family that's still alive. She could have had the car restored." Yoshi stopped and stared out of the window again.
"So how do you explain her escapes?"
Yoshi snapped her head around and sat down on the sill. "I mean she's definitely smart and she's clever."
"Is she that strong?"
"Huh?"
"Is she strong Yoshima? I don't care how clever or smart you are a Vamp is a Vamp and all the luck in the world won't help you outrun a Vamp or fight one off. You saying she's that good?"
Yoshi shook her head as Colin's words swirled in her head. "I've never seen her fight." Yoshi contemplated the ceiling and then looked back at Colin as he sat up half way and let out a laugh.
"Buggar, she is clever. She's using you chappy." Blue eyes filled with a crisp anger. "No offense, but she is. Think about it. Does she know about all this Master stuff." Yoshi shook her head. "You sure?" She shook her head again and focused her hard glare at Colin's chest. "Well there you go. You're keeping her alive. She's making kissyface with you until she can find out what's going on and then she's going to bolt. Wee clever girl she is, she's got your number."
Colin flinched as Yoshi stood with a growl and punched the wall. "There's an explanation."
Colin couldn't help but let out a disbelieving laughing. "You think all this is coincidence don't you?" He looked at her in confusion.
"She wouldn't do that to me." Yoshi spoke more to herself than Colin.
Colin shook his head as he watched his oldest friend struggle with her emotions and the truth. "When did you lose your faith Yoshima?"
Yoshi turned somber blue eyes on Colin and stopped her pacing at the foot of his bed and leaned down on her arms. She looked him in the eye as she spoke. "I don't think I ever had any." She bowed her head and sighed.
Colin shook his head. "After all this time and you still blame your self for something you had no control over. Her death was not your fault."
Yoshi shook the bed with force. "I watched her die Colin!" Yoshi immediately stepped towards the wall as she mentally chided herself for yelling. A minute passed with no inquiry from the officers and she moved closer to the bed and continued in a gruff whisper. "I could have stopped it."
"You're full of shit Yoshima. She chose and it was her job, you would have done the same. It was what had to be done."
Yoshi shook her head in disgust and hurt as she sat back down in the chair. "So you're saying that I'm supposed to accept all this on faith? Faith in who Colin? In what?" Yoshi quieted and sat back in her chair.
Colin sighed and regarded his friend with sad eyes. "I can't tell you in who or what, but you must have faith Yoshi or you won't make it. Hell, none of us will. If you can't find the faith to believe in something larger than yourself, than lay down your sword now and wait for the rest of us on the other side."
"Don't I believe in something larger than myself all ready? If I didn't, than why do I do this? For what? For whom? I don't have a fan club or a hotline. I live alone in the middle of nowhere with no pets. I go to work everyday to make sure those boys stay out of trouble. And every night I strap on my blade and I go out and protect people that are sometimes more animal than things that hunt them for food and sport. If I didn't believe Colin than why do I do it? Why am I here?"
"Then stop."
Yoshi raised her brow in incredulity. "I can't."
"Why not?"
The red faced woman leaned in to the bed. "Because I have to."
Colin could have left it there, but he pushed again. "Why?"
Yoshi rolled her eyes and punched the bed. "Because it's my duty." Colin allowed her to glare at him until his words finally seeped into her own skull. Yoshi knew Colin was right. She hadn't believed in anything for so long it was a wonder she still did any of this and it was a wonder she hadn't fallen on her own blade out of nihilism. She leaned over in her seat and cupped her face in her hands. Her body shook with quiet convulsions.
Colin gave her moment before he spoke. "Do you care about her?" A tear streaked face looked up at him and she nodded. "Then just ask her. If it's not her great. If it is…then I don't know, but find out." Yoshi wiped her face on her sleeve and nodded as she began to mentally pull herself together. "Hey, look at this way, if I was a Vamp trying to stay alive, I'd go to the one person I'd know that'd keep me alive."
Yoshi released a strangled laugh. "Technically, if it's her I should kill her."
"The best place to hide is in plain sight and right under your nose."
A moment of silence passed between the two and finally Yoshi stood up. "I need to head out."
"Going to find out?"
Yoshi shrugged. "Have to at some point."
Colin grinned. "It's not that you have to Yoshi, you need to. I know you won't admit it, but you need to know, this isn't about obligations." Yoshi did her best to ignore his comment as she walked towards the window and opened it as wide as it would go. "Hey look if you don't want to ask her, in a week the moon will nearly be full, she'll be out. According to the cycle it's been six months she needs to feed soon, so she'll be out an' about. Just go and tap on the shoulder."
