Shades of Gray

[ken]

--semi-open; read and it should be made apparent

Kennedy,

I realize that our paths have long since diverged. It would not surprise me if you didn't even spare this letter a second glance. What I have done to you is inexcusable, even if things have worked out in the end. Of the people I have met, you are one of the few I found I could respect. That is probably why I took such an interest in you. Admittedly, your ability intrigued me, even when you were reluctant to use it, or even learn more about it.

News of your relationship has recently reached me, and I truly am happy for you, regardless of whether you believe me or not. While it does sadden me that you chose someone else, at least I realize your happy. Even if I think it to be a mistake

Kennedy, I need your help. I believe there is something going on in the Academy. No, believe would give room for doubt. Kennedy, I know something is going on. The problem is that I am no longer allowed near. I need someone on the inside.

Kennedy, I need you.

If you're willing to work with me, willing to help, please, let me know. You should still remember how to contact me. I doubt that memory has left you. Any aid you would be willing to give would be greatly appreciated.

Again, I wish you the best, and must admit jealousy toward Angela.

Yours,
Ad.[/i]

It didn't matter how many times Kennedy read it, he still wasn't sure whether or not to believe it. Adelaide had done him much harm. After all, it was most likely her interference that had caused Angela's and Kennedy's transgression; something Kennedy was working against. Yes, the vampiress and he had once been close. but to help someone like that?

But he couldn't very well allow the Academy to harm anyone. And this sounded suspicious. But what if it were a scheme? Kennedy wished he had an idea of who to talk to about this....

He leaned back against his chair, rubbing his face. There was just too much here...

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Sometimes it can take a look of insanity to see the clearest path. After all, a man who walks blind doesn't get lost when the path is foggy. Karmine, said fool mentioned previously, walked the halls of the Academy on this day. Sometimes he just liked to wander and see who he ran into, it was an interesting way to kill time. And if he didn't run into anyone, well, nothing lost. He spotted Kennedy on a trip past the research area and tried to recall the last time he'd spoken with Kennedy.

Nope, couldn't remember.

This looks like a job for insanity! Kennedy was reading a small letter, looking incredibly disturbed. Ah, bad news then, never a fun thing. Instead Karmine called a small breeze to lift the paper out of Kennedy's hands, dangling it just a few inches above his hand.

"Words ain't gonna change na matter how ya look at it, ya know Ken?" He remarked, strolling up to his former student. "Ya look like ya girl jus broke up with ya, but I know that ain't it. Crazy girl would prolly learn how ta fight and tear up tha school 'fore that'd happen." He finished witha grin.

"Ya shouldn't stress out s'much. It's jus a letter, ya know?"

[ken]

"Ha ha," drawled Kennedy. He eyed the paper nervously. Really, there was little there that Karmine could latch onto. Last Kennedy checked, the faerie hadn't known about Adelaide and all that. Probably one of the few people relatively close to Kennedy who didn't know.

"I'm engaged, by the way," offered Kennedy, forcing a smile. "And you obviously haven't gotten many letters."

Kennedy had gotten many of those letters. From faculty complaining about the rebellious student. From family who wanted him to change. Hell, from Adelaide back when Kennedy had first moved to England.

"How's things with you?"

Yes, Kennedy was still the undisputed master of tactfully changing the subject.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Engaged?" Karmine echoed. "Ken ya been going out less then a year, engaged already? Ai yai yai, kids these days. Well congrats to ya anyway, let's hope yer not the reckless an heroic punk ya were a mere year 'go."

Like that was possible.

"Hmm, lesse...I got me a goddaughter now, I got one o me' favorite students trying ta kill me, an got another wave forming in tha fae kindom cause Calcus is so damn good at attractin all the wrong women. So I say I'd be doing bout normal for me."

"So what tha hell is on yer mind? An dun tell me the wedding, cause I dun buy that fer a second. Besides, you got that look now. Tha one that says ya are about ta jump in way over yer head. You and that punk with tha talkin sword use to master that damn look back when ya were a student."

