Higher Up [Zodiac]

[Adley Reed]

<Adley Reed> [t] Zodiac? Do I have the right number?
<Zodiac> sounds like it to me
<Zodiac> and how are you this dark eve?
<Adley Reed> [t] I am... okay, I suppose. Can we meet? Please?


<Zodiac> She considered the text for a while. Just because this was Abelle's child, that did not make him a safe bet at all. Rather than invite him to her home, she sent the following reply.

"You can find me at my shop most nights, Stop on in and we can make some time to chat" She sent the message and went back to her dealings.


* Adley Reed sighed as he received the text. It was relief, even if he did not know this woman. She assumed he knew where to find her, and she wasn't wrong. It was the card he had found in Abelle's desk that had led him to her. He knew her as his sire's sire, because Abelle had mentioned it, once. He pulled on his leather jacket - it took him fifteen minutes to get there, but he finally entered the shop, curious as he looked around. He had no idea what Zodiac looked like. He had no idea what he was looking for - or what he could be getting himself into.


<Zodiac> She had told the girl running the counter to keep an eye out for someone who looked totally lost. When the girl saw the man she approached him. "Good evening and welcome to Pandora's Box," she smiled. "Not trying to be nosey, but you be Mr Reed by chance?"


<Adley Reed> There was a slight limp to Adley's step; a gashed wound there that hadn't yet started to heal, even though it had been a week, maybe just under. He was approached by a sales girl, and he was prepared to tell her he didn't need anything - that he was just looking for Zodiac. But she asked her question first. He nodded. "Yes. Are you Zodiac?"


<Zodiac> The girl laughed in good humor. "Hardly. Would you follow me, please? She is waiting for you in her parlor," She began to lead the man down a side hallway to a dark purple door. She opened it and ushered him inside. Within the candle lit room sat a small girl in a oversized chair-looking more like a throne. She was dressed as most people considered gypsies to look like and on her lap was perhaps one of the largest black cats most had ever seen. She pet it gently as she gestured for the man to take a seat.


<Adley Reed> It was all so very formal; as Adley was led down the hallway and into the candle-lit room, he started to wonder, again, what he had gotten himself into. Maybe he should turn around. Tell her not to worry about it. He wondered whether she was purposefully trying to make herself more intimidating - but he had to trust himself. Trust that, after he told his story, she wouldn't be able to help but help him. Of course she would. He sat down, and cleared his throat. "Zodiac, I assume..."


<Zodiac> After the sales girl closed the door, the small girl broke a bright smile as she nodded her head. Large, piercing blue eyes framed in make up to draw one's attention to them sparkled in the dim light. She nodded her head and made a curious gesture- touching her forehead, then pointing to the man. 'Please forgive me' her thoughts whispered inside of his mind. 'but this is the only way I can actually 'speak' to you.'


<Adley Reed> At first, Adley was perturbed. No one had spoken straight into his head before; he had to stop himself from looking over his shoulder, to try to find someone else in the room. "I... suppose that's handy," he said. She must have been mute. This must be a gift. "Abelle mentioned you. It's good to finally meet you," he said.


<Zodiac> She nodded again, the smile still firmly in place. 'Blessings of the night to you and yours, childe of my childe. Now tell me why do you seek Zodiac out this night?'


<Adley Reed> He wondered what kind of person referred to themselves in the third person - but maybe it wasn't habit. Maybe it was just a one off. "I... first, I suppose. What is your view on... vampires who feed from other vampires?" he asked, voice flat. No indication at all that he was talking about himself.


<Zodiac> 'Hmmm' She sat up and sat the cat on the table between then. It approached the man, sniffed him, then settled down. 'That is an interesting question. I have know others who have chosen such a path for themselves. First of all, it helps to have friends who will help you in your feeding habits. Anyone running around just biting other vampires draws too much attentions to themselves and not all vampires are comfortable being bitten by strangers.'

[Zodiac]

<Adley Reed> Adley nodded. He knew that, from his own experiences. He knew that it helped to have a friend, but he had none. He thought he did. But now he started to question Zaleski - or loyalties, her motives. But he didn't share. "You didn't answer the question, though. Does it disgust you? Do you think it's a kill-able offense?"


<Zodiac> She sighed. Everyone wanted yes or no answers to such things. 'It does not disgust me as a rule. As I said I have know others who do this as well. But, if someone cannot get it through their head that some do not want to be a random source of food, then perhaps such extreme measures are called for. If I told someone to stop doing something and they kept doing it, should I ask them again or make my point more clear?' she shrugged.


<Adley Reed> Adley leaned back in his chair. He understood that much. He had fucked up. Even though he was a Necromancer and he always had a dead look about him, as he sat there, the candles didn't reveal a healthy glow. Adley was hungry. He had nowhere to go. "I understand that, now," he said. "I didn't know it was something that couldn't be undone. I'm slowly realizing that I don't know much of anything," he said. His palm rested against his thigh, his ugly wound hidden by a bandage and his jeans. "For example - I was stuck in that place for... I don't know how long it was. I stumbled out, all other wounds gone except for one. It's not healing. Is that normal?"


<Zodiac> She finally stood up and looked over the table. 'Ah, I think that would be what we call a death wound. It will heal in time. Consider it a reminder what happens if one is sent to that place.' She shook her head sadly. 'No magics of mine can help heal that any faster. I'm sorry.'


<Adley Reed> Adley let go of a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. The knowledge that the wound would go away was comforting. "I don't plan on returning any time soon. But... I have a bit of a predicament. I can... feed myself, with my abilities. But sometimes, I don't have enough energy for it. Sometimes... and the one friend I thought I had, who would help - she won't. Do you... is there a way to undo it?"


<Zodiac> 'There used to be. So I heard. Since I did not follow that particular style of feeding, I never paid attention, However, I can ask around and see if any know an answer for this.'


<Adley Reed> He nodded, and leaned forward; his elbows on his knees, his hands rubbing at his temples. He tried to sit up straight. "Thank you," he said. He wasn't sure what else he had expected. He didn't even know what he was looking for, but he didn't think he was going to get it from this woman. His sire's sire. Right now, he didn't have the energy. It was only one night, he would have to go without. Maybe he'd have enough tomorrow night, to feel... full again. "I ah... should probably let you get back to work."


<Zodiac> She nodded. She did not need to be telepathic to guess what he may or may not be thinking. He was smart enough not to ask-lucky for him. 'I will make some inquiries and message you when I have an answer either way.' she smiled again as she stood up and inclined her head. 'If you have further questions, please feel free to message me. I am always willing to help those I can.'

Inwardly, she was upset. Not at this man, but her childe-Abelle. This was a pattern with her. Make a childe then go off on some other project. She had tried to teach her this was unacceptable, but the girl never listened.


<Adley Reed> For the first time since Abelle had turned him, Adley felt angry. He wished he'd never met her. He wanted to go back to the way things were. He stood, and just nodded; his nostrils flared, the only outward indication that he wasn't quite satisfied. It was good to know he had someone to go to, if he had questions. But it was obvious that whatever bloodline he had been sired into, it was nothing like Xylia's. He wasn't going to get that, here. "Yeah. Okay, thanks," he said. "Thanks for the answers. I'll hear from you soon," he said, before leaving the room without looking back.


<Zodiac> She watched him go. Did he honestly expect her to offer of herself just because he was Abelle's childe? She shook her head and laughed a bit in her thoughts.