Act One Chapter Ten - Desire (Come and Get It)

Michael walked into Kris' dorm room and sat down on the rug. Kris was at her desk, working on her computer. She gave him a polite nod as he entered, but said nothing. There was a discomfort apparent in her silence.

“Still a little freaked out about last night?” asked Michael, breaking the silence.

“It was...” She seemed at a loss for words. “unexpected.” A moment later, she seemed to compose herself. “You did not seem quite so surprised. And don't seem so disturbed by what happened.”

“Well, I went in skeptical and somewhat prepared.” he admitted. “In one sense, the only thing that really caught me off-guard was how the evening ended. That...that was a surprise.”

“And Father Malenkov? His gift?”

“A clear read of body language and a few long-established parlor tricks can explain him.” Michael lied. “The content of his message too. Panders to the base needs and impulses of all of us. The desire to be loved, to be accepted, to be a part of a larger whole. But the way they express that, well, that was unusual.”

“I'm sorry, Michael. I was not myself during that.”

“Why are you apologizing?”

“I was disloyal to you. I let so many of the men there have me.” Michael heard the thrall-bond behind her words, and the emotions it engendered.

“I noticed and you did seem to enjoy yourself in that. But honestly, Kris, you were caught up in the moment, as was I. It would be awfully hypocritical of me to condemn your behavior when I was guilty of the same.”

“I suppose.” said Kris. Absolution did not appear to be what she desired from him.

“Look, let's not talk about it. Let's not think about it. We'll pretend it didn't happen and move on.”

“Well, that's kinda what I've been trying to do today. It's paid off. I have something for you.”

“And that is?”

“The identity of our hacker friend.”

Michael stood up and went to her side. He gave her a congratulatory kiss and looked at the screen. “Joshua Burke. I recognize that name.”

“He's a dropout from the CS program. Hangs out with a group of sycophants who think he's hot stuff because he works in video game design. Apparently that doesn't pay as well as he'd like, since he's scamming the banks on the side.”

“Stealing what we'd like to steal.” said Michael. “Let me use your phone and we'll do something about this.”

----

Mitch drove the five of them into the parking lot of the Shawnee Apartment complex. They climbed out of the cramped Camaro and they could hear the loud goings-on at a nearby apartment.

“Josh was planning a LAN party tonight.” Said Kris. “That’s probably what’s causing the noise.”

Michael listened to the ruckus more closely and indeed he could hear the sound of computer games and trash talk amidst the din.

“A LAN party?” Deborah asked, confused.

“Computer games. Network a bunch of computers together and then play head-to-head. Sounds like Doom to me.” Answered Michael. “They’re awfully loud for a bunch of computer nerds.”

“So?” asked Boar.

“Well, we don’t want to shakedown a whole apartment full of people, no matter how scary we look. Best to chase his guests away first and I think I know just the way to do it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter, flipped it, and headed towards a nearby phone booth.

A Blacksburg police cruiser was there in less than ten minutes. Michael and the others kept out of sight as the officer stepped out of the car. She was a young woman, probably not too much older than the students she was about to encounter. Michael smiled as he thought to himself. “Well, I may need to get me a connection in the Blacksburg police next.”

“Eyes over here.” teased Kris quietly, giving him a nudge.

The officer headed to the door and broke up the party, claiming that they had received a noise complaint. There was grumbling and complaining, but the apartment was soon emptied. Things quieted down and the officer went on her way.

“Looks like they’ve all cleared out.” Said Kris. “Now’s your chance.”

“Everyone knows their parts.” Said Michael, drawing a gun from the back of his pants. He checked the magazine and then chambered a round.

“Just look scary.” Said Boar. “I think I can manage.”

Kris went up to the door first and knocked.

“Now what?” snarled a man in his early twenties as the door flew open. He was clearly annoyed. “What do you want, Kris?”

“She’s here for us.” Said Michael pushing his way inside.

“Who the fuck are you?”

“Call me an admirer.” Said Michael, moving past Joshua to enter the kitchen. Mitch and Boar moved inside the apartment behind him.

“Now wait a second.” Protested Joshua. “Who the hell are you people?”

“You hacked the First Union. Put a subroutine in that siphons the change off their interest calculations.”

“Yeah.” Said Josh, “how did you know?”

“Removed another similar routine in doing so, right?”

“Let me guess. Yours?”

Michael nodded. “Never occurred to you that worm belonged to someone, did it? That they might be a little miffed having their stolen money stolen from them.”

“Dude, it’s about $30 a day. Hardly major cash.”

“No, but it is my cash.” Said Michael firmly. “And I don’t like people stealing from me.”

“So, what the fuck are you going to do about it?” said Josh defiantly.

“I haven’t quite decided yet. I suppose it depends mostly on you.” Said Michael, walking about the kitchen somewhat nonchalantly. “I could let Mitch and Boar take my money out of your hide.”

“Ooh, I’m shaking.” Said Josh, sardonically. He was putting on a brave show, but it was obvious already that this whole affair had him very unnerved.

Michael paused. “I'm not joking.” He drew his gun and brandished it casually in front of him. Josh’s eyes grew wide.

“Dude,” said Josh, now obviously anxious. “this is getting a bit out of hand. Hey, look, it’s only a few hundred dollars so far. You can have it. I’ll even write you a check.”

“That’s not all I want.” Said Michael flatly.

“I won’t do it again.”

“Oh, but I hope you will,” replied Michael. “but while working for me. You see, I said I was an admirer. That part wasn’t a joke either. You sliced through what my top hacker put in and then replaced it with a routine she couldn’t dislodge. I could use someone like you.”

“I don’t think I’m interested.” Stammered Joshua. It was honest defiance, if a bit weak.

“It wasn’t a request.” Said Michael. He casually flipped the safety off. “You see, if you don’t work for me, you might decide to work for someone else. One of my competitors. And I really don’t want to have to deal with that.”

