Time: Later that night after "Keeping the Spectres at Bay"
Dr. Anthony Carr, associate professor of history at the University of California at Berkley... and Kindred... gets out of his car and hurries up the steps of Luna Mansion. The more he's thought about the encounter in the cafe, the more worried he's become, but he knows he'll feel better once his prince knows about the perceptive mortal he'd met. Sighing, he runs a hand through his short, light brown hair, and knocks on the great door.
Daedalus, the Nosferatu primogen, opens the door, pale and stately.
The Ventrue pales further, seeing who is answering the door. With effort, he tries to keep his voice steady before the imposing Nosferatu primogen. "Daedalus... good evening, sir. I need to speak to the prince if I may."
The Nosferatu nods gravely. "Is he expecting you?"
Carr shakes his head. "My cell phone is out... I'm afraid I came over straight from the University. I had a disturbing encounter with a mortal and wish to report it to him."
Raising an eyebrow, Daedalus studies the professor for a moment, noticing that Carr seems a bit flustered. "I see. Then it was wise of you to come so quickly. Let me take you to Julian. Follow me, Dr. Carr." He ushers Carr in and shuts the door behind him, heading for the study where he knows Julian is waiting with Cash.
Julian Luna, Ventrue and prince of the city, stands by the fireplace, staring into the small fire. One hand rests on the mantel, the other fingers the black stem of a wineglass half-filled with merlot. He is chatting casually with Cash, who stands across the hearth from him.
Anthony Carr, nodding, follows the Nosferatu. He feels a rush of warmth at the prospect of seeing his prince, for whom he has always held a measure of affection. The warmth calms him, prepares him for the report he must give.
Daedalus comes to the study door... knocks twice... waits for Julian's reply.
Turning at Daedalus' knock, Cash slips his hand under his jacket, then instinctively steps between the prince and the door.
"Go see who it is, Cash," the Prince requests of him.
Cash walks towards the door, knowing that the prince had no appointments scheduled for tonight. "Yes?"
"Forgive me, my Prince," the Nosferatu speaks through the door, "but you have a unexpected visitor. A Dr. Carr, from the university. He wishes to speak with you about a mortal."
Cash opens the door, smiles slightly at Daedalus, peers past him at Carr, eyes narrowing a bit, this Kindred is not well know to him.
The Nosferatu primogen nods to Cash. "He seems very agitated about this, Cash. He asks to speak with Julian at once."
"Cash, it is all right. Let him in." Julian speaks softly across the dimly lit room.
Standing back, Cash lets Daedalus open the door further to usher Carr into the room. Then Cash stands back, impassive, to the side where he can keep an eye on the whole room. Daedalus enters the room with Carr at his heels, steps to one side to allow Carr to step farther in. "My Prince, this is Dr. Carr."
Nodding at Cash, knowing the Gangrel primogen and Julian's personal bodyguard only dimly, Dr. Carr enters the room and approaches the Prince.
The familiar face of Anthony Carr brings a light smile to Julian's face, a curve of the lips that is quickly replaced by a flash on concern as he reads Carr's mood. [This isn't a pleasure visit,] he senses. Sitting the wine glass on the mantel, he moves to the center of the room, extending his hand for the proper show of respect. "Anthony, what brings you here?"
Hastily Dr. Carr bows deeply from the waist before the Prince, taking his hand and bestowing a light kiss to the back of it in homage. He straightens and relaxes under the concerned gaze of his liege. "My lord, I have just had a disturbing encounter with a mortal near the university. There could be a danger to the Masquerade."
Julian nods, acknowledging the homage shown, then his eyes widen at Carr's words. "A danger? From a mortal? Are you sure?"
Carr nods, meeting his prince's gaze. "My prince, this mortal, one Detective Jim Ellison, was asking me questions about wolves in San Francisco. Wolves, he said, with silver eyes and... no heartbeats. He's recently moved here from Washington State. I don't believe he has met Frank Kouhanek yet. But he's participating in their officer exchange program, I believe."
Cash and Daedalus exchange a concerned glance, that comment about the wolves hit a little too close to home.
Stalking back toward the fireplace, Julian runs his hands across his mouth. his mind is racing with possibilities and options... [Call Sonny for damage control within the department ... oh, no, Frank and *this* man together ... the infinite dangers to the Masquerade]. But he is the prince, and the prince must maintain control. Taking a deep breath, Julian centers himself in contrast to Anthony's excitedness. "And what, exactly, did you say to this man, Anthony?"
