Pressure Lines

Jasper and Eva have unfinished business with an intruder beneath his haven; the Camarilla Tremere have business with them.

## Plot Synopsis

### Part One

Jasper and Eva go back into the Labyrinth to get rid of the gargoyle. They use the shadow key to unlock the mirror, but there is no feedback this time. In case something happens, Eva tells Jasper that Strauss's haven is in the Magic Castle and Jasper texts Victor that they are going in.

The two enter and attack the gargoyle. Katya enters through the mirror with two other Tremere (Vera and Bosch) and helps Jasper and Eva defeat it.

Katya begins admonishing Jasper and Eva for their rash actions in such a dangerous place. Jasper tells them the Labyrinth is his home and he wants them out, but Eva stops him. Katya has Vera returns the knife that was taken from Jasper when he was kidnapped. Vera and Bosch leave.

Katya says she came because the Labyrinth was accessed. She is upset that the mirror was fixed and the ley lines are reachable again. She tells them Garrick left the creatures in the Labyrinth without approval. Because of that, she has now taken his position, but refuses to tell them what titles she has taken. She also informs them that the unknown Nosferatu was Zelios.

Eva accesses the ley lines and finds the one connected to the Magic Castle. She grabs the ley line, causing an earthquake before Jasper and Katya pull her away. Katya texts her contacts and is assured there were no injuries, but they know a magical surge caused it. Eva claims that Garrick broke the truce by leaving his creatures behind, but the others disagree. Katya texts the Tremere that a ley line was touched during the fight with the gargoyle.

Katya states she wants to meet with Victor. Jasper leads her and Eva out, picking up Garrick's duffle bags on the way. Vera and Bosch are waiting at the back door for Katya. Katya asks for a moment alone with Eva.

Katya admits it hurt when she saw Eva with Jasper and that she researched Jasper's mortal history in New York. Eva asks Katya not to tell Jasper about their history. She expresses concern that Katya is working for Strauss and is part of the Camarilla, but Katya tells her she needs the rules and structure the Camarilla provides.

### Part Two

The three arrive at a closed Club Maharani and Katya notes the large Ventrue symbol on the club's flag. Victor meets them in the VIP area and takes Jasper aside. Jasper tells him that Katya is Eva's sire, updates him on what happened in the Labyrinth, and returns the Raufoss pistol.

Victor invites Katya as a Camarilla representative to Nelli G's gala, but she declines. Jasper and Eva leave to prepare for the gala.

They discuss Garrick's recent actions and his removal from office. Katya reveals the Tremere made a deal with Abrams for access to the Magic Castle, and Victor encourages her to speak with Nelli about it.

She asks Victor to use his influence to keep Eva safe, since she sees Jasper as dangerous. Victor tells Katya that he knows she is Eva's sire and that she is the reason that Eva wants Strauss dead. Victor suspects that Katya has Stockholm syndrome, and when he mentions the idea of Katya being free of Strauss, she panics and pleads with him not to interfere.

Campbell interrupts their meeting to ask if Victor would be able to meet with Baron Therese briefly, and Victor says yes.

Katya tells Victor she is working on finding the source of Vannevar Thomas's recent descent into madness. Victor is happy to hear that because even though he doesn't recognize him as Prince, he still has great respect for the Ventrue.

Katya promises retribution if he harms anyone she cares about, and Victor says he feels the same way about his people, including Jasper. She asks how much he knows about Jasper. She shares information about his time in New York, including being part of a cult called the Black League and his suspected involvement in a murder.

Katya gives Victor her number, and Victor asks her to arrange a meeting with Strauss. He assures her that he will not mention her name, but she needs time to think about it. He asks why Strauss is no longer Keeper of Elysium, but she tells him she cannot share that or the name of the new Keeper. She departs as Therese arrives.

Therese says she and Fiona have doubts about Nelli being a suitable Baron of Hollywood. She offers him the barony of Hollywood if he sides against Nelli. He refuses, stating Nelli should have a fair chance to prove herself.

## Featured Characters

### Valley Coterie

* ~~Annabelle~~
* Jasper Heartwood
* ~~Nelli G~~
* Victor Temple

### Returning

* Eva
* Katya
* Campbell
* Therese Voerman
* Ib
* Gregory Demetrios

### New

* Vera
* Bosch
* Jensen
* Samantha

### Mentioned

* Maximilian Strauss
* Robert Garrick
* Zelios
* Nelli G
* Bailey
* Isaac Abrams
* Edison
* Fiona

## Locations

* Labyrinth
* Club Maharani

## Cast

### Core Cast

* Jason Carl *as the Storyteller*
* B. Dave Walters *as Victor Temple*
* Alexander Ward *as Jasper Heartwood*
* Josephine McAdam *as Eva*