Authors Notes:
Taking things differently obviously, you will learn who spoke to Draco in the alley when he was being shot at. Going forward, this will be fun.
I Don't Own Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines.
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Chapter 2: The Blood We Share
Draco POV
After my cab picked me up, I stopped at a twenty-fours clothing store to replace my hole-ridden shirt and messed up pants.
I got some money from the Camarilla guys to use, bought myself a pair of jeans, red button up shirt, leather boots and a black leather trench coat. Afterwards my driver said that we had one more stop before Santa Monica.
Now I'm walking through a dark cemetery, I worked here once but I quite after two weeks; felt like something was watching me at night and I think I know why now.
Most of these graves were recently deceased, and then I saw it. I saw a gathering at one of the tombstones just down the hill under a path light.
I felt my undead heart tighten as I recognised who they were, family from my mom's side, friends from my old schools and co-workers from some of the jobs I did over the years. I knew everyone's face and seeing the sadness in their eyes made me realize, I was attending my own funeral; from a distance.
My body remained stiff in place, I saw my cousin Samantha; tears gushing down her cheeks. I realize that when one becomes Kindred; your human existence is over so the Camarilla essentially exaggerated my death. Be wrong to say they staged or faked my death since I did die in a sense.
It was painful to watch and do nothing, but I stayed put knowing I would only make things worse by walking up. They need to mourn and I need this to come to full terms with my existence.
I am no longer human; I am the stuff of nightmares and legends. I will outlive any and all I meet from now on and its time I accepted that.
I watched from afar for a few minutes and decided to leave before anyone saw a familiar stranger staring at them from afar.
My cab ride to Santa Monica was one of silence and contemplation. The driver was polite enough not to say anything.
When I finally made it, I was exhausted. The prince set me up in this apartment building where as he put it; 'I would find my Haven', must be Kindred for home or lair. Considering what I had heard about the Camarilla, I expected my Haven to be decent at the very least, turns out it was the penthouse of Shitville. The small apartment was disgusting; terrible smells, stained mattress, nightmare bathroom, kitchen disaster and more. My old apartment was better than this place; at least the windows were boarded shut.
The sun had risen and I was tired, despite being in the most disgusting accommodations I'd ever encountered; I rested on the bed and found sleep.
Somehow; I don't think Vampire sleep the way humans do, it's like I'm awake but with my eyes shut and my body is in resting mode. I don't dream but thankfully; time seems to pass fast in this aware sleep state. I think at least…
I lost track of time and my mind was simply wandering when, it happened.
Like entering a dream, I found myself suspended in absolute darkness. I looked around and found nothing. Then I heard the distinctive playful chuckle of a woman.
I turned to find a smiling woman looking at me; her eyes were as black as the surrounding void and they seemed to gaze into my soul. She had dark hair but it wasn't as dark as her eyes, lips painted blood red and wearing a simple yet elegant white sundress with flowers running down its length from the waist down.
She wore a coy smile on her smile and it seemed strangely familiar.
"The expression on your faces never ceases to amuse me…" That voice! Michelle's voice, but she's…
"I can see you have questions my Childe, unfortunately we don't have much time." The woman's voice was like silk yet it held a feel of mischief.
"Who are you?" She had Michelle's voice but was clearly not her but everything about her reminded me of Michelle, even her wordplay.
The pale woman smiled at me like a loving mother. "I am your Sire, for you are my Childe. We have met before but you knew me when I inhabited the body of the Kindred you call Michelle. As for My name, I have been given and used many over the millennia. You may call me Lilith."
Just like that my body and mind froze. Lilith, in the Old Testament was the first Wife of Adam; first man. When I was younger in school, a few vampire fanatic classmates who kept yapping about vampire once said that some believe that Lilith was the mother or source of vampirism. Now I think those idiots might have been on to something.
Lilith chuckled again, giving me a knowing smile like she could read my mind and I'm sure she can. As if to answer my thoughts, she nodded like a happy child.
"I am indeed that Lilith, though there is only so much truth to me being the source of vampirism." She spoke in a calm yet almost sorrow filled voice, like the truth held a bitter memory for her.
