My Little Ventrue Pt. 10 Ch. 10

Triss put up her hands. "I'm as in the dark as you, but... but Athalia's right. I know Jacob's up to something, and Athalia knows Black Blood's up to something. Pretty sure they're doing this together, and... and it's bad. Very bad."

"But, what can I do? Black Blood is... he... He's not normal!"

It took a lot of effort to not laugh at that.

"You're right. It's not normal," Athalia said. "But, it sprung a trap, and now a bunch of people are in danger, including your brother."

Mary's eyes opened even wider. "Jack?"

"He's trapped in the Great Below, with Damien, a bunch of the werewolves, and Sándor. Jacob's trapped them down there."

Mary covered her face in her hands, but she was see-through, and her freaky black voids-for-eyes stared through them.

"Jack's in danger?"

"Yes. We don't know how bad, but considering Jacob locked him down there, and he knows Sándor could get them out... I'm betting he has some sort of trap in wait to stop that."

Beatrice nodded, and took the risk getting off the bed. What was that chittering sound? Oh shit, Athalia's teeth were hitting each other with some extreme shivering.

"Mary," Triss said, "can you stop freezing the place so much? You're gonna kill her."

After a few seconds, and a few pained stares from the ghost through her see-through fingers, Mary lowered her hands, and the mist faded a little. Less mist, less extreme cold. Athalia smiled at Triss, still shivering, but at least not likely to pass out anymore.

"Sorry! Sorry sorry sorry. I can't help it. I can't help it. I can't--"

"It's okay," Athalia said. "We came here, because we're going to go help Jack."

"No one else can?"

"Everyone else is gone," Triss said, "except for maybe the Prince, and Jennifer is already on the way to speak to her. Maybe she can come with us?" If the Prince and the sheriff didn't come with them, the trip into the fucking underworld was going to be scary as all fuck. They didn't have any time to spare, but it'd be nice to have two elders for back up.

"I still don't know what I can do."

"You're a ghost," Triss said. "The Great Below is full of ghosts. We need your help."

"B-But... I..."

"You've been there before," Athalia said. "Haven't you?"

"Only a peek! Only a little peek. It's... heavy there. Heavy. It pulls you down! I... I..."

"We're going down there," Triss said. "One way or another, Athalia and I are going down there, and we could use your help."

"But I... it's... Black Blood is scary!"

"Damn fucking right he's scary."

"It," Athalia said.

"He. H--nevermind. Yes, Mary, he's fucking terrifying, but if we don't do something, Jack could die. Sándor could die. Damien--"

"Damien?" Mary let out a tiny squeak. "Poor Fiona."

"Yeah, exactly. So, we're going to go, and we don't have anymore time to waste. We have to go now. You in or you out?" Christ she felt like shit, pushing Mary like this. Mary's ghost. Whatever. The girl was clearly distressed as fuck, and bullying her to get her help was one of the grossest things Triss had ever done.

"I'll... I'll go. Mom--"

"I'll text your mom before we go, whatever you want. And I'll do everything I can to make sure you see each other again, and come back safe." She had no idea how to do that, but she'd fucking try anyway.

Slowly, empty eyes flicking between Triss and Athalia, Mary nodded, and gestured to her desk.

"Take one of my things. I can hide inside."

Nodding, Triss stepped over to the desk. Poor thing was a mess, but at least most of the jewelry was still on the desk. She scooped up a nice bracelet, and slipped it on. It wasn't silver, or a chain, or black rope, or any of the jewelry Triss would have worn. It was a candy bracelet, the kind kids wore and ate, but made with fake candy, meant to last. Very colorful. God damn it.

"I mean it," Triss said, holding out her wrist. "I'll make sure you get back and get to talk to your mom again, okay?"

"Okay..."

"Anything you want me to say to her before we go?"

"Just... Just tell her that... that whatever happens, it's okay. I love her, and I'm happy we got to have those three days together, and--"

Triss groaned and shook her head. "That is the most sad shit I have ever heard! Mary, come on, if I text her that, she's going to freak."

Mary smiled, nodding. "Tell Mom I'll talk to her later, then."

"Better," Athalia said, and she smiled as she stepped back, and motioned to the bracelet.

Seeing a ghost suck itself into an object was freaking weird. The mist, Mary, the cold, it all condensed and flowed into the bracelet like it'd become a black hole. Silent and surprisingly subtle, everything that was the ghost entity sank into the bracelet. Just, upped and flowed into it, until everything in the room went back to normal. Just a normal, not haunted girl's bedroom.

