Masquerade

Lilith was sitting on the leather recliner that lay opposite of the couch that I was on, Bianca was leaning against the wall to my left her arms crossed underneath her chest. Both of there eyes locked upon me, but they were just human eyes. Still it was quite unnerving, considering everything that happened today. This was probably the worst of it, hopefully.
I took a deep breath as I scratched be back of my head. I wasn't nervous or anything, I was just taking my time. Yeah.

"Ok, I apologize if this sounds a bit strange. Ok maybe not...umm"

I quieted myself as Lilith smiled at me, she didn't reveal any of her fangs. The more experianced vampires learned over time that flashing your fangs towards someone really wasn't a good way to get a conversation or anything going if they had good intentions. Then again I could only hope that this was going to end well, never could tell. Being a bright ray of sunshine myself.

"Your rambling Jacob, don't worry."

I took a glance over at Bianca, yeah easy for you to saou dou don't have two vamps looking at you, in your apartment. Out of reach of your lifelines, my HP 35 lay in my bedroom. Tucked safely in its leather holster. Though I probawoulwouldn't be fast enough to draw it on either of them, it would just make me feel better to have it near me.

"Yeah, I know... but alot of things have happened so far. Then to have the both of you in my apartment while I just woke up really isn't what I expected..."

I was rambling, never a good sign. It ment I was nervous, then again no shit sherlock. Great now I'm doing those stupid jokes to myself... You would think that after years of hunting the undead I wouldn't besed sed by two vampires that were in my house. The place that I thought was safe, then again nothing is. It was just a surprise, a very unpleasant surprise.
I turned towards Bianca and could only shake my head, wether in disappointment or in bewilderment I would let her decide. Better for her to get question her motives then me, I had a hard enough time from freaking out.

"I know I promised not to get angry, but couldn't you have at least called? hell you could have just knocked on the door. You just barge into my place as if you own it and then just smile as if nothing happened...Bianca I swear..."

"Jacob, don't get angry at Bianca. I told her to bring me here, it was this or to have one of my associates take you to a meeting place. She thought this would have been better, considering most people don't like being 'taken' somewhere to meet the master of the city, it seems intimidating. Almost threatening. So please calm yourself."

Like hell I will, dammit this was worse then a nightmare. It was true either of them could have killed me without taking a breath, I was nothing compared to them and then they have the damned tenacity to come into my place and tell me to act calm? Dammit.
Bianca maybe an old girlfriend, when she was mortal. She was still a friend of mine, best one I've ever had. Though now she was a vampire, anything was possible.
I took a deep breath and counted to three, that usually helped. Usually.

"Ok, sorry."

I remained calm as I looked at Lilith, a perpetual smile upon her face as she returned the gaze. Now we just had to get down to business, how this would turn out would probably be based upon my shoulders. I hate it when I'm placed responsible.

"What would you like to discuss about the case Ms..."

What do you call the master of the city? By there name or was there something else to it?

"Lilith would be fine."

"Hey no mind games, I hate it when you people do that..."

Great, I'm just digging myself deeper into the proverbial grave. Though if things kept on going this way it wouldn't be proverbial anymore. Lilith only laughed as I replied, great I'm entertaining her.
Maybe she would want me to do knock knock jokes or maybe juggle? Maybe I should shut up before I actually get myself killed. I should take that advice more often.

"It slipped, I would like to discuss your findings on what you saw and if there is anything that could be related to the Masquerade by the unfortunite event."

"If I could tell you I would, but this is police business. Explaining it to the public, human or vampire would be against regulations."

I was glad there were rules that I had to follow. It made this a whole lot easier and maybe if I just stuck to them. Lilith would leave and if Bianca stayed I'd have time to give her a 'talk' oh how we needed that now. That legal paper that I had thought of her signing really sounded like a good idea now.

"Understandable, but as sole owner of the Masquerade and as the master of this city. I would like to know who did this, so undue negative attention wouldn't fall upon the vampires that live within the city limits."

