Curiosity

[Herald_of_Fate]

Eijin allowed a brief raising of his right brow at the mention of an expedition. It would undoubtedly be something of importance and Eijin's successes in matters involving his mistress's interest were well merited. "I will grant it the full extent of my talents, sir. My mistress would expect and accept nothing less." He replied, bowing slightly. He concealed his excitement well. Rinald's words didn't offend him, rather they brought to mind a fact he'd overlooked. A rare occurrence. "You are correct, Rinald. Perhaps I should be more open to the opportunities this offers," he mused aloud as he heard the tell-tale footfalls of his mistress's approach.

The Aeromancer was careful to avert his eyes, bowing low and remaining so until Lady Anabel had taken her seat at Kraven's side. Despite Eijin's reservations about accepting authority in most cases, Lady Anabel kept his unflinching loyalties. He owed her much. It was her favor that gave him recognition as not only a Kalmardian but also as a member of her house. Without it, he was little more than a half-breed wanderer. And he would have never learned anything of his father had it not been for her. He would willingly risk his life at her whim. While she always treated him cordially, he would never seek to make a friendship of their relationship. She was master, he subordinate.

"The Festivals were wonderful, my lady. The people are contented. And the issue with pirates along the trade routes have been dealt with," Eijin intoned, rising slowly. "A shipment of Gil-Dreilian steel, lumber, and stone should arrive in a few days, along with some personal gifts from the Marshal himself. I believe you will find these most pleasing." His well-attuned senses brought the scents of Nova, Bart, and his guard to his nose. "Our guests have arrived, my lady."
Wordlessly, Eijin took a position to the left of the couch, slightly ahead of the chaise and about 2 feet away. His stance was one of defensive alertness, though it would appear relaxed. The position would allow him to react to any threat to his mistress and to contain that threat in front of him and away from his mistress. Kraven was her chosen bodyguard, but Eijin prided himself on maintaining hr safety when in her presence. His cool blue eyes would watch the unfolding events closely, ready for anything.

[Sage]

Rinald paced the short distance between where he had been, and the soft fur carpet from an unknown donor at her feet, and kneeled. Rinald and his Brothers did not have the same compulsion to obey her, or even Kraven, that he had for her. But they did so, whether out of respect, duty, or fear. On occasion, it was deemed necessary that Kraven brainwash temporary recruits in times of distress, but that was not the case with his permanent Guardsmen. He gave them a home, trained them, and freed them from the bonds of normal mortality, and in return they served him and whomever he served without question...almost always.

Rakhaev had only been the second man to defy Kraven in such a bold manner. The first had not survived, and he thought that had served as example enough for future generations, despite the fact that it had not. Rinald did not gasp, did not flinch under Anabel's praise or touch, but his mind ran rampant. Vastly opposite emotions would be felt surging through him, and he closed his mind as he concentrated on keeping them to himself, though he knew she would feel them through Kraven. Fear of danger, pride of service, and embarrassment for the recognition.

" I deserve no such generous words from either you or her. If anything, their lives were my responsibility while they participated in my research, and I failed. "

Rinald was pained to admit it, and he could feel the metal burn hot at his side, a self-inflicted punishment. He wore no sheath, instead hanging the weapon loosely from a loop at his belt, and it would be clear the origins of the weapon. A jagged, furious scar ran at an angle across the silver, halfway down the blade from where it had been broken and reforged. It would never be as strong as it had been before it was broken, and that was a symbol of the wound his 'family' had suffered when Rakhaev had betrayed them.

Kraven ignored Rinald's verbal responses, hearing all he needed to know from the depths of his mind, and instead using his outward senses to enjoy the presence of Anabel, close to him once more. He dreamy expression turned to a bit of a scowl as he read something in Rinald's mind, just before Eijin spoke up about the proximity of the Van Burens. Rinald had used his ability to keep an eye on them since he had first noticed their appearance, and Kraven monitored Rinald's mind so that he could as well.

Of course, Mistress.

