Having multiple ghouls always presents an odd dynamic. As they compete for their domitors affection they turn a schoolyard dynamic into something predatory or even deadly.

Thomas Arturo's two ghouls are no exception. Alexi has proven himself a dangerous thing who now spends most of his time torturing anyone who steps out of bounds on casino grounds. Christine, once punished has proved herself useful once again even as she was lent out to anyone who Arturo needed to keep an eye on.

Alexis pasttimes dont sit well with Arturo. Its very rare that a ghoul can fall to depths of depravity faster than their domitor but it is not unheard of; especially amongst Toreador ghouls.

Favor has shifted again among Arturos thralls. Alexi is drawing undue attention to the casino. When missing persons are reported who were last seen at a gambling establishment police begin looking into organized crime ties...

Christine, however; does as shes told and draws no attention to herself, nevermind the current backbone of Arturos material wealth.

Thomas is in his personal suite at the Casino. On the very top floor, the most heavily defended and hard to access area of the Casino and hotel. He will have one of his many attendants call down to Christine, who is likely working away dilligently in her office and tell her to come upstairs immediately.

Christine will hurry up to Thomas' suite, carrying with her the currant ledger book of the casino, showing the income and outgo of the monies therein.  Prepared to report to him exactly what his currant profit is, along with anything else, of a financial nature.

Its been a few days, at least, since she's seen him.  She cannot help but notice what Alexi is doing, so, she's been doing her level best to keep him from noticing her.  The last place she wants to be is in room 4.  Unless Alexi is in there, shackled to the floor and if she has a large knife, cutting him open, much like a hunter would a deer.  

In the meantime, stepping into Thomas' suite, with a quick glance around to see if anyone else is there.

'you called for me sir?'

Thomas is waiting for Christine in his expansive parlor which is decorated mainly in dark colors and reds. All the better to hide those unavoidable crimson stains with. Christine will hear the door lock behind her, as it always has in the past.

'Yes, Christine my dear. You can set your books down, you wont be needing them.'

Every time she hears those doors lock behind her, she tenses up, trying to suppress the urge to run back to the door, screaming.  Bad memories of room 4, being locked in, and everything else.  

Slowly, she'll put the ledger down, almost gently.  Then, she'll wait.  Her hands clasped tightly in front of her, eyes on the floor.  The one thing she doesn't want to do is disgust him with the oen yearning in her eyes, which she knows is there.  After all...he's what he is, she's what she is, she can only hope he's called her here for a good reason.

'You have been attending classes at the University.'

Thomas doesnt ask, he already knows she is. He states what shes been up to in a way that demands explanation. He doesnt stare her down, that would lock the poor girl up. Shes like a dog thats been kicked too many times. Raise your voice and she rolls over...

Thomas will stand, offering her a seat in the parlor with a wave of his hand. He will cross the room to retrive something from one of his shelves; a familiar chalice. Thomas very rarely allows his ghouls to feed directly from him...

There is SOME spirit left in the girl, as she takes a seat using all the grace she's been taught in the past.  Back straight, chin up, hands folded in her lap.
'yes' In reply to his comment on the university.  'A seminar on the newest tax frauds, as well as learning about the newest rules and regulations for taxes, focusing on business' That sweet smile, he's rarely seen, unless it was directed at her old domitor.
'We cannot be using the old regulations, we'd be paying in a lot more, and thats not what is wanted'
Only she could say that last line in such a non threatening way.

Watching him as he gets the chalice out, she can feel a very vamiliar longing.  One that she also tries...very hard to keep from showing.  Except for the way her eyes fix on that chalice.

Thomas hears nothing after the word seminar. Its all something he considers below him, thats why his ghouls take care of it. When she finishes, Thomas will set the empty chalice on the small table beetween them and say, rather bluntly.

'I want you to kill Alexi and it has to look like an accident.'

Christine has been a ghoul for a lot of years.  In that time, she's had orders to do things from altering books to cover skimming, get someones 'attention' so they can be either blackmailed or killed.  She's even nearly been killed herself by various people.  for various reasons.  This is not the worst request, since she has huge amounts of reasons for killing Alexi.  The bluntness of the request is what shocks her to silence.

'k..kill him?' Swallows...several times, her gaze now on his face.  'because of what he's doing in Room 4' That is a flat statement.  Oh yes, she's heard those sounds...and it feels as if her soul died a little each and every time she walked past that room, and didn't do anything for the victims inside.

Its that 'look like an accident' bit that has her stumped.  She is not the killer type.  A somewhat hopeless look comes into her eyes.

Christine plays up her helplessness, but Thomas knows better. The girl carries a gun, and he saw how she lost her temper when she lost her fingers. Shes just as dangerous as any other ghoul.

'I have my reasons.'

Arturo tells Christine, looking away for a moment at some of the graphic paintings on his walls. Old oils that could be taken as pornographic, if you didnt know where they were from.

'Alexi has become a liability and i have my eyes on a new protege. I cant risk him damaging her.'

Thomas betrays al evel of concern he has never shown for Christine, even after all the horrible things that were done to her. Whoever Thomas is talking about has clearly jumped up the ladder without either of them ever knowing...

