Cheyenne drove around the side the of the building and pulled up to the front door of the Ember. She stepped out of the car and walked around the car to the passenger side. The car was a black sedan with tinted windows. Cheyenne wore a smart ladies suit, skirt just below the knees and a very smart looking blazer. The suit was gray in color and on her feet was a conservative pair of pumps.
Cheyenne waited patiently for her Master's guest to arrive. Her face blank and emotionless just like her master's.
Ariana had left the club and walked into the night air. Still wearing her simple elegant white dress, which she wished she could have changed out of before going to this meeting. She recognized Cheyenne and walked towards the vehicle. Looking at her blank gaze Ariana met her with a smile. "Hello Cheyenne, thank you for waiting." She had respect for everyone, including humans, so she waited until Cheyenne gave her a sign to get into the car.
Cheyenne opened the door to the spacious back door. As she did she bowed her head, not making eye contact with her better. She said nothing to the Ventrue, merely waiting for the woman to slide into the car. Once the woman had taken her seat in the car Cheyenne gently closed the door and walked around to the drivers side. She got into the car and drove off.
Through the speakers was a soft music, it was a cello, playing a soft mournful song that was just barely audible over the sounds of the car and the city outside.
As she sat in the car, Ariana could not help but wonder if the music was Cheyenne's choice, or Conner's. She was apprehensive about meeting him, especially in his own haven. She sat motionless with no indication of what she was thinking or feeling. Ariana was tempted to comment on the music, however, she refrained. She had a feeling the woman was not someone who enjoyed small talk.
Cheyenne tilted her head for a moment as if listening to something and then turned off a side street. After several more minutes she pulled up to a parking ramp. Once at the Parking ramp she drove up to the top of it and then parked. She waited for several moments, saying nothing, not moving or making any motion to move. Then, smartly, she got out of the car and walked away. As she did the doors on the car locked. If Ariana attempts to open them she will find that the child safety locks have been enabled and the doors cannot be opened from the inside.
What is going on, Ariana thought. She tried the doors, locked. She wondered if she was stuck here to wait for Cheyenne to get Conner, or if she was really... stuck there. She had a couple of ideas on how to get out of the car. She decided to wait for a little longer. She thought to herself; Would he really leave her here without talking to her? What was he talking about pride or target for Lord Bainsworth? She tensed slightly as she thought about her sire.
Conner sat in the front seat of the car and watched the nervousness begin to form on the Ventrue's face. He felt satisfaction. He knew very well that if she wanted to she could break a window, or increase her strength and break open the door. But for now she sat, nervous, and he gloated.
But it only lasted for a moment, Conner was a man of meager funds and would not want her to damage his car. So he carefully, smoothly slid from the front seat to the back. Once in the back he looked over to her and dropped his Shroud of shadows that hid him from sight. "Hello Miss Donovan." Conner said using his casual and emotionless tone.
Ariana flinched slightly, and turned to look at him. "You never cease to amaze me Mister Greyson." She paused for a moment. "Let us continue with our discussion from Ember, if you please." Her tone was serious, no smile on her face. Her blue eyes darkened slightly as she looked at him. Her body language did not show it, but she did not want to continue this in the car.
Conner's outfit was the same as the one he had on at court except one small addition. A white domino mask, form fit to his face, sat on the bridge of his nose. "Why should I tell you what you already know, perhaps you should tell me why you would betray me." Conner said. There was no question on the end of his words, it was more of a statement, or a demand without the tone of demand. Conner did seem more comfortable though, he seemed to slouch just a touch. Not sloppy by any means but seemed to be just a bit more at ease.
"Betray you?" Ariana's look of bewilderment was clear. "Mister Grey, I do not know what you are talking about." Her voice hovered between frustration and anxiety. The fact that he was wearing some sort of mask was puzzling to her as it hid some of his facial features. "Can you please explain to me why you think I would betray you?" She did not plead, it was more of a slight demand. Her fingers played with the sash on her dress ever so slightly. Unfortunately she was unaware that she was making such an involuntary gesture.
"Your Sire betrayed me. Had me bloodhunted. Poisoning the Prince against me with his wormed tongue." Conner said revealing one of the sources of his anger to the woman. His words never arose above the conversational tone that was normal for him. Conner's eyes though, the woman could see in his eyes that he was deathly serious. She had seen that look before.
