I didn't hang around much after that. Just went trough their wallets, armed myself with a bat and a gun, then grabbed the Astrolite and got the hell out of there. I was mildly shocked with what had happened a while ago, but at least it was over. Or at least I thought so.

- Did ya waste 'em? – Mercurio asked, a second after I closed the door.

- Yeah… - I mumbled, not sure what to make of the situation.

- Good, great, hope it was painful. – He leaned back again, comforting his head on the sofa. – And my money?

- Uh, yeah, sure. – I took out 200dollars from my pocket and handed them to him. – That's all I found. – I lied, saving myself 600 dollars.

- Oh, well, there were more, but those assholes probably spent them on drugs. – Even if he was on to me, right then he was too dependant on me to try and expose my little fraud.

- So, uh, now what should I do? – I asked a bit stiffly, not sure I wanted to know.

Turned out I had to blow up some Camarilla warehouse with that Astrolite and then report back to the Sabbat downtown. Apparently only one guy knew how to guide me there, and, of course, he was hiding out right now because of some feud with a local Sabbat.

- Soo, what's this entire "feud" about? – I asked, wondering why things couldn't go to plan at least once.

- How should I know… - Mercurio wasn't very eager to help, like I didn't just do his dirty work for him. – I only heard rumors that Therese wants to rise as a bishop after the Sabbat takes over LA and she sees Bertram as a threat.

- What do you mean takes over LA? – I blinked in confusion.

- You're pretty green, aren't you? – With a bit of mock mixed with pity, his voice escaped his mouth. – The Sabbat are currently trying to take over LA from the Camarilla and banish all its members. Why else do you think are you going to blow up some warehouse in the middle of nowhere?

- Well, actually, I thought we shared cities and just disliked each other, because they will bring the end of the world and all… - I explained my theory and Mercurio raised a brow.

- Things are not that simple. They hate us and we hate them. I don't know much Sabbat lore, but I have been around for a while and have always been active in their wars with the Camarilla. If you want a piece of advice, keep a low profile. Santa Monica is a Sabbat territory for now, but LA is still controlled by a Prince and it's dangerous for a new vampire like you to walk around. – Suddenly he got all serious, and it struck me again how unstable the people I met were actually. I couldn't help myself from wondering would I become like them in a few years.

Mercurio turned out to be not a total ass and informed me about some abandoned apartment near by, and also aided me to the club which Therese owned. He explained she was more of a silent partner there, and used her sister Jeanette as representative of the club, but she called the shots and all. At least that's how she liked to think, he also added.

The Asylum had a very offsetting atmosphere, at least for me. It had a little bar in the corner across the entrance and other than that was just a large empty dance-floor. Tonight was pretty crowded, maybe because some band was performing live. While the loud music mixed with excited screams, I suddenly felt a cold hand take a grip around my shoulder and shove me into the nearest corner. A female face met mine, it's blue and green eyes examining my whole body and taking delight in my shocked expression.

- Well, well, now what will a little young plaything do in the vulture's parlor, I must wonder… - She purred in amusement, while her eyes were still running around my face. - Don't be scared, duckling, I don't bite… unless you let me to. – A delighted smirk riddled on her face and for a second she bared her fangs to make a point.

- I take it you are… - I couldn't tell was I annoyed, flattered, scared, or all three at once.

- Jeanette… - She laced with her tongue. – This club is as mine as much as your attention towards me. I find it delicious. – Her tongue slowly ran across her red lipstick.

- Yeah, uh, look, Jeanette, I want to meet your sister, is she… - I made a brief attempt to change the subject, but was quickly cut off be her.

- Oh, and I was just beginning to think we were getting along. – She pouted and backed away. – Fine, follow me, kitten.

Jeanette was gracefully sliding trough the crowd, while I had a little tough time trying to keep up with her. Eventually she led us to a small elevator and as soon as I went in after her, she pushed some button and the doors closed. I was alone with her and felt a little nervous.

I took a better look at her in the light. She was attractive, in a fairly disturbing way, wearing school uniform-like clothing, which would best fit in a porn movie or some magazine like Playboy. Her blonde pig tails were dangling along with her head, while she was singing to herself some unknown to me song. But even with all the bared flesh and seductive clothing, there was still something childish to her, that I couldn't exactly figure out.

She didn't say a thing trough the whole trip, and when we finally arrived at the required floor, she looked at me with a furious grimace on her face. I stepped back, not expecting such a reaction.

- Don't you dare… - She whispered in an eerie tone. – Don't you dare swallow her lies and leave my tenderness. If you do, I shall make you fight your own words in a world without sense. – She went quiet for a while, her face looking at the ground. I stood in one place, not sure what to do. – Wait here kitten, I just need to talk to her about something and we'll get to you after that. – She smirked at me again and went to the only door in the small corridor we were in.

