Jason studied his daughter, "Well?" the man demanded before returning to watching the video.

  Veronika shifted slightly. "He is honest to a fault. Victor will have to be educated about that. He takes care of those who serve him, and it will draw others to him, so he will need people to screen anyone who joins his House," the junior partner reported. She considered what to tell her father: "There is a conflict. Apparently, I look like his ex-wife. You may need to assign a new wyer to assist him in the future." Veronika warned her father.

  He typed away at his council and brought up an image of the woman in question, "Yes, I can see the simirities, but did he request someone else?" Jason demanded.

  Veronika shook her head, "No sir, but I can tell he is slightly uncomfortable with my presence, I just want you aware my continued presence may alienate him." Veronika warned him.

  Jason smiled slightly, "Until he requests someone else, I want you to stay on the account. You are the top partner from your age bracket, smart, observant, and have the necessary contacts to keep him alive and moving forward. Now what is his motivation? Why become an Adventurer?" Jason demanded as he studied the image of the ex-wife.

  Veronika rexed slightly, "He is highly motivated, driven by one thing, what that is I have no clue yet. Victor clearly didn't pn on going through an Awakening and this development irritates him, but Victor is adapting as quickly as he can." Jason nodded and then pointed to the picture.

  "I bet she and her paramour are why he became an Adventurer, revenge is a great motivator if banal, but the need and want will keep a person going long after they should have quit. How are the other Houses dealing with his appearance?" Jason demanded.

  Veronika shook her head, "They haven't been introduced yet, but I know Victor will meet with O'Toole, Davies, and Gonzalez tonight at the Pit. I recommend we send someone to observe and report back." she commented.

  Jason considered it then nodded, "See that it is done, not you though, you showing up would be suspicious and I don't want Victor wondering why we are snooping around him." Jason stated before he dismissed his daughter.

  I smmed the drawer, "What do you want me to do? Not like I pnned this. I thought at worst, Jerome Daniels would kill Samuel Williams, I didn't expect an all-out brawl for control of the House." I told Sara. Then I looked at Adriana, "Where are the survivors? There should be five of them." I pointedly stated.

  The Tiger-Kin shook her head, "In the wind, they could have fled the city or sought refuge with House Shawn, but we haven't located them yet. Marcus has sent out word if they are located, they will be detained and questioned concerning the assassination attempt and incident as the Silver Bullet." Adriana reported.

  I grimaced! We, in theory, could face up to twenty-nine Vampires, "We are not done yet!" Sara stated firmly.

  I frowned and started to reply but a response came from an unexpected source, "No, this is done. Either get past what has happened or get out! Those are your choices." Yuki stated firmly as she gred at Serafina.

  The redhead opened her mouth to respond, but whatever look Yuki gave her stopped her and caused her to leave my bedroom, "Well that was interesting." I absently commented earning me a smile from Yuki as Adriana chuckled.

  Before I could walk over to her, the Japanese woman sauntered over to me, something I found all the more attractive since she was only in her underwear at the moment and the bck ce braw and panty set looked spectacur on her, "Don't let her looks fool you, if Yuki wasn't dead set on her education, I would have her on the security track." Adriana informed me as I picked Yuki up.

  She gasped slightly as I held her up by the ass and kissed her, earning a moan as she ground against me earning a light smack from me which caused her to smile, "Thank you, Yuki, for defending me and for caring." I told her before giving her another light kiss as I let her down. Yuki had the decency to blush as she looked up at me, "Remember, no sex until I am fully recovered though." I shook my finger at her, which earned me a pyful bite on the finger before she walked back towards the closet where her clothing was now hanging.

  Once she was out of sight, I looked at Adriana expectantly, "Her family made sure Yuki's education was well rounded even before she came here, that education included unarmed and weapons training as well as small squad tactics. If she chooses to become an Adventurer and not a Crafter, she would be perfect for bodyguard work depending on how long this retionship sts." Adriana commented.

  I shook my head, "No, she wants to become a clothier, and I won't interfere with the future she wants. I just hope it keeps her around me, but only time will tell if that will happen or not." I told her. Adriana raised an eyebrow, questioning that sentiment which earned a chuckle and response from me, "A dominant and submissive retionship is odd to outsiders, I give you that, but the submissive has all the real power as they give it to the dominant. More importantly, they can take it back at any time. If she chooses to leave tomorrow for whatever reason, I cannot and will not stop her for any reason." I expined.

  Adriana's disbelief turned to specution, "I have no interest in leaving and you are taking our retionship very slow, this is for multiple reasons and all of them are good." Yuki added as she looked around the door. I smiled at her, but she was focused on Adriana, "Can you give us a few minutes sir, I am sure Adriana has a few questions for me." I shrugged my shoulders and kicked out of my own room.

  I headed out as I snagged my shoes and phone, I made sure the drivers and security guys and girls were aware we would be leaving as soon as Yuki was ready. While I was hesitant to bring her into a potentially votile situation the little Japanese woman was insistent, and I had more faith in her now that Adriana had assured me that she had been trained. Sara had initially pnned to go, but with the attack on the Silver Bullet, her enthusiasm had waned as the psychologist thought I had more responsibility for what had happened than I was willing to admit.

