Chapter 2
Well… Shit
"… My permission was never sought after at all!" Said a strong voice filled with the tone of leadership, "As you know this action is punishable by death… I am sorry dear sister…"
Earlson opened his foggy eyes and looked around. His eyes passed polished black shoes to the woman beside him, the mad woman who bit him… just before he head was cleared from her shoulders with a large sword.
"Let this be a reminder to us all."
As his mouth dropped open slightly before he fixed himself, Earlson watched the woman he had slept with turn to fiery ash, her hysterical laughter bouncing from the walls. Steeling his face, Earlson looked around.
He was in an abandoned looking theatre, there were no more than twenty men and women in the audience, some of which were the grotesque creatures he had seen in sewers. Down with sire, the childe rises like a phoenix.
Flinching slightly, Earlson's eyes flitted around for the source of that voice, it was the same one that said something about a Jester… wait why was that so important? A woman was just killed and turned to ash!
A woman he had sex with mere moments ago.
Earlson looked around, his eyes clearer as he surveyed the area for an escape route. The man with hair like blood behind him wasn't holding all that tightly to his shoulder so it would be easy to break away.
"Ah, the ill-begotten prodigy has awakened." The talking man with shiny boots lifted Earlson's head by using a finger under his chin, the man hesitated when he met Earlson's hard eyes. "I see not the insanity that typically plagues the Malkavian clan… seems you are a thin blood."
That word was not in Earlson's vocabulary but by the way the man almost spat the words out meant it was not good, an insult on… whatever these people were.
"This is very troubling, most Kindred without Sires to show them the way end up endangering the Masquerade…" The man let Earlson's face go, "That is why I have decided to…"
"This is bullshit!" Someone voiced the very thought that ran through Earlson's mind causing him to look over to a familiar face, from the Last Round. It was the man in red and blue, along with the other two who both tried to hold him back, his eyes filled with rage, but also recognition as he and Earlson met eyes.
Around the room people began to show dissent, standing and voicing against the shiny shoed man. Said man looked around with bugging eyes while quickly coming up with a plan to defuse the growing anger and have everyone come to an agreement.
"If Rodriguez would let me finish… I will let this Kindred live." As he spoke the red haired man behind Earlson bent to untie the rope only to have it come undone before he could touch it. Both the speaking man and one holding Earlson looked surprised.
Nothing showed on his face as Earlson schooled his expression into a blank wall making the shiny shoed man to shrug it off as bad tying and continue speaking.
"He will be taught in the way of our kind and given a chance to prove himself, let's no one say I am not a humble and forgiving servant to the laws that governs us all. Good Night."
As the theatre cleared out, Earlson stood causing those around him to tense up in defense. "If I wanted to attack I would have done it already. After all… I untied the ropes the second he said 'reminder' in his speech."
"And what would you have done if I had not let you live?" Asked the blonde haired man dressed in his lavish suit and shiny shoes. His pale blue eyes followed Earlson's finger as he pointed upwards.
"After taking that dagger in the woman's… ashes… I would use the boxes on the left of the stage, I would have jumped up there to that walkway and gone for the roof window." As he spoke Earlson bent and pulled the dagger from the warm ashes and held the point between his fingers.
"Impressive." The man didn't look or sound all that impressed as he took the offered blade between his fingers as if it was the most hideous thing in the universe, he looked annoyed that Earlson had thought ahead so well and could have embarrassed him in front of twenty or so people, "This way."
The man spun on his heels after handing the dagger to the red haired man and stalked away, Earlson followed with the giant man who killed the woman breathing down his neck. To make himself look like he wasn't fazed, Earlson tucked his hands into his pockets and walked casually behind the well-dressed man. It was as if he was taking a simple stroll.
"I am Prince Lacroix. I am sorry about that business with your sire but there are laws we must… adhere to. I have made myself directly responsible for all your actions so don't let me down." The three walked to the theatre's back door and stopped so Lacroix could continue speaking, "Go to Santa Monica where you will find an agent by the name of Mercurio. This is your test, Kindred. So don't mess it up."
"Could I ask a few questions before I go?" Earlson had questions racing through his mind, "What happened?"
