Stolen
2.01
Signs And Wonders
Beck
Robin
Vince
Beck manages to return safely as the pursuers turn on each other. He recognises Darvell, the Sheriff, at the back of the Camarilla group.
As they drive back to his haven, the girl introduces herself as Alice, and he can hear her heart pounding in fear. She’s alive.
“You’re a Thin-blood?”
“My father was.”
“You mean your sire?”
“No.”
He makes a call and sends his driver Jorge to locate Robin, one of the Kindred drifters, who agrees to at least listen if not to help.
Robin gives the impression of living rough, but he can switch from a weary shuffle to a fighting stance quickly.
But before they can leave, someone else comes to the door.
Vincent Gutierrez, an expert in cults, apparently informed by the Anarchs.
“I’m here to help. May I enter?”
Alice notices the golden gleam in Vince’s eyes and moves behind Robin. But Beck knows his reputation enough to let him help. Once he takes his shoes off.
Beck calls Mother Melise, matriarch of the Church, to inform her that someone needs sanctuary. She gives him an address in the Broadgate business centre, not far from St. Mary Woolnoth, the church she works through.
Vince takes Beck’s car to lead off anyone watching the haven. He changes the radio station and seat height, and gets drive through as he goes, heading for the Elysium at Highgate Cemetery.
Robin steals a less conspicuous car to drive Beck and Alice to the meeting. Looking out for followers, especially ones who can hide from normal senses. Robin decides to take a less direct route, not passing the church.
--
After Vince parks, the car that was following stops and one of Rhodes’s Tremere acolytes, Thomas Morland, asks him why he borrowed the Reverend’s car. With no immediately useful information to acquire, he leaves.
--
Beck leads the way to the address, a small publishing office, and meets with Joy, Melise’s mortal agent, who leads the group to a maintenance room. Robin notes the lack of other exits. But Melise is there.
Beck speaks as Melise studies Alice. “Alice says that her father was a vampire.”
“His name?”
“Jonathan,” Alice says.
“Is he still - ?”
“No.”
Melise feels Alice’s pulse, and whispers to herself: “When the snows blanket the earth and the sun gutters like a candle, then, and only then will there be born the last daughter... and she will face treachery, hatred, and pain...”
Beck recognises the verse from the Book of Nod, and remembers the last line: “but in her is the last hope.”
Melise looks back to the others. “We can take her. Safest out of the city. If the Camarilla find her...”
“I heard the part about hatred and pain,” Alice nods.
Beck assures her that she can come back if she needs him.
Robin gives her a residential address, and tells her his real name.
--
And once outside, Beck catches Robin’s eye and makes him forget the meeting.
--
Returning to Beck’s, they find Vince already back. With a semi-conscious victim in the passenger seat who he offers to share. Beck realises that Vince is making a guess about how he prefers to feed and makes himself drink a little before making sure the man gets a ride home.
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