Brasenose College

Aubrey has barely gotten out of the quad when the text comes in. Didn’t he bring that up? Did he not already know…? Oops. Was that a secret?  Oohhh I thought you like totally knew already! D:  Hmm well find my friend for me and I’d be happy to tell you what I know :))) faster the better luv <3

Catching up on the necessary schoolwork for his securities degree did not offer Khalid much time to check his phone.  It was only when stood from his desk to prepare for a workout did he see Aubrey's response.  He sent his own while packing his gym bag. Not sure if a café is the best place for a magic trick, but I'm sure I'll figure something out. Grand Café at 8ish, see you then.

Guess you’ll have to get creative >:) Aubrey starts off in earnest for the cafe, intending to get there with time to spare. She did have a few things to knock out beforehand though. The first was easy enough, and a but of scrolling on her phone brings her back to Nora’s face. Goooood evening luv  hope ur adjusting well, how’s the first day of forever felt? we have a lot to do tonight, enjoy yourself within reason but expect to meet back by me in a couple hours, k? ^_^ With that done though, there remained one pressing matter… one that she’d ignored upon waking but which was making its pangs known with every step past a delicious looking first-year or beefy jock: she was practically starving. Actually, that just made her choices easier. Slipping into Baby Love once more, she knows she's on the clock as she wastes know time flaring her majesty and drawing the little flies to her enchanting light. After only ten or so minutes of dancing and basking in their adoration, she's whisked two away — one by the collar and one by the hand to the most romantic stall in the back loo. Pinning one against the door as the other comes up behind her, she grinds back against the man as she's quick to sink her teeth into the neck of the skinny little girl in front of her. Blood flows faster than the tap of the bar out front, and while the girl catches her breath on the edge of ecstasy, Aubrey turns and with a strength greater than the man would have expected from the little actress, she pulls him into her, not wasting anymore time to drain even more out of him until she's had her fill. By the time she leaves the stall, wiping the last drops of their succulence from her lips, the two are onto each other instead, woozy but unaware. Savoring the thrill of her power as ever, she squeezes a few more minutes of worship from the worms dancing on the floor of the club before slipping back out and into the night, off to the cafe arriving precisely on time at about 8:02.  She glances about, looking for the mage among the masses. (Continued in Oxford City Centre ...)

(Continued from Oxford City Centre …) Aubrey meanders back towards her room after leaving Khalid, the mage quickly fading from mind as the magnitude of what he’d given to her comes more and more into focus. All her snooping and he knew Raziel the whole time! Absolutely incredible. Opening her phone instead to texts from someone named ‘Michael’ she nearly forgets her earlier meeting what with all the excitement. Splendid luv, send me the deets <333 After that quick reply to her actual little private eye, she finally pulls up the number Khal had sent her and begins typing: Hiiii ! ! ! Is this Raziel? im Aubrey, Khal’s friend! he said itd be cool if i like, reached out and all that sooo hope he wasn’t lying haha Reaching Brasenose once more, she considers her options. She’d planned  to meet up with her new ghoul-friend and do as Cam had said with all that training whatever, but this was more pressing. Instead, she sends a quick text to Nora telling her they’d meet up later tonight. For now, she’d just freshen up back in her room and see where this went…

It isn't long before her phone buzzes in reply. Hello, yes this is Raziel. It isn't my intention to be rude, but may I ask just who you are and why you sought me out? Aubrey rolls her eyes at the formality of the girl, but cheerfully gets right on back to typing. sorry!! I'm a freshie here in stones n bones and I'm like suuuper lost so far yeah?? I asked around and heard you did the same track! and well, being like, you know, Kindred spirits and all that, I figured you'd be the best to call :) hope I'm not out of line lol I just would maj' appreesh some help getting things sorted!

A fresher Kindred in Anthro&Arch who just happened to run into Khalid? Not Akil. Khalid, his mage name. Either he has extraordinarily bad luck, or it wasn't an accident. And there's no way of knowing just how much he told her, about the events of the incriminating evening or about me. This manner of speaking reeks of its own kind of obfuscation, and the subtle-like-a-hammer Kindred with a capital K speaks to a boldness to this person.  While I would've preferred an email or a reference through someone in Keble, this is fine as well. I'd be happy to help you where I can. Would you like to meet up to study together sometime? I'd also be interested in hearing how you met Khalid?

