Chapter 5 – Thin Blood and Thinner Ice
September 25, 2004 = Saturday
As we went down the stairs, I couldn't help but feel guilty for killing three people. I'd never wanted to kill, but now four people were dead by either my hands or my fangs. I knew logically that Dennis was going to kill me, or at least try, and had shot me five times but I still couldn't help but feel that maybe it could have went better.
Down on the beach, a few vampires still stood around a fire barrel as if trying to keep warm. It struck me as odd. I mean why would an undead person feel cold? I barely felt anything at all from being shot. Deciding it deserved a look, I walked up to one, who like Brian was shirtless. I needed to let Brian collect some stuff too, and didn't want him to get lost.
"Hey," I called and the guy jumped a little as he turned to face me, hands already clenching into fists.
"Listen, it's like I've told you types 'bout a thousand times now. We know we can't hunt 'round here, alright? We're minding our own business, so no reason to hassle the weaklings," he almost yelled at me. He was itching for a fight though, or maybe as I thought about his words, people were itching to fight him.
"Easy, I just want to talk," I said, holding up my bare hands, the same hands that could overpower a man three times my size and turn a human head into a baseball while still attached. Maybe they had a right to be afraid.
"You mean you ain't here to run us off?" He was lowering his hands and straightening his fingers, so maybe I could learn something.
"Um, no. Is that common?"
"We're getting pretty sick of it. Someone citing domain or in the worst cases, hunting us for sport. Don't know why, either. We all seem to have the same disease," he cast his eyes down, then kicked at the barrel. "Ah hell, who am I kidding? We're a bad horror show, alright? We seem to be the runts, the mistakes. You types call us thin-bloods. I say we're all equally screwed."
"Amen to that," I said, thinking about the Prince. My head was on a chopping block, and the sword was already raised. "I'm new to this myself. What's a thin-blood?"
"Damned if I know. I know you don't want to be one," he replied, shaking his head. He looked at me with a serious look, then went, "You seem to be in the loop, you tell me."
"I was still breathing, yesterday," I quipped back, realizing just how screwed we all were. I needed info because you can't just dig into a chest, even if you know everything about how its put together, until you know what you're looking for. Otherwise you could spend hours and find nothing. "How did this happen to you?"
"I'd just come to town for a surf tourney, seems like years ago now, but it's only been like 6 months. Every night during the finals I used to hit the local diner after the beach parties fizzled out in the AM. That's where I met her. She had a natural beauty, not like all the plastic dolls littering the sand. Her name was Lily. I remember introducing myself, the way she seemed grateful for the company. Well, a few nights after our meeting, we were and the beach alone and..."
He kicked at the sand, and I felt sympathy for him. He had it worse than I did. At least I was on the inside, even if I was on the chopping block. He was also turned against his will, but unlike me, he was hunted and hated. Pushed out and away, I hoped he knew what he was, but I needed to know what a thin-blood was, so maybe I could help him.
"She tried to tell me what she was, but I didn't understand. And so, she showed me. I was furious with her when I took it all in. I cursed her and left, never really knowing what I was. I realize now how she must've felt. So here I am, a mystery to meself."
"Well, I can tell you one thing. You're all vampires, though the preferred word is Kindred. You do need blood to survive, but you don't need to kill to do it."
"That's what Lily tried to tell me, but what I don't understand are the rules and the terms and the reason some of 'em are at our throats claiming we're harbingers of the apocalypse. That's what I want to know."
"I'll look into it, let you know if I find anything."
"Well, I hope you have better luck than I did. Only reason we're still in Santa Monica's cuz we haven't been run out yet."
"Oh, we'd appreciate it. Oh, 'fore I forget, names E. The black-haired beauty over there is Rosa. That nervous bloke is Copper, and the one who can't speak so well is Julius. Kids' gloves with them; they've had it rough."
"Any idea where I might start looking for information?"
"Seems no one'll talk about it. This all started that night in the diner. Maybe you could start there."