He leaned against a wall, pulling out his flask yet again. "I swear, if I gotta pull ya out o tha fire again I'd least like ta know it's coming. Helps me make sure I dun die young."

[ken]

It looked like there would be no changing the conversation, which was about what Kennedy had figured. Karmine never struck Kennedy as someone who could leave things alone; it's what made him so good at what he did.

"You know, everyone says that," murmured Kennedy, rolling his eyes. "That bit about Angela and I only knowing each other for a while. You'd think they were paranoid about something. Oh well..."

He shrugged, then twirled the letter between his fingers. Sighing, he twisted it so that Karmine could grab it easily enough.

"It's from an old friend," offered the wannabe hero, "a very old friend. One that's always getting into trouble. Just read it."

Once Karmine inevitably took the piece of paper, Kennedy would rub his face and wait patiently. After all, there was a lot there to digest, and most of it wasn't of a pleasant nature.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine snatched up the paper and scanned through it, summarizing as he went.

"Ol' flame, yadda yadda, jealous, apologetic or manipulative, suspicion of foul play yadda yadda..."

He finished the letter in quick order before lobbing it back to Kennedy. "So what's tha problem then? Believe er? Don't believe er? And what do you not believe? Is tha Academy up ta somethin? Is she really got ya best interests at heart? Yeah it sucks only havin a few pieces o tha puzzle and being told ta make a choice dun it? But thin about it like this, whoever this gal is, she risked tippin her had ta her enemy ta contact ya. I'd say that gives a point in er favor. So tis either she knows ya'll accept, or shes telling tha truth, one or tha other."

He turned to glance at Kennedy while rasing the flask to his lips.

"So what is it?"

[ken]

Kennedy pointed at the letter. "That's the girl that manipulated Angela, and she was the head of that wrong crowd I associated with a couple of years ago. I think she's also responsible for killing quite a few vampires and whatnot around."

Kennedy frowned, then rubbed his face. Things were just so complicated, and it would have to happen now. Now that he had a wedding to plan, and all the details that went with that. Of course a secret plot would be uncovered. That just made sense.

"Have you heard about anything suspicious? You've worked here about as long as I have. I mean, things are somewhat strange, but this is a school full of odd people. Odd stuff is supposed to happen," Kennedy studied the letter, sighing. "This is just... crazy."

[Karmine de Arcadia]

Karmine listened, though not looking like he was. He then glance up from his flask.

"Long time 'go, I used ta be really good at those little stratagey games. Ya know like chess and such. Now, all ma time playing games like this, I think I'd see it all. But ya know, I never saw a guy go twice, that just don't happen. Ya make one move, yer opponent makes another, it's tha way it's done. Only problem comes in when ya don't know ya've been playing, then you wind up in a problem like this. So it becomes this, are ya a player in this game, or an observer? Yer choice, but that's what they're waiting fer. And if I may be so bold."

He pushed himself off the wall so he stood up straight.

"If there is somethin goin on, ya'd have ta be daft ta thin you ain't on their list Ken. What ya can do, s'not exactly common is it?"

Karmine leaned back, and continued. "Suspicious things? Nae if I did hear 'bout em, that would be that suspicious part. The suspicion is that no suspicious thins happen. Who runs the Academy? Where do tha funds for a place like this come from? Who foots tha bill for tha research, and our pay an all the stuff in here. I may not be a man o' business, but when the goin' in's dun equal tha goin out's there is something going on ya can't see."

He shrugged.

"But in tha end, all ya got to go on are guesses and luck. Ain't nothin for certain, that's for certain."

[ken]

Strategy games. Make your move, then wait and see. So, now it was Kennedy's move, and he had to decide what to do. Karmine was certainly right about one thing: Kennedy certainly couldn't sit this out. His Gift was far too unique. For that matter, his sister's skill would probably be noticed too. And who knows where this would stop?