"True, though I would have to discuss this with my superiors. Though you are the master of this city, in the sense of vampires. I also wouldn't want a vigilante up heavel towards the cause of this crime, they must be caught and prosecuted to our laws."
lithlith sighed again as she looked at me, there wasn't a change in her posture, but in her crimson eyes I could see a sort of discomfort, as if she were growing tired or even irritated of what I was saying. Shit.

"Jacob...Jacob, please don't toy with me. I need to know, this is the most civil way that it can be done. There are other ways, but they are undesirable... if you know what I mean. Though if it were to come around to that, they would be used." Double shit.

"Is that a threat?, threatening an officer is punishable in court."

God, someone make me shut up. I'm letting my emotions push me around, I don't like being threatened. No matter who it was, from the lowly street pervert to the master of the city. Great to combine those two isn't it?
Lilith face remained unchanged, the smile still upon her face. I took a quick glance over to Bianca and she had a worried expression upon her face, though it was slight I still knew what it ment. You don't have a best friend and don't learn what every little facial movement means.
I better pull my act together or I won't see another glorious sun rise, not that I liked them much. Though it would beat being dead anyday or anything worse.

"Take it for whatever it means Jacob... though I do want what you know about the crime, I am being very civil about this. I could have entered you mind and taken the information that I wanted by that, but I would rather have your cooperation in this matter."

"I understand from where you are coming from, I appreciate that you didn't delve into my mind and take the information that you needed, but..."

Jeez, why can't this just end? why can't it be a bad dream. I though I saw a hint of anger in her eyes, though I just hope it was just my imagination or I was in about to enter a world of pain.

"But, there is a way inwhich I can tell you. Though it'll you'll have to understand that what I know is a limited piece, there is so much that still has to be done in our labs. I guess ietteetter to have the master of the city on our side then against us..."

Lilith's face brightened up as she heard the words, I guess this was for the best. It was either that or something more horrible then I could possibly think of now. Thats Mr. Positive for you.

"Your cooperation is most grateful to my ears Jacob. Though I was surprised that you held me off for this long, most people would have given me what I wanted from the beginning."

Yeah well when you have the master of the city sitting across from you and asking you questions, lets see how long you last huh? Course I didn't say that, I've already proved my stupidity for tonight.
Lilith turned her attention towards Bianca, I couldn't hear what they were saying, I saw there lips move but no words escaped them. Probably some sort of telepathy, all I knew was that Bianca was smiling as Lilith turned her attention back to me. Great.

"Your welcome... and thank you." My voice some what trembled and uncertain to wether take that as a compliment to my general ethics or to my natural stubborness. General ethics seemed much better, don't you agree?

"Go on Jacob, tell me what you know"

I told her everything that I knew about the victim and how the crime looked to me. That the attack resembled that of a vampire or lynthrope, for only there strength could have done that type of damage. In my experiance ghouls would never attack a man that looked physically capable to defending himself and they were at least thirty five miles from the nearest graveyard. Zombies could have been capable of such a feat of strength but there would have been signs that the zombie would have done it. Mainly there would be scraps of rotted flesh left behind. Lynthropes and Vampires seemed to be the only ones that could have done this sort of damage to a human.
While I explained this Lilith remained motionless, but still remained attentive. Her crimson eyes seemed to study my movements, I tried to fidget less on the couch. Though her eyes no matter how human the looked, they still held some power.

"That would be all of my knowledge upon this case Lilith, and you know I wouldn't lie."

There wouldn't be a point, she would have known about it. I still couldn't figure out how the older vamps knew, maybe it was by my scent or something totally different. One day I would probably ask.
Lilith smiled as she nodded, she arose from the leather recliner as the crimson dress which matched her eyes flowed around her. She turned around and began towards the door, I arose as well and was about to place my hand on Lilith's shoulder, to turn her around so I could look at her face. I decided against it as I would speak instead, I had to make sure she wouldn't use what I had told her to do something undesirable. Like go on some killing spree against all renegade vampires and lynthropes, that would really be bad.

