PRELUDE:
A GACHER
OF BEASTS
Rodrigo was moments from tearing the neonate’s head off. The Beast threw
he image of doing so into his mind’s eye, and the Brujah scholar had to admit
that it was not unpleasant
‘Where are they, thrice-damned fool?" he roared. “What have you done with,
them!” Antoine sputtered incoherently, which only infuriated Rodrigo fur
With an inarticulate cry of rage, he grabbed Antoine and threw him across the
room. Rodrigo relished the audible crack as the young Cainite’s neck snapped.
‘Do you realize what would happen if they fell into the wrong hands? The
damage that would be done”
‘You mean the damage that would he done to you,” Antoine croaked. “You
shouldn't have written the damned things in the first place. My neck
roken, yes. If you were mortal, you'd be dead.” Rodrigo began to pace
hat Antoine was edging toward the door. “You say your wagons were
raided. You say the manuscripts went missing. Who was behind the attack? Have
you managed to trace the bandits? Have you done anything?
Tt
Stop stuttering!” Rodrigo roared again. He was rapidly losing control of
welt. He could feel the Beast stirring, urging hur forward
Blood. Bite. Revenge. Now
Rodrigo paused. Were he mortal, he would have taken a deep bre:
Instead, he drummed his fingers against his sides and considered. “Antoine, | apologize for my outburst. I apologize
for laying hands on you. I understand that your re-
sources ar li e
ed and that you have done your best
can ask no more of you,
Heheldouthishand. A littleuncertainly, Antoine
took it. Rodrigo hauled him abruptly to his feet.
“
