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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 4019912" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter Two-hundred-sixty-four, “Planning for Turner“, Wednesday, June 21st, 11:45 A.M. Ruby and Kate rejoin the others. "Okay, my head is a little more clear now," Ruby states as she smiles to her loved ones, "Let's discuss what we are going to do. We had plan for the theater tonight and I think we should keep those plans. Dinner and a play. And we'll see if Turner really is here. I mean, I doubt he'll try something at a place as public as the theater. But we should be prepared for afterwards..." "Do we even know if he'll try something tonight for sure?" Nanuet says, "No, I can't say what his plans are for sure. I haven't encountered him on this crazy cross country tour I've taken in the last week. He's left plenty for me to deal with along the way and the Bishop in New York was the one that told me he was a Vampire Lord and that he could actually control lesser Vampires. We found evidence, telegrams, a few days ago that led us to believe he was after Ruby. Since then I have only had experiences that strengthen that theory." Nanuet withdraws a small package from an interior pocket. "I also have this" he says unwrapping a cloth to reveal one single arrow. "It's been blessed by the goddess Diana. It was gifted to me by John Harbrace back in New York. Nanuet pauses then continues "It's not a plan, but it's a little more information to go by." Ruby raises an eyebrow, "An arrow blessed by Diana! That's guaranteed to work on Turner!" The she sighs. "If Nanuet has seen these telegrams it must be so. I've felt like he wasn't gone for a while now. I don't know how we could set up a trap for him here, the city is so dense with people it would be hard not to involve other innocent people. The only other idea I would have is to go at night to the lake. It's my land now so there shouldn't be others there. But, it's a lot of forested land and we would probably be at a disadvantage with all the trees and not having a lot of light. There are a lot of spots for his minions to hide and for us to get separated. We only have one shot at this. If we fail, he'll just disappear for a time until he thinks we're not ready again. Really, what's time to him?" She turns to face everyone else. "What are all your thoughts? Kate says, "I've seen those arrows work. Diana was serious about those when she made them. We shouldn't all go someplace together, Turner hasn't shown his face whenever we were all together. He's intelligent. Ruby's right, outdoors should be a last resort, there's too many places he could hide, too much room to move. He's more likely to move against one of us alone and try to cloud our minds, make us work from the inside." Ruby replies, "Well, if my ideas won't work, and you all have much more experience than me with this, what should we do then? Short of just spending my night outside in the back yard as bait, I don't know what to do." Kate says, "I'm not sure either, Ruby. Experience fighting them doesn't mean I'm any good at the planning. We did a lot of stumbling and trying to figure out where the things where, there wasn't much planning beside ‘Don't let it kill you‘. I think perhaps you and Mr. Eastman, and myself and your Grandmother should go to the theater. It would give Colin a chance to see you there. Then we somehow make it look like we split up, and you and Mr. Eastman went alone toward the lake. On the way we'd pick up Nanuet and Mr. Gonzales and when Turner strikes we take him. The problem with that is it assumes Turner will strike, or try. It would be better if we knew where to find him and could set up an ambush." Nanuet suggests, "Perhaps we would be better off doing the unexpected and hunting the hunter. He needs a coffin during the day. Perhaps when he arrived here someone noticed the coffins. It would be an odd site to transport them to some place that wasn't a funeral home or a graveyard. He probably doesn't expect us to come after him and during the daylight the advantage is ours. Of course that doesn't help us get through this evening..." Nanuet scratches his head and continues to think. Kate suggests, "So we draw him out tonight at the theater, then someone trails him back to his hiding place and we take him during the day?" Ruby replies, "Maybe we use today to try to get some information. Perhaps George you might know someone who would be able to find out about the shipped coffins?" He had been quiet during their scheming and Ruby was hoping he wasn't overwhelmed already. She considers taking him aside to discuss more in private but waits to see his and the others answers instead. Alvina comes in and sets the dining table for the guests assisted by her husband Rosaire. Nanuet hadn't paid very much attention to the older pair before but now notes that his initial assumption of their being human was mistaken as he now takes in the more angular shape of their faces and the points on the ear-tips, indicating them to be a mix of both human and Elvan blood. As they sit down to eat the lunch that has been placed out for them George says, "Yes, that is a possibility, however they could have come in by rail, by ship or overland on a horse-drawn conveyance. Do you have any idea as to when he would have arrived in Rochester? That would make it much easier to narrow down the possibilities." Nanuet says, "I can't be sure, but I would guess Monday or Tuesday. He left an ambush for us Monday back in New York City, and on Tuesday I met with Ms. Ruby's Grandmother and then we made our way here. I don't think he was too far ahead of us. He had used trains to transport several coffins initially so perhaps he stuck to the rail?" Kate took a deep breath, smelling the warm bread on the table. Breakfast had only been a couple hours ago, but Kate was starving again and struggled not to eat with embarrassing enthusiasm. "He wouldn't have arrived