Yoshi visibly bristled at the image of Clarion feeding and then as she stepped one leg on the ledge she looked back at Colin. "Question. How do I smell?"
Colin had to stifle his chuckle for fear it would be too loud. "If you must know you stink Yosh."
The dark woman drew her brows together. "Not good huh?"
Colin snorted. "I mean unless you like blood and guts."
"What?"
Colin raised his eyebrows. "You smell like you've been in a fight, lass." He sat up with concern as Yoshi swayed in the window and then steadied herself. That was one piece of evidence she knew she couldn't deny. "A little faith Yoshima and we'll figure this out." She turned away and disappeared out of the window, but not before she mumbled a "yeah right" loud enough for Colin to hear.
CH 12: In case of emergency: put your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye.
9:35p.m.
Clarion padded to the kitchen barefoot as she went to get a glass of water. She stood at the kitchen and danced as the sounds of Parliament filled her apartment. She reached under her counter and retrieved a few more candles to add to the twenty or so that she had all ready placed throughout the apartment. Clarion walked through her kitchen into the dining room and pulled the curtains on her window. She smiled briefly as she admired her view. She loved the corner apartment and she loved this city. Sure it wasn't home, but it had become the closest thing to it in years. She had friends she could rely on and a job with a stress factor of -3, and that was with Marianna on a rampage. She had to admit things were good even if she was being hunted down by her own kind and opening her heart to a woman that despised her kind.
Clarion laughed out loud as she thought on the irony of her situation and then she dropped her glass to the floor. Clarion knew she had only spoken to Yoshi 15 minutes earlier so there was no way the woman was on her way here. Which meant there was no way she was going to come and take care of the ten shadowy figures standing in her living room. Clarion took a deep breath and stepped around the glass. Two of the leather coated figures stepped forward and she held up her hands and smiled.
"There's not going to be some big brawl here guys. Just let me put on some shoes and a sweater and then we can leave." She tried to find the eyes of the most sensible one and caught her attention. Clarion cocked her head to the side as she realized it was the girl from the alley earlier in the week. She smirked. "That's not going to be a problem is it?" She locked eyes with the girl. She nodded in agreement. Clarion pointed to her own neck. "Still hurt?" Clarion drew her arms into her body for protection as she got growls in response. When no blow came she looked up to the grinning face of the girl. Clarion shrugged and swiftly walked to her room.
She came back out wearing sneakers and an LSU sweatshirt. She was met by two towering men who gripped her rather gently about the arms. She settled into their grips as if they were escorting her to a ball and winked at the girl. "I probably can't get you guys to trash my place can I?" The subsequent chuckles she received gave her just enough leeway to act.
Clarion used the arms of her captors like parallel bars as she swung herself up and flipped over. Two punches deftly powered into the base of their spines dropped them to the floor. She dashed through kitchen, picked up a dining room chair and threw it so that it shattered the window before she went crashing through it. Her apparent attempt at an escape from the 17th floor startled the Vampires in her apartment enough to stop their pursuit for the briefest moment. While they were pondering if she plummeted to her death, Clarion was busy breaking the sliding glass door of the apartment beneath her. She ran through the apartment without incident, out of the front door and down the stairwell. Clarion barely had time to take in the fresh night air before a clothesline her chest knocked her back three feet. She welcomed unconsciousness with the thought that at least her apartment was now thrashed. Perhaps Yoshi would find her before it was too late.
- - - - --
Waking up in silk sheets brought a smile to Clarion's face as she instinctively reached out for Yoshi and then realized she hadn't gone to bed with her. In reality, she hadn't even gone to bed. Clarion sat up quickly and opened her eyes. She left the dark of unconsciousness and entered the dark of the room. She squinted until she managed to fix on a dim crack of light at the far side of the room. Clarion took her time getting out of the bed, stepping gingerly testing her wooziness. She stood up and was relieved to find that while her shoes had been removed, she was still clothed. She pushed up the sleeves on her sweatshirt and ran a hand through her hair as she took a step towards the source of the light. After two small steps she stopped in her tracks as she picked up the faint sound of breathing.
With a quickness, Clarion's head turned in the direction of the noise and stood stock still. "I'll turn on the lights if you'd like." It was a man's voice. Firm, quiet, and dignified with an accent that Clarion could only describe as a mix between European upperclass and Russian. At the sound of his voice Clarion's body bristled with a feeling ofcoldness. When her mind filled with the sound of his voice asking her to take a seat, she had the distinct sinking feeling that she might not get out of this in one piece. Clarion found the edge of the bed and sat down just as a small table lamp illuminated the room in a pale yellow.