Lacroix looked annoyed that Earlson had the gall to ask him a question before proving himself but answered as if speaking to a child, "You were bitten by a Malkavian making you a kindred. To put it simple so you can understand, you are a…"
"Vampire." Cut in Earlson, "I guessed that by the ash and biting. I meant what happened after I was bitten and how you found us."
Looking rather pissed that he was cut off mid speech Lacroix clenched his jaw before answering in a strained voice, "Your sire called one of my people and told us she had sired someone. She told us her address. My Sheriff and I, along with two others came and neutralized you both before coming here."
"Right…" That was odd. If the mad woman knew she would die, why call rather than hide? "You said something about… Malkavian and thin bloods was it? What does that all mean?"
"Sigh… each Kindred member falls beneath a clan. Malkavian's are the insane ones who sometimes give foreseeing warnings, you probably noticed that your Sire was a little… strange."
"I lost count of how many times she called me honey-doll and said things that made no sense." Earlson nodded, he was still confused but at least he now knew what the hell the woman was.
"Yes. You show none of the weakness of a Malkavian, that… madness. A thin blood is someone whose vampire blood is so thin it gives nothing beside a longer life, not quite vampire but better then humans. Thin bloods are considered the dung of Kindred society."
"I see, so the Malkavian weakness is that they have that almost crippling madness and foresight. Do they tend to have… whispering in their minds?" Asked Earlson as he heard the voice in the back of his mind again. Pillar of flames rises in the night sky.
"Yes, most do. That must be the extent of your madness if you have it. Either that or you will grow into your clan in the next hundred or so years. Now enough of this, head to Santa Monica now." Lacroix handed over a key before he and the Sheriff stormed off through the halls.
'Charming man…' Thought Earlson as he opened the door. The Jester bears snakes on his hat, beware the mirror-queen. Said the voice. "Lovely… I don't care about Jesters or queens…"
"Speaking to yourself Malk?" Said a husky voice just outside the door, "The names Jack. You look a lot more docile then most of your brethren… you ok? You look a little wobbly?"
"I am…" Before he could say he was fine Earlson felt a strange feeling of nausea overcome his mind, "… Fine…?"
"Have you had a drink yet? No? AHA! Popping a cherry we are. Happens there is someone around the corner there. Poor fool can't find his car. You just need to bite him, but don't kill him. Got that?"
"Yes. Don't kill, and blood is my new diet." Answered Earlson calmly while straightening his back and trying to stop the nausea.
"Good, you are taking in everything smoothly. You also didn't seem surprised to see a Nossie."
"I guess that is a nickname for the… deformed ones?" Asked Earlson as he swayed on his feet. "I saw a few during my work, I am also no stranger to… supernatural."
"Yes… you can explain after you eat. Go and don't forget, no killing." Jack gestured down the alley before going to stand beside the door across from the theatre, following the path Earlson spotted the man staring at his phone to try and find a map. He was dressed in a well-tailored suit.
The finest blood dresses best. With that whisper of food wisdom, Earlson came up in front of the man and said in him most flirtatious voice, "You seem a little troubled sir. Let me give you some peace of mind for a dollar."
"Sorry? But I am not gay…" The man broke off when Earlson bit into his neck and his phone fell to the ground with a crack.
As his mind became filled with euphoria, Earlson placed his fingers against the man's pulse and waited until the beat slowed down just a little before removing his fangs, with a faint pop. The man wobbled, his eyes filled with desire and his mind blank thanks to vampire venom and rapid blood loss.
'That explains the blood and memory loss from my client's report…' Earlson thought as the man leaned forward towards his lips, causing him to give a small smirk. 'Should I email him back saying this job is… finished…?'
"Now now darling, I don't have time. Maybe another date if you even remember me." As he turned to leave arms wrapped around his hips making Earlson sigh.
Struggling to pry away the hands grabbing around him, Earlson tightened his lips. The taste of blood made him feel a little hard but he really had no time to play with the man.
"Jack… what do I do about this?" Jack looked over as Earlson came into the light, dragging the grinning man across the ground behind him.
