Daddy's Money Part Two: Loose Ends

[Quinn Durant]

"Everytime I try to leave
Something keeps pullin' me back
Telling me I need you in my life
Everytime I try to go
Something keeps tellin' me that
Everything gon' be alright
Everytime I try to leave
Something keeps pullin' me back
Telling me I need you in my life
It was meant to be
You were meant for me
So that means we gotta make it work"

I feel dread as I sit here in this cramped corporate boardroom. All the fine dark wood polished to a shine, the long table, and plush leather seats neatly arranged spaced just ‘so’ apart. The crystal pitchers of water, and equally lovely glasses just waiting. A small but well appointed tray of ripe figs, pomegranate arils, red grapes, and assorted cheese board. All of this to ensure the silence of one Kine who stumbled into Kindred affairs. A cool million in cash. The good Mr. Riley insisted upon it being counted in front of him. I glance back over my shoulders at the duffle bags of cash and three counting machines looking dull and clinical almost in this setting. A stain upon the elegance of the room and its furnishings.

I shift my gaze to look out the floor to ceiling windows. The darkness presses in against the glass. The lights of the coastal nightlife in the distance. Waiting. I was waiting to see who the Coterie would send. There was Abel Wilkes, my sire, or the twin beauties Bettina and Pallas, Janos, and last but certainly not least was my sires older childe, David. I had hopes of the twins sweeping through the doors. I could deal with the twins. It was the thought of David coming through that door that gave me pause. I have little doubt he is still furious with me for leaving the Coterie and the Invictus. I was to be the Yin to his Yang. I snort softly at the thought. It had been a year and counting since I left and yet it feels the same. They were still in my life, and still I did their business and bidding. The leash was certainly longer, but I could see clearly who still held it. All roads lead back to the Invictus.

I hear the elevator ding at the end of the hall. I hear Janos’s cultured French accent and feel the knot in my guts loosen just a touch. Janos was a scary motherfucker and absolutely deadly, but he and I were always on good terms. We worked well together without too much uncomfortable emotion bungling things up. The masculine laughter of the gaggle of lawyers with him had a nervous tilt to it. I smile privately at the realization. Janos could clear a path through an angry mob without lifting a finger. He simply was. His curse was more subtle than some Nosferatu, but boy fucking howdy could you feel the dread spread from him like a poisonus gas. Which is too bad because Janos is excellent company.

To be continued….

[Quinn Durant]

Janos dropped the host routine as soon as he saw me sitting there. I stand immediately and nod politely to him. The good Mr. Riley trailing a bit behind, fiddling with something on his phone. “Welcome gentlemen. If you three could please begin counting the cash for Mr. Riley’s benefit. If you will excuse Michael and I, we have some other business to discuss in the room next door.” Janos got awfully grouchy if he had to watch the ‘help’ for any length of time. Not to mention his presence was enough of a distraction for even the most jaded Kine to be a nervous wreck. We move into the next room without another word between us.

I shut the door behind me and I found myself with a bony digit wagging in my face. “So nice of you to give that bag of bits a million dollars of our money.” He means the coterie. I left them. Apparently he was peeved over it too. The money didn’t mean anything to Janos. Please. I spread my hands and give a noncommittal shrug. I was honestly afraid to move at this point. I couldn’t find my voice either, so I just stood there and took the barrage of angry French and wild gestures. Maybe if I stand still enough he will forget I’m here, or calm down. Either of those was perfectly acceptable to me at the moment. I was good at looking harmless. I avoided eye contact and stared straight ahead until he finally lost steam with nothing for his rage to cling too anymore. He said his piece, just not in English.

He must have realized he had switched to French and my blank stare eventually did its work. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t kill that Kine in there. Just one.” Indeed. Apparently I was Mr. Riley’s lawyer now. Funny how that works out. I was ready to kill him too when I met him. I could sympathize with Janos. “I gave my word, Janos. Are you going to make me a liar? Is that where we are at?” I asked him. “Fine. He’s a part of Emergency Services in the city of Sacramento, if you kill him, the Lady Prince would be unhappy. Better?” He wasn’t. Janos didn’t know that though. He looked at me for a long time, silently before finally nodding. “Fine, but you have to do something for me.” The smirk on his face showed he knew he had me and was about to play the Ace.

I stare at him in mild dawning horror. I thought I said something, but Janos’s next words prove me wrong. “Are you going to say anything?” Janos Demanded. I find my voice again. “I thought I said…’what.’ Um...what do you want?” He doesn’t give me a second reprieve as he rounds the table and looms over me, letting his terrifying presence squeeze me. I hate looking up at him like this. It made me feel small, almost doll-like. “You will meet with David. Tonight.” I would have preferred an ass beating. I say as much, and man, it took real breeding to me feel like shit, but Janos managed it. “If I want ass I’ll hit Hollywood Boulevard.”

