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Are you sure you don't want any? It's double fudge chocolate mocha. / I'm fine. / Anyway, as I was saying. Paul has been so cute trying not to act nervous around me concerning the baby. He thinks he has to act all macho and stuff for me. / Hmmm. Ice cream sculpture. / Like this morning, he put some kind of WEED in the room where the baby will be, and it stank like you wouldn't believe. / I mean, come on. Flowers is one thing, but ol' stinky weeds is just... / ... well, I don't have to tell you, I threw them out right after he left for work. Anyway... / Splat!! / Um, Chelsea, honey. You usually eat ice cream with a SPOON. 'kay? |
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Sabina Black Wolf Pack, disputed Northern Territory. / I don't understand. We've done nothing to the REDS. Why must WE leave? / It is true. We are victims of politics, Ishmael, but we are also MONKS. We do what is neccessary for the survival of ALL packs. / But we don't all stay monks! Soon, I'll have to make the CHOICE. And if I leave, I'll see the REDS get theirs! / You may do that, but I hope you understand what it is to be a monk before you make the choice. / Well, I guess I'm not the only one who doesn't know what it's like to be a monk. Hehe. / Isaac!!! You morph back this instant!!! |
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Ahhh, the Princess graces us with her presence. To what do we owe this illustrious honor? / Can the theatrics, Jacob. I was spending some time with Cynthia. / She's soon to be very BUSY, you know. / And how is your little sister? / She's doing good, but she's not so LITTLE right now. / By the way... / The ART magazines you ordered came in. / And you may peruse them at your leisure, as soon as you have catalogued those herbal scrolls, done your meditation exercises and telephoned your mother. She wants to meet you AFTER work. / Hhhh'okay. I get the point. / Thank you, Professor Livingston. The RESOURCES you have here are astounding. I appreciate all your help. / Um... / PAUL?? |
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Isaac, come back here! / You know you're not supposed to let anyone see you fleshed! / Rustle Rustle / Ha! Now I have you! Heh heh. / Hee hee / ATTACK!!!!! |
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I bet I'm the last person you expected to see in THIS shop. / You'd... win. A bet, I mean. / I'm trying to explore the brave new UNDERWORLD you uncovered for me a couple of months ago. There's much more to it than just ghosts... / ... of course you already know that. / Paul, I... / Chelsea, I'm going to be a father in a matter of weeks, maybe days, and in my opinion parenthood is the single largest responsibility that can be thrust upon a human being. I want to be prepared for that responsibility, and if I were to turn my back on this other world I would be doing an incredible disservice to my child. I need to know what we may all come up against some day. I need to know everything I can about this NETHERWORLD and its inhabitants. / Thanks to you, I know a hell of a lot more than I did before. / Besides, I believe this will give me a lot more insight into the death of the little CRENSHAW girl. Knowing what I know now, I think I'm closer to her killer. / Oh... yes. I... wish you lots of luck on that. |
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Isaac! Run! RUN!!! / Run... boy-pup! You are only prolonging the inevitable. / Meanwhile, North of Yorkshire, England. / Soon, Vampire... soon. |
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Thank you, Ruth. / Now, tell me, Diane. How did things go with Ben down in Georgia? / It went... / Ben's decided to stay with his brother in Georgia for a while. / And he... / Ben wants a divorce. / Oh no. Diane... no. / Back at the Livingston library. / I must say, Chelsea, your brother-in-law is quite inquisitive concerning our world. / I suppose. / He may have been slow to reason, but he will be quick to study. / When are you going to tell him the truth about the little Crenshaw girl? |
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Your pack is GONE, little one!!! All are DEAD!!! / Now it's time for you to JOIN them! / Hhrrrrrrrrrrr!! / Skkt!! |
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Aye, little pup, what have ye Sabina Monks done to incur the wrath of the Reds? / Come, now. Cat got yer tongue? Can ye show me yer settlement then, little pup? / Hrrrr! Hrrrrr! / The boy pup is ours! We have no QUARREL with you, Grey!! / If ye intend to kill the little pup, then I fear we DO have a quarrel. / Stay out of this, Grey! This is a matter between the Red Wolf Clan and the Blacks. / Ye know that I can't! And ye know ye don't want the Grey and the Reds BLOODIN' again! |
