The two Tremere operatives looked down at the Tzimisce body and the large green pool. Tenor crouched down by the pool, peering intently.

"Interesting. Could Caine have somehow melted the Vampires into this?"

Avid looked down at the Tzimisce. "No such spectacle for their leader. I wonder if this was some psychological torture. Maybe he taunted this Fiend here by melting his companions before his eyes, before tearing out his heart. Get a sample of that substance, Tenor."

Avid considered the situation. A Sabbat pack? There'd been little other signs of the Sabbat in this city, so he assumed that this was an advance scouting party or something similar. One thing was for certain - they'd picked the wrong Vampire to play with this time. From what he'd seen of the one pretending to be Caine, and from the evidence in this alley, the warpack wouldn't have stood a chance.

"Avid!"

Avid span around. While collecting a sample, a drop of the green liquid had fallen onto Tenor's hand. Avid watched in macabre interest as the flesh started to bubble and melt on his companion's hand. Tenor took it less well, screaming and waving her hand about.

But suddenly, the melting stopped. Tenor had lost her hand, but the decay failed to travel any further up her arm. Avid noticed that at the same moment that the damage stopped, the green puddle had thinned out and turned transparent, like green-tinted water. He grabbed Tenor by tyhe shoulders and slapped her hard, bringing her back from the brink of a frenzy.

"Control yourself, Tenor!"

Tenor pulled herself together, though she was clearly shaken. "F-forgive me..."

"You were lucky. The substance must have lost its potency just as you dropped it on yourself. Its power is considerable, but temporary. I suggest you do some feeding, and then we'll call it a night. I doubt we'll get much more information until the meeting tomorrow."

***

Daedalus couldn't tear himself from the gaze of the two glowing sockets that had turned their full attention onto him. They burned their way into his mind even more than the light of the weapon at his throat burned into his skin.

"You are blessed in one way, Vampire." Raziel growled. "If it had been Kain who had discovered you, you would be dead now."

"And you..?" Daedalus managed to ask.

"I like to think of myself as a little more fair-minded. But I am not known for my patience, so you'd do well to start talking. You can start by telling me who you are."

"Daedalus. I'm the Nosferatu Primogen here..."

"Primogen? The one called Cash also used that title. You seem to be a little more evolved than he was, though, and more powerful if that trick with the shadows was any indication. Now, perhaps you'll tell me why you were watching me from the shadows."

"We...the Prince asked me to watch you...just until the meeting..."

Raziel's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, Daedalus could feel the cold fingers of Final Death reach for him. Then the bizzare blade disappeared, and Raziel backed off. Daedalus hadn't felt so relieved since he discovered that Julian had survived Eddie Fiori's assassination attempt.

"I don't find it hard to believe that your Prince would be nervous knowing that Kain stalks his streets."

"Your friend is rapidly gaining a reputation here." Daedalus quickly returned to the calm, collective personality he usually displayed. It was so much easier to display confidence when you weren't staring at death in the form of a brightly glowing sword.

"He has a way of doing that. You wouldn't believe how many people in Nosgoth would happily see him dead."

"Then he came here to escape persecution?" Daedalus hoped that this wasn't the case. If it were true, then more people from this 'Nosgoth' place may come visiting. And he dreaded to think of what could cause someone with the power that Caine had displayed to turn and run."

Raziel laughed. "Hardly. Let's just say that we are not here by choice."

"I see. This Nosgoth you refer to..."

Raziel titled his head. "Yes?"

"I'm afraid that I have never heard of it. Could you tell me where it is? In Europe, perhaps? Or maybe Asia?"

"No, you wouldn't know it. It certainly wouldn't appear on any map of Yoo- sa."

Daedalus blinked. "Yoo-sa?"

"That is what your land is called, is it not? Yoo-sa, also known as America?"

Daedalus spent several moments in confused indecision before revelation struck. "Oh, I understand, you mean the USA."

"Do I?"

"Yes, the word is actually an abbreviation..."

***

Despite his chest wound, Cash was on the streets looking for any sign of trouble. His bikers were patrolling the city, looking for any possible Masquerade breaches that the Caine imposter might cause. They'd all been warned against any confrontation if at all possible, but...

"Hey, Cash?"

Cash winced and turned around. "Trouble's brewing, Sasha. You don't want to be out tonight."

"Why? Is Caine going to come after me?"

Cash flinched. How did Sasha know...?

"I heard Julian and Lillie talking about him. They were pretty damn uptight about it. I heard that you and Caine actually had a meeting, and the first thing you say to me is to get off the streets. Something you want to tell me?"

Cash clenched a fist. "We can talk about it later."

"Or we can talk about it now."

Cash growled, and pulled Sasha into a shadowed street corner. "Listen to me, Sasha. This Caine guy, whoever he really is, is bad news. He and his little buddy took me and my entire gang down, and they were barely trying. You do NOT want to get involved with them!"

Sasha put a hand on Cash's chest. "I don't want...what?"

Before Cash could stop her, Sasha had pulled his shirt open, exposing his wound. The Reaver's cut had healed to a degree, but it still looked like someone had taken a bunsen burner to a knife cut.

