Ripple in the Pattern: The Blood (IWA: Thy Clan)

[Jenn]

Sarah glanced in the mirror of her car, half expecting an enemy to be there. Between the hospital demon knowing all about her and her havens, the betrayer, and the Giovanni elders who were suddenly way too interested in her, something had to give. Not to mention the fact that there was the red-lister who could apparently watch people anywhere and might have spied on her and Cali flipping him off.

Ever since that meeting with Cali, Sarah couldn’t stop thinking about the infuriating woman’s questions, poking and prodding her loyalty to the Blood. The whole thing made her antsy.

Law of Leadership
Honor the Eldest among you, for he is to rule my House when I am absent.

Why am I loyal to Clan Assamite? Because I still believe in their cause. I believe in the Laws of Haquim. I believe in our purpose. The Schizmatics still believe that every kindred had the right to be judged rather than murdered outright. Every kindred would be weighed by their actions and judged accordingly.

Law of Protection
Ward the mortals from Caine’s descendants and treat them with honor in all things.

Clearly, Cali was worried about this because she had something to hide. Her assumption that all who broke the Laws would be killed showed just how ignorant she was of the true nature of Clan Assamite in their purest form. Those who break the Laws are not immediately killed. They are talked to. They are guided. They are given the chance to change their ways. It is only when they prove themselves unrepentant and unwilling to change their ways that the harshest judgment happens.

Law of Destruction
Slay not those of the Blood, for that judgment is for the Eldest alone.

Rather like the betrayer who still thought those sent to reclaim his blood were punishing him for Ioseph’s murder and not the multiple other offenses against the Laws of Haquim. Hamza had told her what he did, why the betrayer was judged, and that the family had sent people—who then failed in their task. It had surprised her because she hadn’t known it was happening. Then again, she’d been too wrapped up in her grief to think over much about the one who had lied in the Prince’s name. Still, the news was unpleasant and made her paranoid.

Law of the Word
Deceive not those of the Blood, for my House is founded on Truth.

No wonder Cali had poked and prodded her, asking if she still felt the same way about her clan after Ioseph’s murder. One of the Blood had murdered another in good standing. The Eldest had asked her to return despite that. Hamza was a shining example of what the Clan could be under stress. Still, Cali wanted her to get revenge. Wanted her to break the Laws she held dear. She wouldn’t—if for no other reason than it was Ioseph who had taught them to her in that first week.

Law of Judgment
Judge those of Caine’s blood and punish them should they be found wanting.

Sarah felt the grief bubbling up again as she thought of those first lessons. She parked the car in the empty parking lot of the closed Renton clinic that had remained shut for more than a month now. Gripping the steering wheel tight, she fought the sob that tried to escape, forcing the grief back, and holding onto her will in an iron fist.

As she looked up, her grief turned to sudden fury. There was a light on in the clinic when there shouldn’t be. Someone was invading his territory. She got out of the car and hurried to the clinic door. Still locked. At least there was that much. Maybe… maybe there was some sort of timer. Then again, no other light was on in the clinic.

Sarah pulled her pistol from its concealed holster and moved silently through the mostly dark clinic. The door to Ioseph’s office was open but she couldn’t hear any movement. She counted to herself and exploded through the doorway with her weapon raised, “What the hell—?!” Her yell died in her throat as a familiar face looked back at her from behind Ioseph’s desk. If she had still had the ability to escape via ghost body, she would have.

“I was wondering how long it would take you to come here. Close the door. We have things to talk about, you and I.”

[Ross]

Awesome breakdown of the Laws. This is really good insight into the character's perspective.

-Ross