The sounds of an argument downstairs had forced the youngest daughter Deluxe into the waking world once more that evening. A scowl immediately worked its way onto the kindred's pale face and murky brown eyes scanned the room suspiciously just to make sure there was nothing too pressing on her own agenda. Upon seeing no one gaunt fingers pried themselves around the cushioned edges of her covered bed. Despite having a bedroom with no windows, the kindred would take no chances when it came to her own safety.

The moment the lid shifted a girl who was no more than twelve came rushing to assist Lucrezsia as she roused from her slumber. The child, Elaina, was almost as deathly pale as the woman she served. Sunken eyes, slender neck, and fingers that had been bone grafted to contain another set of knuckles. The daughter Deluxe offered the servant a subtle smile.

"Good evening, Mistress." The petite creature moved to fetch the kindred her robe and palm pilot. "I was instructed to remind you to send the list and your Father's present to Lord Travanix upon your waking this evening."

A hand ushered the child to silence and teal locks bobbed a bit as the kindred nodded. Lucrezsia was never far from her work and had actually just been making a mental list of things to do before she had fallen asleep. Within the hour the kindred had bathed, eaten, and was dressed in one of her favorite suits of designer label. There was a monstrous safe in the corner of the room and she wasted little time in taking her briefcase and some cash from its cold metal shell.

"Elaina, summon the Gangrel for me, please." The little girl gave a bow to her mistress and hurried from the room. The Deluxe family was known throughout the kindred community for being a multi-clan coterie with 'Daddy' Deluxe's clan at the helm. Lucrezsia took a moment to pull out her laptop and print off one of the many top secret documents stored in her database.

The list, one promised to Lord Travanix on this eve, was slid into a plain black folder and carefully sipped into one of the pockets of her briefcase. Just as the leather bag was closed a knock jerked Lucrezsia from her ponderings. "Enter." The clear tone of the kindred carried through the dimly lit chamber. Elaina opened the door and gestured for their guest to enter. Joshua Locke, a rough looking employee of the Deluxe family estates, came sauntering through the double doors and dipped his head a bit to Lucrezsia in respect.

"You sent for me, Darling?" Lucrezsia almost cringed at his usage of her family name. From him it was more of a pet name or sarcastic jibe at her demeanor rather than the innocent nickname father had given her.

"So I did. You and I will be going to the Chainned Inn this evening to deliver father's present to our new business associate. I need you to get the beast ready and have it in the truck within half an hour from now."

A sneer worked its way across Joshua's face at this request. "Do you want me to go ahead and feed it before we leave, or should we make a show of it for this man?"

Lucrezsia turned a bit and let loose a frustrated huff. "The creature is meant as a pet for Lord Travanix. We don't need to make some hideous display to prove our ferocity and masculinity, Mr. Locke. Feed it quickly."

With that the Gangrel shrugged and left the room. Lucrezsia could almost feel a headache working its way into the space between her eyes. Gaunt fingers reached up to massage her temples gingerly.

One of the girls had alerted him to the arrival of some potential guests. As he stepped out of the inn to greet them formally, he recongized the Void. He folded his arms behind as he stepped further from the inn.

The military posture that stole his form, betraying his history and training. The vile look within his auburn eyes moved, watching the various 'kindred'...Voids, move around, preparing something in a trailer that had been dragged behind their land transports. He watched as the girl stepped from the vehicle, approaching him.

"I see you do not waste time in providing information, or contracts. A trait that is greatly appreciated. Come, let us enjoy a drink. And welcome to the Chainned Inn." He motioned to them, as the door opened with not a command given to it.

He stepped behind her, allowing to enter first. The inn was only mildly busy this night. The nude girls bound to the back wall were playing a tune for dancing as two of his girls...his toys...were dancing for entertainment of all. The chill was that same darkened chill that seemed to surround him.