Clarion flinched as the light invaded her eyes. She opened them fully and noticed that aside from the foreboding vibes she was getting from the man seated across from her she could have been in room at the Regency-Hyatt. She gave her full attention to the man seated across from her and she got the sudden urge to grin; which she did. She creased her brow as she took in his dark three piece suit complete with diamond cuff links and a matching tie pin. His long silver-grey hair betrayed his youthful face. It was tied off at the base of his neck and the ponytail hung freely over his left shoulder. He sat with his leg crossed in a leather wing-backed chair. His cheeks were high, his face pale and devoid of hair except for thin black brows, thin lips, and a slim nose. His eyes matched the color of his hair. Thin lips curved into a grin of his own as he watched the young blonde warily eye his visage.
Finally, Clarion leaned back on her arms and crossed her own legs as she spoke. "Aramni, no?" She was referring to his suit. He slowly nodded in affirmation. "Looks good on you, all though for some reason I think you need a smoking jacket."
"I'll wear that next time."
She was silent for a moment. "I know you don't I? Or at least I should."
The man snorted as he rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and steepled his fingers. "The first and last time I saw you, I do believe you were stealing the heart of Barron Velassie…as well as other things." He raised a knowing brow towards the blonde.
Clarion wore a smug grin as she nodded. "What can I say, 1827 was a very good year." She shrugged.
"Do you realize you're the one?"
Clarion looked around the room quizzically and replied, "I'm going to destroy the Matrix?"
Silver-grey eyes bored into green for a moment as the man let her comment settle. He smiled wider revealing sparkling white teeth and the very top of his fangs. "Xander said you were a smart-ass, I'm pleased to see that you haven't lost that."
Clarion gave the man a lopsided grin and sucked her teeth. "Why should I make it any easier for you?"
"It's understandable since you don't have a choice." He spoke dryly.
Clarion released a snort of laughter. "It'd be nice to know exactly what matter I don't have a choice in."
"You've really no clue?"
Clarion sighed and kept herself from rolling her eyes. "Do you want another smart ass answer or can I save my best material for later?"
"No need for attitude. Perhaps this will help, my name is Goethe Alexi Stolova"
Clarion bit her hard on her lip to keep from reacting in the manner in which she wanted, which was to run screaming from the room. She swallowed a small lump in her throat and spoke evenly. "I take it you figured out a way to become a Master, and I figure into that don't?"
"My dear Clarion, you are the key."
Clarion lightly chuckled. "My maman always said I thought the world revolved around me. Go figure." This time Clarion rolled her eyes and sighed. "So, tell me, is this going to be quick and painless or long and horrible?" He had a girlish giggle that not only struck Clarion as extremely odd, but it also made her queasy.
"Quick, I'm afraid not. Painful…for you, I think not. Perhaps, it might even feel good." He showed his fangs fully as a smile spread across his face.
"Ha. Nothing like a good decapitation and a stake through the heart to get me going in the morning." This time she bristled at his laugh.
"There will be no such thing I promise." Suddenly he stood, and Clarion sat back on the bed in apprehension as she took in his frame. He was a whole head taller than Yoshi and he had clearly spent the last 1400 years or so keeping in shape. "Wait here, and someone will come and show you to your bath."
"Do I smell?"
"Cleanliness is next godliness." Clarion opened her mouth to rattle off the Smashing Pumpkins lyric as a comeback, but she thought better of it, and only said okay. He raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. "Someone will bring your dinner after that."
"What no tour of the palace."
"I'm afraid I am the extent of your fan base."
Clarion nodded in understanding. "Ahh, can't win ‘em all." She winked at the tall man and watched him walk from the room shaking his head.
After she heard the door lock Clarion collapsed back onto the bed and muffled a scream in a pillow. Once she felt purged she tossed the pillow and propped herself up on her elbows as she took in the room. She figured she was in a basement or underground, due to the coldness of the room and the lack of windows. She took a few minutes to assess her situation and then ran a hand through her hair as she sat up straight bolstered by a small bit of confidence. "Okay Larieux, take your bath, have a meal, and then get the fuck out of here." She looked around the room for a weapon of sorts and stopped at the end table. "Or die trying."
---------
11:00p.m.
Yoshi had taken an extreme amount of time getting to Clarion's apartment. It had been an entire half and hour since she'd left the hospital, her mind in a cloud of doubt and confusion. She would later realize that mixed up in all that doubt and confusion was a feeling of emptiness. She just didn't know what she was missing until she made it up seventeen flights of stairs and stood in front of Clarion's door.
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