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HA HA! You want Chelsea to tell Mr. CHRISTIAN that she was running around with a child-murdering, lesbian vampire? Dude! I HAVE to be there for the fireworks! / As annoying as my young nephew may be, he does have a point. / Telling Paul about your LIAISON with ROSE would be preferable to him finding it out for himself. / I will tell Paul about ROSE, after Cyn has her baby... sometime after. / Will that be before or AFTER the little fellow is residing in a REST HOME? / I know I'm going to have to tell him, but not now. Paul and Cynthia have way too much going on and I don't want to complicate their lives any further. / As you wish. I do suppose I can stall the young inquisitor between now and then. However, it won't be easy. Young McRae's thirst for knowledge may equal my own, which is at the least, interesting. But I digress. You need only let me know when you are ready to tell the boy and I will stand by your side. / Chelsea? / Why, Mrs. Monroe! How wonderful to see you again! / Mama? |
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What... what did you want to talk to me about, Mama? / I don't really know how to tell you, except straight out. / Ben... wants a DIVORCE. / Wha...? / That mother... son of a... / CHELSEA!! / As much as we have been through, and HE wants a divorce?! That sorry son of a bitch doesn't deserve you!! / There's more to it than that, Chelsea... but maybe I shouldn't have told you... I don't want to do anything to cause you to change. / Maybe Ben was right. / I'm sorry, Mama. |
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Does the KRIS work? / Of COURSE it works. / LILITH knew nothing? / I stood by her as she fed and she didn't see me. She didn't even FEEL my presence. / It works, Morana. / She could have been... acting. / My God, Morana, you're paranoid. Everything is already set into place, my dear. It is far too late to turn back now. / I do not want to turn back! My only concern is Lilith! / She is no concern any longer. / And MINA is right. You are paranoid. You always have been, my love. / Any word on the progression of the war? / The Reds have attacked the Sabina Pack. All Sabina are feared dead. Now we hear that the Grey Wolf Clan may become involved. Word is out they have sent their finest knights to investigate the Northern Territory. If this is true, then things are progressing far BETTER than we expected. / So, now, it's on to stage two. |
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Stay out of this, Grey! It is not YOUR fight!! / Ye know the Greys. We MAKE IT our fight. Now, ye best lend me a hand taking this young 'un to the rest of his pack and then be off with ye! / His pack is no more! The Sabina Monks are all dead! / Then ye better be ready for a BLOODIN' to happen or give us a damned good reason fer yer actions... 'though I can't see one myself. / This is the reason, Grey! This U-CHALB OF DISGRACE is still stained with the blood of our ALPHA! The blood taken by the BLACKS! / If that be a genuine U-CHALB, then ye know as well as I it's a matter fer the COUNCIL OF THREE! / DAMN THE COUNCIL! / We will not put the fate of MURDERERS into dispassionate hands! We will deal with them... and we will deal with YOU, if necessary. |
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Ben was RIGHT? About what? / Ben doesn't WANT a divorce. He asked me to move down to Georgia with him, but I said no. / Because of me. / Jubal said I should stop blaming myself for everything that happens. Why is he always wrong? / Damn it, Chelsea! I'm scared, and I'm mad as hell that my marriage may be over! But Ben is scared too! / Okay, he found out what I am and now he's scared. I understand that, but does that give him the right to hand you an ultimatum? If he loves you, it won't matter. / It's a little more complicated than that, Chelsea... / Or don't you remember trying to kill him at Cynthia's wedding? |
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I'm sorry, Chelsea. I know you really didn't try to KILL Ben that day. With all that's happened lately, well... Ben's a proud man. / Then he should get over himself! / And YOU should get over YOURSELF! / Yes, Ben's being a son of a bitch, but he's still my HUSBAND and Cynthia's FATHER. I didn't come here to have you list his faults. I came here to... talk. / My God, Chelsea, has your BATTLE with Ben so blinded you that you can't even give your mother a bit of COMFORT? / I know that you're special, Chelsea. You're special to this world in a way I can't even fathom, but you're still my DAUGHTER. I was hoping you'd want to be my daughter just for a moment. Just to talk. Forgive me if you're TOO BUSY being mad at the world. / You're right, Mama. I've got so much shit going on in my life that the only thing I can give are EXCUSES. / I'm tired of it. / Look, there's a couple of things I need to do at the shop, but I'll leave early. Then we can talk, cry and eat everything in the fridge. / That is... if you want. / Ruth made a chocolate cheesecake this morning. What do you think? |
