Night 2
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Strange. I actually know that I'm sleeping. But it's really not like sleeping. It's more or less that you're just being a dead body. Your chest doesn't rise and fall from breathing nor do you feel your heart beating. You're just kinda dead. Suddenly, I feel the blood in my body flow through me, giving motion to my once motionless body. I crawl to the crawlspace door and crack it open a little. It looks like the sun had just set as the sky is still stained dark orange and blue. I crawl out of the crawlspace and look around the sty I actually slept in. I turn around and I see two dead bodies. No way. Upon a closer look, I see an aura, but not from the bodies, but from the insects around the corpses. Ok, they're really dead. What am I gonna do?! Ok, the bodies have to go and a body drained of blood doesn't sound like the greatest thing to see in the news. I grabbed his shirt collar and started to drag him to the crawlspace I just emerged from. Oh what's this? Ugh. I dropped his bloodless corpse and rearrange some heavy chairs and other furniture. After kicking a table or two out of my way, I continue to drag the body to its final destination. As I drag the body, I was tempted to recall my vampiric strength but this is too trivial of a matter to summon such power. Finally I stuff the corpse deep into the crawlspace, placing some random debris on top and around the corpse to help conceal it. As I step out of the crawlspace, my ears pick up the sound of a car, parking outside. I can only tell that it's two people, one female and one male. Shit! I didn't even hide the other guy's corpse yet. I armed myself with the crude knife used last night and hide myself in the very same man-sized cabinet and wait.
As they come closer, I begin to recognize the voices. One of them is Anna, the other is the old guy. It seemed as if they were continuing from a conversation that took place outside. Anna said, "And this is where he should be." The old guy says, "Hmm. A dead body, relatively still full of blood and a severely tattered and bloodied shirt. Something definitely took place here." Deciding that I should no longer hide myself, even though I'm un-presentable as hell with my bloodied and torn jeans and my bare chest, I still decide to reveal myself. I begin to slightly open the cabinet door and the cabinet heavily creaks. About mid-step, I stop. I feel something, something strange. The Presence awakened and bade me to look at the old guy. I did and the everything faded and became unimportant except him. I saw something inside the old man as well and it was looking at me. The Presence inside me deemed the old man the apex predator and that we should back down. It took a while but I gathered my wits and actually stepped out of the cabinet. The old man says, "Ah, there you are." I look at him, strangely. Not to be offensive to the old man but at my amazement of how amazingly normal he looked. He was wearing a white polo shirt and some khaki pants. And if my ears do not betray me, I thought I heard something of an English accent behind it. And he actually isn't that old looking, but until I find out more, I'm just gonna refer to him as the old man. I look at my sire and the old man and then the body. Shit. Quickly I said, "Oh, that. Heh, heh, funny story actually. See, after a night of feeding, I was looking for a place to crash for the morning and I found this house. Abruptly, these men came down and attempted to kill me. The scuffle was brutal but quick, ending with two corpses, one right there, and the other stuff in the crawlspace I slept in, bloodless, and saving a soul from their brutal fates. Oh, don't worry about the other guy, he was a complete druggie. He'll be the only one to know and believe what actually happened here last night." The old man nodded and said, "You know, had this not been Englewood, their screams would have alerted the community and it'd be all over the news. But come, we have other matters to attend to."
We walk outside and the night sky has already darkened. We're some 25 to 30 feet away from the boarded up house and the old man pulls out a Zippo lighter and ignites it. He turns around and says, "These people nor this house will be missed by anyone. You might want to turn away." Turn away for what? It's not like fire is so obscene or anything like that. The old guy tosses the lighter into the home and quickly, the flames begin to devour the wood of the home. Oh God, what is this? I'm so far away from the burning house, but it feels like I'm actually in the hungry flames itself! The Presence knows my fears and I begin running further away from the house. Even though the Presence's instinctive command is strong, mine is stronger, for I've put the Presence back in its place and get a hold of myself. I ran some 20 feet away from our former position. When I came back, Anna and the old man were in a car. The car was of last decade's design and was baby blue. I get into the backseat and immediately, calming classical music strikes my ears. The old man was driving and Anna was in the passenger side seat. The old man says, "Ah, classical music. Marcus, do you listen to classical?" Why isn't the old man creepy or I don't know, being creepy anymore? I put the thought aside and respond, "Yeah, all the time. It's the good stuff." The old man approvingly nods.
