The Chapel

**Mable Wood** · Aug 20th, 2018 08:46 AM

Mable had been working in

The Historic City Cemetery (Old City Cemetery) tonight taking care of the trees when she had a few visitors. After a very pleasant tour of the cemetery, Dr. Simmons and Priscus van Valen had left. Now she stood there with John Jefferson Davis.

"Mr. Davis, I realize that you are part of the more formal part of the club, but do you mind if we revert to first names?"

Aug 20th, 2018 06:49 PM

"Why Mable, that will be perfectly fine by me. I wasn't always a formal member you should know. In fact, my first sojourn to Sacramento many years ago was not as an affiliate of that esteemed association." Davis was very intrigued about Mable. He had not known such grace, poise, and politeness from a Savage.

"I look forward to what a private tour of this place has to offer."

**Mable Wood** · Aug 20th, 2018 06:56 PM

Mable stopped walking and faced him, "Thank you, I appreciate being able to use first names like we are actually people who matter. Though, I will need to stop myself because I keep wanting to call you John Jefferson Davis." She laughs, "But then I would sound like your mama scolding you. Anyway, before we go inside..." She looks around. "How did you sneak up on us like that? I need to know. And once inside, I will let you know why it matters so much to me." She had a deadly serious fierce look right now that probably should scare him a bit. Probably won't scare him though because he doesn't know her well enough to know that look meant trouble.

Aug 20th, 2018 07:12 PM

"Trust me, my mother's scoldings had more ferocity than just calling out my name. Besides, John Davis is not my birth name. Merely one I adopted over time. You can call me John. Or J.D." Davis then was assaulted by a look. It betrayed a slight character shift in the sweet Mable. Had she not been anything but polite and nice, he would have been worried. Instead, he answered her question honestly.

"Ever since the Doc and I found that tunnel and myself finding a party den possibly owned by hunters, I have been mapping the Sacramento Underground. Not just "The Underground" but its extensions. I was exploring one of the old sewer lines from downtown to the old duck pond and levee when I found a side tunnel that led right underneath the Chapel. Without knowing where I was I exited only to find that I couldn't re-enter. I overheard your tour and decided to act as if I was already here."

With honest discourse, complete Davis added, "I do hope you don't mind. I'm sure there may even be more."

**Mable Wood** · Aug 20th, 2018 07:27 PM

Mable's look relaxes a little. "Well, JD doesn't feel right so I guess John will do. Thank you for your honesty. Come on inside so we can talk better." She offers her arm to be escorted inside. After all, he does have manners, so he should use them.

Aug 20th, 2018 07:49 PM

Davis takes her extended arm and escorts her inside the chapel. Inside is the City Cemetery Museum. It is small to fit the building. The granite tile floor echoes from the steps of Davis's boots. He points to a disturbed corner.

"That's where I came up. I was careful not to break the tile. There is an earthen tunnel that connects to the old Duck Pond ditch. The city covered the ditch with the expansion and renovations to the sewer network. The Ditch should connect with the Burns Slough ditch to the south of the Cemetery. Burns Slough, if equally improved should go all the way to Sutter's Fort on the east of town. The Duck Pond tunnel heads back downtown to connect with the 6th Street Sewer line."

Davis was uncertain how much to inform Mable. She was there during the hunter fight but how invested was she in the hunt to exterminate them?

"The tunnel didn't appear to be active, but you should be aware of it as Guardian of this Place." Davis almost said Lord but caught himself. He knew Mable wasn't Invictus and one must choose their words wisely in this domain.

**Mable Wood** · Aug 20th, 2018 08:00 PM

Mable closes her eyes and tries to visualize the tunnel system. But when she closed her eyes she saw that night again. Reopening her eyes she looks obviously disturbed. "Sorry, this hunter thing horrifies me." She took in a breath that she didn't need, just to steady herself. "I witnessed a horrible sight here in this cemetery just a few months ago."