Triss stared at the necklace. Athalia stared at the necklace. Thinking about Samantha carrying around her daughter's ghost in a necklace on and off for months, was disturbing.

"No time to waste," Athalia said.

"Right."

Once they were outside, Triss and Athalia checked their phones. They were working again.

"Nothing from Sándor or Mark," Athalia said.

"Nothing from anyone for me, except Jen. She tried to call me." Triss dialed back. Jen answered instantly.

"Beatrice Damor." That wasn't Jen.

"Prince?"

"Indeed."

"Uh... can I speak with Jen?"

"No, you may not."

Triss ground her teeth together, loud enough the Prince probably heard it. "If you--"

"Your dear Jennifer is alive, Beatrice. I am sure you understand that I cannot allow her to leave until this matter is settled."

"Matter? You're the one keeping secrets. I don't even know what the fuck is going on."

"You know enough. I cannot risk Jennifer giving Jacob any more information."

"You... fucking..."

"She will be fine," Antoinette said, voice ice cold, "but she will remain here, for the time being. Surely you can understand why I am doing this."

"Not a trusting bone in your whole body."

"Perhaps. But regardless, Jennifer tells me you are actively seeking to save my love from a trap my old friend has sprung."

"I'm... trying to get there, yeah. Athalia and I are gonna try something."

"Wonderful."

"Um, I assume you're going to come with me? Or at least Daniel? I--"

"Unfortunately, my sheriff and I are preoccupied with a non-trivial matter."

"Non-trivial? Your boy wonder is locked up in the fucking underworld!"

Silence, for a few more seconds than was healthy for Triss's sanity.

"I know, Beatrice. And I fear for him, and for what he may do."

"What he might do?" Triss asked.

"Do what you must to save him and the others, Beatrice. Though I must ask, please, leave my childe out of this."

Triss opened her mouth, but said nothing. Sam wasn't at the Prince's? Then where the fuck was she? Maybe with Jacob? Shit.

"Fine. I haven't even talked to her yet."

More silence. The Prince didn't believe her. Why the fuck wouldn't she? Unless... Samantha wasn't answering her phone.

"I am warning you, Miss Damor."

"I'm leaving her out of this, Prince. You got Jen, right? I'm not gonna risk her life on a shitty lie."

"Very well." Definitely didn't believe her. "Unfortunately, my student is busy in the spirit realm, or I would send her to join you. You must do this on your own."

"I don't even know what I'm doing! All I know is, Jacob's locked Jack, Avery, and Sándor in the Great Below or whatever."

"Athalia's knowledge is more than enough to suit your needs." A few muffled groans came in through the background. Didn't sound like Jen, though. "I must go now, Beatrice. My task awaits. I must thank you, for sending Jennifer to me. Jack's thralls were not exactly specific with details. I was... not sure if I would be able to time this correctly, but now I have a time frame to work with."

"Time frame?"

"Indeed. It all happens tonight, Beatrice. I pray we will speak again tomorrow."

Beep.

"That fucking bitch!" Triss stared at her phone and squeezed. It took every drop of willpower she had left to not crush it into powder.

"What did she say?" Athalia asked.

"She's busy, doing something. Something pretty fucking important. Any idea?"

"No. It likely has something to do with Jacob and Black Blood, but she keeps her secrets."

"Everyone keeping fucking secrets." Because she was Jacob's friend and student, and apparently her boss was up to something so bad, literally everyone else was getting ready to stop it.

He'd said she could see Julias again. He'd said there was a way to do it, without resurrecting him. He was going to change everything, and bring them along. Christ, Jacob, you fucking idiot.

"We're running out of time," Athalia said.

"Yeah... yeah, I know. Let's go."

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~~Eric~~

"Come on girl, we all saw it," Jessy said. "You know, before Mary, uh... yeah. Gimme details."

Groaning and tearing her hair out, almost literally, Brianna shoved Jessy away.

"You have a problem."

"You're the one getting DP'd at a ball. I ain't never done that."

"You... shit, really?"

Jessy laughed and stuck out her tongue. "Never."

"Fuck."

Eric and Tash traded a knowing look, rolled their eyes, and followed after them along the sidewalk. Arturo walked up ahead on the sidewalk in his wolf form, and Matt did the same behind them. This deep in Devil's Corner, the spirits were a lot more aggressive and deadly, and it paid to pay attention. Jessy, on the other hand, was far more curious about Brianna and her relationship with Santos and Derick.

"Don't believe her," Eric said. "I'm not sure there's a kink out there Jessy hasn't conquered."

Jessy promptly gave Eric the middle finger without turning around.

