The Cainite Order

CHAPTER 15

UN MAL CEIFEIRAS NUNCA RECIBE UNHA BOA FOUCE

CHAPTER 15

"A bad reaper never gets a good sickle."

It had been a few hours since they had gotten back to the Dover house and they were some of the strangest and least informative hours of Beathen's life. The debriefing had left everyone with more questions than answers. Right now the only thing they knew for certain was that several species that could pose as human were responsible for the attacks on the other houses. They were working together for some unknown purpose and the only people to survive were Beathen and his group. All other recon teams had failed to report in.

Beathen had even tried to get a hold of Aunt C. Retired or not, she was still a member of the Order and a possible target, but even she hadn't answered. Finding himself more drained than he had expected, Beathen had retreated to the mess hall with a stack of books. The Compendium of Supernatural Beings and Their Behavior: Vol. 1 was helping him identify the different things they had encountered but not a single lead as to why they would be working together. Every profile showed a multitude of behavioral patterns. Many of these creatures would work together with others of their kind or at least similar beings, but not typically with each other.

"Then why are they doing this?" Beathen sighed before he took another bite of his over-sized sandwich.

"You know they say that talking to yourself is warning sign of dementia!" Natsumi said.

"It's only when you start answering back that there's a problem." he replied in an exasperated tone.

"At least you're still making jokes. That's a good sign." she said with a smile, "I was trying to do some research on everything but I've run into a wall."

"And what's that?" he asked.

"All the books I need are in a neat pile right next to you."

"Sorry, I'm still used to doing most things myself. Which ones do you need?"

"Well that depends on if you found anything yet." she replied.

"So far all I can find is that these things should not be working together. The fact that they are working like trained shock troops worries me more than anything." he said.

"What do you mean? They attacked separately and didn't really care if the others died."

"From what Volkov told us in the debriefing, all the initial attackers acted as a unit. Each one used its natural abilities in tandem, trying to keep everyone off their guard. If it wasn't for him being a stubborn salty Russian bastard I don't think he would have survived." remarked Beathen.

"Don't you mean because he's a Reaper?" Natsumi questioned.

"It may have helped but I think there are five other Reapers unaccounted for. He survived by being a stubborn bastard." he replied matter-of-factly.

"I see you are a quick study." intoned Volkov from the entrance of the mess hall.

"How are you up and moving right now?" exclaimed Natsumi.

"Because there is work to do and I am not yet dead." said Volkov carrying his IV bag.

"So all of the info I've been able to get through so far says the same thing. None of them should be doing this at all." Beathen said, bringing Volkov up to speed.

"That much we assumed, now we need to find out the goal of the one controlling them. Whoever it is has almost as many connections as we do and has been able to hide their actions until now." replied Volkov.