Aubrey scrunches her face up reading the reply, as if it'd been copy-pasted from the mouth of a robot — or worse, a professor — rather than a student. This girl is around my age, isn't she? Shit wait she's kindred. That means she could be like, a hundred years old. Hmm, unlikely. Two hundred seems more right for this. Oh my god that'd make her practically a methuselah maybe!  Her heart, were it alive, would've skipped a beat at the thought. Instead, she takes an extra moment before replying: Riiiight sorry sorry, anyway yeah! I can make like, anytime work so let me know when! Tonight would even work if your not busy (I know thatd be crazy last minute so like dont even sweat it haha but also...?) and uhhh idk if you would know him but so like, I played a gig with this professor?? McCarthy he teaches... something probably idk anyway i wanted to figure out like what to call my new cat but i dont understand cat, right?  and the professor was like 'oh I know a guy' and sooo yeah anyway anyway lmk when works for you!! super keen to get to studying :)))

Feeling tremendously put upon by the way that Aubrey texts, Rae considers what she's seen.  Tonight? Either this person is truly a fresher and this is just coincidence-which can't be ruled out after the Gabriel shitstorm-this person is unwaveringly confident that they trap they've set will be impossible for me to escape, or they are flying by the seat of their pants and have no idea what they're doing. Either way, I'm full, so I think such boldness should be met in kind. And Liam... perhaps she's Daeva. There's no way to know without seeing her. Seems you can't take 10 steps without bumping into the same people around here.  I have no other obligations this evening, so we could meet for a quick study session. Where would you prefer that we meet? I may also be able to help with your cat, and would like to hear about how you and Liam know each other?

oh you know Liam??  I mean idk I was in town once and he basically begged me to hang with him? his music was alright so??  when I started here he was the one person I knew lol but anyway thankssss your the greatest!! <3 would like, a jcr work? could go to any I guess? mansfield? oriel? idk, what works for you?

Rae chuckles to herself at this description of Liam. Well that does sound like him. No problem. Yes, the JCR at Oriel would be fine. I'll gather my things and leave now.

Aubrey sends a smiley face back and sets the phone down, looking to Amun and grinning ear to ear. "Well this night has already gone way better than the last." She nonetheless considers her options. Hera had told her to learn her routine, but that seemed so boring and pointless when she had the girl coming to meet her now . Was she supposed to do nothing here? She could just bring her back to Brasenose tonight and they could get this whole thing wrapped up however bloodily they wanted, right? Stopping to wonder just what  they wanted with Raziel, she imagines for a moment a handful of drawn out torture scenes like out of several of the gorier slasher pictures she'd made. All and all the girl had nearly broken the masquerade, so that would  seem most likely. But perhaps there remained a chance they simply wanted to reprimand her. Be a bit boring, that , she shrugs, typing out a quick email to Hera before gathering her things. Hi Professor!! So like good news again! I've found our friend! I got her new address too so we can all get together sometime, but in the meantime her and I are meeting up in a bit to study at Oriel! Let me know if we should drop by Bras on the way home yeah? best, Aubrey xoxo With that she sets out once more into the night, back to Oriel College... (Continued in Oriel College ...)

(Continued from Oriel College ...) Aubrey is at Hera's door nearly as quickly as she'd left Oriel, knocking hard against it. " Professor! I have some reeeeaaally  big questions for you. "

There's a rush of air behind Aubrey and she finds Hera stood, leaning over her shoulder. "Inside, quickly," she murmurs, glancing around as she unlocks the door as though danger could lurk in any shadow. "First, explain to me exactly what you did to Raziel," Hera demands once they are inside.

Aubrey isn’t smiling for once as she’s led inside, instead folding her arms over her chest as she begins explaining. “I charmed her with Majesty? Like, that’s it? Then I asked her who knew about what she’d done and who her sire and covenant were? Honestly she started telling me all this other shit too I didn’t even ask for. She’s lowkey in some real hot water?” ”But what like, gives? You have me run around finding this girl and I finally do and have her ready to deliver on a silver platter to you and? What, cold feet?”  

