(Chapter 3 now complete!)

Chapter 3: The Sacrifice

The next night Crystal woke up and looked next to her. Garan was not in the bedroom. She threw on her robe and walked into the hallway. "Garan? Honey? Are you here?" No answer…where could he be? Chi-Chi followed her into the kitchen where she grabbed a can of dog food out of the cabinet under the sink, opened it up, and poured it into his metal bowl next to the refrigerator. The tiny Chihuahua started happily munching on his food. She ignored the dog and wracked her brain trying to think of where Garan was. He didn't tell me he had anywhere to be…I should check to see if his car is here. Out the front door she walked, stood on the doorstep, and looked over to the driveway, where her car sat alone. Aha! His car is gone. Where the heck did that man take off to now? I told him to stop lying and hiding things from me!

Crystal rushed back inside and quickly brushed her long red hair, put on jeans, a black turtleneck sweater with a pair of black suede platform boots, grabbed her black suede trench coat and keys, and headed out the door. The black 2002 Ford Thunderbird sat in the driveway waiting for her, already running with remote start. She hopped in and backed out of the driveway. Hmm, let me try Gerard first. She speed dialed Gerard with the cell phone mounted in the car's console. He picked up on the first ring. "Hello?"

"Hi Gerard, is Garan with you?"

"No he isn't. Why?"

"When I woke up tonight he was gone. I don't know where he went."

"Well, that isn't good."

"Do you know where he might be?"

"I think so, come pick me up."

"Ok, be there in 10 minutes."

"I'll be waiting. Goodbye."

"Bye."

The T-bird pulled out onto the highway, down Rte. 1, and turned off onto Blackbird St., where Gerard lived. Crystal pulled up in front of his house, a large ranch with barely any windows, much like their own home. The exterior of the house was covered in dark blue vinyl siding, with slightly lighter blue shutters. The roof was done with charcoal gray shingles. He had the yard landscaped professionally with decorative trees and bushes. Haha, he almost fits in with the neighbors…almost. she giggled to herself.

Crystal walked up the driveway past his shiny new black 2002 Ford Mustang GT to his door and was about to lift her hand to knock when the door opened. Gerard's head popped out and he grinned. "Looking good Crystal!"

"Don't try to flatter me Gerard. Where is he? I know he tells you more than he tells me."

His smile dissipated. "Yes well, he is a teensy bit too overprotective of you still."

"That's no excuse."

"Well, ready to go?"

"Yep."

They walked out to Crystal's car and got in. She quickly started the car and pulled away. He looked around the car's interior. "Nice car, black leather, dual climate control, Select Shift transmission, very, very nice."

"Thanks, you've never been in my car before?"

"No, don't think I have."

"I still miss my Porsche though. Anyway, where are we headed?"

"Eternity." He replied.

She looked at him quizzically. "Why would he be at Danielle's club?"

"You remember the two kindred at the club last night? Garan's gone to investigate them. He told me that he believes they are Sabbat that have been snooping around here. Possibly on you."

"You're kidding…right?"

"No, I am not."

"Shit, how does he think he can handle two Sabbat by himself? Is he crazy? If they catch on to him, he's really dead. We've got to catch up with him before he does something incredibly stupid."

With that she planted her foot on the gas pedal and sped down Rte. 1.

"Whoa, little speed demon you are." Gerard observed.

Crystal continued speeding until 1 merged with Rte. 9, once she hit 9 she took a U-turn to get to the House of Eternity. They arrived and pulled into the parking lot, immediately she noticed Garan's Mercedes sitting there. He's here Gerard. Come on.

They got out of the car and walked through the frosted glass front doors of Eternity, showed their VIP passes to the person at the desk and walked through the second set of thick wooden doors. Once inside they walked straight back to the VIP section. Crystal noticed the two from last night sitting at the same table, they looked up when she and Gerard walked in. Where is Garan? she wondered.

Garan! Where are you, I know you are here! Crystal shouted at him. A startled sounding reply came instantly, What are you doing here?! How did you know where I was?

Gerard told me. He is here as well. Where are you hiding?

I am in the booth with Danielle and Marc. It's a small door in the back wall.

Crystal motioned to Gerard to follow her through the little black door to the left of a huge fancy mirror etched with ankh symbols and roses as a border. They emerged into a relatively small black room, with a private bar, table, a few chairs, and a bench mounted to the wall. Danielle, Marc, and Garan were all seated around the table. "Hello Crystal!" Danielle greeted, "And you Gerard." Gerard nodded in response and sat down on the bench. Crystal stared at Garan with a look of disapproval on her delicate face. "So what are you guys doing back here might I ask?" she inquired.

"This is my private room," Danielle started to explain, "I sit back here and observe the guests to make sure things are running smoothly when I don't feel like being out on the floor."

"Observe? Huh?"

Garan pointed to the large mirror, which she looked right through to her surprise.

"Oh! These are like the observational rooms the cops have!"

"Yes," He replied, "something like that."

So you didn't answer me, "Why are you back here?"

Marc butted in, "We're spying on the two kindred that have been coming in here these past few weeks. They are looking for trouble."