"Why did you choose me to become a vampire?" I had so many questions but I would probably have to figure them out for myself, life isn't kind enough to 'handle with care'.
"Patience, my Childe. Time grows short, you can trust few but there are those who you can. Be safe and don't let the blood rule you." Giving a reluctant smile, Lilith vanished from sight and I was alone again, took me a few moments to realize I was awake with my eyes shut.
I rose from my disgusting accommodations and put the radio on for a tune. Only to find that rerun idiot calling 'The Deb of Night', again.
I put the TV on to see if anything interesting going on. Only a celebrity near death experience and cargo ghost ship. The most interesting thing was a giant squid that washed up.
I opened the fridge to find it stocked ahead of time with blood packs, the label said 'Blue Blood', must be rare so I'll save it for another time.
Checking my emails, one from a LaCroix and another from the contact. LaCroix sounds snobbish enough to suggest that European descent asshole of a Kindred prince.
Password to my e-mails is 'Sunrise', guess these guys still have a sense of humour even if it's a sick one.
Reading the emails, I decide it's time to get this done.
I head downstairs and when I get out the front door; there's this bum outside.
Call me weak, but my mother taught me to be kind. So I gave him twenty bucks and was on my way.
I had just reached the street when I smelt blood.
I turned to catch just a glimpse of someone crawl into the deluxe apartment building, the place I was heading already.
I get in and the place looks like a triple murder scene; blood everywhere. My sight goes red again and I'm trying not to let it rule me, just like Lilith said.
I open the room with the bloody handle and the trail leading to it. Inside I find a man beaten to a bloody pulp on the couch groaning for dear life.
"Those mothers… they ripped me off. I'm dyin' here. Ohhh!" The man screamed I approached slowly as my vision began messing with my coordination.
The man saw me and looked terrified. He was weak and the impulse was calling for me to act on it.
"What's with your eyes? You look like something Frankenstein would shit just seein'." The man said in slight panic.
Looking to the mirror on the wall; I saw what he meant. Red eyes glowing with danger, pupils like slits and the rest of the white of my eyes were pitch black. Now I get why everyone gets so freaked out when they see me and I see red.
I used to have my mother's eyes. I focused on that memory I had of her happy brown eyes, desperately trying to ignore the one of pain and sadness from the last time I saw her.
I blinked a few times and I finally saw normally and my eyes were the ones my mother gave me.
I took a deep breath even if I didn't need it, but tried to calm myself the only way I knew how.
I looked back to the bloody man who seemed to relax when he saw my eyes were no longer that of the devils favourite son.
"Sorry. You Mercurio?" Apologizing for my first impression and leading to the question since he wasn't too freaked out.
"Uhh… yeah. You're here lookin' for the Astrolite, well I messed up, big time. Bastards shanked me; the blood ain't workin' no more. Feels like my skulls cracked and I think I can feel the breeze on my insides." Mercurio groaned, he was in pretty bad shape and looked like he'd nod off to the other side any second now.
"Stay with me. What happened?" I asked, trying to keep him awake and alive, his clearly no vampire but he knows about us.
"I got… I went… What's this lump? Is it my rib? You gotta look and tell me." He was beginning to whine more, but it was a broken bottle of Scotch, good year too.
"Good news is; it's not your ribs, bad news is; it was a waste of a good year of Scotch." I showed him the bottle and I saw both relief and anger in his eyes.
"Goddamn chemist! Ya can't trust any operators in LA anymore. This guy mixes up speed; his crew sells it, seemed reliable. Do the occasional explosives. Set up the drop and they got the drop on me, four bastards hit me with a bat like a horse. They grabbed the money left me for dead. Rookie move; going alone." Mercurio was raving, might keep him alive.
"Crawled to my car and had to drag my ass here. If it weren't for the vamp blood; I'd be dead by now." That last part got my attention.
"Vamp blood?" I questioned and he gave me an understanding look.
"You're straight off the bus. I get fed vampire blood once a month. Heals me faster and makes me stronger than a normal human. I don't age, you can't tell just by looking at me but I'm nearly sixty." That's new; humans that work for vampires don't age.
"Where can I find the Astrolite?" Obviously I can't do my job if I don't get it and I'll need to get it, best ask for direction.