Rinald gave Anabel a curious look as she spoke. None of Kraven's underlings had ever been allowed on the lowest floor of his home, directly beneath the prison block. None of them knew what was there, aside from the fact that it must include Kraven's private quarters. The Lord of the house, however, had no problem allowing Anabel in the sixth basement floor of his estate. Kraven stood, reluctantly, and reopened the doors to the lounge from the main hall after his servants had let in the respected First Lycan and his family.

" Well met, Lord Van Buren...Lady Nova. We await you, just inside here. "

[Paroxysm]

Van Buren had said nothing towards Nova’s wishes, though he had heard them, and he may very well end up respecting them, but it would remain to be seen, for now. Regardless, he did agree that humiliation was sometimes the better punishment, if only because of its inherent cruelty, but that was another story altogether.

Approaching and ultimately entering Kraven’s estate brought on Bartholomew’s natural curiosity; after all, his senses were considerably more powerful than even those who counted themselves amongst his number: the strange smell of an unnatural fire, with no discernible fuel, was the first to hit him, but there were others to follow even that; however, they were more mundane than not, they still told a story, of course, but that would ring true for most anything: the smell of death and blood, disturbed soil, a crushed flower, and so forth told stories, provided one found themselves capable of putting together the pieces. Bartholomew, though not specifically adept at the art, could tell that the estate and its lands had been the stage for several altercations, most of which occurred almost back-to-back, it seemed.

“I have no doubt,” he said in reply to the greeting, but he refrained from speaking in a bitter tone. His guards had slowed a bit, placing a bit more room between themselves and their leader, Bartholomew. Still, it was mostly for show, the guards could not make Van Buren look weak, because that would have been wrong, despite the fact that they weren’t all that needed when one got down to things. He was, after all, a monster in his own right, but images must be maintained, even contradictory ones.

“You’ve done well,” he assured the girl, “and you’ve earned your place here. You can stay,” he spoke directly of her unease. He was nothing if not observant and, in reality, Nova really had earned her place, and sitting in on such a spur-of-the-moment meeting involving such prominent figures was no doubt a worthy reward for her.

Finally, without any other reason to give pause, Bartholomew would make his way to the lounge.

[Jen]

Ana stood and smiled at Van Buren. She was simply radiant, even in the gloom of the pre-dawn hours. She crossed the room to the Lord of Werewolves and offered him her hands.

“Bartholomew, it has been too long! What have you been up to of late?” Ana’s blue eyes were sparkling and she smiled again. “I trust that young Nova has filled you in on the situation at hand?” Ana spoke as she motioned toward a chair near hers. If Bartholomew took her hands, he would feel the cold skin and notice it with some familiarity. This was not the first time they had met and spoken over such matters. They had known of one another for many centuries.

In many ways, the duo had the same purpose in life – even if they were at odds with having the same food source.

“The man in question is being held in the prison block on this compound. I have yet to see him because I was warned against seeing him alone.” Ana laughed, though there was an edge to her mirth. She wasn’t just a Vampire and Bartholomew wasn’t just a Werewolf. They were the progenitors of their race. They, each respectively, were the cause of the Lycan and Vampiric outbreaks on all continents of Dystopia, and of all history as it were.

“Also, there has been a recent development among my numbers that is quite disturbing. I was hoping to converse with you on that matter, to see if perhaps it has affected any of your kind. Would you like to speak first or see the culprit of the crimes?” Ana looked past Bartholomew to where Nova stood and she smiled, holding a hand out to the girl.

Nova smiled at Anabel and took her hand, familiar with her now that she had healed her. She was not overstepping her place as she took the Matriarch’s hand, but simply fulfilling the whims of an Elite member of their mutual society.

“You look tired, here sit with me.” Ana spoke as she looked at Nova with a worried look in her eyes. Nova complied and sat next to Ana, where Kraven had once sat – though she didn’t know it at the time.

Van Buren was right, she was proud to have gained herself access to the crowd of power players in this country. She sat demurely next to Ana, her blonde hair all curls and waves, poking out at odd angles with the stray leaf or two in there from the walk from the forest to the estate. Nova sat twiddling her thumbs as she listened to the proceedings. She looked up once she noticed Eijin and smiled at him.

He really did smell strange to her, and she wasn’t sure why.

