Blenheim Palace

Rae's shoulders slump as Francis tasks Aubrey with helping her secure her brother's safety, but she immediately begins to see the benefits of such a decision. Strength in numbers, I suppose. Standing, she walks over stoically to join the pair in their conversation. That stoicism is broken however, when Aubrey compares her look to Ally Sheedy a la The Breakfast Club, which draws a sincere smile from her.  "I have to admit, your witticisms do delight. But the situation has drastically worsened since then. I'm being hunted by a Strix, the one that attacked me outside of my flat. It would appear that it was watching me, as it took possession of Professor McDermott and attacked me at Keble tonight. Which means that it now has my brother. The current plan of action is to approach McDermott's haven, since the Strix has no resources of its own. I will act as bait, drawing the dread thing out while I search for my brother. Once it shows itself and attacks, Francis will kill it while I flee into shadow with Gabriel. This will all take place tomorrow evening." 

Aubrey’s eyes widen, then narrow once more.  “Why oh why are you so sought after by like, all these big bad monsters? You just that popular?”  She laughs. “ Regardless ー and like, as much as I’m totes down to pitch in, like don’t get it twisted, yeah? ー I don’t fully see my part in this plan. Like don’t get me wrong it sounds all peachy keen and whatnot but where do I come?”  She looks between the two Mekhet expectantly, a part of her deep down unsure how much help she could even be against one of these things given what she’d already heard.

Rae's lips part into a cold smile that she immediately feels is reminiscent of the unsettling one that Francis had put on earlier in the night. Exasperation fills her tone of voice as it often does when speaking to Aubrey. " Ya know, Bri...some of us just have a certain je ne sais quoi. "  Dropping the smile, she looks to Francis as well as she considers what Aubrey could do to help. "I imagine that she will act as bait alongside me, unless you have other designs?"

"If it comes to that, two are better than one," Francis agrees, "but it also adds an element of the unexpected. You are known to the Strix, as I may well be. Miss Knight is our wild card and the Birds of Dis are not immune to a Daeva's tricks."

“They’re not ?”  Aubrey blinks in surprise. Since coming here, the whole of the ‘training’ Francis had discussed and demonstrated to Rae had given her the impression these things came down purely to an art form she had no real familiarity with ー combat. “If that’s the case ー and like, no offence of course but like ー wouldn’t Daeva be better suited to fight these things than, y’know, stabbing shadows with a sword?”

"I understand that is where the  Pseshkf comes in, though correct me if I'm wrong, Francis.  We can coat our weapons in our shadows, making them uniquely lethal to Strix. It's a skill that I still need to learn, but anything outside of that or sunlight wouldn't end them for good."

"Majesty is merely a temporary distraction," Francis confirms, "if that. You will find the Strix stronger of will than a mere mortal. Kindred disciplines can help, but destroying them for good requires a weapon that can pierce even the ephemeral."

"There you have it."  Rae says as she gestures to Francis before walking over to the weapon wall and retaking the rapier she'd chosen.  "Now. We were in the middle of combat training, and if you are to join us tomorrow evening then I'd recommend that you take up a weapon as well. We don't know what this Strix could throw at us once we get to McDermott's."

Aubrey looks from the girl to the wall of weapons and back again, a more incredulous look accompanying the return glance. "Yeah no I'll leave that to you," she says with a curt smile . "It sounds like my job is to show up and look pretty, and that's not something I ever need to practice. Meanwhile, I haven't changed clothes in like three days and have a thousand other important things to get back to soooo... I'm going home." She turns for the door at last, but looks back to Francis one final time. "Thank you again, Lord Fontaine, for your abundance of hospitality. Have Rae-rae send me the deet-deets and I'll be there when you're ready to start this rescue soiree. Until then..." she bows her head with a small curtsy, and at last makes her way to the door and Camille's valet outside, should the master of the manor not stop her any further.

With Aubrey's departure, Rae continues her training with Francis until the Khaibit Elder concludes their session for the evening. As she retrieves her things, her hand bumps the cage containing the soul of the mortal she'd killed. Picking it up, the grey-white mist within rattles the plastic furiously as she walks it over to Francis.  "Francis, I have another bit of information that I think might interest you. In this bottle is the soul of the mortal that I killed at a fresher party on the Brasenose campus, which is what put the Circle onto my trail and sent me into temporary hiding. I had planned on presenting it to the Circle along with my confession, but it would seem that ship has sailed.  Does it have any potential usefulness to us now? Perhaps I could siphon strength from it to develop my strength more quickly?"

Francis arches an eyebrow. "An intriguing proposition..." he remarks. "Human souls have many uses. Thaumaturgy, necromancy... it could be a power source, or currency. You could rehouse it as a servant, or use it to fuel a ritual. The possibilities are endless, but we ourselves are not soul powered, I'm afraid. Not by mortal souls anyway."

Rae nods in understanding. "...I see. Thank you." A certain mage immediately comes to mind, a means to achieve the power she'll need. It's then that her phone dings and she's greeted with a message from Mehdi.  Checking in again. Shits still crazy, a lot to fill you in on. When are you free? She types out a reply, telling the changeling that she can meet him this evening and providing her address. She then looks back up to her teacher with a stilted smile. "I'll return here tomorrow evening and we can set out to kill the thing. Good night, Francis." Heading for the car parked out front, Rae sends several texts as she walks. First to Merric.  Hey there! Hope that you've been well. Though things have changed since we last met, the situation we spoke about turned in my favor. I would like to ask for your help, for which you will be properly compensated. Can you meet me at my place at sunset tomorrow? I'd recommend bringing some supplies of your specific expertise, as we will likely need them. I'm inviting my other associate as well, the one I mentioned before. The one of a skillset not dissimilar to your own. Next, a text to Khalid. Khalid, dear! How have you been doing? I hope that things have been well, it's felt like an age since we last saw each other, though I doubt its even been a full week. I have a unique opportunity for you to meet and perhaps do a bit of work with a colleague of yours, if you two haven't already met. I gave him your number, I hope that wasn't presumptuous of me. If you're interested, you can meet me at my place at sunset, with a few tools of your craft, as you may need them. Hope to see you soon! Lastly, a text to Lyra.  Hello Dearest <3. I hope that you're having a wonderful evening. Would you like to come by mine tonight? There's a lot going on and I'd like to catch you up. I'd also relish the chance to spend time with you my darling, I've ached for you with each passing moment since last night. She looks up to find herself standing before the now-familiar black Rolls Royce. Climbing in, Parker begins speeding her away from Blenheim and towards the comfort of her haven. 

Aubrey returns to the waiting car with a more confident pep in her step that carries through a pleased smile on her face as she takes her seat once more aside her sire. Leaning forward, she calmly rasps her knuckles against the board to the front seat. "To Brasenose College, if you would be so kind, Dale." "It went well." The girl sits back comfortably, reclining into the plush leather as she walks her fingers along the console in the center seat. "He has agreed to let me earn his favour in exchange for further assisting his helpless grandchilde." She glances sideways to Camille, expectation hanging off every word and movement.

Camille nods calmly in the shadows of the back seat, extending one hand to gently cup Aubrey's cheek. "Be careful,"  escapes her classic red lips in a whisper.

“Always, love,” she smiles as the car pulls out onto the road and once and for all puts the long nightmare of an experience firmly into the rearview mirror… (Continued in Brasenose)