Disclaimer
The following story is based on the world of "Kindred: The Embraced" created and owned by Spelling Entertainment and White Wolf.
No copyright infringement is intended, and no profit is made from this.

Decisions

CHAPTER 1

"Listen, my life's been a bit rough lately. I guess I just... well... overreacted a bit."

"So, all your obsession with vampires and Julian Luna was just an overreaction, Mr Kohanek?"

"Hey, you've no idea what I've been through. I've lost my girlfriend - seen people went up in flames. Man, I already had a talk - dozens of talks - with your kind..."

The psychiatrist glared.

"Shrinks I mean. And this was just the way my mind could best deal with - choosing a culprit who was yet too far away to reach or to explain. But I think... I think I'm over with it."

"No more vampires, Mr Kohanek? Or are you just saying this, so that people won't ask any more questions? People like me - my kind."

Frank grinned. "What do you want to hear from me? I told you I'm of sound mind again. I haven't met any real vampire out there - just insane mobsters with some very cruel practices. I finally got that."

"Alright, Mr Kohanek." the psychiatrist nodded in acceptance. "So, let's talk about Mr Luna."

Frank just shrugged. "What about him?"

"You gave the department a very bad reputation more than once with your obsession of jailing this man. But lately I've heard of several private meetings with him. What about this?"

"These meetings, as you call tem, were never private. We talked business.

"You two shared the same lover? The woman who died?"

Frank gulped. Thinking of Alexandra felt like a stitch in his heart. But this was not the time. "So, you have a clue why I was so mad at him? But it's been months and I'm through with it."

"Really?" the psychiatrist didn't sound convinced.

"As real as can be, doctor. I... Luna proved me that there's no harm coming from him. He's a serious business man, who sometimes has to deal with the wrong people. And if he does, I'm there to get their asses. That's my job, you know?"

The psychiatrist made a note on his pad and continued. "So, what exactly did convince you?"

"Ever heard of Fiori? If you have, you sure know what I'm talking about. So, are we done now?"

The man nodded. "I think I've heard all. Thank you, Mr Kohanek." He reached out a hand for a firm handshake.

"Thanks, Doc. Do I get a stamp? 'Not insane'?" Frank asked with a cheap grin.

"Your supervisors already are convinced that we can all go back to our normal schedule with you. This session was just a formality." the psychiatrist replied with a friendly voice. "Thanks again for your time."

"Uh hu." was Frank's only reply, but he ignored the strange tingling in the back of his head.

It felt like it took a load of his mind when he finally left the office.

Frank didn't really like lying to his people, but he figured that this was the only possible way for him to go on. Several months ago he had discovered this secret society of blood sucking immortals. Vampires... or Kindred as they called themselves. Of course, no one at the force believed him. And today he was glad they didn't, or else the Kindred would have fucked up their lives as they did with his.

Of course he had tried to find allies, people he could entrust his knowledge to. But he figured that people either labelled him insane or were Kindred themselves. Well, he wouldn't have reacted any different if anyone had told him about the "Living Dead" before.

And now his life was a mess. He couldn't get into a new relationship or searching for new friends among his fellow mortals because he couldn't risk dragging them into the whole affair. He constantly had to watch his back, because although the prince had him under personal protection he was under constant observation of hostile Kindred. And all it took was a single bullet.

And even if these Kindred feared Luna too much, to harm Frank directly, what could keep them from harming the people he loved? Frank had these nightmares of dead bodies surrounding him. Bodies of people he loved, he cared for. Frank didn't really understand which Kindred Law kept them from killing him - if there was any. As much as Frank had learned during the past months, there was only one way to deal with the likes of him. If mortals couldn't forget, they had to be killed or be Embraced.

Well, for some reason unknown to him, they hadn't obliterated his memory of their existence. Maybe he had already seen too much and the trick didn't work on him anymore. Or maybe it was because he had tasted the blood of a Kindred – his beloved Alexandra.

Julian's promise to Alexandra kept him from killing Frank or let him be killed by his kind. Frank didn't really understand why Luna still kept this promise. Of course, he didn't object either, because else he would've been dead meat.

The Embrace was totally out of discussion. Frank had accepted the exigence of their harsh and brutal laws. But it was still beyond his understanding, how someone could feed on blood - not only feed on it, but taking pleasure from it.

