Chapter Text
The crack of gunshots, the snap of bones, the smash of impacts. Safia could hear it all. She twirled in her office chair, every sound causing her to kick her feet. She listens intently to the recording device. She does her best to isolate her target's voice as much as possible. She's waiting for the sound of vampiric disciplines at work. She clears her thoughts, focusing as intently as she can. She cuts through the violence and hears a single command.
"Fall."
If Safia could blush she would. She clutches the voice recorder tight against her lab coat.
"You'd think after a century of this I'd get used to it. But every time I hear her in action I just…"
"You just, what?"
Safia spins around in her chair as she jumps from fright. She quickly stashes the recorder into her coat pocket. She adjusts her glasses as she looks at the figure silently walking in. This individual is dressed in black leather from top to bottom. Riveted leather pants lead into a thick leather belt. A cropped leather jacket covers an equally cropped black ribbed turtle neck. The figure stops halfway to Safia and places a hand on her hip.
"Oh! Love! I was just musing about nothing really. Just dwelling on the kindred condition and all."
"Right. And you have a recording of me, why?"
Safia's hands dive for the device in her pocket, securing it in her tight hands.
"Who… who said it was a recording of you?"
"I can recognize my own voice."
"Yes, well." Safia begins to fidget with the device in her pocket.
"I needed it for… personal research."
The figure takes several steps closer. She gets within reaching distance. She looks down at the nervous woman. Her eyes glow as brightly as crimson vitae.
"You know, if you want to see me in action, you could just come with me to my next Sabbat raid."
"Oh but my love! I could never! I'm just a humble researcher… AH!"
The figure takes a step forward. She places her knee between Safia's legs. She bears down on the other vampire, enveloping her completely. She places her hand in Safia's mouth. She props it open, grabbing her fang and her tongue between her fingers.
"You are still kindred are you not? I have been talking to mistress Thorn. She believes you are hiding your potential. That you are a stronger Tremere than you let on. I would like to pursue that personal research."
Just then the sound of heels is heard across the lab floor. The domineering figure turns to look. She sees a woman in a beautiful pinstripe suit and with piercing red eyes.
"Phyre, could you please refrain from sexual foreplay in my tower?"
"Of course, my apologies my prince."
Phyre steps off of Safia, giving her room to recalibrate. The scientist looks like she's just seen the face of God. Her eyes are cloudy, she sits with her mouth open, she covers her lower half with her lab coat.
"Right, if you are done I have work for you, sheriff."
"Yes, prince Ryong?"
"We have reason to believe the Sabbat have found another nosferatu to work with. She's been acting as a spy, tracking our men and collecting any information she can. She hasn't been brazen enough to attempt to infiltrate Weaver Tower but it's only a matter of time."
"Do I have a last known location or a name to go off of?"
"Her name is Violet. As for location, she is a hive. They're not really known for being easy to track down. That's why I'm asking you to handle this."
"It shall be taken care of, my prince."
"See to it that it is."
Phyre nods before beginning to make her way past Ryong. As she does, the prince grabs her arm, pulling her close.
"I do not care if you are fucking my chief researcher. I care that you're doing it in my tower, right under my nose. You may be sheriff, but that does not mean you get to disrespect me. Understood?"
"Yes, my prince."
"Besides, I have this entire place under 24 hour surveillance. All you're doing is making a show for Tolly."
A small "eep!" escapes Safia's lips and both woman look at her. She shrinks in her chair.
"May I go, prince Ryong?"
"Quickly."
"Phyre turns back to Safia. In Ottoman sign language she asks.
"Your place or mine?"
Safia responds
"Mine, I don't fancy going to an apartment that's an active crime scene."
Phyre shrugs before leaving out the door. Ryong looks to Safia.
"Do you know what you're doing Safia?"
"I…" She looks down at her feet. "No, my prince."
"You're getting involved with a kindred older than the country we reside in. She is possibly the single most dangerous individual in this city. She has retained more humanity than I'd expect but I know how deeply you care. Do not let your guard down."
Safia looks up into the burning red eyes of her superior. If she needed to breath it would have hitched in her throat.
"Yes, my prince."
"Good, now return to your tasks. You still have your orders to research a cure to your "love's" condition."