[Herald_of_Fate]

The Ambassador remained silent, merely inclining his head toward the Lycan sovereign respectfully. He tensed little at Anabel's warm greeting, the touching involved but he would remember his station. She was the Mother of all Vampires, a monster of nearly unfathomable strength and resilience. While he wished to ensure her safety, even Eijin knew there was little anyone could do to harm her irrepairably. And no one here seemed too keen on being the cause of any violence. The Aeromancer relaxed his guard slowly, meeting Nova's gaze with one of his own. "Perhaps I should escort our friend to one of our guest quarters. She seems exhausted," He said, looking at Anabel and Bartholomew. "Besides, I'm sure there's much you all have to discuss."

The truth was that Eijin felt something was very wrong with the way Nova was staring at him. He normally kept his scent tightly contained by surrounding himself with very slowly moving air currents from above. He was well aware of his precarious predicament. No one knew of his hybrid origin and he'd gone to incredible lengths to hide this. As far as he was aware, no one knew. Normally he would not give her stare another thought but there was something in it that gave him pause. Was she onto his secret? She was in too sacred of a position to harm. He'd risk his mistress's and quite possibly Kraven's wrath should he do so. And he was so intrigued by her that he dared not try. He hoped that he'd be allowed to retire and question Nova without incident.

"I can always be briefed tomorrow evening. And in truth, I have not rested from my journey." He said, careful to mask his thoughts as his mother had trained him.While she might question his hurry to go, he doubted that she'd press too much.

[Sage]

Kraven perked up slightly at Anabel's mention of Rakhaev. He stood up straighter, very aware of his being left to stand or find another seat after Nova had been seated in his. Rakhaev, imprisoned as he was, posed no threat whatsoever to the Van Burens, but he was still very much a risk to the vampires, which is why his cell had been fitted with steel blinders, except in the front.

" I can take you to see Rakhaev, but I ask that we go without Mistress VonHagen. He is no longer incapacitated, and is still capable of duplicating harmful frequencies of light to -- "

Rinald made an unusual move, sidestepping at the same time as he moved forward from his place in the corner. He creeped between Kraven and the others, a strange expression on his face, which Kraven could read as pain and guilt.

" I am the man responsible for the injuries of both Nova Van Buren, and Blythe VonHagen. "

Kraven's eyes grew wide, and his eyebrows hiked with curiosity, but he did not correct the statement. Rinald had recently been offered freedom from his binding to Kraven, and he had turned down any such opportunity, and asked to take up his former duties, if only because Nova had made it clear she would only deal with him and Kraven himself during any future research. He was at least a head or two taller than Rinald, and he simply looked over Rinald to Bartholomew, as interested in his opinion on the punishment of the offender in this matter as anyone.

In the back of his mind, he pondered Eijin as well, and Nova's strange reaction to him. She had just made clear that she wished to stay, and had been granted permission, but the ambassador seemed intent on seeing her alone. He grimaced at the notion of another insane romance in his household, and hoped that nothing but friendly banter would come of any alone time they might share. Emissary Sokai was also unaware of Nova's wishes to not stay in Kraven's home, even with Rinald as her guard. What he was essentially asking her to do was leave the premises to sleep.

[Paroxysm]

Bartholomew smiled warmly and temporarily took Anabel’s hand in greeting, but soon released it and took his seat at the chair she had gestured towards.

Eijin’s body tensing was not lost on Bartholomew, as he took his seat, but since he wasn’t familiar with the ambassador, he didn’t bother commenting on it.

“Oh, you know; the usual,” he remarked through his smile. “Turning pups into wolves, men into cowards, and taking care of the occasional trespasser.”

His shoulders rolled into a shrug as he finished speaking, his life hadn’t been all that exciting since the treaty took place, but that was to be expected; though, there was the odd feeling of missing those he could use his full ferocity against.

“Mm, yes--Nova’s performed admirably,” he said. “She’s already told me of what happened,” his voice grew low as he his continued speaking, not quite the growl it had been outside, but the change in his tone would be obvious. “I hear the little man was left with her,” strong telepaths would be unable to read Van Buren’s mind in the same way as they read others, he was old, seasoned, and there was something dark inside him, something primordial; his thoughts came in images that would haunt those too sensitive with nightmares. “With silver. I have not quite decided on how to feel about this. Yet.”