"Soon as I can," I said, seeing Brian come down in a shirt with some fancy sort of bag over his shoulder. He approached me, then I led him back out the parking garage up to the street. I stopped back by Mercurio's apartment, finding him still passed out on the couch. He wasn't breathing hard, and as I looked at him, didn't see him breathe at all.
"Aw, damn, did you die on me?" I so did not need this. The Prince would laugh himself silly if his agent died, then I would. I knew it. Thankfully, Mercurio came around, groaning a bit. He looked at me, then past me to Brian.
"He's with me. Hang on, got you some vicodin. It'll ease the pain."
"Ohh, holy Christ I needed that. Are there any other survivors?"
"Two ran away. Dennis is dead. Brian here is my new ghoul."
"Great, welcome to the club. I'll track the other two down later. If I have a later." I knew he was trying to kid but whomever was jerking his chain obviously didn't like screw-ups. Good to know, but I really needed him to concentrate.
"So what's the story with this Astrolite?"
"Astrolite, twice as powerful as TNT. Be on the other side of the world when you start that timer," He shook his head, coughing up some bloody phlegm. "You gotta make some place disappear. A warehouse, looks to be Sabbat."
Blow up a warehouse? I hope the Prince had a lot of pull in the FBI. I was going to be searched for all over this country, probably for years. Maybe he did, and this was just standard operation for Kindred.
"What do you know about it?"
"Heard a lot about that operation. I'd love to get in there, get my hands on some of their equipment. But it's suicide to walk in there, they got a small army of trigger-happy types and they're all packing'. There's a guy, never met him, but I've heard a lot about him. Name's Tung, Bertram Tung. He's one of you types. If there's anyone who knows more than me about this city, it's him. Unfortunately, he's hiding out at the moment."
"Why?" I asked, knowing I wasn't going to like the answer. Why was this getting complicated?
"Tung's lying low cuz of Therese, Therese Voerman. You know her? Word is Therese and Tung are feuding. Don't know the details. My take's that Tung thinks he's about to get whacked, so he's gone underground til Therese calls it off. If you want to put that warehouse into orbit anytime soon, you're going to have to get Therese to call of the feud."
"Where can I find her?" I asked, hoping it wasn't outside Santa Monica. I was on a short leash after all, and while I didn't know how well their eyes were watching me.
"She and her sister, Jeanette, run the Asylum just a few blocks south of here. Some freaky customers frequent that place. I try not to do business there."
"Alright, guess I better head to the Asylum."
"Take my bag, by the door. Got a gun in it. Thirty-eight special. Leave your ghoul here, though, we need to talk."
Brian gave me a pleading look, and I felt sympathy for the guy. But Mercurio knew things that Brian probably should know, like if he needed to register as a ghoul and how much his life was going to change.
"He's got a point," I told him, as I picked up the bag and slung it over my shoulder. "Stay here, but defend yourself in necessary, and keep him alive."
Heading back out, I began thinking of the ghoul I'd made in the clinic. Not wanting to lose track of her, I swung by. Getting in was easy, as the three in the morning tiredness hit everybody and no one was paying attention. I went into the exam room I found her in, only to find it empty. "Shit," I swore. I had hoped to keep tabs on her, but she'd been transferred to who-knew-where. Without her name, I couldn't hope to find out anything more.
Heading down the hall, I found an office door unlocked. I checked the computer, but it seemed to be mostly administrative. I did find a list of personnel, though I needed patients. On the other side of the hall, I checked the other door. The door here was locked, and remembering my new potence ability, let the strength flow through my arm. The sound of the lock busting was loud, though quick. Ducking inside before someone saw me, I checked the computer.
One of the first things to jump out after I hit a button was the 'Patients' tab. I quickly opened it, only to be prompted for a password. Cursing silently, I pulled open a drawer. A stack of memos lay inside. I shuffled through them, finding one marked with a password. It didn't tell who it was from, but it gave the new password as 'hippocrates.' Typing it in, I gained the system, and found information on four patients. The first was H. Poe, and she was listed as having been in critical condition. She had been transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. I checked the others, but most of them were just guys who needed to keep it in their pants and take their penicillin. God, men are such pigs!