"Those small time sons of bitches live in a dump out on the beach. I don't care how you do it but get the Astrolite, reason with tongue or a shotgun. I prefer the latter but I ain't going anywhere." Down by the beach, easy enough follow the smell of salt. Looking at all the blood, I can't just leave him here like this.
"Well I'm out; I'll get something for the pain; you're gonna need it." I spoke before I could think; doing all kinds of work was also because I wanted to be of use, not just evidence of my old man's lineage.
"One more thing… if anyone finds out about the deal, I'm dead. I'm begging ya, I have a way to get you anything; you just name it. Just don't tell anyone, okay?" The offer was tempting, but I'm not like most people or Kindred.
I kneeled and grabbed his shoulder. "Don't worry about that; hang on till I get back with some medicine." The look in his eyes, I swear he almost cried.
"You good kid, I've never met a vamp like you, even a fresh one ain't as decent to a ghoul like me." Mercurio rested his head on his arm to save his strength and I took off.
Once outside; I found the hospital right across the street.
Before I could even reach the door, this guy pulls me aside. "Man, your one of 'them' ain't ya?" He spoke in a not so hushed tone but it was too casual and still too loud for my liking.
For the sake of the Masquerade and my own survival, I decide to play it dumb. "You smoking something, pal?" He freaked out in praise, this guy may act weird but his clearly onto me somehow and he just wouldn't shut up.
"The names Knox Harrington! Pleasure to meet ya!" He screamed.
I grabbed his arm and squeezed enough for him to cringe. "Keep your voice down." I growled and he seemed even more excited if it was even possible.
"Come on man, just because I'm a ghoul doesn't mean you have to be such a dick because you're an awesome vampire." There's that word again, 'Ghoul', must be what these ageless human operatives are called.
"I apologise if I'm trying to keep myself alive because someone doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut when you're not numb to the threat opening your trap can cause." My voice was even and stern, I learned how to deal with idiots and drunks while working as a bouncer in a club at Hollywood few years ago.
Knox took a second to take in what I said and he seemed to get the message to not do anything stupid.
He looked down like he was ashamed, like puppy being caught eating the couch stuffing.
I eased up on his arm and looked him over again.
"Look; I'm pretty new to this and I escaped death at least five times in last twenty-four hours. I'm just trying to survive and you just happened to tick me the wrong way. Mind telling me what a ghoul is?" I explained my situation as briefly as I could, he started to look up then his eyes almost jumped at me when I asked him a question.
"Sure man. The way it was explained to me; is that when one of… you 'guys' lets a human drink some of your blood, we gain increased healing, strength and ageless bodies. Ghoul's essentially, so awesome." Knox explained to me, being careful with his words around me and the bystanders.
"I can see you're clearly enjoying the side-life of us, but tell me; who made you a ghoul?" Scraping the obvious aside and down to details.
Sadly Knox's sire; obviously told him not to say anything, so I settled for directions to the beach before heading inside the hospital.
If push comes to shove, I'll take a few pages out of Jack's book of Survival 101, meaning nothing good.
The reception was packed and the receptionist was packing more than that, attitude before I could open my mouth. Saying their full and to wait, all she's doing is sitting on her ass and these people look like they're at her mercy.
I caught a glimpse at a business card on the desk for a technical assist company, my luck.
"I'm from the technical assist company, your network was reported to be on the verge of crashing and you're here wasting my time." I spoke in the professional voice I picked up from most establishments.
The receptionist was not too pleased at my response; she gave me the keys and free roams of the place. Broad didn't know what to do so she caved.
I went into one of the furthest offices, some hospital; there's only on physician on sight and his patient lost his pulse five minutes ago and he is still trying to get a response, idiot.
Found a quick guide to computers and picked up a new hacking trick. The office computer only had personnel files and personal comments.
I had to pick the lock of the other office since the stupid nurse didn't give me all the keys, but I found what I was looking for. Morphine was just what Mercurio needed for the pain; I hacked the computer in the office for good measure and found the patient list and some interesting email from the receptionist to the only doctor present tonight.
As damning as the proof of an affair was, I didn't need to help them mess up seeing how stupid they were.