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I do believe... / ... our business is done, here. / Now go, Grey! Go, or you will be the one who will be "BLOODIN'". / SÉISD!!! / WE'LL go. WE'LL all go before the Council and settle this matter, or we'll drag yer rottin' carcasses before them if need be. / You're not the only one with FRIENDS. / I gave you a chance, Grey! Now your blood will flow like the sea! |
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I hope... I hope... / Goddess, I hope this is the right thing to do. / Where is that girl? |
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If it's a BLOODIN' ye want, then by the Gods ye'll have it. Just know ye brought this on yerselves. / Again, I say, leave the pup and we'll all part in peace. / The Council's justice is not enough in this case. You know that as well as I. Because we were once one tribe, I give you one last chance to stand down. / I do feel for ye, but the law must be preserved. We're all doomed if it isn't and ye know that as well as I. / Death to the Grey Wolf Clan!! / Arrrrooowwwwrrrrhhhhh!!! / Ka Blam!! Ka Blam!! Ka Blam!! |
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Hrrr Hrrrr / Arrrhh!! / Schlop! / Grwooorrr!! / Snarllll / Hrrrrr / Ka-Blam!! / Grwooorrr!! / Arrrr!! / Ka-Boom! / Well, little booger. Are you coming with me, or are you going to wait for the big bad wolves to wake up? |
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Who -- who was she? / Ye don't know? 'twas the pureblood witch! The CHATTAN witch! / Are we certain 'a that? / It could be no one else!! I've seen her before, and I know her AURA. / We'll have to take yer word on that I suppose. But why would the Chattan witch wish to take the SABINA boy-pup? / What matters is that she DID, and now the bastard Council will have to be involved. / Aye. A war of wolves and witches wouldn't fair our world very well. We'll notify the Council of Wizard Morphs. They have Timon's ear. / The COUNCIL OF THREE will convene by moon's end. / Yes, and by the SOUL of DEUS LUPUS, they better hand down STIFF PUNISHMENTS upon her... or I will. |
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That damned son of a bitch! If he's going to be that obstinate, then maybe mama's better off without him! / Mama, I love you, but why did you ever marry that man? / The Princess returns once again! Shall we shower her with gifts this time to entice her to remain? / It's nearly 6:30. Your mother called again. / I told her I'd take off early and we would talk. I screwed that up too. / How is your mother? / She's getting a divorce. That's how she is. / Ben asked my mother for a divorce because of me! He can't deal with what I am. / She came to me for comfort, and I wigged out on her... / ... so I went to talk with Ben... / ... but I may have made things worse. / Jacob, I need advice. I need... / Rrrrrmmmmmmm... / What's that noise?? |
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Rrrrrmmmmmmmm... KRAK! / I request an audience to inspect the Chattan morph witch. / Please excuse the intrusion... and the mess, but as Rei Hoshi said, she does wish to inspect the Chattan morph-witch. / In -- spect? |
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And a little magick straightens everything. Again, apologies for the entrance. Rei Hoshi can be a tad theatrical. / (unintelligible) / We are honored, Timon, Rei Hoshi. / Chelsea, you really should curtsy... Chelsea? Chelsea? / Chelsea!! You are offending our honored guest! / Our honored guest is a GIANT SPIDER!! And she wants to INSPECT me! I HATE spiders!! You didn't tell me there were people who could morph into GIANT SPIDERS!! / REI HOSHI is an ARACHNIMORPH and she is a member of the COUNCIL OF WIZARD MORPHS. She may even be here to ask you to join that honored Council. Your attitude is quite insulting. / But -- but GIANT SPIDER! / (unintelligible) / Are you SURE you want me to say it that way? / Yes! / Rei Hoshi understands the Chattan morph-witch and her trepidation, but she is easy prey and looks delicious. |
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Grandma says HALLOWEEN is much MORE than BEGGING candy from strangers. / I'm sure it is, but it's kind of hard to think about when my sweet tooth has made me a SLAVE to TRADITION. / Happy Halloween. |
