Levia worked her way through the mass of people to one of the bars that were set against the back walls of the building. The contact here was well paid informant who was normally just used for any rumors on ongoing activities by established Demi-Human factions. Tonight, he had been used for far more than that and it risked exposing him to the local Houses but it was well worth it.

  Levia's best assessment for Tabitha to remove Victor centered on the meeting at the Pit or the man's residence, but the residence was less likely due to its remoteness and security measures. Even with the club's security measures, it would be far easier to isote and assault them here, not to mention all the Patriarchs and Matriarch that were lining up to support Victor Bck would be present as well.

  The meeting was too tempting for an opportunist like Tabitha Shawn to pass up, no Levia was willing to bet everything this was where she would strike. Levia finally broke through the crowd and approached the contact, "Tequi Sunrise with a twist." the man nodded without reacting. Not that Levia pnned to do more than sip the drink, "Also where is the bathroom sir?" the Israeli asked as she looked around in confusion.

  The bartender pointed towards the side illuminated by a neon sign, "I recommend you avoid the third stall; it's been backed up and I don't know if maintenance has gotten to, it yet or not." the bartender advised.

  Levia smiled as she took the drink and thanked him as she paid for the drink before heading off towards the bathroom where her equipment waited. If she had shown up with any weapons, Levia would have been lucky if they had only turned her away. The only way to get weapons inside was to get someone from the staff to smuggle them in, and the informant had been working there for five years.

  Her armaments for tonight were a trio of shotguns, heavily modified, with Dragon's Teeth shells. Dragon's Teeth was a modified version of Dragon's Breath, they had armor-piercing capacity and exploded a second after impact. Sadly, even the enchanted and enhanced shotguns could only handle five shots before they had to be put aside to cool down, which was why she had three plus a few knives.

  Levia checked to see if anyone else was in, before heading for the closed stall and pulling aside the top of the well revealing a pstic-covered clutch purse. Levia whistled at the sight of the heavily enchanted bag, while a container this side was limited in how much it could take it was perfect for her current job. Levia quickly pulled the bag out and put the top back over the well before heading out as the clutch purse dangled off her shoulder, she looked like every other mid-twenty pretty girl out and about now.

  It was time to blend in and watch over her charge, Levia just hoped she was wrong.

  I studied the floor two stories down, bodies writhed and moved to the pulsing beat of the music, but I was focused on Yuki, Adriana, a third woman who seemed to have wormed her way into their good graces. Based on her features, she was of Middle Eastern descent, wearing a silver dress that was slit up one side showing a rge expanse of well-muscled leg that was nearly on par with the Tiger-Kins form.

  I gnced toward Marcus, "How do you deal with the music?" I asked as I returned my focus to the floor below.

  While I doubted, she could see me, the new woman was looking directly up at us revealing dark green eyes that stood out against her sun-kissed skin, "You can subconsciously tune it out, but it takes time to learn to do that. Until then, I recommend ear plugs, now can I ask how you pn on enticing the others to assist you?" the older Vampire inquired as I turned away from the gss to study the rge office we were in.

  I snorted in amusement, aside from a rge desk, and several filing cabinets, there was a rge couch and, a small bar, with a few spare chairs, "Entice them to my side and hopefully win their open allegiance." I told him as I walked over to the bar and eyed several of the bottles.

  One caught my eye, and I looked over at Marcus, "Champagne with blood in it, I think it tastes better than blood wine." the man offered, and I poured a small cup to try it out. Marcus poured a small decanter of what I assumed was whiskey, "How do you pn on enticing them? If you don't mind me asking." Marcus prompted.

  I held up my hand and shook my head, "Before we get into that, were you able to locate the surviving members of House Williams?" I inquired as I sat down at one of the stools next to the bar.

  Marcus grimaced, "Of the missing members, we managed to track and capture four of them. The st one is still missing, but we are getting closer. The survivors are being held in a facility outside the city and will remain there until House Shawn is dealt with." Marcus reported. Before I could ask any follow-up questions, the phone rang and Marcus took the call, "Send them up." the man promptly responded.

  I looked at him expectantly, "Neil is here, he has been here nearly as long as I have been. I trust him and consider him a friend." Marcus quickly informed me.

  I nodded my head and did my best to rex as I finished the champagne and snagged a bottle of water, "Of course, I am not looking for a fight with anyone Marcus, but I will defend myself." I told him as I checked the sheaths at my waist and made sure my knives were still present and secure.