here before Ruby, he was following her. He had to have started in Promise City..." Kate stopped with her fork halfway to her mouth. "That's what he was doing with Adair. Ruby, I told you I hadn't told you all the stories yet. Job Kane sold his part of the Lady to Adair, under Colin Turner's influence. I wondered why Turner was involved with Adair, there were no other links. Adair would have given him free access to the Lady. It would have made it more attractive to Ruby to leave, and if he didn't he'd be around her. Judge Isby threw out the sale so Turner didn't get what he wanted." She shook her head. "That's neither here nor there. He probably arrived either the night Ruby did or the night after." Ruby's eyes pop open and she drops her fork. "What?? What do you mean Job sold to Adair?? Even if under the influence of Turner it would still be considered legal?? Didn't you say that he was in jail?" Kate says, "Judge Isby threw out the sale. It's not legal and Job still has his share. Apparently Turner was declared a 'hypnotist' whose presence invalidated the sale." Ruby replies, "Whew. You had me really nervous there for a moment. Do you know Kate, did Jake ever take care of Nile's nephew's share? I mean, who owns it now?" Kate says, "Jake and Job split the cost between them, I believe. There's no new partner." Kate attacked her plate again. Ruby says, "Oh, that's good news." Ruby releases her breath, unaware she had been holding it. "I wonder what will happen now that Jake is leaving? I was going to offer to buy his share of the Lucky Lady and my house when I returned anyway." She gives George a brief glance. "If I had someone to loan me the money that is. I hope he doesn't do something foolish and sell it to someone else just to skip out of town quickly." Kate says, "That sounds like a good idea, but we're getting off topic.” George states, "Well, getting back on track regarding the most immediate problem, according to Ruby's friend Richard they arrived on Friday night. We're therefore dealing with a window of Friday to Tuesday with the high probability of arrival by rail with several coffins or large trunks. That gives me something to work on. I'll head into town after lunch and begin to make some inquiries. In the meanwhile William has obtained six tickets to the play tonight. At a minimum Ruby and I have to go, we will be meeting with her parents there." Ruby says, "We did arrive on Friday night. And I was actually outside and... alone... for a long while, if he had been here for me he would have had a nice open window to do it, so I would guess he wasn't here, or at least following me yet." Ruby catches a glimpse of surprise cross her grandmother's face at the mention of Ruby meeting with her parents. "Yes," Ruby says, "I do have to meet with them tonight. I saw them yesterday and left them with a few demands that they are answering to this evening. It's important I be there." She turns to her grandmother. "I'm not sure how you feel about it Nana, but you could accompany us if you'd like." Nana replies, "Yes, if my daughter and that man she married are present I would certainly want to be there." Ruby says, "They will be. We have a lot to talk about. I found a few things out last night, including the fact that I have a baby brother, you have a grandson. But..." She wonders briefly if she should be so freely sharing the news with George's employees not that far away. It was no time to hold back so meets her grandmother's eyes and continues, "He's a half brother. And apparently mother has softened a bit over the years towards me. Perhaps she has also towards you." Kate says, “So Mr. Eastman will look into when Mr. Turner got here, what else are we doing? I still think some of us should go to the theatre and the others follow Turner if he shows up there." Ruby says, "Only me, Kate and Nanuet knows what Turner looks like. I have to go to the show so that leave Kate and Nanuet. We really don't know if he would try to attack tonight or just follow me or what. Nanuet is a good tracker but how easy would it be on pavement? Also, if he turns to smoke no one would be able to follow him anyway." Ruby taps her lip, "Still, for tonight that might be the best plan. George, Nana and I go to the theater, Kate too if she wants. Then Nanuet and Gonzales can say hidden somewhere and try to be on the lookout for Turner, following him if possible." The meal ends with home-baked apple pie. Once the meal is done Alvina clears the dishes and George has William hook up the carriage. He gives Ruby and kiss and says that he will be back in a few hours. "Wait!" Ruby hurries after him. Once they are outside and have a little more privacy, "George, I... I feel very badly about bringing this problem here to you. I feel like I should leave and take the problem with me, but I selfish and I can't bare to leave you." He folds his hands in with a stern look says, "Right. There is an undead creature out there who wants you so you expect that I will just let you go off into his clutches? And didn't you and your friends state that you are safe here in my house?" Plus I don't want you to go." Ruby blinks at George a couple of times. He was right, and he didn't want her to go, even with a risk like this. "You're right," she says meekly in response to his sternness. Then she stands her on toes, puts her hands on his face, looks him in the eyes and smiles. "I love you George," and she kisses him. "Good luck. I'll be here when you get back." Ruby watches the carriage roll down the driveway and out onto the street. She gives a quick wave then heads back inside. Kate made sure to thank Alvina for the lovely luncheon before she followed the others into the parlor and took a seat next to her teacher. "I had wished to be home tonight, but I think we can be better prepared after a night's rest. We didn't expect this." Nanuet says, "I don't mind missing the theater, it's not exactly an event for me. Perhaps I can keep watch around the theater, maybe