"Well… you would usually run away before anyone can grab onto you. It sometimes can take hours for the cloudy drunk feeling to fade… wait what was that?"
Nearby there was the sound of howling, laughter and gunshots. Both Jack and Earlson looked upwards, while the man clung tighter around the vampire who 'kissed' his neck.
"Quick, get inside. I will go check it out…uh… you might need to take that with you." Jack watched as Earlson tried to get through the door while pushing at the man.
"Damn it… Come here…" Earlson pulled the begging man onto his back and ran inside, "Reminds me of that mission in Asia, couldn't understand a lick of what that guy said..."
"Tell me about these missions one day at the Last Round, boy. Now hurry." Jack shut the door leaving Earlson with the man. With the oddly light load it was slow progress climbing boxes to get upstairs, enough time apparently for Jack to get up there.
"How did you…?"
"Stay away from the windows… It is a Sabbat raid."
Quickly Earlson got on a knee beside a window, his position made it hard for the red eyed 'men' with guns to see him, but he could see clearly as they got cleaned up by that tall Sheriff guy.
"So who are the Sabbat?" Asked Earlson, earning a look from Jack and a happy moan from the drunken man.
Deep in the warehouse after killing a few more Sabbat, Earlson finally got frustrated with the man clinging to him. "Do I have a moment?"
"A few minutes, be quick on getting rid of him. But no killing." Jack stood by the door and guarded it while Earlson took the drunken man into the bathroom near a grate, the bearded man listened in curiosity before raising a brow.
Moan's came through the door, moans from the drunken man. What the hell was Earlson doing… did Jack even want to know?
Finally there was a muffled cry followed by pregnant silence. Then Earlson left the bathroom while wiping his mouth with a thumb, "Ok… where to now?"
"By our father… you sure have mysteries."
"You have no idea half of the things I had to do on jobs. That was just a small bit of it." Earlson chuckled before sliding down the grate, "Meet you on the other end.
Acquiring a gun from the corpse of a policeman, and slaughtering all the Sabbat inside the buildings, Earlson was finally able to take the hired cab to Santa Monica.
"Whew… what a night…" Far from Downtown Earlson finally leaned back into the seat and sighed as they drove through the dark roads, beside him the cabbie gave a knowing smile.
"You seem weary, has the night been unkind?"
"When has the night ever not been unkind to me?" Earlson chuckled while looking at the man beside him. Wanderer of the night, father of the lightless. "You're…?"
"Cainite? Do your voices say I am, what do they say?"
"Just gibberish… wanderer of the night, father of the lightless…"
The cabbie chuckled before pulling up in front of a pawn store and looked at Earlson beneath his sunglasses, "Malkavian's bear great wisdom beneath the insanity. It would do you well to listen to it, Childe of Caine."
Earlson climbed from the cab and leaned on the door window frame when he shut it, "Thanks for the ride. Was it already paid for?"
"This ride is the start of your story, beginnings cost nothing. Good night, Cainite."
When Earlson leaned back the cab drove off, alone on the sidewalk besides the occasional person he took a look around. The darkness was nothing for his eyes, even the darkest alley was as clear as day.
'This would have been handy in the past. I wouldn't have had to use that damn heavy night gear.' Earlson rubbed the back of his neck and the memory of the old pain there caused by the heavy helmet, he trotted over through the alley to the apartment door.
Looking at the number on the key Lacroix gave him, Earlson found his room on the highest floor. Inside he looked around unimpressed, it was better than many places he had stayed in, hell he had slept in the sewers beneath Rome once… even if they were an amazing sight with pillars and old marble walls.
Rome, even their shit holes were sophisticated art forms.
"Ok… this is just a place to sleep." While mumbling to himself, Earlson made sure the windows were all boarded up and safe from the sun before checking his mail, hacking the password rather than reading the note beside it out of habit.
There were a few that were just crap, but three were important… well two were. One said something odd about a pawn being moved sent by 'a friend' which made Earlson think about what his sire said.
The Jester's Pawn, she said. So far the voice in Earlson's head called Lacroix the Jester, did that mean he was a servant to the 'prince' now? Or something else?