On my way out, I caught the smell of fresh blood and the sounds of a pulse getting dangerously slow. The cheating doctor was still yelling at a corpse with the bullet in its head, so I opened the door where the scent lead and saw a sight all too familiar.
A redhead young woman was covered in blood on the makeshift bed, her weak arms barely sustaining her weight to sit up. She was moaning and groaning in pain, what struck me was the position she was lying, just like when I last saw my mother.
"Please… get a doctor." She wheezed in pain, holding her hand out in a begging manner.
This situation was agonizing; I grabbed her hand and nodded.
I walked out looking for help; the woman's cries were clear as if I was still there.
Not thinking what to do, I tried the doctor but he fed me that bullshit of this patient being more severe despite his lack of breathing. Told me to go wait with her and keep her awake, so I did.
I held her hand and felt how cold it went, her heart was getting even slower and I knew she wouldn't make it.
"Can someone call my grandma… please?!" She was crying, and out of breath.
I felt helpless sitting there. When my mother died, she was crying just like this. I held her hands long after she went limp. I couldn't do anything so nobody blamed me, but I did.
Her skin grew pale…
"No, not this time…" I said out loud.
"Stay with me, I can save you." Her only response was to meet my eyes before groaning even more and crying in pain. The look in her eyes told me, she shed tears out of sadness, sad because the world had been so cruel. To the both of us it seemed.
I don't know what I was thinking, I reacted on impulse. I don't know if it was my new instincts or something else, but before I knew it; I drew my sleeve back and cut my wrist to draw blood.
I did the same for her wrist and placed our wrists together, allowing our blood to mix and for it to sink into her wound. I raised my bloody wrist to her mouth and she grabbed it like she knew what to do.
She began to suck my blood, the wound on her wrist healed in a matter of seconds leaving no scar. She kept sucking my blood and I didn't pull back, even when I knew she had enough.
After a few more sucks, she let go gently and began gulping down the contents of her mouth.
In that moment, I knew she would be okay but I still didn't know why I saved her so suddenly like that. Me, a vampire, Kindred of the night saving what should be considered an easy meal with no chance of penalty or getting caught.
"You alright?" I wasn't sure how this would affect, would she become a ghoul or a vampire? Knox said he only drank the blood, but out of instinct; I mixed our blood. Her heart was still beating, chances is she will be a ghoul.
I refuse to keep her like a pet, seeing Knox is so high on unlife blood he's a danger to himself and the Masquerade.
"You… Who… Who are you?" She asked as the colour returned to her face and she realized the pain was gone. "What… What did you do to me?" Now I began to feel guilty, by saving her life; I might have condemned her to a worse fate.
I looked down in shame. "I just wanted to help. I don't know… I just acted on impulse." I kept my explanation vague, the less she knew the better.
"But you did something." Her eyes flashed for a moment. "I-I-I kissed your wrist… I can feel something, something different, it wasn't there before." She noted the bloody kiss mark on my wrist.
"Look, forget about this… don't say anything. You'll be fine." I kneeled to look her in the eyes; I didn't have the heart to compel her to forget so I just asked as gently as could manage.
She leaned down, her exhaustion finally catching up and lack of pain helped her as well. Her eyes began to sag as I released her hand, for some reason it was difficult to let her hand go.
"I feel… like I know you from somewhere… I just need some rest…now." Her words were slow and drowsy but she closed her eyes and was sleeping gently.
I picked up a blanket and covered her for warmth; she's breathing and her heads uncovered so she won't be confused for a cadaver unlike the one the doctor is…
The doctor is still busy with a long dead patient and this girl nearly died, I need a word with him.
I walked into the room to find him and the nurse rocking on cabinet most passionately, patient's body just recently covered.
They stopped their humping in shock and horror at being caught in the act, LA is definitely not the City of Angels.
"People are suffering and dying. What are you two doing? Fucking on the job!" I raised my voice.
They were frozen so I had their undivided attention. "I was aware of your affair from the e-mails, but this is just pathetic." Panic grew in their eyes, if this got out; they will be fired and still have to deal with court about neglecting their duty as doctor and nurse.
"I'll keep quiet about this if you do me a favour." My offer gave their eyes hope, but cost is always the worry.