Going back to the door, I cracked the door and checked outside. A security guard was walking the hall, but he didn't appear to be interested in anything. I slipped out as he was faced away from me and quickly walked down the hall towards the exit. Thankfully no one stopped me, and I was able to leave. Once I was outside, I headed into the alley and started walking towards Asylum.
I thought about Poe, sure she was the ghoul I had made. Though with the restrictions on my travel made it where I couldn't go retrieve her, I had to just accept the fact I could hunt her down later if need be. At least I knew her name, now.
Asylum was easy to find, though I was running out of night when I got there. You could still hear the loud music from inside. It wasn't Jewel, so I really didn't care. Going in, I found the usual bar fliers outlining the various acts set to appear. I didn't even glance at them. After cutting though the ID check area which was vacant, I entered the main club.
I hadn't even gotten the chance to glance at anything other than the fat guy tending bar before I was approached by the clubs hostess. I hoped it was the hostess. She was dressed as a complete slut. From the six inch high heels, to the white thigh high stockings and the barely-there mini skirt which was just longer than her panties but far short of her stockings, and the tied on white shirt which did not conceal her scarlet red bra. The slut-ensemble was topped with a red choker, that contrasted so sharply with her pale alabaster skin I was sure she either hated the sun or used makeup.
Pale alabaster skin? I did a double take real fast, even as she began to welcome me to her club. I caught the barest hint of fang and the realization I was talking to another vampire was like an electric shock. A fellow Kindred?
"What do we have here? Another scrumptious young plaything straight outta life and into my club? You smell new, little girl, life fabric softener dew on freshly mowed astroturf." She paused to take in my frightened look. "Ooh, I'm not scaring you, am I, duckling?"
"I just realized you were Kindred," I said, trying my best to keep my voice even. "You'd be the first real one I've actually had a chance to talk to since my..."
"You mean that farce of a trial? I was there duckling. The Prince wanted you dead so bad we all could taste it," she said, a trace of venom lacing her formerly sweet, innocent voice. "My name is Jeanette, and this bit of chaos crammed in a certifiable giggle is my club. I'd love to just give you funny feelings all night, sweetheart, but I really must trouble with some business. We'll reunite soon, I promise."
She turned and walked to an elevator set into a corner, and what I'm sure a lot of brain dead men came here to see was on full display. Shameless, really. She gave me one last smile as she stepped in, leaving me alone.
I took the in the bar scene. The dance floor was still full, and two people were at the bar. One, I noticed happily, was Knox. He had something dark in his glass, and was sipping it. A girl with red hair was also at the bar, waiting on a drink apparently. She had the tanned look common with girls today, and was dressed more modestly than Jeanette in tight fitting printed top and cotton pants. She waited, looking out over the club as if waiting on someone, thought I had the feeling she was trying to get picked up.
I'd heard girls talk before about getting so desperate they'd wait by the bar and wait on some guy to come along and hit on them. Samantha said once she got hit on by a girl, though I think that was more my friend trying to brag. I hadn't ever tried anything on a woman before, but I wanted to try feeding from someone without using violence, and I was getting a little thirsty.
"Hey, sweetie," I purred, still not sure how to attract a girl.
"Um," she said, turning to me. I tried to think of my best line but ended up saying one that I'd heard from one too many a desperate guy.
"Since I walked in here, I hadn't been able to take my eyes off you," I purred out, hoping my looks hadn't gone to hell since I'd been turned. My hair felt fine, but without a reflection I couldn't see myself at all.
"No," she drawled, her tone almost playful.
"Yes," I drawled back, hoping she took the line. She purred at that, smiling and probably thinking she was finally going to get out of here. I didn't have that in mind, but I could practically feel that jugular vein sing beneath her skin. "How about a kiss before I go?"
