Hilda's Vison Shoppe

Posted on Mon Feb 17th, 2025 @ 5:04pm by General Dizzy House

772 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Setting up Shop - trade or trap?
Location: University District
Timeline: Current Day

Dizzy wandered through the darkened streets of the university district in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and was well pleased with her city. It was going on midnight of a long winter's night. Snow had fallen, blanketing the city in a purity of white that did muffled sound and gave the night a sense of peace. The truth was, this city wasn't as pure as the snow painted and peace was something it knew only in passing as the number of crimes against the kine was not small, at least it wasn't as large a number as some of the Sabbat cities on the Eastern side of the country

The neon of several signs caught her attention. In this district, there were several shops that never closed and even more places for the kine to eat than anywhere else and also open all hours of the clock. For kindred, it was a good place to hunt, if one was careful. There were other districts in the city where the hunting was good, but she had chosen this district because of the rumors of a new shop that was rumored to serve both kindred and kine equally with no fear.

Dizzy stopped in front of the shop and looked at the name and shook her head. What was it about these modern kine that made them think they understood the old ways. Hilda's Vison Shoppe looked to be a gaudier version of some of the older shops, but not the really old shoppes. Hanging in the windows were crystals of all kinds, lava lamps, static balls, and much of the same silly things.

Entering, she found a few shelves of books, more of the same gimmicky items. Behind a counter stood a woman who had a strange aura, but she was kindred, not kine, and her aura was dancing with black splotches. Dizzy frowned at the woman. "Hilda?" Dizzy asked softly.

"Yes. And you are?" The woman asked with a haughty lift of her voice. She looked at Dizzy and saw only that she was kindred as Dizzy kept her own aura hidden.

"I am Prince Dizzy." Dizzy replied softly a warning in her tone. She watched as the woman blanched and bowed her head.

"I beg your pardon, Prince. I didn't know." Hilda said shocked and a little surprised. "Why did you come to see me?"

Dizzy looked her over and saw her fear in her aura. "You are operating in my city and haven't come to see me. I take offence at that and I came to decide what to do with you." Dizzy said simply. "I believe I will set my husband on you and let him decide. You need to use your manners, even if you claim to be Anarch, it is still only polite to come and see the Prince of the city so you don't get killed out of hand for being Sabbat" Dizzy said with steel in her voice, but it was spoken low, almost a whisper, so the woman had to lean forward to hear it

Hilda paled and nodded. "I beg your pardon, Prince Dizzy, I had meant to but got too busy and forgot. I am not Sabbat, nor am I Anarch. I will come to the palace tomorrow night to pay my respects and offer a gift. Please, Prince, I am begging for mercy." Hilda kneeled before Dizzy, her head bowed.

Dizzy looked at her. "You may stand, Hilda, I am not Ventrue, I don't go in for all the abasement they demand. If I do not see you at the palace tomorrow night, I will call a blood hunt on you for coming into my city and not giving me the proper respect. Do I make myself clear?"

Hilda stood, the fear in her aura was so strong Dizzy could feel it. "Yes, Prince Dizzy. I will not fail you, I will be at the palace tomorrow night."

Nodding one more time, Dizzy turned and left, not saying anything else. After she had gone, Hilda made a phone call. "I've met her and she isn't what I expected." She listened a moment. "No, she came to see me. I am to go to her tomorrow night." She listened again. "Very well, I will do it. But you had better not be late, I don't think I am clever enough to see this through without you here to help." She listened again and then gave a long sigh. "You are a coward, but I will do what I can. Goodbye." She hung up and started to plan what she was going to do.

 

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