Thread: Planning, Conniving, Hiding - All Malkavians

Maddalena had been sitting in one of the homeless shelters, listening to the story of a woman with a troubled mind. She had been helping the woman see past the hallucinations when her phone beeped. She looked down at the message.

Without even waiting for the woman to finish her story or saying goodbye, Maddalena stood and left. She got in her car and drove quickly to the Asylum. It was time. She steeled her nerve as she entered the hospital. She knew what had to be done. She knew that once again she would be called upon to die for her clan. She only hoped she was brave enough to go through this a fourth time. Would she wake up from this one? Or would this be the final time? Had she tempted Sister Fate too many times already?

"Please Father, I give you my life, keep it safe for me."

She entered the meeting room and saw only Cahill sitting there. Perhaps she would have blushed if she could have. She moved to a corner and stood alone. If she sat next to any of them she might lose her nerve, but she knew for certain that if she sat next to Cahill or Stan, there was no way she would go through with the plan. She was sure her nervousness showed, but she didn't care. It was too late for that.

Cahill watches her enter, his lips purse as if he might speak, she can see the desire to do so in his eyes, feel it in the way he holds himself, but then nothing comes out.

He resumes waiting for the others, studiously not meeting her eyes, unhappiness rolling off of him.

Maddalena closes her eyes tightly against having to see the pain in his face.

"This must be done. There is no other way. We all know that." Her voice is quiet and kind, trying to comfort him even though she is the one about to walk the plank.

"Perhaps we will find another way," he says quietly, his voice flat and devoid of hope, edging towards despair.

Maddalena sighs heavily. "Stop hiding under a rock. I have died for the Family before, and survived. I trust that you and Stan will make that happen again."

Cahill arches an eyebrow, his lip pulling back to reveal a bit of fang as a wave of anger washes over him. Then it is gone, he sits quietly waiting.

"Of course we will," he says with a firmness to his voice. "After all, this is my city, it obeys my will."

He sits even straighter in the chair, with a military perfection, staring ahead, waiting for the others to arrive, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Maddalena smiles wearily, the stress of being cut off from the Network and her choice showing openly on her face. She falls silent, waiting for the others.

In slow motion Cahill rises from his chair and crosses the room to her. His calloused hands reach out and cup her cheeks, holding her face between them, gently pulling her face up so their eyes meet.

"I will move heaven and hell to protect you. God as my witness, we shall succeed."

Lydia shows up and stands at the door watching Cahill and Madalena. Not saying anything she waits for them to realize she is there.