I thought my first few chapters seemed a bit short so i made this chapter little longer and i took some liberties while making this but i'll try not to too far off the main plot. Please leave a review and let me know if there's something to improve. Peace :)
Chapter 5: Meet the Sabbath
´´Raagh! What the fuck is this?´´ Jack hissed loudly when the explosion was heard nearby followed by gun shots and loud yells as if they were battlecry's.
Jack said that he would check what the ruckus is while i get inside the building next to us. I went inside and noticed it was garage of sorts but i it wasn't important. I used the crates that was conveniently placed to reach the second floor and i saw a lock pick lying around, i took it figuring it was going to be handy to me in the future. When i turned to the next corridor i got startled to see Jack on the same floor as i were ´´Shh come down here. Stay away from the windows!´´ He whispered and gestured me to approach him. By the time i was next to him he started to talk ´´Ugh it's a Sabbath raid. The Sabbath...aw hell i was hoping to spare this shit til' later. The Sabbath...well they're mostly mindless, bloodthirsty assholes that's all you need to know right´´
before i could say anything he hushed me and told me to back away. There were three vampire's at the street below us, they probably were Sabbath Jack mentioned. The gorilla appeared front of the three Sabbath members. Two of them started shooting at the gorilla and they missed him pretty badly too. When the gorilla raised his hand, two ghostly wolves rised up behind the two Sabbath members and jumped at them biting their heads off! The one that was left grew massive claws and started to charge at the gorilla and he raised his hand again but this time he blowed to it and a insanely large insect swarm circled around the the Sabbath vampire, quickly turning to bones as if he was being devoured in rapid pace then the bones were gone too. When they were dealt with The gorilla saw me in the window and stared as if he tried to say ´´This WILL happen to you someday´´ then he turned and walked away.
Jack word's snapped me back to senses ´´Dumb frenzied Sabbath bastards. Okay we gotta vamoose out the back quick, i'll stay and keep watch while you try to get us into the office over there´´ i nodded and went the door that was locked (no surprise there) but luckily i knew some basic lock picking and the lock was easy to open. By the time i got the door open i heard glass shattering. I went inside only to see Jack used the office window to get in.
I walked to him, smiling ´´Gee. I wonder how you got in?´´
´´Umm shortcut. Nicely done though, not exactly a "angel" in life were you?´´ Said Jack looking curious.
I lifted my shoulders ´´I had my moments´´
Jack started to talk ´´Cool! Now wanna lesson how really not to act? Take notes from those Sabbath assholes. You're big bad vampire yeah, great, congrats now keep it to yourself. You go roar and beat your chest well that's what you'll least expect´´ when i asked him why he explained that is the same reason we don't let humans see us feeding and is why the wolf doesn't want the sheep know that he's there. He also mentioned something about juggling dumpsters 8:15 from Sacramento and that's why i didn't know any of this when i woke up in the morning. As long i our secret well...secret then everybody's happy.
´´Okay i'm starting to understand´´ i said to Jack feeling kinda enlightened.
Jack started to talk again ´´And the party back there with guy in suit and Magilla gorilla? The assholes that put your Sire to death? That's the Camarilla, they like to enforce vampire laws like this one and apparently Sabbath got wind of the gathering here and decided put a little heat to the new "Prince", but no time for political rundown, job one? Get outta here alive Sabbath might be mindless but they hit like mack truck, something a fledgling like you don't wanna mess with´´
´´So what to we do?´´ i asked.
´´Don't worry i know the area little and i'm glad were in this situation. It illustrates a point. You gotta use your surroundings´´ it looks like Jack had a another lesson coming.
He told me that key to the magnetically sealed door is in this room and one wild guess who gets to do that. I looked around the room, there was desk with a computer on it and next to it was a safe which i assumed the key was in there but it was locked and lock pick won't do much here. I turned on the computer and it needed a password to start. I noticed a note above the safe and it just happened to have the password to the computer, so i put the password, used the computer to open the safe and inside there was a keycard to the door.
Jack then told me to use the keycard to open the door and to the back alley. Before i moved on, i felt like i realized something and said to Jack ´´You set this scene up so you could teach me all this Didn't you?´´
Jack rolled his around like he tried to play innocent ´´I don't know what you're talking about kid´´
´´Riiiight´´ i said in disbelieve and decided to let it go. I went down the stairs and to the back alley, to the left were two more Sabbath members and one them started shooting at me, luckily the door was made of steel and was thick enough to withstand bullets, or at least bullets of a mac 10 submachine gun. Using the door as cover i tried to figure a way to get past the gunfire, then shooting stopped. Most likely the guy run out of bullets and was putting a new mag into the gun. I looked and saw Jack once again got ahead of me and killed one them by slamming one the Sabbath's side on top of his leg, breaking his spine. As soon as the another one turned around Jack let off strange blue lighting that covered his arms and legs and in a blink of a eye landed two punches at the Sabbath with the second punch sending him flying back, landing aside me and the gun he was holding fired itself, landing few good hits on me. Weird thing was that i got four shot's to the heart and i still was breathing, guess vampire's don't die through conventional means or not as easily.