As far as Rakhaev went, Bartholomew did not equate the issue to Anabel’s fault, he was human, not vampire, and so the blame went on Kraven for his lack of control over the man, it was the only other party capable of taking blame, after all. Still, Van Buren suspected that Kraven would never purposely endanger the treaty, if only because of the negative effects it would have for Anabel, and not to mention how embarrassing it had to be; at least, if it had happened to Van Buren, he’d have been embarrassed to no end, and something would have to be done about that. Case in point, his guards never spoke, never reacted to anything that did not cause them concern, and stood on either side of the entrance, statue-like.

“The fool won’t be going anywhere,” he shrugged again. “We can talk for as long as you’d like, Anabel.”

Bartholomew spoke to the Mistress of Vampire-kind familiarly, but they had known each other for longer than most would be able to guess. Old enemies, perhaps old friends, even, and really, after a certain point, honorifics just became unnecessary.

“Quick to take the child’s reward away, aren’t you?”

Half-chuckling, Bartholomew off-handedly commented towards the Ambassador’s suggestion towards Nova, but the choice of whether or not she went was entirely up to her. Of course, she was free to take one of Van Buren’s guards with her, should trust be an issue with the Ambassador, but that was assuming she did take her leave.

“Heh, I’d smash -- … “

Cut off from cutting Kraven off, Van Buren looked towards Rinald, listening to the man’s declaration for a moment, but rather than raising his ire, it just made him curious.

“Oh,” he pulled on his beard in thought. “Is that so?”

Cold eyes locked onto Rinald; they were eyes that could tear through a man’s body and see directly into his soul, but Bartholomew didn’t truly believe Rinald to be the culprit. Not many had the stones to do what Rinald had just done; that is, not right in front of Bartholomew Van Buren.

[Jen]

Nova looked at the Ambassador for a moment and then smiled briefly.

“I would really rather stay with my Master. I’m sure you understand, sir.” She looked at Bartholomew for a moment before turning her eyes on Rinald in shock.

“You most certainly were not to blame for this situation!” Her outburst might be seen as somewhat out of line, but if the scars on Rinald’s face were any indication – she had a lot to say. “Rakhaev injured you without warning. That is not something you can be held accountable for. Besides, wasn’t he supposed to be your superior?”

No longer demure, Nova was on the edge of her seat. Her gaze was locked on Rinald, but it traveled to her Master.

“You have my story, and there is no shame in what he did for us down there. I would be dead without his assistance.” That was the entire gist of the matter. Any way you could look at the matter, Rinald was the singular reason that Nova was alive – and the treaty was still honorable.

Dizzy with the effort of her tirade and with the strength of her anger at Rinald’s self proposed shame, she stood and brushed past Rinald and Kraven.

“On second thought, I will retire.” Nova slipped through the doors and out into the hallway. She made toward the door, having vowed not to sleep inside the compound – and honestly she felt the desire to be outside and in the fresh air.

Ana watched Nova go with a small smile.

“I do believe you’ve offended our young Nova, Rinald. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders. I know that you did not have any control over the situation, but that you brought things back to order. Your honor and hers are at an odds. Perhaps you should go speak with her? That is, if you can find her. No doubt she’s closed her mind to Kraven by now. Perhaps she would be willing to work with you in your trials more if Bartholomew will allow her to stay on the premises.”

Ana rose to her feet and crossed the room to Bartholomew. Her gown was a whisper of swirling velvet, leather, and silk. She had the more outlandish and extravagant appearance between the two of them. She leaned against the arm of his chair in a familiar fashion as she spoke.

“Rakhaev can wait. He can burn for all I care. The problems that have been brought to my attention seem to start in Xexoria. It would seem that some of my children, recently turned or otherwise somewhat older – appear to be turning into something else. They appear to be…mutating.” Ana gestured with her hands as she spoke. Her eyes turned to Bartholomew as she stood and walked to where Kraven stood, speaking the entire way.

“These children of mine are being turned, and in turn, feed only on full grown Vampires. That is their only food source. They are cannibals, so to speak, within the realm of our own society. This is appalling in the extreme. I am sending a small force to Xexoria to seize one of these creatures and bring it back here so that I might see it. Also, so that we might experiment on the creature and find its weaknesses – whether or not it can make more of its own breed.”