I was left alone, and felt a little relieved in a way. The happenings for the night were more than enough and I was yet to meet Therese. I could hear them yelling at each other from inside, but decided to just ignore it. What had caught my attention was a mirror, exactly opposite to the elevator. I glanced at it and realized I couldn't find myself there. Damn. Not only was I curious how I looked after all those things I had been trough, but I already missed my image. The realization that I was not to see my crimson red dyed hair, swirling around my face in delicate waves, ever again, made a sorrowful taste climb up my throat. When human, I never gave much thought about my appearance, yet knowing I was never to meet my own eyes now, sent a sense of bitterness.

After a few minuets waiting in silence, my patience ran out and I let myself to knock on the door.

- Come in. – A cold voice emerged trough the walls and encouraged me to step in.

It was the strangest office I have ever seen. Well, maybe the only one I have seen in real life, but at least in the movies they were much more… formal. It had red walls and reddish wooden floor, with a large carpet in the center. A giant picture was hanging on the right wall, giving the atmosphere an eerie feeling. A black figure of a man in a suit was standing behind two little girls, with white dresses and blonde hairs. The man remained a mystery for me, but I recognized Jeanette in one of the girls, and the other was probably Therese. It was a beautiful, yet disturbing picture.

Other than that, the office had two desks, and a large heart-shaped bed that reminded me that I would most probably have to sleep in some corner again this night.

- Good evening. – Therese greeted, her hands crossed on her chest, expressing no hospitality at all. She was Jeanette's copy, but instead of the lavish exposure of skin, she had only a plain, grey business suit on her. – Please excuse my sister's tactlessness, but unfortunately she has the self control of a wild chimpanzee. That is if she has self control at all… - She muttered the last sentence, but I could still hear it.

- I presume you are Therese? – I disregarded the question about Jeanette, since it would most probably have made us both uncomfortable.

- Yes, Therese Voerman. I'm the owner of this club and the only person you should worry about pleasing in this city. – Her tone didn't change a bit, but her eyes expressed much more intimidation than her words ever could. – With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking to?

- Cosette… - I mumbled. – Cosette Evans. – A slight chuckle escaped her lips.

- Are you French? – She asked with an amused smile on her face.

Truth be told, I had no idea what to answer her. I never knew my parents and therefore, never knew my true nationality, name or even birth date. The old woman I grew up with gave me this name, because she was largely fascinated with the book Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo. I found it way too sophisticated for today, but apart from that, I liked it. It sounded nice.

- N-no, I don't think so… - I bit my lip as a quizzical look appeared on Therese's face.

- Cosette means something little. Something with no importance. Did you know that? – A mocking smirk made its way on her face. – Well then, what brings you to Santa Monica?

- I need you to stop the feud with Bertram… - The moment I said that, her image again took turn and a flustered grimace appeared on her face.

- Why should I do that? Let him think I mean to kill him. He's been trying to destroy me for years! He ruins my business, image, reputation and my sister. If you were in my place, would you let him continue his ways until one day he gets you unprepared? You most certainly would not! – She seemed too headstrong to convince otherwise.

- Look, I'm on a mission for the Sabbat and if I want it finished, I better find Thung. Isn't there anything that can make you change your mind?

- Huh… - She went quiet for a while, thinking about something. – Hmm, let's say I'm willing to peace with him if you help me with something…. Something involving ghosts.

- Ghosts? – I wondered have I heard correctly.

- Yes, ghosts exist, just like we do. – She rolled her eyes in annoyance. - I'm interested in a certain old hotel and I want it rebuilt. However, it seems that the place is haunted by some ghost that refuses to leave. Not only that, it scares away every constructor I send. The property is useless for me with it inside. So, I need a personal item from the ghost so I can drive it away. And if you get it for me, the feud will be off.

- Look, Ms. Voerman, I'm not here to run errands for you… - Her arrogance and stubbornness tickled me.

- Oh, but you will do it if you want the feud off. Thung is not going out until then, so if you want to make it troughs the night, I kindly suggest that you listen to me, understand? – She threw me a death glare and crossed her arms.

- I said…Make – Peace – With - Thung. – I decided to use my mind control and failed miserably. Therese just got angrier.

- Did you just try to Dominate me? – She hissed indignantly. – If the situation wasn't so desperate, I would have been showing your ashes to the door by now. But I'll overlook it, this time. – Her poisonous glare stabbed into me. – Now take this key. The only way in this time of the night is trough the sewers. I hope you recognize how serious I am about this, and therefore take a serious approach about it. – She shoved some key into my arms and made a gesture inviting me to leave. – Good evening.

***

I cursed at Therese, myself and basically the whole world on my way to the apartment. Why couldn't things be easy, just for once? And why was everything so much easier in vampire flicks? They didn't have to fight with some thugs or blow up warehouses in order to join a group that is at war with the whole world. What happened with the erotica, the castles and with the turning to bat shit?

The apartment looked like nobody had inhabited it for a while. It just had a bed and some empty shelves and counters. Dust and spider webs everywhere. Not only that, but the windows were huge. I didn't know how I was supposed to stop the sun light from coming in.

Checking the bathroom, I realized that that was the place that I was going to sleep in. I took some random blanket I found lying around and put it under the door. Curling up in the shower cabin, I closed my eyes let all my thoughts drift out, until I fell into a yearned comatose.