Hera shakes her head in disbelief. " I didn't tell you to serve her up on a silver platter, Artemis. It's not that simple. I said to find her , her clan, her covenant, her routine and to be ready to act. Not to swing your majesty at Francis de la Fontaine's grandchilde like a bloody sledgehammer. I told you that this was political. Did it never occur to you to have a little  tact , Artemis? Just how hard did you hit her to have her 'spilling her guts' as you so aptly put it."

“Look me in the eye and tell me honestly you think I know who that is,”  she says flatly. Brushing that all aside, she shakes her head, “And not that hard honestly? She’s… what’s the tactful word? Weak? Anyway is that who you meant by “back”? Because no one said that? She said a lot of other stuff though. About awakening sleeping masters with her sire and Professor McCarthy and the others ー a master who snapped and killed the rest Final Death-dination style or whatever. Ohh and an elder got torpored by her and Liam. I learned a lot actually! About a Ventrue she’s desperate to help because her mortal brother caught on through the masq too, for example. Or that the whole murder thingy was a complete mistake ー nothing to do with Brasenose. You know, stuff you’d probably, like, love to know honestly.”

It looks like Hera is about to continue berating Aubrey, but something that the girl says catches her attention. "Stop. What was that? What happened to the masters?"

“Oh you haven’t heard?”  Aubrey looks at her sideways. “Considering like three people have told me about it now I figured it was common knowledge.” ”Last week at the Balliol party?” She begins, taking a deep breath as she proceeds to rattle off all the details she’d been given so far.  “Raziel, Eve, an elder named Silas Mallock, the mage I’ve been twisting around my finger Khalid, Professor McCarthy, and his little Toady Mehdi all went into the Library. They found the masters in torpor with uhh what did Rae-rae say… san-skreet  writing on their coffins. Eve and her ignored the writing’s warning and woke the “Master of All Souls” or whatever that is ー who’s also Mekhet I guess? ー and she Final Deathified the rest in frenzy. They got attacked by like, a demon dog or something that came out of a sigil… Mallock frenzied, Raziel nearly died but Khal and Liam helped torpor him I guess? Ummm Mehdi was also there I suppose I don’t know what he was up to but in the end she was like totally dead in a “tired” kinda way and went to the party here to feed, got unlucky with some weak jock who dropped instantly then hid the body like a complete idiot and left ー totally unrelated to us.”

"Yes, yes," Hera replies impatiently, pacing about her office. "Is it common knowledge that the masters of the five clan colleges disappeared last Thursday? Yes, of course. Is it common knowledge that they were being held in torpor in a library until Lady Amissa devoured them ? Absolutely not. Raziel is certain of this? Which library? Where is Amissa now?"

"Seems like the kinda thing you should be asking Raziel. You pulled me away from her as I was asking more."  Aubrey folds her arms over her chest, annoyed more and more by what she was starting to think might be genuine incompetence, considering all she'd done to learn about this without even really intending to. "I can summon her here right now if you'd like..."

"One thing at a time," Hera tells Aubrey, falling into her chair and rubbing her brow with her thumb and forefinger. "Aubrey's grandsire is a powerful Mekhet and it would be unwise to provoke him. Do you know what blood sympathy is, Artemis?"

"Yeah! It's why I can often sense Cammy or why she says she can sense me,"  Aubrey's eyes immediately light up at the thought of her sire, all thoughts of the current situation abating momentarily. "But like who cares? I'm Cammy's childe and she's super powerful and the Circle has plenty of powerful whatever's, I'd think. You'd cower in the face of like, the off-chance that one guy would show maybe sense vaguely that something may-or-may not be happening to his grand childe?"

"Camille Renoux is a once-in-a-generation talent and a close personal friend;" Hera agrees. "There are few men on the planet who she couldn't have dancing attendance upon her every whim... but she'd never even see Francis de la Fontaine coming. He could step out of a shadow and drive a stake right through her heart before she could even think to turn her majesty on him and you just dosed his grandchilde so heavily that she was 'singing like a canary'. Do you think that he couldn't feel that?"

Aubrey frowns. Hera's fear was palpable and, more distressingly, grating. "Would blood sympathy even tell someone who was the cause of such a feeling?"

"No," Hera admits, " but it could turn his attention to Raziel and she knows. The de la Fontaines aside, we cannot simply go making an example of Raziel unless Keble agrees to surrender one of their own to Circle justice. The Pythia Concord's interests generally align with our own and Ammit would be most displeased if anybody were to jeapordise that relationship."