"My god...did he do this?"

Cash pulled his shirt closed. "I don't want to talk about it. Look, trust me on this, Sasha. Julian's arranged a meeting with Caine. He's going to find out what this monster wants and get him the hell out of the city. And then we can breathe a little easier, alright?"

Sasha nodded, and pulled Cash into a hug. Cash sighed, and returned the embrace.

Why didn't he feel that things would be that simple?

***

Kain crouched on the roof of an old, abandoned house, watching the two Vampires that had trailed him. At first, he had assumed that they were more spies from the Prince, and had simply used his powers to escape them. When they came across the remains of the Sabbat Vampires he had dispatched, though, he had chosen to do a little spying of his own.

It had proven fruitful. Amusing too, when Tenor had almost lost her hand through sheer carelessness, dipping her hand into the pool created by his Font of Putresence like that. But after listening to more of their conversation, he had learned much of value. Firstly, these two were not apparently agents of Luna, nor were they friends of the Sabbat. Even better, Avid had mentioned the existence of Elysium, the place where Luna would arrange to meet Kain. Elysium in this city took the form of a meeting place called the Haven.

Kain momentarily considered confronting the two Tremere, but decided against it. They seemed of little threat to him, and he would rather survey the Haven prior to the meeting. If Luna tried anything on his home ground, Kain would prefer to know the battlefield.

Kain, still wearing the disguise that his Beguile spell had provided him with, approached two men dressed in the uniforms of the law enforcers of this world.

"Excuse me, gentlemen."

The police officers looked up at Kain. Apparently, Kain had appeared in the middle of a heated discussion. Kain paused, momentarily. The nearer man had slightly wild hair and an intense look about him. But it was the dark- skinned man who attracted Kain's attention - if his senses were to be trusted, the man was a Vampire. Kain was a little impressed that the Vampires of this world had infiltrated human society this much, though he'd never admit this to anyone.

The Vampire frowned. "Yes, sir?"

Kain quickly brought his mind back to the task in hand. "I require directions to an establishment called 'The Haven'."

The Vampire pointed down the street. "It's nearby. Down the street, second on your left, then third right, then it's about halfway down the street, right-hand side."

"I thank you."

Kain walked off. The human cop turned to his partner.

"That one of your guys, Sonny?"

Sonny shook his head. "I thought for a moment...but no. He's human, if my Auspex is worth a damn."

Frank chuckled without humour. "Your powers must be worth a damn - how long did they work on me?"

Sonny sighed. "I keep telling you, Frank, I never used anything on you." Sonny forced away a guilty memory of removing a few memories from Frank's memory the first time his cover had been blown. "You're my friend."

"Yeah, you keep saying. Strange that as a friend you failed to mention the odd little detail. Like you being one of these Vampires that keep making me look crazy!"

"I keep telling you..."

"You do. Look, let's just drop it, OK? I can yell at you later. Right now, let's just look for this Caine guy Luna's so scared of."

Sonny groaned. "I hope we don't meet him."

***

Raziel didn't know why he'd allowed Daedalus to live, and he certainly didn't know why he'd found himself sitting down with the Nosferatu, to start talking about his life and situation...

No. He knew. Daedalus, his manner of talking and general personality, reminded him very much of Janos Audron. Physically, they were very different - Daedalus had a hairless, twisted appearance that lacked Janos' wings, complexion and accent. But they both had the same presence. A quiet understanding, a feeling of power restrained by compassion, and even a similar emotional conflict, both Vampires pitting their good-natured personality against the hunger and darkness of the Vampiric curse.

Daedalus, meanwhile, was uncertain what to make of Raziel's tale. He spoke of different dimensions, powers and beings that Daedalus had never heard of. As a high-ranking member of the Nosferatu clan, Daedalus had access to much information on even the most exotic and mysterious of subjects, from the Assamites to the Baali, the Technocracy and even a little on Arcadia. He had never heard of anything like Nosgoth.

Daedalus sensed no sign of deception from Raziel. Of course, there was always the possibility that the horrific injuries that Raziel lived with had deranged the soul-eating Vampire, but that still left much to be explained, not least the bizzare powers that he and Kain had demonstrated.

Daedalus had asked about the glowing sword that Raziel had manifested. Raziel had called it the Soul Reaver, but refused to comment any more on it. Daedalus sensed despair and deep worry from Raziel, but could come up with no reason why Raziel should fear his own weapon so much.

One thing that Raziel had been very vocal on was his hatred of a man called Moebius. From what he could make out of Raziel's hate-filled rants, Moebius was a mage of some sort, one who specialised in time-related magic. He had been involved in the death of Raziel's friend, a Vampire called Janos, but Raziel's description of the event made little sense. He had spoken of how he had been tricked into leading himself into Janos' sanctuary, how his other self had killed Janos, and then how he'd killed and renounced himself. Daedalus wasn't sure what to make of Raziel's tale.

"I think you'd better leave, Daedalus." Raziel suddenly said. "Kain may come back soon, and it wouldn't be good for you to have him find you here."

"I understand. Raziel...you do know that I must tell my Prince what I have learned here."