At the mention of a new 'protege' her eyes drop to the floor, a stiffness comes into her body, a tenseness that shows only too clearly.
'I see'

Continues to stare at the floor, keeping her face under control, more or less, her mouth is slightly twisted in what might be the start of a snarl, except she's not letting it go any further.

A wisp of thought goes through her mind that, at some time in the future, someone else could be sitting here, having this same conversation...about her.  That idea will make her shiver, with a glance up at Thomas, wondering....  A sigh, a silent one after that, yes...she thinks to herself, he would.  

'by natural death, I will assume you dont want anything like a car crash, or shoving him in front of a train?' That last said with a slight edge of humour.  Dark, yes, but humor none the less.

'I said accidental Death.'

Thomas gently corrects Christine.

'Poison him, knock him off the roof, blow up his car. I dont care as long as he dies. I figured youd like to do it yourself, but if you arent up to it I will arrange otherwise and you can be re-assigned.'

Theres some hidden connotations with that word that Christine defenitely wont like the sound of. Thomas will will wait, tapping a finger on the edge of the chalice while Christine makes her decision...

A certain look in her eyes shows she's been thinking.  Obviously, the easiest thing would be to just shoot him and get it over with.  Also obviously, this would not be the smartest thing to do.  Not that Thomas hasn't given her a pretty wide latitude of things she could do.

Then again...killing someone, anyone in cold blood was just not something she'd ever had to contend with.  Something that went more against her own basic self than anything else.  

On the other hand, the 'reassignment' didn't sound too good either.


Raising her eyes to Thomas, studies his face, probably for the first time since before her 'time' in room 4.  Not much chance of him changing his mind on this, and, she knows just how 'disposable' she really is.

'I....I'll think of something' Trying to sound a great deal more confident about the matter than she really is.

After all...drugs....fake him into a heart attack, that 'date rape' drug and toss him off the roof, that idea might even bring a tiny smile*

Her stutter does nothing to assure Arturo. But he is sure that if she fails to kill Alexi, Alexi is more than capable of killing her in return. So however her plan goes, it will be a small matter to clean up.

'Im sure you will.'

Arturo says as he removes a small razorblade from the bottom of the chalice and brings it gently across the palm of his left hand. His sweet vitae dribbles into the chalice, filling it close to the brim.

'I have something i want you to deliver, next time you go to the university.'

Arturo tells Christine as he slides the chalice across the small table to her.

Watching as his vitea dribbles into the cup, she might miss part of what he says, until the bit about the message.  She will look up at that.

'I'll be honored to deliver your message sir'

Her eyes will go back to the chalice.  Then back to his face.  Almost as if she's asking permission.

Arturo gives a single nod and settles back, using a dark handkerchief to whipe any dripping from his hand as the wound knits shut almost instantly.

Carefully picks up the chalice, cradling it in both hands, staring into the depths of the vitea.  After a second of staring, and with all due respect possible, drinks.

The scent and taste hitting her system like a ton of bricks, feeling the rush and invigorating power of his vitea, stronger than her former domitors.  Her eyes are closed as she allows the vitea time to flow down her throat, feeling the sudden rush of power in every part of her being.

For this, she would, and now has sold her very soul, her integrity, and now promised to kill.  Something a few bare years ago, she would never have even considered, she now is not only considering, but if she succeeds, will probably feel at least some small amount of glee at succeeding.  Well, he has it coming, after all.  The rationalization has now begun.

After draining the chalice, she carefully sets it down in its former place.

Arturo barely pays attention as she drinks. Toreador blood is sweet and addicting, like a trendy drink; and Christine has just completed her bond to Arturo. When she places the chalice back down he will look up, giving her a fleeting smile.

'I see youve regrown two of your fingers.'

He motions to her hand, as if she hasnt noticed the return of two of her digits. He will remove a yellowed envelope from the table next to his seat and slide it across the small table to Christine. The envelope is a mailer, that would fit a normal sized piece of paper. It has already been sealed and addressed to the head of the arts department.

'I trust you can find that mans office on your next visit.'  

--Last edited by Radiationjunkie on 2008-12-14 23:50:59 --

'yes, I have'

Her only comment to the fingers, the small finger will probably be forever cut off at the last joint.  All her small efforts have failed.  Well, its not going to affect her working.  Not like only having one finger.

Her response to his smile, a warm one, lighting up her eyes, making her look much younger, even, perhaps with a tiny hint of mischief in there somewhere.

Picking up the message, nods.

'I know where the department is, I'll deliver this in the morning'

'Thank you my dear...'

Arturo says, off handedly. He will leave the chalice for his maid to clean up. She is not squimish about blood and she even speaks english.

'If theres nothing you wish to discuss i wont keep you from your studies.'

Arturo says, by way of dismissing her if she has nothing on her mind.

'Thank you, sir'

Stands up, a last, almost lingering glance, almost as if hoping for...

Turns to walk swiftly out the door, after picking up the unneeded ledger.  Back to her office to begin the torturous decision of how.  Slowly, as her panic quiets, ideas start coming in. Most wildly impractical, others totally unsuitable, although, one or two might actually work...

Stares at the blank computer screen for most of the night.  Anyone looking in would think she was hard at work.