Stormcrow
Moderator: LadyTevar
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Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
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Stormbringer
- King of Democracy
- Posts: 22678
- Joined: 2002-07-15 11:22pm
Joe's statement seemed punctuated by the screams wailing from the church. He looked briefly at the stoney wall beside him. When his eyes met the Gangrel's again they were as hard and cold as the grave.
Lightning flashed in the darkness above the two ancients, casting mayhem in shadow across their faces. Somehow, seemingly out of nowhere, the night sky had clouded over. Seconds later, thunder boomed its unchecked ire.
Lightning flashed in the darkness above the two ancients, casting mayhem in shadow across their faces. Somehow, seemingly out of nowhere, the night sky had clouded over. Seconds later, thunder boomed its unchecked ire.
"You ask me to ignore the games which we all must play. You pretend that you are above it all, but there are bonds that cannot be resisted. The Curse of Caine is in all of us and we are doomed to damnation. The jihad, dear Johanne, the jihad calls to us all and we all play our part. I chose to hunt the infidel that cursed the land of the one true God. Does it matter that this may be part of Gangrel's plan, that in her fevered torpor she may be compelling me to do this? Do you know what I think?" He asked with a cold smile.
"I don't particularly care. I would be hunting and killing the Assamite scum whether it was part of Gangrel's plan or not and maybe that is the secret. Our masters lie in torpor directing their pawns that are best suited to the plans they wish. And if I am a puppet in a game, then let me hold the strings to another as well. We all play the game, sweet caitiff, it is in our blood. To deny it is to deny yourself. Look at my little Crusader, he rails against my plans for him and where has it led him?"
"I don't particularly care. I would be hunting and killing the Assamite scum whether it was part of Gangrel's plan or not and maybe that is the secret. Our masters lie in torpor directing their pawns that are best suited to the plans they wish. And if I am a puppet in a game, then let me hold the strings to another as well. We all play the game, sweet caitiff, it is in our blood. To deny it is to deny yourself. Look at my little Crusader, he rails against my plans for him and where has it led him?"
"Pretend to be above it? Try to stay away from it maybe. Now more than ever I feel that I'm right in the thick of it. I don't know much about jihads and puppetmasters laying in torpor but I can play games with the best of us."
Joe leaned in close to the other ancient's pointed ear and whispered the next words. "It's obvious that you still care for him. You still want him back at your side. How about I tell him? How about I tell him you've been watching not just him but the Reeces as well? How about I tell him what you threatened to do to them? I don't think the kid'd take it well. Do you? In fact, I think it might destroy any chance you may still have. If you ever had one. It's time for you to dance for me now, Blue-Blood."
Joe leaned in close to the other ancient's pointed ear and whispered the next words. "It's obvious that you still care for him. You still want him back at your side. How about I tell him? How about I tell him you've been watching not just him but the Reeces as well? How about I tell him what you threatened to do to them? I don't think the kid'd take it well. Do you? In fact, I think it might destroy any chance you may still have. If you ever had one. It's time for you to dance for me now, Blue-Blood."
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Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
She wanted to hide. She wanted to take the pain away. She would have given anything for him not to go through this. Looking at her hand, she could almost see the bones breaking as tightly as he was holding it. Thankfully, being undead meant they would heal.
Looking over at Jack, she noticed he was still staring the way his sire had gone. He might have been lost in thought, but she saw his shoulders move every time Alec screamed. I hope I did the right thing, she thought to herself. I know Jack doesn't trust D'Anjou. Hell, I don't either. She flinched as Alec screamed again, her hand becoming even more useless. But, I had to take the chance. And when he comes for me, I don't think I'll be going without a fight.
The screams echoed through the chamber.
Looking over at Jack, she noticed he was still staring the way his sire had gone. He might have been lost in thought, but she saw his shoulders move every time Alec screamed. I hope I did the right thing, she thought to herself. I know Jack doesn't trust D'Anjou. Hell, I don't either. She flinched as Alec screamed again, her hand becoming even more useless. But, I had to take the chance. And when he comes for me, I don't think I'll be going without a fight.
The screams echoed through the chamber.
"Threats are such ugly things between elders." D'Anjou hissed, eyes flashing dangerously. He stared hard at Joe for a long moment. "When you have a childe on which you have pinned every hope and wish, when Jesu sends you one who will stand by your side and be your strong right arm, I will be there to see your heart shatter when that childe turns on you and fouls your plans with his own taineted and foolish ambitions. Mark me well, Johanne, my little Crusader wants nothing more than to be human. You and I know there is only one road to such ambitions. Final Death. Golconda is a pathetic dream created by a dead clan to make the weakest of us believe that a curse by the almighty could ever be lifted."
D'Anjou stood up tall and straightened his trenchcoat.
"I will lift my boon from the woman, but there are always prices to be paid, Johanne, you know this to be true. You may think you have saved her from my clutches and devices, but perhaps you have only doomed her to something worse." D'Anjou said in a low whisper. "Should Jack walk the path of Golconda, I will kill him myself. I will reclaim my own blood and nothing will stop me. It is my right as a sire." D'Anjou started to walk away and paused underneath the shadows of the church and turned his head to regard Joe. Only his red eyes were clearly visible.
"Think on this Johanne, who's tune do you dance to? We are all pawns in the great jihad, who's more foolish, the fool who plays the game knowing this, or the fool that thinks he is free and plays the game?"
D'Anjou vanished into the shadows.
D'Anjou stood up tall and straightened his trenchcoat.
"I will lift my boon from the woman, but there are always prices to be paid, Johanne, you know this to be true. You may think you have saved her from my clutches and devices, but perhaps you have only doomed her to something worse." D'Anjou said in a low whisper. "Should Jack walk the path of Golconda, I will kill him myself. I will reclaim my own blood and nothing will stop me. It is my right as a sire." D'Anjou started to walk away and paused underneath the shadows of the church and turned his head to regard Joe. Only his red eyes were clearly visible.
"Think on this Johanne, who's tune do you dance to? We are all pawns in the great jihad, who's more foolish, the fool who plays the game knowing this, or the fool that thinks he is free and plays the game?"
D'Anjou vanished into the shadows.
Thunder rolled menacingly as Joe looked silently into the darkness. He knew full well that Geoffrey would be nowhere near there but chances are he wouldn't be far.
When you have a childe... When that childe turns on you...
The words held more meaning than the Gangrel knew. Long buried memories of nights in Progue and one very beautiful Spanish Lady pushed their way to the surface. Isabella Sanchez.
"Too late for that D'Anjou," he said quietly into the night. Sitting slowly on the cold steps, he continue, now more to himself. "I told you I'd tried everything once. Only once. Never again." His head shook slightly back and forth. "Never again."
Alec wailed in agony somewhere in the background as Joe unfolded the familiar picture of his face and sat dwarfed by the holy structure. The dull yellow light of high lamps did its best to hold back the darkness but could not succeed in much more than distinct, interconnected pools.
Was this the face that Isabella had known? Was this the face that his Maria had known? It seemed so alive, so unlike the empty husk that he felt like. He wondered what he had been doing when it had been taken.
Another pained scream issued from the open doors of the church. It was followed by a quietly cautious voice. "He said you had spoken before." The statement sat in the night air for a while refusing to leave without acknowledgement. There was no accusation in the words. Only a friend's longing to understand.
"That's right." Joe could feel the other standing behind him. He didn't turn around but merely continued his locked gaze on the photograph. "I've met a few monsters in my time. I am one you know. We attract each other." There was no mirth in the statement.
"You can tell Bruck that there will nolonger be any payment needed for DuMont's life," he continued. "I managed to convince him otherwise out here, devil to devil."
When you have a childe... When that childe turns on you...
The words held more meaning than the Gangrel knew. Long buried memories of nights in Progue and one very beautiful Spanish Lady pushed their way to the surface. Isabella Sanchez.
"Too late for that D'Anjou," he said quietly into the night. Sitting slowly on the cold steps, he continue, now more to himself. "I told you I'd tried everything once. Only once. Never again." His head shook slightly back and forth. "Never again."
