Inner City of New Covington, the next morning

[allie_vamp]

Allie had woken up terrified...and Hungry. Kanin's torment echoing through her mind. As soon as Jackal joined them below the grate, Allie started up the ladder. They were running out time.

She shoved the grate aside and eased out of the sewers. The air was cold and flurries drifted down, swirling around her and the ground was dusted in white. Squat, ancient buildings surrounded them on three sides, crumbling to large rubble piles in the weeds. Allie turned and saw the gleaming lights of the towers looming so much closer then she'd ever seen them before. She closed her eyes and the pull was there, drawing her right towards them.

Kanin, I'm coming. Hang on.

Zeke	"I scouted the area a bit," Zeke announced as he came up behind Allie. "There's a patrol that comes by every thirty minutes or so, but not much traffic otherwise. It's different near the center. Lots of people and I think a few vampires. I couldn't tell. I didn't want to get too close."
Kaidan	Kaidan nodded. "So we're either going to have to find some cover," he said, "Or make a run for it."
Jackal	Jackal snorted, kicking the grate into place again after he emerged from the sewer. "Yeah, that's a great plan," he mocked. "Even if you sneak past the checkpoint, the guards and the pets, you're going into the lair of the Prince of the city. You think they just have weakling humans in any of those towers?" He shook his head. "Salazar's coven will be all over the place, the vampire Elite, his handpicked personal guard."
Allie	"Then how are we supposed to get in there to find Kanin?" Allie snapped. "Just walk up and knock on the front door?"
Jackal	"Actually," Jackal said with a little smirk, "that's exactly what we're going to do."
Zeke	"Are you kidding? We're not Registered," Zeke said incredulously, gesturing between himself and Kaidan. You've both snuck in from outside the Wall. They'll know we're intruders."
Allie	Allie had to agree. It was a crazy idea. "Don't forget Salazar hates Kanin's entire line. He tried to kill us both the last time I was here. Guards, trucks, people shooting at us every fifty feet!"
Kaidan	"What are you planning?" Kaidan asked sharply, fixing his eyes on Jackal. Because there was no way in hell he didn't know any of the objections Zeke and Allie had just offered up.
Jackal	Jackal chuckled. "Oh ye of little faith." He sighed, and started across the lot, motioning the others to follow. "Thinking just like the humans. It's kind of sad. You forget, I've been at this vampire thing a long time. Just leave this to me, and try to keep your mouths shut." He led them out of the lot and onto the cracked, broken sidewalks, moving steadily toward the center of the city never stopping or slowing down.
Allie	Apprehensively, Allie shot a quick glance at Kaidan and Zeke. "I don't like it. But he has a point. We're going to have to let him lead. Just be ready. For anything." She started after Jackal, trusting the others to follow.
Zeke	Shaking his head, Zeke watched Allie stride away. "This really wasn't what I had in mind when I came back here." If he was smart, he'd drop back through the grate and get out of the city. But he'd come here to find Allie and he wasn't going to let her walk away now, no matter how uneasy things were between them.
Kaidan	Kaidan snorted. "If there's anything I've learned," he said, "it's that this stuff never goes the way you had in mind." He eyed Jackal. "Doesn't mean certain parties shouldn't let us in on the plan..."
Zeke	"I'm still worried his plan involves getting us all killed." But that didn't stop him from starting after Jackal and Allie. When a half dozen armed guards rounded the corner and started right towards them, it was all Zeke could do to keep from reaching for his gun.
