Tales of the Crypt

Zas B'ul had settled in for his day of rest and recovery in the Fitch home. He was pleased to discover Mrs. Fitch had recovered so quickly, and truly had to hand it to his theurge that her revitalizing skills were above reproach.

His pseudo-efforts had obviously been noted by the revived mother of Patience as she seemed to tend to his bedding more gingerly than the others. It was strange to be treated nicely by white people...but then again since arriving to this town, strange happenings had grown increasingly commonplace. Initially he had been unnerved by the unusual place, but in an odd way it seemed to be growing on him.

His comfortable feelings of course caused him to be even more on edge than normal, as Zoe had also noted the presence of the Wyrm and how palpable it was.

Zas's attention was refocused to his current situation as he observed the Fitch family individually going about their own tasks. The Silent Strider had found it odd that Patience had thus far since the Prodigals return to the Fitch household made no mention of her mothers improved condition. He also found it odd that Mr. Fitch had seemed to be overly compliant with the packs return.

Perhaps it was just his upbringing, or maybe it was his Garou nature, but the lack of a response from the Fitch family at the Packs presence was disturbing. This in turn caused the Philodox's mind to spin in an effort to find some justification for the oddities that seemed to be compiling up around him.

It was then that he noted Patience having entered his area of the room. His mind full of questions, the Silent Strider shook his head. He needed to concentrate. He needed to adapt. He needed to use his resources. He was Apache; he was Garou. He is Philodox. He was both in the moment and thinking ahead.

He whispers to the young girl to call her closer to him and beckons her with a finger, "I wish to know more. I seek to know the truth. Can you tell me what you know of a place called Crossroads Texas, more specifically its inhabitants?"

"I haven't left Zavala. Geography is one of the things we are learning in school, but I have never heard of Crossroads before... sounds dreadfully boring. The people that live their are probably dullards and failures... if I had to guess." Patience threw Zas a knowing look that made her seem older than her apparent age. "Is that really what you want to talk about, though?

Zas peered at the young girl for several moments before responding, his tone one of cautiousness, "You claim to have power and dominion over the mind of others. Are you now, searching me for questions I have yet to ask?"

He looks to the rest of her family, then to his packmates and then his gaze settles back on her as he says, "I suppose you cannot know what you have not learned. I have other questions. Perhaps you can answer those."

The Silent Strider gives Patience a long gaze as he asks, "Why do you trust us? You have given my comrades information as they demanded it. Yet you have not asked anything of us in exchange or discussed payment outside of destroying a man who I'm certain you could find a way to kill yourself. To me-this means one of two things, either that you speak lies and your words are more venomous than a rattlesnake or you speak truth and offer insight without charge for you trust us for some reason.

I do not feel you have said anything completely without merit thus far, so I am left with the second option...and thus my question. Why do you trust us?"

Zas' words elicited a high-pitched giggle from the dark haired girl. "I don't trust you, silly! You and your friends are a pack of monsters. I just think you would be good at killing Huling without my sisters and I trying to hard."

"We could try and force the townsfolk to get rid of the Judge, I suppose, but it would be so very messy, and I am not completely confident we would win. You on the other hand, are everything we aren't. You are fast and strong. You alone could tear that silly prat Rust apart and turn Huling in to confetti. You'd still have to kill the Lachrymae, but... one thing at a time."

Patience's voice dropped, almost a low snarl. "And maybe I am little lying bitch and Huling is all lavender and roses..." Her aspect brightened quickly as she continued: "but then, you haven't looked at under the church and seen what is growing there, or seen the hall or the altar. Perhaps when nightfall comes, then you will be able to make up your mind."

Zas grinned at the girls reply. He had just had many of his own suspicions confirmed. "You are speaking the truth. Evil wears many faces."

The Silent Strider sits up slightly as he continues, "Perhaps we are monsters-that remains to be seen. I feel though that there are many monsters nearby and to say I alone would be capable of purifying this area of evil, specifically of the likes of Huling and Rust is perhaps giving me too much credit. Rust looks to be a physically strong white man, and Huling seems to have some form of power, even over you."

Zas then clears his throat as he says, "Do you go to these places-the hall, the altar, the church? Do you go there often?"

As an afterthought the philodox then asks, "Say we do kill everyone. All the bad people. Would you come with us after that? Would you leave your sisterhood behind to manage this town while you traveled with this bunch?"

Patience blinked slowly, almost owlishly. "Lots of people here go to the hall, or bow before the altar... not many go into the church anymore, even before it burned down..."

Patience rolled her eyes and turned back towards the window when Zas began musing about Huling, only mumbling 'you should just hurry up and kill him...!' Her tone high, exasperated.

When Zas mentioned the possiblity of leaving Zavala with the Prodigals, she gave the Philodox a sad smile. "I don't like the idea of leaving my sisters. We understand one another, and besides, some of your friends don't like me, which is too bad, because I find you tolerable enough." She walked a few fingers along the windowsill. "Although... I see that you seemed to be getting along famously with Silence back at the school. She seems to have taken a shine to you, for some reason."

Zas reflected for a moment, recalling the meeting that had taken place in the schoolhouse and began replaying the scene through his mind.

He then returned his focus to the moment and asked, "I must admit that killing Huling does sound appealing. Other than him and his ilk being dead, would you want anything else?"

Zas then adds, "You find us tolerable and Silence- your sister, you feel she finds me to be more than an amusing unexpected oddity? Why do you think that? She did not seem to express any interest in me other than saying we had a shared activity."

"She isn't named Silence for nothing, redskin." Patience stuck out a pale pink tongue and waggled it at Zas for a few scant moments longer than was comfortable. "That she said even those sentences is a wonder. She likes you, I can tell." The young girl tapped her temple and grinned. "And no, I think removing Huling and his physical and ethereal lickspittles would be quite enough. You do that and we can get you those oh so elusive tapping machines. Pinky swear."

Zas smiled at Patience's display as it reminded him of days long past and then said, "You may have mastery of the mind sweet child, but I deal in hearts. Hers does not belong to me, at least not yet. But perhaps in time, depending on whether or not I survive the days still to come..."

Zas then looked at the rest of the room as he said, "This place is different from anywhere I've ever been. You are different from any white girl I have yet to meet. What makes you different? I don't mean your powers-those are unusual, but you stand out. Why?"

"What a silly question... do you really think I stand out? After all, I have five other sisters that are just like me. I know some funny tricks, but we all can do that. Why do you say I am so very special?" Her smile was knowing, almost haughty. It was not an expression that rested easily on the girl's too-young features.

Zas B'ul looked at Patience with a piercing stare as he says, "I say it because it is the truth. You are more advanced than others your age. You do not waste time. You jest-but not as a child. You are direct. Your sisters may have powers, but they are still growing into them. They are less sure of themselves. They look to you for leadership. You are stronger than they are--and you know it."

Zas closes his eyes as he says, "Silly question or not-I'm right, and you know that too."

Zas then rolls over and says, "My mind is made up. Huling will die. Now I grow weary of these games. Leave me so I can rest. Let's play again later when I will find you more amusing."

For several minutes, Patience said nothing, simply standing immobile where she was. Zas could feel his weariness overtaking him, despite his odd surroundings, and he dimly noticed that Patience had crept a little closer; he couldn't see her, but he could hear her, and smell her scent: starched socks, mildew, and a sickly-sweet odor like spoiled molasses. He felt her breath on the back of his neck, as she drew close and whispered "Sweet dreams, redskin."