"And trouble is just what we don't need right now." Danielle stated. "I think we had enough trouble with Paul."

Gerard nodded his head in concurrence. "Agreed."

Garan stood up and shook his head, annoyed. "Look guys, either we find out what they want, or we wait and possibly get attacked unexpectedly. Don't you think #1 is the better option?"

Just as he finished speaking, the two kindred got up and walked toward the exit. Marc was the first to notice. "Look everyone, they're leaving! Let's go follow them, harass them, and possibly get killed." He said sarcastically.

Danielle laughed. "So basically, you're saying you're scared."

"Heck yeah I am!" Marc replied with a cheesy grin.

"Ok, Gerard and Crystal, you hang back and keep and eye on things here. Marc, Danielle, follow me."

"How come they get to stay?" Marc whined.

"Because, five people will be noticed much easier than three, and three should be enough to handle those two if things go bad."

"Oh, I see."

Garan, I have a bad feeling about this, you really should stay… Crystal told him.

Don't worry, I'll be careful. Love you babe.

I love you too… her thought-speak trailed off.

"Ok, let's go!" Danielle said.

Danielle unlocked the back door and they followed Garan out.

Crystal fidgeted around in her seat, her pale features stricken with worry. "Gerard, I'm really worried…I just know something terribly awful is about to happen."

Garan, Danielle, and Marc followed the Sabbat through the woods behind the rear parking lot, until they came to a decent size clearing where the two vampires suddenly stopped. The taller one with the shoulder length hair turned around first, snickering loudly. "Come out where I can see you Garan, Danielle, Marc, all of you." He commanded. The shorter blond haired vampire stood right next to him, waiting for them to approach.

Shit Garan, how does he know our names? Marc asked him nervously.

I think they've done their homework, that's how. Time to face them.

Garan stepped out into the dark clearing, a small amount of light shown down from the crescent moon, casting some light upon the forest floor, but to his vision it was almost like day. Marc and Danielle followed behind.

Garan looked them up and down, sizing up his opponents. "So, I see you know our names. How about you tell us yours?"

The tall dark haired one answered, "I am Caleb, and this is Rafe. You best remember those names."

"You are Sabbat right?"

"Yes, clan Tzimisce." Caleb replied.

"What do you want with us?"

Rafe interjected, "Why would we tell you?"

"Maybe we should beat it out of you." Marc retorted.

Back at the club, Crystal grew restless waiting. "I don't care what Garan said, I'm going to find them!" She got up and ran out the back door.

"Crystal, wait!" Gerard called to her as he followed, but she didn't slow her pace at all.

"So, you think you could beat us eh?" Caleb laughed. "Hah, foolish Toreador. Don't think that just because you beat Paul that you will have the same luck with us. There is a big difference between a Toreador Antitribu, and a Tzimisce."

"I guess we'll find out won't we?" Danielle said.

"Hah, the Toreador bitch has balls!" Rafe sneered.

Crystal zipped through the woods at a preternatural speed until she heard talking in the distance. She instantly recognized Danielle's voice, so she stopped and crept along until she reached the break in the forest. She hid behind a large oak tree and watched from the darkness.

"Come at me if you think you can take me." Rafe offered.

"Leave her alone." Marc growled.

Calm down you two, the Tzimisce are notorious for their vicious nature. They aren't bluffing. Garan told them.

Marc looked angry. No way Garan, they insulted Danielle!

Marc, listen to me! You can't do anything!

He ignored Garan's warnings and stepped up to Rafe. Rafe was about 5'11, and Marc, at only 5'6, came up to his chin. Rafe laughed at him, "What are you gonna do little one?"

"Stop this now!" a deep voice yelled from a distance.

Everyone stopped and looked around, startled. Crystal stared unbelievingly at the two figures that had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

"Oh my god, It's Nolan!" she cried aloud. He had changed his hairstyle from long to short and spiky, but she'd recognize him any day. Who is that man next to him?

Danielle froze, her eyes went wide and she went weak in the knees as she recognized the man standing there. "It….it……can't be! Merrick?"

Marc turned, distracted by Danielle's sudden cries. In all the commotion no one had noticed Caleb pulling a long sword out of a flap in his trench coat. He took advantage of the distraction and stabbed Marc right through the lower torso, dragging the sword all the way up through his head, all in one swift movement. Marc's split body fell to the ground in a pool of blood and entrails. He raised the sword again, this time it came down on Marc's neck; the two halves of his head fell and wobbled like a split melon. "NOOOO!!!" Danielle cried. Caleb started laughing and bent down with a gloved hand, swiping his finger across Marc's body. He lifted his finger to his lips and licked it. "Hmm, not bad."

Rafe laughed hysterically. "Ooh, he was really tough."

Danielle, enraged, called upon a Great Horned Owl; it plummeted down from the sky and raked its large talons across Rafe's eyes. He growled and lashed out trying to hit the bird.

