Trouble Cometh

Prologue


Once upon a time there was a girl that loved a boy.

The boy loved the girl back.

They should have lived happily ever after.


There was another girl who loved the boy.

Who should have also loved the girl.


But now the boy is gone.

The girl he loved cursed to wander.

Ill-fated to drink the nectar of life. 

Bound to an existence unending.



~~~@@@~~~

Pandora's Box

Chicago


You would think a rooftop like this would see more action. I was a mess, but the human I'd just paid to deliver the box hadn't seen that. What he'd laid eyes to was a mundane man, dressed in simple, run of the mill street clothes. A nobody from nowhere. Pay a person enough though ? They'll do anything, no questions asked. Even if they did open it ? This package at least was just an urn. With ashes. 


Back to the rooftop. Here I was using wet naps to wipe Gods only knew what off of me. It was a nice rooftop, especially for the less than pretty part of town it was in. Maybe it was the fact that the air was… Cool tonight. The kind of chill that played across your skin and raised goosebumps. The unfriendly sort. Downstairs was kicking though. I could feel the pulse beneath my fee… God damn it. This had been one of my favorite pairs of boots. There were holes in the left one that hadn't been there and some sort of muck that just wasn't coming off on the right. 


I needed an Alfred.


The thought had a dry laugh leaving my lips, followed up quickly by a displeased hiss. I hadn't walked out of tonight's endeavor without wounds of my own. Dabbing at the thoroughly split lip stung like a bitch, but at least it was clean. The only reason I wasn't already at home was because of the package I was waiting on. Could I go out and hunt dinner ? Yes. Were there days that I missed the rush ? More often than not. It was riskier though. Again, it came back to paying enough and people would do near anything. Including the pee on at one of the local blood banks.


It was also less than helpful that I didn't have fangs. Scrubbing a hand across my face, I stepped up on the ledge that ran the edge of the roof. Letting the wind rock me back and forth, I wondered for the umpteenth time how I'd ended up in Chicago. The city of the Triumvirate. It was the people. The sheer amount of them. While I technically wasn't human, I appeared as one to anyone who tried prying. It meant that as long as I played my cards right, I could ride below the surface of the supernatural crowd. I liked my anonymity unless I wanted something other.  Thus I'd been particular about the ashes I'd had delivered. Or the corpses. I'd managed three months and still hadn't been found. I was on a roll.


Which meant it was time to move the location of my pickups again. Though to be honest… I was almost disappointed that one of the big, the bad, and the scary hadn't found me yet. Then again maybe they didn't care since I was cleaning up their riff raff. I was their own proverbial Batman and they my Gotham. I was just short the cool car and the slightly obnoxious signal to flag me down. I didn't need it though to feel the flare when darkness struck. Tipping my head back to the sky, I drank down the night air. Let it play with my hair as I waited as well for the beep that would let me know the Urn had been delivered.


At the Nest.

Underneath his many levels of Obfuscate, as well as some other things the King may have taught him, he crept along the roof top, making for the side of the building. He could feel the thumping of the club next door, and it made him question if all this stealth was really necessary. He peered over the side with his non existent form, and looked down at the female, her aura was fascinating. He hadnt actually ever seen one like that. She was certainly human, but there was most definitely other things in some way riding her sorry rump. A Beast for one thing, but her blood was to enticing to not be a Will User. And she had a musk, fragrance of wet dog, or Wolf. She was most certainly confounding.

He stood, still cloaked, but he allowed his silence to lift, as he dropped. He was either very lucky, or skilled, to time his rather soft landing in time with the beat. 150 lbs wasnt much. And he stood, watching her waiting for any kind of reaction, response, anything. His research had only just begun.

The beep never came which had her brain starting to pose what could be problematic questions as to the arrival of her latest conquest. Shifting her stance on the ledge, she lifted her left arm to peer at the watch on it. That dark brow furrowed a bit as she realized the package she was waiting on was in fact late as well. Soooo not her night at this rate. With the way her arm had lifted it could also be seen that she had claws. Ones that even as the unseen observer watched were dissappearing. Oddly slowly though.

Once they were finally gone, she hopped backwards off the ledge to land on the flat of the roof. Starting to pace, not so much impatiently but with the movements of someone with too much energy to spare, she was quietly murmuring to herself.

"I don't need one. Nasty habit those things are. They'll kill you they will."

Seeming to laugh at something about her own words, she pressed a hand to her side. When she pulled it away, it was still sticky with blood. Sighing softly, she wiped it off on her pants.

"Well I'm clearly just buggered tonight. I really had liked this outfit. I'm going to have to find a way to explain this to boss in the morning."

Yes, the woman was talking to herself, a sure sign of mental instability. But at least she wasn't answering herself.

She wasnt healing. That may be an issue. She seemed to be unable to control whatever powers she had. He reached out mentally and was nice, but stern about his presence in her mind