Again Aubrey cocks her head to one side, her patience wearing quickly thin with her 'mentor'.  "Okay so like, break down for me your plan throughout all this? You had me come to Oxford to get the deets on who almost broke the masquerade, right? You wanted to know who did it and why and your thought was obvs, I don't know, that whoever it was had done it on purpose maybe? To fuck with the Circle? And you didn't want this person confronted directly so you had me — who can't read minds and stuff like, say, Raziel can but can  only use majesty — be the one to investigate. But  you had no intention of punishing this person because like," she holds up two fingers for air quotes, 'politics'. Which like, okay, but it all turning out to be an accident aside, was the plan to just let it all slide then anyway?" "Also, the Circle as told to me by Cammy is like, ancient and powerful or whatever with blood magics and whatnot, yeah? But the idea of one member of another clan — a clan I assume some members of the circle are, by the way? — maybe potentially possibly finding out someone used majesty to ask his grandchilde "Who is your sire" and "What is your covenant" is enough to fill you with, hmm... let's say a less-than-respectable amount of fear as he is apparently unstoppable in the face of those magics?  Do I have that all right?" " By the way, do you think he also felt her  and  her sire nearly die to an elder, some masters, and an eldritch monster thingy a week ago or is majesty like, way worse then that and thus immediately responded too with shadow stabbies?

"Don't flatter yourself," Hera sneers back at Aubrey. "You're here as a favour to Camille. Finding Raziel was merely an appropriate errand for an initiate. You don't yet have enough standing within the circle to be assigned anything of importance. Now, explain this monster story that she and the mage have fed you. Is this all hearsay, or is any of it actually verifiable?"

"If you have no good answer to any of that that's fine, just say so, luv,"  Aubrey smiles. "And I don't know, three different people involved have all separately told me the story, with matching details. Perhaps we could ask one of them. Maybe like, one that's currently under compulsion to answer, too, if only such a person existed. Or I could just ask Khal more? Or maybe there's some Crúac that could help there? Like... I don't know a bunch of people died and a monster attacked... in a library... how hard could that be to suss out, you know?"

"Three people who all admit to working together. It could be the truth, but it could just as easily be a well aligned lie. You effectively have a single source. There's been no other talk of any 'monster' and a library in Oxford hardly narrows it down." Hera sighs and takes a bottle of wine from beneath her desk, pouring out a generous glass. "If you're so keen to return to the vacant gaze of your newest sycophant, then I certainly won't keep you from her.  Should you still feel like making yourself useful, then at the very least try to get your hands on some more concrete evidence of what happened to the clan masters." Hera takes a long drink from her glass and eyes Aubrey with a hard stare. " I recommend keeping Raziel sweet. You want her treating you as a friend and ally if de la Fontaine comes calling. Besides, if Keble does give her up then you'll be all the better positioned to bring her in.  Either way, I'll inform Camille of your abject rejection of my warnings. If you're going to be so cavalier about your own safety, then I'll take no further responsibility for it."

"Believe what you want," Aubrey shrugs, "I'm not rejecting anything. I just think you've hardly said anything useful to me. Since I've started, at every point I've like, asked for clarification or more on what is happening — to you know, help me with my search? And like, also the Circle? — you've done nothing but smile coyly and ignore questions. So like! Oops! Sorry mumsie if I don't do exactly as you'd like! As I said, I'm not a mind reader." "If you don't want me to talk to Rae-rae I won't-won't. But since her psycho-grandpa scares you so much and I've already met her, it'd probably make like, way more sense to not  try and kill her over a stupid accidental mortal death anyway? But I don't know! For all we know she lied about her sire just like she's lying about the library, right?" She sighs, rubbing her temples lightly. "Honestly Her' if you were to just forget the whole 'murder' thing and gave me your word or like, I don't know a Circle stamp of approval or what-the-fuck-ever proving she won't be killed, there'd be no need to worry about that and we could focus on the real questions? Like what the hell happened last week with the masters and why these ungrateful-for-belly-rub cats say they're protecting kindred  from like, Voldemort?"

"I never said that Raziel was to be killed," Hera remarks with a wry smile, "that was entirely your idea. It's true that she could be useful, but that goes hand-in-hand with exercising a little caution . Now, you say that you have questions? Go ahead, ask them."