We return to the apartment of my rebirth and enter the lower chambers once more. As we went down, I felt something inside me, something unsettling. I dismiss the feeling and continue to follow. Finally, we enter the room where Anna subjected herself to inhumane pain for me. I was given a bucket and directed to a bathroom inside the room. The old man said, "This is the final stage of your rebirth. When you emerge from that bathroom, there are some new clothes in that room over there. Now go on." I shrugged and entered the bathroom. Closing the door behind me, I look around. It's a relatively clean and normal bathroom in a frightening place. I look at the bucket awkwardly. What the hell am I gonna need this for? For sometime, I just kinda looked at the bucket and then it hit me. Aw, it feels terrible. I literally feel several of my organs move about in my body. I threw up my appendix, gallbladder, kidneys, and a couple of smaller organs into the bucket. Then the worse came. My entire stomach was twisting inside. Oh, for the love of Jesus, help me! In a torrent of green bile, I threw up what used to digest human food into the bucket. The worse was over. I look at myself and from an average build I went to slim. Amazing. I go under the sink and grab a paper towel. I turn on the faucet, soaked the paper towel, and clean my face off. I raised my face from the paper towel and looked into the mirror. Man, this thing is really dirty cause I can barely see myself. I scrub the mirror with the wet paper towel. Still no change. I scrub a little harder and still no change in my image. I look closely at the mirror itself and it was relatively clean. It was just me. Why do I look like a piece of abstract art? Deciding not to contemplate any longer, I make use of what I can of the mirror and hopefully combed my hair. I emerge from the bathroom and Anna is no longer there but just the old man. He nods and points to the changing room. I walk in and there is a wide variety of clothing, a good number of them ranging from casual to straight up formal. I choose another pair of jeans, a casual black shirt, and a pair of black buckled dress shoes. I emerge from the dressing room and the old man gives me an approving nod and says, "You'll surely make quite the impression tonight. Come, for we must go."
We get into the same baby blue car outside. Before we started for the road, the old man said, "We've listened to classical on the way here, we don't you pick something?" I thought about it and said, "Hey, how about some jazz?" The old man turns on his radio and flips to 95.5 FM, the city's local jazz station. As we drove into the night he says, "You know, they say that Chicago is one of the birthplaces of Jazz." I respond, "Yeah. The city had a rich history with the development of black culture and I must say, Jazz has to be one of their best accomplishments." The old man nods in agreement and says, "Indeed. But this city has its fair shares of other unpleasant things. We're not the only Kindred in Chicago. There are many more with their own covenants. Their ideals are heretical and beliefs are complete rubbish." I turn to him and ask, "Well, who are these other vampires?" He says, "They are the Carthians." Carthians? So, in this World of Darkness, there's more to it then drinking the blood of others. There also appears to be a sort of political intrigue as well. Interesting. I ask the old man, "Who are the Carthians? What do they want?" He says, "The Carthians are a group of upstarts. They want change. They wish to adapt mortal methods and ideologies. A bunch of rubbish I say." The Carthians. They don't sound that bad of a group. Are they? Well, I'm gonna keep my mouth shut about it since I don't want to earn the old man's ire. I turned the topic, or so I thought, when I asked, "Where are we going that's so important? Not to meet with these Carthians, correct?" He says back, "I'm afraid so. The first Sunday of every month, all of the covenants come together in a meeting called the Elysium. It's to bring up and settle any disputes between the covenants and announce any news that the covenants should know. Ah, we're here." I look and questionably say, "The Shedd Aquarium? What are we doing here?" The old man says, "As you know, the aquarium can be rented out for private uses." I nod my head.
As we step out of the car and begin to trek up its marble stairs he turns around and abruptly says, "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Laurence." Laurence eh? I seriously wouldn't suspect a guy named Laurence to be wearing a huge red robe, a golden mask, and gold-clawed gauntlets. He extends his hand. I reply to the gesture and shake his hand and say, "Well, you already know me, Marcus." He says, "Ah yes, yes, Marcus. Now remember, when we go inside, refer to me as Bishop. Understand?" He gave me one of those looks. It wasn't demanding but it was kind of like a wink. I nod and follow his lead. We head towards the arena area where the whale and dolphin shows occur during daytime hours. He turns around and says one more thing. He says, "Now remember, no matter how strong the urge is, do not run away. Just calmly follow my lead." I nod in acknowledgement and follow him up the ramp and into the arena. All of a sudden, I feel this terror, a terror that I'm familiar with. Yes. It was like when Laurence stepped into that house and I attempted to move into his presence. It didn't work. This time though, it wasn't as bad as the first time with Laurence but it was still awful. I feel this ugly dread nearly engulfing my sensibility. But I stop myself from hysterically running away. I follow Laurence up the stairs and occupy an empty row. I look around the area and spot quite the characters. There was a bunch of people dressed in blue-collar fashion clothes in the left corner of the stadium. Over by the top-center were a bunch of guys in business suits. Below them were a lot of old guys, older then Laurence by the looks, wearing some seriously outdated clothes. But hey, they kinda looked snazzy so at least it's a plus to them. And over there are a bunch of guys wearing robes… Holy shit. They look like the guys from Bachelor's Grove! I really can't see their faces and I'm not sure if they can see mine. Let's hope that they can't and won't.