Garan grabbed Rafe and threw him a few hundred feet through the air then turned to Caleb. "You bastard!" he growled menacingly. He lunged at Caleb and knocked him to the ground. Caleb was still laughing, he pulled off his leather glove and slashed Garan across the face with his claws, leaving deep gashes. Garan reeled back and howled in pain, clutching his face. Caleb flew up into the air where Rafe was already waiting. "It's been fun!" Caleb yelled down before they took off into the night.

Crystal ran out from her hiding spot to Garan's side. "Are you ok?! Oh my god…" she said, still in a bit of shock. She pulled his hands away from his face. "Let me see…"

"I'll be fine." He said. He had four deep lines cut into his face; two ran right across his eyes. They were bleeding profusely, but as she watched the bleeding started to slow as the wounds began to heal. Gerard, having finally found them, stepped out into the clearing and looked around at all the carnage. Hmm, she was right… he thought to himself.

Danielle ran to Marc's side and sat next to his dying body. Crimson tears streamed down her cheeks, hitting her thighs and staining her jeans red. Merrick knelt down behind her and wrapped his arms around Danielle's shaking form. "I'm so sorry Danielle. I should have told you."

"Why Merrick? That's all I want to know." She uttered between sobs.

"I left to find out why the Sabbat wanted Crystal. To gain access to the information I sought, I needed to make the Sabbat think I was dead so that I could travel freely, without being hunted anymore. Apparently it worked pretty well, better than I thought."

Nolan interrupted. "And I picked him up along my travels to find the very same answers. I guess it is time I explain some things. Garan, the reason why I created you is so you would find Lydian, as was prophesized. What you don't know is that when I embraced you I had been followed by the Sabbat. I had been careless and they attacked me as I finished embracing you. I managed to give them a good chase and lure them away from you by morphing into a wolf and running into the woods. Unfortunately I never made it back there, but I always knew you were ok. For years I searched, trying to find out what was so special about Lydian. I even infiltrated the Sabbat through your brother, but I still couldn't find the answer. But now I have finally found it, her secret…"

"What? What is it?" Crystal asked.

"Have you ever heard the legends of our origin?"

Garan nodded yes.

Danielle looked dumbfounded. "No?"

"Caine is said to have three progeny, two male and a female, named Enoch (or Ynosh) the Wise, Irad the Strong and Zillah the Beautiful, and these three progeny created the Antediluvians (the 3rd generation). The three first generations lived together in the so-called first city. But the truth may be much more complicated and some other children of Caine are heard of..."

"What are you getting at here?" Garan asked.

"I believe that Crystal is one of his unknown children."

She seemed saddened by this. "You mean…I am Caine's progeny? Then I was never really human…"

"Oh but you were! Long before the Camarilla was formed, you had killed a powerful sorcerer's daughter, in his fury he cast a spell on you as revenge, trapping you in human form forever, your immortal soul being reborn over and over again with no memories of your true form."

"But I am not mortal anymore, so isn't the curse broken?"

"Unfortunately, no. The curse is still not lifted, even though Garan awakened part of you. If you die in vampire form you will be reborn as a human again. Your real power and the memories of your whole life are still locked away until you break the spell."

"And how do we do that?" Garan asked.

"I have no idea."

"You mean I am gonna be stuck like this forever?! Half human, half vampire…"

"Well, I believe the Sabbat know how to break the spell, that is why they are searching for you. But they can't be trusted. They want to use you to give them an upper hand in their quest to take over and kill all the antediluvians."

"Hmm, so who cast this spell? We need to find out what they did to reverse it, but unfortunately Crystal has no memory left." Garan said.

"Whoever it was is long dead now." Gerard pointed out.

Crystal looked out of the side of her eye at the man Danielle had called 'Merrick'. He was tall and thin, with long black hair parted at the center; his eyes were a gorgeous shade of bright green, and his skin was very pale, almost ivory. He wore black lace up shoes, and black leather pants with a tight black short sleeve shirt, revealing his toned chest and abdomen. Over his clothes he had on a long black trench coat, the kind that tie at the waist.

So that is Danielle's sire, huh…

"Crystal? Did you hear me?" Garan asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Oh, no, sorry."

"I asked you what you want to do."

"Hmm…I think we should all go home and rest, it's been a really rough day, and I think Danielle has a lot to sort out for herself, never mind my problems. We'll think of something."

They stood over Marc's body. "He was my childe…I am sorry Danielle." Nolan said remorsefully.

A blood tear ran down across Garan's bloodied and torn features. "I feel like it's my fault, he didn't want to go in the first place."

Danielle looked up at him. "Don't blame yourself Garan, you couldn't have known this was going to happen."

Crystal and Gerard stood in silence.

"I think I need to be alone…" Danielle said softly.

"Ok then Garan, Crystal, Gerard, you go home. I will meet with all of you tomorrow night at Garan's house." Nolan said.

Crystal knelt down next to Danielle and gave her a big hug. "It'll be ok hun." She said soothingly. They all bid each other farewell and headed back to their cars. Merrick looked at Nolan. "I will stay behind with Danielle." …and help burn Marc's remains. Nolan gave a solemn nod and morphed to owl, flapped his wings and took off to the skies.

(Ok, that's it for ch3, it will be edited later I'm sure but that's it for now...Please R&R people!)