Once Ana reached Kraven she leaned against him. She felt tired after their rendezvous, and from the imminent sunrise. She looked out of one of the windows behind Bartholomew and then back to the ancient werewolf. They had been enemies, friends, and now in a way they were partners in a joint venture on Kalmarden.

“Have you noticed anything among your numbers, old friend?”

[Sage]

Rinald's mind warred with itself. The fact that they needed Nova more than even Blythe at the moment didn't help his concentration. He'd chosen to lock eyes with Van Buren, who to a human, seemed much like a wild and dangerous beast. And like a wild creature, if you chose to stand your ground and look in their eyes, it wasn't a good idea to give in before them and attempt to flee with them at your back. But Rinald's higher logic broke in, pulling him in another direction. Nova was a good person, and a useful asset to his research.

To offend her seemed almost a crime against nature, and Rinald's erect stance wavered as he flashed his eyes to the door. He had the ability to cover her every escape with his unusual, magical sight. Furthermore, he could not risk any more dishonor for Kraven and their Guard before the heads of the Kalmardenian families. Anabel had just gone out of her way to give him some wise advice which went along with his orders to take care of the people involved with the research.

Rinald's mind would already be working on sighting Nova before he showed signs of faltering. Without further incident, he was out the door of the lounge, and could be heard bursting through the enormous front doors of Kraven's home. He wasn't as quick in the woods as Nova, but he had the advantage of knowing the area better, and being able to see any and all obstacles from several different perspectives at once. Soon, his more distanced nodes of vision allowed him to see himself and her in the same field of view, and he called out to her to wait.

" Nova, halt, please! "

Kraven thought nothing of Rinald alone outside his manor. She was honorable enough, and while Rinald had been worthy of trust before, he'd earned it fully now.

" You must excuse my man. This has all left his nerves a bit frayed, but I assure you he is simply tired and upset. Once everything has had a chance to cool down, I am actually considering offering him Rakhaev's former rank and title. He is honorable. A little misguided by Rakhaev's actions, but he holds none of the corruption my former Captain suffered from. His heart is full of loyalty to me, respect for your races, and fear for being responsible for the death of a Brother, even a lost one. His mind tells me that even though his act did not slay Rakhaev, he feels that it will be his fault if we sentence Captain Solaris to death. "

He spoke more to Van Buren than his Mistress. She had gotten the benefit of every point of view from his memory, as well as his opinions, and would not need to hear them aloud. Bartholomew however had seemed not entirely opposed to entertaining Rinald's wish to take Rakhaev's place under the weight of the executioner's axe. Kraven would not lose two men because of this foolishness, and the First Lycan was not an altogether unreasonable man, as he had proven on several key points in all three of their histories together.

Kraven cleared his throat, attempting to get back to the matter at hand. " As for the vampires; the reason we ask is that...we believe it is possible that this mutation occurs in the human genetics leftover in our species, and is not a mutation of vampirism itself. Unfortunately, that means it is possible that the same could happen to your kind, though if environment is a factor, there shouldn't be a problem. "

[Herald_of_Fate]

The Ambassador watched Rinald's display with a bit of a raised brow and found his respec for the man steadily increasing. It was an act of inexplicable bravery for him to seek to claim responsibility for this debacle. Nova's departure allowed him some room to breathe a momentary sigh of relief and he resigned himself to the background of the proceedings, listening intently.
His time at home in the Far Islands had brought some rumors of vampires gone rogue against their own, but Eijin had been skeptical. It seemed outrageous, a boogeyman story to frighten the fledging of the species from rash action and horrible consequences. He'd even gone so far as to suspect that Anabel herself had spread the tales to keep her more rebellious children in line. But it appeared to be as much a mystery to her as it was to everyone. He remembered a myth from his childhood and gently interjected.