One of his girls, nori, approached him. A little red headed girl in a black dress. She was short, but the smile upon her face as she approached. "My master, i have prepared your booth for you and the lady." Her voice was sweet and respectful as the dark being nodded, and then gestured towards the booth.

"Thank you, my pet. After you, my lady." He guided her to the booth, then allowed her to settle in first. "What shall we drink to?" The silver mug that he took from the table was filled with a black substance.

The Gangrel were able to finish their business and depart as promised. The youngest daughter Deluxe needed no bodyguard and was more than happy to remain within the limits of the Inn as long as the smell was not offensive. Nude flesh glowing with whatever remnants it held of the sun's kiss was pleasing to the kindred's eye. Lucrezsia's father had an obsession with the human form and considered himself a great artist whenever it came to the delicate lines of the female form. It had been by his hands that the kindred's face and silhouette had been shaped, after all.

The sight of the slaver's apprentice caught the kindred's interest. Katerrina was issued a respectful bow of the head. Elegant stride was flawless in its execution and the demeanor of this prestigeous master's toys was definitely taken in consideration. A nod was given to the girl who had prepared their table and Lucrezsia slid into the comfortable seat of the booth with ease and grace. A winning smile was ever present and teal locks were given a girlish flip with the flick of her wrist.

A pale hand reached for her own glass and raised it with equal enthusiasm. "To luxurious living here in the city of darkness, my lord." Twin peepers were alert on Travanix and there seemed to be no suspicion at all on the kindred's side. This master was, after all, greatly respected and Lucrezsia held him in the same esteem he had earned from others.

The kindred raised the goblet high and took a drink. One of Lucrezsia's many blessings in her undead living was the ability to store sustenance in her hollowed out stomach until such a time as she needed to dispose of it. At the turn in conversation to the more personal query the glass was set down on the table.

Lucrezsia crossed her legs beneath the table and placed both hands in her lap. An experienced kindred knew when to speak and when to keep their mouths shut. They thrived on fear and secrecy. She was no different.

"Actually, Master Travanix, my father does reside within the city, but he rarely makes it into RhyDin proper. Instead, he has his children handle his affairs." Then glancing to the entertainment for a brief moment before turning her gaze back to the slaver.

"Father Deluxe values his privacy and that of his family. He is a very old man, Master Travanix... and he chooses to live his remaining years in solitude with only his family to comfort him."

The admission of the slaver's knowledge of her race nearly made the kindred flinch. On Earth it was forbidden for anyone outside of their own bloodlines to know of their true indentity. It was so important that any kindred caught breaking that rule was sentenced to final death. Rhydin was a different beast altogether. In this city immortal bloodsuckers were almost common place altough they came from different origins and worlds. The youngest daughter Deluxe had always found it presumptuous whenever kine took it upon themselves to offer her a drink of sanguine liquid. Lucrezsia was a snob whenever it came to her dinner choices. Still, the kindred's alabaster face hardly showed a hint of disdain or emotion of any kind.

"My father needs rest at the moment. Perhaps things will change in the nearby future." The elusive sire of the Deluxe clan was a very tortured being. A man who spent his time on the brink of madness and was losing his grip on humanity a little more each day. Lucrezsia was his second favorite childe and she wore his love proudly every day of her existance.

"I appreciate your kindness in taking my personal preferences into consideration, Lord Travanix. As for the time frame... we would prefer to have the whole of this order filled within a two month span. If priority were an issue the females might be placed at the head of the list, but my Father is a patient man and he wants to give you time to find the best possible stock to fulfill his requirements."

Apparently he hadn?t arrived in time. The ?Void?, the daughter of Deluxe sat opposite Travanix in the only booth that the Inn had and since coming to sit next to either of them, blocking them in against the wall, would just be rude he simply stepped through the door coming from the office and out into the main common room. Without a second glance at the booth Romax raised his hand, all but the first two fingers curled into a fist, he made a slight motion to the right and from the nearest table a chair came hurtling towards the booth where the two sat; only coming to a stop an inch before the back would have smacked into the table. With a crooked smile plastered to his face he moved to the chair he had just sent across the room and took a seat, straddling the solid steel frame with his arms crossed and resting on the higher back of the chair instead of the table. He made a half-bow to both Travanix and the Void before he spoke.