“Look, I don’t want any trouble.”

“Then take my offer. You see, the only trouble you’ll have is if you keep saying no.”

“Alright, I’m in.” Josh conceded. “What do you want me to do?”

“For starters, fix the First Union hack and put it back to its original account. As for further instruction, Kris will be in touch.” Michael tucked his gun back into his pants, gave a cute little wave, and headed out the door.

Deborah had remained at the foot of the stairs leading up the apartment the whole time, listening to what went on, but not intervening. “Not bad, although a little heavy handed.”

“Right tool for the right job. I wasn’t going to hurt him, but he didn’t need to know that.” Replied Michael.

“Well done. We'll talk more about this later.” said Deborah. “I'm going to see about a snack. Stop by when you've finished up.” She began walking up the street, towards the 7-11 at the corner of Tom's Creek and University City Blvd.

“Who is she anyway?” asked Kris suspiciously.

“My boss.” said Michael. “No need to be jealous.”

Mitch and Boar snickered in the background, which pretty much spoiled Michael's lie.

Kris gave them a withering look, which silenced their laughter, and then she turned to Michael. She said nothing, but seemed to be awaiting an answer from him.

“You are much too smart to be kept in the dark any longer, Kris. All this is far more complicated than it appears.”

Kris nodded and Michael continued. “As it happens, I am also not what I appear to be. You see a young man, ordinary human being, but I'm not. I am a vampire and Deborah, who just left us, is the one who made me so.”

Michael was not sure what sort of response he would get. The words sounded utterly ridiculous in his ears, but it was now too late to retract them. They would stand or fall on their own.

Kris just sort of blinked, as if she couldn't believe what he'd said. “I thought...you can't...” she stammered out, as if trying to sort out everything in her mind. “How is that possible?”

“That is a very good question.” said Michael. “Unfortunately, it is not one I can answer. I can't explain how or why I've come to be this way exactly, only that I am what I say.”

“So you drink blood?”

“Yes.”

“You turn into a bat?”

“No, that I can't do.”

“Have you...from me?”

“Numerous times.” said Michael slyly. “And you have loved it every time.”

Kris simply stood there at that revelation, dumbfounded. Her expression was one of confused horror. She looked at Michael with a paradoxical combination of disgust and desire. And then she ran.

Michael was stung a bit by that.

“That did not go as well as you'd hoped.” said Mitch, stating the obvious.

Michael committed himself to trusting in the power of the thrall-bond and shrugged. “No, but I'm not worried. She will say nothing to anyone about what I've told her, nor will this be the last we see of her. She will be back. You can count on that.”

----

She did not that night nor the night after. Michael tried to remain unconcerned, but a thread of doubt lingered in the back of his mind. As time went on, it blossomed into genuine concern. Three days after his shakedown of Joshua, Michael decided to go looking for Kris.

As he headed towards Kris' dorm, Solomon pulled up. “You ready?” said Solomon curtly. “We were to train tonight.”

“I'd forgotten.” Michael admitted. “There is some business I have to take care of.”

“It can wait.” said Solomon. His tone was firm and clearly indicated that Solomon would accept no further refusal.

“Very well.” relented Michael, hoping onto the back of Solomon's motorcycle.

The drive from Blacksburg to Roanoke took around 45 minutes and the noise of riding a motorcycle made conversation impossible.

“Deborah will be pleased to see you.” Said Solomon as he parked his bike in the garage of a large apartment complex. The top floor penthouse was Solomon’s, and contained many luxuries only the very wealthy could afford. Not the least of which was his own dojo. “She is curious to learn how things have gone with your blood doll.”

“That was the business I was hoping to address.” said Michael with some frustration. He was not happy that Solomon knew about that.

“You've not done anything yet?”

Michael shook his head.

“You are far too trusting.”

“She's tasted my blood three times and even in a vampire as young as I am, that's enough to establish the bond. She's no threat to the Masquerade.” said Michael defensively. “Besides, it's rich that you would chide me about being trusting when you allow Deb and I into your own haven.”

Solomon stared balefully at Michael, but said nothing for a long moment. “You're not a threat. And neither is she. You may know how to get into the apartment, but you do not know where my inner sanctum is nor could you penetrate it if you did. The only way you could take me out then is to take out the whole building.”

“That does seem a bit overkill.” Admitted Michael. “But thank you for making my point. The situation with Kris will resolve itself in due time. There is no cause for alarm.”

“You leave much to chance.”

“No, it's only chance to those outside looking in. It's certitude.”

The doors opened and the two exited out into what would have been Solomon’s living room, if he’d had one. Instead, the Gangrel had converted it into a dojo for sparing practice. The floor was covered with dark colored padding, which was good since, of the handful of times they had sparred, Michael found himself bruised and bleeding after every one. He expected the same tonight, perhaps more so since he'd provoked Solomon outside.

Along the walls, Solomon kept a collection of both sparring weapons and the real thing. Michael was impressed by his collection of swords and blades from across the world and from many eras of history. To the right of the room was an exit that led to the kitchen, bath, and the living areas of the suite. To their left was a glass wall that looked out over an outdoor patio, with a swimming pool and hot tub. Above the glass wall were metal shutters; shutters programmed to close promptly at dawn.

But for now, the shutters were up and the two could look out clearly at the patio and the city beyond. But the patio itself held a sight to see. A young woman in a wet Roanoke College t-shirt sitting on the rim of the hot tub, Deborah’s head buried in her crotch.

“Swinging for the other team tonight, I see.” Said Michael mirthfully. He began to move towards the sliding doors to go outside. “Deb’s being selfish. She should share.”

“Unlife is not merely the porn movie you and your sire seek to make it into.” Said Solomon gruffly. “We have work to do.”