"What are you talking about?" Ariana was clearly agitated. "Could you give me more details about why you were blood hunted, or better yet, why you think I had anything to do with this?" Her fingers were twisting her sash in agitation. She was so confused about his accusations.
"I was blood hunted because your Master convinced the Prince that a Public Lashing was not enough for my Crime." Conner said emphasizing the word crime. Conner was quiet for a moment, a look on contemplation passed over his face. "You were the only kindred in the whole of New York, who knew where my Haven was." Anger lilted his voice for just a moment, for a nano-second, "You told Lord Bainsworth, which makes you responsible for the burning down of my Haven, and the killing of my Ghoul."
Ariana could not bare her frustration any longer. She turns and moves on the seat twisting and leaning to Conner to make her point. "I had nothing to do with it. Can you not see the confusion on my face or hear the perplexity in my voice?" Her tone was not of anger, nor of rage, but of pure disconcert. Within seconds of her quick movement, she realized that she had let go of her composure all together.
"Prove it to me. Let me read your mind." Conner said, "Or I rip the memories from your mind and find my proof." Conner gave her a serious look not bothering to hide his seriousness or the threat in his voice.
"Go right ahead Mr. Grey." She said with the same measure of seriousness. "Find all the proof you need." She looked into his eyes through the mask. Although, she did not know the depths of his power for this. There was only one thing she would not tell him, mainly because it was somewhat of an emotion. Hopefully that was concealed deep in her thoughts.
Conner held up a hand and removed one crisp white glove. His hands were nothing special, they looked normal No scars or burns nothing, just hands. "This will be much easier if you do not resist." Conner says and places his hand onto the side of her smooth face. "If you do, it will hurt." Conner said.
At first, it felt like a scratching at her scalp, then she felt a coldness in her mind. And then, then she felt him. He was in her. Listening, learning, she felt him push about her mind. "Miss Donavon, can you hear me." His voice could be heard, but not heard, it was something she had never felt before. His voice tickled at her mind.
Ariana's eyes closed automatically. She felt her hands shake. She was not sure what to make of what was going on. She heard Conner's voice which sounded strange. She was not sure how to answer him. Ariana only thought the word "Yes." She had no idea what the rest of her body was doing at that particular moment. She was afraid, and if she was feeling it, Ariana was sure Conner knew it too.
"You are afraid. Good, you should be." Conner thought. "Come to me." In her minds eye she saw a room, with gray walls and simple furniture. Ariana will recognize it. A room that was in Conner's haven in New York.
Conner walked around the room, barefoot, he wore a suit as always but his jacket was laying over a table. His shirt untucked and his face unmasked. "Remember this place?" Conner asked. "It is now ashes."
"Yes I remember your place. Ashes?" Ariana saw Conner walking around the room. In her mind she was recalling memories of him in the coat he always wore and his several layers of clothing from his suit down to his shirt which was tucked in. "Why did you bring me here?" She could only see what the memory of his place was. She saw the chair that she always sat in, closest to the door. The table and two chairs, the heavy curtains over the windows.
"Why did you bring me here? This is your mind" Conner said "This is how your mind sees me." Conner sat in the chair and waited. "Now, show me the truth." A twinge of pain could be felt through the mind of the woman as Conner dug into her. "Ah... there it is." Conner said, the world shifting around them. The world reforms into...
Ariana was at Central Park, a frequent meeting place of theirs. The night sky was clear and the full moon lit up the park beautifully. It was nights like these where she would find Conner leaning on a lamp post or a park bench waiting for her. He always looked as if he were plucked out of some gorgeous black and white film the way he posed, statuesque and handsome. Two nights before, Conner was to do the final job that her Sire and the Prince had assigned over a week ago. She truly hated all of it, mainly the fact that she was completely in the dark about every detail.
Ariana walked in circles for an hour in a large circumference around one of their meeting places. She finally sat on one of the benches wrapped in her thoughts. (A locked antique silver box sat next to her on the bench. To the present day Conner, as he was looking into her mind, it did not belong.) Conner made it a point of telling her not to trust him, or anyone for that matter. Yet, other than her editor Louie, oddly enough, Conner was the only other person she trusted. The last night Ariana saw Conner was only the prior week, after she had been at Lord Bainsworth’s. She shook that memory away.