She wrapped her arms around me, and I gently brushed the hair from her neck, clearing the way to her jugular. As she lolled her head to the side, expecting me to kiss her, I leaned forward and brushed my lips against her ear. She giggled, excited by my playful act, and I brushed my lips over her neck. God, that jugular called to me.
Unable to hold back any longer, I let my fangs out and sank them into her neck. God this was heaven. The blood, now that I was able to take my time, was so much sweeter. I drank several deep mouth-fulls, before releasing my bite and licking the blood off her neck. It was only then I became aware that I was holding her up as she was passed out in my arms. Must have been heaven for her too. At least it tells me I'm not a complete monster.
I lowered her onto a bar stool, and leaned her up against the bar. I then turned to the bar keep, who wasn't even looking at us. I stepped up to the bar, and he looked at me as if just seeing me.
"What can I get you, beautiful?"
Beautiful? Really? Well, after seeing his bosses look I probably came across as better than most. "I'm looking for Therese. Where can I find her?"
"Therese? She's upstairs, bickering with Jeanette. I can hear them from here. Why do you need to see her?"
"I heard they're looking for a part-time hostess and wanted to talk to her about it," I lied, hoping that he didn't know any better.
"Damn, wish that was my job. Go on up and see her, just take the elevator behind you."
"Thanks," I called back as I walked to where Jeanette had disappeared to, and went inside. There were only two buttons, so I hit up and came out in a small hallway. There wasn't anywhere else to go, but the only door was locked. I could also hear them arguing. Apparently the sisters didn't get along.
I didn't much bother following the argument, but the paper on the end table did catch my eye. I thought it might be yesterday's but it was this morning's paper, and the headline was a story about a murder at the pier. Guy was strung up and gutted, according to the picture, but I just turned away. I didn't need to get caught up in mortal affairs.
Finally a slamming door pulled my attention back to the sisters, and I could hear steps come to the door near me. Therese was more bitter than Jeanette, but both had the same voice. When the door opened, I though Jeanette had just changed into a more professional attire. The woman before me was identical to Jeanette in body, but this one didn't have the gothic slut look. She wore a professional gray suit, and her heels were two inch, not six. She also wore glasses, but the lack of distortion told me that they were for show only, and not correcting any eye problems.
"Please, come in. I do apologize for my sister's crassness if it made you uncomfortable. She's unabashedly scandalous, but…in the club business, I suppose that kind of personality is a necessary evil."
"She's gone?," I said, looking around the room as I was led to the desk. It was large, and divided in half by a partition. On one side was a desk and computer, creating a small office space. The other side had a heart shaped bed that looked liked it belonged on a porn set, not that I knew of such things, and was setup for a bedroom. I knew they were sisters, but I was beginning to think they were twins. No one said different, but either something hinky was going on, or they were indeed twins. Time would tell, I guess.
"She's got issues she's still trying to get over so she's locked herself in the bathroom. Jealousy, really. You see, I was the family favorite and I'm the successful one and as you may have noticed, she's obviously starved for attention."
"That slut outfit? Yeesh, are guys that hard up around here?" I asked, which made the woman in front of me laugh. Taking it as a good sign, I continued on, "I assume you are Therese?"
"Therese Voerman, yes. I'm the proprietor of this club, and the only person whose good side it's in your best interest to stay on. What brings you to Santa Monica."
"I need to find Bertram Tung, who's hiding out because your feud."
"Tung's exile is self-imposed, I assure you. But then, what reason would I have not to hate that loathsome Nosferatu scoundrel. Bloody Nosferatu. They're so...unclean."
"Why do you hate him?
"He meddles in my affairs. He's a bad influence on my sister, and she on him. If you were in my place, would you let him compromise your authority? You wouldn't. I'd quite like it if I never had to hear that name again."
"Then can you put out the word that you've got no feud with him? Or at least tell me where to find him?"