There was plenty of talking. It took me a while to notice but in the pool area where the dolphins normally do their thing, there was a floating platform with torches on each corner and an elderly woman sitting upon it. She didn't look as old as the lady during my creation, but she was still old enough. All of a sudden she raised her hand. All of the vampires silenced themselves. Everyone seated themselves and I followed Laurence's suit. The old lady then says, "What business is there of tonight?" One of the blue-collar guys stood up and shouted, "Matriarch, the three other covenants: the Invictus, Ordo Dracul, and Lancea Sanctum are being rather difficult with us. They harass in our harmless and beneficial activities for the city with their archaic Traditions." The two groups of suited fellows quietly scoff and scorned at the relatively normal looking working class fellows. Laurence, or rather, the Bishop says nothing of it. The old woman says, "The issue will be resolved. Is there anything else?" Then Laurence says, "The Lancea Sanctum has news." She then says, "Of what, Bishop?" He then says, "There is a young one among us." He motions for me to stand. I do and look about the stadium. What the hell am I supposed to say to a lot of creepy looking people? Well, here goes nothing. "My name is Marcus Tobin, uh…?" I look down at the Bishop and he mouths Sanctified. Oh yeah! "Sanctified of the Lancea Sanctum. I am honored to be here in your presence. Is this well, Bishop?" He nods and says, "Indeed well, Marcus." He bid me to sit down. The Matriarch then says, "Is there anything else, Bishop?" I look at him and I see something in his eyes. He's up to something. He says proudly and boldly, "No, nothing more, Prince." Everyone in the stadium gasps in horror and shock. Is there something wrong with the name Prince other then the fact that the Matriarch isn't a guy? The Matriarch, clearly pissed as all hell, says, "Bishop! You know not to refer to me by that name! Come forth to receive your punishment." The Bishop rises and goes forth to proudly and fearlessly receive his punishment. There is a firebrand by the water. She says, "Put your hand into the fire. Then you shall know to respect me." The Bishop then thrusts his hand into the fire and says, "You know, the good book says to those who are thrown into the flames for believing in Him will feel the heat yes, but as the flames lick their flesh, they come forth from the fire, unharmed." He quickly withdraws his hand, unscathed and the fire, burnt out. He begins to walk towards the ramp we entered from. I stood up and began to follow. The Matriarch rambles on angrily and nearly falls off her little platform. The suited men come to her rescue. Silly, silly folk.
We get back into the car and drive off. As we increase our distance between the city lights and the suburban streetlights, I was amazed at the Bishop's feat. "Bishop! How did you do that?" He says, "It's a small power that allows me to bath in fire with no harm done to me. Although it only lasts for so long before it gives out and exposes me to the fires' cleansing abilities." Amazing. Perhaps this divine purpose of ours isn't an illusion after all. Something else also struck me. The guys in the robes! "Bishop! There were a few fellows in robes that looked dreadfully similar to those I've encountered in Bachelor's Grove." The Bishop acknowledges and says, "Ah, I've heard of your previous exploits, spying on dangerous cults and such. I've heard of a mortal who've seen one of the Circle's rituals and demanded his life. Do you now see why Anna and I were so prudent upon obtaining you?" I nod my head. This unlife is without a doubt, damnation, but this damnation is the lesser of the two evils, say become something's sacrifice in some other dark ritual that may conduct. Another thing, actually. "Bishop, if I just ask you this one more question, what was that horrid feeling that I felt when you stepped into that house or when I was in the Elysium?" "Ah. That Marcus is the Beast inside you. All vampires have the Beast. When two vampires come into close vicinity, there is a contest between the Beasts. If the one's Beast deems itself lower then the other, the Beast and yourself are effected negatively." "Ah, so it does have a name."
We stop and to my passenger side, there is a warm and welcoming house. I sigh and say, "It kinda looks like Grandma's house." The Bishop says, "Ah, your Grandmother. Such a delightful woman." I turn to him. "How do you know Grandma?" "Mrs. Lynnette Barker Tobin. When I was in need of a few supporting dollars or two, I would work with her in the soup kitchens of St. Daniel's." No way. He knew Grandma? He did tell me her first name and maiden name! What is that? Wow. This guy is really something. He then said, "Well, off you go then Marcus." I get out of the car and look back. "Good night, Marcus." I nod my head and respond, "And a good night to you too, Laurence." Laurence chuckles and drives away. As I see his baby blue car drive off into the night's embrace, I hear something behind me. I turn around and Anna approaches me. It's nothing too elaborate that she wears, but it still can't hide that slammin' body she has. But such carnal thoughts were instantly washed away when she revealed a rather vicious looking steak knife and says, "Are you ready?" Uh oh. I'm not too sure what she wants to do with that knife, but I know sure as hell that we're not gonna be slicing any vegetables tonight for dinner.