“Always with you it’s work.” Replied Michael. His tone was teasing, meant in jest. It was an effort to lighten the mood a bit after their argument outside but Solomon was not smiling.

The elevator doors opened and Ernie stepped out. He gave Michael a brief glare and then turned to Solomon. “All work and no play make you both no fun.” His voice had a sing-song quality to it, like a small child.

Michael's mind was immediately flooded with memories of the orgy, seeing Kris in the thralls of ecstasy, of having all those women himself, and then the image of Ernie in his prophet guise offering more of the same.

“You should have more fun.” Continued Ernie, “The offer stands.”

“Get out of my head.” Said Michael intently.

“Make me.” Taunted Ernie.

“We were not expecting you tonight.” Said Solomon. The comment was enough distraction for Ernie to release Michael.

“I knew you two were playing war tonight. I wanna play too.” Ernie’s voice got excited, but soon became crestfallen. “Debbie’s here too. Darn. Now Michael's going to have fun with her instead of me. I'm a better friend that she is.” Ernie pouted.

The power of his forced remembrance left Michael mentally spent and sexually aroused. His thoughts were now only of joining Deborah and relieving his lusts. Realizing this, Solomon dismissed him with an exasperated nod. Michael headed out onto the patio, quickly stripped off his pants, jumped in the hot tub, and thrust himself into Deborah’s now elevated posterior. Deborah paused and sat up for a bit when he felt him enter her, but she soon resumed her pace.

“He’ll be back.” Said Ernie. “And more eager to play with us.”

“Don't interfere again, Ernie.” said Solomon sternly.

“Please,” said Ernie dismissively. “The moment he saw Deb he wanted to play Doctor with her instead of War with you. That's not my fault.”

“He's weak-minded. You're not helping.”

“He's Daeva.” said Ernie. “They're so much fun. So easy.”

“That doesn't help our cause.” asked Solomon gravely. 'He needs to learn to resist you.”

“I can tell you all about the things he wants to do to his two friends outside.” Ernie replied, completely ignoring Solomon's comment. “Ooh, and there he goes with that one.” Ernie began to pout. “That must be fun, being all naked and rubbing against each other like that.”

“So I’ve been told.” Said Solomon.

"Oh, now, don't pretend you haven't buried Little Solomon deep in that crevasse. I know better." teased Ernie. "There was a time when you two could barely keep your hands off each other."

"A long time ago." mused Solomon with bitterness in his voice. He went over to the wall and got down a couple of blunted swords. “Times are different now."

"Not as much as you'd like to pretend they are. Solomon want to play Doctor too!"

"That's not important. Right now, we need Michael trained up. To do that, we need him focused. Your job is to teach him to block out..."

“Ooh, speak not his name.” warned Ernie. “He might hear.”

“Who? Michael’s rather distracted at the moment.”

“No, the Scary One!” said Ernie emphatically.

Solomon shook his head in exasperation. He’d been around Ernie enough to know how to deal with his various personalities. Ernie was among friends he trusted, hence the emergence of his child self. And although Ernie spoke and appeared to reason like a 6-year old, Solomon had long since learned that his core self was still there underneath it all. Regardless, in this personality, Ernie steadfastly refused to be serious about anything.

That, by itself, was annoying. But in the midst of all of it was Ernie's uncanny ability to uncover truths no one else wanted him to know.

The glass doors slipped open and Michael, Deborah, and their rather weary companion came back inside. All three were now clothed, although their clothing was somewhat disjoined as if they’d dressed in a rush.

Deb gave Michael an affectionate peck on the cheek. “Thanks for the surprise. I’ll see Lisa home. You get to your practice.”

“See you then.”

“Not a word about your thrall, I see.”

“The porn movie strategy as you call it can be a nice distraction.” said Michael.

Solomon tossed one of the practice swords to Michael. Although he seem to be distracted still by Deborah’s departure, Michael snatched the weapon from the air and spun it with a bit of flourish.

“Fancy maneuvers won’t help you on a real battleground. Forget all that Hollywood stuff.” Reminded Solomon.

“Then let’s try this.” Said Michael, launching into a furious attack. Solomon parried each strike one by one, but then Michael slipped through and gave Solomon’s left arm a good whack. There was a crunch of bone.

“Ugh.” Growled Solomon, staggering off a bit. It would only take a minute or so for the bone to mend back. “Nice.” He complemented through clenched teeth. “Had that blade been sharpened, you would probably taken my arm. But you hit my left.” Solomon swung with his sword. Michael made to parry but wasn’t fast enough. Solomon’s blow struck on Michael’s jaw and sent him flying. “My sword is in the other hand.”

Michael spat out blood and stood back up. Like Solomon’s arm, his broken jaw would soon mend back.

“That looked like it hurt. Did that hurt, Michael?” asked Ernie hurriedly.

“I’ll live. He’s done worse.”

“Solomon shouldn’t be so mean.” Said Ernie emphatically. “It’s not nice.”

“Not nice would be letting him out there against the Scary One without proper training and conditioning. You still…” He swung at Michael again “…have a lot…” and again “…to learn.” And again.

An hour soon passed and they switched weapons from swords to staves. Michael proved to be less adept at the new weapon, but he’d been learning fast. From there, they went to knives. By midnight, they were done and the padding was once again slick with blood. Both considered it a good night and even Solomon had to admit that Michael was getting better.

“Alright,” admitted Solomon. “We’re done for tonight.”

“So when will I be ready to face this Scary One you two keep talking about?” Michael had adopted the child-Ernie’s nickname for their foe.

“Who knows?” admitted Solomon. “But it won't be for some time. You're far from ready.”

Michael had, of course, already some suspicion who the real identity of the “Scary One” was, but Solomon, Ernie, and Deborah had all three steadfastly refused to confirm or deny any of his guesses. Still, as he heard Solomon speak of Deborah’s plan (such as it was), his mind went to those same guesses.

