Grandma was sitting on the back porch in her rocker with Michelle.“Jack, won’t you stay for dinner?” Grandma asked him.Jack looked at his watch ...s he replied, “I would love to grandma however I have to start at 5 tonight at the bar.”“Jack, you worked all day here and now you have to work tonight as well,” I said.He smiled at me as he replied, “A little hard work never hurt anyone.”“Jack, I wish you would quite that damn job of yours before you get hurt,” grandma said.“Leave the boy alone Mary,. Damien pulled out his binoculars, and engaged his Auspex. He peeled back the curtain of chaos, and scanned for the Beasts of nearby Kindred, perhaps in the crowd. A sweep over the people below showed several Kindred, young Invictus neonates, staring at the building in horror. Understandable. Most of them had remained relatively peaceful with the Carthians; fist fights and the like in secluded areas hardly qualified as true violence to vampires. Fire, on the other hand, was a very clear. I was sat on a high and verynarrow pedestal stool in what looked like the cargo hold of our space ship.?I noted I was now totally naked except forthat broad black steel collar. My legs were stretched downwards and my ankleswere held in place by slim metal manacles at either side of the stools chromecentral pole, near its base. I could not touch the floor, even when I strainedmy toes.? My arms weresecured firmly behind my back in a very tight single leather sleeve stretchingfrom my wrists to. . but...." In my club you obey my orders," Xui-Li snapped. "I seem to remember you agreeing to that - or maybe you'd like to be thrown back in the gutter where you belong."Vera took off her hat, shoes and coat, that was easy enough, but she was being watched with an air of anticipation by not just Madam Hong but the guards as well. Her nerve nearly cracked but, as she looked around for an escape she realised she had painted herself into a corner; she had no option but to continue. "Come along.