?I do hope that I?m only fashionably late.?

Murky eyes with their wicked little twinkle shifted to rest on the new arrival. Lord Pol, was it? The kindred had no records of this man in the surveillance files on Master Travanix. Nevertheless the ever gregarious and elegant lady dipped her slight chin in response to their introductions.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lord Pol. I look forward to doing business with both yourself and Master Travanix." The drink was finally brought to her lips for a sip. The stain of red against her typically pale pink flesh almost gave Lucrezsia a more lively appearance. The vitae was bland in comparison to her usual preferences, but the kindred would not even begin to tell anyone why. Hazy eyes took on a slightly darker tone with the addition of blood and pupils went to pinpoints while the kindred's unnatural gift turned the liquid into magic. The overall effect left the youngest daughter Deluxe with an even greater look of terrific beauty.

"A sweetness that only comes with youth. This is a fine product, Master Travanix." The kindred lied through her teeth. With years of business training came the mastery of the art of subterfuge. Most of her kind would have relished in the taste and it was, however misguided, thoughtful of the Master to be so generous.

"Now, in response to your query, I have interviewed with local slavers in the past and it was rare to find one that could truly impress me. Your record, however, seems virtually flawless. From what I can see the only contest you have in this industry is that Egyptian slaver Master Karos."

Gaunt fingers toyed with the glass a moment before she took another sip and let her gaze drift between Romax and Travanix. "Frankly, I prefer your methods. They are clean, efficient, practical, and lack Master Karos's tendency towards arrogance."

"I must also look to the future, Master Travanix." A wave of her hand and teal curls bounced with the motion. Lucrezsia's tongue formed each sentence with utmost refinement. "My family would benefit from making a business contract with those we can trust and I get the sense that Lord Pol and yourself are quite professional in your methods. It gives me a reassuring feeling."

He had let the jesting insult slide from his partner saving a response to it when it would do him the most good and now was certainly not that time. Once again he nodded in his most polite fashion to the now named Lady Deluxe.

?I believe that our two parties will be able to come to a great and beneficial arrangement that will satisfy both sides.. ?

The contract that the two had been, and were still talking about was slid in front of him to review and just as he was going to pass it to Travanix his partner reached out and took it only to flip to the last page and sign, binding the contract to them.

He listened intently to the next part of the conversation because this was going to be when the details on how the slaves were to be trained, and he had a major role in that these days.

He nodded. "I do not foresee this as a problem. There will be some challenges, however. What you are asking for is highly specialized and will require some modifications to the slaves. I will need to implant cybernetic devices into a couple of these once they are broken so that they have the skills you are looking at."

He looked at Romax. "We will need at least four cranial implants with computer mainframe uplinks." He looked back to the Void. "I will be able to conceal the markings of the implants. There will be little scaring. Is this acceptable?"

He nodded after hearing her explination. "Very well then. I will work to capture those that are going to be more suitable. We will need to begin a watch for those individuals, and a scan of the primary databanks that the government keeps on its citizens." He nodded to Romax as he spoke. The folder was closed once more. "It will take some additional time to track those with the special skills, not to mention some special tools are going to be needed to track and detain those that use 'magic'." The word was disgusting to say.

"I am sure we can complete this contract for you in a reasonable time." He sat up a bit. "Katerrina."

Waiting for her to come to the table. "Katerrina, this is Lady Deluxe. Lady Deluxe, this is my apprentice Katerrina." He turned those vile eyes to Katerrina. "Review this document, and map out some suitable hunting grounds." He would allow her to take the file. "Lady Deluxe, I am pleased that you have chosen my organization to fulfill your needs. I assure you, you will not be disappointed."