  The leather sheaths crisscrossed and made leaning against anything slightly uncomfortable, but having the weapons was a comfort considering the potential dangers that House Shawn represented. I was pulled from my musing as Neil O'Toole emerged from the staircase, the Patriarch was about six feet tall but brawnier than either Marcus or me.

  The man's bright red hair stood in sharp contrast to his pale skin and bright blue eyes that were studying me, I saluted him with my water bottle as I stood up, "This is Victor Bck?" the man's accent was subtle but there.

  I smiled slightly, "So I am told, and I assume you are Neil O'Toole?" I asked him, not taking offense at his bluntness.

  My response earned a chuckle and smile, "I like him Marcus, not offended by my tongue." with that he offered me his hand to shake.

  I sighed and hoped for the best as I took it and gave it a firm but short shake, the effects were slightly more pronounced when compared to Marcus's reaction, but they were there. I think Neil cursed, but it was too quick to pick up as the other man shook himself, "You never get used to that." the man absently commented.

  I shrugged my shoulders, "Sorry, I have no control over it." I told him as I sat back down on my stool.

  Neil chuckled, "Which is why I am not pissed off right now. Are we going to discuss Tabitha Shawn now or wait for the others?" Neil asked as he looked at Marcus and then me.

  I shook my head, "Might as well wait for the others." I commented as I didn't want to go over everything again. I saw a fsh of movement and two more figures emerged from the staircase that led up to the second floor, "Whis is now apparently." I absently commented as I studied the st two.

  An Davies was amazing in the fact he looked utterly normal with no distinct features and build, I couldn't pick him out from a crowd which was perfect for him. Like me, An was a surprise Awakening who hadn't pnned for it but did his best considering the world he had been thrust into.

  Menie Gonzalez was the opposite; she had been turned at a young age Menie had used her mind and looks to get her independence from her Sire and establish her House. According to Marcus, Menie was the most ambitious of the five remaining Houses within the city but chose quality over quantity for those she turned to and only had eight members in her House.

  I stood back up and smiled at the two as I tried to be as welcoming as I could without being patronizing, "Thank you for coming on such short notice." I told them.

  An grunted, "Not that we had much choice in the matter, and you have already destroyed one House within the city and a second will soon follow." the Patriarch commented.

  I put a calming hand on Marcus's shoulder, "House Williams fell to infighting, but we are not here to talk about them. We are here to talk about House Shawn and the continued survival of all of us as well as members of your Houses." I expined. That got the attention of the three guests, "Daniel Bell told me in no uncertain terms to deal with this or she would send a force to remove us all. Now I won't speak for all of you, but I want to live." I commented as I looked at the three.

  Menie gave me a grudging nod, "What do you want?" the Matriarch demanded.

  I smiled slightly, gd we were done with the games, "First, listen to this so there is no question that Tabitha and Samuel took part in the assassination attempt or knew about it and did nothing to stop it." I told them about the recording that Samuel had pced after the failed shooting. The man hadn't been part of it, but Tabitha had been and knew about the failure and wanted the Patriarch's assistance in cleaning up the mess, "First before we get to what I need, let's talk about what you all need. Neil, you have been looking to purchase storage space within the city. Samuel two warehouses off of Gildrew and Coiff are yours, I would suggest you do an inventory of what is there though, and if any of it is questionable you either have the owners come to get it or turn it over to w enforcement. Menie, you wanted to hire Henry Johnson, but Samuel snaked the chief before you could. The Crescent Moon is yours, which includes the chief you wanted to hire originally." I told the two, earning surprised looks from both considering how much they were worth.

  I turned my focus towards An Davies, "I can honestly say, I have no clue what you want or need." I told the st Patriarch.

  It earned me a smile, "I want Tabitha's Gilded Lilly, the club practically prints money. Give it to me and I will make certain everything there is running on the legal side of the line." the man stated.

  The Gilded Lilly was a high-end strip club, and I was fairly sure Tabitha ran escort service out of it, "Done, as for what I want, I want Tabitha's head on a ptter with every single member of her house that cannot be salvaged." I told the others.

  The four nodded their heads in agreement, "What did Marcus get?" Menie inquired.

  Marcus was getting a small diner from Tabitha's holdings, "The Grease Wrack, now how long will it take you to mobilize your Houses so we can deal with House Shawn?" I asked them. Marcus opened his mouth to respond when the building shook around us, a wave of sound and heat washed up against the gss causing it to shatter the explosion blew the gss into the room as Marcus smmed into me and took me to the ground as the others scattered as the gss scattered across the room.