"What do you want?" The doctor asked as he pulled his scrubs pants up and the nurse cowered behind him.
"The girl you were going to let die, she'll live now, don't ask how. Take care of her till she can be discharged and there's a friend of mine I want treated, but it must be off the records." Considering what I'm holding over their heads, that's getting off easy.
"Fine, deal." The doctor sneered at the deal but wasn't one to look gift horse or vampire in the mouth if that's all I'm asking.
"Get a bed ready, I'll be back shortly." I left without another word.
I gave Mercurio the Morphine and immediately he was more at ease. Despite his objections, I hauled his ass to the hospital. I saw them move the girl when I dropped Mercurio off and made for the beach.
I found the parking lot and headed for the beach, the cops were chatting amongst themselves by the gate about a murder. One even had an interesting story that I wouldn't have believed last week, now I'd swear his telling the truth.
Down the stairs and through the tunnel; just like Knox said. The beach was surprisingly not empty for a cold night. A woman approached me, looked me dead in the eyes and spoke. "Up there, through the chain-link fence and up the steps are the men you are looking for."
Not breaking eye contact, she pointed toward the metal stairs. "How would you know that's who I'm looking for?" It was unsettling that she knew all that in detail as vague it was. "Never mind, you wouldn't understand." Like that she walked away.
I didn't have time to waste so I left it at that, I saw a wooden stake in the sand. Thinking to all those movies; I grabbed it just in case I need it.
I climbed the stairs and came to a house at the top, one shirtless guard out front. I approached slowly to not appear as a threat.
"Help ya?" The guy asked smugly, I could smell the speed on this guy from a mile away.
"Relax, I'm here to buy you-know from you-know-who." I played it cool; for now anyway.
"Okay, you can go in. If you really want to make my night go ahead and start some shit cuz I'd love that." The idiot was so jacked his looking for a fight, guess he never heard of no sampling the merchandise.
"Is that so?" I walked right up to him; he didn't notice the wooden stake slip out from my sleeve into my hand. The thug had this shit smile on his face and I needed to vent some pent up emotions.
"Okay then." I answered and before he could move a muscle, I rammed the stake up through his jaw and into his brain. His eyes just fell loose as I pulled the stake free and let him fall.
I walked around the house since houses like these have their own power boxes outside since their so far from any urban electricity source.
I was going at this smart.
I flipped the switch and heard them groan in annoyance.
The guard dog was going to be an issue so I hugged him, tightly until he was quiet.
The thug came to the switch not a minute later, blundering in the dark where I could see as if it were day. I crept up behind him and snapped his neck.
Going in smart means turning the lights out and making their last moments a nightmare.
I kicked the door off its hinges and leapt at the closest enemy putting the stake through his heart. The other heard it but couldn't see me so they shot randomly.
I dodged their sloppy shots like it was a game of Tag. They kept shooting until I was right in front of them and they had no more bullets. I beat them with my own two fists, breaking bones in a few places and dislocating joints. I left them screaming before I went to deal with their boss; who stupidly pulled a gun when he caught sight of me.
He didn't fire but I could see him shaking in fear as he tried to aim for something in the dark. I pulled a gun I got from one of those screaming in the next room and took aim. You'd think they'd know not to fire a gun while inside a meth lab.
He shot and missed; I shot and hit a vial of chemicals behind him. The chemist was now running out the house on fire to the nearest source of water. Must have forgotten there's a cliff between him and the water.
He screams stopped with a satisfying thud that only a Kindred's ears could hear.
The thugs wouldn't keep explosives in the lab so I searched the place and I found the device with a cigar box filled with money; must be Mercurio's.
Mercurio would probably in surgery or just out of it so I should wait till tomorrow night.
I made my way down to the beach; it's quiet and peaceful even with the four who are already here. I might as well pass the time till sunrise.
I stood next to the only one who was shirtless; seemed odd so it's worth it to ask.
"Nice night out?" I asked and he jumped away when he saw me.
"Hey, what's wrong? I didn't mean to scare you." I tried to ease the situation.
"You ain't here to run us off?" He asked with an Australian accent in a nervous tone. I spotted his fangs as he spoke and I realized he too was Kindred.