“I’d not think that if I were you. What if you’re wrong and the Djinn decides to take you out first?” offered Ernie. “Or the Prince?”

“Or you.” Offered Michael in return. He'd seen enough of Ernie to know there was enough there to scare anyone, putting Ernie squarely on the short list of possibilities.

“Nah. I’m not the Scary One. Wait, maybe I am? Oh, my…What am I going to do with myself? Agh!” He got up and began to run about the room.

“Now look what you’ve done.” Said Solomon.

----

Michael and Solomon left Ernie to his insanity and headed back to Blacksburg. Michael decided to pick up where he’d left off when Solomon had fetched him for the night and asked to be dropped off as near to Slusher Tower as possible. Solomon did so and then sped off into the night.

Michael remembered the date: December 31. This time tomorrow would be the new year, and he was thankful it was not yet the holiday. Tomorrow’s revelry would make his purposes more difficult.

It was well after 1:00am now and the dorm was closed to non-residents. That would prove to be little hindrance to a vampire. Michael walked over to the wall and leaped up. With his enhanced senses and strength, finding and holding onto the smallest handholds was easy. He scaled the tower and set foot onto the roof.

To his surprise, he found Kris on that same roof. She saw him come up and she stood there before him quietly, shaking in fear.

Michael said nothing for a moment as he watched her. He found her terribly beautiful like this. She, in turn, said nothing either, only finding her voice after a few seconds.

“I knew you would come for me.” She admitted. She pulled the neck of her sweater aside to expose the skin beneath. “Do it. I won’t run.”

Michael hesitated. He was confused about this behavior. What was she offering? What was she thinking?

Michael walked over, the urge to feed strong, and to feed from one so willing was arousing. He took her into his arms and bit down at her proffered neck. She gasped for a moment as Michael drank. He felt her legs give out beneath her and he released her, gently laying her down onto the rooftop.

She was weak, but still conscious, panting with fear. “Why are you so frightened?” he asked.

“Because you’re going to kill me.”

“I could have done that at any time and have always chosen not to.” Said Michael. “You know nothing of my kind if you think we would so casually throw away one as valuable as you have proven to be. And you think little of me if you believe I’d so coldly murder someone I care about as much as I do you.” The honesty of his last statement surprised even Michael somewhat. He was not in love with Kris, he knew, but he did care for her.

“But isn’t that what monsters do? Isn’t that why you chose me? To take my life’s blood?”

“You’ve read too many stories.” Michael played with her hair affectionately. “If you were so convinced I meant to murder you, why stand waiting for me?”

“Because…” she swallowed. “you’ve made me happier than anyone ever has. And if all I was meant to have was these few short months before dying in your arms, then so be it. I couldn’t stay away, even as scared as I have been. I’m in love with you, Michael. My life is yours. Do with me as you will.”

Michael ran his fingers across her cheek, feeling the wetness of her frightened tears. He was utterly awestruck at her emotions. He could not believe that she would sacrifice her very life for nothing more than his pleasure. Such a gift was too great for him to accept.

“What I will is for you to live.” He said, choking up himself. Then an evil thought encroached on his mind. As powerful as her willingness was, he would never know if it was genuine or not. The blood bond was always there, twisting a beautiful moment into something ugly.

But it was all that he had. Its illusion would have to suffice.

She reached up and touched his face affectionately. “When the time comes, whenever you wish it to be, when I’m old and grey, or next year, or even tomorrow, promise me you’ll do it. My life is yours, and only you have the privilege to take it.”

“I promise.” whispered Michael. Illusion or not, Michael still could not believe her dedication, her loyalty. It was intoxicating, arousing. He slid his hand under her skirt to feel the warmth between her legs, discovering that he was not alone in finding it so.

Michael smiled as he entered her. Yes, there were illusions. Yes, there were regrets. But what a life he now had. Women beautiful and willing. Tutors to train him and make him powerful. A cadre of servants to provide for his every need. And all this in a mere ten weeks. With a new year ahead, he wondered what glories awaited him still.

Act Two Chapter One

New side bar

I recently added a new Hypster song list to the Philly by Night page. Most of the songs listed there are staples of either Sirius "Alt Nation" or "First Wave." The chapter title songs are also on there, including those chapters I've not yet finished or published. So enjoy.

Session One Part Two

The sun rises, the sun sets. A new night...

During the interim, John Murphy had used his resources at the Philadelphia Police Ballistics Lab to unlock the secret of the "sunlight rounds." He was not entirely successful, since metallurgy tests proved the bullets were perfectly normal. Also, tracing their manufacturing origin revealed nothing of consequence.

Finch, the werewolf computer hacker, was having better luck with the goons' cell phones. Speaking with the technology spirits of the phones, he was able to "overhear" a conversation (after using a program to translate the Spanish) regarding a meeting the gang members had with someone named Julian. The location the gang members spoke of as the venue for this meeting was traced to one Julian Stark, a known member of the werewolf community and a notorious arms dealer in the city. Finch kept this information to himself.

Following other clues, the group assembled and drove to the Fairhill neighborhood to track down the gang itself. After Finch acquired (with "Laura" altering the deal) their transportation, off they went. Their first stop was a rough looking bar in the center of town. Inside they found a number of patrons wearing gang colors, making it clear this place was neutral ground of sorts. One however bore the familiar marks of the "Family of the Devil" gang that attacked the water park the night before. This one was drowning his sorrows in Pepe Lopez at the end of the bar.

Laura headed over to console this lost soul, convincing him to join her outside for some "fun." There, she got him into the group's limo and tried to interrogate him somewhat unsuccessfully about the gang leader's whereabouts. Finch had better luck with his cell phone, gaining Angelino's (the gang leader) cell phone number and using GPS to track him. As they tried to force their prisoner into the trunk of the limo for safe keeping, he nearly escaped and would have if not for the quick thinking of Joshua. He used life magic to cripple the drunken but frightened gang member, and he was easily fetched back.