Carr glances over at the other Kindred, who surely must be wondering how he happened to be talking to this mortal detective at all, much less what Julian must be wondering. "My prince, I am certain I had done nothing to attract this man's interest. He simply came up to me in a cafe and started to ask me about wolves. His partner, in fact, isn't a detective at all, but a doctor of anthropology, so that's where the interest might have come. I suggested he was thinking rather too much about Halloween. Then his partner said he'd been having dreams... about wolves."
Daedalus frowns... this news is very unusual and disturbing to the Nosferatu.
"I only said something about how dreams could be frightening," Carr continues, "then excused myself. Sire, I have no idea why he asked any of this of me."
Cash thinks at his lover, [Julian, is there something that Carr did to attract his attention? Or didn't do?]
The Prince places a reassuring hand on Carr's shoulder. "I do not doubt your word, Anthony, nor do I question you having a conversation with these men. I know you would do nothing to risk the Masquerade." He frowns slightly. "You are sure they were mortal? They were not, perhaps, Kindred who are not known to you?" His thoughts are interrupted momentarily by a mental image from Cash through the blood bond they share. [Excellent questions, Cash.] "Was there anything unusual about them?"
Anthony Carr relaxes at the touch on the shoulder from his liege. "Well, aside from, ah, utter physical beauty... not that I could tell. The detective could have walked out of a magazine." He smiles a bit. "His partner, though, the anthropologist, was equally stunning, though a marked physical opposite. One tall, short hair, military bearing, the other short with long wavy hair, something of a bohemian."
He suddenly remembers, and fishes a business card out of his jacket pocket. "Oh, and the anthropologist gave me this. He's looking for students to tutor." He hands the card of Dr. Blair Sandburg over to Julian.
The physical descriptions of the two mortals, amidst the dangerous news Carr delivers, bring a bemused grin to Julian's face. He takes the card, thinking for a minute.
"They were not Kindred, Sire," Carr adds this softly as Julian thinks. "I was quite close to them. They were definitely mortal."
"I have a thought." He motions to the table at one side of the room. "Sit down, please ... all of you."
Daedalus complies silently, while the Ventrue moves to the far side of the table, sits silently, looking toward his prince with anticipation. Cash takes his usual seat at the left side of the prince.
"Perhaps the young man's business card can yield some knowledge. If you will each touch it." He passes the card to Carr.
Anthony takes the card, frowning. He'd already tried and had only sensed that Ellison and Sandburg were deeply attached to one another, which hadn't any real bearing on this situation, so he hadn't mentioned it. He passes the card along to Daedalus, sensing nothing more.
The Nosferatu takes the card, holding it in his hands... closing his eyes to focus more intently... shakes his head, opens his eyes and passes it on to Cash.
Doubtful, since this works best with things a long time in contact with their owner, Cash takes the card. Then with a sudden thought, brings it to his nose, breathing in deeply, screening out the now familiar scent of Carr... herbs, strong ones, tickling his nose, healing herbs..... hops, mint. Why would this man have herbs in his pocket with his business card? He hands the card on to Julian.
The prince takes the card, closes his eyes, and concentrates. [Herbs? Perhaps this small piece of wood pulp *will* yield more than we suspect.] He places the card, face up, in the center of the table.
Each of the Kindred focus on the card. There is nothing for about twenty long seconds, then, abruptly, an image flashes through each of their minds. A temple in a jungle... an array of animals. Specifically... a Raven crouching close to a wolf with silver eyes... immediately recognizable as Julian's own wolf form... The Nosferatu gasps in surprise that mortals would see this. There is another array of silver-eye wolves in a circle around... a black jaguar close to a brown wolf with normal eyes... and two other wolves, apart, with golden eyes. Then it is gone.
"Goddess bless!" Cash's tone is reverent.
Daedalus, stunned by the vision, relates, "That one... the younger man... he is clearly a shaman. His soul emanates with a certain power."
"Herbs, healing herbs..." Cash's voice trails off.
The professor nods, shaken as they all are. "Something drew Ellison to speak to me, something about me he may have sensed perhaps?"
Julian releases a cleansing breath. "Well, I'd venture to say that while our 'friends' are not Kindred, they aren't normal mortals either." The Nosferatu nods in agreement.
A look of realization flashes in Julian's eyes. "You mentioned heartbeats, Anthony. Would he have noticed you didn't have one? Daedalus, is it possible? For a shaman to do such?"
Anthony's eyes go wide. "A mortal that could hear that acutely? I... I don't know, my lord."
Daedalus nods. "Yes... I believe so."
The Gangrel speaks up, "Kindred smell different.... "
"But which is the shaman? The anthropologist... or the detective?" Anthony queries, puzzled. "Or are one or both of them psychic, perhaps?"