"Why would I do that?" My question only seemed to confuse him further.
"Usually when one of you guys show up they tell us to get lost or do us in right then and there." He spoke in an uneasy tone.
"Why would Kindred hunt their own?" I asked; genuinely curious now.
"Hell if I or any of us know. They say were sick or Thin-Bloods is what they call us. The runts and the mistakes, but we're all equally screwed." He relaxed as he no longer saw me as a threat.
I guess even vampires still have prejudice for the weaker breeds of immortals. "I take it you don't have a clan?"
"Clan? It's always the same. We don't know what we are or what devil contract we signed." He was clearly upset at his situation, of all their situation and I feel for them.
"What's your name?" I asked trying to ease the tension.
"Call me E." We shook hands like we still walked among the living.
"Nice to meet some decent Kindred I can connect to." I offered a smile.
E smiled back. "Still got no clue what that means, mate."
"We're vampires, but we call ourselves Kindred. Surprising enough, I'm new at this myself." My words surprised E.
"You seem a bit well versed to it for a newbie." He laughed.
"It comes naturally to me somehow. Tell me, what happened to you." I decided to look into this Thin-Blood situation.
"God, it feels like years ago. Was about six months ago I came for the surf tourney. Every night during the finals; after the beach parties died out I'd hit this local dinner. That's where I met her." E looked back on the memory and spoke in a dreamy voice when he mentioned 'her'.
I smiled; I always enjoyed a good story. "Please, continue." I gestured while I crossed my arms to listen to E's tale.
"She had a natural beauty, not like the all the plastic dolls you find here in the sand. Her name was Lily, remember introducing meself, she always seemed grateful for my company. Few nights after our meeting, we went down to the beach alone…" E trailed off in regret.
"Go on." I encouraged.
"She tried to tell me what she was, but I didn't understand, instead she decided to show me. I was furious when I took it all in, cursed and left. Now I know how she felt, not knowing herself, now here I am; a mystery to meself." E face went sad at how he left Lily.
"Is Lily dead?" Stupid question I thought as the words left my mouth.
"Clinically, yes. But I have a feeling that she might still be out there or I'd have left by now. There's still so much I have left to say to her." I could hear the yearning for forgiveness and the throbs of love in his voice.
I looked to the others who were clearly Thin-Blood's as well; they gave off a distinctive scent and carried themselves with a livelier step. More like humans, so it's possible other Kindred fear their existence more than their presence, un-living proof that the vampire bloodlines grow weaker and spell out extinction for the species.
"You thought I was going to throw you guys out when you saw me, you seemed to have gone through the drill a few times already. Kindred give you trouble no matter where you go?" I wanted to be certain about the facts before setting off.
"Aye. Most only recently arrived, got chased from their hometowns by the Sabbath or something like that. Their good people and just as in the dark as me." My eyes narrowed when E mentioned those mindless hounds.
"The Sabbat, typical vampire movie monsters, steer clear of them, they nearly clipped me back Downtown. Their viscous, bloodthirsty and dense, but they're a definite threat to you guys and they don't take prisoners. So be careful, E." I gave my first-hand warning to the uninformed.
"Tell you what; I'll look in to this Thin-Blood situation for you. Maybe I can pick up Lily's trail and find out what happened." E's eyes lit up with hope.
"Well I wish you luck. Only reason we're still here cuz we haven't been chased off yet." E shook my hand and told me about his bunch before I was off.
The woman who spoke to me before I went up to the beach house; names Rosa, she can see the future. I'm inclined to believe it since she nailed my path without even knowing a thing about me.
E mentioned the Surfside Diner, best start there.
I made my way to Second Street; passed the nightclub called The Asylum to the diner.
Old crone by the register looks as friendly as the nightclub seems safe for children.
Asked if she'd seen anyone fitting Lily's description with E and she replied: "About four dozen. You gonna order anything?" Polite as I could manage with my waning patience, I asked if she ever heard about Thin-Bloods.
Finally got somewhere with the woman, said she remembered seeing Lily and that she left her purse behind. She gave me Lily's thing because she thought I knew Lily, might as well return them if I can.
