[Son of Salem]

 
Reno, Nevada -
The Shore Room

A bit out of the way in the heart of Reno was one of the city's best kept secrets to fine dining. Inside of the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel was the Shore Room. Airy and contemporary, it specialized in an all-day menu that focused primarily on Mediterranean dishes, including but not limited to North Africa, Southern Europe and hints of Greece. The restaurant itself within the hotel overlooked the city landscape of Reno from the open patio where patrons could enjoy their meals under the crisp, evening air amidst the deepening lights of the city. But inside?



When one first set foot inside, you would think you had just walked into one of the fancier nightclubs in the city of Las Vegas. While it had a bar that served all the best mixed cocktails and fine wines, the Shore Room was where one went in Reno for the very best dining for special occasions.

Which is why we are here, this evening. Because we are here to celebrate a very special moment. Or at least, someone is.

At the forefront to the Shore Room's entrance was the hostess's stand where a young woman bearing the name tag of "Yvonne" stood, smiling in the friendless manner as was expected of her. There was a small wave of people both waiting to get inside, and those taking their leave; some graciously acknowledging Yvonne's farewell and others who believed themselves above their stations, ignored her altogether as if she was little more than the cold furniture that surrounded them on the floor. As the bodies passed one another, out of nowhere a new pair appeared, seemingly from out of thin air. Kedron Williams stood stoically with the very same woman on his arm who was last seen on Sunday, attacking Evie Jordan. Kedron was clad in his usual black attire, the only color being the red dress vest he wore over his black dress shirt. The mysterious woman also sported black, as if it honor of the man she gazed lovingly toward; her attire being an off-the-shoulder black dress with matching gloves and heels.

She was lovely, whoever she was. Perhaps a touch plain in appearance but there was something simply stunning about her looks. Not movie star gorgeous, but an attractive quality that drew the eyes of men in her direction. Her long, dark hair was piled atop her head in a wave of curls and an elegant, swan-like neck that would drive a sculptor mad to replicate. Pale skin, ruby red lips and heavy lids with just enough color to make one confident she was wearing no makeup, but kept pondering whether it was true or not. It was little wonder why even this dark warlock who had sold his soul so long ago seemed smitten.

Her name was Rinoa.

Yvonne: Thank you.

The young woman spoke up and as the elderly couple shuffled past the gathering of people, the hostess glanced up as Kedron approached the stand with his guest.

Yvonne: Yes, may I help you sir?

Kedron Williams: I would like a table for two, preferably somewhere out of the way for privacy.

Yvonne looked sympathetic, and in her lot, she expected a harsh outcome to what she was about to tell this lovely couple.

Yvonne: I'm terribly sorry sir, but we are at our busiest time right now. All of our tables are reserved.

Kedron Williams: I see two tables at the most that are vacant.

Yvonne: Yes sir, but it's as I said, they are reserved for parties expected any moment.

Rinoa: Dear...

Yvonne's attention turned to the woman who spoke, and Rinoa gifted her with a smile that, while charming, was somehow cold to the senses.

Rinoa: ... I happen to know for a fact that you have tables that are vacant and not held in reserve for people who may, or may not show up.

Yvonne: Y-yes ma'am, but those tables are being held for emergency clientele. That is management's discretion.

Kedron looked to Rinoa and nodded.

Kedron Williams: Ah, I see. I understand.

Yvonne calmed down, seemingly to have averted a near disaster with this young couple. Kedron then turned back to her and for the first time, the hostess noticed the cold, bright blue eyes of this man and it sent chills down her spine, although she had absolutely no idea why.

Kedron Williams: Well, Yvonne, this happens to be a special evening for this ravishing beauty here...

Kedron lifted Rinoa's gloved hand and kissed the tips of her fingers lightly, causing Rinoa to smile brightly, before he returned his eyes to Yvonne.

Kedron Williams: So indeed causing her distress by not seating us would be something of an emergency.

And just like that, his eyes were black. Not just the bright blue but the entirety of his eyes; black as obsidian.

Kedron Williams: Wouldn't you agree?

Yvonne swallowed hard, now entirely unsure of herself and wishing nothing more than to run and hide in the kitchens, as far away from this couple as possible. or better yet, just chuck the entire job and run home, hide under the covers like a child and scream away the pending madness. But she cleared her throat and nodded, almost as if by force.

Yvonne: Yes sir, forgive me. Right this way.

She picked up two menus from the station and held an inviting arm out, and Kedron insisted Rinoa go first, yet never letting her fingers slip from his own as Yvonne led them, as desired, to a small table that was nestled in a comfortable crook of the restaurant, away from prying eyes and ears while still allotted a view of those around them. Kedron insisted on being the one to hold the chair out for Rinoa, then took his own seat. Ordinarily the hostess or wait staff would hold a chair out for even the male guests, but the presence of this guest in particular caused Yvonne to forget herself and Kedron seated himself, not that he would have served to allow another to do so for him

She handed them their menus once they were seated comfortably and excuse herself, stating simply that their waiter would be with them shortly before hurrying away. Kedron opened his menu to look it over, while Rinoa smiled at him from over the top of her own.