Aubrey narrows her eyes in genuine anger finally at the audacity of the idiot in front of her to ask what her questions were after... everything she'd said for the last five minutes. Was this woman honestly  someone Camille saw as remotely  trustworthy or competent?  "Are you— are you just purposely  being daft?"  With a groan Aubrey clenches her fists, her manicured nails digging into her own skin hard enough to break tissue, though no blood is there to spill. "I think I'd have better chances of getting answers from a cat but sure, I'll repeat myself." "What was the actual  plan for the murderer if not to punish them, and if Raziel is so precious and special she can't be touched then what the fuck is next anyway if not to forgive her and tell her that so she doesn't  sicc her Totally Unstoppable grandsire on everyone? And on that note, again, is Crúac actually so weak or are you just like, overreacting to the idea of one  guy? Do you have an actual  reason to doubt the words of someone, as you put it, 'dosed so heavily she was singing like a canary', or is it just easier for you to like, stick your head in the sand or whatever rather than take it seriously? Like don't get me wrong I didn't really care much when Liam and Khal first mentioned it? But like, when Cammy said I should I did? Why aren't you?" She tilts her head to one side.  "Give me, like, something  here, you know?"

"Raziel undoubtedly believes what she has told you," Hera confirms, pointedly ignoring Aubrey's outburst. "The question is what she actually saw. Here, some due diligence is necessary. Some evidence beyond a subjective eye witness - albeit three of them. McCarthy is unreliable at best. If the story is true, then it poses far more questions than it answers." "As for the murder itself; knowledge is power. Identifying the one responsible was an important first step, but the perpetrator's fate must be discussed with their college, or the Circle risks a war. This was always the case, de la Fontaine notwithstanding. If Keble do not wish to take responsibility for Raziel's actions, then they may surrender her to us to maintain relations. At that point, the Circle would consider whether it is a worthwhile use of resources to risk entering into a direct confrontation with the Khaibit."

" Ooookay...  well I'll get like, right on with bringing their monster to meet you then."  She shrugs. "Good luck with all that politicking? I'll let you know if I fuck with any more sacred childer, kay?" She turns and makes for the door, eager to be anywhere Hera wasn't at the moment. "Actually, I'll try the, like, one ritual I know to find it first."   Stabbing my own hand is also like, twice as preferable, too. " Once I ask Rae more about it, nicely  of course."

Hera nods absently. "Good night, Artemis," she intones as her student leaves. Once outside Hera's office, Aubrey spots an unread text message from Michael. That was nicely done, Aubrey. It seems you didn't need me after all. 

Aubrey looks about confused as she steps from Hera’s office reading the text, as if expecting Michael to pop up from some corner nearby, until she sees the time it was sent.  Was he watching us?? Were you watching us?? Nevermind, anyway I think I’m good for now though so like, thanks for all the help <333 She sends another text back to Rae. Heyyyy I’m done w that thing and I’ve got some, like, great news omg  where are youuu night’s still young ;)

When her phone buzzes, Aubrey snaps her attention to it, but the excitement deflates at the sight of Michael's name in Raziel's place. I did see your rendez-vous. I had mentioned I was watching her.  I am glad that worked out for you. I am still interested in hearing what happened last week when you have a chance.  Shit did I say I'd tell him about that?  She pauses trying to remember, but she'd hardly been paying attention then. lol so true!! omg riiiiiiight well i have like a lot to tell you about sure At that moment Raziel's response comes in.  Too dangerous to leave my flat. Too dangerous for you to come. Was attacked by a strange creature. Could still be around. The fuck...? She hurriedly throws another bone Michael's way. let's talk like, tomorrow yeah! as you can totes imagine my hands are superrr full right now yk? Dx  text me in the evening and we'll meet for coffee or whatever <333333333333333 She goes to text Raziel back, then looks back at the building she'd just come from — to Hera. Ughhh... god fucking damn it. Dialing the number, she texts  a single phrase to Raziel, short and sweet, as the phone begins to ring: Pick up. (Continued in Cowley ...)

(Continued from Cowley ...) D espite her reluctance, she races back up the way she'd come from the building she'd barely gotten a few paces from, moving with unnatural celerity to Hera's door, which she hardly knocks more than once at before entering in. With herself temporarily on mute, she gestures to the phone.  "Okay I know I said I was going but just listen to this desciption at least,"  she moves towards Hera, pulling the phone back up to unmute and switch to speaker. "Kay super sorry Rae-rae should hopefully be better now, tell me again what the fuck just attacked you? What exactly happened?"