even with Maska's help. She's been able to detect the vampires before, I am sure she could again. I guess we really shouldn't be making more plans until George returns with his information." Ruby bounces into the parlor where her friends and family are waiting. "Well, that went better than I expected. Isn't he great?" she gushes. Nanuet is a little taken aback by Ruby's disposition towards George. "Well you certainly think a little differently of him than you did when he came to visit us out west. I don't know him well enough yet to pass judgment but I certainly appreciate his hospitality and assistance so far." She replies, "Well... Nanuet... things are different now. I guess you can say I remembered why we were... friends so many years ago, and I didn't give him a chance because I had Jake..." She continues quickly, "He's risked his neck for me when he didn't have to and... and... he's handsome, he's smart, he's kind, he's honest, he's caring, he makes me laugh and smile, he's adventurous, he's romantic, he's got great ideas for the world, he's reliable... he's... should I go on?" she smiles. Nanuet says, "But what about Jake? Is there something I don't know about?" Nanuet's face turns red. "I guess it's not my business. I'm happy for you as long as you're happy Ms. Ruby." Ruby sits next to her Indian friend, placing a hand over his. She tries to smile, and even if it isn't totally genuine, it's there. "You're my friend I hope you always feel free to ask. Jake has decided not to stay in Promise City. He's moving on." Nanuet's face darkens. He furrows his brow as he attempts to comprehend what Ruby is saying. "Moving on? He's leaving? Where is he going? What about you and the saloon? I thought the two of you had plans for the future. I... I... I am prying again, please forgive me." Nanuet mumbles something under his breath obviously upset with the news about his friends. Ruby tries to keep a neutral look on her face, as hard as it is. "I am returning to the Saloon. I do not know what his plans are for his share of the Saloon or where he is going." Ruby sighs, "We did have plans, Nanuet. But Jake has decided those plans were not really for him. I don't know much about it. After I left, I had this... feeling of dread almost. It was confirmed on my birthday, only a few days after I left, when he did not contact me in Tucson. This whole time I have been wiring him and writing him with no answer. Except the last, telling me he is leaving. You guys who have been in Promise City surely know more than me." Her eyes start to mist up. "When I realized this was going to happen, I decided to give George the chance he deserves. Promise City was not how I remembered him from my youth and not how he has been acting here. And," she pauses, and ponders before continuing, "George is nothing like Jake. He is true to his word. If he says he loves me and he won't leave, then he won't." Nanuet replies, "Well I won't claim to be an expert on the affairs of love but it seems awful quick for you to be jumping from one relationship to another. Just be careful Ruby, George seems like a good man. I hope Jake is alright, I was sure that he loved you Ms. Ruby." She says, "I was sure too Nanuet but I guess we were both wrong." Suddenly Ruby laughs. "Listen to you lecturing me about jumping into relationships! You hurried into your relationship with Minerva and you're an elf!" He says, "I know, but who can question the will of the gods? That is also why I made the disclaimer that I am not a love expert. I wonder what Minerva is thinking now. I have been so wrapped up in chasing Turner I have not sent word to her, nor did I even get a chance to tell her would be gone for this long." Ruby says, "I am sure she is fine, after all, she has her gods to comfort her." Ruby smiles at her friend. "Besides, I was only teasing you my friend. I have never been known for making good decisions." A natural smile forms on Nanuet's face and he nods. "I certainly won't argue with you there." Ruby good naturedly sticks out her tongue then smiles at her friend. Kate sighed to herself. "Things will be very different without him," she said simply. "But things always change, and this trip seems to have made a lot of changes for Ruby, too." Ruby replies, "It has," she smiles. "And in only good ways. But maybe it wasn't so much the trip as my birthday. I'm nineteen now!" she says proudly, like it would make a huge difference. "And I've met my grandmother," she smiles lovingly at her, "Faced my parents, learned I have a baby brother and found a new lover who loves me a lot. So much has changed, Isn't that good?" Nineteen, Kate thought to herself. "I think it's the trip rather than the birthday. You've done a lot of brave things, all on your own. You said it earlier, you saved yourself," Kate said with a note of pride. Ruby answers, "Maybe you're right Kate, I've done a lot of scary things, sure not to be the last. So, will you be needing a dress for the theater tonight? I can send Al or we can go." Kate replies, "There's no need to put Alvina to more trouble, we can go. Anything we find will likely need some alteration anyway, so it's best if I'm there." Ruby answers, "I'm not sure how much alteration we can get done in a couple of hours. Maybe if I throw George's name around a little... he's very respected around here. We'll have to get a ride somehow, George took William." Ruby asks, “Mr. Gonzales, what do you think of all this, of our plans? Nana?" Mina speaks up. "Ruby, we don't know the area that well. I doubt that this monster will attack you in a large crowd, it's after that we have to be careful and prepared. I already told you I would accompany you tonight because your parents will be there and that is what I intend to do. I will also need a dress appropriate for the theater. Other than that, we should try to rest this afternoon, we may have a very long night ahead of us."</blockquote>

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