I came out of my trance earlier than usual. According to the weather report on TV, the sun was still setting. Liz was still in bed. Since I couldn't really do anything until that big ball of death went down, I stared at her. Lizzie-girl was maybe 5'6, 5'7, and looked like an athlete; a softball or basketball player. Her dark brown hair just touched her shoulders and her skin looked naturally pale. I noticed from last night that her eyes were light, sky blue. She wore a pair a dirty blue jeans, a white shirt, and a light denim jacket.

My inspection of the girl was interrupted by my Beast. He was hungry. I groaned in exasperation and checked the fridge. Thankfully, there were three full blood packs. I took one and squirted a mouthful of cold blood down my throat. I sipped on the blood pack until Liz finally snapped out of her torpor.

She got up slowly, holding her head as she stretched and popped her back. I took this as a hint that the sun was finally down. I walked back to the fridge and took out another blood pack and tossed it to Liz. She caught it and bit into the plastic sloppily; spewing blood across the dark carpet. I couldn't quite suppress my chuckle as I watched her.

"Bite off the top, hon, like a pixie stick."

Liz glared at me as she tried to suck up as much blood as possible.

I chuckled again, then took out my wallet. "C'mere, girl."

She walked over to me cautiously, like a stray dog approaching a human with food. I took 300 dollars from my wallet and handed it to her. "This should pay for my stay and the blood pack I drank. By the way, there's a Ghoul who sells blood at the bottom floor of the hospital across the street." I threw her a little wave. "Stay careful, hon," I said as I walked towards the door.

"Whoa, where are you going?" She asked while standing up.

"Like I said last night, I need to find my Sire. After that, I'm outta here."

"So, what should I do?"

I just shrugged. "If your Sire was still alive, I'd say stick with him. But LaCroix threw that option out of the window. So, I'd recommend finding some friends, or at least some allies. Hell, technically you're a Cammie, so I'm sure a few of them would be willing to help."

"Well," she said, hesitating slightly between words. "What about you?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I consider you an ally?"

I burst out laughing. "Hell, why not?"

I took out a small notebook and pen from my coat pocket and jotted down my cell phone number. I ripped out the page and handed it to her. "You give me a ring if you hear I'm in L.A. I'll drop by and teach you a thing or two."

"Alright, deal." She reached out and shook my hand. "It's been interesting, Gabe."

"That it has, Lizzie-girl. I'll catch you later."

And with that, I left the apartment building and walked on the streets of Santa Monica towards the parking complex, where Alex's car was in storage. I walked to the second floor and saw the car underneath a brown tarp. I took it off and revealed the 1959 black hardtop Caddy Coup De Ville, Alex's pride and joy. It was a beaut; shiny black with chrome lining. Gorgeous.

I unlocked the trunk and tossed the tarp inside. I then unlocked the door and slipped inside, relishing the scent of cool leather. I started it up and listened to it purr before I pulled out of the garage and back into the streets.

I drove to Downtown L.A., to Prince LaCroix building. I wanted some answers and he was the only one I could talk to.

---

I parked outside the building. I climbed outside the car and locked the door. I walked inside the building, noticing the magnetic locks on the front door. Behind the front desk was a tall, well built Kine. He noticed my entrance immediately.

"Can I help you sir?"

"I need to see Mr. LaCroix, please."

"Do you have a meeting?"

"Afraid not, but this is a matter of some importance."

I could understand why he looked skeptic; I was wearing dark jeans, a shirt I stole out of a Buckle store, and a large, thick-cotton, dark grey trench coat.

"Hmm…sir, I'm afraid that you don't have a meeting, I can't let you up," he said while shifting his weight in his chair, no doubt loosening the gun in his holster.

"Well, slick, it's like this," I said as I leaned on the desk. "I'm getting to his office one way or another, and there ain't a damn thing you can do to stop me. So why don't you just open the elevator, I'll continue with my business and leave, and we'll never see each other again? How's that?"

I moved out of the way of the bullet and jumped over the desk with my foot high in the air. It caught the guy in the chest and I heard his ribs break. He gasped and fell back in his chair, the Colt Python falling out of his hands.

"Uh. Fuck. Oh shit…fuck this job, I quit."

"Yeah, I kinda agree with ya, slick. If you start coughing up blood, it's because of your ribs punctured a lung…I'd get that checked out if I were you," I said as I reached underneath the desk and pressed the call elevator button.

I left the guard and entered the elevator, where it took me to the penthouse level. I exited and walked into LaCroix's office with a frown on my face and a hand on my knife. He was behind his desk going over some papers. The Sheriff stood right beside him.

"LaCroix!" I yelled. "I need to ask you a few questions."

Instead of looking up surprise or fear, like I had expected, he stared at me with what looked like grief. "Ah…Mr. Black. You don't know, do you?"

I felt my dead heart shrink with dread. "What are you talking about?" I growled.

"After Ms. Veri and I finished our business, the Sabaat, as I'm sure you know, began their futile attack. I'm afraid to say that, after defeating many herself, one of those devilish creatures struck her from behind. It wasn't long before many others joined the first, and they eventually…" He broke eye-contact. "I'm sorry, Gabriel."

