Some minutes later, the kettle began to whistle, and she removed it from the flames and poured boiling water into the teapot. Smiling softly, she carr...ed the tray back out into the store and set it on the counter where she usually sat. ‘Do you take sugar? I apologize, I haven’t had milk in quite some time,’ Claudette commented as she poured the amber liquid into two teacups. ‘No, thank you,’ Fredrick shook his head, accepting the delicate cup from her. Their fingers brushed and Fredrick. He was still just an ancillae, with at least another fifty years to go before the power of elder was in his grasp, but the highest seat of power of the Invictus in Dolareido was being offered to him.He looked down at his regrown hand. He knew he was powerful, Jessy and Natasha confirmed it, and he knew he was smart. Part of him had just assumed it was Ventrue pride, but the animal and the ghost of the Invictus council apparently disagreed.“This is not the formal invitation, as we will have a. I saw the scars. Gunshots wounds? I nodded. 13 years ago. She’s in recovery and will be moving her to ICU. He said you might as well go home and rest. She won’t wake up til tomorrow sometime. Can I see her? He said sure ... but don’t be shocked at what you see, shes on a ventilator to help her breathe while her lung heals. I walked in. The only time I’ve seen her like this was when she was shot. It’s a horrible thing to see when it’s the love of your life. I looked at her, tubes, wires,. She smiled slyly at me as I stepped into the tub and took a seat opposite her. “Cheers” I said raising my glass. “Cheers David” she replied. “Mmmmm is there anything better than sipping champagne in a hot tub?” “Well with a view like this, no” I replied looking around. The villa was perched on high affording us an expansive view of rolling tree covered hills that began to glow in the light of the setting sun. It was also nicely secluded. “So you like what see?” she asked, drawing my attention.