'Hello. My King wishes to know what you desire. Sabbat ashes are not exactly sought after, but he thanks you for your contribution to keeping our city free of corruption.' his voice was light, and intellectual 'Also, you may wish to have that looked at soon. Would hate to say you perished from Gan-Green'

That pacing stopped and she went so stock still that she seemed not more than a diminuitive statue. It wasn't as if the presence in her mind had shocked her, more that she seemed concerned that she had missed the arrival of the one from whom it was coming.

"So you're a servitor of the purple eyed sex on legs. Honestly ? I don't have any odd requests or wishes in trade for my time. Really no requests at all other than finding dinner as it doesn't appear that mine is going to be showing. I'd ask for hospitality but, I'm not a Vampire and you're not the King. Also King not a Prince. I like having confirmations."

The comment about the killing sickness had her giggling though. Like a Catholic schoolgirl minus the uniform.

"Your concern is duly noted. However, Gan-Green as you call it will be the last thing to kill me. I've lost my head. Been drawn and quartered. Survived the plague. Seen a firing squad at dawn. Drowning sucks. So does fire. It'll heal though. Eventually. My boss is just going to be ticked when I don't show in the morning. I've got to know though. Are you actually here ? As in on the rooftop with me ?"

He actually spoke out again in her mind, allowing his obfuscate to snap away leaving him standing fifteen feet away 'The sex on legs is King Rhev. Yes' his light tone matched his over sized sock cap, thin framed rectangular glasses. His tell and slender form was clad in something that one who sat behind a computer screen would wear. Even his satchel looked like it held a laptop. The quiver clipped to his side was odd, and the arrows looked almost menacing. Black. Dark. 'A human knowing about the supernatural is rare, and often dangerous but it would seem' those memories of all the times she was mangled or mutilated flashed in front of her eyes 'that you are telling the truth. Although' Images of the man she refers to as her boss flited through her mind 'Rhev might wish to know of this one. Moment' He flipped up a screen on his arm and sent off a message. This entire time he spoke directly into her mind, never even acting like he was going to mumble a single syllable.

"He's not a horrible sort. Just doesn't like his girls not showing without at least a couple of days of warning. Had I known I was going to run into this problem, I would have come up with something believable. That and requested the time off. I usually make it to all my shifts as well as covering for others. He shouldn't be too ticked. If you're implying that he's a human, he's not. He's one of your King's kind. Not clan wise though. Not to sound rude, but do you ever speak audibly ? If you can't, it's fine. I just find myself curious is all."

While her words about the versions of should be death she'd met hadn't seem to bother her in the least, something about this 'not so horrible' boss did seem to, albeit only for the briefest of moments. Realizing that you seemed to be communicating via your screen, she fell quiet and stepped back a bit further, as if to give you a modicum of privacy.

'I can't speak audibly, actually. I'm unable to' visions of pain and torture played across her minds eye, one sticking out. One where he was commanded to never speak again. A command that he was unable to ignore 'I suppose there are things out there worse than Death. Shall I start again? Hello, I am known to Chicago as Therror. However, you may call me, John Matthew'

"Gia."

Short and simple. But it was clearly spoken as an offering of reference for her in trade for yours. The visions of torture that had flitted before her mental screen had most obviously caught her attention. Not one would say out of a sense of sympathy but almost as if her mind were rapidly studying and recording them for later.

"Your arrows are interesting, Mr. John Matthew. Your name is oddly dualy biblical, though your monicur, far from. Did your King send you here to find me ? Or are you doing this on your own time ?"

She was insightful to say the least 'A smidgen of column a, some of b.' He receeded from the depths of her mind only enough to speak with her 'However it would seem you weren't looking to be found'

"That's usually my mode of operation, riding below the radar and all. Most people aren't keen on someone like me being in their city for long, if at all. There's usually someone looking for me by now, and they're normally not as pleasent as you've been. Being as you haven't offered up the typical threats or the like, I'm going to hazard a guess that I'm welcome to remain doing what I'm doing ?"

While she awaited an answer, she withdrew what looked to be a small pill bottle and a flask from inside her jacket. Pulling two pills from the first, they were popped and swallowed. Tucking it back away, she opened the flask and took a deep drink from it before offering it out.

"It's just water, and still delightfully cold at that."

'That would depend on what exactly your doing. You're lucky all of those deaths were proven to be righteous and justified. Otherwise I wouldn't quite be so nice. You see, im what the Camarilla refer to as, a Scourge. Here in Chicago, it's called head of research and development. And I've had my eye on you for some time. Because you confuse me, I have watched as best I could. So my question, at this time, most importantly, is why? Truly, why? Follow up, do you maybe want to go back to my place so I can take a look at that for both your benefit and mine....' he rambled, strangley his face making the features one would make while talking, and sounding like a nervous teenager.

