[color=f7941d][center][h1]Setepenre[/h1][/center][/color]
[color=f7941d][center][h2]Lesser Pride[/h2][/center][/color]

Penny screwed up her mouth in discomfort at the offer of powerful magical protection for her descendants... for an as-yet unnamed price. These charismatic contractual types could be dangerous, feeding off the desperate and feeble-minded and other such negative traits that Setepenre would [i]not[/i] stand to emulate.

Glancing through the files on these Innocent victims, however, gave further weight to the opposing argument. So many [b]teenagers[/b] reduced to photos and words on a stack of paper. Just the age to possess that dangerous cocktail of believing they are old and wise enough to make their own choices, and really, really not being wise enough. Penny considered how tragically easy it could be for her beautiful talented 17-year-old to be led away by supernatural villains. Heck, Penny was a little surprised Marwa hadn't already started to date a vampire or some other attractive, definitely dangerous bad boy just to spite her.

No. Penny's children were obviously among the [b]most[/b] precious and innocent of Innocents. If they hadn't been targeted yet, it was only a matter of time. They in particular needed protection at all costs.

Penny couldn't help shooting a momentary sharp glance toward Albert. 'Out of the goodness of his heart.' Mmmhm. Was that going to be the verbiage in his so-called contract?

[color=f7941d]"What I have to lose,"[/color] Penny began with a soft growl entering her voice, [color=f7941d]"is the same thing that would be at risk if I did nothing. I have deep connections to Innocents - particularly kind and talented and thus at-risk Innocents, I might add - within the City. The thought of harvesting the souls of children, even those not of my own blood, makes it boil with rage. If I want to protect the Innocents I love, I will strive to stop this threat as soon as possible."[/color]

Penny paused for a second. She retracted the small bits of claws that had subconsciously begun to unsheath. Then her posture and voice softened a bit as she turned to the Detective.

[color=f7941d]"Of course, I don't intend to take part in this battle for a net zero at the end. I must admit I've been having some trouble with... ordinances, licenses, all that bureaucratic nonsense the law requires of me to care for my youngest son. I imagine someone as influential as The Detective may have some way to wave it all away."[/color]