Next, they headed off to find Angelino. Using mind magic, Edward was able to separate Angelino from his bodyguards and convince him to join the group in the limo. However, when Dr. John used Dominate on him in an effort to get him to spill who hired the gang, Angelino keeled over dead.

Curious as to what sort of magic this might be, Joshua has contacted his mentor, a powerful mage in the city to investigate further. Likewise, Finch is soon to meet with Julian Stark to discuss "werewolf business." What new clues might they uncover? Guess we'll find out in Part Three.

Act One Chapter Nine - Peace and Love, Inc.

Michael stepped inside the chapel at Roanoke College. Antrim Chapel was a fairly modern building, not much like a traditional church at all, but not so different that Michael could not figure out its layout quickly. His escort kept to himself at the back of the sanctuary, while Michael paced forward towards the altar. A solitary figure knelt before it in prayer.

“Isn’t a church a bit of an odd place for two vampires to meet?” said Michael. His voice seemed to echo about the room, but the figure before him did not stir.

After a long pause, the figure stood and turned. As Michael had suspected, it was Prince Mathias. He looked at Michael keenly. “Does it disturb you so much to be so close to Him again? To be in His house? To be before His altar?”

Michael shook his head. “Relics of a life I left behind. Nothing more.”

“I find that hard to believe.” Said Mathias. “I think that’s the lie you tell yourself, hoping you will one day believe it.”

“Is this why I’m here?”

“Mostly. You see, Michael, of all the new childer in the city you are the one that intrigues me the most. The others make sense. An old businessman dying of cancer. A forlorn mother looking for a substitute child. But you? Come into the Requiem only with the promise of revenge and an unlife of debauchery. Given your life before, I find it hard to believe you would trade what you had for so little.”

“I had nothing.”

“Did you really? You fell victim to what countless others before you had and yet you treated it like the end of the world. Had Deborah not been there, what would you have done?”

“A pointless question, mi’lord. What was done is what was done.”

“Is that so or do you avoid it because you don’t like its answer?”

“Even if I don’t, what difference does it make? I’ve been turned. I cannot go back.”

“No, you cannot become human again, but you can do more with your new life than just an endless party and thirst for revenge. You will soon grow bored with the endless parade of women. And this Rebecca? Even unmolested, she will grow old and die and you will remain. What then shall you do with yourself and with your life?”

Michael did not like hear Mathias toss Becca’s name about so casually. His tone grew angry. “You’d like me to dedicate myself to a higher cause, is that it? Come back into the fold of the church, or whatever vampiric equivalent exists. I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised, given what I’ve been told of your origins. Who you claim to be and all that.” He sneered out the last works, making no secret of his emotions.

Mathias seemed unfazed. “So you know my story. That I am the thirteenth apostle, chosen by lot to replace Judas Iscariot. I’m curious, that if you’ve known this for some time, why you’ve not come to me. Most who learn my origins always want to know what He was like. And yet, despite your own upbringing, you show no interest. You either don’t believe the story of my origins or you don’t want to know about the real Jesus.”

“Why not both?”

“In fairness, I suppose I can’t fault you for the first. We Kindred are not known for our devotion to the truth and you are right to suspect that it may just be another lie. But what if it isn’t? That could mean a lot of things, things I don’t think you want to face. That it could all be real. The stable birth, the teachings, the miracles, the cross, and the empty tomb. All of it.”

“And why does that matter?”

“You wear your defiance like a mask, hoping to conceal the truth. I’ve read your mind, your memories. There was a time when you believed it, all of it. And I think a part of you still does. That makes things worse, because it shows what all this is really about for you. It’s not about revenge on some girl or about an unending descend into licentiousness. It’s overt and deliberate revolt against your Lord.”

“And why not?”

“What do you suppose will happen when He tires of your defiance?”

“What’s he going to do? Damn me to hell? He’s already done that. Robbed me of the one thing I wanted most in life. After that, it didn’t matter any more. What worse could he do?”

“You think that because you died once that you need have no fear of it again. But few of us live out what would have been our normal mortal lifespan, let alone the ages that I have seen. None of us, mortal or immortal, seeks the reckoning that comes at the moment of our Final Death. But when you stand before him, when that day comes, what will you tell him?”

“That it was all his fault to begin with. He made me weak, a target for bullies and their ridicule and abuse. He made me never good enough for my parents. And he took away Rebecca. No, Mathias, I’m not interested in becoming one of your little vampire disciples. You speak of lies we tell ourselves. Yours is the idea that he cares about us at all. You need look no further than my life for proof of that.”

Mathias gained a crestfallen look. “I’m disappointed, Michael, but not terribly surprised. You have a spirit of wrath about you. Someday, it will get you into more trouble than you know. But you don’t care about that. You don’t really care about anything. Until it releases you, there’ll be no reasoning with you. You have my leave to go. Return to Blacksburg and to your revelry.”

Michael turned and headed out. As he reached the door, Mathias spoke again, his voice loud and cold. “If your trouble finds you while still in my domain, there will be consequences. Dire consequences.”

----

One of Mathias’ thralls drove Michael back to Blacksburg. The hour long ride was uneventful, giving Michael time to think about his conversation. Unlike his introduction to the Prince at the Akron-Tech game, his second meeting with Mathias was more nuisance than terrifying.

“Who the hell does he think he is?” snarled Michael in his mind. “Disgusting little mongrel. Maybe he’s Deborah’s secret enemy. It’ll be nice to be rid of him.”