"If I may, Mistress and honored guests, these rumors and so forth seem to mirror an old tale from my homeland. I'd always thought them an old wives' tale. But it sounds very similiar...."he said, his face a mask of deep thought. "When vampires first came to Gil-Driel, they came upon a temple to the Demon God, Phateo-Negal, also known as the Hate Seed.Within this temple, they apparently came across a stone vault. They opened it to find little more than black dust. But all present there who breathed it, in the space of a fortnight, were driven mad, mercilessly attacking and killing each other. They were reports of feeding activity which read much like what we are experincing now. Is it possible that these individuals are infected with some disease or parasite to cause this behavior? And how would we go about figuring out this anomaly without falling prey to it ourselves?"

There, he thought, he'd given voice to all their secret fears. If these beings were infected, it was safe to assume that contact with them would spread it to even the older, more hearty vampire individuals. Eijin himself felt a measure of fear, acknowledged it with the same warrior discipline he'd followed all his life. It would not stop him from taking action.
He could, in fact, due to his nature, be more suspectible to this issue than anyone else. It was even possible that the Ambassador could be immune completely.

"My lady. I have another question. As the Great Mother, you have a connection to all of your children, yes? Can you search that connection, try and discover some common thread between those that are going rogue? Find if they are still thinking and functioning with any sort of intellect? It may be that we are able to help them, rather than be forced to destroy them. I speak, I believe, for everyone, when I say that anything we learn about these creatures is valuable before we go and face them. I would walk willing to my doom at your command, my lady, but I would like to know if it is, in fact, my doom."

Eijin fell silent and waited. It was perhaps foolhardy to speak so plainly before his Mistress, not to mention their guests, but the warrior in him wanted, no, needed every bit of knowledge he could before battle. He would go, regardless, but the time for secrecy was over. A possible plague, or mutation, or whatever posed a threat to them all and men who might be going to die fighting it deserved to know what awaited them. It could cost the Ambassador his life...and he would accept that fate if it came. He looked at Anabel full in the face, a rare thing for him who revered her like a queen.

[Paroxysm]

Bartholomew said nothing as Nova took her leave, but he regarded her with a small nod beforehand; he understood why she may have needed some time to herself.

“Doesn’t matter,” he shrugged to Kraven. “Nova already told me the story,” chuckling to himself, he smiled warmly, “and I had meant to thank him, personally.”

After speaking to Kraven, Bartholomew turned his attention to Anabel, softly urging her to continue, and, as she spoke, Bartholomew said nothing; he simply listened intently, and took in everything she said.

In truth, his people hadn’t had any problem to his knowledge, not like what she was talking about, but there were branches that he hadn’t quite taken time to speak to in a while. His curse was one that quickly spread through the wilds and, in this world, the wilds were quite extensive; there was no telling what may have happened to those in places such as Greoul and especially with the great cataclysm taken into account.

Xexoria, he smirked to himself at the mention of the broken nation, “always the source of countless problems, Xexoria.”

Stroking his beard yet again, he seemed to give the issue some thought, but he just couldn’t seem to recall anything remotely similar being reported to him. However, if his people were infected with some sort of disease, then he wouldn’t care much for studying it, or even trying to save them as the Ambassador was now suggesting. They and all like them would be burned, purged from existence, and left for the Dirige to sort out. The many came before the few.

“Nothing,” he confessed aloud. “After the cataclysm, everyone’s been a little… Cautious, but I haven’t yet heard tell of cannibalism. “

Bartholomew paused for a moment and leaned forwards, clasping his hands together, resting his chin his fists, and propping his elbows onto his legs.

“About those who are turning,” he finally said after a long moment of silence. “Are they infected because they’re weak, do you think? Strength comes with age for both our people, Anabel. If it can only latch onto the weak, then things are already looking better, but if it could affect us …”

Bartholomew figured he didn’t have to finish that thought. If something corrupted Anabel or him, their strongest lieutenants, and was capable of turning them into cannibals--or completely doing away with any semblance of whom they were as “people,” then the world of the supernatural was looking bleak.

[Jen]

“What do you want?” Nova spoke from her spot in a tree above Rinald. She was stoic, rigid, looking into the clearing beyond with the eyes of a predator. She didn’t really want to talk to Rinald right now, afraid that she might say things she didn’t mean.