Jackal	Jackal was walking down the center of the road like he owned it, his duster billowing behind him. He strode right toward the patrol, his walk and everything about him aggressively confident. The men stopped, the guards immediately snapping to attention even as they avoided his eyes. Grabbing the lead human by the collar, Jackal slammed him back into a wall, baring fangs in his face. "Your Prince isn't being very friendly," he growled, as the rest of the patrol cringed back, not knowing whether to draw weapons or flee. "Here we are, trying to be nice and polite and present ourselves to Salazar, but he's locked all the gates and shut down the Wall. We had to crawl up through the sewers to get here. Do you know how disgusting that is, human?" His lips curled back into a fearsome snarl, and the human turned white, looking like he might faint. "And what the hell is going on in the Fringe? The bloodbags have gone insane -- they even tried to attack us! Has Salazar lost control of this place completely?" "S-sir!" The human gave a feeble salute—difficult, as his arms were shaking so hard he could barely lift them. "I'm sorry, sir, we're experiencing a bit of a problem with the Fringe—" "I can see that, human." Jackal bared his fangs again, making the guard jerk his head away, cracking the back of his skull against the wall. "I want to know why Salazar hasn't gotten it under control yet." "Sir, I assure you—" "Your assurances mean nothing to me." Jackal abruptly released the guard and stepped back, letting him slump to the wall. "I want to see Salazar. I demand an audience with your Prince. Take me to him, right now." "Sir...." The guard looked absolutely miserable and terrified at the same time. "I don't have that kind of authority—" "Incredible. How does this city even run?" Jackal growled, casting a disdainful look at Allie, Kaidan, and Zeke. Turning back to the guards, he took a breath and made a great show of being patient. "Then, tell me, bloodbag, who has that authority?" "The...the Prince's aide, sir. His pet. He's the one who admits visitors to the Prince's chamber." "Well, then," Jackal said, taking a step forward, "I'd say you'd better get a hold of him soon, don't you think?" "Yes, sir!" The guard leaped off the wall, looking relieved to pass this little problem on to someone else. "I'll contact him right now. Please, follow me." Jackal grinned over his shoulder. "See?" he said in a quiet voice, looking at Allie now. "When you act like a vampire, humans will treat you like one. None of this sneaking or skulking-around crap. They're the sheep, and we're the wolves, and they know it." Yes, he was insufferably pleased with himself.
Allie	"And what happens next?" Allie growled, still not understanding the plan. If it was only her and Jackal, she wouldn't have cared as much. But she didn't want to see Kaidan or Zeke wind up dead because of Jackal's arrogance. "You know if Salazar finds out who we are, he'll try and put our heads on his wall."
Kaidan	Kaidan wasn't so charmed by Jackal's philosophy, and the look on his face showed as much. He was a soldier, though, and not about to screw this up by speaking too loudly or too angrily. "Nice philosophy you've got there," he said sarcastically, but his voice was low.
Jackal	Jackal snorted. "Did that upset you, bloodbag? Did I treat the human too rough for you?" He sneered. "Get used to it. This is our city, and we do what we want here. Every single human existing behind these walls belongs to us." He shifted his eyes to Allie. "Relax, sister," he said. "Unless he's seen you personally, Salazar doesn’t know you from Eve -- you're just another wandering mongrel vampire to him. And he doesn't know me at all. Don't worry, I know how Princes think. We'll go in, feed him some story about passing through, make a little scene because we can't leave the city now, and he'll get annoyed but probably not enough to throw us out. There are rules for visiting vampires, after all, and these Princes are all such proud stick-up-the-asses. More likely, he'll apologize for the state of the city, offer to let us stay in the tower until the crisis is over, and we'll be free to look for Kanin as we please. Easy."
Zeke	"Oh yeah, real easy," Zeke muttered. Sorry Jackal, Zeke wasn't all that sure of this plan. Not that he had a better one to offer.
Allie	Any argument Allie would have made about who belonged to who in the city died as they approached a heavily guarded checkpoint. At the front of the line, a guard would ask the approaching human to show his tattoo, usually located on the inner arm. A scanner was passed over the mark and scrutinized before the guard would wave him through. Allie bit her lip, trying not to let her disgust show. That mark was what she'd fought against for years. Of course now she couldn't help looking back and wondering if it had really made a difference. "So what are we supposed to do?" she asked Jackal as a pair of big dogs growled at them from the end of their leashes. "They're going to know Kaidan and Zeke are human. They're unregistered and armed. They can be killed for that. Or is that what you're hoping for?"