She turned slowly at the implication that the deaths could have not been justified. The weight, the intensity of the look she gave him said that she was far, oh so far from the youth looked to be. It also said that the words had struck some sort of cord. When it finally melted away, she spoke softly, and yet it still carried.

"I know what the Scourge is, Therror. Vampire I may not be, but I do my homework. Aren't you breaking some sort of code by telling me ?"

The words were, playful, but still laden with seriousness as well. Tapping a fingertip thoughtfully to her chin,

"Why now ? I've been here three months exactly in forty three minutes and twenty seven seconds. I go where I'm called. No it's nothing quite so literal as someone summoning me. I simply end up... Where I'm needed ?"

She frowned slightly at her words as if frustrated by them for some reason. Nibbling at her lower lip, her head cocked slightly.

"I confuse you ? Why for ? As to going back to your place, I normally ask that a guy buy me a drink first. In all seriousness, I likely should. If I'm not healing as I should, those pills are only going to do so much."

His smile was warm and nerdy 'Oh that's simple. Because here in Chicago the Masquerade isn't upheld. It's not part of our belief system. The humans are educated as needed, and debriefed on situations as they arise. Most humans here know of the existence of the supernatural, and most share the same consensus, that if they've always been there then they'll always be there. They appreciate the system the supernatural have in place. Also. Im not a vampire' he closed his eyes and smiled bigger 'I'm Human. Granted a little less human like you, but still human' He lifted his arm and read the message that just dinged on his arm tablet. He looked over at her curiously 'Well, it would seem the time to make a decision is here.' He walked toward the back ledge of the building, stopping on the precipice and looked back 'Because my ride is here' his words falling much like him, gracefully over the edge of the building.

"Another confirmation. Two in fact. At least that part of me isn't damaged. Small blessings, silver linings coming where they may. Interesting sort to seem so pleased about being human. Most wouldn't be considering what he presumably could be. Yet strength is there, even though he is slighter of frame. Curious and Curious."

The words were quiet. Murmured to herself even as he spoke. Low enough to not interrupt, but still audible to a keen ear. Less conversational and more factual observations. Almost as if she were making notes of some form.

She did eventually follow, her steps impressively quiet. A dancer's grace, combined with a warrior's fluidity, sprinkled with a touch of something... Undefined but more would make even her simplest of movements an intrigue to behold. More eye catching perhaps was she turned so that her back was to the ledge rather than facing it. Spreading her arms wide as if to embrace the velveteen dark, she flung herself out into open air.

The transformation while oddly elegant was worriesome with how slow it was. Near to the ground, oh so painfully near she was when black leather and pale flesh changed for pristine bone white feathers. A beak and some impressively wicked looking talons. Wings snapped open, feathers dusting the ground before she shot upwards. Landing lightly on his right shoulder, she pecked at his jaw with an exceptional level of gentleness.

His stillness was there before she landed. She had the ability to shape shift. The mental door was opened as he climbed into the vehicle, sitting next to a younger, less ominous looking version of the man known as Sex on Legs, who looks promptly at the Raven and chuckles before calling to the driver to proceed. Unhindered they drive to the center of Chicago, directly into the mouth of the Nest.

Raven eyes blinked wide, head canting curiously at the less intimidating replica of the King. Hopping down from Therror's shoulder, she crossed the distance to flit up onto the new male's left leg. Pecking as lightly at his hand as she had at Therror's jaw, there was a sound suddenly that couldn't be confused for anything other than a sneeze. It caused her feathers to puff before she made quick work of returning to her original companion's shoulder. Working on using her beak to slowly and meticulously resettle her feathers, her eyes darted to the window so that she could watch upon their arrival into the nest.

A couple hours later, after a medical doctor visit, and some bandaging for her wounds, John Matthew escorted Gia into a room filled with computer monitors and 3 chairs. Lots of wiring. He sat down next to one of them and fired up the monitor while motioning for her to have a seat 'If you don't mind, I'd like to run a few tests.'

She was agreeable to shifting back to a more humanoid form for the doctor's visit and obviously the bandaging. Which it would be noticed when she shifted back up to a two legged form, the blood loss was much more heavy. She was a good sport about it though, only going so far as to murmur something about it not mattering. She did follow well though and dropped lightly into a chair. Giving a light shrug,

"I'm not sure what you'd be looking for, but be my guest."

He pressed a button and and strange eye lowered over her and powered up. Lights began blinking as the hum began, while his words flitted through her mind 'Its nothing to invasive. Just checking some things' he tapped his chin as he stared at the screen.

