[Ennui]

Yeah you don't really need to tell me to keep it quiet about that I understand the danger of bigotry and superstition.  Though that does raise a few questions, do things like religious icons bother you.  I imagine that's a superstition, what about water can you swim?

Human flesh huh?  Maybe I should have killed that idiot after all, I chuckle.  I'll keep that in mind if I have to kill someone.  Human flesh seriously?  I'd heard stories about zebra meat and other rare game, but that's a little disturbing to hear that they prefer my meat.  Did Sian turn them too somehow or ...something else?

I hope you don't mind all these questions, but you have to understand this is all pretty new and exciting for me.

We stop at a 'Shack and get some bacon flavored soy strips.  soy?  Are you sure they wouldn't prefer krill or myco-protein strips?  I shrug and get into the car.

[Mercy Merchant]

Glinda laughs.  "That is a lot of questions, but I like that you are interested.  DO not discount the power of religious icons, but some true vampires are less affected.  Like the sun, one gets less affected over time until it is just a slight irritation.  And yes, I can swim quite well, thank you, although holy water has a negative effect.  And, yes, human flesh.  They are pretty much carnivors and can eat almost any sort of meat, but they prefer human flesh.  I do not know how Sian came to have them as they were fixtures at the house when I first met her."

She nods at your question in the store.  "Soy strips are fine; it is the bacon flavor they like.  Of course, if you could find real bacon........."

[Ennui]

back in the car I follow up.  Well yeah but they weren't hell hounds before right.  Did they change with the world or did they change early like you two?

Once we reach the parking lot from last time I follow Glinda through the China town barrens.

[Mercy Merchant]

She laughs.  "I do not really know much about the hounds.  They have been with her since I first met her.  I never really asked her much about them.  I do know that they are fanatically loyal to her and virtually immortal, much like Sian and I."

When you reach the lot, she parks the car and leads you through the alleyways to the Chinatown Barrens, which has not changed any since your last visit.  The people on the street still seem to be afraid of you, moving to avoid you as you walk.  At least you do not have to worry about being mugged here.

[Ennui]

I do my best to try and keep track of the path Glinda takes and see if I can tell whether we are heading to the market or our original destination from yesterday. 

[Mercy Merchant]

It is very hard to keep track of the path Glinda uses through the veritable maze of connecting alleyways that lead to the Barrens.  At times you have to step across of around people involved in sex acts or doing drugs and you are not quite sure if some of the people are alive or just unconscious.  Once out in the slightly wider streets of the Barrens, you are pretty sure that you are not going to the market, but not truly certain until she stops in front of a ramshackle building and opens the door, ushering you inside. 

The room you enter is sort of what you might expect of what is typical in this part of of the sprawl; it is a wreck.  Certainly not what you might expect of a several hundred year old vampire with prodigious magical powers.The main room contains a couple of mismatched chairs and a sofa whose right end looks to be a hazard to sit on.  No electronics are visible.  The two Hell Hounds rise from the floor near a doorway that looks to lead to a hallway out of the room.  Their eyes are burning bright red as they sniff the air.  Glinda looks over at you.  "They smell the bacon.  You can carefully remove it and hold it out to them or place it on the floor, whichever you are brave enough to do."

[Ennui]

Hey sweeties, I say kneeling down in front of them.  Look what auntie Isla brought for you.

I hold out the treats for them in the palms of either hand.

[Mercy Merchant]

As you kneel and speak to the hounds, you hear a sharp intake of breath from Glinda.  The hounds come over, each standing taller than you are kneeling.  You can see smoke rising into the air from their nostrils as the lower their heads to sniff at your offering.  Their eyes are like burning embers as they focus on you and you detect a somewhat peculiar odor emanating from the hounds that is both enticing and...............frightening............at the same time.  Sian appears at the doorway and watches you.  "What did you say your name is?  I thought it was Lizzie.  Foolish me for not asking if that was a nickname or street name."

[Ennui]

I look up smiling at Sian  Oh?  I thought I mentioned that when we were introduced.  Lizzie is just a nickname I...earned.  I mostly use it for business it's a little more fitting you know Lizzie Borden took an axe etc. etc. 

But I'm just visiting my sweetums.  I add in that annoying voice you talk to your pets and babies in, putting my hands up higher for the hounds to take the treats.

Remember?  You wanted me to call you the Empress of the Universe.

[Mercy Merchant]

"Yes, well, I must have missed that.  Sorry.  Careful you don't lose a hand there."

The hounds sniff at your hands then long tongues snake out and take the snacks, transferring them to their mouths.  Sian laughs.  "Well, you are making friends.  Can I get you some coffee?"

[Ennui]

There's nothing to apologize for.  Heck my friends hardly ever call me Isla anymore and they KNOW why people call me that.  I didn't much care for it at first, but it's grown on me.  I scratch their heads behind the ears, that spot that all dogs love and grin back up at Sian.

I would love some coffee, thank you.

[Mercy Merchant]

'The kitchen is through here.  Please come with me."  The hounds apparently like the attention you are giving them, but the respond immediately when Sian makes a soft noise in her throat, returning to stand at the doorway Sian is near.  She reaches down to scratch at their heads then turns on her heal and disappears down the hallway. 

[Ennui]

I follow Sian.  They're lovely and they clearly love you.  I understand you've had them quite some time.  Obviously they are special in some way, do you know how or was it simply their association with you that made them so?

[Mercy Merchant]

The kitchen appears to be every bit a ruin as the rest of the house.  Sian sets the coffee to brewing then goes to sit at a small table that has three rickety chairs that look like they are about to break at any moment.  She sits down on one and motions for you and Glinda to take the other two.  "Oh no, they were special long before I found them.  Or they found me.  I am still not certain which is true.  Why the interest in them?"

[Ennui]

They are beautiful animals and I'm rather fascinated by para-critters.  That and  the fact they are over 2000 years old I'm surprised you even need to ask.  They let off an interesting scent earlier, is it some sort of pheremone.  Does it mean something?

I must confess I've always been more partial to cats myself but the loyalty canines show to their masters is quite endearing as well.