"Why would I do either? Let him think I mean to kill him. That way, I don't have to worry about him sabotaging everything. Do you realize how this subterfuge makes me look to the Camarilla?"
"Do you realize how close my own neck is to the chopping block here?" I responded back, not caring if I was incidentally burning any bridges made. "The Prince is this close to killing me, and if I were to report back that I can't do his bidding because I can't find one Kindred because YOU have a petty feud with, how do you think the Camarilla will like that? I'm on orders to blow up their warehouse, so cut me a little slack here!"
Therese seemed to think at that. I didn't much care about politics, never have or will. She turned her chair to look at the partition, and I waited. I knew the sun was coming, and I needed to get back to my dingy bathroom before it rose, though I hated the thought of spending another day naked on the commode. Therese finally turned back to me, and the look on her face wasn't a very happy one, though her tone was still conversational.
"I'd be willing to put the word out that my grievances with Tung have been swept under the rug, but in return, you have to help me remove a particularly burden-some spirit from a property I'm looking to invest in."
"A spirit? You mean a ghost?"
"I forget your knew to this. Allow me to break you in. Yes, ghosts exist. Werewolves, mummies and I'd expect a whole lot of things I've never seen share the nights with us."
"So, what do I need to do?" At least I was getting somewhere now.
"Rumor is a personal item of a ghost's may be used to draw it out or excise it from its haunt. While I don't put much stock in heresay, it is my last option. So I want you to go to the Ocean House Hotel, find an item of the ghosts, and bring it back."
"I'll do it if you promise to call of the feud."
"Oh, I fully intend to do so. You'll find that dealing with me, on the whole, is appreciably more predictable than dealing with some of the egomaniacs that are my peers. So long as our business doesn't go sour, my word is gold."
"Good," I said, getting up to leave.
"Before I forget, take this," she said, offering me a key. "The only way to reach the Ocean House at night is through a tunnel in the sewers. You'll need that key to open the gate for that tunnel."
"Sewers?" I started to protest, then upon seeing her downright bitter face thought better of it. "If I must, very well."
"If you'll excuse me, I've got situations to set straight."
I walked back out the door and entered the elevator. Once downstairs, I headed straight out the door and back to Mercurio's to pick up my ghoul, Brian. He was actually outside, sitting on the steps.
"Where's Mercurio?"
"Back to his master, they came for him ten minutes ago," he replied, head bowed. He had the bag containing the Astrolite between his feet, and seemed tired.
"Well, nothing you can do. He is where he needs to be. Let's go home," I said, then started for my apartment. I looked at the sky, it was already brightening, the outlines of the buildings becoming visible. It was just before six when I entered the apartment. Brian kept quiet the entire way, eyes going up as he took in the dilapidated state of the apartment. He settled himself in, and then I had a moment of worry.
I couldn't lock myself in the bathroom. Brian was still mortal, and would need it during the day. That also meant I couldn't sit on the commode, arguably the cleanest part of the place. Taking one of the covers, I made a little pallet on the shower floor. I could feel the sun rising, and quickly stripped out of my clothes. Wrapping myself in a towel, I put my clothes on the desk.
"Brian, here's two hundred bucks. In the morning, at about nine or ten, I want you to go get me some replacement clothes. No more than two changes, neutral tones; grays, blacks. Just like what I've been wearing, a t-shirt, pants, a package of socks, panties and bras. Also, go by Good Samaritan in Los Angeles, and see if you can find an H. Poe, she's a redhead. She's also my ghoul. She was hurt here in town, and was taken to the local clinic, then transferred. If she won't, or can't come back, just let me know. Don't make a scene, don't get arrested. I need to know where she is and if she's alright."
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
I felt the sunrise, literally, as I stifled a yawn. "I gotta…go through...the sewers...tonight, get a….light…batteries," I said, unable to stifle my yawns any longer. I staggered back into the bathroom, and my world sank into gray as I felt myself drop into blackness.