To be continued….

[Quinn Durant]

"Blue masquerade
Strangers look on
When will they learn
This loneliness?
Temptation heat
Beats like a drum
Deep in your veins
I will not lie"
-
"Cry Little Sister"

I was silent in the town car as Janos and I reached our final destination of this little weekend trip down memory lane. This place wasn't on any google map. It couldn't be found by a listing. It was like it didn't exist. Unless you were Kindred, a blood doll, thrall, or Rogue Ghoul perhaps. It's the world's oldest profession that catered to the Kindred appetite. Here you could be exactly what you are, and they love you for it. Sounds sick doesn't it? That's because it is. David is insulting me bringing me here. Something I will be sure to bring to his attention shortly. We get out of the car, and Janos offers his arm to me. Always the perfect gentlemen. I take it, as I don't want to be practically mauled the second I walk in the door. It's ironic that even in 2021 a female Kindred still needs a male escort, eh?

I swallow the indignity of it all. I have been to worse places than this, and really I was thankful it was more public than I thought I'd get. If he intended to ash me, it wouldn't be here. He wouldn't risk his membership to this god awful place. The hungry eyes that sized me up made the beast inside lurch on its leash. David was waiting in a semi-private alcove. A bottle of Dom chilling, still corked, just waiting for Janos and I. How lovely. Pass me the fucking barf bag. I slip into the alcove and take a seat next to David. David looks as he always does. Devastatingly handsome in a suit with pops of purple color. Purple for Royalty. He was a Knight of the First Estate after all. "Hello David." I say softly, careful so no inflection infected my voice. Tone perfectly neutral. Butter wouldn't have melted in my mouth.

A thousand ghosts stood behind us. The history was already written. He drew me in for our sire Abel. It was David who had seduced me when I was a human. He brought me in to the fold and threw me at Abel's feet, like a prized cow for the sacrifice. I learned a lot from David. Every painful lesson. Every pleasure a Kindred can experience. I lick my suddenly dry lips. Memories went through my mind as I stared into the soulless eyes of David Wilkes. "My beautiful sister...." David drawled, and moved his compact body closer to mine, until he touched the line of me. His lips found mine, and I allowed the advance because you don't fight monsters: you placate them. "You ready to come home, sister? Is this rebellion over?" The balls on this cocksucker here. He looks at me expectantly. I hate him just a little bit in this moment. The absolute arrogant tone galls me to no end. For once the beast and I align perfectly. I want to attack him. Feel his flesh give away under our nails. Tear into his dead flesh. I do none of these things of course.

"This is about the Coteries Money and some stupid fucking Kine finding out about it because my identity doesn't translate a possibility of that much wealth, only Abel's new identity does. It's set up for him. So why was any of this even necessary, David?" I cut straight through the bullshit and to the chase. I am not sitting through our greatest hits tonight. My patience won't fucking hold.

David frowns and his eyes narrow dangerously at me. My fear escalates. He was ready to fucking snap too, just for different reasons. He practically hissed the words at me. "I guess the pleasure part of the evening is over? So soon, huh? I haven't seen you or heard your voice in over a year now, and that's all I get. No fucking goodbye. Fuck you, David, fucking anything?! I yearned for you, Quinnlynn. You ghosted me!" Apparently I wasn't done paying for my sins. Janos wasn't the only one with an axe to grind. David was bringing out the entire arsenal. I resist the urge to roll my fucking eyes. So goddamn dramatic. He properly only felt a faint tingle in his crotch over me. Here he was waxing poetic about it. I resist the urge to tell him to 'shut the fuck up' and stand, moving over to open the champagne. I am shaking my head and smiling because I am picturing David on fire!

"Ohh..my God. Cool down, darling. The past is the past, David." I open the champagne with a nice loud pop. Pouring the fine bubbles expertly, I hand him a glass. "Let's toast to my freedom. I bet it sucks to be you right now. I'm the one that got away, David. Just move on already. Spare yourself the embarrassment, and tell Abel to assume his new identity already, and sign the goddamn papers. This meeting, is over." I salute him with my only glass and drink it down, setting the glass down harshly on the table. "Mmm...tastes so sweet."
I mean my victory over him. I don't wait for a response. I am sooo out of here. I leave him stewing in his own shock at my flippant disregard for our past. I could be this cold. I'm fucking Kindred.