  Yet the fact was, I had no real clue what was going to happen, and the results were completely unexpected even with my new instincts. Those instincts told me this even was an outlier and not the norm, still, it had happened and a smaller part of me did feel guilt for the loss of life that had occurred. However, the fact was, these people were not the best even Vampire was, they were criminals and selfish people that had no problem using others and letting them fall when shit hit the fan.

  Both Tabitha and Samuel had proven they were some of the worst that humanity could produce, add in Vampirism and they were ten times worse. I could only imagine the type of people they would recruit and use in their Houses. The only innocents that may be involved had been the Feeders, maybe.

  Only blind, deaf, and dumb people wouldn't think something odd was happening at the Silver Bullet based on the people who visited the pce. I grabbed a packet of blood that was half empty and dumped the remainder into a rge mug before heating it up. While it tasted better being warmed over the stove, I wanted to make sure I was filled up before we left.

  While the mug and the contents heated up, I focused finally pulling up my list of Racial Abilities I had been ignoring.

  Spoiler--- Racial Abilities and Skills --- Racial Ability Name: Dark SightRacial Ability Tier: BeginnerRacial Ability Level: 1Racial Ability Type: PassiveDescription: Dark Sight allows you to see even in the poorest of lighting conditions, casting the world into a grey and blue haze. As your mastery of this Ability increases, so too will the effects.Effect: Increased vision improvement at night, in poor lighting, and even pitch darkness by 10%.Range: 10 YardsCost: N/ACooldown: N/A Racial Ability Name: Vampiric BiteRacial Ability Tier: BeginnerRacial Ability Level: 1Racial Ability Type: Passive/ActiveDescription: You are a Vampire; the living are yours to prey upon as you wish. With your very bite, your prey will feel the ultimate pleasure as you consume them and make them yours. As a Pureblood your venom is even more potent than regur Vampires increasing the chance of conception with others, even with Races that would normally not bear children. Repeated use can cause long-term psychological harm.Passive Effect: The target will feel aroused, while dulling pain, and suffer 10 + (Strength X 5%) Piercing Damage/Second.Active Effect: Inject your target with your venom, and the target will suffer Vampire's Kiss Buff which will cause them to feel immense pleasure while also increasing the chance at conception even with Races that normally are unable to bear children, by 10%. (Duration: 5 Minutes)Range: TouchCast Time: InstantCost: 100 ManaCooldown: 30 Seconds Racial Ability Name: Sire VampireRacial Ability Tier: BeginnerRacial Ability Level: 1Racial Ability Type: ActiveDescription: You are a Vampire and a Pureblood, thus the restrictions that turned Vampires must endure, do not apply to you. As a Pureblood, you may turn as many mortals as you wish into Vampires that are bound to your will and House. For a Vampire true strength does not y with their arms, but with their House and family.Requirement 1: Vampiric Bite must be active.Requirement 2: Target must be at 15% Blood Content or less.Effect: The target will be infected with a magical virus and there is a 15% Chance that the infected subject will become a Vampire.Range: TouchCast Time: InstantCost: 100 ManaCooldown: 30 Seconds Racial Ability Name: Mesmerizing GazeRacial Ability Tier: BeginnerRacial Ability Level: 1Racial Ability Type: ActiveDescription: Being a Pureblood Vampire, you hold a certain allure to most beings. With this Ability, you can entrance another being to do your will. At low levels, this Ability has only a small chance to work, but as you master it most beings can be molded to your will. When used on those of your Line, the chances of success are doubled as is the Duration. Effect: 10% Chance enemies will suffer the Charmed Effect and be bound to your will for a time.Restriction: Cannot order Charmed being to kill self directly.Range: 10 FeetDuration: 10 MinutesCast Time: InstantCost: 100 ManaCooldown: 30 Seconds Racial Skill Name: Blood SurgeRacial Skill Tier: BeginnerRacial Skill Level: 1Racial Skill Type: Passive/ActiveDescription: Blood Arts come in many forms, with this Skill a Vampire can enhance their inherent ability to move as well as process information. As your mastery of this Skill increases, so too will the effects until you become an almost imperceptible blur of movement. Beware though, the cost of this power is high, and overuse can result in negative physical and mental effects. Passive Effect: Your perception and thought process are increased to match your speed.Active Effect: Increase your Attack/Movement Speed by 30%.Range: SelfDuration: Until CancelledCast Time: InstantCost: Initial 100 Mana, Duration 50 Mana/SecondCooldown: N/A

  [colpse]I heard the chime indicating the microwave was done, I pulled the mug out and started to drink the contents as I reviewed the information in front of me. Most of it had no application for combat, but I now knew why there were rules and ws against Adventurers and Crafters utilizing their Skills and Abilities against normal humans except in defense of their own lives and the defense of others outside the towers, rifts, and Labyrinth.

  "Ready?" I looked up and just stared as Yuki descended the stairs.

  Apparently, it was the right reaction, as she smiled despite blushing as I enjoyed the view of her wearing a little bck dress that almost seemed painted on her, "Yes." it came out as a croak and caused both Yuki and Adriana to giggle. I shook off my awe and shock downed the contents of the mug and went to the sink to clean the mug out and wash out my mouth, it was time to go.