I couldn't speak. I just stood there looking at nothing. Finally, I manage to say, "Were they killed?"

"All but three. They escaped to the streets, among the Kine populace," he sighed. "Again, I'm very sorry, Gabriel; we all knew how close you were. The Camarilla will open its arms to you, if you'd like; we have plenty of lodging space if you'd like to stay for a few nights."

"No thanks. I'll…I'll fine some place. By the way…your front desk guard is quitting."

With that, I left the office and rode the elevator back down to the ground floor. I walked outside the building and back into the car, where I sat for a long time. I didn't think. I didn't breathe, I didn't do anything. I just sat.

Finally, I started the car and drove. Just drove. I didn't care where. I didn't stop until 3 in the morning, where I found myself outside a 24-hour liquor store. I got outside the car, walked in the store, and stole three bottles of Jack. The lady at the register yelled at me, but I barely heard her. I got back in Alex's- my car, and drove as I chugged down one of the bottles. I knew what would happen as soon as the stuff hit my stomach, and I wanted to keep the car clean, so I parked it in the first lot I saw and got back out.

I was downing the second bottle before I finally threw up. A mix of Jack Daniels and my own blood came hurling out of my mouth. After I was finished, I felt a hell of a lot weaker. Meh, didn't care. I finished the second bottle, then managed to open the third before I puked again, loosing even more blood. Through my grief, I could feel my Beast snapping and snarling, slowly pulling his chain free.

Before I could drink from the third bottle and vomit out the rest of my reservoir of blood, I felt two pairs of strong hands grab my arms and legs. I was too weak to resist as they carried me into a building where loud techno music blared through speakers. Unfortunately for those carrying me, I felt my Beast finally break free of his chains.

My vision went red as blood flooded my eyes. I lashed out, my hands transforming into claws, and new found strength filled my body. I slashed one of the guys, the cut running from his chest to his belly. He grunted and dropped me as I kicked my way out of the second's hands. Before I could do anything more, however, another man slammed me into a wall while the other two rushed to hold me against it. I kicked and struggled and roared, but I couldn't get free.

I felt something against my mouth and I bit deep into it, tasting some of the most delicious blood I've ever had. I sucked it dry and felt fully restored, all the blood I tossed out on the parking lot replaced by a few drops of this…ambrosia.

My Beast, now sedated by the tasty stuff, slept. I drooped in the arms of those holding me, my body strained by the exertion of my Frenzy. I managed to open my eyes to none other than Velvet Velour holding an empty bag of blood. "How ya doin', Velvet?" I slurred.

"Oh, darling, what have you done to yourself? And call me V.V., I've told you that a thousand times," she said. Her face was covered in worry.

Through my foggy mind, I recalled helping out Velvet during my last visit in L.A.; some of her girls were being killed, slaughtered in their own homes. I found the guy and set him straight. I think his remains are still floating around a sewer somewhere.

"Damn…what was that stuff, Velvet?" I asked as I tried to stand on my own.

"Elder Vitae; very rich, but very, very expensive." She smiled. "You own me about half a grand, darling."

I laughed and coughed up a little blood. Velvet nodded to the big men, who I now recognized as her Brujah bouncers, and they let me go. I wobbled a bit, but regained my balance. Velvet gave me a hard stare.

"Now, mind telling me what you where thinking, Gabe?"

"Alex…is gone, sugar," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Velvet covered her mouth with her hand as she gasped. "What- what happened?"

"Those…those Sabaat fuckers from last night. The Prince just told me."

I leaned back on the wall and let myself drop in a sitting position on the floor. I couldn't help but scan my surroundings and I noticed we were in Velvet's office, in the back of the club. I looked back at Velvet and I noticed her furrowed brow.

She said, "The Prince told you this? How do you know he wasn't lying?"

At the time, I didn't even consider that, but I said, "Why would he? Alex and I are Independent, and we're hardly ever in L.A.; I just don't see any reason why he would."

"You know, I heard them talking right before I left. Alex was asking for permission for that Fledgling to accompany you two."

That jerked me. "What!?"

Velvet nodded. "Yes, that's what I heard. LaCroix didn't look very happy about the idea. "

This put a new perspective on things; I could feel the old detective cogs in me turning. "Did you hear anything else?" I asked almost automatically.

"I'm afraid not, Gabe. Those meetings are stuffy and I was in a rush to get out of there."

I stood back up and brushed off my coat. I took out a cigarette and lit it. "Alright. Thanks anyway, Velvet."

"V.V., darling."

---

My mind raced as I drove. I barely noticed when it started to rain. I decided that the only way I could find out what really happened would be to question one of the Sabaat. I remembered seeing three of them escaping from the battle that night, I remember one of their faces. LaCroix said three Sabaat managed to get away; maybe these were the three.

The alarm on my phone jerked me away from my thoughts. Half-hour till sunrise. Shit. Sorry Lizzie-girl, looks like I'm bunking with you again tonight.

End of Part III