"They both may possess some psychic abilities..." Daedalus comments, "but I sense the anthropologist is the shaman."
"That remains to be seen," the prince sighs. "I think we best keep an eye on them. Daedalus, I leave that to you and the Nosferatu."
Daedalus nods. "Yes, my Prince."
Anthony adds, "I will... likely see them again, particularly Dr. Sandburg, on campus."
"That is good. Engage him in conversation, but be wary."
"Yes, my prince."
The prince stands. "I thank you for bringing this matter to my attention so quickly. You serve the Masquerade well."
Pleased with his liege's words of praise, Anthony Carr stands as well and goes to the prince, bowing again, his forehead to the extended hand. "Thank you, my prince!"
"And, please, make your next visit a more pleasant one, Anthony." Julian smiles, then turns aside to Daedalus, speaking softly. "When you have shown Dr. Carr out, please return."
"Yes, Julian." The Nosferatu nods. "Dr. Carr?" He goes to the door, opens it and nods to the professor.
Julian he turns back to his Ventrue brother, pulling him close into a tight embrace, his hands moving around Carr's back. he whispers into Carr's ear. "Anthony, it *is* good to have you in the city. You must come over some night for brandy and we'll finish our debates."
The history professor smiles with relief, grateful for the momentary relaxing of the necessary formality around the Ventrue prince. Carr returns the embrace warmly. "I would love that, Julian, thank you." He replies softly, then releases him, a last glance at a coolly observant Cash before turning and following Daedalus out the door.
After the door closes, Julian moves back to the mantel, picking up the wolf's head wineglass and downing the remaining merlot.
"That is worrisome, my lord." Cash indicated the card remaining on the table, then roams over to the bar. Cash retrieves the open bottle. "More wine, Julian?"
"It worries me, too, but let us wait on Daedalus to return." The prince holds out his glass. "Yes, thank you."
Cash pours the wine, filling the prince's glass about half full. "Should I pour out some for Daedalus as well?"
"Uh .... yes, of course."
Cash snags a glass for Daedalus and fills it, setting it at his place at the table.
Having escorted Dr. Carr out, Daedalus enters the study once again.
"Ah, Daedalus. Thank you." He motions toward the wine. "Something about the images ... concerns me ... perhaps more than the mortals Anthony encountered." He absently tightens his grip on the glass stem.
Daedalus takes up the wine glass. "Yes?"
Cash perches on the edge of the table near Daedalus. "Julian, what could be worse than a threat to the Masquerade?"
"The wolves with golden eyes. An unknown entity." He takes a long sip and walks toward Cash. "Are they garou?"
Daedalus nods. "That could be."
The Gangrel shakes his head. "No, we keep the borders pretty tight and all the garou, all the lupins in this area are up in the far hills, but it wouldn't hurt to 'beat the boundries' a bit...or Sabbat? That would make more sense..."
The Nosferatu's eyebrows lift in surprise at the idea. "When have we last encountered their kind here, Julian?"
"Sabbat is a possibility, but they also could be non-Kindred ... which would be the most dangerous to the Masquerade," the prince replies.
Cash looks confused, not lupin werewolves and not Kindred, not mortal wolves. "What other wolves are there??"
"Not necessarily wolves, Cash. Remember the imagery ... the silver-eyed wolf is me. So a golden-eyed wolf might be a vampire, to use the mortals' word." Julian turns to his tall, pale friend. "Daedalus, I want you to bring me whatever you can on these mortals. I'll speak with Sonny about the detective." He turns to face the Gangrel. "Cash, I want you to get your Gangrels out on the streets. If there's anyone new in town, that'll be the place to find him."
"Yes, Julian," Daedalus replies.
"Yes, my lord, at once," Cash answers. [Vampires or Sabbat..... goddess protect!]
Daedalus continues, "My prince... don't forget the other animals in that vision... the brown wolf, the black jaguar and the Raven. We must ascertain what they mean as well."
Startled, Julian glances at the Nosferatu. "What? Oh, yes, old friend. My mind was drawn to the other wolves. What do you make of these images?"
"I sensed that the first two images have something to do with the two unusual mortals Dr. Carr met. The Raven... well..." He smiles slightly. "For some reason, that reminds me of Detective Kouhanek."
Julian laughs. "A good or bad omen, my friend?"
Daedalus shakes his head. "I'm not sure, where it comes to THAT mortal."
"He is our ally ... reluctant ally." A smirk curls across Julian's lips. "I will deal with Frank ... when the time is right."
The Nosferatu nods. "Yes, my prince."
Cash snickers under his breath, suspecting what Julian's plans are.
THE END