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"EASY PREY"? "DELICIOUS"? I don't think so, Mr. Timon. Not in this lifetime!! / Our apologies. Rei Hoshi often speaks in a form of arachnid metaphor. However, she does insist I translate her literally. / So, Timon, to what do we owe this... pleasure? / I fear that Chelsea has been accused of a Netherworld war crime. In other words, she stands accused of conspiracy to start a war among the Netherworld. / No... I never... / I don't personally believe it, but this has been confirmed. / According to eyewitnesses, she interfered in a wolf clan battle and stole away a Sabina boy-pup while causing harm to the clans. / What?! I never! I don't even know what a Sabina boy-pup is! / And Rei Hoshi will CONFIRM that as fact by probing your mind. |
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Mama got worried when you didn't come home, and I was out, so I thought I'd... / ... is that a giant grasshopper? / Ummm. / Meat!!! Meat!!! / NO! The girl is not MEAT! She is Chelsea's sister! DOWN! / Cyn, you better scat. Tell mama I'll be home as soon as I can. / Oooookay. / I suggest we portal to a more discreet location. / Somewhere serene that will have a calming effect on our dear Miss Chattan. / Rei Hoshi is ahead of you. Just step through this portal and we will begin. / So I HAVE to do this? / I am afraid so. / She's not going to have to... TOUCH me or anything, is she? / It'll only take a minute or so. / I'm not letting spiderwoman touch my lily white witch body for one second!! / Are you coming? |
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Chelsea, there is one other thing. Rei Hoshi must transform further into spider form in order to read your mind. / You must stand still. / No... / No!!! / I can't!! / I'm sorry. I just can't. / I know your fear makes this difficult, Chelsea, but you have to. / You don't understand. / When we were young, my sister Corrine used to put spiders in my hair. / One of them was a BLACK WIDOW SPIDER, and it bit me. I thought I was going to die. I... wanted to die. / Timon? Is there any other way? |
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Any news from your contact? / You must be PATIENT, Morana. / I'm still not certain it was wise to involve the witch. Are you CERTAIN of her FEAR? / Quite. REI HOSHI will not be able to probe the girl's thoughts. My plan WILL work. / You'll only have ONE chance to get to the COUNCIL VAULT. It better work. / It puzzles me to no end how you can be so PARANOID and yet have lived for nearly 500 years... has someone always taken care of you? / I can remember you did... once. / I fear, Gustov, that I must question your priorities in this matter. There had to be a far easier way to bring about a Council meeting. / THE COUNCIL OF THREE only meet in matters pertaining to WAR within the NETHERWORLD! You know that! / HSSSSSS!!! / And all the members, Lilith, Timon and the werewolf have emotional ties to the Chattan witch. Bringing her in this will DISTRACT them THAT much more. / I'm going to check on our LITTLE guest. I suggest you save your hostility for when we need it! |
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How is our LITTLE friend, Mr. Wald? / He seems to be okay... just sitting there, SULKING I guess... poor guy. / "POOR GUY" indeed. / Ain't he supposed to go around being all wolf all the time? Ain't he a... a... whatcha call it? / A MONK? / Any werewolf pack that lives out their lives in wolf form are affectionately called MONKS. / It is in reference to their DEDICATION to the wolf that dwells within them. / So, why ain't he all hair and teeth? / One could ask the same question of you, Mr. Wald. Why are you here, instead of having fun with your friends. / You know why. Jeez, you really know how to bring down the mood. / You have no idea. |
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I wish there was another way, Jacob. However, the Red Wolf Clan has insisted that Rei Hoshi be the telepath in this matter. / But Chelsea is not that powerful yet. / So you say. / Yes, so I say. / Sorry, my friend. It's not that I do not believe you, but there has been Netherworld chatter concerning our favorite witch-morph. / Yes. I have heard. / Heard what? / You must agree that it seems rather obvious that someone is trying to frame Chelsea for the kidnapping of the Sabina wolf pup. We shouldn't suspect the Red Wolf Clan, correct? / What looks obvious to us may not be to others. But it is highly doubtful the Reds knew of Chelsea's fear of spiders. / Hey! Heard what? / Sorry, my dear, we're not trying to ignore you. As Jacob has told you, therre are some who believe you to be very important to the Netherworld. In fact, according to some, you may eventually be the... for lack of a better term, the Messiah of the Netherworld. That carries with it certain preconceived ideas concerning your power. / What Timon is trying to say is, you may be the most powerful witch who has ever lived... EVENTUALLY. / And that, my dear, is why the Reds have insisted on the most POWERFUL telepath who ever lived. / Soooo, what? I'm going to be Queen of Witches some day? / Heh, heh. Now that's a BEWITCHING thought. |
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