Alec wailed in agony somewhere in the background as Joe unfolded the familiar picture of his face and sat dwarfed by the holy structure. The dull yellow light of high lamps did its best to hold back the darkness but could not succeed in much more than distinct, interconnected pools.
Was this the face that Isabella had known? Was this the face that his Maria had known? It seemed so alive, so unlike the empty husk that he felt like. He wondered what he had been doing when it had been taken.
Another pained scream issued from the open doors of the church. It was followed by a quietly cautious voice. "He said you had spoken before." The statement sat in the night air for a while refusing to leave without acknowledgement. There was no accusation in the words. Only a friend's longing to understand.
"That's right." Joe could feel the other standing behind him. He didn't turn around but merely continued his locked gaze on the photograph. "I've met a few monsters in my time. I am one you know. We attract each other." There was no mirth in the statement.
"You can tell Bruck that there will nolonger be any payment needed for DuMont's life," he continued. "I managed to convince him otherwise out here, devil to devil."
Inside the Church of the Holy Spelchur, Alec DuMont’s horrid shrieks had suddenly given way to incomprehensible moans. Even the stomachs of those that were merely listening threatened to tear through to the surface in sympathy. It was a torture that none could truly describe and those that had experienced it would never want to.
Anna fought to hold on to her childe with one ruined hand while steadying him with the other. The crushing force of his inhuman convulsions had turned the appendage to pulp but his grip was locked as if it were the only thing keeping him afloat in a sea of darkness. He would not let go, could not let go, and that was fine by her. If she could have channelled any of her strength, any of her being into him, she would have gladly.
Alec’s features had grown sunken and pale when he finally went silent. His eyes flittered and went still. His lips twitched and fell mute. For anyone not accustomed to a world where people walked in death and slept in unbreathing stillness, he was gone, a corpse in the arms of a grieving lover. His iron grasp had slipped.
A tear of rich red blood dropped from Anna’s eye as she cradled the still form. The hunger that had begun to claw at her insides was the furthest thing from her mind. She sat in tranquillity, bathed in the mixture of moonlight and streetlight filtering through stained glass windows, watching for any sign of motion. Another tiny sphere of vitae splashed across icy flesh as she squeezed her eyes closed.
In a blur, Alec was in motion again. He rolled away across the floor almost faster than the eye could see. It was hard to tell whether the wild movement was involuntary or not but whenever his Sire tried to follow, his writhing pushed him further away.
His head slammed hard into the base of a dias in the turmoil bringing on a almost animalistic gurgle from his breathless throat. The sound grew into gut-turning wretches as the man’s body folded and his hands grabbed for something, anything.
Anna ran to him, touching his muscled back with her remaining hand. She wanted to do anything to speed the process. There was nothing. She had no power that would help now. The poison was being forced out and Alec’s battle would be alone. She crouched at his side none the less, sharing every moment of the pain.
When the greasy tar finally began cascading from Alec’s open, it was as if the entirety of the man’s insides had been liquified and pumped into the light. The fetid puddle expanded with each monstrous expulsion, around shaking hands and slipping knees. When it stopped, pooled around one undead, driving another slowly back, the dry heaves continued.
Above it all, the statue of the man who had risen from death on supposedly this very spot, hung crucified, watching all. His face held a kind of sad pity to it.
Anna fought to hold on to her childe with one ruined hand while steadying him with the other. The crushing force of his inhuman convulsions had turned the appendage to pulp but his grip was locked as if it were the only thing keeping him afloat in a sea of darkness. He would not let go, could not let go, and that was fine by her. If she could have channelled any of her strength, any of her being into him, she would have gladly.
Alec’s features had grown sunken and pale when he finally went silent. His eyes flittered and went still. His lips twitched and fell mute. For anyone not accustomed to a world where people walked in death and slept in unbreathing stillness, he was gone, a corpse in the arms of a grieving lover. His iron grasp had slipped.
A tear of rich red blood dropped from Anna’s eye as she cradled the still form. The hunger that had begun to claw at her insides was the furthest thing from her mind. She sat in tranquillity, bathed in the mixture of moonlight and streetlight filtering through stained glass windows, watching for any sign of motion. Another tiny sphere of vitae splashed across icy flesh as she squeezed her eyes closed.
In a blur, Alec was in motion again. He rolled away across the floor almost faster than the eye could see. It was hard to tell whether the wild movement was involuntary or not but whenever his Sire tried to follow, his writhing pushed him further away.
His head slammed hard into the base of a dias in the turmoil bringing on a almost animalistic gurgle from his breathless throat. The sound grew into gut-turning wretches as the man’s body folded and his hands grabbed for something, anything.
Anna ran to him, touching his muscled back with her remaining hand. She wanted to do anything to speed the process. There was nothing. She had no power that would help now. The poison was being forced out and Alec’s battle would be alone. She crouched at his side none the less, sharing every moment of the pain.
When the greasy tar finally began cascading from Alec’s open, it was as if the entirety of the man’s insides had been liquified and pumped into the light. The fetid puddle expanded with each monstrous expulsion, around shaking hands and slipping knees. When it stopped, pooled around one undead, driving another slowly back, the dry heaves continued.
Above it all, the statue of the man who had risen from death on supposedly this very spot, hung crucified, watching all. His face held a kind of sad pity to it.
Jack sat down next to his morose companion and shook his ageless head. "Not like him, you're not. Trust me." He looked at the picture in Joe's hands. Frayed around the edges now and with deep creases, the picture held a face that could have belonged to any of the million med-twenties man-children he had seen in his travels and known in life. Accept the eyes. Even in the image, the deep green of those orbs seemed to hold a resignation that could never exist with only a quarter century of existence.
Joe folded the paper once again and banished it back into his lower hip pocket. "Are you sure?" He looked at the other man as he asked the question. "I've murdered millions of people over the centuries to sustain my existence. People with lives to fulfill. People with loves. People with nothing against them but the fact that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have preyed upon entire families just like yours. I have glided in on black wings and devoured whole towns one by one. One night at a time." He visage grew distant. "They wailed and cried as they tried to understand what plague had befallen them. They desecrated the bodies of their own loved ones in their attempts to find me."
Joe focused back in on Jack. "Do you know what I thought when they first diagnosed tuberculosis? I laughed because it presented the same symptoms that feeding did if done slowly and intelligently. It was a perfect cover. You've heard me say that I love science. I do because every day science comes up with more reasons not to believe in us and I use it to the fullest. I am a damned, undead monster, Reece. Just as capable of all the evil and heartlessness of that prick D'Anjou. Make no mistake. And you are too. We all are. Even Bruck. Sure, she wears the pretence of humanity quite well, holds on to the trappings, even seems to care for those around her. But she is still a vampire, and a vampire that has survived for quite a long time. She has undoubtedly dealt out death to those she's preyed upon and damnation to at least DuMont and the other woman from the bar. How humane can someone be when they condemn the one they love to... this?"
Jack thought on the words for a long while, staring into the steadily clearing, midnight sky. He tried to take them for another of the bouts of melancholy self-loathing that he was growing accustomed to from the elder. It was one of the main reasons why he could not believe them. "Not like him, you're not," he replied quietly. "Not like him."
Joe folded the paper once again and banished it back into his lower hip pocket. "Are you sure?" He looked at the other man as he asked the question. "I've murdered millions of people over the centuries to sustain my existence. People with lives to fulfill. People with loves. People with nothing against them but the fact that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have preyed upon entire families just like yours. I have glided in on black wings and devoured whole towns one by one. One night at a time." He visage grew distant. "They wailed and cried as they tried to understand what plague had befallen them. They desecrated the bodies of their own loved ones in their attempts to find me."
Joe focused back in on Jack. "Do you know what I thought when they first diagnosed tuberculosis? I laughed because it presented the same symptoms that feeding did if done slowly and intelligently. It was a perfect cover. You've heard me say that I love science. I do because every day science comes up with more reasons not to believe in us and I use it to the fullest. I am a damned, undead monster, Reece. Just as capable of all the evil and heartlessness of that prick D'Anjou. Make no mistake. And you are too. We all are. Even Bruck. Sure, she wears the pretence of humanity quite well, holds on to the trappings, even seems to care for those around her. But she is still a vampire, and a vampire that has survived for quite a long time. She has undoubtedly dealt out death to those she's preyed upon and damnation to at least DuMont and the other woman from the bar. How humane can someone be when they condemn the one they love to... this?"