“The way you deny your position as a hero is troublesome to me. It is as if you regret saving my life. You know, you didn’t have to if you were going to beat yourself up about it.” Nova growled at the end of her small speech. A short, angry, guttural sound that most sane human beings would avoid upon hearing.

Nova looked down at Rinald then, and jumped the fifteen feet from her perch, landing with a crouch in front of him. She was shorter than him, so when she stood tall in front of him, it left some impact to be desired – but the anger was in her eyes. She wouldn’t hurt Rinald, although she could probably do so if she desired. Nova was just angry with the whole situation, and very tired.

Ana frowned a little as she listened to her Ambassador and then Bartholomew.

“Ambassador, my children are plentiful in the extreme. I do not have the ability to maintain a mental connection with any of my children outside my immediate area, such as Kalmarden. When they are within my field of influence then I can make them do as I please. Within the power of suggestion, and pain, of course.”

Ana nodded as Bartholomew spoke.

“I was considering the same situation, Bartholomew. I believe that I will know more once one of the creatures is brought to me. I have no problem turning a few humans and sacrificing some of my weaker children for the greater good of my brood.” Ana laughed briefly before looking at Bartholomew. They were of the same mind with certain things, though Ana could be a little more brutal and heartless at times.

“I don’t know if we can be infected with this…plague. I want you to keep an eye on your people to make sure it can’t cross boundaries. Especially if it is something situational, such as the issue that Eijin proposed. So long as these creatures feed on my people it can be contained, but if it ever crosses race – we could very well have a problem.”

Ana looked at Kraven and smiled at him in a way that Bartholomew would notice. He had seen it once before, when they were both younger, when they had finally become friends. Though the man that had been the recipient of that look, had died centuries ago.

“Won’t you stay, Bartholomew? I must rest now. I know you understand.” Ana cast a shifty gaze toward the window behind the Lycan. The sky was starting to lighten and she looked somewhat uncomfortable standing in the open.

[Sage]

Rinald was on the verge of a furious outburst, and Nova would have no idea. It was easy to judge him, her perch so much like the pedestal she metaphorically mounted as she cast down hateful words, compounded even more when she hopped down to size him up. She was shorter than him, but he was used to fighting much taller opponents. He had demonstrated his mastery of a low center of gravity in flinging Rakhaev effortlessly, despite his disadvantage in size. But he still had muscle on her, if not speed. They didn't not seem large, but his lithe frame was misleading, and his muscle mass seemed to go a long way.

" You don't understand what it's like to do this job, being what I am. I am human, bound to Kraven. Every day I am forced to slay or imprison the innocent of my own kind and feed them to creatures I often do not even know. I have been made to kill family, children, and people completely unable to defend themselves. And to be called a hero? It is an insult, Nova, a disgrace.

When we pledge our loyalty to Kraven, a funeral is held. We are all dead men, doing what must be done just to stave off utter chaos. We sacrifice our morality, we our very lives! Everything that makes us who we are, so that we can become monsters! "

Rinald was beyond rage, though it wasn't directed at Nova. He peeled back the cloth from his chest, revealing a toned chest covered with a massive tattoo which spanned his flesh, mirroring the mythical Sleiden. It was a mark of death.

" Do you realize what I was about to have to do when you arrived? I was having to burn Blythe with sunlight, cleave flesh from her very bone so that you could test your ability to repair it. You. You are a good person, a hero for sparing Rakhaev when I was not capable, but I knew him better than anyone! I understood what was about to happen, and I wavered because he was supposed to be my superior. I am a coward. "

Rinald shed a single tear, remembering every life he had been forced to extinguish. He withdrew a dagger from his belt, it would be a familiar one to Nova. She might know of the Guard, how they were unable to even commit suicide once they were bound to Kraven, there was no release except through duty. He pressed the point against his flesh, drawing blood across the haunting image.

" Kraven gave me two options, when Rakhaev betrayed us. I can either take his rank, or take my leave. He has given me the choice to break away from the Guard, but I will never be able to escape this life alone if I do... But if I declare my solidarity, you will have broken no vows. You can repay me by doing me this one thing. If you hate me...if you respect me...you kill me. "

--

Kraven snickered a bit, quietly, in the corner. Ana might not have been the source of the stories Eijin referred to, but Kraven had spread a few of his own over the years. Foreign vampires would always fear and respect Anabel's name, for fear of the astounding powers and influence over her race she was said to possess. It might have been slightly exaggerated, but there was no harm in making her seem like a god, rather than just less than.