"This is diplomacy. Jack's not here to play nice guy or liaison with the Uratha or whatever, so I'm gonna step in and fill his small shoes."

"By pestering them about their sex lives?" Eric asked.

"Yes. Best icebreaker."

Time to put a stop to that. Eric came up behind her and gave her a good tug on the shoulder. Before she could shake him off, Natasha stepped around her, and took her spot beside Brianna.

"Asshole," Jessy said.

"Sex addict," he said.

"You love it."

"I do, but some day someone's going to get really upset with you."

"I'm just trying to--"

"I know, I know." He leaned in and put a kiss on her cheek. "You can sexually harass me later."

Brianna snorted and looked back. "I mean, she wasn't lying. I did get DP'd, in public. But Dolareido just seems to really have that vibe going for it, even in the spirit realm. We can sense it. I'm sure you can, too."

Eric could. Dolareido was more than just a city, it was an epicenter of some seriously weird shit. Ancient deity talking to him in his dreams, and doing some weird mojo on the whole city, it was all par for the course in Dolareido. Giant sex spirits that could have been gods elsewhere, they almost seemed blasé here, and after being in the city for a while, Avery's Uratha were getting pretty comfortable with Slut City's vibe. Just, not quite Jessy level of comfortable, not yet.

"I blame Jessy," Tash said. "She infects people. Like a v-virus."

"An awesome virus," Jessy said.

Brianna chuckled, but let the conversation die. They were getting closer and closer to where Black Blood had been spotted, the tear they'd investigated weeks ago. Apparently he, it, whatever, had been doing something particularly ritual-ly. Caleb and Monica hadn't been especially clear on details, because they hadn't dared get close. Sneaking around in Dolareido wasn't like sneaking around in a forest. It was difficult, even for Irraka. Borderline impossible for Cahalith like Eric.

Cahalith. Storytellers, like Avery and Clara. Why Luna decided he should be a storyteller, he'd never understand.

Brianna was Rahu, like Matt, a bit tall and pretty muscular, more than Jessy. Black, short hair, and a really nice ass. Jessy was probably testing the waters to see if she could get Brianna to join them for a threesome... or maybe a fivesome, with Derick and Santos. Which Eric would say no to of course, but now that they'd had a little fun with Marge, he'd opened the floodgates.

The group stepped into a dark alley, and Natasha wrapped them in her Cloak. Art didn't need it, fading into shadow, and he scouted ahead while the rest of them got closer together. They went through a few alleys, and a few more, now hidden from the watching eyes of the spirits in the shadows. And there were a lot of eyes. The strange black blobs the size of rats were everywhere this deep in Devil's Corner, probably under Street-Tail King's control. Some of the eel-like things flying around swam past on the way to South Side. And some spirits that looked like tires rolled on past, more than a few of them screeching like someone burning rubber. Any of them could have been spying for Black Blood, too, or Red Tide, if it'd somehow dominated their choir.

The buildings were old, older than they were in the physical world. The Hisil did that, emphasized key details until they were hilarious exaggerations. Hilarious if you were looking on from a distance, but terrifying if you were face to face with buildings that looked ready to collapse any second, with dingy brick walls falling apart, many with giant holes some of the rat spirits were using as doors. The windows had bars, and the bars were thicker than in the physical realm, Gurihal, thicker, rustier, and covered in spikes.

A few demons Eric had come to recognize as spirits of addiction scurried off. Addiction came in many forms, but drugs were a particular breed that refused to die, like cockroaches, and they looked like cockroaches, too. Some of them walked upright, and had needles for fingers like the fucker Eric had killed months ago. As long as they stayed small and stupid, the effect they could have on the real world would be minimal. It was when they got large, large enough to have unique names and complex motivations, that they started having real effects across the Gauntlet.

He hadn't been hunting in the Hisil in a while. It was probably time to pick it back up. Much as they had to worry about Black Blood and the potentially apocalyptic shit he was up to, that didn't mean he couldn't keep doing clean-up duty for the city.

They rounded a corner, and stopped.

That, was a lot of blood wraiths.

A dozen of the creatures looked down the dark street, facing away from Eric and the gang thank god, their long black arms hanging at their sides, and absurdly long claws hanging below them. Legless creatures with human-like torsos, they hovered a foot over the ground like evil genies, and their onyx, ink-like bodies were draped in red cloaks that looked like they were made of blood. Dripping, crimson blood. Eric couldn't see their eyes from behind them, but he remembered what they looked like. Slitted, glowing white eyes.