Jack thought on the words for a long while, staring into the steadily clearing, midnight sky. He tried to take them for another of the bouts of melancholy self-loathing that he was growing accustomed to from the elder. It was one of the main reasons why he could not believe them. "Not like him, you're not," he replied quietly. "Not like him."
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Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
Anna waited until Alec finally calmed down. Then she cradled him in her arms, holding him close as he sobbed. The pain had been excrutiating and he knew he had hurt Anna at some point. He had to have.
Now the hunger was starting to pull at him. He could smell it. It was near. Raising his head he saw it on Anna's cheeks. He leaned up and licked the tears from her face.
She grabbed his head and held him away from her. She looked in his eyes. "No. I don't have enough for you. We must find something... someone for you." She pulled him to his feet and supported his weight on her small frame, a foot shorter than his. "Let's go find Jack and Joe. They can help find something... appropriate."
Now the hunger was starting to pull at him. He could smell it. It was near. Raising his head he saw it on Anna's cheeks. He leaned up and licked the tears from her face.
She grabbed his head and held him away from her. She looked in his eyes. "No. I don't have enough for you. We must find something... someone for you." She pulled him to his feet and supported his weight on her small frame, a foot shorter than his. "Let's go find Jack and Joe. They can help find something... appropriate."
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Stormbringer
- King of Democracy
- Posts: 22678
- Joined: 2002-07-15 11:22pm
Alec's world was reduce to a red haze of hunger and the distant soothing voice. They competed within him, the ravening beast and the angelic voice. Deep within him the beast cravened blood and desired to rend flesh and break bones to get it.
"So hungry....." he whimpered, every fibre of his being struggling to retain enough of himself to do that.
He could feel some one holding him; holding him back from running loose. How he longed to break free and run wild, reveling in his dark impulses.
His fangs bit deep into his own lips as the hunger threatened to consume him.
"So hungry....." he whimpered, every fibre of his being struggling to retain enough of himself to do that.
He could feel some one holding him; holding him back from running loose. How he longed to break free and run wild, reveling in his dark impulses.
His fangs bit deep into his own lips as the hunger threatened to consume him.
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Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
Joe and Jack looked up as they heard the shuffling coming towards them. "Shit," Jack muttered under his breath as he moved to take Alec from the petite woman. "Are you okay?"
She looked her age, worn and haggard. "Take him back. I'll bring some sustenance."
Joe frowned. "Are you sure you can handle that in your condition?"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "<You doubt my ability, old man?>" she said in German.
A grin tugged at his mouth. "<Not at all, fraulein. You know his tastes. I do not.>"
"And mine as well." She took a deep breath and though neither of the conscious vampires could tell, her appearance had changed slightly. "I believe my cover will work long enough. Take care of him while I'm gone, okay?"
The others nodded and she turned to head out into the late night.
She came across the most appropriate place in the world for her, a casino. With a grin, she stepped through the door. She inhaled the intoxicating scent and quickly chose her first victim.
Several minutes later, she was walking back into the casino after dumping the young man she'd drained to near death in a back room. She licked a trail of blood from the corner of her mouth, refreshed and ready to choose for Alec.
She found a group of young people all standing together. They had money to throw around and that was good. The girls were definitely Alec's type and the boys were very much to her liking. As she approached, she turned her Majesty on. All the boys turned and gawked.
She introducted herself, adding a bit of presence in her voice. After a little dominance, she had them all entranced. They would follow her anywhere. In fact, they followed her out to their limo and with a little more dominance, the driver quickly drove them back to the vampire's haven.
She looked her age, worn and haggard. "Take him back. I'll bring some sustenance."
Joe frowned. "Are you sure you can handle that in your condition?"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "<You doubt my ability, old man?>" she said in German.
A grin tugged at his mouth. "<Not at all, fraulein. You know his tastes. I do not.>"
"And mine as well." She took a deep breath and though neither of the conscious vampires could tell, her appearance had changed slightly. "I believe my cover will work long enough. Take care of him while I'm gone, okay?"
The others nodded and she turned to head out into the late night.
She came across the most appropriate place in the world for her, a casino. With a grin, she stepped through the door. She inhaled the intoxicating scent and quickly chose her first victim.
Several minutes later, she was walking back into the casino after dumping the young man she'd drained to near death in a back room. She licked a trail of blood from the corner of her mouth, refreshed and ready to choose for Alec.
She found a group of young people all standing together. They had money to throw around and that was good. The girls were definitely Alec's type and the boys were very much to her liking. As she approached, she turned her Majesty on. All the boys turned and gawked.
She introducted herself, adding a bit of presence in her voice. After a little dominance, she had them all entranced. They would follow her anywhere. In fact, they followed her out to their limo and with a little more dominance, the driver quickly drove them back to the vampire's haven.
Joe held firmly onto Alec in the back seat of the group’s stolen car as Jack once again tore through the streets of Jerusalem. The Caitiff concentrated fully on the task, trying to keep his frenzied companion still in the bucking vehicle while at the same time avoiding the dark ichor stains on the man’s clothing. It was not easy. The Ventrue has succumbed to the beast.
“This is getting ridiculous,” he said as another bump in the unkept road sent his head into the ceiling.
“Maybe you’d like to drive?” Jack tried to adjust one of his pistols out from under his butt as he took another high speed turn.
“If you want a turn handling Nippy here, be my guest. I’m about ready to run him through and put him into torpor.”
Jack seemed to consider the statement for a moment. “That would calm him down.”
Alec didn’t agree. He thrashed all the harder, putting his elbow through the right, rear window and showering the street with glass.
The three continued on in this way until they could finally screech to a stop in front of their haven. It was the only place Jack and Joe could think of that they could keep their friend confined without drawing too much attention. How they were going to get their location to Anna was another story. There was no telling where she had gone in search of food. Their only hope was that she would come back here after finding the church vacant.
As fate would have it, she had beat them there.
“This is getting ridiculous,” he said as another bump in the unkept road sent his head into the ceiling.
“Maybe you’d like to drive?” Jack tried to adjust one of his pistols out from under his butt as he took another high speed turn.
“If you want a turn handling Nippy here, be my guest. I’m about ready to run him through and put him into torpor.”
Jack seemed to consider the statement for a moment. “That would calm him down.”
Alec didn’t agree. He thrashed all the harder, putting his elbow through the right, rear window and showering the street with glass.
The three continued on in this way until they could finally screech to a stop in front of their haven. It was the only place Jack and Joe could think of that they could keep their friend confined without drawing too much attention. How they were going to get their location to Anna was another story. There was no telling where she had gone in search of food. Their only hope was that she would come back here after finding the church vacant.
As fate would have it, she had beat them there.
When the team brought Alec forcibly up to their tiny room, they found it already filled with young men and women, laughing and smiling and talking amongst themselves about what their new friend had up her sleeve bringing them there. They looked over happily at the newcomers, wondering what other strangeness the night was producing, and welcomed them in with smiles. Those smiles lasted all of five seconds.
The smell of warm, inviting blood so close threw Alec even further over the edge and he lurched forward, fangs bared, struggling against the two immortals restraining him. They held on until the door was closed behind them and then let their grips slip. This was what their friend needed after all.
The first victim was the closest, and her scream gurgled into silence a moment after it began. Blood spilled in rivers from a supple neck as the frenzied Ventrue ravaged into her. He drank deeply and let the body fall only after it had been licked clean. A look of pure, exquisite rapture painted his crimson-stained face as he chose who would be next.
The others of the hapless group fell into total hysterics, screaming at the ghastly image and charging blindly for the lone exit. They showed no loyalty to each other or their lost companion, scrambling and pushing in their attempt to escape. It was all to no avail however, as three other vampires blocked their way.