´´Fucking waste of unlife's these Sabbath vatos! You get winged?´´ Jack shouted at the another end of the alley calling me. When i got to him he took a good look at me and laughed ´´Heh hey! Look at them potholes! Those will close soon enough, better feed though´´ Jack suddenly started to sniff the air ´´There's someone down the stairs here. Not the freshes catch but he'll do´´ i asked Jack is there a difference in blood and he explained that when it comes to feeding it's quality blood we're looking for not the quantity. Bums and lowlifes don't fill us as much, while a well bred and healthy humans are more than enough to fill us and seems like those with a Ph.d are best, but take what you can get is the common rule to feeding.
´´Oh and remember don't kill him least not the innocent ones. You need to hold on every last shred of humanity you got left´´ Jack seemed rather worried when said it so asked him ´´If i get "overzealous" what happens?´´
He said ´´Innocent's a innocent. If you kill one, even a worthless bum, even by accident is gonna cost a piece of your humanity bringing you closer to the beast inside you´´
I got curious ´´Beast?´´
Jack continued ´´The beast. It's always inside you, waiting to take over and when it does it's like a wild animal wearing your skin. It's scared and reckless, it'll do anything do survive and it's YOU who have to deal with the consequences´´
I got worried ´´How do i fight it?´´
Jack answered ´´The only way to fight the beast is to keep in touch with your humanity so don't be a homicidal maniac, don't let anger get the better of you and DON'T go hungry that's
a fine line´´
´´So i can't kill anybody?´´ I asked him in confusion.
Jack immediately corrected ´´Ah ah ah i said INNOCENT humans. If some asshole levels a 12 gauge in your way you drain him, skin him and bash in his skull. Self preservation is vital part of humanity after all. My favorite part in fact haah hah haa!´´
With that done i went to the bum down stairs. He smelled very badly, more than usual it seems my senses have increased dramatically which made the smell even more horrifying. I took a deep breath and quickly sank my teeth to his neck and it was a miracle that i was able to go through his scarf, in fact it tasted like old gym socks and don't ask me how i know. i heard his heartbeat slow down even faster than the last guy i fed and the last minute i let him go and went straight back to Jack.
´´Don't worry kiddo, he'll wake up soon enough. As long you don't completely drain your victims, they won't even remember what you did to them´´ Jack said that to me as if he read my mind.
´´Bet he wasn't quite good huh? Aw you can do worse, see those rats over there?´´ I looked at him in shock. ´´What, you think i'm kidding? You can survive feeding on animals if you got the stomach for that sort of thing blech!´´ I kept staring at Jack in shock i mean, animals? He did say that i don't have to do it but for reasons unknown i decided to try it. I walked to the rats and quickly grabbed one of them, once again putting my teeth into a living...thing. Rat let off a long and loud squeak when i was done with it and i went back to Jack and he was clearly amused by that ´´Rat sucker! Haah hah hah, hey i don't care what you do but just so you know "polite" vampire society looks down on that kind of thing´´
Jack looked behind his back like he heard something. ´´Okay party's over someone's in the area behind us. Looks like there's only one guy but you never know if there's more in shouting range´´
Jack told me to try sneak past him to a building on the other side and enter through the double doors to get inside the building. I thought to myself ´´Well this is going to be fun´´
Thanks for my experience in high school, i managed to sneak in the building unseen and i wasn't too surprised that Jack was already inside which started to get on my nerve ´´Damn it Jack one day you gotta teach me how to do that´´ i told him. ´´Another time kid. Hmm seems like that shovel head got separated from his pack and he's wounded too, go take him out´´ Jack pointed his head outside.
´´What you want me to kill now?!´´ I've already had my fill of bad stuff for the night but killing a dude? Before i could freak out completely Jack told me that Sabbath's training program isn't the best in the world in fact the guy is very lucky if knows he's a vampire and he's most likely turned and beaten over the head, their idea of "shock troops" and killing him would only end his misery.