When they arrived in Blacksburg, Michael instructed the thrall to drop him off outside Squires. It was a short walk over to Slusher and to Kris’s room. He marched over there with a quick pace, his thoughts angry and dark. The dorm monitor stopped him at the front door, and Michael restrained himself from ripping the poor girl to pieces…but only barely.

“Kris Keller.” Said Michael impatiently.

The dorm monitor looked Michael up and down, as if uncertain to allow the obviously agitated young man any further. But she relented after a few seconds, saying nothing, but motioning towards the telephone on the wall nearby.

Michael went over and dialed her room. Kris answered. “Mi’lord.”

“Meet me out front.” He ordered. He then turned and marched outside.

A few minutes later, Kris came down and walked outside. Michael was pacing angrily about the front of the building. His tone, his mannerisms, and body language had all set off a red flag in the dorm monitor who kept a close eye on Kris as she walked outside.

“Have you learned anything about our rival hacker?” Michael demanded.

“Not yet.”

“Why not?” Michael half-snarled.

“I’m sorry, mi’lord,” replied Kris meekly. “But these things take time. It’s only been…”

“I want to know who he is.”

“Please don’t be angry, but it’s only been a few days.”

“Don’t tell me not to be angry.” Michael’s voice rose and he saw the dorm monitor in the corner of his eye move away from the window. Most likely to call campus police, just in case. Knowing the stakes had just risen, he let out his breath and tried to calm down, “Just find out who he is.”

“I will, mi’lord.”

“Go, before that busybody of an RA calls the SWAT team.”

“Go?” said Kris, seemingly disappointed. Michael nodded. As he watched her go, he wondered at the power of the blood bond. He was hardly his usual charming self tonight and Kris still seemed disappointed he didn’t ask something lewd of her. Still, it was probably for the best. Kris was valuable, and with the mood he was in, Michael didn’t think he’d have his usual restraint.

That bothered him to some degree, so he spent the next several hours simply walking about campus to cool off. The December air helped. As dawn approached, he headed back to his apartment and made ready to go to sleep. As he undressed, he noticed something in the pocket of his pants, something he’d not noticed was there. He pulled it out. It was the business card Ernie had given him at the Akron game. He stared at the phone number on it.

“Wouldn’t that put a bee in Mathias’ bonnet to sign on to a New Age cult.” He thought to himself. He set his mind to call when he awoke at dusk to find out more of what Ernie’s little group was offering.

----

The phone call the next evening resulted in an invitation to a special ceremony, one to be conducted on the Winter Solstice. Michael figured that was as good a time as any to check out what Ernie was doing, and it seemed sufficiently New Age to do something on the longest night of the year. He invited Kris to join him, which she gladly accepted.

Kris drove the two of them to the abandoned storefront on Bullitt Ave. The place seemed innocuous enough. The store front had been redecorated. The glass had been made opaque by a thick coating of navy blue paint, upon which were various symbols: stars, the sun, the moon, rays of light, the all-seeing eye, etc. It struck Michael as the sort of place a vampire would hang, concealed from sunlight and just kooky enough to keep most folks away.

Michael had no idea what to expect when he entered, but he and Kris did so. To Michael’s surprise, it was Ernie who greeted them.

“Welcome, welcome, Michael. I am so pleased you could be with us tonight.” Said Ernie with restrained enthusiasm. It wasn’t just the cult or its facilities that remained a mystery to Michael; Ernie himself would be one also. Which of his myriad personalities would he manifest tonight?

“And you’re not alone.” Said Ernie to Kris. “What a lovely companion. I am Father Ernest Malenkov, and this is the Church of Light Incarnate. All are welcome here to explore the light within us.”

Kris nodded politely. “I’m Kris, Michael’s girlfriend.”

Michael smiled at that admission. It was not entirely true; Michael had never made any sort of pledge of fidelity to her. Nor had he kept any semblance of it with her; In the last two months he’d been with at least a dozen of other women, all primarily for the purpose of feeding. Yet, the only two he ever came back to repeatedly were Deborah (for somewhat obvious reasons) and Kris. Perhaps, in some strange way, she really was his girlfriend and Michael found he liked the idea.

Ernie seemed to notice his reaction, as muted as it was, to her comment. “It seems a new truth has come to light this evening.” He said. “A pledge of affection previously left unsaid.”

Kris blinked somewhat nervously at that. She had no experience with Ernie’s power of mind-reading and was taken aback at his ability to know their past.

“Is that how he controls his cult?” Michael wondered.

“Come. The others are gathered. Our ceremony for this evening will begin shortly.”

Further inside, past a few partitions that further blocked the central room from the windows to the outside, was something akin to a church sanctuary. Rows of folding chairs were set up like pews, all pointing towards the front were an elaborate altar rested. The altar was decorated in much the same manner as the windows: same symbols, same blue paint. But the symbols were bright, as if painted in real gold and Michael suspected the sunrise-shaped holy symbol atop the altar was genuine gold as well.

“Gold is the material most blessed by light.” Said Ernie, obviously reading their thoughts. “It is proper that we honor the light with implements of gold.”

“You can afford such a thing and yet we sit on folding chairs?” teased Michael irreverently.

If Ernie was annoyed at Michael’s mockery, he made no sign. “Prayer is not all that we do here, my young friend. You will learn that tonight.” He made his way past them and headed to the front, as Michael and Kris puzzled over his somewhat cryptic reply.

Michael and Kris continued to look about the sanctuary. There were roughly 20 or so people gathered, most of them Michael remembered from Ernie’s entourage at the Akron game. They ranged in age from early 50s to one girl who was probably 16 or 17 (She seemed to be the child of a middle-aged couple there.) Most were attired rather casually, in somewhat stereotypical New Age hippie fashion.

“This is interesting.” Said Kris. “He’s interesting.” She gave a nod towards Ernie at the front as he made ready for the ceremony.

“Oh?"