A second girl fell to the floor, tripped up by a so-called friend trying to get past. She was quickly scooped up by powerful undead hands and even more quickly put to death by powerful undead jaws. Alec had more control over himself now, after the first feeding, and managed to drain the woman cleanly. Her lifeless eyes stared up hollowly as he moved on.
Joe scowled as the display continued on, pushing those that made it to the door firmly back. The room was a carnal house and it was rising the cravings in him as well. He wanted to sink his teeth into that living flesh and feel its power course through him. He wanted to fill his mouth with that coppery taste. But he knew he could not. These were here for those that needed it more. The Caitiff thought of nights when he would have left one like Alec to the mercies of fate.
The feast of blood screams ended the long night and the four vampires drifted off into individual oblivion as the morning light crept over the desert. Day came and went with tales of reckless cars, desecration of holy sites and whole parties of people missing. Local authorities had their hands full but would never get anywhere. When night blanketed the sky once more, fewer people in the ancient city ventured out to enjoy it.
As seemed to be the norm, the two elders awoke first. They sat quietly for a while, each knowing that the sooner they were back across the Atlantic, the closer they would be to their goal, but still not wanting to disrupt the peace. The others would wake in time and they would be on their way than. Besides, Alec could use all the healing time he could get.
"So we all finally got to meet Jack's Sire," Anna stated quietly, watching Joe from across the small room and getting only a slow nod in response. "Though I suppose it looks like I'll be seeing him again sooner or later. I had to strike a bargain with him for helping Alec last night."
"I know," the other muttered back, tugging on one ear. "I heard everything from outside. And we had a discussion, him and I, when he came out. I convinced him to lift the debt. Though I don't know if I'd go so far as to say you don't need to watch your back."
An eyebrow raised. “How’d you manage that? Geoffrey D’Anjou didn’t seem the type to just let things go.”
Joe thought for a moment. “I had something that was more valuable to him than you.”
Anna released an unneeded breath hard and ran a hand through her hair. “Enough of this cryptic bullshit, Schwartz. What the hell is going on with you and D’Anjou?” Was there a hint of accusation there?
The Caitiff sighed and looked over to where Jack still lay. “Alright,” his hushed confusion began. “He was in America. He confronted me the night we were leaving and asked me to make sure the kid wasn’t harmed. Wanted that pleasure for himself. Well, maybe ‘asked’ isn’t really the best word for it. Anyway, he said that if Reece was to find out, he’d torture and murder the kid’s family. He was quite descriptive about it actually. I’ve spoken with him again here as well. He seems to be following our little adventure a little closely for my comfort.”
“Wonderful. But you still could have tried to tell me, Old Man. My sentries have never stopped keeping an eye on that family since the Giovanni attack. We’ll know if he tries anything. You didn’t have to go it alone.”
“I know about you guards,” Joe shot back. “I heard about them from D’Anjou himself. He thought I was double crossing him. The presence of those sentries nearly got those people killed on principle. I really don’t know why he didn’t.”
Anna didn’t know how to react. It sounded like her good intentions had almost blown right up in her face. She didn’t want to think of the collateral damage from that explosion.
The woman’s face hardened. “Well they would have been ready if you had said something. You’ve got to start trusting us. Haven’t we earned it yet? We can handle whatever games D’Anjou is trying to play if we do it together.”
“I suppose.” Joe changed the subject. “But speaking of that, I’ve been giving our situation a lot of thought. I have to wonder what D’Anjou did to have his Childe dragged into this. I’m sure the people pulling the strings of this mission didn’t just want him along purely because he’s your friend. I think this little group of ours was chosen for very specific reasons. But what purpose could there be in putting a young Gangrel wanderer into this kind of danger? Unless it wasn’t about Reece at all, but about D’Anjou. Who did he piss off to have his Childe thrown right into the hands of the people that would most want to kill him? I think that’s why he came to me. The bastard has at least an idea of something behind this and wants to make sure he gets his own cards played.”
Joe looked over at Jack again, wondering if the man was actually sleeping or just laying still and listening.
“And speaking of that,” he continued. “Here’s the journal. You’ll probably get the most out of it.”
Anna took the beaten leather book, making sure none of the loose papers fell out, and was glad for the change in subject. She didn’t want to think about the machinations of ancients right now. What was important was finding Stormcrow before the Sabbat, or the Assamites, or whoever else might be out there and getting her hands on the scroll of Ad Avis.
“I’m not letting you off the hook, Old Man,” she said. He certainly knew how to get her focussed on other things. “You’re going to tell me what you said to D’Anjou to lift that debt.”
Joe knew she was serious even if the woman was already reading as she spoke.
The scrawl within the diary was clear enough to read but not so simple to follow. It began as undated ramblings but increased in coherence the deeper into it one went. Although paranoid personal thoughts were haphazardly shoved in throughout, the bulk of the text contained, notes, theories and passages from various sources on the end of the world. Every myth and legend of kindred or kine was accounted for, some that none of them would ever have heard before.
Flipping through the pages, the Ventrue became engrossed. Tall Pines, Montana, was the location that constantly came back to the Malkavian’s thoughts. A cabin in the forest where he wouldn’t be disturbed, where he could fight the urges for human blood, where he could be closer to his only true friends.
“Shit,” Anna muttered. “Figures Tenn knew him. The kook’s somehow gotten himself in with werewolves. No wonder he feels safer from vampires in Montana.”
Reading further, she delved into the mind of a man obsessed. He had thrown himself into his research as if his life had depended on it. Many personal entries spoke of how it was the only thing that kept him sane. Focussing on his study was all that kept the demons away. But not completely. Many more passages spoke of being followed, of being attacked by people he didn’t know, and of being plotted against and set up by even those that wanted his work continued.
He had been doing research off and on for the Camarilla for decades. The Malkavians had taken him in as soon as it became apparent that he was one of them and he had quickly risen in the field of Gehenna. In time his thoughts spoke of little else. Even his past life became as a dream to the tormented man.
But the work did seem to give him focus. As the pages in the journal progressed and the years that they represented pushed ahead, the writing became more and more clear. Eliot Stormcrow seemed to have found himself in the Final Night and clung to it with all his will. Even if he was more terrified of it than anyone else.
Anna read through the standard tales that everyone in vampire society knew of. Scribbled words spoke of the thinning of blood and the weakening of generations. On other pages she skimmed over statistics on the increasing number of Caitiffs and notes pointing to a terrible significance. More still was written on the awakening of Antidulvians and the portents of clan Ravnos’ fall. But there were other passages in the journal that caught her attention.
‘And as the lamb of God did look upon the seven seals before him, the Beast writhed in his Hell, sensing the coming of the end, and sent forth one among the Damned to wreck havoc and bring all those Cursed low before him,’ an excerpt from some apocryphal version of Revelations read. Stormcrow linked this with other writings, noting that it would be one of the kindred, not kine, to mark the beginning of the end.
‘And in time the Morning Star looked upon the world that God had wrought and laughed, for there was much wickedness and misery,’ was quoted from the Book of Nod. ‘But when he bore witness to the acts of the Children of Caine, his mirth did cease, for in them he saw that even in the laying of curses, The Lord did out shine him. But the Morning Star would not be out done and he worked his corruption to created a new clan among the kindred, not of the blood of Caine. This clan will stand herald to the First one’s return.” She new this passage but had never seen it translated this way. Normally the ancient words were read to imply that a kindred of no clan, a Caitiff, not one without Caine’s blood, would herald Gehenna. It was an interesting take linguistically.
The final pages, before the book was almost totally devoted to the writings of Ad Avis and other accounts of the ancient vampiric ruler, were taken up by premonitions from various modern day Malkavians. They warned that a seed planted long ago would finally come to fruit. They spoke of powers shifting and the incautious meeting their end. Most notable, they were filled with images of crows and wolves feasting on the bodies of all clan’s fallen.
When Anna finally looked up from the weathered pages on her lap everything was packed and ready for them to leave.
The smell of warm, inviting blood so close threw Alec even further over the edge and he lurched forward, fangs bared, struggling against the two immortals restraining him. They held on until the door was closed behind them and then let their grips slip. This was what their friend needed after all.