As soon as i went outside i received a hit to the head and stumbled to the crates next to me. Quickly putting my head together, i saw the Sabbath vampire holding a tire iron in his hand which he probably hit me with and started to swing from his right side. I stepped back to avoid the hit, then i punched to the right side his head. He spun a few times until the last spin, he threw his tire iron at me and i barely dodged it. Then i saw him grow claws from his fingers and began to charge at me. First claw attack was horizontal, so i took one step back, second attack was the same but this time i ducked and gave him a uppercut to his jaw. He stumbled and and landed back first on the same crates i crashed on. Guy was in a daze and i unfortunately knew i had to finish him off now, i performed a spin kick with my left leg and i put all my strength to my leg hoping it would end it painlessly for him. I landed my kick to his chest and i heard a loud crack from him, he fell lifelessly to the ground and finally turning to ash.
´´Damn kiddo nice moves´´ Jack said while looking outside the door. I went back inside and Jack told me to use the ladders that go underground so we could avoid stray bullets. I got down and went to the room to my right and as soon as i entered there was another guy in there searching inside the barrels for something. He didn't notice me so i had the advantage for now at least, so i sneaked behind him, placed my hands around his head and quickly twisted his neck, letting a loud snap as he turn to ash before he touched the ground. I kept asking myself why did i to it? Maybe he was on my side and he wouldn't attack. ´´Kid you only acted on instinct. A natural thing for us if he was really on our side you could tell right away´´ Said Jack behind me and he somehow again knew what was going on my mind but Jack was right Sabbath is crawling around here so it's us or them. I went to the next room and another Sabbath vampire was there but this time he saw me and attacked me with a tire iron. No time to dodge this time, i braced myself for the hit. When the iron hit the side of my face it didn't feel so painful ´´What the fuck!´´ shouted the vampire in surprise. Looking at myself i saw light green orbs covering my whole body and it looked kinda beautiful to me but now isn't the best time to admire.
I clenched my left hand and punched the guy's face, slamming him against the wall. I jumped at him, holding the hand where the tire iron was and i gave him a quick headbutt to his teeth. When he put both his hands to his mouth i knee kicked him to the gut then he landed on his knees gasping for air, while bleeding from his mouth and i finished him off by kicking his head against the wall. My mind again wondered why did that feel so easy, killing a guy without second thought, no remorse and was this just part of "becoming one of the damned and the fallen"? Emotions slowly dieing out as i adjust? And will the "real" me die as i live? Whole idea scared the hell outta me. Jack burst through the door saying ´´What the just happened kid? I heard a real loud ruckus coming from this room´´ Jack saw the pile of ash ´´So that's what happened huh? To think i got worried there for a second´´ Jack looked at me ´´ You okay kid? Something on your mind again?´´ I told Jack what was going through my head and he calmly said to me ´´Look it's like i told you don't kill innocent people. As long as you hold on to your humanity you'll be fine understand kiddo?´´ I nodded to him.
Jack started to look up like he was listening ´´Something's not right. Seems the Sabbath's getting scattered, no need to go stirring up the hornet's nest till we know score though. Head through here, i'm gonna keep ear to the ground try to find out what they're doing i'll meet you at the another side´´ I nodded and kept moving forward, and as soon as entered the next room third Sabbath member was in there as well and his skin was dark grey, eyes glowing blood red and his claws were way bigger than the ones i first saw. He didn't hesitate attacking me but this time i was prepared enough for such an attack. I dodged his first attack by jumping back then we stood there, staring at each other as if we tried to scare the another one off.
We took one last breath and dashed straight each other. i don't know what went on his head but everything seemed to go in slow motion to me. Guy was slowly approaching me, just about to raise his arm to deliver a blow to me but i didn't allow it. I saw my hands growing claws of it's own they were jet black and unusually shiny. I swiped my right arm at his throat, while passing through him he slowed down and coughed a few times then fell on to the floor burning to ash. Guess good thing about vampires is that there are no bodies to find since they or we turn to ash when we finally die.
I entered another room, just how many rooms are below here anyway? Fourth Sabbath vampire was in there but this time he didn't saw me from behind the large crates. Left side of the room was a door but it was in the vampire's sight, keeping an eye on it. I looked around trying to find a way without further fighting and reach to the door. No hiding spots to dive in, no ladders or vents to climb and the guy guarding didn't seemed to move from the spot at all. It looked like my only option was to fight but i did not want to risk it this time.
´´Summon ravens!´´ A familiar voice came into my head, the very same voice from the nightmare i had.
´´What ravens? There's no any kind of animal in here´´ I said to the voice, mentally of course.
