Simon spent the next couple of hours teaching Brenda about the nature of the Crone, as well as their vampiric nature. Vampires were strongly connected to the Crone, the darkest aspect of the triple goddess typically associated with death and the waning moon.

Brenda learned of the five clans, as well. Besides her own clan and the Nosferatu, there were the Ventrue, which Sanji and his student were a part of. Liz was a Daeva. That particular clan was known for both their beauty and their hedonism. The last clan he told her of was the Gangrel, known for being fairly nomadic and animalistic.

The Mekhet had one power, or Discipline as Simon called it, that was unique to those of their blood, called Auspex. Brenda had already instinctively come to rely on the most basic of its powers, the ability to heighten her own senses. She also learned that she could see auras. She was fascinated by the pale blue she discovered surrounding Simon. At her insistence, Simon had told her that her own aura was a pale shade of yellow. All vampires' auras were pale. It was a way of identifying them even if they lacked the taint of the predator, as Simon did. It would take Brenda some time to memorize the meanings behind all the colors and patterns.

Any Mekhet could become highly psychic over time, learning to glean information from objects by mere touch, to read minds and even travel outside their own bodies. Such abilities seemed a long way off to Brenda. Simon favored the power of Obfuscation more than Auspex.

Eventually, they were interrupted by the ringing of Simon's cell phone. He gave Brenda an apologetic smile before answering it. Brenda could hear a faint, feminine voice and resisted the urge to sharpen her senses to allow herself to hear what was being said. "Yes, she's here," he said to the woman on the phone. Simon slowly rose to his feet and walked to his computer. "Okay," he said, beginning to type. "Thank you." He set his phone down on the table next to him. "Liz said you will be interested in what's on the news right now."

Brenda got up and went to join her Sire.

On the screen was an area she recognized. It was a warehouse just near the train yard she'd come to when emerging from the steam tunnels. The place she'd believed the kidnapper must have emerged from after swiping Grace Simmons from Chuck E. Cheese. There were police everywhere.

"A major breakthrough in the case of the Mayor's missing daughter, Grace Simmons . . ." the reporter was saying as Brenda sucked in her breath, for a moment too filled with excitement to listen to what was being said. "We anticipate that within the hour the seven-year-old girl will be found . . ."

"We have to stop them," said Simon.

"What! Why!"

"That's the Prince's stronghold. He'll kill them."

"He can't possibly kill that many cops," she said, in a tone that pleaded more than it argued.

"He will."

"But the Masquerade."

"None of them will be left alive to endanger it."

"Then there's no hope for Grace? She'll never be rescued?"

"That suicide mission won't succeed. However, since we now know where she is, we can now act ourselves. But first we have to prevent the blood bath that's about to occur."

"You have influence among them. You will need to deter them."

"But I'm supposed to be dead."

He nodded. "I know. Sanji can help us with that. He can manipulate their memories so they won't remember ever having seen you. Would you like to call him?" Simon picked up his phone, pressed a few buttons and handed it to Brenda.

She took it from him and reluctantly pressed 'Send.' She knew what Sanji was going to think when he heard her voice, and she dreaded disappointing him.

"Seventh Dream Metaphysical Supplies," answered Sanji's accented voice after two rings.

"Sanji? It's Brenda."

"Brenda! It is good to hear from you. Does this mean you've made your decision?"

"I have, although I was actually calling because Simon and I need your help with something. I did decide that what I feel I need most right now is the Goddess. I decided to join the Circle of the Crone."

"I see. Well, I believe that your Sire will be a good teacher."

"I think so too," she said, looking into Simon's eyes.

"What is it you need my help with?"

"Police are preparing to raid the Prince's warehouse."

"I'll meet you there."

"Thanks." She handed the phone back to Simon after ending the call. He slipped it into his pocket. "Sanji had offered to take me on as his student after the last reading he gave me."

"That isn't surprising."

Brenda thought that if she'd still been mortal, she might have blushed.

Simon circled his car around until he spotted Sanji, and then pulled in next to him. Brenda stuck close to Simon's side as they emerged to meet their friend.

When they reached Sanji, he wrapped a dark velvet cloak around Brenda's shoulders. "Pull the hood over your head so you may only be recognized when you choose to be," he instructed.

Brenda silently obeyed.

"Now, who would have the authority to call this off?" Simon asked.

Brenda's eyes scanned the crowd, finally settling on a diminutive, middle-aged Hispanic woman. "Her," she said, pointing as discreetly as she could. "Lourdes Gonzales."

"Let's go and speak to her," Sanji said, placing a hand on Brenda's back.

"I'll wait here," said Simon.

Brenda kept her head low as she weaved her way through the reporters and police officers while Sanji shadowed her steps, just a few paces behind her. "Gonzales!" she called out when she reached her former boss.

The woman's head whipped around at the sound of Brenda's voice. Brenda pushed back her hood just a little to reveal her face. Gonzales's eyes widened.

Brenda had no idea what she was going to say, but there was no time to plan, so she just began talking. "You're compromising my investigation and endangering Miss Simmons." Brenda silently offered her first prayer to the goddess. This had to work.

"Brenda?" the woman whispered. "Everyone thought you were dead." Her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry about that," Brenda said, feeling an ache for the life that the Nosferatu had ripped away from her. "I needed to keep a low profile in order to have any chance of success with this case. You must be aware that I was attacked in my apartment. I just couldn't take any chances. I have everything under control, if you'll just trust me to handle it."

Lourdes nodded, looking as though she was still in shock. "All right. Yes, of course," she said, taking a long, deep breath. "I'm just so glad you're all right."

"I have to go now," Brenda said gently.

"You'll tell me everything after this?"

"Of course I will." Brenda turned away guiltily and nodded toward Sanji.

As Gonzales began giving new orders, Sanji waited a moment to tap the woman on the shoulder. Brenda couldn't hear what he said to Gonzales as she looked up into his eyes. Brenda was intent on removing herself from the crowd, to the safety of Simon's side. She mustn't let anyone else see her face.

"It looks like it worked," Simon observed when Brenda reached him. Some of the officers had already gotten into their cars and began driving off.

"But for how long?"

"We won't have enough time before dawn to go in tonight, but we should plan on it first thing tomorrow. That should be long enough, I hope."

Brenda nodded, a sick feeling of dread forming in her stomach. "What keeps them from this if Sanji made her forget me?"

A gentle hand touched her shoulder. "I told her she had an undercover agent working from the inside."

"Oh." Brenda wasn't sure why Sanji couldn't have done that without her help. But she supposed someone needed to at least show him who he had to speak to.

"I must return to my shop. Brenda, I am happy you have chosen a spiritual path. Although Simon will be your teacher, I hope you will continue to visit me and Sasha."

"I will," she promised.

Sanji smiled and got into his car.

"Do you need to feed?" asked Simon.

"No," Brenda replied reflexively. The thought of hunting in a crowded bar where people might put their hands on her far outweighed the nagging thirst she felt growing inside her.

Simon eyed her just long enough for her to feel certain he didn't believe her. "Well, I do need it. And this is a good time for finding homeless people sleeping on the sidewalks."

Brenda supposed she could handle taking a little blood from someone while they slept. "Maybe I could use a little bit."

Only a slight twitch of Simon's lip gave any indication that he'd already known she would change her mind after hearing his intentions.