Well, here's the next part of the Berlin chapters!
Once again, thank yous go to all the guests who reviewed the previous chapter and anyone I may have forgotten to reply to :)
Berlin, 1927 [part 2]
They had to wait for night to fall before visiting the circus, for the obvious reason that Simon's co-vampires couldn't wander about in the sun with out spontaneously bursting into flame. That allowed them plenty of time to discuss possible scenarios, form hypotheses about the kind of people that worked there, wonder, once more, how they were achieving such odd murders.
By the time the sun was starting to set on the horizon, Simon was watching Hesper practically thrum with nervous and excited energy, a giddy smile on her face as he drank a warmed bottle of blood he had taken from the huge walk-in freezer a moment earlier. She was always overly enthusiastic about getting out and about, seeing new things.
As the sky grew darker and the moon shone brighter, the rest of the clan rose from their chambers down the hall. Though most of them were stifling yawns, trying to flatten bed-heads, not one of them actually looked tired or worn – they were, as all vampires were, nothing short of perfection. Simon wondered, as he often did, how exactly that kind of thing worked. Did vampires exclusively turn beautiful people, or was there something about being immortal that enhanced whatever beauty they already possessed? He himself had never found himself particularly attractive – not actively ugly, but not stunningly handsome either. He had always been too scrawny, too awkward for that. His features had always been plain, unremarkable; this had been a source of great anguish as a mundane, when he had been wildly in love with Clary, just hoping she would notice him. Becoming a vampire had, he supposed, had a certain effect on him – both in his outside appearance and his internal self-confidence.
Upon noticing his presence, the clan immediately turned to gather around the table. Some were chatting amiably, others silent and waiting. They were a small group, but they were loyal to Simon and had, to a certain extent, a genuine goodness about them that was rare to find among many vampires. He had never in a thousand years imagined himself as the leader of a clan, but he had taken to the role with surprising ease.
He sipped slowly from his cup, regarding his clan as they waited. The chatter died down as one of them stepped forward – Kaspar, Simon's second in command and Hesper's brother. He had been part of the same clan as his sister for many years, but unlike her, had no remaining softness within him. Hesper often insisted that he had been that way before he had been turned, and that their previous clan had just enhanced that side of him. He had a cold demeanour, silent and serious, a general vibe of experienced pain and suffering coming off him at all times. He could be lethal, deadly when called upon and was still very much stuck in the mind-frame his former clan had bestowed upon him – respect his superior, do as told, do not question, enforce this respect in others.
Simon had been trying for several weeks to wear down the enormous walls Kaspar had put up around himself, trying to make him feel as comfortable as possible within the clan, but it had been hard work. He had, however, provided expert advice to Simon and taken on the more serious role of making sure the vampires were all kept in check, all following Simon's orders. He was a brilliant ally to have and a frightening enemy to imagine.
He stood before Simon in that moment, looking directly into his eyes, stare unwavering. The flickering of the candles highlighted his muscular body, his stiff posture. He looked every inch the soldier he had been trained to be.
"Sir?" he asked, tone clipped. Simon rolled his eyes as he got to his feet.
"Simon, Kaspar," he said, voice low and kind, more a gesture than anything else, as he knew very well that everyone in the room could hear his uttered words. Kaspar's eyes flickered downwards.
"Of course," he said, tone strained, as if the very thought of calling his leader by his first name was physically painful to him.
"Oh, lighten up, Kas!" said Hesper, nudging her brother with her elbow, grinning up at him. He shot her a look that quite clearing warned her against doing it again, tainted with a hint of flickering panic – remnants of the instinct to behave like the perfect, mechanic vampire he was supposed to be, fear of retribution and punishment if he, or his sister, showed anything else.
"The situation, Sir – Simon?" Kaspar clenched his jaw. He always looked terribly uncomfortable not acting entirely professional and respectful, but he couldn't disobey a direct order either.
Placing the cup on the table, Simon pulled the flyer for the circus out of his pocket and showed it to the group.
"This circus arrived in town the day after the murders started," he explained, handing it to the closest clan member so they could get a better look. "They're a group of Downworlder performers. The timing can't be a coincidence. I was thinking of going to pay them a visit tonight, just to see what's what and then work from there. I won't need much backup, so only two of you will come along. Hesper, Kaspar?" he turned to the siblings, who both nodded in assent – not that he had been expecting anything other than that. "Okay. Tori," he turned to perhaps the oldest vampire of the clan. She was quiet most of the time, observing, but fiercely loyal to her friends and huge fun to be around once you gained her trust. "You mind holding the fort while we're gone?"
"Of course," she said, in her silk-like voice. Simon flashed her a grin.
"Right then," he turned to the rest of the vampires. "You guys keep working other angles, see if there's something we missed. Drink up, restore your energy too. Leo," he addressed a skinny, freckled boy with wild curls upon his head, "you do your usual rounds of the city, maybe pay a visit to the High Warlock, see if she knows anything about it – I know she insists she doesn't, but it can't hurt to try again, right?"
"No problem, Simon," replied the boy (well, decades-old vampire in a boy's body).
"Cool," he flashed a thankful grin at him. "If you want someone to go with you, bring along McLain." He was talking about the newest addition to their ranks; a burly Scottish vampire who had charmed most of the members of the clan, though a few still remained wary of the newcomer. Perhaps this would give him a chance to prove he was trustworthy. Even Simon wasn't quite sure where he stood as far as Adair McLain was concerned, and he was hoping to get a better idea. Speaking of the mysterious Scottish vampire, he still hadn't emerged from his chamber. Simon trusted the others would bring him up to speed later.
"Oh!" he said, snapping his fingers as another idea occurred to him, "Marta, if we're running low on blood stock, could you pay a visit to the butcher's?"
She nodded and he smiled, eyes bright. "Awesome, people. Well then, shall we?" his question was directed at the vampire siblings, accompanied by a jokingly extended arm towards Hesper, who looped hers through it with a mock-snooty expression on her face, humour glinting in her eyes. Kaspar nodded once, firmly. The three of them set off, Simon walking at an exaggerated jaunty pace, Hesper trying to stifle her giggles and Kaspar looking as neutrally imposing as possible.
Okay, so I know not much has happened, but I'm building it up. At least you got a little idea of Simon's clan though. Let me know what you think of them so far? :)
Now, since I have exams coming up next week that will go on until pretty much the end of the month, I can't say for sure when the next chapter will be posted. I have already started writing it, though finishing it may prove to be another thing entirely...