The first victim was the closest, and her scream gurgled into silence a moment after it began. Blood spilled in rivers from a supple neck as the frenzied Ventrue ravaged into her. He drank deeply and let the body fall only after it had been licked clean. A look of pure, exquisite rapture painted his crimson-stained face as he chose who would be next.
The others of the hapless group fell into total hysterics, screaming at the ghastly image and charging blindly for the lone exit. They showed no loyalty to each other or their lost companion, scrambling and pushing in their attempt to escape. It was all to no avail however, as three other vampires blocked their way.
A second girl fell to the floor, tripped up by a so-called friend trying to get past. She was quickly scooped up by powerful undead hands and even more quickly put to death by powerful undead jaws. Alec had more control over himself now, after the first feeding, and managed to drain the woman cleanly. Her lifeless eyes stared up hollowly as he moved on.
Joe scowled as the display continued on, pushing those that made it to the door firmly back. The room was a carnal house and it was rising the cravings in him as well. He wanted to sink his teeth into that living flesh and feel its power course through him. He wanted to fill his mouth with that coppery taste. But he knew he could not. These were here for those that needed it more. The Caitiff thought of nights when he would have left one like Alec to the mercies of fate.
The feast of blood screams ended the long night and the four vampires drifted off into individual oblivion as the morning light crept over the desert. Day came and went with tales of reckless cars, desecration of holy sites and whole parties of people missing. Local authorities had their hands full but would never get anywhere. When night blanketed the sky once more, fewer people in the ancient city ventured out to enjoy it.
As seemed to be the norm, the two elders awoke first. They sat quietly for a while, each knowing that the sooner they were back across the Atlantic, the closer they would be to their goal, but still not wanting to disrupt the peace. The others would wake in time and they would be on their way than. Besides, Alec could use all the healing time he could get.
"So we all finally got to meet Jack's Sire," Anna stated quietly, watching Joe from across the small room and getting only a slow nod in response. "Though I suppose it looks like I'll be seeing him again sooner or later. I had to strike a bargain with him for helping Alec last night."
"I know," the other muttered back, tugging on one ear. "I heard everything from outside. And we had a discussion, him and I, when he came out. I convinced him to lift the debt. Though I don't know if I'd go so far as to say you don't need to watch your back."
An eyebrow raised. “How’d you manage that? Geoffrey D’Anjou didn’t seem the type to just let things go.”
Joe thought for a moment. “I had something that was more valuable to him than you.”
Anna released an unneeded breath hard and ran a hand through her hair. “Enough of this cryptic bullshit, Schwartz. What the hell is going on with you and D’Anjou?” Was there a hint of accusation there?
The Caitiff sighed and looked over to where Jack still lay. “Alright,” his hushed confusion began. “He was in America. He confronted me the night we were leaving and asked me to make sure the kid wasn’t harmed. Wanted that pleasure for himself. Well, maybe ‘asked’ isn’t really the best word for it. Anyway, he said that if Reece was to find out, he’d torture and murder the kid’s family. He was quite descriptive about it actually. I’ve spoken with him again here as well. He seems to be following our little adventure a little closely for my comfort.”
“Wonderful. But you still could have tried to tell me, Old Man. My sentries have never stopped keeping an eye on that family since the Giovanni attack. We’ll know if he tries anything. You didn’t have to go it alone.”
“I know about you guards,” Joe shot back. “I heard about them from D’Anjou himself. He thought I was double crossing him. The presence of those sentries nearly got those people killed on principle. I really don’t know why he didn’t.”
Anna didn’t know how to react. It sounded like her good intentions had almost blown right up in her face. She didn’t want to think of the collateral damage from that explosion.
The woman’s face hardened. “Well they would have been ready if you had said something. You’ve got to start trusting us. Haven’t we earned it yet? We can handle whatever games D’Anjou is trying to play if we do it together.”
“I suppose.” Joe changed the subject. “But speaking of that, I’ve been giving our situation a lot of thought. I have to wonder what D’Anjou did to have his Childe dragged into this. I’m sure the people pulling the strings of this mission didn’t just want him along purely because he’s your friend. I think this little group of ours was chosen for very specific reasons. But what purpose could there be in putting a young Gangrel wanderer into this kind of danger? Unless it wasn’t about Reece at all, but about D’Anjou. Who did he piss off to have his Childe thrown right into the hands of the people that would most want to kill him? I think that’s why he came to me. The bastard has at least an idea of something behind this and wants to make sure he gets his own cards played.”
Joe looked over at Jack again, wondering if the man was actually sleeping or just laying still and listening.
“And speaking of that,” he continued. “Here’s the journal. You’ll probably get the most out of it.”
Anna took the beaten leather book, making sure none of the loose papers fell out, and was glad for the change in subject. She didn’t want to think about the machinations of ancients right now. What was important was finding Stormcrow before the Sabbat, or the Assamites, or whoever else might be out there and getting her hands on the scroll of Ad Avis.
“I’m not letting you off the hook, Old Man,” she said. He certainly knew how to get her focussed on other things. “You’re going to tell me what you said to D’Anjou to lift that debt.”
Joe knew she was serious even if the woman was already reading as she spoke.
The scrawl within the diary was clear enough to read but not so simple to follow. It began as undated ramblings but increased in coherence the deeper into it one went. Although paranoid personal thoughts were haphazardly shoved in throughout, the bulk of the text contained, notes, theories and passages from various sources on the end of the world. Every myth and legend of kindred or kine was accounted for, some that none of them would ever have heard before.
Flipping through the pages, the Ventrue became engrossed. Tall Pines, Montana, was the location that constantly came back to the Malkavian’s thoughts. A cabin in the forest where he wouldn’t be disturbed, where he could fight the urges for human blood, where he could be closer to his only true friends.
“Shit,” Anna muttered. “Figures Tenn knew him. The kook’s somehow gotten himself in with werewolves. No wonder he feels safer from vampires in Montana.”
Reading further, she delved into the mind of a man obsessed. He had thrown himself into his research as if his life had depended on it. Many personal entries spoke of how it was the only thing that kept him sane. Focussing on his study was all that kept the demons away. But not completely. Many more passages spoke of being followed, of being attacked by people he didn’t know, and of being plotted against and set up by even those that wanted his work continued.
He had been doing research off and on for the Camarilla for decades. The Malkavians had taken him in as soon as it became apparent that he was one of them and he had quickly risen in the field of Gehenna. In time his thoughts spoke of little else. Even his past life became as a dream to the tormented man.
But the work did seem to give him focus. As the pages in the journal progressed and the years that they represented pushed ahead, the writing became more and more clear. Eliot Stormcrow seemed to have found himself in the Final Night and clung to it with all his will. Even if he was more terrified of it than anyone else.
Anna read through the standard tales that everyone in vampire society knew of. Scribbled words spoke of the thinning of blood and the weakening of generations. On other pages she skimmed over statistics on the increasing number of Caitiffs and notes pointing to a terrible significance. More still was written on the awakening of Antidulvians and the portents of clan Ravnos’ fall. But there were other passages in the journal that caught her attention.
‘And as the lamb of God did look upon the seven seals before him, the Beast writhed in his Hell, sensing the coming of the end, and sent forth one among the Damned to wreck havoc and bring all those Cursed low before him,’ an excerpt from some apocryphal version of Revelations read. Stormcrow linked this with other writings, noting that it would be one of the kindred, not kine, to mark the beginning of the end.
‘And in time the Morning Star looked upon the world that God had wrought and laughed, for there was much wickedness and misery,’ was quoted from the Book of Nod. ‘But when he bore witness to the acts of the Children of Caine, his mirth did cease, for in them he saw that even in the laying of curses, The Lord did out shine him. But the Morning Star would not be out done and he worked his corruption to created a new clan among the kindred, not of the blood of Caine. This clan will stand herald to the First one’s return.” She new this passage but had never seen it translated this way. Normally the ancient words were read to imply that a kindred of no clan, a Caitiff, not one without Caine’s blood, would herald Gehenna. It was an interesting take linguistically.