There was the slightest tell tale twitch as that eye lowered over her. One that said she was used to tests and not their biggest fan. She did however close her eyes and after a moment went perfectly still.

"Not invasive they say. At least you haven't stuck anything in me yet. That's the next step, right ? Just a warning, I tend not to be too friendly towards that part."

As the lights quickly dotted over her body, with absolutely no pain. He watched the monitor curiously as multiple alerts pinged. Vampiric Blood Discipline. Fera Gifts. Tradition Spheres. Fae Arts. Just to name a few. And that was only curious for a moment before another alert pinged. ANOMOLY DETETCED:Phase 5 Magic-Subjects Limbs biologically don't not belong to the Subject. Security has been alerted to the Class 3 Threat. Please do not advise the Subject. End of Line' John Matthew quirked a brow and pulled his phone out, sending a text. Krys quickly responded 'Don't worry, I've already called them off. Make sure she doesn't lose her mind' He smiled and put his phone away and turned to look at her, leaning into her mind 'I'd rather not be invasive. It's why I designed my machine the way I did. But I am curious, how much do you actually know about what you are?' The curiosity was dripping from his words.

Drawing a deep breath, she let her eyes drift shut.

"Your curiosity... It's... Endearing. Even with your tests, you're not treating me like a bug under a microscope. Thank you for that."

She drifted off for a moment, seeming lost to thought before she stood up. Slowly stripping down till she was naked as a jaybird, her clothes were neatly placed in the chair she'd just vacated. Walking to the center of whatever empty space existed, she slowly lifted her hands. As she did, the shadows seemed to grow. To draw to her like living things. Washing over her body, that perfect flesh became less and less perfect.

Finally as the shadows dripped away to coil and swirl around her feet, the 'scars' became obvious. At a closer glance they were impressively well done, but still painfully obvious stitches. Doing a slow turn, she was even kind enough to lift her hair out of the way so that all of them were visible. Finally turning back to face you, she let her hair then her hands drop back down. Speaking softly,

"I've been called a Monster. An Abomination. Things crueler than even those. My Creator, my Maker, would call me a Promethian. A Frankenstien. A Bride without her Groom. I know... All of it. That was after the curse. What is it that you wish to know ?"

As she stood and stripped, he couldn't help but avert his eyes instinctively. He noticed her beginning to move and punched a key on his board and the eye gave way and began moving with, continuing its scan. It's lights hit the stitching just right to give it luminescence, causing it to glow lighting her body up. John could no longer look away. He was captivated by the sight. Whoever had done this was no amateur. He paid attention to anatomical correctness of the human body. Both arms, and legs were symmetrical. The torso stitching was odd, crossing in between her breasts, but the symmetry was still a focus, her shoulders matching as if they were grown that way. He tilted his head so he could see his screen as well 'Fae Anomoly Detected:Advisement-Increase Light Sources' He chuckled mentally and he gave her his full attention 'You seem both stand offish, and voyeuristic all at once. Have I done something to offend? My sincerest apologies if I have, its just I've never met a Promethean before. Only read about them' Flashes of Old pages filled with ink soaked knowledge about Creatures stitched together, or created by artifical means. A message pinged on his screen "Scan Complete: Multiple Anomalies detected. See subsequent folders for further details." He sifted through the assortment of data now on his screen. And spoke aloud mentally 'Longevity due to Vampirism. But no Vitae. That must be difficult when using your blood powers. Traces of Gaian fibers in your DNA, as well some other things. It's almost like looking at plants. It's neat. Also, I'm sure you'd rather not have a dorky nerd staring at your tits and vag, although I appreciate the show.' He turned to look at her again and warm bashful smile on his face.

"Corax and Bastet. As to the shifter aspects. The Vampirism... Is complicated. I have access to disciplines, but they're not fueled the way a typical Vampire's would be. In truth I don't know the exact how and why, just that they do. My longevity...It comes more from the curse than anything else."

For the briefest moment her features cracked and the pain that crossed them was almost tangible. It faded away quickly before she cleared her throat and gave a delicate shrug.

"Neither are intentionally directed at you. I lost my shame over what I am a long time ago. I suppose when I did I grew more analytical ? That may be what you see as my standoffishness. Too much time of existance can cause that as well, though I try to combat it as best as I'm able."

Giving a vague gesture, the shadows coalesced and streamed up her body to rest around her neck as a delightfully elegant yet simplistic choker. Walking back over to her clothes, she began slowly dressing without bothering to conceal the stitching again.

"I don't mind. It's what I get paid for during the day. To get looked at that is. Pandora's Box likes my freak look. It also doesn't hurt that I've lived through times and places where clothes weren't always a common place necessity. What I'm meaning to say is you've been the picture of courtesy, a True Gentleman. I do think I embarrassed you though. You act much as a Virgin would, no offense intended."