Crystal drove over to Garan's scuba shop at 8:45. He had already closed up shop and was sitting outside smoking a cigarette. She ran over to him and gave him a big hug. They quickly made their way across the street to the mall in his car. Danielle and Marc pulled in at 8:58, and Gerard arrived at 9 on the dot. "Ok, everyone's here." Danielle said.
"Marc, do you have any idea where to find Nolan?" Garan asked him.
"Actually, he likes to hang out at The Cove on Thursday nights. He usually looks for a hot young girl to have fun with then he feeds on her."
"Ok, Marc, Danielle, you come with Crystal and I. Gerard, you wait for us at my place."
Gerard nodded his head in agreement and headed back to his car. The rest of them piled into Garan's truck and headed down to The Cove.
They arrived at the very crowded lot and parked all the way at the back. The four of them piled out of the truck and walked to the side door. They entered into a large foyer with a row of payphones and a door on the left. "Damn, it's loud in there." Danielle said.
"Yeah, Thursday is live band night." Crystal said matter-of-factly.
Garan turned and looked at her. "Since when do you go here?" Crystal shrugged innocently.
"Let's go." Marc told them, "I know he's here."
They all headed in and looked around. "This place is nuts." Garan said. Marc spotted Nolan right away.
"He's right there at the bar."
Garan approached Nolan and tapped him on the shoulder. He spun around and snapped at him, "What do you want?" Then when he recognized who it was he calmed down. "Oh, it's just you. What are you doing here?"
"I needed to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Paul, and how to protect Crystal"
"That is none of my concern."
"You would be a great help to us."
"Leave me alone." Nolan replied coldly as he pushed Garan aside and swiftly headed for the door.
"No! Please!" Crystal ran up and grabbed his arm. As soon as she did, another vision hit her. A small grey stone house, a young man out in the field painting. A vampire watched him from the shadows. As the young man walked inside, the vampire followed him. He turned around too late, and the vampire pinned his shoulders to a large wooden table. The young man screamed for help and tried to fight off his attacker, kicking and flailing. The vampire effortlessly threw him into the wall and knocked him unconscious, then proceeded to feed. When he was done he bit into his lip and kissed him, letting his blood flow into the young man. Then he disappeared.
Crystal dropped Nolan's arm in shock. She turned around, paler than ever. "Oh my God…….Garan, he's your sire!"
"WHAT?!" Danielle shrieked.
Garan looked quite taken aback. "You mean you…are the one that did this to me?"
A grin spread across Nolan's face. "You got me. It's true, it was I that made you what you are now."
"You motherfucker!" Garan pulled back and swung at him, but Nolan caught his fist mid-swing. A rather large, heavily tattooed bouncer with long brown hair walked over to them. "What's going on here?" he asked. They all vanished quicker than he could comprehend. "What the hell?" he thought to himself as he rubbed his eyes.
Outside in the parking lot Garan tackled Nolan to the ground. Nolan just laughed and flew backwards a few feet into the air, leaving Garan standing there. Nolan floated back down and landed in front of him. "Settle down and let me explain." Nolan demanded.
"Ok, lets hear what you have to say."
"My real name is . I am almost one thousand years old. I came from ancient China, one of the very few Toreador from that area. As you know, most vampires in China have no clan; they are tortured souls, kuei jin, as they call themselves. One from Europe embraced me along my travels. I studied the ways of protean in my homeland, learning all that I could. The reason I am here is because the Sabbat have invaded China. The Camarilla controls most of Europe, but they have no havens in Asia. I have tracked the Sabbat's covens back to the east coast of the United States. But this Paul, he has become a thorn in my side. He has quickly risen in the ranks of the Sabbat. That combined with the fact that he's been after you, my childe. I knew you would go to her Gareth, and take her for your own this time, and together you will stop him." He paused and looked at the awestruck Marc, "And yes Marc, you are not a Gangrel, but a Toreador."
"Huh?! But you said…"
"I know what I said, but I was lying to Paul and Alex. I've been keeping an eye on Paul for a very long time, gaining his trust and respect."
"How do we know any of what you're saying is the truth?" Crystal asked.
Nolan stepped up to her, lifted her chin ever so slightly and stared straight into her eyes. "Now why would I lie to a pretty lady like you?"
Garan clenched his fists. Marc put his hand on Garan's shoulder and shook his head no.
Garan scowled, and stormed away angrily.
Nolan exhaled deeply, and looked over at Garan, who was still fuming. He took a step towards Crystal, and Garan abruptly turned around, and glared icily at him. "Stay away from her." He snarled.
Nolan laughed and turned his back on Garan. "Do you really think that I will obey my very own childe?" He said as he laughed again. He was obviously trying to get on Garan's nerves, and it was working quite well. Crystal stood up, and looked from Garan to Nolan with a displeased look on her face. "Can we please stop this? We have things of much more importance on our hands than your petty battles!" She said with a stressed out tone in her voice.
Nolan lit a cigarette and hopped up onto the hood of Garan's truck.
"So would you mind telling us what the fuck you're up to?" Marc demanded.
"I want all of you to help me stop the Sabbat. These events that are occurring were prophesized centuries ago in China by the elders. I came here to the United States, and I have been searching for you Crystal, the key to his Final Death. My childe Gareth was mistaken, Paul has been after you for a reason."
"But what does he want with me? I don't understand!" Crystal said, exasperated.
"I wish I knew the answer to that." Nolan replied, "He would never tell me why."
Garan looked up at the stars and thought, Maybe I should tell them...
Chapter 18 >>>