The final pages, before the book was almost totally devoted to the writings of Ad Avis and other accounts of the ancient vampiric ruler, were taken up by premonitions from various modern day Malkavians. They warned that a seed planted long ago would finally come to fruit. They spoke of powers shifting and the incautious meeting their end. Most notable, they were filled with images of crows and wolves feasting on the bodies of all clan’s fallen.
When Anna finally looked up from the weathered pages on her lap everything was packed and ready for them to leave.
-
Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
Alec stood before her. "Anna? I... I wanted to thank you."
She smiled. "It's alright. I will always take care of you when you need me."
If he had been human, he would have blushed, not in embarrasment, but slightly in anger at himself. He hated having to rely on Anna for anything, especially after putting her through such an ordeal. "If only I hadn't taken that knife in the gut."
She slipped the journal in her bag. "Alec, I know I took a chance in trusting D'Anjou. But, I care more for you."
"I know. But I don't like that bastard having a hold on you."
"Don't worry about me." She stood and kissed him softly. "I am more than able to take care of myself."
"I know. But I'm worried. D'Anjou's a single minded fanatic and that's the most dangerous kind. He might not owe you one officially, but you'd better believe he has a hold on both us now."
"Perhaps, but now isn't the time to dwell on that. I believe we have a plan to catch." She looked up and saw Joe and Jack picking up their bags. Joe's eyes met hers and she narrowed her own. He nodded slightly in agrement to her silent question. "And I think I just about know where our friend Eliot Stormcrow may be."
She smiled. "It's alright. I will always take care of you when you need me."
If he had been human, he would have blushed, not in embarrasment, but slightly in anger at himself. He hated having to rely on Anna for anything, especially after putting her through such an ordeal. "If only I hadn't taken that knife in the gut."
She slipped the journal in her bag. "Alec, I know I took a chance in trusting D'Anjou. But, I care more for you."
"I know. But I don't like that bastard having a hold on you."
"Don't worry about me." She stood and kissed him softly. "I am more than able to take care of myself."
"I know. But I'm worried. D'Anjou's a single minded fanatic and that's the most dangerous kind. He might not owe you one officially, but you'd better believe he has a hold on both us now."
"Perhaps, but now isn't the time to dwell on that. I believe we have a plan to catch." She looked up and saw Joe and Jack picking up their bags. Joe's eyes met hers and she narrowed her own. He nodded slightly in agrement to her silent question. "And I think I just about know where our friend Eliot Stormcrow may be."
The flight across the Atlantic was uneventful and provided a calm lull in the storm that the four vampires found themselves engulfed in. It was almost a relief to know that, for the time being, there was very little that they could do. It helped to lighten moods that had grow decidedly darker in the past nights. It could not lift the veil completely though.
Hours later, on the other side of the great watery expanse, Joe rose from his torpor and the team was once more faced with the stern visage of Katiana. She stood at Anna Bruck’s car waiting, the disapproval emanating like a lighthouse beacon. Alec in particular was shot with a glare that could have poisoned him all over again.
“Things have been well at The Eye,” the woman said curtly as she opened the door for her Sire. “Though the rest of the city has been plagued by an influx of Sabbat. Are you back from you ‘business’ now?”
Hours later, on the other side of the great watery expanse, Joe rose from his torpor and the team was once more faced with the stern visage of Katiana. She stood at Anna Bruck’s car waiting, the disapproval emanating like a lighthouse beacon. Alec in particular was shot with a glare that could have poisoned him all over again.
“Things have been well at The Eye,” the woman said curtly as she opened the door for her Sire. “Though the rest of the city has been plagued by an influx of Sabbat. Are you back from you ‘business’ now?”
-
Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
Anna sighed as she put her bag in the back of the car. "Sabbat again? When will they ever learn. We are back, but I don't know for how long. I fear the apocolypse truly could be near."
Katiana frowned. "Are you sure?"
"We will talk later. Here is not the best place to discuss matters such as these." She hugged her childe, slipping the diary into her jacket. "In the meantime, I'd like to go check on the bar."
Feeling the extra weight, the younger vampire smirked and nodded. "As you wish."
Katiana frowned. "Are you sure?"
"We will talk later. Here is not the best place to discuss matters such as these." She hugged her childe, slipping the diary into her jacket. "In the meantime, I'd like to go check on the bar."
Feeling the extra weight, the younger vampire smirked and nodded. "As you wish."
“I’ll see you back at The Eye,” Joe said, tossing his duffle bag into the vehicle’s trunk. “I’ll find my own way.”
With that, the vampire turned, raised a hand in farewell, and walked off into the night. With a moment’s transformation he was once again in the air, this time of his own power, soaring above the buildings and night life of New Orleans. Cars were fascinating devices, but to Joe, this was the only way to travel. It was peaceful in the star-lite sky. He always found solace feeling the wind rush over him in his bird form. Plus it gave him a chance to observe the city, unnoticed by the eyes of the unwary.
Following the highway, the Big Easy unfolded before him as he flew. From new development to structures hundreds of years old, everything seemed to blend together as if by nature. Turning south, the vampire found his way to the French Quarter and a quaint little park within. It was still early in the evening and the buskers and taro card readers were not finished plying their trades to willing tourists under the lamp light of a central square.
Sublimating to mist amid a darkened stand of trees and than condensing into human shape, Joe integrated into the milling crowd. He took his time, meandering about the collection of performers and fortunetellers, and applauded along with the watching people. It was a display he had seen thousands of times over the years. Times and places changed but nothing else seemed to. There were gypsies where ever you went.
A slim man in his early twenties caught the Caitiff’s eyes. He sat at an uncomfortable looking bench, playing with a deck of cards, his bright red hair almost glowing in the overhead lights. The two smiled as they saw each other.
“Where you been the last while, Joe?” the man asked. “Haven’t seen you around.”
“Busy I guess,” the vampire replied, taking a seat on the bench next to the mortal. “I’ve been doing a lot of running around with some people. What’s up with you Tim?”
“Not much. Pretty slow today.”
Joe had met Tim Masters shortly after arriving in New Orleans. In that very spot, in fact. He was young, full of life and seemed to worry about nothing. The kind of person that could have a good time in any situation and didn’t care who saw him do it. He was also the kind of person who was very luck he wasn’t dead at this point.
Even now the smell of Tim’s blood filled Joe with a longing and hunger like nothing his mortal friend could understand. He was not in any dire need, but the hunger was always there none the less. It was like a spoiled child crying in the background for its favourite candy. Even when it was whimpering quietly, it could still not help but be heard. The ancient man pulled in the sweet, coppery smell and pushed his base desires to the back of his mind. This was the reason he found, every once in a while, he had to take up the company of vampires. Sometimes you just needed to talk to people who weren’t potential food.
“Well let me be the one to pick things up for you,” Joe said. “Tonight, Gypsy, I am going to let you take a look at my palm.”
“Well, well,” came the reply. “Why the change?”
“I’m finally curious what bullshit you’re going to give me.” The immortal gave his friend a wry smile.
Tim flicked his cards from one hand to the other before putting them away. “Are you saying you don’t believe in magic.” He motioned for the other to show him a hand.
Joe put an open palm into the waiting hand. He thought of times long ago when people with actual magic had been a concern to him. “Well, not your’s maybe.”
“Jeese your hands are cold, Joe,” Tim said at the contact. “You feel like you’re dead, Man.”
Joe smirked. “Yeah. No circulation. What do you see?”
The young man rubbed the hand in his possession in a vain attempt to warm it up before he began. Peering down, he made no show of tracing lines or false concentration. Tim gave a short laugh. “Your life line is nonexistent, Joe. Sorry buddy but I don’t think you have long for this world. You’re healthy though. Maybe it’ll be ‘foul play’ that gets you!”
Joe rolled his eyes. “Anything interesting in the cards lately? Turning up the death card more often than usual?”
“No, not really,” Tim answered, thinking nothing of the question. He continued with is analysis without stopping. “You’re supposed to get married and have kids. You been married before?”
“Once. A long time ago”
“Long time ago? Dude, you’re not that old.”
