The ending to "the pounding of an unbeating heart'

"Thirteen miles on thirty-one. Are drying...All along the adopt-a-highway lay the empty cans of masquerade."--Verve Pipe

"In retrospect, Tzevi...that was a very foolish maneuver, you could have easily have
been exterminated by those creatures. You lucked out this time, but be more careful in the
future." The Prince said, his hands clasped atop his oak wood desk, his head slightly forward, a
maneuver that meant neither disapproval nor approval on Shyrde's part. He sighed and shook
his head "What made you do it? I've never heard of you making such poor judgment."

Tzevi looked down at his lap, before he had come over to the Prince's office he had
showered and changed, still the tone in the Prince's voice made him feel lowly and uncouth,
even dirty. "You may not believe this, sir." He finally said "But it was for love."

"Love?" Shyrde's lips formed the word oddly, and he stared at Tzevi as if he had never
heard of the concept.

Tzevi nodded slightly, uncrossing his legs and leaning forward, his elbows propping up
his head, which were positioned on his knees. "You see, the man that is now a late member of
the Sabbat and a Tzimisce was a former lover. In my mortal life we were two very happy
lovers, spending almost every second of every day together, we really did truly love each other.
Then, my late sire Coltan Glen, and his rival, a Tzimisce and Reed's sire, decided to test their
abilities against each other by pitting two lovers against each other. I was embraced as part of a
game, to be disposed of before you knew about me, however the two sires finally killed each
other, but not before forever tainting mine and Reed's relationship. From that moment on, we
were enemies, fighting for the honor of our despicable sires that never really cared about us or
our welfare. It went on for a long time, until finally I got a chance to kill Reed and I did so, or so
I thought. Possibly my conscience wouldn't allow me to kill the only thing I had ever truly cared
about, because last night your childe, Julian, showed up and told me of Reed's return, and
handed me a death threat from Reed himself. I decided to search for him and end this once and
for all, dead set that I wouldn't do such a poor job of killing him this time, however, once we
met up our feelings sparked to life, only to find Fomori's that had followed Reed had plans on
killing me. Reed protected me and let me get away without a scratch, at the sacrifice of his own
unlife. He has more than redeemed himself in my opinion, which gives me a whole new outlook
on Kindred society and life as a whole."

"Certainly an intriguing story, Tzevi, but I get the feeling you did not come here to
gossip, you have something more to tell me, is that so?" Shyrde asked.

"Yes." Tzevi told him "I must resign as a member of the Primogen."

"Why?" Shyrde asked, almost on the verge of being enraged "You do not intend on
joining the Sabbat to somehow get closer to your dead lover, do you? Because may I remind
you that I would be the least of your worries if that was the case. The other Tremere and the
Tzimisce would rip you to shreds."

"My plan is not to join the Sabbat, your majesty you may trust me on that. However I
have come to a realization that I have had only a very narrow stream of knowledge when it
comes to this world that I inhabit. I have been a vampire for nearly a century, and the entire
duration of my life has unfolded behind the walls of the St. Louis region. I do not know why I
never had much of a wanderlust until this time, all I know is that the curiosity to see the world
burns within me."

Shyrde nodded sadly "If that is your wish, Tzevi. I cannot hold you against your will."

"It is." Tzevi said getting to his feet, anxious to start his journey "I would like to thank
you for your kind services. In my eyes there could be no greater prince for St. Louis than you,
your company is welcoming. I pray you prosper, dear friend."

Tzevi held out his hand, which Shyrde shook, and then Tzevi turned and walked out into
the cold night air. He had liquidated all of his belongings, everything but his clothes and the silver
amulet he had taken from Reed, around half a million dollars all together, more than enough to
explore the world without worrying financially. Vint had been given to Julian, along with a card
that thanked him for his friendship and his generosity, and all of his candles and books were
now buried with his dear lover, Reed.

The rain had ceased to fall, but its memory remained, pooled along the sides of the
roads, illuminated in the streetlights. The entire city seemed much more vivid, the lights from
apartments brighter, the crickets louder, and the cracks in the brick more apparent. It was as if
Tzevi had been living the last hundred years in a blurry dream, and he was only now waking up
and remembering what it was like to walk among the living and experience new delights and
wonders. He walked down the sidewalk, a blood red car with "Last Child" turned up too loud
driving by, sending up a sheet of dirty water that hit Tzevi in the face. Tzevi smiled, feeling the
water slide down the back of his neck and be absorbed by his turtleneck. Everything was a new
experience; everyone had a lesson to share.

"Well..." Tzevi thought aloud "Where should I go first?"


~End