Where They Do That At...Cont.Pt. 2 (Pepper/Lions)

Aminta went to stop him yet stopped as close as they were if things escalated no one would be able to stop it from getting worse fast. She paused looking for something big and heavy enough to stun Jaedon should it get as bad as she feared. Nothing was at hand so she improvised. She began shifting her hands having never done it successfully it was far more painful than she thought. It didn’t level the playing field but she hoped it would be enough of a surprise to keep him off kilter enough to save Amalia.





He moved and it was too quick to do anything sadly. Yet, he hadn’t taken flesh. He took most of her shirt and with it the scent of blood that was faint became clear. She’d scratched her skin away Aminta was now pissed she had been using and keeping it a secret which meant Ghis had been using. That was not a bit of good in the whole of it.
 

Minta watched as the signs became clear. She was officially going on vacation to spend more time here and catch this. Between her and Pepper being busy working this had happened. They had been building the savings for the Pride so that unlike elsewhere where everyone had to pay their way with a portion of their earnings the Pride took care of its own without being taken care of by its own. She growled her pained annoyance as it was clear that it was not just Ama and Ghis. She counted four faces she would be pinning their tails back once they settled this with Ghis and Ama.



She prayed she wouldn’t hear exactly what she did.

Vitamin V and the Grizzly mix from the Sleuth.



The Grizzly mix was just booze she didn’t care about that no one would. It was s super concentrated herbed brew. It wasn’t addictive well no more addictive than any other liquor. Vitamin V however was death. She’d heard that several Masters had hunted down their population of users and killed each of them because the rehab for Vitamin V users was so prohibitive as to make it not worth it.



Pepper worked in the club business she had first eyewitness experience with hardcore drug users she had to know how serious this was.
 

As Pepper dialed he was contemplative of allowing it to go to voicemail. He however felt the happenings and decided to answer. " You’ve already lost her. Your energy is the spark keeping her here. You would be better suited to bridging the distance growing in your Pride. Your happiness will mend more than your anger. We however know what you will actually do. Meet me when you are done. I will leave word for you to be shown to me when you arrive." It sounded callous but the best kindness he could do would be to inform her of what was and what wasn’t. He wouldn’t do that over the phone. Moving surreptitiously to staunch the flow was as much as the kiss could do at the moment especially as Baton had all but fallen.



He sighed and end his call. He rose from his lounging and began making calls he knew Chidera felt what was taking place and would be to see him shortly. Most Masters of the city dreaded when a vampire of their kiss had enough energy and power to rise during the day. Gates reveled in it as he now had someone to speak with when such things arose. He reached through Chidera using her connection and her Pride to send strength to Pepper and through her, her Pride.



He then went to his office and waited.
 

She’d over heard part of the conversation and was not pleased. But it was only partially her burden. She would take more if she could however her life was her life. Even an extended vacation was simply that a vacation she because of her past could never be in one place full time all the time. Her job as a red team required her mobility. She was tempted now however to swear to just that to drop everything forever and be here for Pepper and the Pride. It was a big job and probably why Tibs went running into the night, it was too big of a job for one person. No matter the intention it simply was there needed to be at least two full time leaders whose primary goal was the Pride.



She as ashamed that this had happened because in part of her not being here as much as she should have. She reached out to Pepper as she was holding it together by the strength of her drive for the best. She leaned into her chin on the seat as her hand rubbed her back offering support. She felt the Pride behind her and before her. She also felt death not in the abstract but the scent was on the wind . It was often the case but it was too close off a situation for it to be a coincidence. It brought her anger and rage to the surface. She knew whose death they were arriving at and as Jaedon slid to a stop she was already out of the car a shell ratcheted into place she saw what she had hoped not to the Local RPIT lieutenant putting down Ghis her eyes gone red death her iris’s as large as saucers and the scent of V and Pride all over her like she was born of it. She was so struck she barely had time to register the other targets the pseudo zombie vitamin V fiends moving in their direction.
  

Gates watched her come, his eyes closed as he ran a finger absently over the lacquered wood of his desk. He inhaled the feel of her knowing she’d fed before alighting for the day. He felt the strength of her and knew as well that he small Pride of the Kiss were growing in strength by leaps and bounds. She had not bonded with them but her connection and nearness bolstered her.



He could have spoken in images or simply mind to mind. He chose to speak as an exercise." Yes and in the doing have brought my full attention to them. As such I have very little recourse. Both Councils would have us not make open war on each other which has been translated to not making war at all. That peace and my assistance has come to an end. First the attempt to set tenterhooks into our Necromancer and now this."



He sighed turning his gaze out over the city and considering options. “It will require some small doing but it is time to annex Baton Rouge and establish some true order there. Which city would you prefer here with me or Mistress under me in your own city?"
 

“There are never any easy ones when power is to be had.” He remarked as she said aloud what the crux of the issue was. “In the end I offer you complete freedom over liberties because I trust uou implicitly. I would of course have you near me over any where else. You and Raven are mine and that bolsters me like none else.” Standing he moved from behind his desk. Stroking her cheek as he passed he looked outward at the world touching lightly hose he needed to remind he was there for them and others he merely took stock of.



There was much to accomplish and no time sufficient to complete them without no small of pain. Sad as the aphorism was he had to agree there could be no growth with comfort and no comfort where growth existed.



“The reginas and their new addition will be here shortly. Perhaps it is time to have them carouse with your Pride or at least know them.”
 

Gates nodded as she rose to the occasion. He could see her mind work. He knew several she would gladly place against Pepper as test and confirmation. He knew as he would choose the same in every case save one. The Kisses Pride was an extension of the Kiss and as such operated far more pragmatically. It made them as a whole dangerous. Individually it was anyones guess.



" Always and sadly there isn’t enough time in the now to express such."



As she rose to leave he placed a far to unchaste kiss against her forehead and retreated back to the other side of the office as he worried t the nut of how best to accomplish his short term goal of usurping Baton Rouge.