"A pleasure to meet you as well." The kindred gave a nod of her head and then turned back to the two gentleman. The agreement between them sounded as if it would work out perfectly and in accordance with her father's wishes.

"You assurance is comforting, Lord Travanix." A pause as Lucrezsia then reached for the nearby clutch. The night was going to be over soon and there was need for the youngest daughter Deluxe to finish her errands and return to the estates for dinner with her family. "Lord Pol."

With this the kindred rose to her feet with ethereal grace and gave a proper bow to the pair. A dazzling smile was flashed and an extra business card was pulled from the pocket of her jacket. The simple black card had only her name and a number where she could be contacted.

"Gentlemen... we'll be in touch."

Over the span of two months there had been many shipments of coin and treasures sent to the Chainned Inn under the name of Deluxe. The kidnappings had made the front page and the press had startled the eldest kindred of the esteemed family. They had waited in the shadows until such a time as the steam had passed. In the middle of April a letter was delivered to the Inn for Master Travanix in the hands of a slave. A ghouled woman with a bandage over her eyes that still possessed the ability to move with the full of her vision gripped onto a roll of parchment curled in a leather case. Along with her came a bottle of wine, made from the grapes of the northern elvish kingdoms.

The slave, ashen skin covered in strange metal piercings and ridges of bone, slipped into the Inn and kneeled once inside. She informed the head slave that she was to deliver this message to Master Travanix or Romax only.

The letter read as follows:

Most esteemed Masters,

We apologize for the delay in contact, but it is in our father's best interest to keep things as quiet as possible and we did not want the blood on our hands until we had made arrangements for our tracks to be covered. As such we have increased the amount of payment we owe you and would also like to arrange for the two of you, and a single guest each, to have dinner with us at the family compound. My father wishes to give you his thanks personally and it is a very rare thing. Lucrezsia will still be handling the bulk of our business, but as she is currently occupied with other matters, I shall be taking care of the arrangements for the arrival of our order. We would happily come to tour your facilities at your earliest convenience. Please attach your response to the slave and she will make sure it reaches my fingertips within the hour.

Sincerely,

Daisha Amalia Deluxe

The messanger returned back home to Alsanine Estates and was immediately escorted into the eldest daughter Deluxe's private chambers. Soulless eyes ran up and down the girl's frame as wraith-like fingers wrapped around the letter from Travanix. Daisha's ancient voice read the message aloud as she circled the ghouled servant like a vulture and let predatory eyes steal glances of the creature between sentences.

Once the letter was completed she moved for her desk drawer and plucked a piece of rigid bone from the line. The serial number on the side of the twisted ivory was then whispered into the ghoul's ear. The servant prostrated herself upon the ground and pulled up the linen bindings that wrapped around her frail form. A deep breath was taken just before Daisha mercilessly pushed the material through her flesh and sniffed at the fresh red liquid that came pouring forth.

The child shook as the kindred's dry tongue ran over the wound and sealed it immediately around bone. After this was completed she turned and loped gracefully back to her desk to write a reply.

Master Travanix,

It would greatly please my father and I to receive your company in three days time. We will send a car to the Inn for transportation as the secrey of our family compound is something we value greatly. As for your facility, I would be most happy to come with my kin once the sun goes down tomorrow night. It has been a pleasure doing business with you.

Sincerely,

Daisha Amalia Deluxe

The servant on the floor rose to her knees and lifted a sleeve as the kindred read this letter aloud. A metal loop with a serial number was removed from the tray in her desk and whispered into the girl's ear before it pierced through her skin.

"Take this back to the Chainned Inn and wait there until the good master has his reply."

The girl gave a very subtle nod before she rose and moved for the door to the hall. Daisha grinned inwardly and returned to the paperwork scattered across her mahogany desk.