“It’s like he can read my mind. How?”

That pretty much set Michael’s mind about Ernie’s technique. “I don’t know. It must be a gift.” He half-lied.

“But from where?”

Michael chose not to answer that, but instead motioned to a nearby set of chairs. It seemed Ernie’s preparations were almost complete and the rest of the crowd was also finding places to sit down.

“Ah, my children.” Said Ernie in a booming pulpit voice. “Good evening and welcome. We come together on this the darkest of nights to shine forth our light, to beat back the darkness within and without. Let us turn inward and bring forth our light.”

The room fell silent, as if in prayer. After a minute or so, Ernie spoke again. “I sense darkness remains in our midst. One of us is burdened by evil thoughts and desires.” Ernie stepped down from the front and came into the midst of his congregation. Every head came back up and fixed on him.

Michael wondered if Ernie meant him. After all, Ernie had read his memory and no doubt knew, as Mathias did, of his anger. But Ernie did not walk back that far, stopping a few rows forward of Kris and Michael, next to a man in his mid-20s. “Tomas, my son, let us help you unburden your soul.”

The young man burst into tears. “Forgive me.” He pleaded. “The reporter, he offered money…”

“There are many jealous souls without who seek our secrets. And the temptations of darkness are hard to resist. I am not here to judge you, nor punish you for caving into them. Let us help you. Who will share their light with Tomas?”

Another man stood up. “When I was hungry the other day, you bought me lunch.”

A girl stood up. “When I was lonely, you talked with me.”

Most of the room, in turn, stood up and told of some good deed Tomas had done for them. As they did, Michael could see Ernie reach inside Tomas’ shirt to remove the wire he’d concealed within it. Tomas made no protest, but merely wept at each admission.

“Do you understand?” Ernie asked, quietly smashing the wire beneath his shoe. “Here you are loved, and you return that love. Here you have shared your light, as these testimonies prove, and now that light returns to you. Embrace it. Hold to it.”

“I will, Father, and I will never stray again.”

“How did he know?” whispered Kris. Michael continued to feign ignorance.

“What is it that we desire?” said Ernie as he came back to the front. “The darkness fools us, lies to us, convinces us that happiness and fulfillment come from what it offers. And what does it offer? Things, money, possessions. None of these fill the void in each of us and when we fill that void with them, our light fades…”

Michael ignored the content of Ernie’s sermonizing. It was random religious mumbo-jumbo, more patronizing than anything he’d ever heard in any church before. But, in the end, he knew that didn’t matter. Ernie had a captive audience in that crowd. No doubt each one of them had been on the business end of Ernie’s mind-reading power. Each one of them awed by it, convinced by it that Ernie was someone with unexplainable divine gifts, a prophet for a faithless time.

And like so many before him, he was a complete fraud. Just one far more convincing.

The ceremony went on for another 20 minutes or so, and consisted of a few more silent prayers, pledges of loyalty to “the light,” and then a final blessing. As the service concluded, the congregation gathered up the folding chairs and began to stack them against the left hand wall. A small number of volunteers went into a back room and then reemerged with trays of food and drink. Still others began to drag mats out onto the floor.

“Now, let us fellowship with one another and share the light.” Declared Ernie. The crowd converged on the offered refreshments. The spread looked pretty good. Kris headed over and helped herself. Michael hung back as Ernie approached.

“So, peace and love and all that.” Said Michael sardonically.

“Is that so bad a thing?” Ernie threw it back at him. Michael shrugged. “I think you will find that there are benefits to what the Church of Light Incarnate offers. Behold.” He gestured towards the back corner. Already two of the parishioners were intertwined in each others’ arms.

“Is that how you share the light around here?” said Michael sardonically, as he looked around the room. A few others, along the walls or on the mats on the floor, were showing varying degrees of physical affection. Nothing quite so extreme as the couple making out in the back, but there was a casual, even playful, honesty to the affections he was seeing.

“We each desire to love and to be loved.” Explained Ernie. “No expression of love, physical or spiritual, is rejected or taboo here. I know your heart, Michael. My words may not sway you much, nor my gifts to read the unreadable within you. But I can give you what you desire most. Watch as the light turns to passion within them.”

In the middle of the floor, one young woman had worked the pants of her companion down to his knees and she was now enthusiastically giving him a blow job. Michael glanced about. What had been casual touching was now heavy petting in many cases and full blown sex in others. All in just a few minutes. It seemed surreal.

“How?” Michael asked.

“The love is there, as is the desire to express it. They merely need permission to express it.” With that, Ernie walked away. Michael noticed he headed straight to Tomas, who still seemed somewhat distraught at his earlier moment of weakness.

Michael then felt a tug at his own trousers. He looked down to find Kris kneeling before him, working at his fly. One of Ernie’s parishioners moved up behind her, pulling up her sweater to expose her beautiful breasts. Seeing another be so bold with her and to see her so willing to permit it aroused Michael as he’d never been before. Kris worked down his pants, but his eyes were focused on the stranger caressing her.

This was going to be a fun night after all.

----

"Ah, my child, hast thou found fulfillment in this evening's revelry?" said Ernie, slowly donning his clergy vestments once more.

Even though he did not breathe any longer, Michael felt a sense of breathlessness. This evening had been nothing like anything he'd experienced before. "Yes, it was...fun."

"That was not what I asked. Do you feel fulfilled?" said Ernie. His gaze was piercing. "Or did you think this was all for mere pleasure?"

"What was it for, if not for that?" Michael felt confused. "What do you mean by fulfilled?"

"You came here in lack. If you no longer lack that thing, you are now fulfilled." said Ernie. "You came here lonely. Are you still?"

"I was not lonely when I came. I am not now."

"Are you not? The lies we tell ourselves are often transparent to others." chided Ernie. "Remember, your mind is open to me. You thoughts, your feelings are laid bare before me."