No money, no ID and no license, just a picture of Lily dated August third along with a bail bond receipt for a Rolf Toten. Better check out the bail bond place, see if they have any records related to this Rolf.
I walked into Bail Bonds, the only guy there was too busy with a call to notice me access the computer and pull up Toten's file. Got arrested when his Visa expired, only reason Lily had the receipt is because she bailed him out. The only other thing on his file was his car license plate number; car wasn't picked up after he got out by the looks of it.
I found the guy's car, called it the Red Thunderbird, but I know a 1965 Mustang when I see one. Trunk was unlocked, found a diary.
The diary belongs or belonged to Lily. Inside was a detailed description of how Lily met this Rolf Toten, Kindred from Europe. Bastard abandoned Lily after she bailed him out because his clan wouldn't accept her because she was a Thin-Blood. Then she met E, she genuinely cared for E; more than Rolf. Like E already told me; things went downhill after she turned him. She was hungry but refused to feed, she was desperate, planned to steal from the blood bank.
The blood bank was in the hospital, Kindred must have people inside to provide us with subtle nourishments. If that was the case; they would guard it like a gold bank, the last place Lily should try to break into.
It was early morning; sunrise was three hours away so I need to hurry. I arrived at the hospital, I headed upstairs to deal with the security systems, don't want the humans to pick up my trail. I convinced the guard that I was technical assist. I deleted the security cam files and messed around with the coding to make it look like a virus passed by.
They had some tight security on the controlled substances room. I found a blood pack, but it wasn't human blood and definitely not vampire blood, whatever it was; I should take it in case it could spell trouble for Kindred in human hands.
I headed down to the blood bank; the manager was a real creep. I got the same feeling of uneasiness when I spoke to Knox; that tickle of mania in the mind of a human who knows about vampires spells 'ghoul'.
Most ghouls seem to be junkies for the blood; Mercurio is the only exception thus far and I hope that girl I saved doesn't fall to this either.
The creep not only stonewalled me; the fucker began to ignore me. If I got my hands on him, I'd rip him a new one! That would likely put me in trouble with the 'Queen Bitch' who is his sire and a rather nasty one by the way he speaks of her.
Well; time to drop the pleasantries and use my skills.
The blood bank had a back door, lock was a bit tricky; nothing a boost from my blood can't fix.
I snuck into the blood bank, searching all the rooms I found another clinic employee. I used quite a bit of blood and I haven't fed in a while, back turned toward me and I won't waste that moment of weakness.
Just like in that alley; behind the theatre I stalked my prey from behind and dined on his medical degree blood. Jack was right, the quality overruled quantity any day.
I didn't take more than I pint before I was satisfied and released him, like Jack said, I can't kill them or risk my humanity and I'm rather fond that thank you.
I left the human in a dazed state.
Found a computer, hacked a passcode for one of the freezers. Blood bank freezers don't have security locks like that, must be something hidden in one of the freezers. I grabbed a few blood packs from the racks in the freezers. I knocked boxes aside looking for some kind of dial.
Finally found it, small little thing is easy to miss. The passcode unlocked a secrete door in the locker, the switch behind the door open another door to another room.
What I found made me sick.
There were these chairs with these claw like arms that had needles, there was only one chair filled.
It was Lily! I recognised her from the picture I found.
I checked to see if she was 'alive', the moment I touched her she jerked awake and tried to bite my fingers off.
She was blood starved…
The bastards have been draining her for their product demand!
I reached into my coat and pulled out a blood pack which I picked up in the freezer. Lily's eyes zeroed in on the crimson delicacy which was; if I'm reading right, Elder Blood.
She began mumbling incoherently and fight to get out the chair even harder, whatever these things were made of was tough if they could hold her down in this state.
I held the pack out like an offering and she bit in to the pack and began to suck its contents.
"What in god's name?!" The door opened behind me to reveal the employee I snacked on earlier. His eyes filled with fear as Lily looked at him with cruel and unforgiving eyes.
Neither Lily nor I needed this right now and I don't feel like making too many enemies just yet. I called upon the power lurking in my Kindred blood; each clan had their own; called them Disciplines.