´´Just summon the god damn ravens you'll see´´
´´And how to i do that exactly?´´
´´Put your eyes on the poor sob and call the ravens to fly around the guy. When that's done you sneak past him or go to him and break his freaking neck. Simple? Then get moving lick!´´
I had no idea who or what the voice was, but i was certain that it wasn't from the nicest end. I looked around the corner. The Sabbath guard still staying in place. I locked my eyes on him and mentally called the ravens attack on him. Then like in a fantasy movie a group of ghostly ravens came through the walls and started to circle around guard, clearly covering his eyesight and giving me a chance to sneak to the door. I Quickly went to the door, opened it and entered the next room closing the door behind me. This time the room i was in was to my advantage, half the room was dark, large crates to hide and some barrels as well but with one small problem. The Guard's back was against the door i needed to go and Nightwisp ravens wasn't going to help here. Luckily there was empty sardine can lying on the ground which gave me an idea. I grabbed the can and threw it to the another side, hoping that the guard would take the bait. Guard went to look at the spot where i threw the can and i quickly sneaked past him to the door.
As soon as i closed the door Jack was already in the hallway in was in and he was laughing hysterically ´´Fucking humans! Gangbangers protecting their turf! Aw man and here i was thinking the Sabbath was moving in it's the locals about to take one for the hood´´ When i asked Jack about our next move he handed me a small revolver ´´They probably seen too much, here take this 38. Fucking peashooter, but few shots and it'll take down a human´´ I took gun and nodded, i also understood why Jack wanted me to kill the rest of the gang. Keep our ''secret'' secret right?
As i walked past Jack, he grabbed on my shoulder ´´Oh and i kinda want it back so don't go die and lose it. Personally i don't use guns much, they're noisy, they're clumsy and practically useless against vampires, but kindreds gotta keep up with the times and in modern day L.A that means coming in strapped´´ I asked him are guns completely useless and he then explained ´´Well some are more lethal than others of course and watch out for those shotguns, ouch those things can smart i tell ya´´ Jack pointed me to the elevator and told me to clear out what's left of the gang members and he'll look for any possible stragglers in the area. Before i went to the elevator i wanted to test my shooting skills on some empty bottles on the small crate.
First three shots were a complete miss and Jack laughed hysterically again ´´HAAH HAH HAA! Aw man that was so cute and i thought i was a bad shot´´ I got a bit mad at him and threw his 38. at him. He catched it and i was making my way to elevator. He was shouting behind me ´´Hey kid don't be so serious!´´ Elevator door closed and i went to the second floor. The second floor was a small warehouse with three gang members around, two carried baseball bats and third carried a pistol. I summoned ravens to the guy who carried a gun, then i attacked one of the bat wielding dudes. I jump kicked the first one to the head, punched the second one to the gut, then i grabbed the bat guy dropped and hit him the back of his head. I turned my attention to the first guy i attacked and swung the bat at his left knee, breaking it in the progress. Guy landed on his one knee then i grabbed his head and twisted his neck. Ravens stopped circling around the gunman and disappeared only a bit too late for him. I threw the bat at the hand where he was holding the gun, dropping it to the ground. I proceeded to attack him with series of punches to his face and finally collapsed lifelessly to the floor. Jack came from the elevator saying ´´That's it kid. Just like that and it's all over, and everyone slings back to their little corners of eternity´´
´´Just like that?´´ I asked him with a confused look.
Jack nodded ´´Well until the next when the Camarilla decides to strike back. Parry, dodge, spin 'em all that, so on and so on´´
´´So is this normal?´´ I asked curiously.
he explained ´´Well to be honest you came in a.... an interesting time. The Sabbath and Camarilla? Well in L.A these are the new kids on the block there's already plenty of kindred who had stake's here long before them. Now we have every ancient kindred rivalry playing all over the city, a lotta tension in the air, lotta fear, lotta jittery high-strung predators holding to their pieces of eternity´´
Before i could say anything, car horn was heard outside along a man shouting my name. Jack looked disappointed ´´Ooh boy... well looks like you got a cab to catch. I was hoping to fill you in a little more but aw hell you can figure it out´´ I thanked Jack for what he offered me and mentioned to meet him at the bar named ''Last round'' when i got time and that he would fill me in the politics.
I went outside and saw a cab waiting on the street, and next to the driver was the same guy from the theater who helped me to get up. He walked at fast pace at, put both his hands on my shoulders and said to me, sounding very relieved ´´Thank god you're still alive! Well so to speak anyway´´ he then moved one of his hands to the cab's direction ´´Hop in and let's humor that bastard of a prince Lacroix for a while eh?´´ He quickly dragged me and put me back of the cab along with him. As soon as the door closed, the driver started the car and droved away from the scene.