"We have a lot of questions," agreed Kennedy. He lifted the letter. "But that doesn't mean she'll have the answers. For all I know, this could be some elaborate trap to get me back into her fold. I know she wants me to work with her, Karmine. Has since I've known her."

Probably for his Gift. Sure, he hadn't started out using it. Instead he'd used his brain and compassion to make certain the Coven did exactly what it was supposed to do. Kennedy was the Coven's Jiminy Cricket. But now Jiminy could kick some major a**...

"You've been around for a while, right?" asked Kennedy, looking over at Karmine again. "Shouldn't you know some of those answers? Or at least show how long this place has been around? I always just figured that someone had used their Gifts to get a bunch of money, or maybe they were tapping dragons' or faeries' coffers..."

He looked away now, wondering. So many questions now.

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Hate ta break it to ya Ken, but most faeries ain't rich. We only deal with physical wealth in your world, in ours it dun exist. People get what they need, and that's all there is to it. It dun work so well with humans, there was a war over ya guys trying ta do that."

He took a sip. "An dragons? Ah comeon, when hav ya ever met a charitable dragon. Nae, the size of it's horde is a size of prestige among em. Now iffa dragon was runnin the Academy, that I'd believe, but that dun seem to right either. Now what I can tell ya about this place ain't much, but I heard a few thins. It sprung up, an there were a bunch o ol benefactors on it, young gifted, vampires, lycans, demons, all kinds o people signed on. Thing is, that list hasn't changed much. Sure a few names come on now an again, and a few names leave every century or so, but a lot of em stayed on for a while. Now obviously they aint humans who did that, but what immortal even has 'nough money to run a place like this? Sure they might make some now, but we're talkin hundreds o years givin money, and nobody has sen these people here? I mean sure, we hear of em all the time, but they don't show up, get 'honored dinners' or what have ya? Then wha exactly are they gettin for their investment?"

Karmine stopped for a moment, smirking at Kennedy.

"Ya know, they always say the research center is locked cause they dun want students gettin in ta the dangerous areas. But I'd like to see even a full fledged gifted get in there, hell I dun think even you an Rae could pull it off. Wonder what is so important past there? Prolly not a file cabinet I'll tell ya that much."

"I mean, something interestin I noticed. Ever place the Academy has moved to had a few stories worth o' soft dirt under the basement level. Every single one, in it's time of existence. I think yer friend thinks tha same thing, and that is very simple."

"What are they hiding?"

He took a drink.

"Cept sounds to me like she has an idea."

[ken]

Clearly Karmine had actually taken the time to think this through. Or at least had more of it figured out then Kennedy did. Odd, considering that Kennedy usually tried to look for suspicious activity himself. Perhaps he'd been too busy rooting for the Academy lately. Heck, he'd even sided with the faculty during the last trouble. Maybe he needed to return to his roots to get everything figured out.

Or maybe this was all a trap.

Kennedy rubbed his face again, blowing out his lips.

"Vampires live an absurdly long time, Karmine. I don't know for sure how long Adelaide's been around, but she speaks dead languages fluently. And there's just something about her..." Kennedy shook his head. "She's dangerous, even to be allies with. Yeah, she might know something about what's going on here. But do we really want to work with her? It might be making a deal with a greater evil. I mean, the Academy's not doing anything wrong, right? Or we would've found out by now..."

Of course, now Kennedy was beginning to doubt that.

"You know, we're tutors, right? Shouldn't we be able to get into deeper research levels? Maybe we could check this out ourselves, try and see if there's any possibility this could be true..."

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"Ya wanna try? Well ya know me, I'm always up fer some good reckless behavior. But what about ya? Would it do any good for ya ta lose ya job, an risk losing ya life when ya are so soon gonna add to it? Could ya keep doin that ta Angela, keep riskin ya life on being reckless an brave with someone waiting at home fer ya? I know I couldn't, jus ain't in me. So the question becomes."