Raziel nodded. "Yes. But tell Luna not to let Kain know what you have learned. It might anger him, and Kain is...difficult when angry."

"Thank you." Daedalus got up, but before he could disappear, he turned and asked Raziel one more question."Raziel? Is your Caine the same Caine of legend? The one who created the Clans?"

Raziel looked suprised. "I...suppose you could say that. He is legendary in Nosgoth, and he did create my Clan, and the others. But I can't see how you would know him here in Mirth."

Daedalus smiled a little. "Earth. Thank you, Raziel. I hope we can talk again."

***

The Haven was bustling tonight. On the stage, a young woman was singing a song about a place called New Orleans, and Kain saw various people chatting and drinking. There were Vampires here, several with glasses of blood that had been treated somehow to visually resemble red wine. Kain mingled with the crowd, getting some appreciative looks from the ladies milling around. Kain had long since realised that his Beguile form radiated an aura of attractiveness, but it had been centuries since he had received such attention - in the wasteland of Nosgoth's future, the Vampire and human females that he commanded were too awed to leer at him, and the human women who weren't under his command generally reacted by screaming in fear for a moment or two before dying of extensive blood loss.

One woman, a Vampire, approached him. "Welcome stranger. I don't recall seeing your face in my Haven before."

Kain bowed slightly. "Perhaps you merely have not noticed me until now."

"Oh, I'm sure I would have noticed a Vampire as handsome as yourself."

Kain suppressed a flinch. "Vampire?"

The woman laughed. "Your aura is hard to read, but I like to think of myself as a master of Auspex. Or a mistress, you might say."

The woman laughed lightly. Kain felt himself smile back, his usual caution slipping. A part of himself warned him against letting his guard down, but the woman was so alluring. Still, he kept from getting too comfortable. The woman might still see his Beguile form rather than his true form, but she was powerful enough to sense that he was a Vampire, not a human. In all of Kain's existence, no one had ever defeated the Beguile form even this much.

"I am impressed by your skill, ma'am."

"Ma'am? You are the polite one! I am Lillie." Lillie offered her hand. Fortunately for Kain, Nosgoth had a similar custom to this old-fashioned Earth one, and he lightly kissed Lillie's hand.

"Charmed, I'm sure." Kain quickly searched his mind for a name, sure that this perceptive a Vampire would have heard the name of Kain by now. "I am called...Magnus."

"The pleasure is mine. Won't you sit with me?"

"I would be honoured."

Kain followed Lillie to a table at the back of the club, sitting opposite her and accepting a glass of treated blood from a waitress.

"Tell me about yourself, Magnus. I haven't heard of you before, so I assume you came here to present yourself to the Prince?"

"As a matter of fact, I have."

"I thought as much. Which Clan would you be?"

Kain found himself frantically searching through his mind again. The first Vampires he had seen in this world, what Clan had they claimed to represent? "I am of Clan Brujah."

Lillie nodded. "I see. I should warn you that the Prince has a small grudge against members of your Clan. I'd recommend that you watch your step, at least at first."

"I shall endevour to do so. The Prince, tell me about him. Is he a hard man to deal with?"

"Julian? He's a fair Vampire. Harsh if you get on his wrong side, but follow the rules and keep the Masquerade, and you and he will get on just fine."

"Thank you for the advice."

"My pleasure. Well, speak of the devil..."

Kain turned to see three of Vampires approach the table. One was Cash, and the second was one of Cash's Gangrel, if Kain remembered correctly. He did not recognise the Vampire leading, though.

"Lillie? We have a guest?"

Lillie nodded. "This is Magnus. He's just entered the city and hoped to present himself to you." She turned to Kain. "Magnus, this is the Prince. Julian Luna."

Kain stood up, bowing, and quickly sizing up the Prince. "An honour, sir."

Julian nodded. "Thank you. Forgive me, but there is a situation occuring in my city."

"Yes...I have heard a few rumours."

"Then I hope you'll understand that I must delay your presentation."

"Yes, of course."

"If you would be good enough to breurn in two nights, I can meet you then. In the meantime..." Julian indicated towards Lillie.

"Then I will return in two nights. I look forward to our meeting." Kain turned to Lillie. "I enjoyed meeting you."

Lillie smiled. "So did I."

Kain walked off, leaving Luna to talk with Lillie probably about the same rumours Kain had mentioned. The ones concerning him. But Kain had learned enough. He was far from fearful about the Prince. In fact, he was amazed that such a weak Vampire could ever gain such a powerful position. Unless there was more to this Vampire than met the eye.

***

As Kain left the Haven, a small group of Vampires were watching the building.

"That the place?"

"Yeah. That's their stinking 'Elysium'." The dusky voice chuckled. "I hear there's some big-ass meeting going on tommorrow night. Whatcha think, guys? Reckon we should storm it?"

Several cheers went up. One voice turned into a question.

"Hey, Cass? What happened to the first pack?"

"Dunno. Must have been caught."

"Then they'll know we're here?"

Cass span to face the smaller Vampire, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. "You getting scared on me?"

"Hell no! Just mean this'll actually be a challenge!"

Cass laughed. "True. But the Sabbat chews up challenges like this for breakfast!"