Van Buren had made a good point, but the Heads of Family had slightly differing opinions ever since they had met. Stomping out the plague without studying it would be an excellent idea, unless they found out something once on the field of battle that they should have known before, or missed even one of them so that the virus could spread farther. Anabel's was the idea that made the most sense to him, and covered Eijin's concerns.

If they knew enough information to tell Eijin all he wanted to hear, they would very likely not need to single out and capture one of the creatures. It would not be war, and the odds would be vastly in their favor. Getting in and getting out with survival as a priority would be the parameters of the mission, but it was Mistress VonHagen's responsibility to reaffirm her kind, not Kraven's. And so he simply stood and smiled, looking as appealing, and at the same time intimidating as possible.

" Yes, we Guard wouldn't want either of your kind's rogue going after any race but our own, would we? "

His tone was playful, almost jovial as he made the comment. They could take it as a joke if they liked. Kraven always did have such a strange sense of humor. He began looking in the same direction as she, and nodded to Van Buren before walking out of the room, clanking sounds echoing as he released locks heading down.

" When you're ready, Mistress. "

[Herald_of_Fate]

He listened quite calmly as Anabel explained her limited psychic connection to her brood, a point the Ambassador had, in fact, already surmised. If she had such a connection, the mission itself would be unnecessary. And more importantly, his own secret would have been exposed. Her powers, it seemed, did not extend over him completely. Was it due to his hidden hybrid nature? The psychic training his mother had given him? Or was his Mistress bluffing? Eijin had no real way of knowing and as she continued, his face became a mask of brooding thought. Her callous words infuriated him though he'd expected such from her. She did not hold the same belief that he did being a follower of Nataku. Worship of the Dragon of Creation taught the sanctity of sentience, extending to nearly all species. The Ambassador, however, would not expose his irritation at her coldness, rather he would fall silent, taking a stance of near absolute stillness that made vampires so unnerving. His mind churned as he considered all the factors ahead. It was clear that the discussion was at a close.

"Very well, then, my lady. I will take my leave and depart tommorrow evening for Xexoria. The Guard and those you deem worthy of this should go on at their leisure," he intoned, his voice a nearly toneless monotone. "I think perhaps it would be best if I were to travel on my own. If indeed the elder of our race is capable of succumbing to this madness, I fear what may happen to any in my company. That and I fear that they may slow me down...." He gave Kraven a nod and half-smile. Much like Kraven's before, there was an air of jest. But any who knew Eijin as the Killer of Four Winds would know there was a nugget of truth in his statement. "My only question is do you wish this specimen alive?"

He strode from the room slowly, descending to one of the guest chambers set aside for him, pausing momentarily at the door and awaiting Anabel's response. Though Eijin disagreed with her, he would not blatantly disrespect her out of hand, most definitely not before guests. He merely wanted this over quickly and the answers known. For there were secrets to this he felt linked to him as the air he controlled

[Paroxysm]

“Of course I’ll keep watch over mine, Anabel. Seems I’ll have a vested interest in this plague,” he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms against his chest. “Those hunters from before the treaty yet live,” he offered. “Should you have need of one, you need only ask, and have someone prepared to kill him should the plague prove resilient enough to cross species.”

A generous offer though it may be, Anabel or Kraven were free to decline, should they not want to risk spreading the infection, but it did not matter to Van Buren. Risking one of his was a hard choice, but sometimes it was also the best. The hunters he referred to, after all, were those experienced in hunting vampire for game, and in combating them. There had not always been peace between the two.

“If the host wishes it,” he looked to Kraven with a nod, “and you would not want my kind going rogue at all,” he chuckled in response.

Ultimately, there was no telling what the infection might do to lycanthropes, which were always at odds with themselves, and the beast that lurked within. A vampire might be driven to cannibalism, but the mutation may act differently to one of Van Buren’s number.

“I’ll have word of this… development sent to my lieutenants later today,” he announced. “In the mean time, do sleep peacefully, Anabel.”