She truly felt shaken to the core from the sight. "I witnessed three hunters end a young kindred's life. One of the hunters was her father. Her own father. I couldn't move. I just watched it happen. I.. he.. they.." she stopped and gat control of her words. "I can't even describe my fears, anger, sadness over that scene. A father having to end his own daughter's life. She was so lost and weak. Who ever created her hadn't stayed around to help her or teach her." Mable looked away for a moment.

"I did follow them down to the street and got a license plate number. Then I saw Cynthia and realized she witnessed it also. Though we never have spoken about it. My truck was on the street with their vehicle. It is my hope that they did not also get my truck's plate number. A friend of mine at the police station has checked and no one has asked about it there. But then, I don't think the hunters would ask the police."

Aug 20th, 2018 09:00 PM

Davis clasps Mable's hands in a show of comfort. Had she been kine he would have full on embraced her. However, that sort of action could be deadly when dealing with Kindred.

"This hunter threat will be resolved I assure you. By my word as a Knight of the Thorned Wreath. I now fully understand your actions that night. Your claws are mightier than my guns for sure but my guns are ready to protect you and the other Kindred of this Domain. I admit this to few, but my skills have become rusty in my long sleep. I am a Knight errant while I work solo. I will get no aid from the mother organization until I grow my ranks by three. Before my falling out with the Prince, I was going to ask for permission to start a martial guild, much like your fight club, where I could observe and recruit Knights to join my cause. Alas, I have failed in that task."

Davis was unaware of Mable's affiliations. It was a private matter he rarely pried into, waiting instead for the other person to inform him of their alliances. "You mentioned an interest in teaching me skills. I'd very much be interested in learning. Even teaching some of my own. My order has a unique fighting style. It has been adapted by some. Then there is also the matter of Kindred gifts. We learn faster when taught, and in a domain besieged by hunters, we need every soldier equipped to take on those with the ability to bore holes in us." Davis patted his stomach in mock emphasis.

**Mable Wood** · Aug 20th, 2018 09:17 PM

Mable gave him a small smile when he attempted to comfort her by clasping her hands. "I feel reassured that you are willing to protect me and the domain. That is a very brave and kind gesture. Please for give my ignorance but I am not sure I know what a Knight of the Thorned Wreath is. It sounds all Sir Galahad for sure. Could you tell me more about it?"

"I could definitely teach you some boxing skills. But I am not so sure about my special skills. That will need to be a discussion for another time and place. And how is your wounds? All healed? Do you need to me to check on the healing process?" Mable asked with concern in her voice.

Aug 20th, 2018 09:36 PM

Was she trying to undress him? Knowing her skill he didn't stand a chance if she wanted to. "I am fit as a fiddle or so they would say. It did take some time and a bit more fluids than I am used to." Davis wasn't expecting her to teach the signature gifts of her clan but he was aware that in order to fulfill his dream of being notary extraordinaire he would need to learn the basics of bodily transmutation.

"Ah, the Thorned Wreath, a legacy of my Bloodline and Covenant. We are a knightly order much like Sir Galahad. But instead of the Holy Grail, we seek to protect and serve the First Estate whenever and where ever we are called. My presence here in Sacrament is a gift from the Invictus Lords of the South to our Majesty the Prince. A gift in recognition of her rise to Praxis. However, a part of me believes it is a means of getting rid of me. Another Prince's problem so to speak." Davis was really starting to believe that when he asked to travel to California, the Southern Lords took it as a polite way of banishing him.

"It is a duty I sometimes hate, but it allows me to travel and hold acknowledgments in multiple domains. But sometimes I believe I would give it all up and just play cards and ride my riverboat. I mean that was my dream before the embrace. Make a name and fortune for myself along the river. Then my sire comes along, tricks me into a duel with a soon to be embraced Gangrel. The savage has been hunting me since." Davis stopped himself. He had said too much. No one in Sacramento knew about his nemesis. And yet here in the privacy of the chapel, innocent Mable had caused him to drop his guard. How much would she ask? If he told her, how much would she share?