Joe shrugged and than pressed his questions. “So you haven’t been seeing anything strange for the future? Everybody looking pretty much as usual?”
“Yeah. As far as I can see.” The mortal looked up at his friend. “What’s with the questions? You worried about the end of the world or something?”
The vampire pulled off a laugh. “Just wondering,” he replied.
“Anyway,” Tim continued, grabbing the undead hand back. “I see great riches for you too. Yes. Here’s your mansion. Yes. Yes. And here’s your pool.”
Joe pulled his hand back just in time to miss the huge wad of spit. “Very funny,” he said standing up. “That joke is older than you can image. See you later, Tim.”
* * *
The lounge, restaurant and night club known as The Eye of Horus was as busy as ever when Anna Bruck’s car pulled up to the rear entrance. A pair of Nosferatu being admitted through this less conspicuous access took note of the establishment’s owner’s return. Things had barely settled down from the Giovanni’s siege and now this group of kindred were at it again. Word in the warrens was that Miss Bruck, her childe and the two other newcomer’s (a childe of Geoffrey D’Anjou, no less, and some uncouth Caitiff) had been selected for a Camarilla mission so secret, Prince Darian hadn’t even known about it. It was all very intriguing.
Inside the place was alive. Even with the night still so young, people were starting to line up to get into the bar. The dinning area too, had been steady since it had opened for lunch and showed no sign of slowing. Even with what was going on behind the eyes of the normal world, at The Eye of Horus, things were good.
Taking a look around the full establishment, nothing was out of the ordinary and no one stuck out as strange or dangerous. No kindred were in the restaurant, of course, it was still early for the night club to really start blaring but there was a good sized crowd, and the main bar was full. The living mixed unknowingly with the undead here and every kept their peace for the most part.
Katiana waited to be through the bar and into her Sire’s office in the back before reaching into her coat and retrieving the book that had been placed there.
With that, the vampire turned, raised a hand in farewell, and walked off into the night. With a moment’s transformation he was once again in the air, this time of his own power, soaring above the buildings and night life of New Orleans. Cars were fascinating devices, but to Joe, this was the only way to travel. It was peaceful in the star-lite sky. He always found solace feeling the wind rush over him in his bird form. Plus it gave him a chance to observe the city, unnoticed by the eyes of the unwary.
Following the highway, the Big Easy unfolded before him as he flew. From new development to structures hundreds of years old, everything seemed to blend together as if by nature. Turning south, the vampire found his way to the French Quarter and a quaint little park within. It was still early in the evening and the buskers and taro card readers were not finished plying their trades to willing tourists under the lamp light of a central square.
Sublimating to mist amid a darkened stand of trees and than condensing into human shape, Joe integrated into the milling crowd. He took his time, meandering about the collection of performers and fortunetellers, and applauded along with the watching people. It was a display he had seen thousands of times over the years. Times and places changed but nothing else seemed to. There were gypsies where ever you went.
A slim man in his early twenties caught the Caitiff’s eyes. He sat at an uncomfortable looking bench, playing with a deck of cards, his bright red hair almost glowing in the overhead lights. The two smiled as they saw each other.
“Where you been the last while, Joe?” the man asked. “Haven’t seen you around.”
“Busy I guess,” the vampire replied, taking a seat on the bench next to the mortal. “I’ve been doing a lot of running around with some people. What’s up with you Tim?”
“Not much. Pretty slow today.”
Joe had met Tim Masters shortly after arriving in New Orleans. In that very spot, in fact. He was young, full of life and seemed to worry about nothing. The kind of person that could have a good time in any situation and didn’t care who saw him do it. He was also the kind of person who was very luck he wasn’t dead at this point.
Even now the smell of Tim’s blood filled Joe with a longing and hunger like nothing his mortal friend could understand. He was not in any dire need, but the hunger was always there none the less. It was like a spoiled child crying in the background for its favourite candy. Even when it was whimpering quietly, it could still not help but be heard. The ancient man pulled in the sweet, coppery smell and pushed his base desires to the back of his mind. This was the reason he found, every once in a while, he had to take up the company of vampires. Sometimes you just needed to talk to people who weren’t potential food.
“Well let me be the one to pick things up for you,” Joe said. “Tonight, Gypsy, I am going to let you take a look at my palm.”
“Well, well,” came the reply. “Why the change?”
“I’m finally curious what bullshit you’re going to give me.” The immortal gave his friend a wry smile.
Tim flicked his cards from one hand to the other before putting them away. “Are you saying you don’t believe in magic.” He motioned for the other to show him a hand.
Joe put an open palm into the waiting hand. He thought of times long ago when people with actual magic had been a concern to him. “Well, not your’s maybe.”
“Jeese your hands are cold, Joe,” Tim said at the contact. “You feel like you’re dead, Man.”
Joe smirked. “Yeah. No circulation. What do you see?”
The young man rubbed the hand in his possession in a vain attempt to warm it up before he began. Peering down, he made no show of tracing lines or false concentration. Tim gave a short laugh. “Your life line is nonexistent, Joe. Sorry buddy but I don’t think you have long for this world. You’re healthy though. Maybe it’ll be ‘foul play’ that gets you!”
Joe rolled his eyes. “Anything interesting in the cards lately? Turning up the death card more often than usual?”
“No, not really,” Tim answered, thinking nothing of the question. He continued with is analysis without stopping. “You’re supposed to get married and have kids. You been married before?”
“Once. A long time ago”
“Long time ago? Dude, you’re not that old.”
Joe shrugged and than pressed his questions. “So you haven’t been seeing anything strange for the future? Everybody looking pretty much as usual?”
“Yeah. As far as I can see.” The mortal looked up at his friend. “What’s with the questions? You worried about the end of the world or something?”
The vampire pulled off a laugh. “Just wondering,” he replied.
“Anyway,” Tim continued, grabbing the undead hand back. “I see great riches for you too. Yes. Here’s your mansion. Yes. Yes. And here’s your pool.”
Joe pulled his hand back just in time to miss the huge wad of spit. “Very funny,” he said standing up. “That joke is older than you can image. See you later, Tim.”
* * *
The lounge, restaurant and night club known as The Eye of Horus was as busy as ever when Anna Bruck’s car pulled up to the rear entrance. A pair of Nosferatu being admitted through this less conspicuous access took note of the establishment’s owner’s return. Things had barely settled down from the Giovanni’s siege and now this group of kindred were at it again. Word in the warrens was that Miss Bruck, her childe and the two other newcomer’s (a childe of Geoffrey D’Anjou, no less, and some uncouth Caitiff) had been selected for a Camarilla mission so secret, Prince Darian hadn’t even known about it. It was all very intriguing.
Inside the place was alive. Even with the night still so young, people were starting to line up to get into the bar. The dinning area too, had been steady since it had opened for lunch and showed no sign of slowing. Even with what was going on behind the eyes of the normal world, at The Eye of Horus, things were good.
Taking a look around the full establishment, nothing was out of the ordinary and no one stuck out as strange or dangerous. No kindred were in the restaurant, of course, it was still early for the night club to really start blaring but there was a good sized crowd, and the main bar was full. The living mixed unknowingly with the undead here and every kept their peace for the most part.
Katiana waited to be through the bar and into her Sire’s office in the back before reaching into her coat and retrieving the book that had been placed there.
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Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
The German woman sat in a large, comfy chair in the office and opened the diary. She read the ramblings of the insane Malkavian. Slowly, she realized the implications that were being pointed to by Stormcrow's rantings.
"Well?" Anna stood beside the chair as she read the last page.
"Do you think it is true?" Katiana had her feelings, but always waited to hear her sire's side of the story.
The petite woman sat on the arm of the chair. "I don't know. But what I do know is that we must talk to Stormcrow. Eliot knows something. Something more than what he wrote on these pages."
She pulled Anna from the arm down into her lap and held her close. They remained embraced for several minutes before she finally spoke. "I'm going with you this time. If the end is imminent, I don't want to be alone."
Anna kissed her childe's forehead softly. "You won't be alone, dearest. You have a job here, to take care of my interests."
