Los Angeles, 2007. A night like any other nights, with decadent people roving the streets looking for anything that could make their lives a little more bearable: drugs, sex, drugs-fueled sex or other stuff like that. In Downtown, there was a place where one could find all of it: Club Confession. Located in an old church, Confession has anything for anyone. And that "anyone" includes even vampires.

People noticed him immediately when he entered the club. Tall, pale, with short black hair, dressed in a black shirt with a black vest on top, jeans and biker boots, with tattoos on his hands, intelligible writing, at least to those who didn't know the old language of Enoch. The man was a vampire, one of the damned and the fallen, a Kindred. He was none other than Neiurmuu, an incredible old vampire. An old vampire in a L.A. club doesn't seem like anything unusual. But that man was a Salubri, the clan of healers that were practically destroyed by the Tremere.

"Hey there man… Um… you're looking to score?"

Neiurmuu's eyes opened and looked towards the speaker who instantely froze. The vampire had one pupiless eye. "I think you need whatever you are selling more than I do, friend. You are sick, don't you?" The vampire spoke with an exotic accent, something Middle Eastern.

"And who the fuck are you to start with this holier-than-thou bullshit? I am a dealer and I consume! So what? You think that if you are rich and pampered you have any right to…" His words were lost when he discovered that he couldn't move. "What… What is this?"

"Listen, young one. Consider that I am a friend of yours in need of something. You have cancer. Lung cancer. Stage four. You will die in a few months. I will cure you, but for this, you would have to do something for me!"

"You fucker! You are some kind of what, faith healer? You are what, Christian, Buddhist? You think you can heal me but…"

The stranger took out a knife and stabbed him in the palm with it. In a few seconds, the wound disappeared without a trace. "This is proof enough for you?"

"What… What the fuck? What are you? Why did you seek me out?"

"Hardly… I didn't seek you out. I sought a man that has need of me so I can help him so he may help me with my needs. You were there and rejoice! You are the lucky winner!"

"You don't know anything about me!"

"This is why I am going to find out things about you, my friend."

"Help! This man tries to kill me!"

It was unbelievable. The club was silent as a grave, people frozen in place, some dancing, some having sex, some doing drugs, only the black haired stranger moved. "What have you done with them?"

"It is a useful application of one of my powers. I can create a barrier that freezes anyone and anything I choose for as long as I want. It is perfect for when you need to be… stealthily. "

"Powers? Who…What…"

"In time, boy." Neiurmuu put his palms together and closed his eyes, like in prayer. Suddenly, something wondrous happened. A third eye in the forehead opened and the man said loudly "Obeah! Renewed Vigor!" A blue light exited the eye and entered the drug dealer. In that moment, he felt things he never felt before, peace and pleasure far beyond the highest sensation bestowed by the drugs he took. His pain, caused by cancer, instantly disappeared. The man fell on the ground.

"There… I gave you a new lease on life. It is up to you how you would live it. And know that I won't cure you again if you waste this chance."

"What… What…have you done? How did you do it? Are you… are you God?"

"I believe a 'thank you' is better than all of these questions. You mentioned God. Are you a religious man?"

"No, I mean, I don't believe in that thing!"

"God exists! If he didn't exist, I would have been human, not what I am…"

"And what are you?"

"I am a vampire."

"Motherfucker… You drink blood!"

"Yes, I drink blood, and unlike my fellow clansmen, I rather enjoy it! But be not afraid, I am not going to drink your blood. I need you, Mr. Oliver Johnson."

"How do you know my name?"

"The third eye gives me Sight beyond Sight. I know everything about you. I know where you live, where your children are going to school, what is the name of your wife's gynecologist, whom she fucks since December 2005."

"What, how do you… My wife?"

"Oh, did I just ruin your marriage? You fuck with guys so you can have enough money to buy drugs to consume and to sell further. I believe that she is more honorable, as she fucks for pleasure, not for money."

"You are…"

"Yes, I am. Now, about my problem. I am here in Los Angeles to find someone. I will give you the details if you swear to me that you will keep your word and help me. If you break your promise, I will undo the healing and add a few more diseases to keep you… occupied for a long time!"

"Fine, I will do it!"

"Good, Oliver! Let's go to a hotel. We will talk better there."

The two men arrived to the Empire Arms Hotel, the fanciest hotel in town. The concierge asked Neiurmuu: "Good evening sir, may I help you?"

"Yes, I want a room for two. Me and my lover here" Oliver frowned.

"Okay, so on what name should I book the room?"

"Tapio Kuura.T-A-P-I-O K-U-U-R-A. I am a Finnish citizen."

"Ok. May I see your passport, please, Mr. Kuura?"

"Of course, here it is!"

"It's okay, welcome to the Empire Arms Hotel; we wish you a pleasant stay. You can ask one of our employees for everything you need. Your room is on the eighth floor, Room Jersey."

"Thank you! Let's go, love!"

Oliver felt a little uneasy. "Could you please not call me 'love' in public?"

"Well, tell me how your public bathroom sweethearts are calling you so I may be polite!"

Oliver felt a bit humiliated but entered the room with the vampire. The apartment was large, with a large bed and a big flat screen.

"Tell me, Mr. Kuura, what do you need of me?"

"My name is not Tapio Kuura, stupid… It's just a handle, to travel safely! My real name is Neiurmuu! For a drug dealer who sucks cock in parks and bathrooms, you don't know shit about hiding!"

"Well…"

"Shut up and listen. I am here in Los Angeles, like I said in that filthy club to find someone. He hides here and if this city's vampire find out who I am, it will be bad for everyone."

"Other… vampires? I remember you said something about your fellow clansmen. So there are more of you?"

"More vampires, less clansmen… My clan only has seven of us, me and other six. But they are faraway, isolated. I am not like them. So, you will come to me tomorrow night to meet with the prince, as it's customary."

"A prince? Vampires have royalty?"

"It's much more complicated… So, here's the thing! You are now James Connolly, an English prostitute in Amsterdam whom I fell in love with and I took you from your squalor and brought you in the New World. You are my ghoul, that means that I feed from you and I fuck you and I do anything I want with you. Which I won't do! But in the front of the others, I should act as your master."

The information was baffling, but Oliver was at the mercy of this incredibly powerful guy, and the thought of meeting others like him was very tempting.

"Ok!"

"As long as you are under my protection, the other Kindred won't hurt you! Ah, 'Kindred'! That's how we refer at each other. We don't say 'vampire', it's impolite! And please, try not to look so delicious. There are a few guys who really can't control themselves when they see such…succulence. One more thing! There, you can see anything! Killing, feeding, fucking, in any order. Do not look surprised! It's to be expected of a ghoul to have contact with our way of life, OK?"

"Yes… yes, sir."

"And you will call me Master!"

"Yes, Master!"

"Good, very good! Now leave! During the day, I must rest. You will come here at 6 PM. If you are late more than 10 minutes, I will track your family and turn your wife into a vampire and close her into a room with your children.

Oliver froze. "I won't be late, Master!"

"Good… James! You are starting to learn!"

Oliver left the hotel. "Shit, what the fuck I've gotten myself into? I am cured, but… I will do it, I will regain my freedom!"

He reached his house, his wife waiting for him. There, he remembered what Neiurmuu said to him about her and the gynecologist.

"Honey… we need to talk!"