Well over three hours had passed; thankfully she had brought a book so she did not look suspicious. Ariana began walking home, it was not like him to be late, but there were a few occasions where his work kept him. She had thought about stopping at his haven, but unless he specifically told her to meet her there, she did not like to show up unannounced. She had sent him a few text messages on her walk home, no response.
When Ariana arrived home she put on some Chopin so she was distracted. (The antique silver box was on the table.) She kept looking at her cell phone, and the time. Walking to her desk, she flipped open her laptop. (The box was now on the desk.) She fiercely typed out four articles that were not due to the paper until the following week. (The box had become brighter.) She could not concentrate anymore and paced by the window where Conner would appear. He was like clockwork, he always showed up. Something was clearly wrong. Ariana sat on the sofa where she called Conner and left a message which she had somehow managed to conceal her worry. (The box sat on her lap glowing.) The sun was coming up, and she had gone to bed, leaving her window unlatched. (The box was next to her head, the latch was locking and unlocking.) She knew deep down something happened, but she did not know what.
Present Conner walked around the dream apartment and saw a newspaper on the table. As he watched Past Ariana he looked to the date of the newspaper. It was the date of his bloodhunt. She had not been there, she had not known. But this was not proof, this was not enough. Just because she was not there for the actual deed does not mean that she did not reviel the location of his haven to her lord.
"Show me your last meeting with Bainsworth, the one before your last meeting with me." Conner said nay demanded. If the calendar was lining up he knew when he failed his mission and knew when he had last met with Ariana, at his haven, so if she told him, it would have to be then. Conner had noticed the remnant of Pandora but he left it be for now. If he needed to he would push that nerve, but hopefully it would not come to that.
"I do not wish to remember it. Can you not see that I was at home that night?" Ariana did not want to go back there again. Not even if it was a memory.
"Yes you were not there, that does not mean you are innocent." Conner's voice could be heard but pain could be felt in the back of her mind, "Now show me, or your requiem is forfeit." That calm voice, sharp as a blade was accompanied by another small stab of pain.
Ariana’s eyes were still closed and they winced at the pain. She involuntarily had grabbed onto Conner’s leg above the knee. Clearer evidence of the pain he was causing her.
Ariana sat in a chair across from the desk in Lord Bainsworth’s den, waiting for him to enter. She was entirely tense. Hopefully this would be the last time that she needed to involve the Mehket in anything, she never wanted anything to go this far. (The antique silver box was in her lap.) Lord Bainsworth entered and sat at his large mahogany desk. He flipped through paperwork. “Ariana, I have been impressed at your work retrieving all the prior information. The last assignment will settle the boons you owe to me and anyone else.” Ariana nodded as he pushed the final assignment’s paper work to her in a sealed envelope. She never opened them, the less she knew the better, she put it directly into her purse.
“If you tell me who is working for you, I will make sure that you are part of the Inner Circle of the Invictus after you are accepted.” She shook her head. “I would like that to remain confidential.” It was as if she was talking back to him. Lord Bainsworth’s voice became slightly agitated. “Ariana, he is obviously Kindred, no human would have been clever enough to gain this information. Because the information I had requested of you had been crucial, I did not punish you for your meetings and involvement with whoever it is. Now tell me Ariana, who is helping you?”
“Lord Bainsworth, it is confidential, my source does not wish to be known.” In a flash he was leaning over the chair so Ariana had no where to run. He slapped her face hard. “Ariana,” hearing her name from his mouth was like poison. “tell me who and where he is.” Ariana shook her head. (The box on her lap was glowing again.) “No, I will not.” She saw the flash of a blade out of the corner of her eye. “You are stupid to refuse me. I will slice up your pretty face again until you do.”
Suddenly Ariana’s mind became blank to Conner for a few moments. When he could see it again, Ariana’s head was lowered while she sat in the chair. (The box on her lap was glowing and pulsating.) “Now leave me. You have the next orders. Get them done!” Shouted Lord Bainsworth as Ariana quickly walked out of his den. Her face was nearly unrecognizable.