Karmine dropped his accent now. Kennedy was talking to him as a man, so he wouldn't keep him in the dark.

"What are your priorities Kennedy Cavan? Your curiosity, or your wife? Your past?" he said gesturing to the letter. "Or your future? It's your call, it always has been. But now you have more then yourself to think about. If I were you, I'd pass until they forced my hand, after all, there is no need for you to get involved if it doesn't concern you yet. Isn't that right?"

[ken]

"Your accent dropped," joked Kennedy, forcing a smile. He blew out his lips, again rubbing his face. Curiosity vs. Angela? While Kennedy may be curious, he wasn't so much that he would risk Angela. Karmine had that much right: Kennedy shouldn't get involved until there was little other choice.

But...

"We can't just let this lie," said Kennedy. He looked at Karmine, his eyes suddenly hard. "I've seen what it's like when people suffer, Karmine. It's not pretty...."

He shook his head, "But I can't get involved. Which means I'm going to have to do something worse: ask someone else to look into it. I know a few people who'd be willing..."

Both Rae and Morgan sprang to mind. Neither had the severe connections that Kennedy had. And neither would probably arose much suspicion either. Both would probably volunteer... but...

could Kennedy let his best friend or his sister get involved with something like this?

[Karmine de Arcadia]

"It's a sign of respect kid, most people get the mask unless it's serious. Then I just get tired of wasting the energy on it. I suppose you've earned the right for now."

He threw his hat aside, having it land perfectly on a coat rack and looked sternly out the window.

"Kennedy, I've got 500 years behind me. I've seen these things, I've seen full on wars, I've been in a few of them too. But what I learned more then anything else is you can't protect those who don't want to be protected. Some people protect people, some people attack the aggressors. If what this girl says is true, we'll need both. Now if we have you and Rae to pick on, which person is the better choice for protecting people, for protecting the students in this school. I know you have a few students you want to look out for, and the thing is you need to be there for them. I have a few students I want to look out for, but most of them are gonna be spear heading a fight when and if one breaks out."

He rubbed his temples for a second. "Kirien still hasn't mellowed out, that's for sure. In any event, you know who is on your team here, and everyone can't be the goal scorer. Someone has to be the defensive man. Someone has to stay back and make sure that the uninvolved stay that way, uninvolved."

Karmine looked back towards the former student. "As involved as you seem to be, or may become, I think that might be the part in this storm you are meant to play. Your a leader Ken, but you aren't as skilled a fighter as some of the others here. Not me, not Rae, prolly not Kirien or Eve either. You can however, do something we can't do. And you know it, your job isn't to fight, you've gotta keep everything together like you know you can. If it comes down to it, I know you can take care of yourself."

He let it drift out.

"I doubt you'll have to convince anyone. Once word hits Rae's ears she'll be knee deep into it before you can say 'ah ken it'."

[ken]

"Wait..." Kennedy held up a hand for a moment, letting his mind catch up, "are you suggesting that I lead an insurrection?"

Kennedy lowered his hand, looking at the older Faerie. He'd always trusted Karmine, and had come to at least respect his judgment. And what he said made sense. Kennedy could still remember his fight with Ali. One war dragon Agent had nearly flattened him, and probably would have, had they not been sparring.

"Right. Well, someone's got to check this out," he held up the letter. "What you said earlier make sense. Adelaide wouldn't be telling me about this if she didn't suspect something. Unless she's really desperate to get me on her side. And if that's true, well."

Kennedy shrugged. "I guess we'd have to take her out instead of investigating. Regardless, I'll have to have someone talk to Adelaide..."

Kennedy rubbed his face, mentally running through the list of his closest friends. None of them were really the diplomatic sort. Rae would either flirt or fight; Morgan would attack. Most of his younger friends shouldn't get involved...

Should he ask Karmine?