Jackal	"Kid, I got this. Trust me." Jackal gave us them last self-satisfied glance. "Just look dangerous." The patrol had stopped them at another checkpoint, and the lead soldier was speaking to another guard. The man in uniform looked up from the gatehouse, peering through a small window, and narrowed his eyes. A moment later, the man emerged and walked toward them, his pinched mouth drawn into a frown. Jackal glared, waiting imperiously as the human, flanked by two more soldiers with large guns, strode up. "Sir," the man greeted them with the obvious air of someone who thought they were important. "Welcome to New Covington. Please excuse the current state of the city. I understand you wish an audience with the Prince's aide?" "No," Jackal said, giving the man a clear look of disdain. "I don't want an audience with the Prince's pet. I want to see Salazar himself. But since the sniveling little human is the only way to get to him, I'm being polite and following the rules. What I don't understand is why I'm standing here, talking to you." This last was punctuated with a flash of fangs, and the man deflated a bit, looking paler then before. "Well, you see, s-sir," he stammered, and gave Kaidan and Zeke a pointed look, "unregistered humans are not allowed into the Inner City. If they came from the Fringe, I'm afraid we must quarantine them immediately. They could be infected, and we cannot risk the spread of disease within the city, certainly not inside the towers themselves. We must ask you to turn them over."
Allie	Allie bared her fangs and growled as two guards stepped towards Zeke and Kaidan.
Kaidan	Kaidan shot the guy stepping towards him a look. He was giving Jackal thirty seconds to talk them out of this - after that... damn it, why had he let the guy drag him into a space with this few exits? "We're not infected," he said. God, he missed Shepard right now.
Jackal	"Lay one finger on him, and I'll tear your heads off." Jackal's voice was calm, he hadn't even moved or turned around. The two guards backed hastily away. The other human sputtered a protest, but Jackal stepped forward, looming over the man, and his objections fell silent. "Tell me, human," he said in a soft, dangerous voice. "What does the law say about seizing a vampire's pet?" He pressed closer, crowding the man. "Well?" The human swallowed hard. "Under pain of death, no one is allowed to lay a hand on a specifically branded aide without direct permission from his owner. Sir." "And do you see Salazar's brand on him?" "No, sir." "Then get out of our way," Jackal continued, still in that soft, deadly voice. "Before I rip your heart out for your insolence and eat it in front of you. I've wasted enough time here already." The human was in no mood to argue. His face was white, and his pompous attitude seemed to have fled with his courage. "T-take our guests to Mr. Stephen's office," he ordered, motioning to his guards. "Inform him of what is going on. He might be with the Prince now, so let him know it's important." "Yes, sir!" The guards stepped forward, bowing slightly to Jackal. "Please, follow us, sir." And without any hesitation, they turned and marched through the checkpoint as the other human waved us through.
Allie	If Allie still had a heartbeat, it would have been racing as they followed the guards through the gate. Jackal's arrogance and attitude had gotten them all safely through the gate. The guards led them across the road, past several smaller buildings, and then up a sprawling flight of steps to the wide double doors at the base of the first tower. Another guard opened the door, and they entered a massive lobby, with large pillars lining the walls and a huge wooden desk up front. A blonde woman in a business suit waved them through the next checkpoint. She bowed as they approached and gave Jackal a bright smile as she straightened. Allie could hear her heart pounding in her chest and smelled the fear surrounding her, although she hid it well. "Welcome to the Prince's tower, sir," the woman announced. Allie rolled her eyes as Jackal leered. "I'm Mr. Stephen's secretary, and if you will follow me, I will show you to his office. Mr. Stephen is in a meeting now, but he will be with you as soon as he is able." As they continued further into the tower, Allie shifted focus, searching for that tenuous connection to Kanin. She found it almost instantly, very close, but...below them. Somewhere beneath the tower, just barely clinging to sanity. "In here, please." The woman opened a door that led to a large, well-tended office. "Mr. Stephen will be right with you." The office was plush and comfortable, heavy drapes at the window keeping out the chill while a fire flickered in the marble fireplace on the far wall. A huge wooden desk dominated one corner of the room, while a leather sofa, stacked with pillows and blankets was placed in front of a large book shelf full of books. Habit and curiosity drew Allie towards them.
Zeke	"I still don't think this is a good idea," Zeke said once the woman had left and closed the doors behind her. "We passed vampires in the hallway. If the Prince figures out who we are, we won't be able to fight our way out of the building, much less back to the Fringe."
Kaidan	"I wouldn't put it that extremely," Kaidan said quietly. "We still have some aces up our sleeve. I'd just really rather not use them."
Allie	Alie knew just what those aces were. "Don't, if you can avoid it. You don't want that kind of attention. Not here."