As Rae says goodbye to Andrei for the moment, she stands and closes the door to her bedroom. "Sorry about that, was in mixed company. I was attacked by a huge avian creature that resembled a raven. It was comprised of nothing but shifting, living shadows with horrible yellow eyes." Rae realizes that, without the reassurance of Andrei's presence in her space, she feels very vulnerable once again, and moves to sit back in the darkened corner where she can retreat to immaterial safety. "I tried to run from it, Obfuscating myself. But it somehow shattered the effect and attacked my mind directly, I'm still having trouble thinking clearly, and my Auspex isn't working at all. It was only on instinct that I managed to get back to my flat before it tore into me." She shudders as the memory of the eyes refuses to leave her for several moments. "The hate in those eyes. Even with my mind in splinters, the hate emanating from those eyes was unlike anything I've ever seen. That thing exists to inflict suffering."

Aubrey vacillates between searching Hera's face for answers and searching inwards... to Camille's face telling her the tales of their kind on some of the long nights back at her lavish home during that rush of a first year of requiem. But the image Raziel weaves in her words is not one of wonder but of worry — of sheer dread, to hear her sire say it. "...a strix...?"  She half mumbles the word aloud, surprised almost to even recall the name. It sounded right though. Well, mostly. The creature Cammy had described was more of an owl than a raven, but what the fuck else would show up made of shadow to attack a kindred like that? Again she stares, searching, stronger now, at her would-be mentor. The anger she'd felt barely a few minutes earlier at the ignorance of her questions replaced at the moment with a beseeching of answers.

Rae's mind strains to reach for information that connects to that word, but her efforts falter leaving her mildly dazed. "Strix..."

Aubrey bursts into Hera's office and, at first, the older vampire frowns at the unwelcome interruption. However, when she grasps the situation, she remains quiet and listens. The description that follows does nothing to lessen the severity of Hera's expression. Silently, she reaches out to tap the mute on Aubrey's phone. "It could be, but didn't Raziel describe a canine creature to you before? Is this something different?"

“She told me this like, just happened as she got home? And yeah she said it was something different but like what the fuck you know?”

"The strix are the vultures of the ephemeral, drawn to cataclysm and catastrophe. A sighting is never a good sign, but why Raziel again ? This girl is at the heart of something . Find out what it is."

“I mean yeah it’s like, almost endearingly tragic in a way? But like this happened two secs after she left me? Like, what?” Aubrey hits the unmute on her phone. “Rae-rae I’m getting super worried right now! Is this thing like, still there right now?”

As the silence over the phone stretches out, Rae listens for subtle sign of movements from outside her window. The flapping of wings, the scraping of talons against the building's side...an oppressive stillness overtakes the space.  Rae startles as Aubrey's voice rings out brightly from her phone. "I'm ok, love. I can't tell if it's still outside my flat, but I haven't heard anything since running back in. It may have me pinned down here."

Hera gestures to Aubrey to mute the phone again. "If it's not pursued her, it's either lost interest or can't actually enter the building. If she waits out the day, it will have to leave and seek shelter just like us kindred."

Aubrey raises a brow, but nods and unmutes. ”Okay luv so like, do me a favor and just don’t go outside til morning yeah? It can’t enter or whatever so it should just like, leave eventually?“ ”Why would a strix even be after you Rae? Like, what the hell, you know? Is it because of what happened last week?”

"I haven't the slightest idea, maybe it is because of last week. It could also be connected to new gifts that I had discovered just minutes before I heard it outside my flat. Either way, I'll stay inside and I'll wait it out till the morning. Thank you for checking on me, Bri. I'll be ok." With her head still feeling as if it were submerged underwater, Rae finds it difficult to think about anything for more than a few minutes. But something had crystallized in her mind, and she needed to speak to Andrei. 

Aubrey's eyes widen at first, then narrow in confusion, quickly hitting mute yet again to throw the look Hera's way. "Okay like, you see what I mean though when I said I barely had to ask her anything for her to just tell me shit right?" Unmuting just as quick, her tone once more softens. "Of course Rae but like, what are you talking about? What new gifts?"