"If you can do that, then why the interrogation?" Michael grew annoyed.

"Because the answers are not for my benefit."

"No, but the journey you're trying to take me on is."

Ernie laughed, a loud raucous belly laugh that might have shook a lesser building. When he stopped, his countenance seemed to change. Had another of his personalities emerged?

"Now I understand." he said. The tone of his voice was different and Michael was now certain this was a new Ernie he was speaking to.

Michael said nothing, wondering what would happen next. Ernie continued. "The prophet was right. You are lonely, Michael, deep down. Deeper than even you know. Why else let Deborah do it? You traded your mortal life for the power to bed who you wish when you wish. It was so cheap a trade, I could hardly believe it. To give up so much for so little."

"I gave up nothing."

“So you think.” Ernie leaned in, his tone darkening. "Tell me, Michael, what you had tonight, would you like more?"

Michael shook his head. He did not like this new personality and he did not like where these questions were going.

"A lie. You’d like nothing better than to return to this again. You hunger for the thrill of the forbidden, all the things you once denied yourself. Admit it openly. You cannot lie to me."

"It was not I who denied them to myself."

"Another lie, although one born of ignorance. Of course you did. You're the one who chose so strict a moral code. No one forced that on you. That you discarded it so quickly and so casually shows what little loyalty you held to it. So I ask again, would you like more of what you had tonight?"

"No." said Michael, more adamant.

Ernie accepted his reply as truth this time. "And why not?" he asked.

"Because you will extract too high a price for me to have it again."

"But you still want it?" Ernie's eyes darted over Michael as if he were a scientist studying a lab specimen. "There may be hope for you yet. The first step in avoiding a trap is knowing its existence."

"Dune." answered Michael. He knew the origin of the quote.

Ernie ignored the aside. "You have passed my first lesson. Here is my second. A cult leader will always give or tell his flock what they want. That is the bait of the trap."

Michael nodded. "Am I caught in yours then?"

"Almost." said Ernie with a sinister grin. "I almost had you. But, for all your folly, you are not completely stupid. You may have some potential after all."

"Yet another lecture on how pathetic I am." snarled Michael to himself.

"If you wanted to avoid the harsh judgment of your peers, you should have stayed a mortal." said Ernie, reading his thoughts again. "But you didn't. And now you are a pawn in a game much greater than you know. With stakes much higher than you realize. Your destiny is written in fire and blood, young Michael. And unless you learn to become far more than you are, that destiny will consume you.”

“Poetic.” Said Michael sardonically.

Ernie gained an impatient look. “The defiance of youth, endemic among mortals and kindred. Suit yourself. You will learn one way or the other. A third lesson I offer you. Every vampire you encounter, without exception, is a cult leader of some sort. Now go. Return to your folly and may it not get you killed.”

----

Child, fool, pathetic, going to get yourself killed. He had gone to Ernie to taunt the Prince and his dire prognosis of Michael’s unlife. Now he was hearing the same words echoed once more. He walked out into the cult’s sanctuary, looking for Kris. She was amidst the bodies, now half-asleep from their revelry, all naked and looking quite contented with the night’s activities.

“Kris, it is time to leave.” Michael said insistently. “Get your clothes.”

She stirred and came to her feet, although somewhat shaky. “I think I’m drunk.” She admitted.

“The refreshments were spiked. Some sort of aphrodisiac.” It was a suspicion. While Michael could believe that the congregation, conditioned by months of Ernie’s “gifts” and preaching, would shed their inhibitions so easily, he knew there had to be something else for Kris, a first time visitor, to do so.

“My clothes.” Kris seemed to grow conscious of her nudity in the midst of so many strangers. Michael wondered if she remembered any of what she had done that night or allowed be done to her.

“Over here, I think. Long skirt, t-shirt, wool sweater.” He proffered the items from the cubby along the wall. Kris fetched them and dressed hurriedly.

“Did I…did we…” she seemed confused.

“We did. Let’s not speak of it. Come. Let’s get back to Blacksburg.”

Act One Chapter Ten

Session One Part One

Last Thursday, our intrepid band of anti-heroes had their debut.

Damian Drake, Ventrue vampire and Primogen of the Invictus in Philadelphia, commissioned Dr. John Murphy, a Nosferatu of his covenant, to find a way to bolster security at Prince Michael Allens' annual Labor Day celebration. If successful, this would give Dr. Murphy considerable prestige in the Invictus.

Dr. John did just that, putting together a team made up of Joshua, a martial artist mage, Edward, an Illuminati conspirator (also a mage), Nix/Laura, a cat burglar with MPD (vampire), Finch, a computer security specialist (werewolf), and himself. On the day of the party, Sept 1, 2012, they gathered at the venue, a new water park the Prince had built to bring some new economic investment to his beleaguered city.

At the party, our intrepid band laid low for the most part, with only Dr. John really trying to hobnob among the high and mighty. The group was, directly or indirectly, introduced to Prince Michael, Rebecca Philips, Damian Drake, "Mitch" Mitchell, "Boar" Boorman, and Jon Benton. The latter seemed suspicious to Dr. John, who kept a close eye on the Gangrel. They also met the mage ambassador, a British professor by the name of Reginald Skelmsdale.

However, around midnight, all hell broke loose when a group of gang members stormed the facility and began shooting the guests. They were attacking with antiquated Tommy Guns, which appeared to be using some sort of "sunlight" rounds. Dr. John's squad defeated or drove off the gang members after a pitched battle, but roughly a half dozen or so Kindred had been sent to torpor by the attack.

The Prince, infuriated by this attack on his sovereignty, has now demanded the PCs find the culprit responsible for this. Their investigations have given them several clues, most pointing towards the mysterious "Chupacabra."

But to where will their investigations take them next? Tonight we find out in Part Two.