Kaidan	"I've got more than just my biotics, Allie," Kaidan said wryly. "If we have to fight our way out... I came prepared."
Allie	"I just want to make sure you get back to the island in one piece." Sorry Kaidan, she worried. A small splash of color amongst the darker, more subdued books caught Allie's eye and she reached for it.
Jackal	"Stop being so twitchy," Jackal said, sitting in one of the chairs near the desk, swinging his boots up. "I told you before, Salazar doesn't know us from Adam. No one here does. And it's better to act like you belong here than be caught sneaking around. So relax, pets. We're vampires. What could happen?"
Allie	Dammit Jackal, you had to temp fate like that. Allie pulled the book that had caught her eye from the shelf and stared at it in shock. Bright animals danced across the cover of a children's book that was as familiar to Allie as the back of her hand. Unlike the other books on the shelf, it was dirty and torn, a mold stain eating one corner. But she still recognized it instantly. It had been her mother's book, the one she'd used to teach Allie to read when she was a child. The one she regretted losing the most. If it was here, that could mean only one thing... "Shit..."
Kaidan	That didn't sound good. Kaidan looked over towards her, fighting the urge to reach for a weapon. "Allie?"
Allie	"We have a problem." Judging by the opening door and the footsteps entering the room. The problem had arrived. He'd changed. The Stick Allie remembered had been tall and skinny, with straw-colored hair and frightened eyes. The person in the doorway, surrounded by a small entourage, was still tall and thin, but he wore a business suit and carried a briefcase in one spidery hand. He wasn't nearly as skinny now, and his hair had been cut short and combed neatly, replacing the shaggy nest Allie remembered. But the biggest change was in his eyes and the way he carried himself. Back in the Fringe Stick had cringed and skulked his way through life, relying on Allie to help him survive. He was afraid of everyone and everything and often got picked on because he expected Allie to save him instead of standing up for himself. Now he carried himself tall, his tone and expression clear, almost arrogant. But maybe that was because of who he'd surrounded himself with. Two humans and four vampires, all armed with guns and crossbows. Allie held his gaze steadily. She'd known Stick had been the one to betray her and Kanin to the Prince. That it was his fault they'd been hunted and separated. At least indirectly his fault that Sarren got his hands on Kanin. But seeing him here, Salazar's personal aide, shattered that last tiny bit of hope that Allie had that maybe she'd been wrong.
Stick	Stick stared at Allie as if he'd seen a ghost. "A-Allie? No. No, it can't be you. You're supposed to be dead!" Allie took a step forward and Stick through himself backwards into the hall. "Stop her!" he screeched to his guards, who immediately pulled their crossbows and aimed them at their hearts. "Stop them all! She's here to kill me!"
Allie	"I'm not here to kill you!" Allie shouted, holding up her hands. Knowing several wooden darts were leveled at her chest was making her cringe. But Allie knew if she didn't get a handle on the situation they'd all wind up skewered like rats. "Dammit Stick, wait! I didn't come for you. We just want to see the Prince, that's all! I didn't even know you were here."
Stick	"I don't believe you," Stick said as he peered back into the room, his eyes cold and suspicious.
Allie	"Believe what you want. I'm telling you the truth." Allie kept her hands raised as he edged back into the room. "We're not here for you, or anyone. We just want to see the Prince."
Stick	Stick eyed the others, then glared back at Allie. "You're not supposed to be here, Allie," he accused, sounding a lot more like the sullen boy Allie remembered. "Master Salazar said you were dead, he promised you had been killed. You're not supposed to be here."
Allie	Irritated, and fighting a darker, more predatory urge, Allie shook her head. "Sorry to disappoint you. But I'm still here."
Stick	An ugly look crossed Stick's face as he turned to the guards. "Arrest them," he barked, and the guards straightened. "They want to see the Prince? We'll take them to see the Prince. I'm sure the Master will be very interested in meeting them."
Allie	Two of the guards moved forward while the rest held their crossbows steady. Allie clenched her fists as one guard took her katana. She felt naked without it. The other guard pulled a pair of black metal cuffs from his belt and reached for her arms. "This isn't necessary, Stick," she said as the vampire yanked her arms behind her back and snapped the bands around her wrist. They were thick and heavy, obviously designed with vampires in mind.
