April 8, 2007
Well tonight’s waking brought something both good and relieving all at once – my hair has returned. However Lavi managed it, it appears now that it was temporary. T was as relieved as I was, she does seem to enjoy it being on my head. Can’t say as I have an argument for that either, so all’s well that ends well as the immortal Bard used to say.
We stopped in at the Tarantula tonight and I had the chance to speak to Baptiste once again. As I write this, I am turning over an odd coin he kept flipping in his fingers, then tossed to me. The conversation was, as is typical for Baptiste, unusual and enlightening and mysterious all at once.
We spoke about the Council in general and he has offered his assistance as we need, though from the shadows as he has things here he is pursuing that he prefers to keep out of the public view. I had to smile at that, don’t we all? He also warned of the Serpents, but that goes without saying and it amused him that Rebecca does not trust her own family here. I told him then that I’d like for him to meet Dusty and Leo and get to know them. While I did not elaborate, in time I’d like to add him to the Underground. He has proven already that he is fearless in moving to protect our own and that is sorely needed. We will see how it plays out.
Talk moved on then, to T. I do not know how I will ever be able to repay him for his help and for putting his life on the line to help me get her back. Whatever happens, he has my undying gratitude and I told him so. In typical Baptiste fashion, his answer was puzzling. He said this:
“I aided you in saving Tsaya for a two fold reason the first is easy to comprehend and that is that you are of the same blood as me. The second you may not be ready to accept. There is a destiny before you Louie, it stretches to the vast horizons and it is that destiny that leads me to walk this path with you. Tsaya as well although she seems reluctant to accept. If I had not believed within my soul that you both had a svadharma to fulfill I would have destroyed her when she tried to consume her sire. I would have regretted the loss of the friendship that you and I are forging but it is my way….”
He did not elaborate on what that svadharma is, if he even knows precisely. As a show of faith, friendship and trust, he did something surprising then. He gave me his real name, which is Merripen Grey. He is obviously from the old spiritual side of the family, the Shilmulo. I thanked him again, as I know just how much such a gesture means among our family. It was then that he flipped me the coin and smiled. I slipped the coin in my pocket, his last words whispering in my mind.
Thinking about it now, I am not sure I wish to know what exactly this destiny may be. All he would say is that now his path and mine are intertwined. I can think of worse people to walk a path alongside. He is of a strong mind and willing to do what it takes for family. People such as he are rare and to be kept close, watched over. I am exceedingly glad that we were able to stop T, as I would not have wanted to cross swords with Merripen had he attempted to destroy T. Family or no, and personal convictions aside, I would have had to stand against him in her defense. Perhaps he saw this too, who is to say?
T still seems somewhat uncertain of him. Whether it is that she does not yet know him well enough, or the fact that his first sight of her was her defilement at the hands of Jago I do not know. I suspect the latter and hope in time this unease will begin to fade. I have taken some steps to help her along – by taking her out of town for a few days to see the ocean. Cole Valley is not the happiest place for her and so I have spoken to Djivan, who offered the use of his house in Tijuana. I think the time away will do her good and plan to surprise her in a few days. If it pleases her, and brings a smile to her face, then I will have succeeded, at least in a small way, towards beginning to dispel the shadows that haunt her.