Of course, deep down in his mind, he knew that he would have accepted it too, if he had stayed with his beloved Alexandra. Love caused people to do strange things.

So, Frank was still alive, walking between two worlds, belonging to neither of them. And about two months ago, he decided that it was 'the best for both worlds' if he just played along. Playing by the rules of the Masquerade, he could prevent that other people would share the same fate.

He didn't tell Luna or Sonny about this decision. He just stopped talking about the affair. He ignored the funny remarks by his colleagues, who eventually lost interest in picking at him. Whenever 'strange incidents' landed on his desk, instead of Sonny's, he convinced the witnesses that nothing unusual had happened. And he had stopped going after Luna.

This had even surprised Sonny, but when Frank just gave him the cold shoulder upon his remark, Sonny hadn't asked any further.

Yes, this had been only two months ago - a short time after Frank had realized that Sonny was Kindred, too. He had suspected it - though, he couldn't recall where this strange feeling came from.

The day the new Brujah Primogen had paid him a visit at the office, his assumption got stronger than ever. And only a day after, it finally got confirmed.

We are all around you, Frank.

Now he finally knew what Luna had tried to tell him by that phrase. So, he decided to accept these unwanted circumstances as part of his life. And so far it really went smooth. His colleagues finally accepted him as one of them again; Lt. Kwan stopped treating him like raw eggs and Sonny was taken the chance for making more of his stupid remarks about how insane Frank was for believing in vampires. After all, they both now knew the truth.

Everything went just fine. Didn't it? All he had to do was lying to the people he was ought to trust...

Shortly after Mr Kohanek had left the office, the middle aged man reached for the phone on his dark oak desk.

"Mr Seidenburg, here. May I speak to… yes, it's important! Please patch me through!" The head of his pen ticked nervously on the pad. "Ah, Joshua, it's good to hear your voice. Now listen, I have some important news for you." The voice on the other end of the line replied something and Seidenburg continued. "Remember that detective I told you about? I think he is ready." There was a short silence and a sudden crack in the line. Seidenburg sighed. "Sorry, I can't tell you more right now, but we will talk again, my friend. Please prepare everything we have discussed earlier." With that, he hung the telephone receiver on the antiquated cradle.

Mr Kohanek had tried his best to convince his boss and his colleagues. But he couldn't fool Seidenburg. He didn't have his degrees in ethology for nothing.

The Society of Leopold had been interested in the young detective since they discovered his knowledge about these vile satanic creatures. It wasn't easy to recruit new members nowadays. The vampires disguised themselves pretty well these days and usually got rid of their mortal enemies as soon as they spotted them.

Frank Kohanek seemed to have slipped through their net, though. He had succumbed to the seduction of one of these creatures, but even if he had been ghouled, the band was broken when the creature got up in flames.

Whatever he had felt for this creature had turned into hatred and wrath. And he searched for a way to destroy the monsters, that surrounded him. But for some reason unknown to Seidenburg, the vampires hadn't killed him – or made him one of them. They tried, of course. But up to date they had not been successful.

Then – only a few weeks ago – a group of vampires had treated him in public. This was indeed a very strange behaviour and could mean only one thing: They feared him; enough to risk their disguise.

And anyone who was feared by the vampires and was still alive was a promising asset to the Society of Leopold.

However, Kohanek's previous behaviour didn't really speak for him. He was a hothead; stubborn, unwarily and indiscreet.
But something had changed during the past weeks. Maybe Kohanek had realized that fighting in the open was not the way to go. Maybe the time was ready to approach him with an offer. But they had to be sure.

San Francisco was a melting pot and it was already lost to the Vampires. Seidenburg put himself in mortal danger by staying here, but he always liked to stay close to his friends and even closer to the enemy. Maybe it would finally pay off. If they could recruit him and get him out of the city, he could support them with valuable information about the local brood. But Seidenburg knew that they had to act quickly. Kohanek couldn't play this game for long, this was for sure. Neither could Seidenburg. He had already suspected that he was under observance. He had to get out of here.
Soon.

End of Chapter 1

Sorry for all the strange expressions or wrong grammar. English isn't my native language.
And thanks a lot for your encouraging feedback. Chapter 2 is just around the corner.