Stick	"It's Stephen now," Stick corrected, his voice smug. "Mr. Stephen. And I decide what's necessary around here, Allie." A faint smirk twisted his lips as he raised his chin. "No one tells me what to do, not anymore."
Zeke	Zeke didn't resist as the guards came for him. Resisting wouldn't make a difference. Not when they were currently outnumbered and out gunned.
Jackal	Jackal rolled his eyes and sighed as his own weapons were taken and he was cuffed. "Nice friend you got here, sister," he muttered under his breath, more annoyed than worried.
Kaidan	Outnumbered, sure. Outgunned? Kaidan might want to argue with you about that, Zeke. But everyone else was surrendering; a biotic explosion would hurt them just as badly as it would their enemies. Kaidan gritted his teeth and hoped they'd mistake his weapons for the dead chunks of metal they were, unactivated. He was tired of lugging after everyone else - it didn't seem to be going very well. The first time he spotted a clear shot, he was going to take it.
Stick	Stick and his guards led them to pair of elevators. "Take them to the top floor," he told the four vampire guards, and stepped towards the other elevator across the hall. "I'll meet you there."
Allie	Allie gritted her teeth as the guards herded them towards the center of the elevator and took up positions in the corner. Small, enclosed spaces made her twitchy. Experimentally she tugged on her cuffs, but they weren't going anywhere. Glancing at Jackal she wondered if he had a plan, or a speech or something to get them out of this because at the moment all Allie could think of was bluffing, big time.
Jackal	Jackal didn't have a plan, but he was working on it. He leaned in to Allie, his mouth close to her ear. "You didn't tell me about your little friend," he murmured, and if the guards heard him, they didn't care. "That would've been a nice tidbit to share, going into the Prince's tower."
Kaidan	Kaidan was silent. But his fingers were working quietly into the palm of his hand, setting his omni-tool's brightness to low. A tiny circle of dim light appeared over his palm as he activated a program, scanning the make-up of the cuffs.
Allie	"I didn't know I'd see him here," Allie whispered back. "You better start thinking of a plan to get us out of here." She watched the the numbers light up over the door-10...12...14..16and tried not to panic at the thought that with every floor they were getting farther away from the exit and closer to the lair of a Master vampire.
Zeke	"Allie," Zeke murmured softly, his voice way too calm for the situation they were in. "If we don't make it...I'm glad I found you. It was good to see you again."
Allie	"Don't even start with that, Zeke," Allie hissed. "No one is going to die here." Big words from someone who was working with a plan based on how well she could bluff.
Zeke	"It's all right." Zeke managed the tiniest of smiles. "I'm not afraid to die. I just wish..." He shook his head as his voice trailed off. "Never mind. It's not important. I just, I need you to promise me one thing." He held Allie's gaze, his eyes solemn and intense. "Don't Turn me. No matter what happens. Even if I'm dying, don't make me one of them. Just let me go." Tipping his head forward, he rested his forehead against Allie's and closed his eyes. "Please. If it comes to that, you have to let me go. I'm not like you Allie. I wouldn't be able to spend eternity like that."
Allie	Hurt, Allie drew back. "What? Evil and soulless?"
Zeke	"No," Zeke replied. "Strong. I couldn't do what I'd have to to survive."
Kaidan	"I don't want to interrupt you two," Kaidan said, keeping his voice as low as he could without, y'know, being completely inaudible. "But nobody's going to die." He'd carefully maneuvered his hands while their captors' attention was on the more chatty members of their group. His fingers obscured the thin yellow line where his omni-tool was burning its way through his cuffs. The heat kind of hurt, but... he was trained for that.
Allie	Strong, or just too damn stubborn to give up. It was a fine distinction. Honestly Allie wasn't sure which one was more appropriate. "Damn you. Fine. If that's what you want." Allie didn't like it, but Kanin had given her a choice. She could only do the same for Zeke and respect his wishes. "But Kaidan's right, no one's dying today."
Jackal	Jackal rolled his eyes. "Except me, maybe, from an overdose of melodrama."
Allie	Allie glared at Jackal because one, he was an ass and two...There was no two. He was just an ass. The elevator chose that moment to ding as it arrived at the top floor. There was no way Allie could see that this was going to end well.