Calling the Mentor's Ghouls - Ben's Haven

The phone was answered rather quickly.

"Hello?"

"Hello, this is Benjamin, is the master of the house available," the question was genial.

"Oh, hi, Benjamin! He's not in at the moment. Want me to have him call you when he gets back?"

"No, that's fine, the time difference is makes it difficult to schedule such things, but I would like it if you would take a couple notes for me."

"Sure thing!" said the chipper-sounding ghoul. "Whenever you're ready. I've got pen and paper to jot stuff down."

"There have been two disappearances within an easy distance, the Holcail Forest is the name of the place. The disappearances were of a witch and rose, so there should be no mistaking the proabable danger. The old guy may definitely be able to handle himself, but you and the rest of the family should stay away from the place, especially if your alone. Got that?"

"Witch, rabble, whatever you like," the smile was returned, "my Spanish is not rusting, I can assure you. Also, there is a letter on its way for the old man, please make sure that he receives it straight away and let him know that I am leaving myself," he pauses, "open to him."

There was a pause.

"Everything okay, Ben?"

"There are many interesting things in this domain, and I wish to be prepared for them. It is all together possible that our little corner of North America is more important than it had first appeared."

"How so?"

"Many old things walk the streets, a surprising number for the novelty of the city. I must say that my curiosity is near enough to get me out of my library and into the thick of it, but I need to collect more information before I make any direct movements. Currently I am working closely with Grace, a feline that embodies her name. I believe I have spoken with you about her once before many years ago."

"Okay, yeah, that's weird. It's too new and surrounded to have many Old Ones wandering around. But yeah, you've mentioned Grace before."

"In any case, would you pass along my message? As much as I enjoy the wonders of communication, I tire of the impersonal nature of it rather quickly."

"Of course, Ben. I'll let him know. Take care of yourself."

"You too."

*click*

*ring* *ring*

"Hello? Can I help you?"

"Its Ben. I have some more information on the events in the Holcail Forest."

"Hey, Ben. You want to tell me, so I can pass it along? He's out at the moment."

"Always is," there was a smile in there somewhere. "Do you have a pen and paper, I am going to read you something, and I would like you to transcribe it."

There was the sound of rustling paper.

"Yes. Go ahead when you're ready."

"From Malicious, the Harpy of Istanbul to myself...

"Once upon a time, there was this crazy old Romani woman who lived here (shocking, right?). She was pretty strong in her power, but she’s gotten old now, can’t get around and do all of her weird gypsy crap anymore. But she’s got kids, and grandkids and great-grandkids.

"Rumor has it that some of the Kindred around here wronged her. Don’t know how yet, still working on that one. But the rumor is that now, whenever she gets wind of one of our kind that might need to venture into the woods, she sends her grandson after them. I don’t know how she does it, other than the fact that she’s got her freaky Romani powers to make things happen. And yeah, I know how much this sounds like something out of those fairy tales kids like to hear. Anyway, she sends her grandson to wait and hide in the woods and that grandson of hers, Nicholai, grabs hold of the Kindred who go into the woods … and they just disappear.

"I don’t even know how she does it. But he’s not killing them, or anything. No blood bonds are breaking or anything like that. But they disappear and are never heard from again.

"The Rose’s sire here, he’s heard of this one too. He’s calling for the boy Nicholai’s head on a platter, calling it a matter of Blood for the Kindred who brings the boy to justice. Calling it a Major for information on how the old woman or the boy find out about who is going where and when. Calling it another Major if an explanation of the powers and how to circumvent them get to him. Problem is that with powers like that, none of the Kindred here want to take that little task on. Who knows what he might do to them? Know anybody that might be up for taking out a mortal with powers?

Did you get all that?"

The rustling paper continued.

"Yes, I got it."

"Very good. Thank you. Please give me a call if you find out anything further, but please be careful."