"Tenn can handle that." She tightened her arms around her.
"What about your childer and your ghouls?"
"Anna, you are what is important. I still have access to Monty's damascane blade. You know I'm better with the sword than you. I want to protect you."
She ran her hand through the young woman's blonde lockes like a mother would to a child. "I'll have Alec, Joe and Jack with me."
Katiana stiffened at Alec's name. "He will never care for you as I have."
Anna wrapped her arms around Katiana's neck and hugged her gently. "No, he never will. You are my first love. Get the blade. Monty won't need it right now anyway. He's still in torpor. You may go."
"Well?" Anna stood beside the chair as she read the last page.
"Do you think it is true?" Katiana had her feelings, but always waited to hear her sire's side of the story.
The petite woman sat on the arm of the chair. "I don't know. But what I do know is that we must talk to Stormcrow. Eliot knows something. Something more than what he wrote on these pages."
She pulled Anna from the arm down into her lap and held her close. They remained embraced for several minutes before she finally spoke. "I'm going with you this time. If the end is imminent, I don't want to be alone."
Anna kissed her childe's forehead softly. "You won't be alone, dearest. You have a job here, to take care of my interests."
"Tenn can handle that." She tightened her arms around her.
"What about your childer and your ghouls?"
"Anna, you are what is important. I still have access to Monty's damascane blade. You know I'm better with the sword than you. I want to protect you."
She ran her hand through the young woman's blonde lockes like a mother would to a child. "I'll have Alec, Joe and Jack with me."
Katiana stiffened at Alec's name. "He will never care for you as I have."
Anna wrapped her arms around Katiana's neck and hugged her gently. "No, he never will. You are my first love. Get the blade. Monty won't need it right now anyway. He's still in torpor. You may go."
Thoughts, many thoughjts, sometimes too many thoughts filled his head, so many that he wanted to clutch his head and scream. There were times when he was feeling particularly hopeless and against the wall, that he just wanted to choose a nice patch of earth and slide down into its cool embrace and sleep. Sleep so deeply that the world would simply pass him by and forget him, forget that Jack Reece had ever existed, forget that he had loved a woman, courted her, married her and had children with her. Forget the laughter of his daughter as he tickled her and the outraged groans of his son as he tried to tell him a joke.
Forget.
Can a vampire ever forget? Did elders liek Joe and his sire ever forget the past, did old ghosts finally rest in peace or did they carry their pain with them through eternity.
Jack learned the dirt rest trick from a frazzled old Gangrel that had taken him in during his cross country road trip. The Gangrel told him that his clan liked the dirt nap as he called it. There was no safer way to travel, as soon as the sun rose, off to the dirt you went, untouched by her harsh gaze and the only thing you ever had to worry about was some adventurous werewolf that tried to dig you up.
He also told him that when things got too bad you could always slip in under, deep into the earth and let your conciousness go free. As a kindred you could lie in torpor for eternity and not die. It would simply be one long dream and isn't that better than harsh reality sometimes?
Jack's hand touched the shattered window of his haven's public facade, an abandoned house out in the country.
Sleep. Forget.
He shook his head.
No.
He remebered looking at that old wreck of a Gangrel and seeing with his own eyes what such sleep accomplished. The old man looked out of place, constantly weary and afraid of teh new things he found when he awoke and most of all he saw the fear, fear of anything that would cause him pain because he knew that the addiction was clear, the sweet cold dark earth always waited to take you back in and once you've been down there too many times, you never came back.
Weakness.
He could hear his sire's voice. And for once, he agreed with him.
He would not sleep. He had to see this through no matter where it took him.
Forget.
Can a vampire ever forget? Did elders liek Joe and his sire ever forget the past, did old ghosts finally rest in peace or did they carry their pain with them through eternity.
Jack learned the dirt rest trick from a frazzled old Gangrel that had taken him in during his cross country road trip. The Gangrel told him that his clan liked the dirt nap as he called it. There was no safer way to travel, as soon as the sun rose, off to the dirt you went, untouched by her harsh gaze and the only thing you ever had to worry about was some adventurous werewolf that tried to dig you up.
He also told him that when things got too bad you could always slip in under, deep into the earth and let your conciousness go free. As a kindred you could lie in torpor for eternity and not die. It would simply be one long dream and isn't that better than harsh reality sometimes?
Jack's hand touched the shattered window of his haven's public facade, an abandoned house out in the country.
Sleep. Forget.
He shook his head.
No.
He remebered looking at that old wreck of a Gangrel and seeing with his own eyes what such sleep accomplished. The old man looked out of place, constantly weary and afraid of teh new things he found when he awoke and most of all he saw the fear, fear of anything that would cause him pain because he knew that the addiction was clear, the sweet cold dark earth always waited to take you back in and once you've been down there too many times, you never came back.
Weakness.
He could hear his sire's voice. And for once, he agreed with him.
He would not sleep. He had to see this through no matter where it took him.
The night grew older and the Eye of Horus grew more and more packed. People spent their money freely, trying to escape their mundane lives for at least one night. In the establishment’s office, five people who had already escaped life stood silently looking at each other. The three men had trickled in one by one of their own accord, the two women had been deliberating together the whole night.
Joe’s eyes shifted from Alec to Katiana and a tiny smile graced his lips. He loved having fun with the stern woman. “So you’re in on this now too, are you?” he asked her. “Couldn’t stand DuMont here getting so much extra time?” He gave Alec a poke with his elbow and shot a glance at Jack, there was no mistake that he was stirring up shit. “Or are you just interested in seeing the end of the world from a front row seat?”
Katiana shot the Caitiff a look that could have frozen alcohol and said nothing.
“So what’s the plan?” he continued to everyone in general. “We have Stormcrow’s journal, we have a pretty good idea of where he should be, and according to the book, he seems to be extremely paranoid for whatever reason. Aside from being a wacko, of course. What’s our next move? On to Montana?”
Joe’s eyes shifted from Alec to Katiana and a tiny smile graced his lips. He loved having fun with the stern woman. “So you’re in on this now too, are you?” he asked her. “Couldn’t stand DuMont here getting so much extra time?” He gave Alec a poke with his elbow and shot a glance at Jack, there was no mistake that he was stirring up shit. “Or are you just interested in seeing the end of the world from a front row seat?”
Katiana shot the Caitiff a look that could have frozen alcohol and said nothing.
“So what’s the plan?” he continued to everyone in general. “We have Stormcrow’s journal, we have a pretty good idea of where he should be, and according to the book, he seems to be extremely paranoid for whatever reason. Aside from being a wacko, of course. What’s our next move? On to Montana?”
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Kelly Antilles
- Sith Acolyte
- Posts: 6417
- Joined: 2002-09-12 10:36am
"I'm not afraid of stupid werewolves," Alec snorted.
The two women rolled their ancient eyes at the young man. "Tenn has contacts and can probably narrow down our search area," Anna said after a moment. "I will arrange transportation. We should be able to leave by tomorrow evening. That is if everyone has taken care of any business you need to here."
The two women rolled their ancient eyes at the young man. "Tenn has contacts and can probably narrow down our search area," Anna said after a moment. "I will arrange transportation. We should be able to leave by tomorrow evening. That is if everyone has taken care of any business you need to here."
"Why do I think a little green goblin man should be saying, 'You will be. You will be.' right now?" Joe commented to no one in particular. "But what are we doing when we get there? Hit fast and hard, show Stormcrow the sun, and take the scroll home? Or skip in, ask him nicely to please not try to start armagedon, give back the scroll he forgot to leave with the Camies when he took off, dance around the maypoll under the full moon, and all have tea? Montana IS full of lycanthrops. I know that for a fact. And didn't he say in the diary that he was close with them, Bruck? Not to mention people talking about that shit Lycanth turning up. Walking blindly into werewolves, a ancient gehenna freak who runs with werewolves, and a Malk who thinks he's going to bring down gehenna, is not my idea of smart. If Hathaway has contacts I hope they're friendly."Kelly Antilles wrote:"I'm not afraid of stupid werewolves," Alec snorted.