"Did you tell him" Conner asked. "What was the instructions he gave you?" Conner was growing impatient, feeling like he was being told half truths. Conner eyes kept being drawn to the box.
"The Box. What is it." Conner asked, his curiosity now peaked. Conner thought to plow into her subconscious and drive his way to what he wanted to know. But that would damage her and she was not useless... yet.
Ariana’s mind seemed to cave and the grip on Conner’s leg was harder than it was before. Recalling Lord Bainsworth’s demand for the name and whereabouts of her associate. Each time slicing her face with her answer of no. Lord Bainsworth asked his final question. “Ariana, I told you our kind is vicious and cruel, why do you protect him.” Ariana grabbed his hand and said “He may not be many things, but he never did what you have done to me.” Lord Bainsworth stepped back and dropped his blade. Ariana’s head had hung down as if her energy was spent blocking him. He barked his orders and she had left with the new assignment already in her purse.
Her mind finally opened the antique silver box that seemed to follow her. Inside the box contained her true emotions. The ones she kept buried for nearly seven years; memories of her family, the hatred she felt for what her Sire does to her, that she cannot do anything about, and her gratitude for Louie her editor. The ones for Conner were confusion, anxiety, and affection. What started out as business, turned into some sort of estranged friendship. She would protect him; she gave her word, even if she had to die for him.
Conner's Grip on her mind had been tight, like the grip on his leg. A vice digging into his thigh as he dug into her psyche. And then... he was gone. His presence in her mind was gone. That cold grip that netted her brain was no longer there.
As her eyes fluttered open to look at him he looked back at her. His eyes had something in them they had never had before, at least to her knowledge, concern and confusion. The normally calm but deadly gaze looked upon the Ventrue with a semblance of odd questioning. "Why did you protect me?" Conner asked.
Ariana felt a little dazed and slouched a little while trying not to slump over onto Conner. She looked into his eyes and spoke sincerely, "You asked me to give you my word." Her eyes were a soft blue now, failing to conceal her emotions.
"Ever the Noble Lord." Conner said and moved his hand to the door handle. "I have what I need. Cheyenne will take you where you want to go." Conner said and looked to the lord one last time, waiting to see if she had anything else to say.
Ariana quickly reached over and grabbed his hand to stop him. "Not so fast Mr. Grey." As she did this, it put her face was within inches of Conner's. "Tell me why you did not just kill me immediately after getting me up here." Her tone was calm and smooth. Her eyes looked directly in to his.
"I needed my proof, killing you would not give me that proof." Conner spoke softly, making no move to pull away from the Ventrue. Conner wondered why she cared. Yes she was a lord but still her word means that much that she would go through torture to keep it. Conner doubted it. There must be more, there must be something that she is hiding. Should he go back into her mind. No that would not be a prudent move at this time.
“Conner,” the first time she used his first name and it was not a slip. “Please, tell me the real reason you did not kill me, the truth. We both know it is not entirely about proof.” She voice was still serious but soft. “Perhaps I will satisfy the curiosity that you try to keep hidden behind your eyes.” She wanted desperately to tell him the real reason, but doubted he cared. Still, she needed to know his real reason why he kept her alive.
Conner is a black hole of emotion. Devoid of feeling and sentiment. "I did not kill you because you are innocent. And I had hope that my instincts were wrong. That you kept your word." Conner said his tone staying still that passionless monotone. Not betraying his own emotions.
Ariana did not believe that was the real reason. If only she could peer into his mind like he did hers. She wanted to kiss him as a thank you, but his last statement was void of emotion. Her gesture may spark some angered emotion. She was sure he still did not really care. She moved back into the seat next to him.
Her emotional guard was down as she looked away from him and spoke. "Conner, albeit a short time, you have been the only friend I had in many years. You told me not to trust you, but I did. I protected you, because I care about you. Regardless what you think of me." She closed her eyes while she felt her emotions seep out with her words.
The doors on the car unlock and Cheyenne gets into the car. "The sun will rise soon. Your Hotel room is not safe, you will stay with me." Conner says again no emotion slipping through. Cheyenne puts the car in drive and begins to drive to Conner's haven.