"Lilith, promise me that you won't use this information to fuel some vigilante crowd..."

Lilith turned around as she looked at me with her crimson eyes, she had stopped and yet it seemed that her body kept on moving in one fluid motion.

"I can't promise that Jacob, there is a vampire or lynthrope out there that is ruining the image of all vampires within the city limits of San Francisco. We've lived in relative harmony since it passed in the legislature, I want humans,vampires and even lynthropes to live in harmony within the che city that I call home."

I understood where she was coming from, Lilith was able to keep the vampires under control in this city. The only reason that had even been vampire murder victims was that rogue vampires would come in from other places, the vampires in San Francisco were docile. Though this wouldn't hide the fact that they could still kill an innocent person at the slightests of whims.

"Promise that you will give the police a week before you do something, it's probably a rogue vampire."

I had to make sure that this wouldn't turn into some bloodbath, there had been a few of those in the past. Only because rival vampire street gangs had tried to move into Lilith's territory. I never did like that there was a vampire ruling the city, though it was more in the form of the vampire society within. Still killing the rival vampires that tried to claim San Francisco as there own was a bit over the top. Then again the sight of a room covered from ceiling to floor in blood and bits of flesh scattered through out the room was quite ghy, ty, the coroner had one hell of a time trying to put the pieces together. The biggests bit was the size of a fist, then again it was the fist.
Lilith had turned towards me and smiled, she would nod towards Bianca before she would speak. I didn't know why she kept on looking over to Bianca from time to time. I didn't care, I just had to know if Lilith would keep that promise. Ok I did care,but it would have to wait.

"Jacob, you and your squad shall have one week. The count down shall start tomorrow night at ten. After a week passes, I can't promise anything. The safety of the vampire population within San Francisco depends upon the closure of this case, I won't allow some rogue or lynthrope to taint the fair nature of the night citizens. Giving you a week is quite generious. Though I look down upon your 'methods' of dealing with some of our kind, I understand that you are looking out for your people. While I must look after my people."

Why was she being so civil? I couldn't understand, but if she were speaking the truth and I didn't argue that she wasn't. Lilith was one of the most controlled of all master vampires that I have heard of, though there were other less savory stories. Some of them were true, heck the bloody room filled with vamp bits was from her.

"I understand and I thank you for promising, but if we catch the person responsible for this. Then allow us to deal with them in our courts and laws."

"That is allowable Jacob, but if the week passes I won't be responsible for what my people will do to that person... there are many things worse then death."

I didn't doubt that, but we have reached an agreement of sorts. I just hoped I was able to get to the person before Lilith and her 'people' could.

"Then it is agreed, you shall give me one week."

"Agreed, you are given one week Jacob. Use it well, if you need anything else feel free to contact me at Masquerade. One of my associates shall bring you to me. I apologize for the intrusive entering of your abode. It shall not happen again unless needed."

Lilith laughed, though why wasn't I glad to hear that? Hopefully it wouldn't come down to something like that. Either way, I now knew to keep my HP 35 around me at all times. Nothing like the master of the city to change your habits.

"Thank you Lilith, I shall visit the Masquerade to get more clues and maybe question a few of the people that were there that night."

Lilith nodded " I must depart there are other matters that need to be taken care of and the night only lasts so long. It was nice to meet you Jacob, I never knew the Slayer could be so... handsome. I envy you Bianca."

I watched as Lilith spread her rose colored lips to a smile and with that she was gone. Another mind trick... wait did she just compliment me? and why was she in envy of Bianca? I'm starting to get confused again. Bianca just sttherthere for awhile before she spoke.

"I'm guessing you want to talk to me now."

Yeah that would be a good presumption, we needed to 'talk' a long talk.

"Yeah, that would be in order."

I just wished I had a lawyer with me, that legal document that I would make her sign would have been good right about now. I would just have to talk to her in a civilized manner. Easier said then done, nothing like waking up and being scared shitless as you see the master of the city sitting across from you, and on top of that I have one week to find the murderer. People wonder why I'm so stressed.