Natasha held up a hand, and slowly looked to Eric. Eric shrugged. The fuck were they supposed to do? They had to get to the tear to investigate, and this was the path they'd planned to take. It was a detour, a huge detour, ducking left and right through a dozen streets and alleys they didn't have to take to get to the city outskirts. No one knew they were going to take this path.

"You are too easy."

The group spun and faced the alley's other direction, but Eric already knew who it was.

"Street-Tail King," he said, growling.

The giant stupid rat stood in the shadows of one of the buildings. It was a dark night, an especially dark night, and now it was all too obvious why the shadows were especially thick. This fucker and the black wraiths were doing something.

Hisses behind him confirmed. The dozen blood wraiths turned and faced the group, and they chuckled as they tapped their claws together. Trap.

"You fucker," Brianna said, fists clenched at her sides. "The fuck are you doing?"

"Stopping you from interfering with Black Blood."

"You know if Black Blood succeeds, it's going to ruin everything for you. Get out of our way!"

"Black Blood is persuasive," the spirit said. Its asphalt tail twitched twice, before it settled on the ground behind it. Several large rat-like dark blobs pulsed and moved on the hump on its back, before they flowed off its body and down into the shadows. "It insists we will survive the great change."

"Survive, maybe." Brianna took a step closer to the huge spirit and pointed a finger up at it. "But even if you do, so what? You want across the Gauntlet to the Gurihal, but it won't be there anymore. It's going to ruin everything!"

"You don't know that."

"The fuck do you mean--"

"Black Blood will tear down the walls. At first, I wanted to stop it, because it may bring everything crashing down, as you say. That's why I told you." The giant, two-legged rat twitched its whiskers, and plucked at one of them with long claws. "He insists otherwise." He?

"It lies."

The spirit shook its head. "I am bound, Uratha. I have no choice."

"Bound?"

The rat slowly shook its head. "You don't understand. Mictlantecuhtli will not stop until she is his once again. He has bound me, and I have no choice."

"Mictawhatnow?" Jessy asked. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Natasha snapped her hand out, and yanked on Jessy's arm, silencing her. The little vampire's eyes were wide, and staring at the rat.

"One of his many names. It does not matter." Street-Tail King shook its head again. "Ignorance is bliss. Be happy he only wants you to remain here. Malachi is... generous."

Eric looked back at the dozen blood wraiths. Fight? Two vampires and four werewolves against the twelve of them, and Street-Tail King? Doable, maybe. But turning the current insanity into a fight was a bad idea, when none of them had the slightest fucking clue what was going on.

"Well, uh, thank you for your generosity, in sparing our lives," Brianna said, gesturing around them, "but you know damn fucking well you can't keep us here. You"--she pointed at the rat--"are bound by your bans! Think we don't know? Think we don't know you aren't allowed to get caught in light, exposed? We spread your name and how you're involved, and you break. Power, gone. Avery will--"

"Then it's a good thing we do this in the darkness," it said, smirking, and gesturing around them, too. Metaphorical darkness, and in the spirit realm, literal.

"And tomorrow? We left you alone because you've been useful, rat. Tomorrow Avery will--"

"There will be no tomorrow. It all changes tonight, Uratha. You cannot stop Mictlantecuhtli. He has bound me, and he will--"

"Fail."

Everyone looked up at the new voice, and as the thundering roar vibrated through their bodies, Eric's muscles tensed until his bones hurt. He reached down for Tash to throw her out of the way, but she already had her sword out, and was dashing for the blood wraiths. Fast, so damn fast she was just a blur.

Eric managed to follow the blur long enough to see Tash get past the spirits, and slice one of them through the neck. It took one whole second for her to get the sword out and dash thirty feet. The sword wouldn't do much damage to a spirit, except she got it in the neck so deep, it let out a screech that broke everyone's paralysis, like a popped balloon.

Then the water hit them. A raging river, heavy, overwhelming, and powerful. It crashed against the wall beside them first, and the bricks smashed in. The building groaned, and spirits within shrieked, as chaos erupted.

Art, Matt, Brianna, and Eric all transformed into the Gauru form, and readied for war, even as the water ripped the world apart. Eric didn't know how Flow got above them, or how it'd managed to stay out of sight as long as it had, but spirit took its shot, and buried everything below it in enough water to rip the buildings apart. Most of the water fell onto Street-Tail King and Black Blood's servants, but Flowing Sanctuary was not a precise, delicate spirit. It hit the whole damn area with a tsunami. The only reason Eric didn't crumble into a balled up piece of paper was his transforming, and in the chaos, he couldn't tell if Jessy was as lucky.