Rinoa: Was that necessary?

Kedron Williams: It worked, didn't it?

Rinoa: But was it necessary?

Only then did Kedron look up from his menu to look into her own green eyes, and a smile that bore no malice was her reward.

Kedron Williams: I believe so, when only the best will serve for you. Otherwise...?

He returned to the menu, and finally Rinoa begun to look over her own, but her musings were not over.

Rinoa: The coercion I mean? You had the poor dear half scared to death.

Kedron Williams: I hope her brain bleeds out through her ears.

Rinoa: Careful my darling.

She placed a warm hand over his own as their waiter brought glasses of iced water to their table, ready to take their order.

Rinoa: It is our anniversary, and you know how those idle fancies of yours affect others.



Years ago....

At night, the Howard Street Burying Ground had quite a long and colorful history in this infamous city of Salem. An accused warlock, Giles Corey, was one of the few men convicted and sentenced to death in the Salem Witch Trials, murdered while being buried under the weight of a massive pile of stones until his bones shattered and he choked to death on his own blood, from the inside out. With one last taunt, Giles cursed Salem, and in this cemetery, lay the body of the accused, and those who have visited these grounds at night would swear his ghost stands above the place where he was laid to rest.

But this was not the 1600s. It was 2016 to be more precise, and there were no tourists on these grounds. Perhaps ordinarily there might be so, but a chilling mist enveloped the low ground and a sensation seemed to cast off a warning for any curious on lookers to avoid the grounds without truly realizing why. The only light being cast off by the moon, and the dozens of black candles that were balanced atop the headstones and mausoleum surfaces. The only life, that of Kedron Williams in a black suit, Rinoa Moore who wore a black wedding gown complete with veil, and an unnamed dark priest in blood red robes...

A chalice was passed to Rinoa who drank deeply the wine, and she in turn passed it to Kedron's hands to do the same...

The dark priest handed a long stem rose to Rinoa who held her thumb to the thorn and pricked herself. Kedron took her finger to his lips and he kissed the drop of blood away...

Their right arms extended, fingers clasped together, the dark priests entwined their hands together with a red, knotted cord, forever joining them together as man and wife...



And just like that, we are back in Reno, at the Shore Room. Mister and Missus Williams are enjoying the finest red wine and their attentions solely on their meals, and each other. Paying absolutely no mind to the commotion of the paramedics converged across the floor at the hostess stand, working on poor Yvonne who was laying flat on her back, a light flow of blood emanating from her ears....



Kedron Williams stood on a patio of a high rise hotel, his fingers wrapped around the railing as his eyes surveyed the city life, the very night, laid out before him while his wife, the now revealed Rinoa Williams, slept comfortably in their shared bed.

Kedron Williams: Oh my, if this isn't an embarrassment of riches. I was wondering where my path might lead next, but never would I have imagined fate would lead me to the door step of the young Caleb Storms. I know.

He held a hand up.

Kedron Williams: Like many others, after last week you perhaps thought there would be another in-ring encounter between Ben Jordan and myself. I must say, the same thought had crossed my mind and I was certain that another one on one contest between Benjamin and myself would be in the cards. Those in power and those who had watched had to have assumed that when Benjamin Jordan defeated me in London, it spelled the end of whatever manner of hostility was laid out between us.

He smiled, the glint of a sharpened incisor glistening beneath the moon.

Kedron Williams: How your hearts must have ached in Las Vegas to realize that this was not at all true. And now, the stakes have been upped. Benjamin thought it safe to bring his beloved into our little soiree', never once considering that maybe, just maybe, that there was someone in my own life that I held dear who would be glad to stand by my side.

Kedron held a hand up and waved the thought of.

Kedron Williams: But time enough for such fancies some other time, hm? This -- this is all about Caleb, and the coming Storm. Pun intended, of course. Caleb Storms is young, and has his whole life ahead of him. And yet, he has this monumental habit of placing himself directly in harm's path. First, there was Fenris, and now...?

He placed a hand over his left breast and closed his eyes.

Kedron Williams: Caleb is overwhelmed, or soon will be. And I can both understand and appreciate the predicament that he is in. Backed into a corner, with nowhere to turn. A hostile Nord in one path, and a charming and devilishly handsome warlock in the other. My, Caleb! Are you not spoiled for choices in what path to take! Yet by sheer chance, fate has taken the luxury of choice away from you, and it will be just the two of us inside of that ring. I find it terribly ironic that a man such as yourself listens to music that has branded you to be exactly what I am. Which places you in my hands, if you think about it. if it indeed is true that the music you enjoy so taints your soul, then you won't mind if I take a certain liberty following our match. You won't mind once I suffer your defeat, that I claim your soul for my own and deliver it to the Master?

He looked into the camera and shook his head, his face scrunching up in an almost amused sort of wonderment.

Kedron Williams: You wouldn't mind that, Caleb. Would you?

He turned his back and slowly walked back into the hotel room to rejoin his bride.