Again; I find words flying into my head from nowhere. My clan has mental equity based abilities, aiming my hand charged with a Mindwipe spell.
I reached into the humans mind and pulled the delicate strings of his memories till there was no evidence of me or Lily and the icing on the cake.
"Sleep." I simply commanded and the man fell backward and began breathing deeply, clear evidence that he was in a deep sleep.
I turned back to Lily who had long since finished the blood pack and was looking much more alive; as alive as a vampire could.
When our eyes met; I saw that she had reclaimed her bearing and I quickly undid the bindings. Helping her out the chair till she could stand by herself.
"Thank you for helping me, but who are you?" Lily was cautious seeing where she's been these last few months, her paranoia was understandable.
"I'm a friend, I heard about you from E." Lily's eyes lit up when I mentioned E.
"E? You know E? How do you know E?" Lily was desperate for information about her fellow Kindred.
"He asked me to find out more about Thin-Bloods, I followed your trail till I found you." When she heard 'Thin-Bloods'; her eyes fell in shame.
"I tried to tell E about his condition, but he was so furious for what I made him, he wouldn't listen to me. From what I've been told, a Thin-Blood is a vampire whose blood is weaker than most." Lily explained, I'd guessed that much so far. I stayed silent so she knew I was listening.
"Rolf, my sire, told me that most vampires consider Thin-Bloods a bad omen and want them destroyed. Rolf wasn't a Thin-Blood and I am. I don't know why. Rolf abandoned me; his group wouldn't accept me, called me a… liability." Lily's spirit seemed broken as she spoke the last part.
"I did the same thing with E, but I didn't want to leave E, he forced me out of his life. I… I should go, m… maybe out of the city." Lily looked down and began to whimper. I felt for her and all Thin-Bloods, I too had no sire, well not constantly present and I've always been alone.
I took a step forward and put a comforting hand on Lily's shoulder, she looked up.
"Maybe you should go down to the beach, there's a bunch of Thin-Bloods who are more clueless then you and I; who could use some assistance… And there's someone there who would like to see you again very much." Lily's eyes widened at the hope I was offering her, not believing her ears.
"E… doesn't hate me anymore?" Her voice was desperate for my words to be true.
"No. In fact, he has a lot of things to say, E's been waiting for you all this time." I gave her the truth she so desperately wanted and deserved at this point.
Standing straight and eyes glowing with renewed hope, Lily smiled at me. "I'll go see him, thank you." Lily took off.
While letting myself out; the ghoul manager or Vandal had some choice words that he forgot really quickly with this whole incident.
I made my way back to the beach and watched E and Lily reunite. It was sweet, vampires in love. I gave them some privacy before approaching E and Lily still in each other's arms.
"How's it going, you two?" I asked with a smile at their affectionate display.
"This life's been hard on both of us. But E forgives me." Lily leaned closer and rested an arm on E's bare chest.
"You brought my Lily back. I don't know why you helped us, but… your bloods worth bottlin'. I'll never let her go again. Thank you." E wrapped his arms around Lily to embrace her deeper.
"You're welcome, E. Keep her safe." I replied to the smiling couple when Lily looked up to me.
"We're leaving soon. I have some family with a place out in the middle of nowhere in Oregon. It should be okay for us to stay out there. As long as we're together." Knowing they're going somewhere safer is relieving, and then I remembered I still had Lily's stuff.
"You'll probably want this back." I handed her purse back with all her valuables. "Thank you."
"Keep your love alive. Goodbye." I bid them farewell. I don't know why but I felt so fulfilled, for a second I swear my blood warmed for a second and I felt slightly… different somehow.
Sun will be rising soon…
I stopped when I heard the distinct sound of claws on stone.
I turned to the pier and toward the cliff overlooking the pier and I saw…
"A wolf?"
VMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVMVM
Authors Notes:
I just had to include E and Lily. That part in the hospital with the doctor and nurse was payback and anger for standing around doing nothing while innocent people died while you're trying to trying to get a man with a bullet in his head; that's clearly dead to respond. Don't worry, Heather Will Return. Next chapter; I will be tackling one of my favourite places in the game and meeting the most 'interesting' people in Santa Monica.
Till next time… Fare Thee Well.